Summary
- Genshin Impact may break the pattern of pairing 5-Star characters with 4-Star teammates in character trials.
- Skirk will be accompanied by a limited 5-Star in her trial, potentially changing how characters are showcased.
- The synergy between Skirk and Escoffier sets a new precedent, hinting at potential future 5-Star character pairings.
Recent datamining has suggested that Genshin Impact could end up breaking a major pattern with Skirk, as she will be the first character to be accompanied by a limited 5-Star in her trial domain. One of the oldest unspoken rules of Genshin Impact has been selling a limited 5-Star character on the strength of their ability kit alone. For example, Yelan is one of the best possible teammates for Hu Tao, but Hu Tao has always been paired up with Xingqiu in her character trial.
The reason for this is simple: 4-Star characters in Genshin Impact are easier to obtain and are considered to be a cheaper investment. Furthermore, 5-Star characters should be able to stand on their own due to the number of Intertwined Wishes needed to guarantee them. While 4-Star characters lack the guarantee, this understanding has shaped how HoYoverse assembled its character trials – up until Version 5.7, that is.
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According to Seele Leaks, the latest beta build for Version 5.7 has revealed the full lineup for Skirk and Dahlia's character trials. While the latter has a fairly standard team, Skirk seems to be paired up with Escoffier, the limited 5-Star character of Version 5.6. From a gameplay standpoint, Escoffier in Genshin Impact provides a significant buff to Freeze teams. This increase is substantial enough that she can almost be seen as a mandatory Freeze Support. On the other hand, Skirk's ability kit locks her into a Freeze playstyle. Pairing her up with Escoffier makes perfect sense, but it also confirms that Skirk is meant to be an expensive character.
Genshin Impact: Character Trials for Version 5.7
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Skirk: 5-Star Cryo Sword
- Skirk, Escoffier, Xingqiu, Barbara
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Dahlia: 4-Star Hydro Sword
- Dahlia, Freminet, Chongyun, Sucrose
On the one hand, this allows players to test Skirk out using her intended teammate. On the other hand, it also sets a dangerous precedent. Some Genshin Impact players are worried that future 5-Stars will boast a similar level of synergy to Escoffier and Skirk. This trend was seen in other HoYoverse titles, such as Honkai: Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero, and if they so desired, the developers could introduce it to Genshin Impact as well. While its powercreep is described as lower than the industry average, Genshin Impact characters such as Neuvillette, Arlecchino, and Mavuika have certainly raised the bar on what is expected from a hypercarry.
Ultimately, there are only so many ways to make a character stand out, and Genshin Impact players should be prepared for more niche kits in the future. Certain reactions like Superconduct remain an untapped market, and future Genshin Impact characters may end up propelling them into the meta – not unlike what Chevreuse did for Overload. It remains to be seen if Skirk will prove to be an exception or a new rule, as Version 5.7 is set to launch on June 18, 2025.
Genshin Impact
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
- Released
- September 28, 2020
- ESRB
- Teen / Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)
- Publisher(s)
- HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)
WHERE TO PLAY
Step into Teyvat, a vast world teeming with life and flowing with elemental energy.
You and your sibling arrived here from another world. Separated by an unknown god, stripped of your powers, and cast into a deep slumber, you now awake to a world very different from when you first arrived.
Thus begins your journey across Teyvat to seek answers from The Seven — the gods of each element. Along the way, prepare to explore every inch of this wondrous world, join forces with a diverse range of characters, and unravel the countless mysteries that Teyvat holds...
MASSIVE OPEN WORLD
Climb any mountain, swim across any river, and glide over the world below, taking in the jaw-dropping scenery each step of the way. And if you stop to investigate a wandering Seelie or strange mechanism, who knows what you might discover?
ELEMENTAL COMBAT SYSTEM
Harness the seven elements to unleash elemental reactions. Anemo, Electro, Hydro, Pyro, Cryo, Dendro, and Geo interact in all sorts of ways, and Vision wielders have the power to turn this to their advantage.
Will you vaporize Hydro with Pyro, electro-charge it with Electro, or freeze it with Cryo? Your mastery of the elements will give you the upper hand in battle and exploration.
BEAUTIFUL VISUALS
Feast your eyes on the world around you, with a stunning art style, real-time rendering, and finely tuned character animations delivering you a truly immersive visual experience. Lighting and weather all change naturally over time, bringing every detail of this world to life.
SOOTHING SOUNDTRACK
Let the beautiful sounds of Teyvat draw you in as you explore the expansive world around you. Performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the soundtrack changes seamlessly with the time and gameplay to match the mood.
BUILD YOUR DREAM TEAM
Team up with a diverse cast of characters in Teyvat, each with their own unique personalities, stories, and abilities. Discover your favorite party combinations and level up your characters to help you conquer even the most daunting of enemies and domains.
JOURNEY WITH FRIENDS
Team up with friends across various platforms to trigger more elemental action, tackle tricky boss fights, and conquer challenging domains together to reap rich rewards.
As you stand atop the peaks of Jueyun Karst and take in the rolling clouds and vast terrain stretching out before you, you may wish to stay in Teyvat a little longer... But until you are reunited with your lost sibling, how can you rest? Go forth, Traveler, and begin your adventure!
- Engine
- Unity
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- All platforms
- Cross Save
- All platforms
- PC Release Date
- September 28, 2020
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- November 20, 2024
- PS5 Release Date
- April 28, 2021
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action, Adventure, Gacha, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, iOS, Android
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- X|S Optimized
- yes
