Genshin Impact Grand Defense Guide: Operations, Rewards, and the Best Free 4-Star Pick

The Grand Defense: Defy the Unjust Judgment is the main Version 7.2 event. It combines three different relief operations with a shared Holy Soil threat meter. Lower that threat far enough and you can invite one of eight 4-star characters: Amber, Xiangling, Thoma, Collei, Lynette, Kachina, Aino, or Alyosha.

The event is not only a character giveaway. Its rescue, flight, and deployment stages test different skills, and the best selector choice changes with your roster. The useful question is not “Who is strongest in general?” but “Which single copy improves this account the most?”

Quick answer: Complete operations across all combat zones until the overall Holy Soil threat falls to 30%, which unlocks the free 4-star invitation. Before confirming the character, finish any wishes you already planned and check the exact constellation the extra copy will unlock. The strongest high-value cases are usually Xiangling C3→C4, Alyosha C1→C2, an Aino breakpoint that supports a team you use, or a missing Thoma who opens a new shield/Burgeon role.

Invitation threshold

The free 4-star becomes available when the overall Holy Soil threat reaches 30%.

Rescue shortcut

After marking every target, ordinary enemies on the route can be bypassed when the objective only requires reaching the survivors.

Do not claim early

A 4-star pulled from a planned wish can change which selector option reaches the better constellation.

How to unlock The Grand Defense

The normal route requires Adventure Rank 20 and completion of Archon Quest Chapter VII: Act IV, A Rekviem for the Underworld. The event then opens naturally while progressing through Chapter VII: Act VI, A Yesterday Sent From Beyond. Because the event story is closely connected to the Archon Quest, this route gives the clearest narrative context.

Quick Start is the practical alternative. Accounts at Adventure Rank 20 that have completed Prologue: Act III, Song of the Dragon and Freedom, can enter through the event page without finishing the full Version 7.2 story route first. The event uses its own operation map and can move eligible players to the required locations, so unopened regional waypoints should not prevent access to the operation zones.

Before using Quick Start: it solves the access problem, but it cannot supply the missing story context. Players who care about character introductions and regional events should follow the Archon Quest route; players mainly trying to secure the limited rewards can use Quick Start.

What to do in each relief operation

The three operation types do not reward the same kind of preparation. Treating all of them as normal combat stages is the easiest way to waste time.

Emergency Rescue: mark every target before moving.
The briefing gives visual clues for the missing people. Switch between surveillance viewpoints, center each matching target in the device, and mark all of them before the ground section begins. Once their positions are confirmed, move directly to the survivors; reports from the live stages indicate that fighting ordinary enemies on the route is not always required.

Securing Air Supremacy: use friendly units as checkpoints.
Guide the Favonian Falcon along the route and score from enemies and marked objectives, but prioritize friendly units when they appear. Remaining near one long enough completes the intelligence transfer; the interaction can also restore health and provide a temporary skill, making it safer than chasing distant targets while damaged.

Tactical Sweep: satisfy deployment tags before the boss.
Read all four lines on the deployment briefing. Requirements can check member count, elements, weapon types, and a support-squad trait. A high-level character who matches none of the requested tags can contribute less preparation value than a benched 4-star who completes two conditions at once.

Official English Emergency Rescue footage showing the signal-detection view and three rescue targets — Identify every rescue target through Signal Detection before committing to a ground route.

Official English Securing Air Supremacy footage showing its score and objective to defeat opponents and complete transmissions — Air Supremacy scores both defeated opponents and completed transmissions, so route discipline matters.

Tactical Sweep deserves the most planning. Its deployment layer can reward roster breadth rather than one fully built team. Aim for at least 30 Morale during dispatch, because that unlocks the stronger boss-stage bonus reported in the live walkthrough. In the hunt phase, full objective rewards require 36,000 points, but the boss does not have to be completely defeated; damage dealt before the timer ends is converted into score. If your own roster cannot use the Morale bonus cleanly, a stronger familiar team or the available trial characters can still be the better scoring choice.

Official English Tactical Sweep deployment screen showing Support Squad Main Force requirements and Morale — Match Support Squad and Main Force requirements before spending Morale on the timed fight.

Official English Tactical Sweep boss footage showing Strike Score countdown Support Progress and boss health — Strike Score, time, Support Progress, and boss HP are separate signals; build around the score condition, not only the health bar.

If the stage interface stops responding: the live Version 7.2 issue log has already addressed cases where players could not start a challenge or could not exit after opening the Quest menu. If the problem persists on an unrefreshed session, return to the login screen, close the client, and enter again before repeating the stage.

How the Holy Soil threat and rewards work

Claiming the reward from an operation lowers the threat value of its corresponding region. The practical target is not simply “complete one of each mode”: reduce the combined threat across the available regions until the overall value reaches 30%. That is the milestone reported on the live event reward screen for the 4-star invitation. Players aiming only for the character can stop treating every optional score target as mandatory once this threshold and the required claims are complete; players who want all materials should continue toward 0% in every region.

Official Grand Defense reward strip showing Primogems Crown of Insight and character talent materials — The official reward preview confirms Primogems, a Crown of Insight, character talent materials, and the free 4-star invitation.

70% regional threat

Each of the Eastern, Central, and Northern zones has a 40-Primogem checkpoint, for 120 Primogems across the three zones.

30% regional threat

Each zone has another 40-Primogem checkpoint, adding 120 more Primogems when all three reach it.

All threats eliminated

Clearing the final all-zone threat objective adds 40 Primogems, Mora, and a Crown of Insight.

The visible threat-reward track therefore accounts for 280 Primogems from these seven checkpoints. Do not confuse the regional 30% material checkpoints with the character rule: the selector is tied to the overall Holy Soil threat reaching 30% or lower. This distinction matters when one combat zone is further ahead than the others.

