HSR: Best 4-Star Characters to Build in 2026
Do you want good teams in HSR? The Best 4-Star Characters include Bennett, Xingqiu, Fischl, Xiangling, and Sucrose. These choices are great because they provide strength, can be utilized in various ways, and synergize well together. If you do not spend money, you can use these characters to enhance your performance in the game.
Best 4-Star Characters Overview
You want to know which 4-star characters stand out in HSR for 2026. Let’s break it down so you can make smart choices for your teams. The Best 4-Star Characters give you strong damage, reliable support, and easy team building. You can use these picks whether you are new or have played for a long time.
The Big Five Explained
When you hear about the "Big Five," you see names like Bennett, Xingqiu, Fischl, Xiangling, and Sucrose. These characters show up in almost every top team. You can count on them for their power and flexibility. Here’s why they matter:
-
Bennett boosts your whole team’s attack and heals at the same time.
-
Xingqiu brings steady Hydro damage and helps trigger reactions.
-
Fischl gives you off-field Electro damage and works well with many setups.
-
Xiangling delivers strong Pyro damage and fits into many team styles.
-
Sucrose helps you group enemies and boost your team’s Elemental Mastery.
Tip: If you build these five, you can mix and match them with almost any 5-star character. You get more options for clearing tough content.
Honorable Mentions
You might want more choices for your roster. Noelle and Barbara deserve a spot on your list. They help you survive and keep your team healthy.
-
Noelle acts as both a healer and a defender. You can use her shield and healing in many situations.
-
Barbara gives you simple and steady healing. She is easy to use and works well for new players.
Here’s a quick look at how you can judge the Best 4-Star Characters. You want to see how much damage they deal, how consistent they are, how much they rely on team synergy, and how well they perform in endgame content.
|
Criteria |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Damage Output |
The amount of damage a character can deal in various scenarios. |
|
Consistency |
How reliably a character can perform well across different situations. |
|
Team Composition Reliance |
The extent to which a character's effectiveness depends on the synergy with other team members. |
|
Effectiveness in Endgame Content |
The character's performance in high-level content where challenges are more demanding. |
You want to pick characters who score high in these areas. The Best 4-Star Characters help you clear hard stages, build flexible teams, and save resources. You get more value for your time and effort.
Bennett: The Ultimate Support
Role and Strengths
You want a character who can do it all. Bennett stands out as the ultimate support among the Best 4-Star Characters. He boosts your team’s attack, heals quickly, and helps everyone use their abilities more often. You can rely on him in tough fights. Here’s what makes Bennett so strong:
-
Gives your team a big ATK buff, making everyone hit harder.
-
Heals fast, keeping your team alive during hard battles.
-
Helps your team get energy quickly, so you can use powerful moves more often.
-
Uses his Elemental Skill often because of its short cooldown.
-
His Elemental Burst works well with many teams and can be used a lot.
-
Applies Pyro to trigger strong elemental reactions.
Tip: Bennett’s skills let you clear stages faster and safer. You get more value from every fight.
Team Synergy
You can pair Bennett with many characters for great results. He works best with teammates who boost his abilities or add extra elemental damage. Try these combos:
-
Pair with Chongyu for Cryo damage and faster attacks.
-
Use Xingqiu for extra healing and Hydro reactions.
-
Team up with Xiangling to boost Pyro damage and make your attacks even stronger.
You can mix Bennett with other supports or damage dealers. Your team becomes more flexible and powerful.
F2P Friendliness
If you play for free, you want to know if Bennett is easy to get and build. Here’s a quick look:
|
Evidence Point |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Combat Value |
Limited for F2P players; skip unless you love collecting characters. |
|
Investment Recommendation |
No need to invest more if you have Bennett at E0. |
|
Signature Light Cone |
Needs E1 and his signature Light Cone for better performance. |
You can use Bennett well even without spending money. He fits into many teams and helps you progress in the game.
Xingqiu: Hydro Sub-DPS
Role and Strengths
Xingqiu helps your team do more damage, even when he is not fighting. His Elemental Burst lets you use Hydro attacks while you play other characters. This means you can make more elemental reactions and do more damage. Xingqiu is a steady helper for your team. Here are some things he does well:
-
Xingqiu’s Elemental Burst makes your team hit harder.
