No matter the fandom, shipping makes that world go round. So what if two characters weren’t designed to be a pairing? If the fans say so, who are we to argue? It’s undeniably the same with the Genshin Impact community – the game’s profound worldbuilding and memorable invites fans from all around the world to create content of all the possibilities imaginable.
Especially when the game drops interactions that make characters feel like the perfect pair (and trust us, the drip marketing for Genshin Impact does this a lot), but even then, the fanbase is always left starving and wanting more. In such droughts, content creators supply the thirsty with boundless content of favourite ships in every form possible – confessing their love, in intimate positions, everyday married life, fated soulmates… you catch the drift.
As the HoYoverse open-world game steps into its third anniversary, it begs the question: of all the ships… or relationships formed, which are the most validated in the community? Which will unite most of the fandom to agree that, “Yes, that’s THE Genshin Impact Ship™”?
With insight from the latest summer update of the most popular pairings in the Archive of Our Own (AO3) Ship Stats Project, we present to you the most community-accurate top 10 Genshin Impact fan ships ranking list.
The AO3 Ship Stats Project is a list of the top 100 pairings across all fandoms, gender, sexuality and other categories, according to the number of fanfictions created per pairing in the year. Users can also see if their favourite pairings have risen or fallen as compared to previous years. This was started by AO3 user centreoftheselights in 2013.
Note: All statistics are true at the time of writing the article. All statistics are taken from the top Archive of Our Own fanfiction, mainly featuring the highlighted pair.
10. Diluc and Jean (Jeanluc)
1,167 works on AO3
Top hits on fanfiction with the most hits: 29,911+
Top kudos on fanfiction with the most kudos: 1,177+
Top comments on most-commented fanfiction: 352+
“Her unparalleled sense of responsibility is the sole reason why she still hasn’t found her true calling.” — Diluc’s voiceline “About Jean: Responsibilities”
As two of the first characters introduced to us, the fan ship between these childhood-friends-turned-Mondstadt-protectors is one that has withstood the test of time. They still hold a steady fanbase three years after their appearance, and are thus deserving of a rank in this list.
Their silent understanding and mutual reliance are spotted across the Mondstadt Archon Quest and event quests. Yet they are still conscious of the other, which fans declare is a palpable tension that’s in no way platonic.
An assurance in each other that needs no further words, and a never-ending dynamic of romantic awkwardness sprinkled through hints in-game keeps fans glued to the screens for just another inkling of sparks between them. After all, creators love to escalate whatever tension characters have going on for both to finally realise their feelings for each other, and for fans to devour all that fluff down.
9. Kamisato Ayato and Thoma (Thomato)
2,796 works on AO3
Top hits on fanfiction with the most hits: 82,037+
Top kudos on fanfiction with the most kudos: 7,191+
Top comments on most-commented fanfiction: 630+
“Whenever the Commissioner dines at home, Thoma always joins him. I always find myself at my most relaxed when I’m serving the two of them and listening them chat away.” — Furuta about Thoma and Ayato in Interlude Chapter III
Hands up if you also cheered when the then-faceless Ayato was right beside Thoma during Itto’s teaser! The Kamisato Commissioner’s release was long awaited, partially due to retainer Thoma’s devoted voice lines about him – cue longing hurrahs of this fanbase when Ayato’s visuals finally unfolded a complete view of the two. In the eyes of this pair’s fanbase, there’s nothing juicier than this pure, loyal servant and cunning, confident master dynamic! Plus, they’re both super good lookers.
Their bond is clearly much closer than an ordinary retainer and master in the eyes of many, and even in the game, the clan’s staff observe a more relaxed atmosphere when the two spend time together. Whether it be Ayato feeding Thoma strange food combinations or Ayato basically bullying pure Thoma, and the latter just accepting his fate. Both of their interests are simply a perfect match, don’t you think?
Content churned out and devoured by their fanbase shows how the latter loves picturing the pair’s daily domestic affairs, with the loyal and slightly naive Thoma being constantly teased and seduced by Ayato outside and inside the estate’s many rooms. That, and the two tall AND hot Inazuman men look too good together to resist the shipping temptations.