The event remains available throughout Version 7.2. HoYoverse also states that the Trial of Usurpation can still be experienced later while progressing through the connected Archon Quest, and the current trial progress is retained. That does not mean every limited event reward stays claimable forever, so finish the threat milestones and claim the selector inside the event window.

Choose the free 4-star with a two-minute account score

This is a ManaBuy decision aid, not an in-game rule. Score each candidate using the copy you would have after claiming: add 3 points for reaching a proven breakpoint, 3 for filling a missing role you can build now, 2 when the copy is unusually hard to replace, and 1 when you already use the character every week. Subtract 3 if the character is already C6.

A result of 6–9 points is a strong account-specific pick; 3–5 points needs comparison with the next candidate; 0–2 points is mainly preference. Only count an outcome the event copy unlocks immediately—do not award points for a famous C4 or C6 when this claim merely moves C0 to C1.

Official English Grand Defense selector showing Amber Xiangling Thoma Collei Lynette Kachina Aino and Alyosha — Eight candidates solve different account problems, so the best invitation depends on the result of the next copy.

Amber — scarcity or favorite pick

Amber constellations are difficult to obtain randomly because she is not a normal limited-banner rate-up. Community discussion therefore treats her as a collector choice, especially near C6. Her C6 adds a party ATK and Movement SPD buff after her Burst, but early Amber constellations are usually a lower immediate account upgrade.

Xiangling — strongest at C3→C4

C4 increases Pyronado's duration by 40%, from 10 seconds to 14 seconds. This is a concrete rotation upgrade, not a small stat node. If the event copy moves Xiangling from C3 to C4 and you still use her, she becomes one of the safest selector choices.

Thoma — best when he is missing

Thoma is the only selector option without the same kind of permanent story, Abyss, or Adventure Rank copy associated with the other seven. Take him when a first copy opens a shield or Burgeon team. For duplicates, C4 refunds 15 Energy after his Burst and C6 gives Normal, Charged, and Plunging attacks a 15% DMG bonus after the barrier is gained or refreshed.

Collei — target C3→C4

Collei is already obtainable through the Spiral Abyss, so a first event copy has lower scarcity. Her C4 is the notable selector breakpoint: using her Burst grants nearby party members 60 Elemental Mastery for 12 seconds.

Lynette — roster depth before damage

Lynette already has a permanent Adventure Rank acquisition route. Choose her when the next constellation has a clear job in an Anemo team; otherwise, a missing role or a stronger breakpoint usually produces more value than an isolated early duplicate.

Kachina — Geo account pick

Kachina is primarily justified by an account that will actually use Geo support or her exploration utility. Because a story copy is available, the selector is better spent elsewhere unless the next Kachina constellation completes a build you already play.

Aino — prioritize reaction-team breakpoints

Aino provides sustained off-field Hydro. C1 gives Aino and the active character 80 Elemental Mastery after her Skill or Burst, while later investment improves her specialist value. Recent player advice repeatedly favors Aino when the account needs a second reaction-team Hydro option or does not rely on Columbina for that slot.

Alyosha — C1→C2 is the standout

C1 restores 15 Energy when the party triggers an Electro-related reaction. C2 is the larger change: it extends his Burst by 6 seconds and lets Tugarin apply Hunter's Marks, improving uptime and allowing shorter field time. Community replies repeatedly prioritize this breakpoint over taking an unrelated low-impact constellation.

What recent player discussions add

Community threads reinforce the scoring model rather than a universal tier list. Alyosha C1 owners repeatedly favor C2 for its longer Burst and mark application; Aino rises when an account needs a second reaction-team Hydro slot; veteran accounts sometimes value Amber's scarce constellations; and a missing Thoma is treated as a real role unlock. A C6 duplicate is generally only a Starglitter fallback. Compare the recent discussions about specific breakpoints, the broader selector pool, and account-by-account choices.

Before claiming, perform three checks: compare a missing role with the exact next constellation, finish any wishes you already planned, and favor the tied character you will build first. This keeps the recommendation tied to your account rather than to a generic popularity count.

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The Grand Defense FAQ

Can I play The Grand Defense without finishing the Version 7.2 Archon Quest?

Yes, if the account has reached Adventure Rank 20 and completed Prologue: Act III. Use Quick Start on the event page. Following the Chapter VII route is still better for players who want the event's full story context.

How do I unlock the free 4-star character?

Complete and claim relief-operation objectives across the available regions until the overall Holy Soil threat falls to 30%. The invitation is a shared progress milestone, not a reward for clearing one specific minigame.

What if a Grand Defense stage will not start or exit?

Return to the login interface, close the client, and log in again. The current issue log has already listed fixes for challenge-start and post-stage exit problems, but restarting refreshes sessions that began before the fix was applied.

Should I pick a new character or a constellation?

Choose a new character when that role completes a team you can actually build. Choose a duplicate when it reaches a verified breakpoint such as Xiangling C4 or Alyosha C2. An early duplicate with no immediate use should not outrank a missing role automatically.

Bottom line

The Grand Defense rewards broad preparation more than brute force. Read the rules for each operation, use a varied roster for Tactical Sweep, and treat the selector as an account-planning decision. A missing role is the best pick for many newer accounts; a targeted constellation is usually stronger for established rosters. Either way, confirm the exact result before pressing the final invite button.

Sources and image note: Event rules and eligibility were checked against the official Grand Defense overview and the Version 7.2 notice and issue log archived by KQM GINews. Gameplay frames come from HoYoverse's official English Version 7.2 Special Program, principally 33:00–34:40. Character checks use KQM's Alyosha analysis, while live-stage details were cross-checked with Kamigame. Community links above identify recurring account decisions rather than establish game rules.