-
He helps you make elemental reactions, so fights get easier.
-
He needs Energy Recharge to use his Burst a lot.
Tip: Give Xingqiu enough Energy Recharge. Your team will do more damage in every fight.
Team Synergy
You can put Xingqiu in many teams. He works with lots of strong supports and damage dealers. This gives you more ways to build good teams. Here is a table with some top teams that use Xingqiu’s skills:
|
Team Composition |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Raiden National |
Raiden Shogun, Xingqiu, Xiangling, Bennett - High single-target DPS with elemental reactions. |
|
Classic National |
Swaps Chongyun for Raiden, effective for reverse Melt, F2P accessible. |
|
Sucrose Taser |
Xingqiu, Fischl, Beidou, Sucrose - Focuses on Electro-Charged reactions with strong AoE damage. |
|
Double Hydro Freeze |
Pairs with another Hydro character for enhanced Hydro application and resonance benefits. |
Note: You can use Xingqiu with other Best 4-Star Characters. This helps you beat hard parts of the game.
Situational Uses
You can use Xingqiu almost anywhere. He is good in boss fights, domains, and Spiral Abyss. He gives strong Hydro for reactions like Vaporize and Electro-Charged. Xingqiu can also heal your team with his passive. If you want a sub-DPS you can trust, Xingqiu is a great choice for most teams. Check out our team composition guide for more ideas.
Fischl: Versatile Electro DPS
Role and Strengths
You want a character who can deal damage even when she is not on the field. Fischl shines as an off-field Electro DPS. Her skill lets you summon Oz, who attacks enemies while you switch to other characters. You get steady Electro damage and can trigger reactions like Electro-Charged or Overloaded. Fischl’s attacks feel fast and reliable. She fits into many teams and helps you clear content quickly.
Tip: You can use Fischl’s skill and burst to keep Oz on the field longer. This means more damage and more chances for reactions.
Team Synergy
Fischl works well with many other characters. You can pair her with Sucrose or Xingqiu for strong reaction teams. She helps boost damage in Taser teams, where Electro and Hydro mix for big results. You can also use her with Pyro characters to trigger Overloaded. Fischl does not need much setup, so you can add her to your team without changing your whole strategy.
|
Partner |
Synergy Benefit |
|---|---|
|
Sucrose |
Boosts Electro-Charged reactions |
|
Xingqiu |
Enables Taser teams |
|
Xiangling |
Triggers Overloaded |
Comparison to 5-Stars
You might wonder how Fischl stacks up against 5-star Electro characters. Fischl gives you great value for less investment. Her damage stays strong, and her skills work in many teams. You do not need rare gear or high constellations. While some 5-stars offer more burst damage, Fischl’s consistency and flexibility make her one of the Best 4-Star Characters for any roster.
Xiangling: Pyro Damage Dealer
Role and Strengths
If you want a Pyro character with big damage, Xiangling is a great pick. She fits into lots of teams and is easy to use. Her Elemental Skill is called Guoba Attack. It drops a small bear that breathes fire at enemies. Her Elemental Burst is Pyronado. It spins around you and hits all enemies nearby. This gives you strong Pyro damage even when she is not on the field. You can make reactions like Vaporize and Melt for extra damage. Xiangling’s attacks are quick and always work well. She is good in fights against one enemy or many.
Tip: Try using Pyronado with Hydro or Cryo teammates. You will see really big reaction damage!
Team Synergy
You can make many teams with Xiangling. She works well with other 4-star characters, so you do not need rare ones. Here are some team ideas:
-
National Team: Xiangling, Xingqiu, Bennett, and Chongyun. This team gives you strong reactions and healing.
-
Reverse Melt Team: Xiangling, Rosaria, Bennett, and Sucrose. You get fast Pyro and Cryo attacks for big damage.
