Genshin Impact's Version 6.4 is shaping up to be a banner bonanza rather than a map-expansion chapter, with HoYoverse stacking ten featured 5-Stars across the update's Event Banners and the returning Chronicled Banner. The headline act is Varka, the long-teased Knight of Favonius who finally steps into the playable roster as an Anemo Claymore user. His kit leans on Swirl, and his flashy dual-wielding animations are already doing the heavy lifting for fans who have waited years for the Grand Master to show up in the game proper. The update is set to launch on February 25, 2026, and while it lacks both a new map and an Archon Quest, it is far from a quiet patch. For players who live and breathe banner planning, this one is a real head-scratcher in the best way.

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Varka's Debut Comes With Teambuilding Strings Attached

Varka is not a plug-and-play carry, and players who want to get the most out of him should read the fine print before dumping Primogems into his banner. To maximize his ability kit, the recommended setup is one Anemo teammate plus two teammates of the same element, whether that is Pyro, Hydro, Electro, or Cryo. That structure gives his Swirl-driven gameplay a clear foundation, but it also means his best teams are not exactly copy-paste affairs. As of Version 6.4, he is expected to fall short of most Lunar Reaction teams, which is a notable caveat for anyone chasing the current meta. Still, many fans believe his best support characters are yet to come, with Nicole and possibly Lohen waiting in the wings. In other words, Varka may be playing the long game, and the jury is still out on his final ceiling.

The Version 6.4 Event Banners were known ahead of time thanks to datamining, but they were officially confirmed during the Special Program Announcement on February 13, 2026. To everyone's surprise, the Chronicled Banner is also returning for Mondstadt characters, pushing the total number of featured 5-Stars in Version 6.4 to ten. The first half is headlined by Varka and Flins, while the second half puts Skirk and Escoffier on the Event Banners. The Chronicled Banner runs in the first half and features Klee, Albedo, Eula, Jean, Diluc, and Mona.

Phase Event Banners Chronicled Banner
Phase 1: February 25 to March 17, 2026 Varka and Flins Klee, Albedo, Eula, Jean, Diluc, and Mona
Phase 2: March 17 to April 7, 2026 Skirk and Escoffier Not active

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Pulling Smart: Alternatives and Value Picks

Players who are not sold on Varka have a few roads to consider. Anyone building a Lunar Reaction team will no doubt benefit from having Flins on the roster, while Escoffier and Skirk form the strongest possible core for Freeze teams in the current meta. In terms of raw value, fresh accounts gain the most from pulling for Escoffier, as she remains one of the strongest support characters in the game even with her element restrictions to Hydro and Cryo. That is a lot of bang for your buck, especially for players who are still filling out their first serious teams.

The Chronicled Banner is more of a mixed bag. Some of its 5-Stars, such as Diluc and Eula, have struggled to find their place in the modern era, but Klee, Mona, and Albedo have all found new life thanks to the Hexerei buffs introduced in Version 6.4. Albedo scales especially well with Constellations and is a great teammate for Durin's Burgeon and Geo teams, while Mona forms a powerful core with Furina for Varka's Hydro teams. Because Version 6.4 offers a limited number of Primogems, Eula, Diluc, and Jean should be treated as luxury picks rather than must-haves. HoYoverse has not announced any 4-Star characters for Version 6.4, but players will be able to obtain any Mondstadt 4-Star through the Chronicled Banner, which takes some of the sting out of a tight budget.

What Comes Next for Mondstadt and Nod-Krai

The success of the Hexerei feature has caused many fans to ask the developers to buff other Mondstadt characters, but Version 6.4 will not be going in that direction just yet. Looking ahead, Dornman Port and Lohen are expected to release within the next two updates, meaningfully expanding on Mondstadt's lore. Nod-Krai fans can also look forward to Linnea, a 5-Star Geo-Crystallize support, in an upcoming version. It remains to be seen whether Genshin Impact will continue to add more Hexerei characters, but both Lohen and Nicole are expected to be part of the feature. For now, all eyes are on February 25, 2026, when Version 6.4 goes live, the first phase runs until March 17, 2026, and the second phase continues until April 7, 2026.