HoYoverse Unveils Genshin Impact Version 6.1 Banner Lineup, Featuring New Dendro Catalyst and Triple Archon Reruns

The highly anticipated Version 6.1 of Genshin Impact, titled “Luna II,” is set to launch on October 22, 2025, and HoYoverse has officially confirmed the complete lineup of Event Wish Banners. This patch is poised to be one of the most commercially significant releases this year, strategically pairing a brand-new 5-star character with three of the game’s most sought-after Archon-adjacent and high-tier DPS units. The reveals, which came from the official Version 6.1 Special Program, confirm earlier industry leaks and set the stage for intense Primogem spending among the global player base.

Phase 1: New Dendro Powerhouse Meets Hydro Archon

The first half of Version 6.1, running from October 22 to November 11, 2025, features a potent combination designed to maximize new elemental reactions and cater to both new and veteran players. The banners for Phase 1 are:

• “Temptation of the Crimson Sands”: Featuring the brand-new 5-Star character, Nefer (Dendro Catalyst).
• “Chanson of Many Waters”: Featuring the rerun of the 5-Star character, Furina (Hydro Sword).

Deep Dive: Nefer – A New Horizon for Dendro Reactions

Nefer is introduced as a Dendro Catalyst user, specializing as an on-field Main DPS. Her kit is uniquely centered around the new “Lunar-Bloom” reaction, which replaces the standard Dendro Cores with buff stacks and enhanced Charged Attacks. This mechanism suggests a new hyper-specialized style of Dendro team composition, moving away from traditional Hyperbloom or Burgeon builds. The need for consistent Hydro application to fuel her damage makes her concurrent release with Furina a shrewd gacha game monetization strategy, as Furina is arguably the best off-field Hydro applicator and buffer in the game.

The accompanying Weapon Banner, Epitome Invocation, for Phase 1 is equally compelling, featuring Nefer’s signature catalyst, Reliquary of Truth, and Furina’s signature sword, Splendor of Tranquil Waters. Both 5-Star weapons offer high-value stats and powerful passive effects, making this a highly attractive—and potentially high CPC—pull phase for players looking to fully optimize their characters.Phase 2: The Return of Geo and Pyro Dominance

The second phase of Version 6.1, beginning on November 12, 2025, showcases two highly anticipated reruns, solidifying the update’s “best-of-the-best” roster. The Phase 2 banners are:

• “The Hearth’s Ashen Shadow”: Featuring the rerun of the 5-Star character, Arlecchino (Pyro Polearm).
• “Gentry of Hermitage”: Featuring the rerun of the 5-Star character, Zhongli (Geo Polearm).

The re-appearance of Arlecchino, a powerful Pyro Main DPS with a unique Bond of Life mechanic, and Zhongli, the Geo Archon and the game’s premier shielder/utility support, ensures that the second half of the patch retains substantial pull value. Zhongli’s unparalleled shield utility makes him an ideal defensive companion for virtually any DPS character, including the high-risk, high-reward playstyle of Arlecchino.

The Phase 2 Weapon Banner will feature Arlecchino’s signature polearm, Crimson Moon’s Semblance, and Zhongli’s signature polearm, Vortex Vanquisher. This dual-polearm pairing, however, presents a common dilemma for players, as the value of Vortex Vanquisher is generally considered lower than the highly synergistic Crimson Moon’s Semblance, potentially creating a more volatile investment for players targeting Arlecchino’s weapon.

Confirmed 4-Star Characters and The New Four-Star

HoYoverse has also confirmed the initial lineup of featured 4-Star characters for the first half of Version 6.1 to be:**

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

This selection provides excellent synergy for new players acquiring Nefer or Furina, offering immediate access to powerful off-field Hydro and Dendro support options. Notably, a new 4-Star Hydro Claymore character named Aino will also be permanently added to the standard wish pool (Wanderlust Invocation) starting with the launch of Version 6.1.

Economic Outlook and Community Impact

The combination of a new, highly anticipated Dendro Catalyst and the simultaneous rerun of three of the most powerful and popular 5-Star units (Furina, Arlecchino, Zhongli) creates one of the most “stacked” patches in Genshin Impact history. This strategic grouping is expected to drive significant engagement and, crucially, high revenue through Genesis Crystal purchases. For Free-to-Play (F2P) players and those with limited budgets, careful resource management—prioritizing which banner to pull on—will be essential.

Beyond the banners, Version 6.1 introduces “Miliastra Wonderland,” a highly anticipated user-generated content (UGC) sandbox mode, which aims to provide massive long-term engagement and a new creative outlet for the gaming community. This blend of compelling gacha content and innovative new gameplay features positions Version 6.1 as a major milestone for the global live-service game market and reinforces Genshin Impact’s dominance in the gacha RPG genre.