Genshin Impact Version 7.1 launches on September 23, 2026 (UTC+8), with two new 5-star characters sharing the first-half banners. Vesna and Vodyanitsa will debut together, followed by returning Event Wishes for Skirk and Escoffier in the second half. The Version 7.1 Special Program confirmed the lineup and order, replacing the earlier pre-release schedule that listed Zibai and Linnea as possible reruns.
This makes the first half the main decision point for players interested in Stellar Swirl. Vesna turns Cryo Swirl into Stellar Swirl and deals reaction damage through her Spirit Blades, while Vodyanitsa combines continuous healing with Hydro, Cryo, and Stellar Swirl support. Their kits point toward a direct pairing, but Vodyanitsa also has clear value for Freeze-focused teams, so choosing between them depends on whether your account needs an on-field reaction damage dealer or a healer and buffer.
Genshin Impact Version 7.1 Banner Schedule
The first-half and second-half lineups are official, but the Special Program did not state the exact date on which the banners will switch. Only the Version 7.1 launch date of September 23 was confirmed, so the second-half start and patch end should not be presented as official dates yet.
| Banner Phase | Timing | 5-Star Characters | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Starts September 23, 2026 (UTC+8) | Vesna – New Vodyanitsa – New |
Confirmed |
| Phase 2 | Exact start date not stated | Skirk – Rerun Escoffier – Rerun |
Confirmed |
Vesna and Vodyanitsa do not occupy separate phases: both new characters arrive at the start of the update. Players who want one of them cannot use Phase 1 results to decide whether to save for the other later in the patch. Skirk and Escoffier are the confirmed returning characters, so earlier reports naming Zibai and Linnea are no longer useful for Version 7.1 pull planning.
New Version 7.1 Characters
Vesna
Vesna is a new 5-star Anemo character and the Commander of the Druzhna. Her combat revolves around Spirit Blades, Sword Essence, and the Stellar Swirl reaction introduced in Version 7.0. Her Anemo Stellar Linchpin converts Cryo Swirl into Stellar Swirl and increases the entire party's Stellar Swirl reaction DMG, giving her a defined role rather than making her a general-purpose Anemo carry.
Vesna can summon Spirit Blades through her Elemental Skill and other parts of her kit, gaining Sword Essence in the process. Her special Elemental Skill consumes that resource to command the blades, and Spirit Blade attacks near a Stellar Vortex are treated as Stellar Swirl reaction DMG. After she casts her Elemental Skill, Normal Attacks restore Sword Essence; spending the resource gradually strengthens the special Skill, while her Elemental Burst summons another group of Spirit Blades, restores Sword Essence, and deals AoE DMG.
This resource loop keeps Vesna active for meaningful field time. Normal Attacks rebuild Sword Essence, and the payoff comes from repeatedly strengthening and using her special Skill around a Stellar Vortex. Stellar Swirl triggers can raise the Vortex's level before it explodes, so Vesna is built to drive the reaction rather than simply provide an Anemo hit and swap out.
Vesna can also fly outside combat, and the active character can be switched to her while already in flight. That gives her exploration utility in addition to her reaction-focused combat role. Her best pull case is an account that wants to make Stellar Swirl a primary team archetype; players looking for a broadly interchangeable Anemo support should judge her by this specialized role rather than by element alone.
Vodyanitsa
Vodyanitsa is a new 5-star Hydro character whose song supports both Stellar Swirl and direct Hydro or Cryo damage. Casting her Elemental Skill changes her into her Water Imp form and continuously heals injured party members who are on the field. While the Skill is active, it also reduces enemies' Hydro and Cryo RES, increases the active character's resistance to interruption, and raises the party's Hydro and Cryo DMG based on Vodyanitsa's Max HP.
Her song also changes how Stellar Vortex supports the team. Under its effect, the Vortex reduces enemies' Anemo RES and further increases Stellar Swirl reaction DMG. Vodyanitsa therefore has two practical uses: she can support Vesna's Stellar Swirl damage, or occupy the healer-and-buffer slot in a Freeze-focused team that benefits from Hydro and Cryo support.
Vodyanitsa's Elemental Burst makes her song resound across the battlefield and deals AoE Hydro DMG to nearby enemies. The continuous healing, interruption resistance, RES reduction, and Hydro and Cryo DMG increases belong to her Elemental Skill.
Version 7.1 Signature Weapons
The two new 5-star weapons are Beyond the Chrysalis, a Sword built around Vesna's on-field Stellar Swirl rotation, and Hymn of the Maelstrom, an HP-scaling Catalyst that complements Vodyanitsa's healing and team support. Their Level 90 stats and R1 effects show how closely each weapon follows its intended character's combat role.
| Weapon | Type | Level 90 Base ATK | Level 90 Secondary Stat | R1 Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beyond the Chrysalis | Sword | 674 | 44.1% CRIT DMG | CRIT DMG, Stellar Swirl reaction DMG, and Energy |
| Hymn of the Maelstrom | Catalyst | 542 | 66.2% HP | Healing, Max HP, and active-character ATK |
Beyond the Chrysalis
Beyond the Chrysalis is Vesna's 5-star Sword. At Level 90, it has 674 Base ATK and 44.1% CRIT DMG. Its R1 passive, Dance of Wings Unbound, grants one of three effects in sequence whenever the wielder uses an Elemental Skill or Elemental Burst:
- Winds of Devotion: Increases the wielder's CRIT DMG by 56% for 10 seconds.
- Winds of Defiance: Increases Stellar Swirl reaction DMG dealt by the wielder by 36% for 10 seconds.
