Buckle up, Travelers! The winds of Teyvat are shifting, and the banner predictions for Genshin Impact versions 5.6 to 5.8 are generating a whirlwind of excitement. From highly anticipated new characters to potential shifts in rerun patterns and even whispers of a region-specific banner, there’s a lot to unpack. Whether you’re meticulously planning your Primogem spending, theorizing about the evolving meta, or simply hoping for the return of your beloved characters, let’s dive deep into what the near future might hold!

(Disclaimer: Please remember that all information regarding future banners is based on leaks and speculation and is subject to change until official announcements from Hoyoverse.)

Version 5.6: A Potentially Packed Patch?

While not yet officially confirmed, Version 5.6 is shaping up to be a banner bonanza, according to the consistently reliable leaker Hamdgat. Brace yourselves, because the whispers suggest a staggering four five-star characters might be gracing our wishes:

• Escoffier : A brand-new five-star character, generating significant buzz within the community.
• Kinich: A familiar face from Natlan, potentially making his playable debut alongside Escafier.
• Raiden Shogun: The Electro Archon of Inazuma, potentially receiving a surprising rerun.
• Navia: The President of Spina di Rosula from Fontaine, also rumored for a rerun.

The four-star lineup is also allegedly quite interesting, featuring:

• EA
• Layla
• Sara
• Thoma
• Lynette
• One mystery four-star character yet to be revealed!

Speculation and Implications:

The pairing of the new Natlan character Escafier with Kinich in the first half seems thematically plausible, aligning with Hoyoverse’s tendency to spotlight the current region’s characters early in a patch. This would likely place Raiden Shogun and Navia in the second banner phase.

Raiden Shogun’s potential second rerun within the Natlan cycle is particularly noteworthy. Archon reruns have typically been less frequent within the same regional arc. This could signify a potential shift in Hoyoverse’s rerun strategy or perhaps hint at something more significant, like a future Inazuma-themed Chronicled Wish (more on that later!).

Version 5.7: The Long-Awaited Arrival and More?

Version 5.7 is undoubtedly the one many players have circled on their calendars – the anticipated debut of Skirk! After years of lore hints and that memorable encounter with Childe, the enigmatic master is finally stepping into the playable spotlight.

Skirk: A Deep Dive

Skirk is rumored to be a five-star Cryo Sword user, designed as a stance-based on-field Main DPS. Her kit seems to revolve around a unique mechanic:

• Elemental Skill (Stygian Shade Sever): This skill supposedly puts Skirk into a special stance, consuming an energy bar to enhance her Normal Attacks. Her Charged Attacks in this stance can absorb “void fissurers,” which then restore her energy.
• Elemental Burst (Havoc Destruction): A powerful Cryo slash that gains significant power based on the number of “Stygian crevice” stacks Skirk possesses.
• Passive Talents: Intriguingly, these stacks are supposedly only generated when Skirk’s teammates trigger Hydro or Cryo reactions (Freeze, Superconduct, Cryo Swirl, Crystallize). Another passive is also rumored to generate void fissurers specifically through these reactions.

Implications for Gameplay:

Skirk’s kit suggests a very specific team composition focus. Her synergy with Cryo and Hydro units seems paramount, potentially making her less flexible for players who enjoy diverse elemental teams. She appears to be tailored for players who appreciate optimized rotations and maximizing single-target Cryo damage, rather than broad AoE capabilities.

Her constellations are also rumored to enhance her utility within these Cryo/Hydro-centric teams, such as adding AoE Cryo damage to her Charged Attacks and improving her energy regeneration within her specialized playstyle.

Beyond Skirk: Potential Reruns

Alongside Skirk, the four-star spotlight is expected to fall on Dalia, a character who has already been teased in the storyline and is set to appear as an NPC in Version 5.6. This would align with Hoyoverse’s pattern of introducing NPCs before their playable debut.

As for other potential five-star reruns in 5.7, speculation points towards:

• Muani: Having debuted in Version 5.0, Muani’s rerun would follow the established trend of rerunning all characters from the first half of a region before moving on to the next. Skipping her now would break this consistent pattern.
• Emily: Emily’s rerun is considered long overdue, as she hasn’t appeared on any banners since her initial release in Version 4.8, making her a notable Fontaine character without a rerun.
• Mavika (The Pyro Archon): This is where the speculation gets particularly interesting. If Mavika is indeed released at the end of the Version 5.3 Archon Quest as anticipated, Version 5.7 would perfectly align with the established pattern of Archons receiving their first rerun approximately three patches after their debut (Venti, Zhongli, Raiden, Nahida, and likely Furina followed this trend). However, placing Skirk and the Pyro Archon on banners in the same patch would present players with a difficult choice. Breaking the Archon rerun pattern would also be a significant deviation from Hoyoverse’s usual approach.

Version 5.8: Summer Fun and Inazuma Nostalgia?

Version 5.8 is likely to be the annual summer event patch, reminiscent of the Golden Apple Archipelago or similar themed content. While the specific event remains a mystery, we can make some educated guesses regarding the banners.

Potential Rerun:

• Sitali: As the last major character introduced in the early half of Natlan, Sitali is a strong contender for a rerun in Version 5.8. Hoyoverse has consistently ensured that all first-half regional characters receive at least one rerun before the arrival of the next major region. Skipping Sitali here would break this established pattern.

The Inazuma Connection: A Chronicled Wish on the Horizon?

The potential rerun of Raiden Shogun in Version 5.6 might be more significant than just a standard rerun. It could be a precursor to an Inazuma-themed Chronicled Wish potentially arriving in Version 5.8.

Consider the Inazuma characters who haven’t been featured on banners for a while: Kokomi, Ayaka, Yoimiya, and even Ayato. Raiden’s reappearance could be a way to re-introduce Inazuma to the spotlight before a banner featuring these characters. Summer events often have a thematic connection, and linking a summer island adventure with the electro-infused archipelago of Inazuma isn’t far-fetched.

While this is purely speculative, it would be a welcome surprise for players waiting for reruns of these popular Inazuman characters.

The Bigger Picture: Shifting Strategies?

The banner predictions for Versions 5.6-5.8 suggest some potential shifts in Hoyoverse’s approach:

• More Frequent Archon Reruns? Raiden’s potential second rerun within the Natlan cycle raises questions about the frequency of Archon banner appearances.
• Prioritizing Region Wrap-Up: The consistent reruns of early-region characters (Muani, Emily, and potentially Sitali) indicate a focus on giving these characters another spotlight before the story moves on to Snezhnaya.
• The Rise of Chronicled Wishes? The speculation surrounding an Inazuma-themed Chronicled Wish hints at a potential strategy to address the growing character roster and provide more targeted rerun opportunities for specific regions or character types.

What Does This Mean for You?

This three-patch window is packed with exciting possibilities. Whether you’re saving for the long-awaited Skirk, hoping for another chance to pull for an Archon, or eagerly anticipating the return of your favorite Inazuma characters, planning your Primogem strategy is crucial.

The potential for back-to-back strong banners also highlights the importance of making informed decisions about who to pull for based on your team compositions and gameplay preferences.

What are your thoughts, Travelers? Are you planning to pull for Skirk? Do you think Mavika’s rerun will stick to the three-patch rule? And are you hoping for an Inazuma banner wave before we journey to Snezhnaya? Share your predictions and strategies in the comments below!