Genshin Impact 6.5 and 6.6 character guide: who to pull and who to skip

Genshin Impact players who try to collect every five-star character are about to face a brutal stretch. Version 6.5 and 6.6 arrive back to back, each carrying new faces that reshape team compositions for Geo, Cryo, and Pyro players. For free-to-play accounts, skipping one banner might mean waiting months for a rerun.

Here is what is confirmed, what is still speculation, and which characters deserve your primogems.

Version 6.5 brings a geo healer years in the making

Linnea is the only new playable unit in patch 6.5. She uses a Geo vision and a bow, a combination that has not appeared since Gorou launched in version 2.3. That gap alone tells veteran team-builders something unusual is happening.

Her lore places her as an advisor inside the Adventurers’ Guild. Her kit reportedly focuses on healing, which changes the math for mono-Geo teams. Until now, that archetype relied on Zhongli for shields or ran Barbara or Kokomi as awkward outsiders. If Linnea’s healing scales off HP or Defense, she slides directly into teams with Itto, Albedo, and Gorou and lets players drop the shield bot for a second buffer like Chiori.

Geo mains have a reason to save. Everyone else can wait for her rerun.

Version 6.6 drops three characters at once

Drip marketing has already confirmed three new units for patch 6.6, making it one of the most crowded update windows in recent memory.

Nicole makes the hexenzirkel playable

Nicole Reeyn has existed in the game’s files since 2023, but her story role expanded during the Nod Krai and Song of the Welkin Moon quest lines. She is a 6,000-year-old angel who took human form and received a Pyro Vision. Her banner runs in the first half of 6.6, starting 2026-05-20 (UTC+8), according to official drip marketing.

Combat footage is still under wraps, but her connection to the Hexenzirkel suggests she will enable team compositions built around that group. Players who follow the lore have been waiting for this since the Hexenzirkel was first named.

Prune fills a four-star catalyst gap

Prune is a four-star Anemo Catalyst user who works as a witch-hunter. She summons the "Hunting Oath Hammer" to trigger elemental reactions. The last four-star Catalyst character was Charlotte in version 4.2, so Prune fills a slot that has been empty for over a year.

Because she wields a Catalyst, she can hold "Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers" or "Sacrificial Fragments". She will likely appear on either Nicole’s or Lohen’s banner, so dedicated pullers should get her without trying.

Lohen gives mondstadt a cryo dps again

Lohen serves as Vice Captain of the Knights of Favonius. Players first saw him as an NPC during "Varka’s"" story quest "; He is front-field Cryo DPS role Mondstadt has not had since Eula arrived Eula leans Physical rather pure cryo If multipliers hold up compete Ayaka Wriothesley top spot That high bar fans asking hometown carry years Rumored characters may later Sandrone could land seventh Harbinger appeared Archon cutscenes version fights alongside Pulonia large Ruin Machine guardian HXG leak claims release leaked kit authentic HoYoverse not confirmed Treat information speculation until official appears Alice remains mystery Klee mother referenced Since shares Pyro vision enthusiasm explosives Despite community no window Every cycle someone predicts coming next does Dainsleif announced six ago officially revealed Tokyo Game Show voice actor announced comes Khaenri’ah underground realm outside Teyvat nations date attached Given trajectory toward Nod Krai beyond arrival still away Which worth primogems table Linnea star Geo Healer Medium teams only Nicole Support High Hexenzirkel meta Sub Low free banner Main need Monogeo grab Anyone chasing theme needs tempting faces competition Ayaka Wriothesley show up naturally while pulling fivestars synergies glance fits Itto Gorou Albedo swapping Zhongli Chiori another buffer looks built squads Potential partners include Klee Alice releases works Swirl alongside Kazuha Sucrose Tales cheap attack carry wants Melt Freeze enablers Xiangling Bennett Shenhe teammates What community saying divided Some believe powercreep Others balanced Harbingers carefully expect reasonable spot speculation running joke Every year someone claims next stays background One theory keeps resurfacing first playable Khaenri’ah arrive alongside expansion current storyline pace multiple Leaks always treated skepticism Nothing real publishes official material build guides coverage these characters go live check GenshinBuilds