Genshin Impact 5.5 Banners: Complete Guide for Players

Excitement is building within the Genshin Impact community as Version 5.5 approaches with its highly anticipated character banners. After our adventures in Inazuma during Version 5.4, the journey continues into Natlan's Collective of Plenty region, bringing fresh storylines and characters to explore in early 2025.

Genshin Impact 5.5 Banners: Complete Schedule

Version 5.5 brings a mix of new and returning characters across two banner phases. The official release schedule confirms we'll see new Natlan characters alongside some beloved returnees.

Phase 1 Banners (March 26 - April 15, 2025)

The first phase introduces Varesa, a new 5-star Electro Catalyst user, running alongside Xianyun's rerun banner. Both feature an exciting lineup of 4-star characters:

• 5-Star Characters: Varesa (NEW! - Electro, Catalyst) and Xianyun (Anemo, Catalyst)

• 4-Star Characters: Iansan (NEW! - Electro, Polearm), Gaming (Pyro), and Chevreuse (Pyro)

Varesa specializes in dealing impressive damage through plunging attacks. When she accumulates maximum Nightsoul points, she enters the Fiery Passion state, significantly enhancing her damage output. Her Elemental Burst immediately restores her Nightsoul points and triggers the Fiery Passion state, increasing her interruption resistance and allowing for devastating plunging attacks.

Phase 2 Banners (April 15 - May 6, 2025)

The second phase features reruns for two fan-favorite characters:

• 5-Star Characters: Venti (Anemo, Bow) and Xilonen (Geo, Sword)

• 4-Star Characters: Faruzan (Anemo), Yanfei (Pyro), and Beidou (Electro)

Weapon Banners in Version 5.5

The weapon banners align with the character banners, featuring signature weapons for the rate-up 5-star characters:

Phase 1 Weapons:

• 5-Stars: Vivid Notions (NEW! Catalyst for Varesa) and Crane's Echoing Call (Catalyst for Xianyun)

• 4-Stars: A selection of limited weapons including Sturdy Bone (Sword) and Fruitful Hook (Claymore)

Phase 2 Weapons:

• 5-Stars: Peak Patrol Song (Sword for Xilonen) and Elegy for the End (Bow for Venti)

• 4-Stars: Various Favonius series weapons and Sacrificial Sword

New 4-Star Character: Iansan

The 5.5 update also introduces Iansan, a 4-star Electro Polearm user from Natlan. She provides substantial ATK boosts through her Elemental Burst, which summons a Kinetic Energy Scale that follows the active character. The ATK bonus varies based on Iansan's Nightsoul points and ATK stats, making her an interesting support option for many team compositions.

New Artifact Sets

Version 5.5 adds two new artifact sets that could significantly impact character builds:

1. Long Night's Oath

• 2-Piece: Plunging Attack DMG increased by 25%

• 4-Piece: Grants stacks of "Radiance Everlasting" when hitting opponents with Plunging Attacks, Charged Attacks, or Elemental Skills, with each stack increasing Plunging Attack DMG by 15% for 6s (max 5 stacks)

2. Finale of the Deep Galleries

• 2-Piece: Cryo DMG Bonus +15%

• 4-Piece: When at 0 Elemental Energy, Normal Attack DMG and Elemental Burst DMG are both increased by 60%, with interesting cooldown mechanics

Community Reactions

The community response to the 5.5 banners has been enthusiastic, with many players saving their Primogems specifically for Varesa and the returning characters. Some F2P players have accumulated impressive wish counts, with one player mentioning they had nearly 1,000 wishes saved but couldn't resist pulling for Varesa on day one.

Others are strategizing about whether to prioritize Varesa or Xianyun while collecting Iansan constellations, with some community members recommending Xianyun for her versatility as an off-field support.

Should You Pull?

If you enjoy plunging attack playstyles, Varesa offers a fresh take on this mechanic with her Electro element and unique Nightsoul mechanics. For players needing Anemo support, Xianyun provides excellent utility, while Venti remains one of the game's strongest crowd-control units. Xilonen offers solid Geo DPS capabilities for those looking to expand their elemental coverage.

The new 4-star Iansan is particularly notable for ATK-scaling teams and could be worth pursuing constellations for if you enjoy movement-based gameplay mechanics.

Remember to consider your existing character roster and upcoming banners when deciding where to invest your precious Primogems in Version 5.5!

What are your plans for the Genshin Impact 5.5 banners? Will you be pulling for the new Natlan characters or saving for future updates? The choice, as always in Teyvat, is yours to make.

The following analysis references Gamasutra (Game Developer), a respected source for game development insights and industry trends. Gamasutra's coverage of live service games like Genshin Impact often explores how new character releases and banner rotations are carefully designed to sustain player engagement and drive ongoing content updates, reflecting broader strategies in modern game development.