-
Taser Team: Xiangling, Fischl, Sucrose, and Xingqiu. You trigger Electro-Charged and Overloaded reactions.
|
Team Name |
Main Elemental Reaction |
Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
|
National |
Vaporize |
High DPS, F2P |
|
Reverse Melt |
Melt |
Burst damage |
|
Taser |
Overloaded/Electro-Charged |
AoE and fast attacks |
F2P Friendliness
You do not have to spend money to get Xiangling. You unlock her for free by finishing Spiral Abyss Floor 3. Her best weapon, The Catch, comes from fishing, so you do not need to wish for it. Most of her best teams use other 4-star characters, so she is easy to build. Compared to 5-star Pyro characters like Yoimiya, Xiangling saves you resources. You can make strong teams without spending a lot. If you want a Pyro damage dealer you can trust, Xiangling gives you everything you need for free.
Sucrose: Anemo Support
Role and Strengths
You want a support who can do more than just stand in the back. Sucrose brings a lot to your team. She controls crowds, boosts your Elemental Mastery, and helps you trigger big reactions. When you use her skills, you see enemies pulled together. This makes it easy to hit them all at once. Sucrose also gives your team a nice Elemental Mastery buff, so your reactions hit even harder. You get more damage from Melt, Vaporize, and other reaction-based teams.
Here’s what Sucrose does best:
-
Buffs your team’s Elemental Mastery
-
Gathers enemies with her Anemo skills
-
Triggers elemental reactions with ease
-
Shines in teams that focus on reactions like Melt, Vaporize, and Lunar-Charged
Tip: If you want to see big numbers from your reactions, Sucrose is the one to build!
Team Synergy
You can fit Sucrose into many team types. She works great with other 4-star characters, so you don’t need rare pulls. Sucrose helps teams that want lots of reactions. Here’s a quick look at some teams where she shines:
|
Team Type |
Driver/Support |
Sub DPS |
Sub DPS |
Healer/Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Electro-Charged |
Sucrose (4★) |
Fischl (4★) |
Beidou (4★) |
Xingqiu (4★) |
|
Hyperbloom |
Sucrose (4★) |
Nahida (5★) |
Xingqiu (4★) |
Kuki Shinobu (4★) |
|
Vaporize |
Sucrose (4★) |
Pyro DPS |
N/A |
N/A |
You can see Sucrose fits in both F2P and mixed teams. She helps everyone do more damage.
Situational Uses
You want to clear mobs fast? Sucrose pulls enemies together, so you can wipe them out with one big attack. She works well in Spiral Abyss, domains, and anywhere you need crowd control. If you like reaction teams, Sucrose boosts your damage and makes fights easier. You can use her as your main support or swap her in for tough stages. Sucrose always brings value, no matter your team or playstyle.
F2P-Friendly 4-Star Characters
Noelle: Healer and Defender
You want a character who can do many jobs. Noelle stands out as a great choice for new players. You get her for free early in the game, so you do not need to worry about luck. Noelle can heal your team and protect everyone with her shield. Her shield feels strong and lasts a long time. You can use her healing skill when your team gets low on health. Noelle’s attacks hit hard when you use her Elemental Burst. You can build her with defense stats to make her shield and healing even better.
Tip: Try Noelle in your team if you need a healer and a defender at the same time. She helps you survive tough fights.
Here’s a quick look at Noelle’s strengths:
-
Free character for all players
-
Reliable shield for defense
-
Healing skill for emergencies
-
Easy to build with defense gear
Barbara: Simple Healer
You want healing without any fuss. Barbara gives you just that. You get her for free after reaching Adventure Rank 18. Barbara’s healing feels steady and simple. You tap her skill, and your team starts to heal over time. Her Elemental Burst gives a big heal in one go. You do not need to learn any tricky combos. Barbara works well in early game teams and helps you stay alive. You can use her in many team setups, especially when you need extra healing.
|
Character |
Healing Type |
Extra Benefit |
How to Get |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Noelle |
Burst + Shield |
Defense |
Free (Wish) |
|
Barbara |
Skill + Burst |
Hydro Application |
Free (Rank 18) |
You can trust Noelle and Barbara to keep your team safe. They make the Best 4-Star Characters list for their easy access and strong healing.
