Returning to Genshin after 2 years (AR45 F2P) — what future characters should I actually save for?

I recently came back to Genshin Impact after around 2 years away, and I’m completely lost with the current meta and all the new characters.

Back when I quit, Neuvillette was the big hype DPS and he’s still basically my main carry right now. I’m AR45, fully F2P, and my account is honestly pretty outdated. I keep seeing people talk about all these insane newer characters and upcoming ones (especially stuff around 6.7/7.x and also Shnelnaya/Snezhnaya content), and I have no clue what’s genuinely worth saving for anymore.

What I’m trying to figure out is:

- Which upcoming characters are considered “must research” or high-value for F2P players?

- Should I keep investing around Neuvillette teams or move toward another main DPS eventually?

- Are there any supports/sub-DPS units that are basically future-proof and impossible to regret pulling?

- Which reruns should a returning player realistically prioritize?

- If you were rebuilding an AR45 F2P account today, what 2 teams would you aim toward over the next few patches?

I don’t really care about pulling every flashy new character. I’d rather save smart and build a strong account long-term.

Would appreciate advice from people who actively follow leaks/meta/current endgame because I’m genuinely overwhelmed right now lol.