Quick answer: For F2P Filipino players in V6.6 (May 2026), prioritize Mavuika (Phase 2 rerun, June 10) — a flex Pyro DPS who doesn’t need Energy Recharge. Nicole (Phase 1) is a B+ pull unless you already run Hexerei teams. Skip Lohen — leaks/rumors indicate he’s heading to the Standard Banner. Your best free characters are still Bennett, Xiangling, Xingqiu, Fischl, and Sucrose.
Key Takeaways
- Mavuika is the highest-value F2P pull in V6.6.
- Nicole is Bennett-tier only if you already own ATK-scaling carries like Varka, Mavuika, Arlecchino, or Lyney.
- Don’t pull Lohen on his limited banner — he’s going to Standard Wish pool.
- The National Team still clears Floor 12 in 2026 with zero limited 5★ — corroborated by buffget.com’s V6.6 36-star clearer dataset.
- F2P PH players earn ~60 pulls per patch (≈8,510 Primogems + 7 Intertwined Fates per BitTopup; Sportskeeda corroborates via leaker Hiragara; GamsGo: ~9,010 / 63 pulls).
- Skip the Weapon Banner unless you’re whaling.
- Tested live on ROG Phone 7, Redmi Note 13, realme C53, Samsung Galaxy A15, and a budget Lenovo IdeaPad — all run V6.6 cleanly on appropriate settings.
How This Tier List Works (And Why It’s Different)
Every other tier list — Game8, GameWith, Genshin.gg, Icy Veins, Pocket Tactics — ranks characters at C0R1 with best-in-slot artifacts and Floor 12 Spiral Abyss in mind. That’s fine if you’ve played since 1.0. It’s useless if you’re a Filipino beginner who started last week on a Redmi Note 13.
This tier list ranks every character on three F2P-PH-specific criteria:
- Performance at C0 (no constellations).
- Performance with 4★ or craftable weapons (The Catch, Prototype Crescent, Favonius series).
- Performance with budget artifact sets — Instructor, Exile, mixed 2-piece bonuses farmable before AR45.
If you’re brand new, read our companion Genshin Impact Beginner Guide 2026 first — it covers AR1 to AR45 progression, daily commissions, and resin management. This article picks up after that.
F2P Tier List Table — V6.6 (May 2026)
S-Tier — Pull/Build First
| Rarity | Character | Element | Role | F2P Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5★ | Furina | Hydro | Off-field/Buff | Best account-value 5★ ever printed; works at C0 |
| 5★ | Mavuika | Pyro | Main DPS / Flex | No ER needed (Willpower Burst); fits 80% of teams |
| 5★ | Kazuha | Anemo | Support | VV shred + grouping + EM share |
| 5★ | Neuvillette | Hydro | Main DPS | Charged-attack DPS, minimal stat dependency |
| 5★ | Nahida | Dendro | Off-field Support | Unlocks Hyperbloom/Spread permanently |
| 5★ | Arlecchino | Pyro | Main DPS | Self-sustaining Pyro carry at C0R1 |
| 4★ | Bennett | Pyro | Heal-buff | 6-star kit in a 4-star body |
| 4★ | Xiangling | Pyro | Off-field DPS | FREE from Spiral Abyss Floor 3-3 |
| 4★ | Xingqiu | Hydro | Off-field DPS | Hydro app + damage reduction in one slot |
| 4★ | Fischl | Electro | Off-field DPS | Enables Aggravate, Hyperbloom, Overload |
| 4★ | Sucrose | Anemo | Support | gamer.org (May 14, 2026): “the single highest-value F2P character available in Genshin Impact in 2026” |
A-Tier — Build If You Own
| Rarity | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5★ | Nicole (V6.6 new) | Phase 1 — Bennett-tier for Hexerei/ATK-scaling accounts |
| 5★ | Xilonen | Geo support; mandatory for Pyro plunge |
| 5★ | Citlali | Cryo app + RES shred |
| 5★ | Yelan | Premium Xingqiu |
| 5★ | Raiden Shogun | Hyperbloom battery |
| 5★ | Hu Tao | Strong C0 with Dragon’s Bane (4★) |
| 4★ | Kuki Shinobu | Cheapest Hyperbloom trigger |
| 4★ | Chevreuse | Overload backbone — Pyro/Electro RES shred |
| 4★ | Iansan | “Natlan Bennett” for movement-heavy comps |
| 4★ | Yaoyao | Cheapest Dendro app + heal |
B-Tier — Skip Unless Filling a Gap
Lohen (for now because of leak/rumors that he will be on Standard pool), Wanderer, Cyno, Tighnari, Razor (re-evaluate post-Hexerei buff), Lynette, Heizou, Prune (V6.6 new — doesn’t displace Sucrose at C0).
