Genshin Impact has a lot of smart people, but these are the smartest ones in the story.
Power in Genshin Impact doesn’t always mean that a character is the best at everything. Characters like Raiden Ei and Zhongli are proof of this. However, many other characters are just better at using their intelligence. Some were smarter than others because they were older, while others were just born that way.
The smartest people in Genshin Impact are the ones who either pull the strings or see them, and maybe even cut them. It’s also important to note that their value in the game’s story is different from their value in the meta or in the game itself. So, these characters are the smartest, no matter how many stars they have or how popular they are in the wish banner (at the moment).
Alhaitham
- Element: Dendro
- Nation: Sumeru
As one of the newest Genshin Impact characters, especially for Dendro, Alhaitham had to carry a lot of expectations on his shoulders, which is probably why he has such a strong body. In terms of intelligence, he’s a good mix of Albedo and Ayato, since he always prefers to be logical over anything else.
His character quest gave him a chance to show off his best quality, which was how much he knew. He is also a real Sumeru scholar whose only goal is to understand the math that makes the world work. If that doesn’t show how smart he is, Alhaitham was supposed to be the next Grand Sage in Sumeru, but he turned it down so he could study instead.
Kamisato Ayato
- Element: Hydro
- Nation: Inazuma
When it comes to characters who have a lot on their shoulders, Ayato’s childhood was full of problems. He was the heir to one of the most powerful clans in Inazuma, and he couldn’t let his mind wander. Ayato’s mind is always working, whether he’s coming up with plans to keep his clan’s power or finding out what other powerful people are up to.
Even Yae Miko, who is smart and wise, admits that Ayato can be tricky sometimes because he plans too much. Even the Raiden Shogun, who was the most powerful person in Inazuma, thought highly of Ayato because he made plans that were hard to predict.
Kokomi
- Element: Hydro
- Nation: Inazuma
Anyone who goes against Archons directly is either stupid or very smart. And based on Kokomi’s character quest, it’s safe to say that she’s one of the smartest generals in Slope Game. It’s not easy to take on the Raiden Shogun’s huge army.
It’s also important to note that Kokomi’s rebellion was mostly successful (with help from the Traveler, of course). Even though the Fatui and their Delusions caused a huge setback, Kokomi was still able to out-plan and out-shoot the Shogun’s best.
Ningguang
- Element: Geo
- Nation: Liyue
Liyue also has its own wise leaders, and Ningguang was always in the lead when it came to running the Geo element stronghold. This character is so important to the story that it’s hard to understand why the creators only gave her four stars.
Even though Ningguang was only human, he led Liyue through its most prosperous time in history. She also built the Jade Chamber to show that they were not controlled by the Archons and to protect Liyue from godly enemies and invaders who wanted to destroy the city. She has shown that she is not just smart to make money; she is also a great commander.
Yelan
- Element: Hydro
- Nation: Liyue
But of course, Ningguang can be pretty busy taking care of Liyue’s finances. Someone had to watch out for her, and that someone is Yelan, the mysterious and vague spymaster. People don’t know if she’s a spy or not or what she does for a living because she’s so good at her job.
But they all agree on one thing: they don’t want to fight Yelan. On the contrary, Yelan is the kind of person who can find out anything and solve any problem with a lot of hard work. She is always there and watching, whether it’s to find Fatui’s most hidden and evil plans or to stop strange things from happening to Liyue.
Lisa
- Element: Electro
- Nation: Mondstadt
Lisa may have chosen a quiet and slow life as a librarian in Mondstadt, but she was the smartest scholar Sumeru had seen in 200 years. When she left Sumeru, the sages of the academy begged her to come back because she knew so much about their studies and was so good at them (and totally not because of her Japanese voice).
That says a lot about how smart and knowledgeable Lisa is, even with her witch hat on. She probably just decided to live her own life instead of being used to help other people reach their goals and learn more. She also knows that this is a dangerous goal.
Albedo
- Element: Geo
- Nation: Mondstadt
Albedo is a good example of how it can be dangerous to know too much. He is an even better scholar and alchemist than Lisa because he can make life out of nothing. Albedo’s experiments and his never-ending search for perfect alchemy.
He is well-known for his work in alchemy. In fact, everyone who knew him thought he was a genius. Albedo is smart and talented, but he doesn’t always pay attention to what’s going on around him.
Nahida/Kusanali
- Element: Dendro
- Nation: Sumeru
Nahida is also known as the God of Wisdom, so it makes sense that she is very smart. She represents the ideas and values of Sumeru, which is known for its scholars and love of learning. As a young Archon, she does have her own problems that keep her from reaching her full potential. However, with time and experience, she’ll get a lot better.
Nahida is also known to be able to talk to other beings through telepathy and take over their bodies. That means she can learn anything she wants, depending on her mood, as soon as she gets over feeling like she’s not good enough.
Il Dottore
- Element: Dendro
- Nation: Snezhnaya
Il Dottore was in the official manga for Genshin Impact, but he didn’t have much time to show off his terrifying cunning. Luckily, the game gave him this chance during Kusanali’s Archon Quest, and it quickly told him that Il Dottore was only behind Tsaritsa and Pierro in terms of importance.
In fact, Il Dottore might be able to take Pierro’s place as head of the Fatui Harbingers if he wanted to. After all, Piero was the one who looked for Il Dottore. Il Dottore is almost an immoral version of Albedo, because he would break many rules to learn more. In the Sumeru Archon Quest, Il Dottore is known for outsmarting Kusanali for a while, which is not an easy thing to do.
Tsaritsa
- Element: Electro
- Nation: Mondstadt
Archons are already gods, but they still have to answer to Celestia, the mysterious island that floats above Teyvat and is where the gods and those who make them live. So, anyone who decides to rebel against such beings or take their power should be someone who knows what they are doing and has a plan for success. That would be the Tsaritsa, the Cryo Archon.
She tells Pierro and the Fatui Harbingers what she wants to do and gives them orders. Also, it seems like she is the only one with the will, knowledge, and smarts to beat the gods of Teyvat and win. So, it goes without saying that Tsaritsa is the most intelligent Archon and the most ambitious person in Teyvat.
Genshin Impact can now be played on PS4, PS5, Mobile, and PC. A version for the Switch is in the works.
