Choosing between Varesa and Xianyun in release of Genshin Impact 5.5 will also represent the introduction of a new map area in Natlan called Atoan, which contains the Great Volcano of Tollan and the Collective of Plenty tribe, from where the aforementioned characters hail.

Along with a new area to explore, players will embark on a new World Quest that will help them traverse Atoan and uncover several secrets. There will also be several events in the patch, including one called Tournament of Glory in Bloom, which offers players a free copy of Ororon as a reward. Other activities include Quirky Quaking Arena, Rhythm Ball Meztli, Unlimited Fighting Championship, and Overflowing Favor. There will be a lot to do in Version 5.5, but a lot of the attention is on the character banners in Genshin Impact 5.5, and they start with Varesa and Xianyun.

Varesa & Xianyun Stay In Genshin Impact 5.5's Banners Until April 16

Both 5-Star Characters Appear In Phase 1

Varesa and Xianyun will be the featured 5-star characters in the Phase 1 banners of Version 5.5. Varesa will be making her debut in the game, as both an NPC and a playable unit, while Xianyun will rerun for the very first time after her release back in Version 4.4. The Phase 1 banners will arrive along with Version 5.5 itself, on March 26 (on March 25, at night, in the United States), and last until April 16. At this time, Varesa’s and Xianyun’s banners will be removed and replaced by Xilonen’s and Venti’s rerun banners in Genshin Impact 5.5.

The banner reset should occur during the afternoon of April 16, so don’t leave your pulls for the last minute, as you may miss out on them.

If you have any intention whatsoever of acquiring Varesa or Xianyun, you should consider doing so in Version 5.5, as it is unsure when these characters will appear in banners again. Xianyun took over a year to rerun and this type of problem has been ever more frequent as the roster gets larger and there are fewer spaces for reruns to occur – Wriothesley only got his first rerun banner in Genshin Impact 5.4. He was released back in Version 4.1 and his absence, especially considering Wriothesley’s status as one of the best Cryo DPS units, was a huge issue.

Pros & Cons Of Pulling For Varesa In Genshin Impact 5.5

Varesa Is A Plunging Attack DPS

To decide between Varesa and Xianyun, it’s best if you thoroughly understand each character’s gameplay kit and both their pros and cons. Varesa is a 5-star Electro character who wields a catalyst in battle. Her main specialty is dealing damage through Plunging Attacks – in fact, Varesa’s kit in Genshin Impact revolves around this mechanic, with either other moves enabling Plunging Attacks or Plunging Attacks empowering other abilities. For example, Varesa’s Charged Attack throws her into the air, which can be followed up by a Plunging Attack. Varesa also gains charges toward the Fiery ion state by using Plunging Attacks.

In the Fiery ion state, Varesa’s abilities are enhanced. Furthermore, she can activate a special version of her Elemental Burst, which consumes less Energy, after executing a Plunging Attack in the Fiery ion state. For stat purposes, this attack is also considered a Plunging Attack. Overall, Varesa’s job in team comps is to operate as the main DPS, dealing large loads of damage through continuous Plunging Attacks, rotating between her Skill and Burst to then return to her Plunging Attacks. Her kit is well-knitted and she doesn’t have a high reliance on Energy to actually perform well in Genshin Impact.

The downsides the Varesa include the fact that she is a Plunging Attack DPS. While she can perform Plunging Attacks naturally through her kit, she is at her best when she is aided by Xianyun, who is a Plunging Attack . As such, players looking to min-max the character will not only have to work on Varesa’s DPS build but try to obtain Xianyun, too. Additionally, there are a lot of similarities between Varesa and Xiao in Genshin Impact, so players accustomed to the Anemo character may find Varesa’s kit a bit repetitive.

In direct comparison to Xiao, however, Varesa has the advantage of not needing Energy to use her Plunging Attacks, because Xiao’s Plunging Attacks usually stem from his Elemental Burst. On top of that, Varesa’s Electro Vision makes her more versatile for various types of team comps, as she can trigger different reactions based on her teammates, whereas Xiao is limited to Swirl. Lastly, Varesa is a Natlan character, so she has synergy with other Nightsoul characters like Citlali, Xilonen, and Mavuika. Varesa should also make a great pair with Iansan in Genshin Impact, who boosts ATK based on movement.

Pros & Cons Of Pulling For Xianyun In Genshin Impact 5.5

Xianyun Is A Plunging Attack Character

On the other hand, Xianyun is well-established as one of the best s in the game, especially for players who build around Plunging Attacks. Xianyun can use her Skill to execute three consecutive leaps and then follow up with a Plunging Attack – this ability has a related ive skill, which sees her grant Plunging Attack CRIT Rate to all party based on how many opponents she has hit. Additionally, Xianyun’s Burst can augment the active character’s Plunging Attack shockwave DMG, enabled by her Burst’s execution. This ability also allows the active character to jump higher.

Xianyun’s build in Genshin Impact also enables her Burst to heal allies.

Subsequently, they can use Plunging Attacks. Effectively, Xianyun can transform any DPS into a Plunging Attack DPS. Xianyun is a great hybrid for Plunging Attack team comps in the sense that she can provide a lot of buffs directed to the mechanic, but can also double as a healer. The downside is that she needs to be considered more of a secondary sustain rather than the primary since her healing is stuck to her Burst; and Xianyun’s Elemental Burst in Genshin Impact has a big issue: high Energy requirements. As such, you’ll need a high investment in Energy Recharge.

Xianyun requires some heavy fine-tuning to build upon both Energy Recharge and a high ATK stat (ATK dictates the power of her healing and damage). Overall, she is a great to own if you are intent on having a team comp centered around Plunging Attacks, regardless of whether or not your DPS has innate Plunging Attack capabilities like Varesa, Xiao, or Gaming. Putting both characters side-by-side can be tough, but Varesa feels like a more solid choice because of how versatile and independent she is as a Plunging Attack DPS in Genshin Impact.

However, if you already have a team comp focused on Plunging Attacks but you don’t have Xianyun, I’d highly recommend her, as she can prove to be an indispensable ally for characters like these. Overall, you will need to decide whether you need a DPS or a – even though Xianyun can be built like a DPS through some grueling farming efforts – and knowing the pros and cons of Varesa and Xianyun should help you make a more assertive and informed choice in Genshin Impact.