8. Beidou and Ningguang (Beiguang)
2,958 works on AO3
Top hits on fanfiction with the most hits: 80,592+
Top kudos on fanfiction with the most kudos: 5,800+
Top comments on most-commented fanfiction: 664+
One of the richest women in Tevyat and one of the most influential pirates in the land – normally, such powerful characters conflicting in personality wouldn’t mix together. Even so, it’s plain for all to see that the two have an important role in each other’s lives; plus, they’re pretty much outright flirting. Another addictive pair where opposites attract, whose fandom has held steady almost since the beginning.
Countless signs have been presented on a silver platter for fans to dine on. Beidou being the only one (not counting the Traveller) with special permission to enter Ningguang’s baby Jade Chamber? Check. Making time to meet up when the infamous pirate comes back to town? Check. The Crux Fleet captain sailing back home to celebrate the Lantern Rite, the festival for family reunions, together with the Tianquan? Check once again! If that isn’t them seeing each other as their other halves, what clearer signs are needed?
When ruminating about the pair, fans just ascend into the fan headspace thinking about the countless situations that could happen. Whether it be when one is forced into a corner, refusing to give information about their other half even when threatened, or both giving their 100% into courting each other, it’s all such good material to lick up. The Genshin Impact team is definitely shipping them too, given the many official fanarts together and that one super telltale quote in Version 2.4:
Beidou: “Hey, check you out! Lookin’ pretty fancy.”
Ningguang: “Only a true treasure catches the eye of Captain Beidou. It seems I’ve struck gold with this one.”
— Version 2.4, Fleeting Colors in Flight Event
7. Chongyun and Xingqiu (Xingyun)
3,454 works on AO3
Top hits on fanfiction with the most hits: 85,420+
Top kudos on fanfiction with the most kudos: 6,906+
Top comments on most-commented fanfiction: 692+
“Yes, he always goes out of his way for me, but he never seems to mind and helps me all the same. Also, he often has something interesting to say. I’m quite glad that I get along with him.” — Chongyun’s Hangout Quest
The classic childhood friend trope, but aren’t the classics an evergreen gem, because they’ll always grab the hearts of many? As proven, the Chongyun-Xingqiu pair has been a fan-favourite since they were first revealed through their playful but trust-filled relationship, usually of Xingqiu teasing Chongyun. Often seen together in official artwork, cutscenes and events, the pair always speak of each other fondly, sharing a pair of friendship tassels while rarely appearing without mentioning the other.
Case in point – a fan favourite scene in Version 2.1’s Moonchase Festival. Xingqiu invites Chongyun to read a romance novel titled “Young and Hopelessly Smitten”, but ends up reading it himself. Cue explosions from the fanbase, who described this beautiful moment as one where Xingqiu drops hints about his feelings.
Best described as having a collective hivemind, the fanbase is convinced that the duo’s dynamic goes deeper than simply best friends. One can see this manifestation of their desires and fantasies everywhere in fan works, where the two evolve past being best friends and form a new layer to their relationship as lovers.
6. Yae Miko and Ei (EiMiko)
2,819 works on AO3
Top hits on fanfiction with the most hits: 147,304+
Top kudos on fanfiction with the most kudos: 6,520+
Top comments on most-commented fanfiction: 1,374+
“Tell me this – Why is the sky here that was once so dark glowing again? Why now? …This is your Plane of Euthymia, it’s your inner world. So, it can only mean… that you are happy to see me, again. You have found the loneliness here unbearable for a long time now, haven’t you?” — Yae Miko to Ei, Archon Quest II Act III, “The Omnipresent God”
The two mommies of Inazuma, literally… need we say more? Their complex relationship spanning centuries is likened by the fandom to be “mutually attracted best friends” or a divorced couple. The intimate connection between the two is simply palpable in story quests, birthday letters, official art, cutscenes, and even romance-filled snippets in between lines of descriptions. In fact, their relationship goes further back to Hoyoverse’s other title, Honkai Impact 3rd, in which both their counterparts are heavily involved with each other.
Their long history is difficult to summarise simply, but the intricacies of their prolonged connection are highly appreciated by fans. Both are just like how a long-time couple experiences all manners of living, in harmony and conflict, with highs and lows. They’ve even (somewhat) raised a child together, though those who’ve played through Sumeru’s Archon Quest know how that went.
