HoYoverse announced the Genshin Impact 4.0 banners during the RPG’s latest livestream and unveiled two popular reruns alongside the first round of Fontaine characters. Genshin Impact 4.0 goes live on Aug. 16, 2023, and moves the story to the watery land of justice, where the real and illusory blur the lines of propriety and bring into question the Archon’s fitness to rule. It sounds like a serious story, but your new companions add a touch of whimsy and levity to combat with their backgrounds as stage performers.
Genshin Impact 4.0 banners - First phase
The first round of banners goes live on Aug. 16, 2023, with the new update and features new character Lyney alongside a Yelan rerun. Lynette will debut as one of the banner’s 4-star characters, but as usual, HoYoverse didn’t say which other 4-star characters will accompany them.
Lyney is a Pyro bow user who summons a shadowy cat companion to dazzle and damage foes. Lynette uses a sword and Anemo, the first of her kind since Jean, though unlike the acting Knights Commander, Lynette is a damage-focused character.
Yelan uses a bow and Hydro. She can ensnare enemies with waterlines and summon a set of dice that deals Hydro damage alongside your active character’s normal attacks.
Genshin Impact 4.0 banners - Second phase
The second banner set goes live on Sep. 6, 2023, and features two reruns of characters we haven’t seen in a while: Tartaglia (Childe) and Zhongli. Freminet, Lyney and Lynette’s 4-star sibling, will also show up on both banners, though the other two slots are still unknown.
Childe alternates between using a bow and two Hydro blades to deal high amounts of damage and mark enemies, before dishing out even heavier damage with his burst. Zhongli is the ultimate defender and creates a nearly impenetrable shield for the party, while also stunning enemies with his burst.
Freminet is a Cryo claymore user who summons a mechanical penguin to help fight.
Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF