If you are just starting your journey across Mondstadt and Liyue, you might feel a little overwhelmed. I’ve been grinding this game since launch day, and looking back at my early account makes me want to facepalm. I made every mistake in the book—wasting resources, ignoring crucial mechanics, and missing out on powerful characters.

Genshin Impact is massive, and while it is free-to-play friendly, it is also very easy to ruin your early-game efficiency if you aren't careful. You don't want to hit Adventure Rank 45 with zero resources and a team that hits like a wet noodle.

I’m here to guide you through the pitfalls. Whether you are a casual explorer or an aspiring spiral abyss conqueror, here are the 10 common beginner mistakes you need to avoid, plus some insider tips on how to score discounted top ups to maximize your pulls.

1. Wasting Fragile Resin Before Adventure Rank 45

This is the golden rule of Genshin Impact. You will receive items called "Fragile Resin" (the crescent moon-shaped items) as rewards for leveling up. Do not touch them.

Why? In the early game, utilizing your Fragile Resin gives you low-tier artifacts (3-star or 4-star) that you will eventually throw away. The highest tier artifacts (5-star/Gold) only guaranteed drop from domains once you hit Adventure Rank 45. Save every single Fragile Resin for that milestone. Once you hit AR 45, burn them all to farm a proper artifact set for your main DPS. Your future self will thank you.

2. Spreading Your Resources Too Thin

I get it. You just pulled Diluc, then you got Kaeya, and Lisa looks cool too. You want to level everyone up to see what they do. Stop right there.

Resources like Mora and Hero’s Wits (XP books) become incredibly scarce the higher your World Level goes. If you try to level up 10 characters at once, you will end up with a team of under-leveled units that cannot kill a common Hilichurl.

The Solution: Focus on one main DPS character and three support characters. Pour all your resources into maxing out your main damage dealer first (Level, Weapon, Talents) before working on the rest.

3. Ignoring Elemental Reactions

Coming from other RPGs, you might think raw physical damage is king. In Genshin, it’s all about the elements. Hitting an enemy with just a sword is fine, but combining elements is where the massive damage numbers happen.

1. Vaporize (Hydro + Pyro): Multiplies damage.
2. Melt (Cryo + Pyro): Multiplies damage.
3. Hyperbloom (Dendro + Hydro + Electro): Creates homing missiles of destruction.

If you are just spamming the attack button without swapping characters to trigger reactions, you are playing the game on "Hard Mode" unintentionally.

4. Skipping the Weekly Bosses

Every week, you can fight powerful bosses like Dvalin (Stormterror) and Andrius (Lupus Boreas). In the early game, it’s easy to forget them or think they are too hard.

You must fight them. They drop materials required to upgrade your characters' talents past Level 6. These drops are time-gated (you can only get rewards once a week). If you skip three weeks, that is three weeks of progress you can never get back. Make Monday your "Boss Rush" day.

5. Misunderstanding the Gacha System (The 50/50 Rule)

This confuses almost everyone. You see a banner for a character like Raiden Shogun, and you think, "If I get a 5-star, it’s going to be her." Not exactly.

What is the 50/50 rule in Genshin Impact? When you pull a 5-star character on the limited banner, there is a 50% chance it will be the featured character (e.g., Raiden) and a 50% chance it will be a standard banner character (like Qiqi, Diluc, or Mona).

1. If you lose the 50/50 (get a standard character), your next 5-star is guaranteed to be the featured one.
2. Always save enough Primogems (around 160-180 pulls) if you want to guarantee a specific character.

6. Neglecting Your Weapons and Talents

Your character level is only half the battle. I’ve seen players with Level 80 characters using Level 20 weapons and Level 1 talents.

1. Weapons: Always max out your main DPS weapon. It provides your base attack stat.
2. Talents: This is where your damage multipliers live. Levelling a talent represents a permanent damage increase.

Don't ignore the domains that drop weapon materials and talent books. They are more important than artifact farming in the early game because these upgrades are guaranteed, unlike the RNG (luck) of artifacts.

7. Using Primogems on the Standard Banner

You will see two types of fates (wishes) in the shop: Intertwined Fates (Pink/Blue) and Acquaint Fates (Blue).

Never use Primogems to buy Acquaint Fates. The Standard Banner (Wanderlust Invocation) is permanent. You will get free Acquaint Fates just by playing, leveling up the battle pass, and ascending characters. The limited character banner uses Intertwined Fates, and that is where the most powerful characters in the game appear. Spending precious gems on the standard banner is a waste of value.