Tales of this inseparable pair are spread far and wide on the web by their loyal fanbase. Fan content has the range to explore various scenarios, including the couple rekindling their love after a prolonged separation or Miko playing a pivotal role in helping Ei break free from her self-imposed isolation. Their fanbase continues powering on, spoiled by the view of the two hot and powerful Inazuman women in love in all manners of fan works.
5. Kaedehara Kazuha and Scaramouche (KazuScara)
3,162 works on AO3
Top hits on fanfiction with the most hits: 198,574+
Top kudos on fanfiction with the most kudos: 6,888+
Top comments on most-commented fanfiction: 2,072+
To wear the heart in front, and to wear the heart behind.#GenshinImpact #原神 #Scaramouche #Wanderer #Kazuha pic.twitter.com/FRaE3pVKJR
— Tama 🐣 (@soulc1ty) January 3, 2023
“You speak of the descendant of the Kaedehara clan? Then isn’t he… Wait, he also possesses an Anemo Vision? …And even managed to take on the Raiden Shogun’s Musou no Hitotachi? Hehe… Ahahahaha!” — Scaramouche’s voice line about Kazuha
Kazuha and Scaramouche are probably the only pairing on the list who have never met in-game, but the growth of their has been exponential, especially since the reveal of Scaramouche’s history. Imagine, a canonically non-acquainted duo clinching the 61st spot on the top 100 AO3 fanfiction list!
Conjured fantasies of a potential shared history or connection between them stemmed from a ton of speculations prior to Kazuha’s release, which were later all disproved with zero voice lines about Scaramouche. Nevertheless, fans were rewarded with the reveal of a historical connection between Scaramouche’s past as Kunikuzushi and the Anemo sword-wielding character. With the latter’s gentle personality in stark contrast with Scaramouche’s brash crudeness, the much-loved “opposites attract” trope basically writes itself here.
kazuha and scaramouche nation stay strong #原神 #genshinimpactfanart #kazuha #scaramouche pic.twitter.com/NIxGxBkQJK
— yoghurt (@tartarduck) May 19, 2021
While chances are slim, there’s hope that the two will eventually meet in-game, though their intertwined past means they are likely to start out as enemies first, before forming an amicable relationship or becoming lovers – another heart-clenching trope that’s always a rollercoaster of intense emotions to indulge in fan works. After all, considering Kazuha’s zen personality, bygones wouldn’t be held for long.
4. Kaeya and Diluc (Kaeluc)
7,045 works on AO3
Top hits on fanfiction with the most hits: 138,860+
Top kudos on fanfiction with the most kudos: 9,269+
Top comments on most-commented fanfiction: 2,253+
“Messaged received. Thank you. Also, I suggest that you stop mentioning eyes in your letters. Don’t think that I don’t know that your right eye wasn’t blinded.” — Letter Addressed to “K” (I), Version 2.8 Hidden Strife Event
“The brothers!?” you may exclaim. Yes, the adopted or sworn brothers. Their backstory makes things a little muddy, but no matter, as their dynamic makes their fanbase go wild. Extremely close in their childhood but seemingly estranged in the present, the two continue to keep each other in their thoughts. The contrast between what they claim is a hostile relationship, and the amount of amicability shown through their actions, makes fans just raise an eyebrow at the hidden fruitiness.
For two guys who “don’t like each other”, they really do spend lots of their time together, something fans highlight as the two’s amicable, and maybe even intimate relationship. Heck, in Kaeya’s 5th character story, even the Mondstadters think “they were almost like twins, knowing each other’s thoughts and intentions without a word, protecting Mondstadt in both light and dark.”
Their rise to the 53rd rank amongst the top 100 AO3 fanfiction list is a testament to their steady but growing popularity. Most times, fans dream of Kaeya teasing Diluc into responding in a tsundere fashion – harsh on the outside, but soft on the inside. From their heated arguments to their tender moments, each interaction leaves fans on the edge of their seats and craving more. Their unresolved tension and potential for reconciliation keep hearts aflutter, as fan content eagerly thrusts the two together.
