if u think this guide is uptodate im sorry for u
Genshin Guide or Whatever
credit aegagrusScholarship#2421
this is from 2020-2021 so kinda old but i (whyyui#3309) edited some stuff to be updated for pre-sumeru meta. i did not edit the google doc. dm me if you wanna update this bestest genshin guide!
first read this for general info if you're a new player

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VvJeNL6QCp-3v-RTPhwmHh9VyYzh7pXLi3WDdtP7I34/edit?usp=sharing
then optionally refer to resin & build info that is below
: )
character build and stats

you when the game tried explaining stuff to you (spoiler, it didnt)
talents and artis are gonna be your main source of damage but that is lategame shit.
pick one character to hyperinvest talent materials into, because the materials to max talents are ANNOYING TO GET
there are build guides on the internet that will tell you how to build
(https://tinyurl.com/genshinbuilds & https://keqingmains.com , builds guides from google are shit )
you can also find people who have builds that work! i know i stole my venti build off someone else; 'recommended' is 4 viridescent artifacts and support role but because i'm running main dps i'm using some other guy's dps build instead.
character rarity literally doesnt matter: case in point - bennett, xingqiu, xiangling, sucrose, fischl, beidou etc >> many 5stars.
(!) general artifact info: https://rentry.co/artifacts2
(!) artifact farming guide: https://www.hoyolab.com/article/531713
resin + what to do with it

dont use ur resin on that.
run world/weekly bosses until AR45. don't grind for artifacts until then, it's just not worth it.
when you hit around 35 you can start grinding for talents too. you want to start grinding for talents.
do not use fragile resin and most definitely don't use primos to get more resin, not until 45. it's not worth it prior to.
by running bosses, you will get adventure xp. you get 100ARexp per 20 resin. so you'll get tons of ARexp via just using resin, and boss drops are useful even prior to 45!
(!)bit old resin guide on reddit : https://www.reddit.com/r/Genshin_Impact/comments/jpddzh/a_beginnerintermediate_ftps_guide_to_managing/
what to do what AR:

don't do anything just uninstall the game please.

final note
have fun
like seriously have fun with the game. :]
THANKS BECAUSE I WOULD PLAY THE GAME TO SUFFER INSTEAD!!1

all of what is below is explained in the first link already, here for archiving purposes.
edits by whyyui#3309, all credits to owners
close this page CLOSE IT I SAID CLOSE FUCKING CLOSE IT RIGHT NOW RIGHT THIS INSTANT STOP READING

general shit + banners
when you hit ar20 you will get the battle pass. you should do as much of it as possible, you get tons of free shit.
when wishing, becase you get free wishes from battle pass when unlocked, do not spend primos on normal banner. it's not worth spending. you'll accumulate pity just by bp rewards.
unless you are super happy with your character roster, don't even try on the weapon banner. just don't.
pick a main team and start investing; when you get the resources to do so, level all characters you have to 20 and then ascend. this is to get their free wish. otherwise, if not using them, don't build them. you will not have the resources to do so.
wishes
wish on character banners with primos only, we already know this
wish 75 is soft pity, where your chances of a 5* jump to 33%.
wish 90 is hard pity, where you are guaranteed a 5 star.
NOTE that pity counts RESET once you get a 5 star.
if you get a 5 star on wish 45, you are counting once again from 0.
the first five star you get on character banner ever will be a 50/50 chance of being the character on the banner.
if, and only if it is NOT the featured character, the next 5 star you get from the banner will be the featured character.
once you get the featured character, no matter if it's on 50/50 or guaranteed, the next is 50/50 again.
for example. i start a new account.
i wish on childe banner. i get to wish 75.
i m now on soft pity.
i get diluc on wish 80.
im now on wish 0 when counting pity.
my next 5 star will be childe.
ALSO character banner pity carries over: if i get qiqi on xiao's banner
and i pull on hu tao's banner, and i get a 5 star
that is guaranteed hu tao because the pity counts and 50/50 *do stay