The winds of change sweep through Teyvat once more as HoYoverse reveals the second phase of Genshin Impact's Version 5.6 update. Like autumn leaves following their predetermined dance, the game's update cycle continues its familiar rhythm, splitting into two distinct phases, each bringing its own constellation of characters to eager travelers across the digital landscape.

The first whispers of Version 5.6 brought two new souls to the ever-expanding roster: Fontaine's culinary maestro Escoffier and Natlan's compassionate veterinarian Ifa. Their stories have barely begun to unfold, yet already the horizon shifts toward familiar faces returning to the spotlight.

The Stars Align: Phase Two Banner Revelations

As the digital sun sets on the current banners, two powerful figures emerge from the shadows to claim their moment in the coming days. The official announcement confirms that Kinich, Natlan's grappling hook wielder, and Raiden Shogun, Inazuma's Electro Archon, will headline the second phase of Version 5.6.

Their arrival marks a moment of strategic consideration for players who've been "saving their primogems for a rainy day." The banner will feature:

• Kinich (five-star Dendro user)

• Raiden Shogun (five-star Electro user)

• Thoma (four-star Pyro user)

• Sara (four-star Electro bow user)

• Lynette (four-star Anemo user)

Kinich: Natlan's Verdant Flame

Though the sands of time have not yet buried his initial release in Version 5.0, Kinich returns for his first rerun since Natlan's grand unveiling. Like a phoenix rising, his return gives players who missed his initial flight a chance to add this dynamic character to their roster.

Kinich continues to captivate the hearts of adventurers with his unique traversal mechanics. His grappling hook transforms the exploration experience, allowing players to swing through Teyvat's vast landscapes with the grace of Tarzan in his jungle domain. "The proof is in the pudding," as they say, and Kinich's continued popularity proves his design struck gold.

As a main DPS character specializing in Dendro, Kinich excels in team compositions that leverage the Burning reaction, creating a symphony of elemental destruction when paired with Pyro characters. His kit offers both style and substance—a rare combination in Teyvat's competitive character roster.

People Also Ask: Is Kinich worth pulling for in 2025?

Absolutely! Despite being released several updates ago, Kinich remains a top-tier Dendro DPS with unparalleled exploration abilities. His grappling hook mechanic continues to be unique in Genshin Impact's character roster, making him both practical and enjoyable to play.

The Shogun's Eternal Return

Like a watchful thunderstorm that never truly dissipates, the Raiden Shogun returns once more to bless—or perhaps test—the wishes of Genshin Impact players. Despite being released during the early days of Inazuma, Raiden Shogun defies the passage of time, maintaining her position as an S-tier character in 2025's meta landscape.

Her enduring power stems from remarkable versatility—a trait shared among the game's divine Archons. Like a Swiss Army knife of elemental combat, she adapts to nearly any team composition, functioning as an energy battery, sub-DPS, or support with equal efficacy. The only role beyond her reach is healing, though her teammates rarely need recovery when enemies cease to exist in a flash of purple lightning.

The Supporting Cast: Familiar Faces in New Contexts

The four-star lineup accompanying these powerful five-stars brings its own intrigue. Sharp-eyed community members have noted HoYoverse's continued tradition of featuring Sara alongside her Electro Archon—a pattern that's become as predictable as "raining cats and dogs" during storm season.

Thoma brings his shield-bearing protection, while Lynette offers Anemo support without her twin brother Lyney in sight—a curious decision that has sparked discussion among the community. This separation of the Fontaine twins has raised eyebrows, as they're typically featured together in promotional materials and story content.

People Also Ask: Does Sara work well with characters other than Raiden Shogun?

While Sara's kit was designed with excellent synergy for Raiden Shogun, she has grown more versatile with constellation upgrades. At C6, she provides significant Electro CRIT DMG bonuses that benefit any Electro character. However, her somewhat clunky buff mechanics mean she remains most comfortable in teams featuring the Electro Archon.

The Hourglass Turns

For travelers still contemplating whether to welcome Escoffier or Ifa into their teams, time grows short. The sands in the hourglass continue their relentless fall, with Phase 2 banners scheduled to arrive on May 27, 2025. The decision between current offerings and upcoming opportunities weighs heavy on the minds of free-to-play players, who must allocate their precious primogems with the careful consideration of a chess grandmaster planning moves in advance.

As Teyvat's story continues to unfold in this sixth year of Genshin Impact's journey, one cannot help but wonder: in this dance of characters new and old, what unseen patterns guide HoYoverse's banner decisions? Do they follow the constellations of player spending, the mysterious algorithms of engagement metrics, or perhaps some narrative thread woven so subtly that only time will reveal its design? Like stars in Teyvat's night sky, each banner placement might be random to the casual observer, yet part of a grand celestial design when viewed from the proper perspective.

Evaluations have been published by Destructoid, a respected source for gaming news and reviews. Destructoid's recent features on Genshin Impact's evolving banner cycles emphasize the community's anticipation for returning five-star characters like Raiden Shogun, as well as the excitement surrounding unique mechanics introduced by newcomers such as Kinich, whose traversal abilities continue to set new standards for exploration in open-world RPGs.