In the ever-evolving meta of Genshin Impact, the debate between Neuvillette and Alhaitham as hypercarry units has intensified as we move into 2025. With recent updates and the shifting landscape of the Spiral Abyss, players are increasingly questioning which of these powerful 5-stars deserves their limited resources. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to determine who truly deserves the hypercarry crown.

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The Current Meta Context

The meta has shifted dramatically since the 4.x era, with the introduction of characters like Xilonen, Mualani, and Chiori significantly altering team compositions and damage ceilings. Dendro reactions, once the cornerstone of meta teams in version 3.x, have been somewhat overshadowed by newer, more powerful reaction combinations and hypercarry setups.

As one player aptly noted in recent discussions: "Dendro has been powercrept in the last two patches." This context is crucial for our comparison, as Alhaitham's value is intrinsically tied to Dendro reactions, while Neuvillette operates primarily through Hydro-based teams.

Neuvillette: The Hydro Juggernaut

Strengths

  1. Unprecedented Speedrunning Potential: Neuvillette has established himself as one of the fastest Abyss clearers in the game. Recent data shows that after Xilonen's release, Neuvillette teams have achieved the fastest sustained runs in Spiral Abyss history for two consecutive cycles.

  2. Flexible Team Compositions: Neuvillette excels in multiple team archetypes:

  3. Hypercarry teams (particularly with Furina)

  4. Taser compositions with Electro sub-DPS

  5. Hyperbloom teams leveraging Dendro reactions

  6. Fridge teams combining Bloom and Freeze

  7. Self-Sustain: His kit includes self-healing, reducing the need for dedicated healers and allowing more offensive support options.

  8. Range Advantage: As a catalyst user with unique charged attack mechanics, he can maintain consistent DPS from a safe distance.

Best Team Composition

The current premier Neuvillette team features:

  • Neuvillette (Main DPS)

  • Furina (HP-based buffer)

  • Kazuha (Elemental buffer/grouper)

  • Xilonen (Support)

This team maximizes Neuvillette's damage output through Furina's HP-scaling buffs, Kazuha's Elemental DMG bonus, and Xilonen's support capabilities.

Alhaitham: The Dendro Specialist

Strengths

  1. Dendro Reaction Expertise: Alhaitham excels in Quicken-based reactions like Spread, which can produce consistent, reliable damage.

  2. On-field DPS with Off-field Capabilities: His kit allows him to deal damage both while active and when switched out.

  3. F2P Friendly: Generally performs well with more accessible weapons and teammates compared to some hypercarries.

  4. Strong Single-Target Damage: Particularly effective against bosses and other single targets.

Challenges in Current Meta

Despite being a solid character, Alhaitham faces several challenges in the current meta:

  1. Powercreep of Dendro Teams: As mentioned by multiple players, "Dendro has been powercrept in the last two patches," putting Alhaitham at a disadvantage.

  2. Team Restrictions: Optimal Alhaitham teams often require specific supports like Baizhu, which some players find "really suck to play and you have to pull Baizhu to still be weaker than the current top meta."

  3. Competitive Alternatives: Even within Dendro teams, on-field Nahida teams with off-field supports like Yelan/Fischl have historically outperformed Alhaitham counterparts at realistic investment levels.

Direct Comparison: Numbers Don't Lie

When we look at speedrunning data and clear times from the current Abyss cycles, the numbers heavily favor Neuvillette:

  1. Clear Speed: Neuvillette teams currently hold multiple speed records in Spiral Abyss, with some clears as fast as 13 seconds.

  2. Investment Scaling: Neuvillette shows exceptional performance even at lower constellations (C1R1), while maintaining competitive advantage at whale investment levels.

  3. Versatility: Neuvillette performs well across single-target, multi-wave, and AoE scenarios, whereas Alhaitham tends to specialize more in single-target situations.

The Verdict: Who's the Better Hypercarry?

Based on current meta analysis, speedrunning data, and team flexibility, Neuvillette emerges as the superior hypercarry compared to Alhaitham in 2025's meta environment.

The key factors that tilt the balance in Neuvillette's favor include:

  1. Higher Damage Ceiling: Neuvillette's raw damage output with optimal teams exceeds what Alhaitham can achieve in most scenarios.

  2. Meta Alignment: Neuvillette benefits from current meta supports like Furina and Xilonen, while Alhaitham suffers from the relative decline of Dendro reaction value.

  3. Flexibility: Neuvillette functions exceptionally well in multiple team archetypes, giving players more options based on their roster.

  4. Self-Sufficiency: His self-healing and ranged attacks provide practical advantages in challenging content.

Should You Invest in Alhaitham?

Despite Neuvillette's advantages, Alhaitham remains a solid character with specific use cases. Consider investing in him if:

  1. You need a strong Dendro DPS for specific content

  2. You prefer his playstyle and character design

  3. You already have his optimal supports built

  4. You're looking for a character who can function as both on-field and off-field DPS

However, from a pure meta perspective, resources are generally better allocated to Neuvillette if you're deciding between the two as your primary hypercarry.

Conclusion

The hypercarry comparison between Neuvillette and Alhaitham isn't particularly close in the current state of Genshin Impact. Neuvillette has established himself as one of the game's premier DPS characters, capable of clearing the most challenging content with exceptional speed and consistency.

While both characters have their merits, Neuvillette's alignment with the current meta, superior damage ceiling, and team flexibility make him the clear winner in this hypercarry showdown. As always in Genshin Impact, the meta continues to evolve, but for now, the Hydro Justice reigns supreme.

What's your experience with these characters? Do you prefer Neuvillette's charged attack playstyle or Alhaitham's Dendro reactions? Let us know in the comments below!