The best beginner characters in any gacha game are not always the flashiest ones. They are units that work in almost any team, stay useful without heavy investment, and cover a role you cannot easily fill for free. Here is how to judge that yourself instead of copying a list blindly.
Early on you have one team, not five. A character who fits everywhere is worth more than a specialist with a higher ceiling. Look for units with no team-building requirements, no reliance on a specific rare weapon or artifact set, and damage or utility that scales with level rather than with duplicates. Flexible units keep clearing content while you slowly build the rest of your roster.
Sustain and consistent damage are the two things new accounts lack most. A healer or shielder turns hard fights into survivable ones, and a reliable multi-target damage dealer speeds up every farming loop. Buffers and debuffers are powerful but usually need a strong carry to amplify first. If a game hands you a free starter unit in one of these roles, build it before chasing a rare pull.
Almost every gacha gives away solid units through story, events and a discounted beginner banner. These are balanced to carry a new account through months of content, and they cost nothing but time. Spending your starting currency on them is rarely necessary, so save premium pulls for a limited unit you genuinely want. If you would rather skip pull anxiety entirely, browser games on SmallWebGame are free with no gacha at all.
Should beginners save or spend their starting currency?
Save most of it. Free story and event units cover early content fine, and saving lets you commit fully to one limited character you actually want later.
Do I need an S tier character to progress?
No. Early and mid-game content in most gacha games is beatable with free units that are properly leveled and geared. Investment matters more than rarity at that stage.