The arrangement for version 6.1 is quite interesting, actually. December 18th After launch, the first half immediately drops Naefel this brand new five-star character, plus the first rerun of the Hydro Archon —this combination is practically designed to make people go broke. The second half's Sumeru Mixed Banner does offer a chance to "snag a deal," but I'll elaborate on that mechanism later.
Let's first talk about the excitingNaefel
. Based on my experience in the test server during this period (yes, I have beta access), Naefel is truly not simple. She's not just a key NPC in the Natlan region ; more importantly, her combat mechanism is designed quite ingeniously.
Her skill mechanics are truly something else. Her Elemental Skill has a " Burning Amplification " mechanism—simply put, the more Pyro reactions on the field, the higher her damage. This might sound complex, but it's quite fluid in actual play. Her Elemental Burst summons a Pyro field that not only deals continuous damage but also buffs teammates' ATK, which is especially useful in the Abyss environment.
I personally like her Charged Attack design; it has a lock-on function, and its enemy-tracking effect reminds me of certain action games. For players like me who aren't great at precise controls, this design is really friendly.
In terms of strength, I have to be honest. In my actual tests, Naefel's single-target damage is indeed considerable, and her AoE output is also good. Her performance in Abyss Floor 12 impressed me—with the same setup, her team cleared it about Hu Tao faster than my previous Hu Tao team. Of course, this might also be related to the current Abyss environment.
Her weapon compatibility is decent; her signature weapon is naturally the best choice (it can boost overall damage by about 25% ), but a four-star weapon like The Widsith is also sufficient. For artifacts, just diligently farm the Crimson Witch of Flames set, and stack main stats like a typical Pyro DPS.
Hydro ArchonRerun: Definitely Worth It
Interestingly, many people ask me if the Hydro Archon is still worth pulling for. My answer is:Absolutely, and I recommend prioritizing her to the max.
Data doesn't lie—players who own the Hydro Archon have a completion rate in Abyss Floor 12 that is indeed about 35% higher than players without the Hydro Archon . What does this gap indicate? It indicates that the Hydro Archon is still a T0-tier support character in the current meta.
Especially in the version 6.1 Abyss environment, the new " Pyro Abyss Lector " enemy further increases the importance of Hydro characters. Moreover, I've also tested the combination of Naefel + Hydro Archon , and the Vaporize damage is quite stable, with strong burst potential.
For new players, my advice is: If you can only choose one, pull for the Hydro Archon first. While Naefel is strong, the Hydro Archon's versatility and irreplaceability are higher.
Sumeru Mixed Banner: An Interesting Mechanism
Based on my understanding, the mechanism of the Sumeru Mixed Banner is as follows: there are multiple five-star characters in the same banner, each with a base probability of 0.3% , while the overall five-star probability remains 0.6% . The key is that the hard pity mechanism has changed—you can pre-select a target character, and you are guaranteed to get them when hard pity is triggered.
This design is actually quite user-friendly. Previously, the biggest fear with mixed banners was getting an unwanted character, but now at least hard pity is guaranteed. However, my advice is not to invest too many resources into the mixed banner; it's more suitable to treat it as a "pleasant surprise."
The characters in the mixed banner are all of good quality— Nahida , Wanderer , and Baizhu are all popular characters in the current meta. Even if you get a character you didn't specifically aim for, it usually won't be too much of a loss.
DurinandAkoda: Anticipated Future Content
I've been following the character Durin for a long time. Based on the information revealed so far, he should be a five-star Pyro sword character, with a background related to the Durin of Dragonspine. Honestly, this setting alone makes me very excited. As a new four-star, there isn't much specific information about
Akoda yet, but from her design style, she seems to be a support. For four-star characters, my attitude has always been "it's good to have them, but I won't force it if I don't get them."
Top-up Strategy: How to Spend Money Most Effectively
In this section, I want to share some practical experience. First,the timing of top-ups is crucial:
Double bonus reset period before version update
First day of new character banner (usually with extra events)
End-of-month shop refresh period
The Battle Pass always offers the best value for money, there's no doubt about that. If you're a light spender (monthly spending of 100-300 CNY ), I recommend focusing your budget on the Battle Pass and acquiring key characters.
According to my statistics, acquiring a five-star character typically requires 12,000-14,000 Primogems . To guarantee getting one, having 28,800 Primogems is the safest bet. For version 6.1, if you want both Naefel and the Hydro Archon , I recommend preparing at least 40,000 Primogems .
Regarding the choice of top-up platform, I personally recommendBitTopup. It offers competitive prices (usually 5%-15% cheaper), fast delivery, and responsive customer service. Security-wise, it's also quite good; I haven't encountered any issues using it for a long time.
Of course, if you're not sensitive to price, the official channels are always the safest option.
Version Events: Don't Miss Out on the Benefits
The quality of the 6.1 version's collaboration short film should be very high, as it's a major highlight for the new character. And watching short films usually comes with rewards; though small, every bit helps.
The anniversary event is expected to offer generous rewards—I estimate the total value of various rewards could reach around 10,000 Primogems . Especially those limited commemorative items, once they're gone, they're truly gone .
Some Practical Advice
Q: I have 0 pulls right now. Can I get bothNaefeland theHydro Archon? A: Theoretically possible, but very risky. I recommend prioritizing one , unless you plan to top up.
Q: Is C0 Naefelsufficient? A: Yes, sufficient . Most five-star characters have full functionality at C0, and Naefel is no exception.
Q: Is the Sumeru Mixed Bannerworth investing in? A: Depends on which characters you're missing. If you already have all the Sumeru characters, don't waste resources.
Finally, a word of advice: It's just a game, having fun is most important. Don't let gacha affect your quality of life ; spending within your means is key. Version 6.1 is indeed tempting, but isn't your wallet's health important too?
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