3. Cyno and Tighnari (Cynonari)
3,058 works on AO3
Top hits on fanfiction with the most hits: 65,689+
Top kudos on fanfiction with the most kudos: 9,349+
Top comments on most-commented fanfiction: 1,006+
“A message for you. I brought back a specialty from the desert, two packs of honeyed dates, which helps to replenish your energy, whether in the morning or at night. Thank you for your patience in teaching and taking care of Collei. Good luck with your work and best wishes for Collei’s studies.” — Cyno’s letter to Tighnari in Tighnari’s Official Introduction
When fans gaze upon the forest watcher and General Mahamatra, grunts of happiness will chime out from fans, while others coo at how healthy and warmhearted the pair’s relationship is. It’s common knowledge that both care for each other deeply, admire each other’s ideals and are best friends. But let’s be honest, do best friends father a child, namely Collei, together, constantly travel out of the way to dine with each other despite their extremely busy schedules, and trust each other with their lives? No need to read between the lines to know how much they’re behaving like a married couple.
Peppered throughout quests and events are the unconditional mutual trust they share, the bantering and bickering, many signs of gentleness, and the tolerance of Cyno’s arguably bad puns. Fans sob euphoric tears at how both find comfort in showing their truest selves, manifesting with all their heart for more of them in every Sumeru-related event, for it serves as their chicken soup for the soul.
[Ride the Waves to a Rendezvous in Fontaine]
— ᴄsʏᴅᴀʏ (@csyday829) August 20, 2023
Pleasure to be part of the “Endless Adventure in Teyvat: Fontaine Edition” event! Hope travelers enjoyed the exhibition, and also Bon voyage to both Tighnari & Cyno :3#GenshinImpactFontaine #FontaineExpo #ようこそフォンテーヌへ pic.twitter.com/g3bnbDnS2J
The relative recency of Sumeru doesn’t hinder their overall popularity in the game – the sheer dedication of their fandom has shot the pairing up to 29th on the top 100 ranking list. Despite the dangers that come with their jobs in Genshin Impact, fan works focus on the peaceful atmosphere and happenings in their playful family life, giving everyone who comes by enough healing to revive a parched spirit, a silly grin and overflowing warmth in the cockles of their hearts. After all, as the Gen Z-ers in the community would say, delulu is the solulu.
2. Zhongli and Tartaglia aka Childe (Tartali)
13,837 works on AO3
Top hits on fanfiction with the most hits: 1,269,657+
Top kudos on fanfiction with the most kudos: 32,958+
Top comments on most-commented fanfiction: 21,120+
“Tell me, how has Mr. Zhongli been lately? Not bad, you say? Seems he’s had no problem acclimating to “mortal” life. Hmph, he sure had me fooled. Such a fiasco mustn’t be so easily forgiven! The only way to reconciliation is fierce combat! What do you mean I’m no match for him? Hahaha…” — Childe’s Voiceline about Zhongli: Challenge
“That rascal from Snezhnaya has yet to depart from Liyue? Heh, no matter, just let me know if he gives you any trouble. I shall deal with the matter swiftly.” — Zhongli’s Voiceline about Childe: Composed
Version 1.1 official art. pic.twitter.com/if9ttt23Ti
— syira 💧🔶️🌱🏛| ANIMANIA BOOTH D40 (@syiramigs) September 19, 2021
They’re secretly harbouring feelings or married, your honour, and we have evidence to show. A pair of dragon-and-phoenix-patterned chopsticks – an item given during marriage rites – purchased for Childe to practice with. The Genshin Impact team makes sure to put a sneaky appearance of one party in videos featuring the other, standing on opposing sides, yet always preferring to spend time together. The harbinger eagerly spends his and the Fatui’s money on the people he cares for, and the ex-Geo Archon is one of them.
The game bombed the fandom with a huge chunk of luscious shipping material to binge on during Liyue’s Archon Quest and left us with nothing afterwards! Hardly a crumb of the two after Childe left Liyue! That final feast was only the overture to the fandom’s explosive reaction. To this day, cries of longing for this pair to meet again bombard all social media platforms. Alternate universes of marriage, Zhongli’s dragon form being cared for, Childe’s delusion form doing the unspeakable, dragon egg – every form and shape imaginable of their relationship has been created by the fanbase.
Since their appearance in 2021, they’ve always ranked higher than 40 of the top 100 AO3 ships every year, with the pair coming in 23rd place this year. Being the only Genshin Impact pair to exceed 10,000 fanfiction titles and their long-standing popularity is a testament to how this fanbase deserves this spot on the ranking list. A message for the Genshin Impact team: you have the power to resolve this drought and reward the fanbase’s patience by giving more Zhongli and Childe scenes next Lantern Rite. Pretty please with a cherry on top?
