As a dedicated Trailblazer, I've spent countless hours exploring the cosmos, and let me tell you, the five-star characters might get all the flashy introductions, but it's the four-star crew that truly carries the day-to-day weight of the journey. Think about it, as a free-to-play player, how often do you actually get to use those shiny five-stars outside of your main team? The truth is, our reliable four-star companions are the backbone of most teams. You can get one every ten pulls, and the story generously hands you key allies like Dan Heng and March 7th. But with so many options, who should you invest your precious resources in? This is the story of my journey to find the most valuable four-star allies, a ranking forged from countless simulated universe runs and forgotten hall struggles.

Before we dive into the rankings, we need to establish the rules of engagement. What makes a four-star character truly shine? Is it raw damage, or is it the subtle support they provide? When I inspect a character's profile, I look beyond just the flashy ultimate. The core of their power lies in their Traces—the unique set of abilities that defines them. Let me break down what I've learned:

Trace	What It Means for Your Strategy
Basic Attack	Your bread and butter. It starts fights in the open world and applies Weakness. But here's the catch: in battle, every character's basic attack deals similar damage unless enhanced. So, why would you use it? For skill point generation!
Skill	This is where strategy begins. It usually costs one precious skill point. Managing your team's shared pool of skill points is the key to smooth rotations. Can your team function if your main DPS hogs them all?
Ultimate	The game-changer. Built up by taking actions or damage, a well-timed ultimate can swing a losing battle. But should you always use it immediately, or save it for a crucial moment?
Technique	Your open-world opener. It gives a pre-fight advantage, but you can't just recharge it at a Space Anchor. You have to seek out those special purple items! A good technique can make farming so much easier.
Talent	The secret sauce. This passive ability ties everything together and defines the character's unique playstyle. A great talent can elevate an entire kit.

Of course, Light Cones and Relics matter immensely, but since we can choose those, this tier list focuses on the inherent strength of their Traces. Also, a character's Path and Element matter! A Hunt character will excel against a boss, while an Erudition character cleans up mobs. So, who are the champions you should build without a second thought?

🏆 S-Tier: The Pillars of Any Team

These characters are so synergistic and valuable that upgrading them is never a mistake. Early-game EXP is scarce, so focusing here is crucial.

• Gallagher: The meta has spoken! With Break effect builds dominating in 2026, Gallagher isn't just a good sustainer; he's a top-tier one. Paired with Break-centric DPS like Firefly, he competes with five-star abundance characters. His value is undeniable.

• Hanya: Skill point anxiety? Hanya is the cure. For characters like the modern iteration of Imbibitor Lunae who devour skill points, she's a lifesaver. She doesn't just provide SP; she buffs your main DPS's damage, attack, AND speed. It's a permanent damage boost as long as her Burden is on the target.

• March 7th (Preservation): Our first friend remains a reliable endgame option. That single-target shield is crucial for protecting your key damage dealer if you don't have Gepard. The chance to Freeze enemies is just the cherry on top.

• Natasha: The free healer. In the early days, keeping the team alive was a struggle, and Natasha was our savior. Even now, her ability to cleanse debuffs and her defensive technique make her a solid, reliable choice.

• Tingyun: The premier four-star buffer. She supercharges a single ally's damage with her skill and ultimate, and she even gets personal speed and basic attack buffs. She makes any DPS hit harder.

• Sushang: Raw power. Her ability to advance her own turns repeatedly lets her dish out damage that rivals many five-stars. With her first Eidolon, she even helps with skill points, making her a self-sufficient damage machine.

• Lynx: Think of her as Natasha+. She provides consistent healing over time and can cleanse the entire team with her ultimate. For pure healing output and utility, she's arguably the best four-star abundance character.

✨ A-Tier: The Situational Specialists

These characters are fantastic and absolutely worth building, but they shine brightest under specific conditions or in certain team compositions.

• March 7th (The Hunt): This version of March is a Break team enthusiast's dream. Her Shifu effect lets an ally act as any combat type! While not the best for traditional hyper-carry teams, she enables some wild and powerful break-focused strategies.

• Xueyi: She breaks the rules—literally. Her ultimate damages Toughness regardless of weakness! She's unique and fun with multiple build paths, though her personal damage ceiling keeps her from the top tier.

• Guinaifen: A DoT maestro and Kafka's best friend. Her Firekiss effect is the real star, increasing ALL damage taken by the enemy. A 25%+ universal damage debuff is incredibly powerful.

• Dan Heng: The reliable starter Hunt character. Great single-target damage, self-speed buffs, and enemy slows. He's a straightforward and effective damage dealer who carries his own weight.

• Serval: The queen of Shock. She's excellent at applying and maintaining Lightning DoT. With Kafka on the team, she easily jumps to S-tier. A perfect partner for electro-centric strategies.

• Asta: The team accelerator. Her massive speed and attack buffs are always valuable, especially for Damage-over-Time teams that scale heavily with attack.

• Pela: The debuff queen. A defense shred on all enemies is a massive damage multiplier for your team. In a meta that sometimes lacks strong Ice options, her weakness break is also very welcome.

• Yukong: The high-risk, high-reward buffer. Her crit and attack buffs are monstrous, but timing them for the right two allies requires careful speed tuning. Get it right, and she's incredible.

• Hook: A strong, self-sustaining Fire DPS in an element that doesn't have many four-star options. She can deal serious damage while keeping herself healthy.

🤔 B-Tier: The Niche Picks

Here, we find characters that require significant investment or very specific teams to truly excel. Proceed with caution unless you have a clear plan for them.

• Moze: Released with much fanfare, Moze sadly feels like a dedicated support for Feixiao. His personal damage is lacking, and while his follow-up attack buffs are decent, other characters do it better. He needs specific Eidolons to feel complete.

• Misha: He has a fun kit reminiscent of older Erudition characters, but his damage numbers just don't keep up with modern demands. He's neither a great DPS nor a great support, stuck in an awkward middle ground.

• Qingque: The gambler. Her power is entirely based on luck, drawing tiles for her skill. While modern SP-positive supports help her, the inconsistency can be frustrating. When she hits, she hits hard, but will she hit when you need her to?

• Sampo & Luka: These two share the same story. In a vacuum, their DoT kits feel a bit lackluster. But bring in Kafka? They transform. With her, Sampo becomes an S-tier Wind DoT applier, and Luka's max HP-based damage becomes terrifying. They are Kafka-dependent specialists.

⚠️ C-Tier: The Labor of Love

These characters are the hardest to recommend for general investment. You can make them work, but the effort required is substantial compared to the return.

• Herta: Oh, Herta. She found her calling in one place and one place only: Pure Fiction. In that mode, spinning to win with her follow-up attacks makes her a top-tier farmer. Everywhere else? She struggles to keep up. She's a specialist in the truest sense.

• Arlan: The character who pays HP for damage. In a game where sustain is king, his lack of self-preservation is a major flaw. Until the meta shifts to favor his high-risk style, he remains a difficult character to justify building.

So, what's the takeaway from my years on the Astral Express? Don't sleep on your four-stars! Characters like Gallagher, Hanya, and Tingyun are not just budget options; they are meta-defining pillars. Building a strong core of S-tier and A-tier four-stars will give you the flexibility to tackle any challenge Penacony or beyond throws at you, letting you save those precious resources for the perfect five-star to complete your dream team. After all, in the vast sea of stars, it's often the reliable crew, not just the charismatic captain, that ensures a successful voyage.