Starting Genshin Impact in 2025 can feel overwhelming. There are multiple regions, game modes, events, and systems. This guide will give you a simple, practical roadmap for your first days and weeks, so you know what to focus on and what can wait.
Step 1: Focus on the Main Story (Archon Quests)
At the very beginning, the best thing you can do is follow the Archon Quests (main story). These quests:
- Unlock new regions and Statues of The Seven.
- Give lots of Adventure Rank EXP, Primogems, and Mora.
- Gradually unlock important game systems, bosses, and domains.
Don’t try to fully clear every map area at once. Just unlock Teleport Waypoints and keep progressing the main story until you hit an Adventure Rank requirement or need to strengthen your team.
Step 2: Build One Main Team of 4 Characters
A very common beginner mistake is trying to level every character at once. Instead, pick one main team of four and focus your resources there.
Your team should ideally have:
- 1 Main DPS – the character you spend most time on-field with
- 1 Sub-DPS – provides bursts or off-field damage
- 1 Support – buffs the team, debuffs enemies, or provides utility
- 1 Healer or shielder – keeps you alive in harder fights
Free characters (like the Traveler and early 4★ units you get through quests) are absolutely good enough for early and mid-game content if you invest in them.
Step 3: Understand Adventure Rank & World Level
Adventure Rank (AR) is your account level. As AR increases, you unlock:
- New story chapters and world quests
- More domains and bosses
- Higher World Level (enemies get stronger but drop better loot)
At certain AR milestones, you must complete an Ascension Quest to increase your World Level. If content starts to feel too hard, you can:
- Delay the Ascension Quest and keep farming at your current World Level.
- Focus on improving your main team before raising the difficulty.
Remember to claim Adventure Rank rewards from the Adventurers’ Guild whenever you level up.
Step 4: Basic Rules for Weapons & Artifacts
Weapons
- It’s fine to level a decent 3★ or 4★ weapon early on.
- Don’t over-invest in a weapon you know you’ll replace soon.
- Once you get a strong 4★ or 5★ weapon, start focusing your resources there.
Artifacts
- Early game, focus on main stats (ATK, HP, Elemental Mastery, etc.), not perfect sub-stats.
- Level artifacts to around +8–+12 for your main team to boost survivability and damage.
- Save heavy +16/+20 upgrades for later when you start getting good 4★/5★ pieces from higher-level domains.
Step 5: Build a Simple Daily Routine
Once you unlock them, get into the habit of doing these things each day:
- Daily Commissions
Four short quests that reward Primogems, EXP, and Mora. After completing them, talk to
the Adventurers’ Guild to get an extra commission reward bonus. - Spend Resin
Use your Original Resin mainly on:- Elite bosses for character ascension materials
- Ley Lines for EXP books and Mora, if you’re short
- Talent / weapon domains when your characters need those upgrades
- Light exploration
Unlock a few new waypoints, open some chests, and advance quests in whatever region you’re in.
You don’t need to min-max from day one. Just try not to let Resin sit capped for long periods.
Step 6: Resin – When to Start Caring About Efficiency
In the very early game (below about AR 35), don’t stress too much about perfect Resin usage. Just avoid common traps:
- Don’t let Resin stay at 200/200 for days.
- Don’t farm artifact domains nonstop at low AR.
Spend most of your Resin on:
- Elite bosses – for ascension
- EXP / Mora Ley Lines – when you run low
- Talents – for your main DPS and healer/support
When you reach mid-game and higher AR, you can follow a more detailed plan from our Daily & Weekly Resin Guide.
Step 7: Spiral Abyss, Side Modes & Extra Content
Spiral Abyss
- Unlocks early on and has multiple floors.
- Early floors give one-time rewards including Primogems and a free Xiangling.
- Try the first few floors once your main team feels stable. Don’t worry about maxing everything at the start.
Other Modes & Systems
- Card game modes, special challenge modes, and user-generated content systems are fun but optional.
- As a beginner, treat these as side activities, not your main progression path.
Step 8: Avoid These Common Beginner Mistakes
- Leveling too many characters at once instead of focusing on 4–6 core units.
- Over-farming artifacts before AR 45.
- Ignoring healers and supports and running a “4 DPS” team with no survivability.
- Letting Resin cap repeatedly and wasting potential regen.
- Skipping events and missing out on free Primogems, Crowns, and sometimes free 4★ characters.
Step 9: Start Using Codes & Planning Primogems
As soon as you can, take advantage of redeem codes and plan your Primogems:
- Claim free rewards from our Genshin Image Codes – Active Redeem Codes page.
- Once you care about saving for specific 5★ characters, read How to Get Primogems as a F2P Player.
What to Read Next
Daily & Weekly Farming & Resin Guide
Follow this beginner roadmap, then slowly dive into more advanced guides as your Adventure Rank and curiosity grow.