Genshin Impact 7.1’s Vodyanitsa: what we know about the new hydro 5-star and her banner

Genshin Impact players face a familiar dilemma when version 7.1 arrives on September 23, 2025: a new 5-star character with an unknown kit and a banner that lasts only a few weeks. HoYoverse announced the debut of Vodyanitsa, a hydro 5-star whose official title is “Lingering Siren-Song,” in the Surging Ballad Event Wish. But the announcement left out almost everything about how she plays.

Here is what we know for certain, what is still missing, and how to decide whether to pull.

The Surging Ballad banner: confirmed details

The Surging Ballad Event Wish goes live after the version 7.1 maintenance finishes on September 23, 2025. HoYoverse has not specified server reset times, so players should expect the banner to appear once the update is complete in their region. The official post confirms that Vodyanitsa will receive a “huge drop rate boost” during the event, though exact rates were not published.

No other characters on the banner or a concurrent weapon banner have been announced. The pity system carries over from previous Event Wishes, meaning any progress you made toward a guaranteed 5-star on the last banner will still count.

What we do not know yet

Vodyanitsa’s kit, role, and signature weapon are not in the official materials. Without that information, her place in the meta is impossible to judge. She joins a hydro roster that already includes Neuvillette and Furina, two of the strongest units in the game, so her value will depend heavily on what she brings that they do not.

Her ascension materials are also unconfirmed. Hydro characters typically use Varunada Lazurite gems and local specialties from Fontaine or other regions, but the exact list will only appear when HoYoverse releases her full details or when dataminers pull the data from the client.

Should you pull for Vodyanitsa?

Without kit details, any pull decision comes down to risk tolerance and your current roster. Here are the main factors:

• If you need a hydro unit now: Vodyanitsa could fill a gap, but you are pulling blind. Wait for gameplay leaks or the official demo before spending primogems.
• If you are saving for other characters: Version 7.1 may have more banners in its second half. Check the full patch schedule before committing to Surging Ballad.
• For free-to-play players: A typical patch offers roughly 60 to 80 pulls. That is not enough to guarantee a 5-star unless you have pity saved. Skipping an unproven unit to save for a known rerun is the safer play.
• For low-spenders: Welkin Moon and Battle Pass add about 30 to 40 extra pulls over a patch. That helps, but only if you are sure you want Vodyanitsa more than whoever comes next.

Leaks about her abilities will surface before the banner goes live. Treat those as unconfirmed and subject to change until HoYoverse makes an official statement.

Potential team roles, based on what hydro usually does

Since Vodyanitsa’s actual abilities are unknown, team-building is pure speculation. Hydro characters generally enable reaction-based teams. Vaporize with pyro units like Hu Tao or Xiangling is a common pattern. Freeze teams pair hydro with cryo. Bloom teams use dendro. Vodyanitsa could fit any of those roles, or she could be something new.

The safest preparation for anyone who plans to pull is to stockpile hydro ascension gems and weapon materials. Once her kit is known, the community will quickly figure out the best teams, and you will want to be ready to level her immediately.

What else version 7.1 will bring

The official announcement only covered the banner. Version 7.1 will almost certainly include events, rewards, and other content, but those details have not been published yet. HoYoverse typically releases the full patch notes and event schedule on HoYoLAB and official social media channels a few days before the update. Past patches have offered primogems, ascension materials, and mora through limited-time events, which could help fund a pull for Vodyanitsa.

Vodyanitsa arrives on September 23, 2025, as the first new character of Genshin Impact’s version 7.1. Her kit remains a question mark, and HoYoverse has given players no indication of when they will reveal it.