8. Not Marking Your Map (The Oculi Struggle)

To increase your stamina, you need to collect Anemoculi and Geoculi. There are hundreds of them. If you pick one up and don’t mark it on your map (or use an interactive map tracker online), you will eventually be missing one or two, and you will have no idea which ones you missed.

You will then have to re-visit every single location to check. Save your sanity—mark them as you find them!

9. Rushing Your World Level Ascension

When you hit certain Adventure Ranks (like 25, 35, 45, 50), you receive a quest to increase your World Level. This makes enemies tougher but improves loot drops.

Some players rush this quest immediately without prepping their team. Suddenly, the open world becomes deadly, and they can’t defeat bosses to get upgrade materials. Before you do the Ascension Quest, ensure your main team’s weapons and levels are maxed out for your current limit.

10. Ignoring 4-Star Characters

Beginners often think "5-star = Good, 4-star = Bad." This is completely false in Genshin Impact.

Characters like Bennett, Xingqiu, and Xiangling are 4-stars, but they are widely considered some of the best units in the entire game—even better than many 5-stars. They are the backbone of the "National Team," a top-tier meta composition. Don't bench them just because their background isn't gold. Read their kits and build them!

Maximize Your Genesis Crystals: The Gamer’s Secret

We all want that shiny new 5-star character or that signature weapon, but buying Genesis Crystals directly through the app store can hurt the wallet. As a Filipino gamer, you know we love finding the "sulit" (best value) option.

If you are looking for cheap top ups that are safe and fast, you need to check out GPDS Game Shop.

Why Choose GPDS?

Finding where to top up diamonds in the Philippines or Genesis Crystals safely can be tricky with so many scams online. I’ve looked into it, and here is the verdict: GPDS Game Shop legit status is solid. They are a trusted provider for Filipino gamers who want to stretch their budget.

1. Discounted Game Credits: They offer rates that are often better than direct store purchases.
2. Fast Delivery: No waiting around; your crystals arrive almost instantly.
3. Convenience: They support local payment methods we actually use.

Whether you are saving for the next Archon in Genshin or even planning your budget for other massive updates, smart spending is key. Speaking of which, for my multi-game players out there, GPDS is also the go-to for discounted game credits for other titles. You can save money now to prepare for upcoming battle passes or limited-time events. Even if you are looking way ahead at future content patches, building up your credits early via cheap game credits from GPDS is the smartest move.

Always look for GPDS Game Shop Philippines to ensure you are getting the best regional rates. Don't pay full price when you can get discounted top ups and use the savings for real-life snacks (or more pulls)!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Genshin Impact ok for a 10 year old?

Officially, Genshin Impact is rated "Teen" (ESRB) or 12+ on mobile stores. While the art style is vibrant and anime-like, there are two things parents should note:

1. Fantasy Violence: It involves fighting with swords and magic, though there is no gore.
2. Gacha Mechanics (Gambling): The core monetization involves spending money for a "chance" to get characters. This can be addictive. For a 10-year-old, it is generally okay content-wise, but strictly with parental supervision regarding playtime and spending.

Is there any LGBT in Genshin Impact?

Hoyoverse (the developer) generally does not explicitly confirm relationships due to strict censorship laws in their home country. However, there is heavy "queer coding" and subtext that the community embraces. Relationships between characters like Ningguang and Beidou, or Alhaitham and Kaveh, are written with significant intimacy that many interpret as romantic. While not explicitly canonized with a label, the representation is felt strongly by the fanbase.

Who is the rarest 5 * in Genshin Impact?

Technically, the rarest character is Aloy from the Horizon Zero Dawn collaboration. She was given out for free for a limited time in Version 2.1 and 2.2. Unlike other limited 5-stars who eventually get "rerun" banners, Aloy has never returned and likely never will. If you didn't play during that specific window, you cannot get her.

Stay Updated with Official News

For official announcements, patch notes, livestream codes, or upcoming events, always follow Genshin Impact on their verified channels:

1. Official Website
2. Instagram
3. Facebook
4. YouTube

Ready to Explore Teyvat?

Avoiding these mistakes will put you lightyears ahead of the average traveler. Remember, Genshin Impact is a marathon, not a sprint. Take your time, enjoy the story, and spend your Primogems wisely!

If you found this helpful and want to dive even deeper into account optimization, you need to check out our latest comprehensive guide. It covers advanced tips that I learned the hard way after hundreds of hours of gameplay.

>> Read Next: Genshin Impact: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide (15 Tips I Wish I Knew)