- Winds of Plenty: Restores 5 Elemental Energy. A maximum of 5 Energy can be restored this way every 4 seconds.
The sequence matters: Skill and Burst uses advance through three different bonuses instead of repeatedly granting the same effect. All of these effects are removed and the sequence resets when the wielder leaves the field. That restriction matches Vesna's Sword Essence loop, which uses her Skill, Normal Attacks, special Skill, and Burst while she remains active; swapping out early also gives up the weapon's accumulated sequence.
Hymn of the Maelstrom
Hymn of the Maelstrom is Vodyanitsa's 5-star Catalyst. At Level 90, it provides 542 Base ATK and 66.2% HP. Its R1 passive, Rondo of Slumber, first increases Healing Bonus by 4%. When the wielder performs healing, they gain Tipple of Truth for 10 seconds, increasing Max HP by 4% and increasing the active party member's ATK by 0.4% for every 1,000 Max HP the wielder has above 40,000, up to a maximum 8% ATK. Tipple of Truth can have up to three stacks.
When a nearby party member triggers Frozen or Stellar Swirl, the Max HP and ATK increases described above are further increased by 75% for 5 seconds. The effects can trigger while the wielder is off-field. The passive follows the same two-team direction as Vodyanitsa's Skill: healing activates the base buff, while Frozen or Stellar Swirl strengthens it.
Version 7.1 Reruns: Skirk and Escoffier
Skirk and Escoffier will receive returning Event Wishes in the second half of Version 7.1. The exact Phase 2 start date has not been announced. Neither rerun overlaps with Vesna or Vodyanitsa, so players can spend during the first half and then decide whether their remaining Primogems are sufficient for a second-half target.
Vesna or Vodyanitsa: Who Should You Pull?
Pull Vesna if you want the character who actively drives Stellar Swirl. Her party-wide reaction increase, Cryo Swirl conversion, Sword Essence loop, and Spirit Blade interaction with Stellar Vortex all serve the same damage plan. She is the clearer first choice when your account lacks an on-field character for this reaction and you are prepared to build around it.
Pull Vodyanitsa if role compression matters more. One Skill covers continuous healing, interruption resistance, enemy Hydro and Cryo RES reduction, and Max HP-based Hydro and Cryo DMG support; Stellar Vortex adds Anemo RES reduction and more Stellar Swirl reaction DMG. She is the more flexible of the two based on the confirmed kit overview because her support package applies to both Stellar Swirl and Freeze-focused teams.
Pulling both creates the most direct Version 7.1 pairing: Vesna supplies the on-field Stellar Swirl loop, while Vodyanitsa heals and strengthens the same reaction. For F2P players who can secure only one, Vesna is the archetype-defining damage pick and Vodyanitsa is the support pick. I would prioritize the missing role on the account instead of treating both as mandatory before their final in-game performance can be judged.
Characters or Signature Weapons?
Beyond the Chrysalis is tightly tied to an on-field sequence and Stellar Swirl reaction damage, while Hymn of the Maelstrom is built around healing, high Max HP, and Frozen or Stellar Swirl triggers. Neither passive reads like a neutral stat weapon that can be evaluated separately from its intended rotation. For an account still missing Vesna or Vodyanitsa, the character adds the complete combat role described above; the signature weapon strengthens that role but does not replace it.
Version 7.1 Rewards That Affect Your Pull Budget
The sixth-anniversary rewards include 10 Intertwined Fate and 1,600 Primogems through in-game mail and the check-in event. Completing the Version 7.1 Archon Quest also awards 620 Primogems and Character Ascension Materials for Vesna and Vodyanitsa. The announcement did not state that the full amount would be available on the first day, so do not assume every reward can be spent immediately when the banners open.
Version 7.1 also resets the initial top-up bonus in the in-game Shop. Separately, the anniversary brings back the standard 5-star character selector and introduces Tabletop Troupe: A Gathering on Adventure's Eve. Completing the Version 7.1 Archon Quest during the event allows players to invite one of six event-exclusive 5-star characters and receive that character's enhancement materials. This selection is an additional anniversary reward, not a replacement for the Vesna, Vodyanitsa, Skirk, or Escoffier Event Wishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Genshin Impact Version 7.1 release?
Version 7.1 launches on September 23, 2026 (UTC+8). The exact Phase 2 start date and patch end have not been announced.
Who is on the Genshin Impact 7.1 banners?
Vesna and Vodyanitsa are the two new 5-star characters in the first half. Skirk and Escoffier return in the second half.
Are Zibai and Linnea rerunning in Version 7.1?
No. Zibai and Linnea appeared in earlier pre-release information, but the official Version 7.1 lineup names Skirk and Escoffier as the returning characters.
Should I pull Vesna or Vodyanitsa?
Choose Vesna if you need an on-field character built to drive Stellar Swirl. Choose Vodyanitsa if you need healing and support for Stellar Swirl, Hydro, Cryo, or Freeze-focused teams. Because they share Phase 1, players with one guarantee should choose the missing role before pulling.
Is Vodyanitsa only useful for Stellar Swirl?
No. Her Stellar Vortex interaction directly supports Stellar Swirl, but her Elemental Skill also heals, improves interruption resistance, reduces enemy Hydro and Cryo RES, and increases party Hydro and Cryo DMG based on her Max HP. The program specifically identified Freeze-focused teams as another use for her kit.
What are Vesna and Vodyanitsa's signature weapons?
Vesna's signature Sword is Beyond the Chrysalis, with 674 Base ATK and 44.1% CRIT DMG at Level 90. Vodyanitsa's signature Catalyst is Hymn of the Maelstrom, with 542 Base ATK and 66.2% HP at Level 90.
