Author: ExploreGenshin.gg
Source: IWinToLose Gaming on YouTube
As Genshin Impact enters its post-Natlan era, the power creep is becoming more noticeable than ever—and some of our favorite five-star characters are struggling to keep up. In his latest video, IWinToLose Gaming breaks down which formerly meta units have seen the biggest drop-offs in Spiral Abyss usage, backed by tons of manually-entered data and a full spreadsheet of pre- and post-Natlan comparisons.
Whether you’re a meta enthusiast, a Spiral Abyss grinder, or just curious if your main has seen better days, this list might surprise (or devastate) you.
📉 What Counts as “Falling Off”?
The rankings are based on three criteria:
- Fall From Grace: How many raw percentage points a character dropped from their peak usage rate.
- Delta: The percentage of their own usage rate they’ve lost—great for understanding how far they’ve slipped relative to their previous popularity.
- Post-Natlan Ratio: How much less they’re used in Natlan compared to before.
Only featured five-star characters are included (sorry Aloy), and no Natlan-born characters were considered.
💀 Top 8 Fallen-Off 5-Stars in Genshin Impact
#8: Arataki Itto
- Fall From Grace: -35.8%
- Delta: -90.5%
- Post-Natlan Ratio: 34%
Despite a brief resurgence in Version 3.3, Itto’s relevance has dipped hard. Not even Shilonen could save him from declining interest. His slow rotation and reliance on niche content hurt his adaptability.
#7: Cyno
- Fall From Grace: -36.8%
- Delta: -91.2%
- Post-Natlan Ratio: 24.2%
Cyno’s once-promising burst-Dendro synergy hasn’t aged well. Characters like Clorinde and Veresa have outclassed him. Plus, his long cooldowns and awkward setups make him a tough pick in fast-paced Abyss content.
#6: Albedo
- Fall From Grace: -27.5%
- Delta: -91.2%
- Post-Natlan Ratio: 25%
Remember when Albedo was the “geodaddy-in-training”? His low field time used to be a strength, but these days, even Shilonen’s Geo support can’t keep him afloat. His time to shine has quietly faded.
#5: Yoimiya
- Fall From Grace: -53.2%
- Delta: -88.7%
- Post-Natlan Ratio: 37.3%
A favorite Pyro DPS and festival queen, Yoimiya has been edged out by Mavika and Arlecchino in the single-target Pyro role. Lack of AoE and heavy reliance on optimal setups cost her meta viability.
#4: Kamisato Ayaka
- Fall From Grace: -62.7%
- Delta: -88.4%
- Post-Natlan Ratio: 25.4%
Once the queen of Freeze comps, Ayaka is now struggling in an anti-Freeze meta full of mobile enemies. Despite her strong burst damage, teams built around her are less flexible than today’s alternatives.
#3: Sangonomiya Kokomi
- Fall From Grace: -68%
- Delta: -87.2%
- Post-Natlan Ratio: 18%
Once hailed as the ultimate Hydro support and healer, Kokomi has been power-crept hard by Furina. Kokomi’s single-target healing and low damage can’t compete with Furina’s AoE buffs and damage synergy.
#2: Venti
- Fall From Grace: -31.2%
- Delta: -93.5%
- Post-Natlan Ratio: 18.4%
The original Archon is now the poster child for power creep. With groupable enemies rare in Fontaine and beyond, Venti’s unique strength is mostly irrelevant. Even Furina prefers Jean or Sucrose over him.
#1: Nilou
- Fall From Grace: -66.9%
- Delta: -94.6%
- Post-Natlan Ratio: 11.7%
The once-unstoppable Bloom queen is now Genshin’s most fallen-off five-star. Nuvallet dominates AoE fights, and Nilou’s usual partner Kokomi is falling off too. Most players simply don’t need her anymore.
💔 Honorable Mentions
- Tartaglia (Childe): Power-crept by Nuvallet in AoE.
- Kamisato Ayato: Struggles in teams dominated by Furina and Hydro resonance. Both performed poorly but not enough to make the main list.
📊 Meta Trends: What’s Going On?
IWinToLose Gaming emphasizes that Natlan’s release has introduced stronger characters, better AoE options, and teams with superior buffs and rotations. Units like Furina, Nuvallet, Shilonen, and Arlecchino have raised the bar—while older five-stars have had trouble keeping up.
❗Still Playable?
Yes! Every character on this list can still clear Spiral Abyss 12, especially with strong investment and careful play. But if you’re chasing meta efficiency, these are no longer your go-to picks.
🧠 Final Thoughts
Don’t take this list as a reason to abandon your faves. Instead, think of it as a meta snapshot—a reflection of how much the game has evolved. The full data spreadsheet is available via IWinToLose Gaming so you can analyze, compare, or even build your own “fall-off-o-meter.”
Let us know: Which character’s fall surprised you the most? Are you still rocking Yoimiya or Ayaka in Abyss 12?
Frequently Asked Questions about Genshin Characters Falling Off
Is Itto still usable in Spiral Abyss 12?
Yes, Arataki Itto can still clear Abyss content with proper support, but his inflexible team comps and slower rotations have reduced his overall appeal.
Why has Kokomi fallen out of the meta?
Kokomi’s off-field healing is outclassed by Furina’s AoE support, damage, and resonance synergy, making her less preferred in top-tier team comps.
What happened to Venti’s popularity?
Fewer groupable enemies and the rise of massive AoE units like Nuvallet and Arlecchino have sidelined Venti’s crowd control utility.
Is Ayaka still a good Cryo DPS?
She’s still viable in Freeze teams, but many fights now counter her strengths, and Skirk may offer a more flexible Cryo playstyle in 5.7.
Why is Nilou the most fallen-off character?
Nilou’s Bloom-centric playstyle has been heavily overshadowed by the rise of more versatile Hydro DPS units like Nuvallet, limiting her effectiveness.
