Genshin Impact Version 6.1 Banners Revealed, Highlighting Nefer Debut and Quadruple 5-Star Power Reruns

HoYoverse has officially unveiled the highly-anticipated banner lineup for Genshin Impact Version 6.1 (internally referred to as ‘Luna II’), confirming one new 5-star character debut and a formidable trio of reruns. The announcement, which took place during the recent Special Program livestream, has set the stage for one of the most resource-intensive updates of the year for players, putting immense pressure on their stockpiles of Primogems and Intertwined Fates in this demanding gacha game.

Version 6.1, which commences on October 22, 2025, continues the epic journey through the new region of Nod-Krai. The banner schedule is split into two compelling phases, each featuring two concurrent Event Wishes, creating a “pull” dilemma for even the most dedicated whale and free-to-play players.

Phase 1: The Debut of Nefer Alongside Archon Power

The first half of Version 6.1 (October 22 – November 11) is arguably the most tempting, pairing a brand-new character with one of the most powerful and versatile Archon supports in the game. This synergistic pairing promises high revenue generation for the developers and significant meta impact for the players.

New 5-Star Character: Nefer (Dendro Catalyst)

Nefer, the sole new 5-star unit of this patch, is a Dendro Catalyst wielder and an on-field DPS whose kit revolves entirely around the Lunar-Bloom reaction—a new elemental interaction introduced in the Nod-Krai region. She headlines the Temptation of the Crimson Sands banner.

• Role Focus: On-field Main DPS, specializing in high Elemental Mastery and Lunar-Bloom damage.
• Key Mechanics: Her abilities consume “Verdant Dew” and “Shadow Dance” stacks to unleash enhanced Charged Attacks, which are considered Lunar-Bloom DMG. This is a significant departure from standard Dendro Core mechanics.
• Weapon Banner Tie-in: Her signature weapon, the Reliquary of Truth (5-star Catalyst), is expected to be featured on the Phase 1 Epitome Invocation, offering a high CRIT DMG sub-stat, making it a premium investment for optimal damage output.

5-Star Rerun: Furina (Hydro Sword)

Running alongside Nefer on the Chanson of Many Waters banner is the rerun of Furina, the former Hydro Archon. Her return is strategically placed, offering unparalleled synergy with Nefer.

• Role Focus: Universal Buffer, Hydro Application, and Off-field Sub-DPS.
• Synergy with Nefer: Furina’s continuous off-field Hydro application is essential for reliably triggering Nefer’s Lunar-Bloom reactions, solidifying their spot as a top-tier team composition for endgame content like the Spiral Abyss.
• Weapon Rerun: Her signature weapon, the Splendor of Tranquil Waters (5-star Sword), is a powerful Critical Rate weapon and will accompany Nefer’s Catalyst on the Epitome Invocation, making the weapon banner an extremely high-value pull for whales aiming for best-in-slot gear.

Featured 4-Star Characters in Phase 1

The official announcement confirmed the three boosted 4-star characters for both Phase 1 banners, providing excellent support options for both new and veteran players:

• Collei (Dendro Bow)
• Xingqiu (Hydro Sword)
• Yaoyao (Dendro Polearm)

The inclusion of two potent Dendro units (Collei and Yaoyao) and the universal Hydro Sub-DPS (Xingqiu) ensures that any player pulling will walk away with valuable team-building resources, regardless of their 5-star luck. Furthermore, a free Collei giveaway is also scheduled as part of the Version 6.1 events.

Phase 2: A Rerun of Legendary Defense and Offense

The second phase of Version 6.1 (expected to start around November 12 – December 2) maintains the high-stakes pulling environment with the rerun of two of the game’s most popular and powerful 5-star characters.

5-Star Reruns: Arlecchino (Pyro Polearm) and Zhongli (Geo Polearm)

The final banners, The Hearth’s Ashen Shadow and Gentry of Hermitage, will feature the return of the formidable Fatui Harbinger Arlecchino and the Geo Archon Zhongli.

• Arlecchino: Known for her high-risk, high-reward Pyro DPS playstyle centered around the “Bond of Life” mechanic. Her damage potential remains one of the highest in the game, making her a prized acquisition for damage output focused players.
• Zhongli: The unshakeable Geo Polearm wielder. His ability to provide the best shields in Teyvat and apply a universal Elemental Resistance shred remains a staple for almost every hypercarry team, including Arlecchino, who greatly benefits from the added survivability. His rerun cements his position as the top sustain support option.

Phase 2 Weapon Banners: High-Value Investment

The Epitome Invocation for Phase 2 will feature Arlecchino’s signature weapon, the Crimson Moon’s Semblance (5-star Polearm), and Zhongli’s signature weapon, the Vortex Vanquisher (5-star Polearm). While the Vortex Vanquisher’s general appeal is lower compared to other limited Polearms, the presence of the powerful Crimson Moon’s Semblance still makes the phase an attractive proposition for players seeking to max out Arlecchino’s DPS potential.

Market Analysis and Player Strategy

Version 6.1 is undeniably “stacked”—a term used by the gaming community to describe updates featuring multiple must-have characters. The new character, Nefer, is positioned as a meta-defining Lunar-Bloom DPS, while the reruns offer a selection of the best utility and damage units in the game. This highly competitive banner lineup is engineered to encourage high gacha spending and a challenging decision for F2P players on how to allocate their limited resources.