Genshin Impact: 10 Best Characters For Defensive Playstyles

In Genshin Impact, defensive playstyles are all about controlling the battlefield, absorbing damage, and supporting your team while denying enemy advances. Whether you’re soaking up damage with high durability, protecting your team with shields, or setting up powerful crowd control, the right defensive character can make all the difference in a tough fight. These characters allow you to withstand enemy onslaughts, prevent aggression, and create opportunities for your team to strike back. In this article, we’ll take a look at the 10 best characters for defensive playstyles in Genshin Impact, helping you lock down the battlefield and provide your team with the support they need to succeed. If you prefer playing the role of a protector while still contributing to your team’s victory, these picks are perfect for you.

#10: Thoma

Thoma is an excellent defensive support character in Genshin Impact, perfect for players who want to provide shielding and crowd control while still contributing to the team’s offense. As a Pyro polearm user, Thoma’s Elemental Skill, Blazing Blessing, creates a shield called the “Crimson Bouquet”, which absorbs damage and deals Pyro damage to surrounding enemies. This shield can persist as long as Thoma is on the field, offering excellent protection for allies during extended fights. His Elemental Burst, Fire Dance, provides additional damage mitigation, making him a great choice for players who want to control the pace of combat while reducing incoming damage for their team. With his Pyro abilities and shielding capabilities, Thoma is a versatile choice for players seeking both defense and offense. If you need a dependable defender who can help protect your team while dealing consistent damage, Thoma is a solid pick.

#9: Xingqiu

Xingqiu is a fantastic defensive character in Genshin Impact, particularly useful for players who want to reduce incoming damage and provide consistent support through Hydro application. His Elemental Skill, Fatal Rainscreen, summons sword rain that not only deals Hydro damage but also provides damage reduction for your team by creating a shield-like effect that absorbs some of the incoming damage. His Elemental Burst, Guhua Sword: Raincutter, creates rain swords that deal continuous Hydro damage while also reducing damage taken by allies in the area. This makes him an excellent choice for defensive playstyles, as his abilities help mitigate damage while providing consistent elemental application for triggering elemental reactions. With his ability to shield and control enemy aggression, Xingqiu is an ideal pick for players who want to focus on defense while still offering offensive support to their team.

#8: Jean

Jean is a well-rounded defensive character in Genshin Impact who offers a mix of healing, crowd control, and mobility. As a Anemo sword user, Jean excels at supporting her team with her Elemental Burst, Dandelion Breeze, which heals all nearby allies and removes debuffs, providing essential sustain during battles. Her Elemental Skill, Gale Blade, allows her to push enemies back, providing a form of crowd control to disrupt aggressive foes and keep the battlefield under control. Jean’s healing and utility make her a reliable choice for players who want to keep their team healthy while denying enemy advances. With her mobility, she can quickly position herself for better defense and help apply Anemo-based elemental reactions. If you prefer playing a support role while still contributing to your team’s defense, Jean is an excellent pick.

#7: Barbara

Barbara is a great defensive support character in Genshin Impact, primarily known for her healing abilities and ability to provide consistent support to her team. As a Hydro catalyst user, Barbara’s Elemental Skill, Let the Show Begin!, creates a healing zone that continuously restores HP to all allies in its area of effect. Her Elemental Burst, Shining Miracle, is a powerful AoE healing ability that restores HP to all nearby allies and applies the Wet status to enemies, enabling Hydro-based elemental reactions. Barbara is ideal for defensive playstyles, especially if your focus is on sustaining your team during prolonged battles. While she doesn’t offer direct damage mitigation like shields, her healing capabilities and constant support make her an essential character for protecting your team and ensuring your survival in tough fights. If you enjoy playing a support role that prioritizes team sustainability, Barbara is a strong pick.

#6: Kuki Shinobu

Kuki Shinobu is a versatile defensive character in Genshin Impact who excels at providing healing, damage mitigation, and utility for her team. As an Electro sword user, she specializes in utilizing her abilities to heal allies while dealing consistent Electro damage. Her Elemental Skill, Spirit Blade: Kyoka, not only creates Electro damage but also converts HP into healing for allies within range. This provides a unique form of sustain during combat, as she absorbs damage to boost her healing output, while still dealing damage to enemies. Her Elemental Burst, Gyoei Narukami Kariyama, unleashes Electro AoE damage and continues to heal nearby allies, making her an essential pick for players looking for both defensive sustain and offensive pressure. Kuki Shinobu is ideal for those who want to manage their team’s health while applying Electro reactions, making her a strong defensive choice in Genshin Impact.

