There is no single correct four-star pick for every account. The best choice depends on which characters you already own and use. Pick the character who fills a gap in your roster, the one you plan to build and play, or, if you already own the likely options, the one whose constellation would help a character you actively use.
The Lantern Rite recruitment described below is the 2025 event, from Version 5.3. The details that matter for choosing (who is on offer and what the festival requirements are) are version-specific, so check the in-game event page before you spend time on a decision.
What the Version 5.3 Lantern Rite event offered
HoYoverse’s Version 5.3 announcement, republished by PlayStation Blog on December 20, 2024, explained the Liyue recruitment mechanic. Zhenzhong Yi, Studio Technical Director at HoYoverse, wrote: “To recruit more Liyue characters, players can complete special festival requirements to invite one free 4-star Liyue character, including Lan Yan.” This describes the 2025 event as announced, and it is the only official statement this guide relies on for the mechanic.
Pocket Tactics, in a guide last updated February 10, 2025, listed the selector choices for that event. The 2025 Lantern-Lit Gathering offered these four-star Liyue characters:
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- Ningguang
- Xiangling
- Xingqiu
- Chongyun
- Xinyan
- Yanfei
- Yun Jin
- Yaoyao
- Gaming
- Lan Yan
These names belong to the 2025 selector only. Do not assume the same list applies to a later Lantern Rite.
Confirm the current selector before you choose
This guide does not confirm the roster, eligibility rules or claim deadline for the current Lantern Rite selector. A community guide labeled for Version 6.3 and a 2026 selector appeared in search results, but its full content could not be checked, so none of its claims are used here. Open the event banner in the game’s event menu, read the list of available four-star Liyue characters and any festival requirements there, and only then apply the framework below.
How to choose: three questions
Work through these in order. The first question that gives you a clear answer usually settles the decision.
1. Which role, element or team option is missing?
Look at your current party options. If you have no reliable healer-style support, no second element for a reaction you want, or no backup for a character who is often sidelined, favour the four-star that fills that slot. A character you can slot into a working team delivers more value than an abstract ranking would suggest.
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2. Which character will you actually build and play?
A free character only helps if you use them. If you already have a team you enjoy, choose the option that fits it. If you are starting a new team, choose the character you are most likely to level, gear and keep in rotation. A character who stays in storage has little value to your account, regardless of how strong they are on paper.
Rank #3
- It is the Taisho Period in Japan; Tanjiro, a kindhearted boy who sells charcoal for a living, finds his family slaughtered by a demon
- Tanjiro resolves to become a “demon slayer” so that he can turn his sister back into a human and kill the demon that massacred his family
- Follow Tanjiro through the story from the “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” anime as he faces demons in order to turn his sister Nezuko, who has become a demon, back into a human
- Master the multitude of spectacular skills of a wide roster of characters from the anime, including Tanjiro and Nezuko, to overcome challengers in head-to-head battle, locally and online
3. Would a constellation help a character you already play?
If you already own the likely choices, pick the one whose constellation would most improve a character you use. Collecting a constellation for a favourite is a legitimate reason to choose a particular four-star. Compare the constellation effect against your current build rather than against the other options in the selector.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What this guide does not establish
No performance statistic, damage comparison or tier ranking for the 2025 Lantern Rite characters was established in the sources reviewed. This guide therefore does not rank them. It also does not identify constellation breakpoints that make one choice decisive, so you should judge constellation value against your own characters and team.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- The ad-free feature is especially beneficial for a seamless gaming experience. Ads can often be disruptive and distracting, so having the option to play without them significantly improves overall enjoyment. With no interruptions, players can focus solely on strategy and gameplay, creating a smoother and more immersive experience.
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