Player Mistakes
Back to All Characters
Barbara is a 4-star Hydro character inGenshin Impact. Her kit is fully supportive, and players might have made these mistakes when using her. The Idol of Mondstadt Barbara, is loved for her gentle nature and kind heart. She lives up to her character by being a dedicated healer, saying, “I’m not so good in combat, so I’ll be sure to support those who are.”
RELATED:Genshin Impact: Barbara Hangout Guide
She follows in the footsteps of her father and became amember of the Church of Favonius. Barbara was once drowning in the shadow of her sister, but she never gave up. Her heart is filled with determination to help people, and she hopes that eventually, she can help her sister too. Here are some mistakes to avoid as the player takes Barbara along that journey.
Updated June 29, 2025 by Nahda Nabiilah:Genshin Impact2.1 comes with a new Hydro healer, Sangonomiya Kokomi. This 5-star character has a large amount of healing on her elemental skill, similar to Barbara. However, unlike Barbara, Kokomi requires field time to heal on her elemental burst.
This also allows Kokomi to take the Sub-DPS role. Because of this, it’s arguable to say that Kokomi is a replacement for Barbara. Barbara is a pure healer support that won’t work optimally as a damage dealer. Other than thinking Barbara is a budget Kokomi, here are some other mistakes players can make with the idol of Mondstadt.
14Using Her as a Main or Sub DPS
Any charactercan be a DPSwith the right overpowered artifacts and weapons, but that’s not Barbara’s role. Her skill and her burst are specifically designed to be the party’s healer, offering little or no damage.
Any catalyst user can out damage her, along with most of the available characters. Barbara is best played as a healer and a tank, where her burst can be an emergency button for its i-frame and instant healing. Her healing is amazing both in single-player and in co-op, where she can heal characters to full HP with a press of a button.
13Upgrading Her Normal Attack Talent “Whisper of Water”
Upgrading characters' talents are crucial to fulfilling their roles, but players must do so on their most effective and beneficial talents. Some players might upgrade Barbara’s talents randomly, boosting her normal attack in the process.
RELATED:Genshin Impact: How to Get Barbara
Her burst and elemental skill are the keys to doing a perfect job in her team, so players should focus on upgrading those. The higher their level, the better Barbara performs as a healer. Her normal attack, on the other hand, doesn’t add anything to her kit, so it’s better to leave it untouched.
12Building Energy Recharge
Barbara is a pure healer with her elemental skill and burst. However, similar to other healers like Qiqiand Sangonomiya Kokomi, Barbara also has an energy issue. Like Qiqi, Barbara doesn’t produce elemental particles with her elemental skill. This may lead to players thinking that they need to build Barbara with Energy Recharge.
Even though Barbara has an energy problem, her healing from her skill is more than enough. Her burst is mostly used as a panic button, and it’s unnecessary to focus on it. Instead, it’s better for players to stack up on HP for the Deaconess.
11Underestimating Her Constellations
Barbara’s constellation is highly common among the player base. While it certainly sucks to get duplicates once players have maxed her constellation, Barbara shouldn’t be taken for granted.
The first constellationhelps Barbara with her energy problem, where she regenerates 1 energy every 10 seconds. Barbara’s C2 is a great addition for Hydro DPS, as the Deaconess grants a 15% Hydro damage bonus when her elemental skill is active. However, the most important addition lies in her C6. With it, Barbara can revive a fallen character. This is extremely handy for content that restricts the use of foods, like Spiral Abyss.
10Not Using Her Against Corrosion
Spiral Abyss is constantly changing with the new versions of the game. Usually, they’re catered to benefit players who pull for the newest characters of the banner.Genshin Impact2.1 is no different.
In version 2.1, comes a brand new debuff that is meant to make healing relevant. Floor 11 of the Spiral Abyss inGenshin Impact2.1 has acorrosion debuff. This debuff continuously drops all characters' HP, making it essential to have a healer in the team. This debuff bypass shield and can’t be handled by minor healers like Xingqiu. Using dedicated healers like Barbara, Qiqi, or Bennett will be a major help.
9Using The Wrong Artifact Sets
Emblem of Severed Fate is a new artifact set inGenshin Impact2.0. The 2-set effect of this artifact grants a +20% Energy Recharge to the user. This set is easily a new favorite for support characters that rely on their elemental burst. However, Barbara isn’t one of them.
For Barbara to heal effectively, it’s better for players to build HP and Healing Bonus. Therefore, players should opt for Maiden Beloved and Tenacity of the Millelith. Furthermore, players should also avoid the Hydro artifact, Heart of Depth, as it’s meant for DPS characters.
8Using Her Skill While Cryo Enemies Are Around
Barbara’s skill applies the Wet status to her and any character she switches to. Cryo enemies can cause characters with this status to become Frozen, rendering them immobile and vulnerable to the attacks that follow.
It is best to avoid using this skill until the player has dealt withany Cryo enemies. In a critical situation where Barbara’s burst is unavailable, players can keep her on the field to tank incoming damage while healing her whole party.
7Giving Her a 5-Star Catalyst
Barbara’s healing scales with her HP, and she doesn’t need much else when it comes to stat boosts. Any weapon equipped to her should have HP as a secondary stat. Energy Recharge is a decent alternative, but HP remains the highest priority.
5-star catalysts will be a waste for Barbara if she’s built as a healer. Her damage will still be abysmal and her healing will be reduced as well. This lowers her supportive potential and is thus not recommended. Of course, it’s a viable choice if players choose to build her as a DPS.
6Not Leveling Her Enough
It is common for players to keep their support at a lower level. However, for some characters, leveling is crucial. For example,Albedo can’t function properlywithout the proper level because he needs the base defense. The same applies to Barbara. She needs HP for her healing abilities, and her level is the only source of base HP.
RELATED:Genshin Impact: Things You Didn’t Know About Albedo
Additionally, due to how damage calculation works inGenshin Impact, Barbara will take more damage at a lower level. Not leveling her will also restrict her talent, reducing her healing capabilities.
5Not Using Her to Break Pyro Shields
When going against Fatui Skirmishers or Abyss Mages, players need to break their shields before they can deal proper damage. Pyroslinger Bracers and Pyro Abyss Mages require Hydro attacks to break their shields quickly. The same can be said for the Pyro Regisvines.
Some players tend to use Barbara as a healer and bringanother Hydro characterfor that job, but this is unnecessary. Elemental shields break based on the number of hits and their element, and not based on the character’s attack. Despite low damage, Barbara is more than enough.