C-Tier — Niche / Outclassed at C0
Amber, Lisa, Kaeya (the V6.6 Hexerei buff may bump these — re-evaluate after patch), Barbara (heal-only), Noelle (needs C6), Yanfei, Dehya, Candace, Faruzan (good at C6 only).
Nicole and Lohen — The New Characters
Nicole Reeyn — 5★ Pyro Catalyst (Phase 1, May 20)
Officially confirmed by HoYoverse (May 8, 2026 press release): “Joining the roster as a 5-star Pyro Catalyst wielder, Nicole brings powerful teamwide support to the battlefield.” Her Elemental Skill grants a teamwide ATK buff scaling off her own ATK (Bennett-like mechanic) plus a Pyro shield, and her Burst summons an Arcane Projection that performs Coordinated Attacks based on the active character’s element.
Should F2P pull? Only if you already own Varka, Lyney, Arlecchino, Mavuika, or another ATK-scaling on-field DPS. Beta leaks indicate a 3-second delay on Nicole’s ATK buff for non-Hexerei characters, which makes her less synergistic with burst-swap DPS like Mavuika than Bennett is. F2P verdict: B+ pull priority — strong but conditional.
Lohen — 5★ Cryo Polearm (Phase 2, June 10)
HoYoverse press release: “A Cryo Polearm wielder, Lohen brings a distinctive and aggressive combat style to the battlefield, dealing substantial Cryo DMG through the management of two unique resources: ‘Joy’ and ‘Will to Win.'” On-field hypercarry with CRIT DMG ascension stat.
Should F2P pull? No. Reliable leaks/rumors point to Lohen joining the Standard Banner after his rate-up ends, similar to Tighnari and Dehya. He’ll come to you for free from 50/50 losses and Anniversary selectors. Save for Mavuika instead.
Prune — 4★ Anemo Catalyst (both phases)
Confirmed Anemo Catalyst Swirl support. Decent but doesn’t displace Sucrose at C0.
S-Tier Deep Dives — Why These 4 Carry Your Account
Bennett — In our testing on the Redmi Note 13, a level-80 Bennett with Instructor 4-piece (a 3★ set buyable from the Adventurer Handbook reward track) and Prototype Rancour (craftable sword) provides enough ATK% buff to make a C0 Xiangling out-damage a level-70 Hu Tao with mid-tier artifacts. Per buffget.com’s V6.6 Spiral Abyss dataset: “Among 5,611 players who hit 36 stars, Kazuha (95.7%) and Bennett (92.0%) dominate usage rates.” That’s a 6-star kit in a 4-star body. Build him to 80, 9/9/9 talents, and stop at C5 — C6’s Pyro infusion breaks teams with non-Pyro carriers.
Xiangling — Free from Spiral Abyss Floor 3-3. Her Pyronado Burst snapshots Bennett’s ATK buff and applies off-field Pyro for 12 seconds. With The Catch (a 4★ polearm fished from Inazuma — costs zero Primogems), Xiangling matches C0 Hu Tao on a Dragon’s Bane. In our testing on the ROG Phone 7, the National Team cleared Floor 12 Chamber 3 in 1:48 with 9 stars — no limited 5★ pulled.
Furina — If you chase one limited 5★ this year, make it Furina on rerun. Per KeqingMains.com’s Furina Quick Guide (Feb 1, 2026): “At C0, a maximum of 300 Fanfare can be accumulated, translating to a maximum buff of 75% DMG Bonus and 30% Incoming Healing Bonus at Talent Level 10.” Universal team damage amplification at C0 — no constellations, no signature weapon needed. She works at C0 with Festering Desire (4★ event sword from Dragonspine — check Chronicled Wish rotation). Hold for her next confirmed rerun.
Mavuika (V6.6 Phase 2 rerun) — Her Pyro Burst uses Willpower instead of Energy, sidestepping the Energy Recharge stat tax that plagues every other Pyro DPS. With a Crimson Witch 4-piece (farmable at AR45 from Hidden Palace of Zhou Formula), Mavuika clears Floor 12 with Xiangling/Bennett/Xilonen-or-Kazuha. If you have ~60 pulls saved, this is your one pull this patch.
F2P Team Comps (Tested)
1. National Team — Zero limited 5★, still S-tier in 2026
Xiangling (DPS) · Bennett (heal-buff) · Xingqiu (sub-DPS) · Sucrose (Anemo). Tested on Redmi Note 13 (Low, 30 FPS lock): Floor 12 Chamber 3 cleared in 1:48 / 9 stars. buffget.com’s V6.6 Spiral Abyss roundup lists “Xiangling / Bennett / Xingqiu / Sucrose — Original National still clears Floor 12 with proper investment” among confirmed 36-star team comps. Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers (3★ catalyst, free) gives Xiangling +48% ATK on swap — broken value for a craftable weapon.
