The core of character building is not "max everything" but "spend where it matters most". This article gives you a clear priority roadmap to build the strongest characters with minimal resin and resources.
Upgrade Priority Overview
The order of resource investment determines ROI. Each resource spend must have a clear purpose and measurable return.
| Priority | Item | Investment | Return |
| **1** | Talents | Mora + books + crowns | +30-40% damage |
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| **2** | Weapons | Primogems / forge / BP | +15-25% damage |
|---|
| **3** | Artifacts | Resin | +20-40% damage (late game) |
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| **4** | Constellations | Primogems | 5-100% depending on C-level |
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| **5** | Level | EXP books | Unlock skills, base stats |
|---|
> Golden rule: Talents ≥ Weapons ≈ Artifacts > Constellations > Level (late game)
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Step 1: Talents (Highest Priority)
Why talents matter most?
- Skill multipliers are direct multipliers in the damage formula
- Lv.6 → Lv.9 increases skill multiplier by ~25-35%
- Maxing talents costs zero resin
Upgrade order:
1. Elemental Burst (Q) — primary DPS source for most characters
2. Elemental Skill (E) — sustained elemental application/support
3. Normal Attack — only for main DPS who rely on normal attacks (Razor/Noelle/Diluc)
Cost reference (2026 version):
- Lv.1→Lv.10 full books: ~1.65M mora + 3x1, 21x2, 38x3
- Crown of Insight: max 2 per character (Q+E each)
Recommendation: Main DPS and core supports at least Lv.8; minimum Lv.6 if budget is tight.
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Step 2: Weapon Selection
Free options first:
1. Forged weapons — Whiteblind, Verdict, Rainslasher, etc. free upgrade to 5-star
2. Battle Pass — 1680 primogems for 4-star premium weapons
3. Event freebies — e.g., Freedom-Sworn (available free in some versions)
Primogem priority (F2P-friendly):
- 5-star signature weapons only when absolutely necessary (e.g., Engulfing Lightning for Raiden)
- 4-star weapons are completely viable (Whiteblind, Prototype series, Iron Sting)
See [Best F2P Weapons Guide](best-f2p-weapons.html)
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Step 3: Artifacts (Resin Heavy)
Main stat priority by role:
| Role Type | Sands | Goblet | Flower/Feather | Circlet |
| Main DPS (DMG%) | ATK% | Elemental DMG% | Fixed | CRIT/CRIT DMG |
| Sub DPS (off-field) | ER% | Elemental DMG% | Fixed | CRIT/ER/EM |
| Support | ER% | Elemental Mastery | Fixed | Healing/Life/EM |
| Shielder | HP% | HP/DEF | Fixed | CRIT/CRIT DMG |
Farming strategy:
- Prioritize current event domains (easier, better drop rates)
- Resin: allocate 1-2 runs × 8 resin × 2 times/week = 16-32 resin for artifacts
- Don't farm artifacts for max-level characters — save resin for new characters
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Step 4: Constellations (Optional)
Worth pulling:
- C1 brings qualitative change (Nahida C2: AoE expanded)
- Already have signature weapon but need more damage
- Stable income (petroleum card + BP + primogem reserves)
Not worth it:
Value ranking (2026 version):
| Character | Key Constellation | Recommendation |
| Raiden Shogun | C2 (energy loop) | ★★★★★ |
| Kazuha | C6 (resistance shred + DMG) | ★★★★ |
| Nahida | C2/C4 (dendro DMG boost) | ★★★★ |
| Zhongli | C2 (shield thickness) | ★★★ |
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Step 5: Resin Allocation (Daily)
Daily resin priority:
1. World Level 1-3: Gather materials (zero resin cost)
2. World Level 4+: Farm boss materials for current roles
3. Weekly bosses: Once each on Mon/Thu/Sun (30 resin each)
4. Artifact domains: Based on which characters you're currently leveling
Weekly resin budget example (AR60 maxed):
| Purpose | Resin/week | Times |
| EXP/Mora domains | 24 | 3 |
| Weekly bosses | 90 | 3 |
| Artifact domains | 48-64 | 6-8 |
| **Total** | **162-176** | - |
|---|
> Save remaining resin for character ascension materials or fragile resin (condense after AR45).
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Quick Start Roadmap
New player (AR40-):
①\ Pick\ 1\ main\ DPS\ \(Keqing/Raiden/Hu\ Tao\)
②\ Pick\ 1\ support\ \(Xingqiu/Bennett\)
③\ Prioritize\ talents\ Q\+E\ to\ Lv\.8
④\ Use\ forged/BP\ weapons
⑤\ Farm\ universal\ sets\ \(Thundersoother/Verdant/Gladiator\)
Mid game (AR40-55):
①\ Main\ DPS\ talents\ Lv\.10
②\ Signature\ weapon\ upgrade\ \(if\ budget\ allows\)
③\ Artifacts:\ correct\ main\ stats,\ optimize\ sub\-stats
④\ Consider\ second\ main\ DPS
Late game (AR55+):
①\ All\ characters\ max\ level\ \+\ max\ talents
②\ Artifacts:\ pursue\ extreme\ sub\-stats
③\ Constellations\ as\ needed
④\ Spiral\ Abyss\ 12\-floor\ clear\ teams
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Common Pitfalls
| Pitfall | Consequence | Fix |
| Level before talents | Waste resin (level is late-game fixable) | Talents first |
| 30 artifacts, wrong main stat | Hours wasted | Set target first, farm only that set |
| Spread resources equally | No main DPS, all weak | Focus on 1-2 core characters |
| Constellation before signature weapon | Waste primogems | Weapon first, then constellation |
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One-Sentence Summary
> Talents first, weapons second, artifacts third; spend resin on your current team, don't spread evenly.
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Internal Links
| Guide | Link |
| [Elemental Reactions](elemental-reactions.html) | Understand role positioning in teams |
| [Elemental Resonance](elemental-resonance.html) | How to choose element combinations |
| [Artifact Farming Priority](artifact-farming.html) | Which domain is worth your resin |
| [Energy Recharge Guide](energy-recharge.html) | ER builds for Raiden National, etc. |
| [Crit Guide](crit-guide.html) | The 1:2 ratio of CRIT rate to CRIT DMG |
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FAQ
Q: What's the first character to level?
A: Recommend Raiden Shogun or Keqing (main DPS) + Xingqiu/Bennett (support). These two form the backbone of most team compositions.
Q: How many artifact runs before swapping?
A: Wrong main stat = swap immediately. Correct main but poor sub-stats = keep farming up to ~120 runs, then reassess.
Q: How many times per week should I do weekly bosses?
A: Once each on Monday/Thursday/Sunday (3 times total), covering the weekly refresh cycle.
Q: Does resin expire?
A: Yes. Max storage is 160 resin; excess overflows and is lost. Spend before bed or save fragile resin to condense after AR45.