Quick Comparison Table
You want to see how the best 4-star characters stack up side by side? This table gives you a quick look at what each one brings to your team. You can use it to decide who fits your playstyle or fills a gap in your lineup.
|
Character |
Main Role |
Best Strength |
Team Fit |
F2P Friendly |
Healing/Shield |
Crowd Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bennett |
Support/Healer |
ATK Buff + Healing |
Any |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Yes |
No |
|
Xingqiu |
Sub-DPS/Support |
Hydro Reactions |
Most |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Minor |
No |
|
Fischl |
Off-field DPS |
Electro Damage |
Many |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
No |
No |
|
Xiangling |
Sub-DPS |
Pyro AoE Damage |
Most |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
No |
No |
|
Sucrose |
Support |
EM Buff + Swirl |
Reaction Teams |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
No |
Yes |
|
Noelle |
Healer/Defender |
Shield + Healing |
Beginner Teams |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Yes |
No |
|
Barbara |
Healer |
Easy Healing |
Early/Support |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Yes |
No |
Best 4-Star Characters Reference List
-
Bennett: You get the best attack buff and healing in one package.
-
Xingqiu: You trigger strong Hydro reactions and boost your team’s damage.
-
Fischl: You deal steady Electro damage, even when she’s off the field.
-
Xiangling: You bring powerful Pyro damage to every fight.
-
Sucrose: You group enemies and make your reactions hit harder.
-
Noelle: You get a free shield and healing for tough battles.
-
Barbara: You heal your team with simple skills.
💡 Tip: You can mix these characters to cover every role. Try different combos to find what works best for you!
Team Building Tips
Synergy with 5-Stars
You want your teams to feel strong and smooth. Pairing 4-star characters with 5-stars can make a big difference. Many 5-star units need support to shine. The Best 4-Star Characters fill those gaps. For example, Bennett boosts attack for almost any 5-star DPS. Xingqiu helps trigger reactions for Pyro or Electro 5-stars. Sucrose groups enemies so your main damage dealer can hit more targets. You can also use Fischl to keep Electro damage going while your 5-star takes the spotlight.
Try mixing your favorite 5-star with two or three top 4-stars. You will see better damage and more reliable clears.
Some 5-star teams use 4-stars to reach high scores in tough content. Here is a table with popular team setups and their strategies:
|
Team Composition |
Key Characters |
Strategy Description |
|---|---|---|
|
F2P Acheron |
Acheron, Pela, Tingyun, Gallagher |
Consistent debuffs help clear cycles quickly. |
|
F2P Firefly |
Firefly, Trailblazer (Imaginary), Asta, Natasha |
Speed boosts and Super Break keep the team fast and strong. |
|
F2P Phainon |
Phainon, Trailblazer (Ice), Tingyun, Lynx |
Support skills help generate Coreflame and keep the team moving. |
Best F2P Team Compositions
You do not need rare characters to make a great team. Many free-to-play teams use only 4-stars and still clear hard stages. You can build a team with Xiangling, Xingqiu, Sucrose, and Bennett for strong reactions and healing. Noelle and Barbara help you stay alive if you need more defense. At Bahomu, we find these teams perfect for farming artifacts efficiently.
Here are some tips for building your own F2P team:
-
Pick one main damage dealer.
-
Add supports who boost damage or heal.
-
Look for characters who trigger strong elemental reactions.
-
Try different combos until you find what works best for you.
Remember, you can always swap team members to fit the challenge. The right mix of the Best 4-Star Characters will help you win, even without 5-stars.
You now know the top 4-star picks for 2026.
-
Build Bennett, Xingqiu, Fischl, Xiangling, and Sucrose for strong teams.
-
Try different combos to match your playstyle.
-
Focus on F2P options if you want to save resources.
Ready to invest? Start leveling these characters for future content!
FAQ
Which 4-star character should you build first?
You should start with Bennett. He boosts your team’s attack and heals. You get more value in every fight.
Tip: Bennett fits almost any team!
Can you clear endgame content with only 4-star characters?
Yes, you can! Teams with Bennett, Xingqiu, Xiangling, and Sucrose clear tough stages.
-
Try mixing these four for strong results.
Are these characters good for free-to-play players?
Absolutely! You get most of them for free or with low investment.
|
Character |
How to Get |
|---|---|
|
Xiangling |
Free (Abyss) |
|
Noelle |
Free (Wish) |
|
Barbara |
Free (Rank 18) |