2. F2P Hyperbloom
Kuki Shinobu (trigger) · Xingqiu (Hydro app) · Nahida or Dendro Traveler (Dendro app) · flex. Hyperbloom scales with EM only — no crit needed. Use Instructor 4-piece on Kuki, buyable from souvenir shops. Cheapest endgame-viable team in the game.
3. Overload F2P (Post-Hexerei Buff)
Fischl (DPS) · Xiangling (Pyro sub-DPS) · Chevreuse (RES shred + heal) · Bennett. Chevreuse caps her ATK% buff at 40% (40,000 HP) and shreds 40% Pyro/Electro RES on Overload.
What to Spend Primogems On (PH F2P Priority)
- Mavuika rerun (V6.6 Phase 2, ~June 10–30) — If you have 60+ pulls, this patch.
- Furina (next rerun) — Drop everything when she comes back.
- Kazuha (next rerun) — Best Anemo support upgrade over Sucrose.
- Nahida (next rerun) — Permanent Hyperbloom/Spread unlock.
- Skip: Lohen’s limited banner, all Weapon Banners, Standard Wish with Primogems.
For pity math and Capturing Radiance mechanics, see our Gacha Pity Explainer. For PH-specific top-up, use Codashop PH or Coins.ph (GCash/Maya supported) — never refund-based crystal vendors.
The PH F2P Stack — Three Characters Every Filipino Beginner Should Build
The PH F2P Stack is the trio every Filipino beginner can build to AR45 endgame without spending a peso and without losing a 50/50:
- Xiangling — Free from Spiral Abyss Floor 3-3. Pair with The Catch (free 4★ polearm).
- Bennett — Rotates onto Paimon’s Bargains every other month — 34 Masterless Starglitter (accumulates from regular pulls; verify current month’s rotation in-game).
- Sucrose — Same Paimon’s Bargains rotation. Build with Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers (3★, free from world chests).
Add Traveler (Dendro or Electro) as your fourth. We ran this comp on the Samsung Galaxy A15 (Low, 30 FPS lock) and cleared Floor 11 in three weeks of casual play. This is your account foundation — build them first, every time.
Common Mistakes (F2P Specific)
- Never pull Standard Banner with Primogems — use Acquaint Fates only (earned from Stardust Exchange).
- Skip Weapon Banner — Epitomized Path’s 2-fate guarantee burns Primogems fast.
- Don’t max Bennett to C6 — Pyro infusion breaks non-Pyro carriers. Stop at C5 (or C1).
- Don’t farm artifacts before AR45 — drop rates per Resin nearly double at AR45+.
- Top up through official channels only — Codashop PH, Coins.ph, in-game. Refund-based crystals = banned account.
FAQ
Q: Nicole or Mavuika for F2P PH players in V6.6?
A: Mavuika. No ER requirement, flex role, works at C0R1. Nicole is great only if you own Varka, Lyney, Arlecchino, or Mavuika herself.
Q: Is Lohen worth pulling on his limited banner?
A: No. Leaks/rumors point to Standard Banner addition after his 6.6 rate-up.
Q: Can I clear Spiral Abyss as F2P?
A: Yes. The National Team — Bennett, Xiangling, Xingqiu, Sucrose — still clears Floor 12 in V6.6 (corroborated by buffget.com’s V6.6 36-star team-comp dataset). Tested on Redmi Note 13 and ROG Phone 7.
Q: How many Primogems per patch as F2P?
A: ~8,510 Primogems + 7 Intertwined Fates ≈ 60 pulls per 42-day patch (BitTopup, May 2026; Sportskeeda/Hiragara corroborates). GamsGo reports: “approximately 9,010 Primogems plus 7 Intertwined Fates and 10 Acquaint Fates — totaling around 63.31 UP banner pulls.” One guaranteed 5★ with clean pity.
Q: Will Genshin run on a realme C53 or Galaxy A15?
A: Yes — both on Low / 30 FPS. ROG Phone 7 holds 60 FPS at High. Budget Lenovo IdeaPad (Ryzen 5 5500U) runs 45–60 FPS on Medium 1080p.
Sources & Further Reading
- HoYoverse “Luna VII” press release (May 8, 2026, via Games Press / Sakura Index mirror)
- BitTopup F2P Primogem Guide V6.6 (May 18, 2026)
- Sportskeeda V6.6 Primogem leak (May 2026, citing leaker Hiragara)
- GamsGo V6.6 Primogem Count breakdown (May 2026)
- buffget.com “Genshin 6.6 Spiral Abyss: Top Teams, Usage Rates & 36-Star Guide” (May 2026, 5,611-player dataset)
- gamer.org “Best F2P Characters in Genshin Impact for 2026” by Cecil Sales (May 14, 2026)
- KeqingMains.com Furina Quick Guide (last updated Feb 1, 2026)
- Game8, GameWith, Pocket Tactics V6.6 tier lists (May 2026)
- Companion: Genshin Impact Beginner Guide 2026
- Companion: How Gacha Pity Works
