Genshin Impact 7.1 Preview Guide: Vesna, Vodyanitsa and the Free 5-Star Selectors
Genshin Impact 7.1 Schedule and Banners
7.1 is the anniversary patch, and the phase timing is the first thing to get right.
Patch and banner timeline
| Phase | Dates | Content |
|---|---|---|
| 7.1 launch | September 23, 2026 | New Archon Quest, Moonchase Festival, anniversary |
| Phase 1 | September 23 to October 13 | Vesna (Anemo sword), Vodyanitsa (Hydro catalyst) |
| Phase 1 weapons | September 23 to October 13 | Beyond the Chrysalis (Vesna), Hymn of the Maelstrom (Vodyanitsa) |
| Phase 2 | October 13 to November 3 | Skirk and Escoffier reruns |
How the two new characters differ
Vesna is an Anemo sword user and Vodyanitsa is a Hydro catalyst user, and HoYoverse's own framing is that both enhance Stellar-Swirl gameplay. That means the pull decision is not about solo numbers; it depends on whether you already own the pieces of a Stellar-Swirl team.
Moonchase Festival returns
During 7.1, players return to Liyue for the Moonchase Festival, which anchors the patch's event content.
Genshin Impact Sixth Anniversary Rewards
How to claim both selectors
- Standard 5-star selector: available after logging in once 7.1 goes live.
- Limited 5-star selector: requires completing the 7.1 Archon Quest, and the deadline is November 3, 2026.
Limited selector lineup: Tartaglia, Baizhu, Nilou, Chiori, Clorinde, Varesa. Standard selector lineup: Jean, Diluc, Qiqi, Mona, Keqing, Dehya, Tighnari, Yumemizuki Mizuki .
Login and mail rewards
The Rainbow's End login event spreads 10 Intertwined Fates across seven days, and 1,600 Primogems arrive by in-game mail after the 7.1 update.
Genshin Impact 7.1 Pull and Selector Priorities
| Priority | Target | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| High | Limited 5-star selector | Free and one-time, so confirm your story progress can finish before November 3 |
| High | Vesna or Vodyanitsa, pick one | Depends on whether your roster needs Anemo or Hydro; both play around Stellar-Swirl |
| Medium | Phase 2 reruns | Skirk and Escoffier fill gaps in existing comps |
| Low | Signature weapons | Standard rule: secure the character first |
How to choose the selector character
Pick for the hole in your account, not for the tier list. On the standard side, Mona and Keqing change how you can build teams. On the limited side, Clorinde and Nilou plug into existing Hydro or Hyperbloom setups. The deciding factor is what your account is missing.
Closing Out Genshin Impact 7.0
One day remains before 7.1, and 7.0 content is still claimable.
What 7.0 brought
Version 7.0 added the Snezhnaya region, two Archon Quests, a free Alyosha for completing the first Archon Quest, the Traveler outfit Night Hunt in Snow, the upgradable Exaiphanes Blade, the Stellar-Swirl elemental reaction, five battle pass weapons, two artifact sets (Scarlet Proof and Heart of the Furnace), gun gameplay with Cryo rifles, lock-on Electro guns and Pyro launchers, a train travel system, and two new bosses, Immortal Construct and Chimeric Winged Lion.
Five things to do before the patch
- Claim the remaining 7.0 event rewards, including Trial of the Bastion, which ran September 7 to 17 .
- Confirm both 7.0 Archon Quests are finished, since Alyosha and related materials depend on them.
- Bring your Stellar-Swirl pieces up to level, because both 7.1 characters build around that reaction.
- Drain your resin, since the new artifact domain and materials will need stamina.
- Check the story prerequisite for the anniversary selector so the limited pick does not expire.
Genshin Impact 7.1 Resource Planning
Splitting your Primogems
Phase one and phase two are 20 days apart. If you want both 5-stars, do the bulk of your pulling before phase one ends and let phase two accumulate resources. The free limited selector outranks any banner spending.
Pre-farming reality
New characters' ascension materials only farmable after the patch drops, so the useful prep is emptying resin, Mora and experience books rather than pre-farming materials that do not exist yet.
Genshin Impact 7.1 Launch Routine and Spiral Abyss Prep
The first three days after the patch decide the pace of the whole phase, and the launch order matters more than the pull order.
Day one sequence
- Claim the login event and mail rewards first so the 1,600 Primogems and 10 Intertwined Fates are banked.
- Push the 7.1 Archon Quest to lock in the limited selector eligibility.
- Unlock the Moonchase Festival content, since the anniversary rewards are tied to the festival track.
- Spend leftover resin in the new artifact domain rather than backfilling old sets.
Reading the Spiral Abyss for a Stellar-Swirl patch
7.1 is built around Stellar-Swirl, and floor 12 configurations change with the patch, so check enemy resistances and Ley Line disorders before deciding which half your Swirl team takes. Three rules hold up in practice:
- If your Stellar-Swirl team is underbuilt, prioritise survival and buff coverage instead of forcing a fast chamber clear.
- When the disorder does not match your elemental damage bonus, a conventional team is often the safer choice.
- The Abyss is usually friendly to the new reaction in the first week, which also means older comps need re-checking.
Mora and materials
New ascension materials only drop after the patch, so the real preparation is Mora, experience books and a full resin bar. Emptying resin before the update lets you chain the new domain on day one.
Common Genshin Impact 7.1 Pull Mistakes
- Assuming the limited selector is automatic and ignoring the Archon Quest and November 3 deadline.
- Pulling before claiming the login and mail rewards, which understates how many fates you actually have.
- Rolling both new characters before the Stellar-Swirl core is built, leaving resources spread too thin.
- Forgetting 7.0 mail rewards; the Trial of the Bastion window ended September 17 and expired mail is gone.
Come discuss in the Gghubs comments.
FAQ
Q: When does Genshin Impact 7.1 release?
A: September 23, 2026 across all platforms.
Q: How do I get the sixth anniversary limited 5-star selector?
A: Complete the 7.1 Archon Quest, and finish before November 3, 2026 or it expires .
Q: Vesna or Vodyanitsa?
A: Both enhance Stellar-Swirl, so pick based on whether your roster lacks Anemo or Hydro depth.
Q: Who reruns in phase two of 7.1?
A: Skirk and Escoffier, from October 13 to November 3.
Q: What are the anniversary rewards in total?
A: Two 5-star selectors, 10 Intertwined Fates from the login event, and 1,600 Primogems by mail.
Action list
- Claim the login event and mail rewards on launch day before spending anything on banners.
- Open the quest list and secure the Archon Quest progress that unlocks the limited selector.
- Drain resin and Mora before the patch so new ascension materials can be farmed immediately.
- Collect leftover 7.0 event rewards, including any Bastion Trial mail.
- Keep the order fixed: character first, signature weapon later.
