After years of waiting, Genshin Impact is finally introducing Varka in Version 6.4/Luna V. But, instead of a simple release, players are facing one of the most interesting banner lineups in recent memory.
Between Varka, Flins, Skirk, and Escoffier, deciding where to spend your Primogems is not easy, especially if you are free-to-play or a new player.
Here is how each character performs from a meta point-of-view and F2P investment perspective. Of course, if you just want to pull for characters you like, then this does not apply to you. This is really just for those who want to optimize as much as possible and get the character that will be the most useful right now.
Flins – The Safe Meta Pick
Flins is currently one of the strongest DPS options in the game. He is extremely easy to play, very consistent, and top-tier with the right supports.
However, his true potential depends heavily on having Ineffa and/or Columbina.
- With one of them: strong
- With both: arguably top 1-2 DPS in the game right now
If you already own Ineffa or Columbina, Flins becomes one of the highest-value pulls in 6.4. Without them, he is still good, but less dominant.
For most F2P players with the right supports, he offers the most reliable return. On top of that, Flins does have reliable F2P teams with Aino, Fischl, and Sucrose, for example, among a few other 4-Star options.
Escoffier – The Cryo Enabler
Escoffier has become the backbone of Cryo-Hydro teams. She applies consistent Cryo, provides healing, and can reduce resistance significantly under specific team conditions.
For characters like Ayaka, Wriothesley, or Skirk, she is extremely valuable. However, her value for Hydro carries has dropped due to the rise of stronger sub-DPS duos like Ineffa and Columbina.
The important part is that Skirk without Escoffier loses a lot of value. This means that if you are considering Skirk, Escoffier should likely come first.
Skirk – High Skill Ceiling, High Dependency
Skirk is a strong DPS, but not a simple one. She rewards precise animation cancels, optimized combos, and very technical gameplay. Played casually, she performs well. Played optimally, she can gain around 20% more DPS through proper canceling and mechanics.
The issue is that she is heavily dependent on Escoffier for top-tier performance. Without Escoffier, her meta value drops significantly.
If you enjoy technical gameplay and are willing to invest, she remains competitive in high-end content, but she is not a standalone pick.
Varka – The Risky Choice
Varka is easily the most anticipated character in years. He has been mentioned since 1.0, he is the Knight of Boreas, the Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius in Mondstadt. However, from a strictly meta and F2P perspective, he is currently the weakest investment among the four.
Main issues are that he is extremely dependent on his signature weapon since he gains ~40% personal damage from it, and he scales poorly with F2P weapon options. On top of that, he has a ton of restrictions team-wise, needing both an Anemo character and 2 of another element. He also does not really outperform the current top DPS at equal investment.
He offers excellent AoE, multi-element flexibility, and potential long-term scaling if he receives dedicated support. Nicole from the Hexenzirkel might be an upcoming support for him, but this also implies you will have to pull another new 5-Star soon after.
But right now, at C0 without his signature weapon, he underperforms compared to Flins or Skirk and Escoffier.
Unless you were waiting for him and really like the character, or you already have plenty of meta teams, he is sadly not the optimal choice.
So Who Should You Pull in Luna V?
For F2P players focused on performance:
- Flins (if you own Ineffa/Columbina)
- Escoffier + Skirk together
- Skirk only if you already own Escoffier
- Varka only if you are willing to invest heavily or love the character
If your priority is clearing the hardest content efficiently, Varka is currently the riskiest investment. If your priority is enjoyment, pull whoever you like, but from a meta standpoint, 6.4 heavily favors players who already own specific supports.
And that is what makes this patch so difficult.
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