Grand Master Varka, one of Genshin Impact’s most anticipated characters, is finally stepping into the spotlight—and he’s shattering the mold. Leaks suggest Varka will arrive as a 5-star Anemo Claymore main DPS, a dramatic departure from the traditional support/Sub-DPS role typically held by Anemo characters.
Anticipated to arrive in an upcoming version (rumored to be Version 6.5), Varka’s kit focuses on aggressive, burst-heavy damage and unique battlefield utility [1, 2].
The Leaked Kit: Pure Anemo Power and Utility
Varka’s playstyle is expected to revolve around being a fast, melee Anemo bruiser who rewards direct combat over pure Swirl-reaction damage [5, 8].
| Ability | Details & Potential Mechanics |
|---|---|
| Elemental Skill (Call to Arms) | A quick press unleashes an AoE Anemo shockwave, granting Resilience stacks (up to 8). Holding the skill consumes these stacks to deal continuous AoE Anemo damage while cyclically pushing and pulling enemies (crowd control). This skill is also rumored to provide a gap-closing movement ability [1, 4]. |
| Elemental Burst (Knight of Boreas) | A massive AoE Anemo nuke that is expected to deal continuous wind damage and potentially absorb other elements. The initial burst grants Fortitude stacks. A unique Hold Mechanic may surround Varka with an Anemo shield, provide team-wide Cooldown Reduction (rumored 25%) to party members using their Skills/Bursts, and offer damage reduction [1, 5]. |
| Normal/Charged Attacks | Expected to be heavy, multi-hit claymore swings. There are strong rumors about a “Favonius Bladework” mechanic that allows for limited dual-wielding (claymore + sword) during specific attack combos, fitting his lore of immense strength [5, 8]. |
| Passive & Utility | Varka is hinted to provide an immediate party-wide ATK boost (~15% for 10s) on his skill cast [3]. He is also expected to be a “rapid nuke DPS,” less reliant on the Swirl reaction and scaling primarily off his raw stats [5, 8]. |
Varka’s Build: Maximize ATK and Crit
The core focus of Varka’s build is simple: maximize his raw attack and critical stats to drive his burst-heavy Anemo damage.
1. Weapon Recommendations (Claymore)
Varka’s ideal weapons are high-attack and high-crit options, leveraging his Main DPS role.
- Signature Weapon: Leaks point to the rumored Primordial Aventurine Cutter as his best-in-slot, offering high Base ATK and a Crit DMG secondary stat, with passive buffs tailored to his Skill and Burst [3].
- Premium Options:
- Wolf’s Gravestone: High Base ATK and percentage ATK bonus complement a burst-centric build well [2, 4].
- Redhorn Stonethresher: Excellent choice for critical damage focus, particularly if his kit shows any benefit from DEF or physical scaling [2, 5].
- The Unforged: Viable if Varka is played in shielded teams, as it provides substantial ATK boosts [4].
- F2P / 4-Star Options:
- Serpent Spine (Battle Pass): Excellent Crit Rate sub-stat and a ramping damage passive [4].
- Blackcliff Slasher (Starglitter): Crit DMG sub-stat is valuable for balancing artifacts [4].
2. Artifact Sets and Stats
- Artifacts: Viridescent Venerer (4-piece) remains a strong contender for its Anemo DMG Bonus and resistance shred. However, if Varka’s scaling heavily favors raw damage over Swirl, sets like Gladiator’s Finale or a new artifact set could be more viable [4].
- Stats Priority:
- Main Stats: ATK% (Sands), Anemo DMG Bonus (Goblet), Crit Rate/Crit DMG (Circlet).
- Sub Stats: Prioritize Crit Rate/DMG, ATK%, and Energy Recharge (to ensure Burst uptime) [2].
Team Synergy & Constellation Spikes
Team Synergy
As a self-sufficient Anemo DPS, Varka will benefit from teammates who offer strong, universal buffs and off-field reactions.
- Anemo Supports: Faruzan is an ideal partner, providing specific buffs to Anemo DMG and shredding Anemo resistance [8].
- Universal Buffers: Bennett is a must-have, as his massive ATK buff directly amplifies Varka’s raw damage focus [8].
- Reaction Enablers: Other Off-Field Sub-DPS units who can enable constant elemental reactions for Varka’s potential absorption mechanic will be beneficial.
Key Constellation Boosts
Varka’s constellations provide significant power spikes, particularly at C1, C2, and C6 [1].
| Constellation | Effect | Impact on Playstyle |
|---|---|---|
| C1 | Adds extra hits/spins to his Elemental Skill. | Higher AoE damage potential and increased crowd control [1]. |
| C2 | Extends Burst duration by +5 seconds (total ~15s). | Enables longer field presence and better synergy with support rotations [1]. |
| C4 | Burst increases Attack Speed by 25%. | Speeds up his heavy claymore swings, boosting overall DPS [1]. |
| C6 | Massive 50% ATK increase during his Burst, plus shreds enemy Anemo resistance by 25%. | A massive personal and team damage boost, making him a premier Anemo DPS [1]. |