#5: Noelle

Noelle is an incredibly resilient defensive character in Genshin Impact, providing both damage mitigation and healing while also dealing high physical damage. As a Geo claymore user, Noelle has a strong presence in battle, capable of withstanding heavy attacks thanks to her Elemental Skill, Breastplate, which creates a shield that scales with her defense, making her a reliable tank. Her Elemental Burst, Sweeping Time, converts her attacks into Geo damage, greatly increasing her damage output while providing an additional healing effect for the team based on her defense. This makes Noelle a fantastic pick for defensive playstyles, as she can absorb incoming damage for her team and offer consistent healing. Noelle is especially effective for players who want to serve as a defensive powerhouse, providing both protection and sustained damage. If you’re looking for a tank that can handle damage while healing your team, Noelle is an ideal choice.

#4: Baizhu

Baizhu is a unique defensive support character in Genshin Impact, excelling at healing and protecting his team with his Dendro abilities. As a Dendro catalyst user, Baizhu specializes in sustaining his allies through his Elemental Skill, The Canopy of Khvarena, which creates a shield that provides protection and heals over time. His Elemental Burst, Universal Diagnosis, applies a healing effect to all nearby allies, ensuring they are constantly topped off during prolonged battles. What makes Baizhu even more effective for defensive playstyles is his ability to trigger Dendro reactions, creating synergy with other characters that can utilize burning, aggravate, or other elemental reactions. His shielding and healing capabilities make him an ideal choice for players looking to keep their team alive while also providing offensive potential. If you’re looking for a character who can protect your team while constantly healing and applying elemental reactions, Baizhu is a solid pick for defensive playstyles.

#3: Layla

Layla is an excellent defensive character in Genshin Impact, specializing in shields, crowd control, and support. As a Cryo sword user, Layla provides excellent protection for her team through her Elemental Skill, Night of Flowers, which summons shielding stars that surround her allies and provide Cryo shields. These shields are particularly effective at mitigating incoming damage and protecting your team during challenging battles. Additionally, her Elemental Burst, Dreams of the Past, creates a larger Cryo field, dealing AoE Cryo damage and further boosting her team’s defense while applying Cryo status to enemies. Layla’s ability to apply Cryo reactions and create shields makes her an ideal pick for players who want to play defensively while providing utility to their team. If you’re looking for a reliable support character who can protect your team and control the battlefield, Layla is a solid choice.

#2: Zhongli

Zhongli is widely regarded as one of the best defensive characters in Genshin Impact, offering exceptional shield strength, crowd control, and durability. As a Geo polearm user, Zhongli’s Elemental Skill, Dominus Lapidis, creates an impenetrable shield using his Petrification ability, which scales off his max HP, providing high levels of protection for allies. His Elemental Burst, Planet Befall, summons a giant meteorite that not only deals massive AoE Geo damage but also petrifies enemies in the area, providing crowd control and disabling foes for a time. Zhongli’s shielding capabilities are some of the strongest in the game, ensuring that his team remains protected even in the toughest fights, while his Geo abilities can shut down enemy movement. If you need a character who can create a nearly indestructible shield, control the battlefield, and reduce incoming damage, Zhongli is the perfect choice for defensive playstyles.

#1: Diona

Diona is an outstanding defensive support character in Genshin Impact, particularly valued for her healing, shielding, and crowd control abilities. As a Cryo bow user, Diona brings a versatile kit that can protect and sustain your team throughout battles. Her Elemental Skill, Icy Paw, sends out a shield that absorbs damage and heals allies within its range, making her incredibly useful in prolonged fights. Her Elemental Burst, Signature Mix, provides a healing AoE while also giving her shield strength to further boost her defensive capabilities. Additionally, Diona can reduce incoming damage to her allies by creating a Cryo shield and applying Cryo reactions, making her a powerful support for defensive playstyles. If you’re looking for a top-tier healer and shield-bearer, Diona is the best pick for those who want to maintain a solid defense while keeping their team alive.

Conclusion

In Genshin Impact, defensive playstyles are key to controlling the battlefield and providing your team with the protection they need to succeed. Whether you’re looking to shield allies, heal over time, or disable enemies, the 10 best characters for defensive playstyles outlined in this blog offer a diverse range of abilities to help you hold your ground in even the toughest battles. From Zhongli’s indestructible shields to Diona’s healing and Cryo protection, each character brings unique strengths that cater to different strategies. By mastering these characters, you can ensure your team’s survival, control the pace of the game, and counter enemy aggression effectively. If you prefer a support role that focuses on defense and sustainability, these top picks are the perfect choice for a solid and reliable defensive playstyle.