Tracking the progression of Genshin Impact involves looking back at the character and weapon event wishes that have defined the game's meta since September 2020. As of April 2026, the game has entered Version 6.5, introducing new mechanics and a massive roster of over 90 five-star characters. Understanding the frequency of reruns and the introduction of new regional heroes is the most reliable way to manage Primogem savings and team building.

Current Banners in Version 6.5 (April 2026)

The first phase of Version 6.5, titled "Luna Vi," features the debut of Linnea, a highly anticipated five-star character whose kit focuses on the newly refined Elemental Mastery interactions prevalent in late-game regions. Alongside her, Chasca has returned for a rerun, providing players another chance to secure a powerful Anemo DPS.

  • Phase 1 (April 8 – April 28, 2026):

    • Linnea (5-star, New)
    • Chasca (5-star, Rerun)
    • Signature Weapons: Golden Frostbound Oath & Astral Vulture's Crimson Plumage

  • Phase 2 (Upcoming April 28 – May 19, 2026):

    • Nefer (5-star, New)
    • Lauma (5-star, Rerun)

Additionally, the Chronicled Wish (Fontaine Edition) is active, allowing players to target specific older characters like Neuvillette or Furina alongside their signature weapons under a specialized pity system.

The Recent Era: 6.0 to 6.4 Banner History

The transition into the 6.x cycle brought players closer to the climax of the Teyvat storyline. This period saw the release of long-rumored legends and a shift toward multi-elemental synergy.

Version 6.4

  • Phase 1: Varka (The Knight of Boreas) finally made his debut alongside the mysterious Flins. This banner was a major milestone for players who had been waiting since Version 1.0 for the Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius.
  • Phase 2: Skirk and Escoffier reruns. Skirk's return was particularly notable for her unique Abyss-based combat mechanics.

Version 6.3

  • Phase 1: Somnias a Luna & Astral Actuation (New character debuts).
  • Phase 2: Harmonious Abundance & Decree of the Deep (Featuring the return of high-tier supports).

Version 6.0 - 6.2 (The Snezhnaya Expansion)

  • Version 6.2: Focused on Albedo's new specialized form (Rubedo) and a Venti rerun.
  • Version 6.1: Introduced the Chanson of Many Waters (Escoffier) and the long-awaited hearth-shadow narratives with Arlecchino reruns.
  • Version 6.0: The launch of the new major region featured Lauma and Nahida, bridging the gap between Sumeru’s wisdom and the new elemental threats.

The Natlan Arc: Version 5.0 to 5.8

The 5.x cycle, occurring throughout 2024 and 2025, was defined by the "Ancient Flame" and the introduction of the Natlan cast. This era changed the movement meta significantly.

Version Phase Featured 5-Star Characters Key Highlights
5.8 1st Ineffa, Citlali Late-Natlan utility peak
5.7 1st Skirk, Shenhe The first appearance of Skirk
5.6 2nd Kinich, Raiden Shogun High-value rerun phase
5.5 1st Veresa, Xianyun Introduction of Veresa
5.3 1st Mavuika, Citlali The Pyro Archon's debut
5.0 1st Mualani, Kazuha Start of the Natlan journey

Mavuika (the Pyro Archon) remains one of the most pulled characters in the game's history, rivaling the initial launch of Raiden Shogun in terms of total revenue and community impact.

Legacy History: From 1.0 to 4.8

Looking back further provides context on how the banner system evolved from single character releases to the current double-banner and triple-phase formats.

The Fontaine Era (4.0 - 4.8)

This era introduced the "Pneuma and Ousia" mechanics. Notable highlights included:

  • 4.2: The debut of Furina, the Hydro Archon, which broke previous engagement records.
  • 4.6: Arlecchino (The Knave) became a mainstay for Pyro DPS teams.
  • 4.8: The introduction of Emilie, closing out the Fontaine cycle with a focus on Burning reactions.

The Sumeru Era (3.0 - 3.8)

The introduction of Dendro revolutionized the game.

  • 3.2: Nahida’s release marked the turning point for Dendro team compositions.
  • 3.3: The Wanderer (Scaramouche) release was a significant lore and gameplay moment.

The Inazuma Era (2.0 - 2.8)

This period saw the first implementation of double character reruns (Version 2.3).

  • 2.1: Raiden Shogun set the standard for Archon-level power.
  • 2.4: The "Lantern Rite" banners featuring Xiao, Ganyu, and Zhongli became an annual tradition for high-value banners.

The Beginning (1.0 - 1.6)

  • 1.0: Venti (Ballad in Goblets) was the first-ever limited character banner.
  • 1.1: Tartaglia and Zhongli expanded the lore into Liyue.
  • 1.3: The introduction of Hu Tao, who remained a top-tier DPS for years.

Evolution of Banner Mechanics

The "Genshin banners history" is not just a list of characters but a record of mechanical evolution designed to help players navigate the growing roster.

  1. Double Banners (Version 2.3): As the character pool grew, Hoyoverse introduced two simultaneous character event wishes that share the same pity count. This allowed for more frequent reruns of popular characters.
  2. Epitomized Path (Version 2.0): The weapon banner originally had no guarantee for a specific 5-star weapon. The Epitomized Path introduced a system where players can select a target weapon and receive it after at most two unsuccessful 5-star pulls.
  3. Chronicled Wish (Version 4.5): A third banner type that uses a different currency (Intertwined Fate) and features a mix of characters and weapons from a specific region. This system is designed to provide a path for older characters (like Diluc, Jean, or Eula) who no longer fit the limited event schedule.
  4. Triple Phases (Version 5.5+): With nearly 100 characters, the game shifted toward three phases per version or more frequent Chronicled Wish updates to prevent characters from being "locked in the vault" for more than a year.

Pity and Strategy: Using History to Plan

Based on five years of data, certain patterns have emerged that can help with resource management:

  • Archon Reruns: Archons (Venti, Zhongli, Raiden Shogun, Nahida, Furina, Mavuika) typically receive a rerun roughly 4-5 patches after their initial release, and then annually during major regional festivals.
  • Regional Festivals: Liyue characters (like Hu Tao or Xianyun) almost always reappear during the Lantern Rite (Versions ending in .4 or .5). Mondstadt characters often reappear during the Windblume or late-patch cycles (Versions .7 or .8).
  • New Character Patterns: New characters usually arrive in the first phase of a patch, though major story-driven characters occasionally debut in Phase 2 if the plot dictates.

Weapon Banner Considerations

The weapon banner history shows a trend of increasing specialization. Early weapons like the Wolf’s Gravestone were generic powerhouses, but modern 5-star weapons (like Linnea’s Golden Frostbound Oath) are specifically tailored to a character's unique mechanics. Pulling on the weapon banner is generally suggested only after securing the character, as the "Epitomized Path" does not carry over between different banner periods.

Summary of Key Milestones

  • Most Reruns: Characters like Tartaglia, Zhongli, and Kazuha hold records for some of the most frequent appearances over the history of the game.
  • Longest Absence: Before the Chronicled Wish was introduced, characters like Eula and Shenhe famously went over 500 days without a rerun, highlighting the necessity of the new banner systems.
  • Highest Revenue Peaks: Version 2.1 (Raiden), Version 3.2 (Nahida), and Version 5.3 (Mavuika) represent the highest historical engagement points.

As the game approaches its sixth anniversary, the banner history continues to be a vital roadmap for both veteran and new players. By observing the rotation of regions and the introduction of new mechanics, players can make informed decisions on where to spend their Intertwined Fates.