1. Alhaitham and Kaveh (Haikaveh / Kavetham)
8,038 works on AO3
Top hits on fanfiction with the most hits: 168,768+
Top kudos on fanfiction with the most kudos: 11,590+
Top comments on most-commented fanfiction: 2,319+
New illustration celebrating 300,000 subscribers on Korean Genshin Impact official fancafe
— Genshin Update (@GenshinUpdate) June 30, 2023
▶️https://t.co/PYmu4DQPON#GenshinImpact #原神 #원신 #Alhaitham #Kaveh pic.twitter.com/DSVZKr6Pee
“Rationality and sensibility, language and architecture, knowledge and human feelings… Things that can never be integrated are what constitute the two sides of the mirror — indeed, of the entire world. — Kaveh’s Character Story 5
Oh my god, they’re roommates. Plus they were best friends till they fell out. Now, Kaveh says they’re not friends, but they’re living together – so what are they? That’s why they’re so tantalising, snagging the top spot of our ultimate ranking list, despite being the newest pairing of all the listed pairs. Over 8,000 fanfictions have been written of them on AO3, placing them at both 3rd (KaveTham) and 54th (HaiKaveh) of the top 100 AO3 ships.
Since the revelation of Alhaitham and his then-unnamed roommate, the team has spared no effort in making sure the player base knows they’re meant for each other. Every patch with one almost always involves the other, dropping glaring hints of how they await each other at their home. Despite the scribe’s seeming disinterest in the architect and the constant squabbles about their differing perspectives in life, each new story fleshes out how much Alhaitham cares about and is concerned for Kaveh, and vice versa.
So much care has been put into their relationship, from preferring to spend their birthdays with each other – revealed through their official birthday art and mail – to keeping each other in their thoughts when getting dinner or wine. Heck, the game even gave them matching house key idles!
Fanmade content contains fans’ delusions in all that’s left unseen – a relationship full of conflicts, yet packed to the brim with love for each other in their daily lives. Small conflicts resolved into soul-stirring sweet moments everyone can’t get enough of. Fans fall hook, line and sinker for every imaginable possibility, resulting in an inescapable sinkhole of shipping Kaveh and Alhaitham. If you’re not in that whirlpool yet, you’ll understand just by looking up #kavetham or #haikaveh tags. Before you know it, you’ll become one of us, too.
BONUS: Traveller and Everyone
No doubt the Traveller is collecting hearts across Tevyat, no matter the gender or playability. The Traveller is the ultimate MVP of this ranking, attracting attention everywhere they go.
The truth is, there are simply too many characters to ship the Traveller with, that we’d need a whole other article to write about the Traveller’s most popular ships. Some favourites include Childe and Traveller, which ranks 82nd in the top 100 AO3 2023 list; Xiao and Traveller, Ayaka and Traveller, Jeht and Traveller… you catch the drift.
As foretold by Sumeru’s fortune teller Nabiya in Chapter 3 of Sumeru’s Archon Quest, the Travellers are fated to steal the hearts of many who come across their path. Many characters seem to have already fallen into this prophecy.
As the Traveller dives deeper into Fontaine, we’re starting to see more ships blossom, with so many fans already diving headfirst into them. Soon they are bound to disrupt the current state of the shipping scene. With so many delectable scenes together, Neuvillette and Wriothesley, perhaps? Or for all we know, more will succumb to the Traveller’s charms – we’re looking at you, Lyney.
All in all, it’s not just about shipping; it’s about celebrating the intricate storytelling and character development that make this game an irresistible obsession. We all know that any ships are 99 percent never canonical, but that won’t stop the fandom from manifesting their headcanons.
But if nobody got us, we know Genshin Impact content creators always have our backs. Translating every sweet droplet of a pairing’s hint into a multiverse of possibilities. So excuse us as we go back into the core of all that fan content and our bookmarks to pretend our favourite pairings are real. It’s been said, but let us emphasise one last time: Delulu is indeed the solulu.
Kaylyn is usually geeking out over gacha games or the latest updates in a manga, and can talk all day about them. She’s also an avid collector, and really needs more space to store her game merchandise, utaite CDs and manga books.
Natalie
Trinity Sun
