Understanding the Skin Selector System
Lantern Rite 2026 runs January 7 to February 17, with main festivities beginning January 25. The Liyue 4-star character selection ticket unlocks at 1200 Festive Fever points from event activities.
How It Works
The selector grants access to eleven Liyue 4-stars: Beidou, Ningguang, Xiangling, Xingqiu, Chongyun, Xinyan, Yanfei, Yun Jin, Yaoyao, Gaming, and Lan Yan. This is a one-time choice—once you claim a character, the opportunity expires. Need additional resources? Explore secure genesis top up for lantern rite 6.3 f2p skin selector through BitTopup for competitive pricing and fast delivery.
Event Currency Requirements
Festive Fever accumulates through:
- Immortal Combat challenges: Score 800 (initial), 1200 (unlocks Jan 26), 1600 (unlocks Jan 28)
- Drills by Lamplight: Complete Stage 1 Fiery Assault and Stage 2 General Insights
- Custom Gift Envelope: Finish Stages 1 and 2
- Springtime Charms: January 24 to February 9, 2025
- Daily participation tasks: Consistent engagement
Prerequisites
- Adventure Rank 20 minimum
- Archon Quest Prologue Act 3 completed
- Archon Quest Chapter 5 Act 5 completed
F2P Selection Criteria
Character Ownership and Constellations
Prioritize characters you already use frequently for immediate value. Characters at C0 benefit more than those at C6, where additional copies convert to minimal Starglitter.
Meta Team Usage
Characters in multiple viable compositions deliver superior value:
- Xiangling: National Team variants, reverse-melt, Pyro application teams
- Xingqiu: Vaporize, freeze, Dendro reaction setups
- Beidou: Taser teams, hyperbloom, electro-charged reactions
- Yaoyao: Dendro healer for bloom-based teams
Visual Quality
The Yaoyao 4-star skin is free in version 6.3. The paid Neuvillette skin features white, gray, and gold color schemes with red lightning charged attack animation replacing standard Hydro beam.
Previous F2P skins:
- Xiangling's New Year's Cheer (v5.3): Traditional festival attire
- Xingqiu's Bamboo Rain (v4.4): Elegant scholarly design
- Ningguang's Orchid's Evening Gown (v2.4): High-detail formal wear
Long-Term Investment
Consider your 3-6 month development roadmap:
- Upcoming artifact domain releases
- Future character synergies
- Personal gameplay preferences
- Planned team compositions
Complete F2P Skin Tier List
S-Tier: Maximum Value
Xiangling - Top choice for F2P accounts. Universal presence in National Team (Xiangling, Xingqiu, Bennett, flex), reverse-melt teams, and Pyro application setups. Every F2P account receives her free through Spiral Abyss Floor 3-3. Constant visibility ensures immediate impact.
Xingqiu - Second only to Xiangling in F2P meta dominance. Hydro application enables vaporize, freeze, and bloom reactions. Essential for National Team variants, freeze compositions with Kaeya, and Dendro reaction teams.
A-Tier: Solid Choices
Beidou - Increasingly valuable in Dendro meta. Perfect parry mechanic and electro-charged reactions make her essential for taser teams and hyperbloom compositions. Usage drops if you prefer quickswap playstyles.
Yaoyao - Free 4-star Dendro healer fills critical niche for F2P accounts lacking Baizhu. Role consolidation (healing + Dendro application) provides practical value. Version 6.3 skin offers guaranteed acquisition.
Ningguang - Strong for Geo teams or main DPS builds. Orchid's Evening Gown (v2.4) set high visual standards. Meta relevance has declined compared to reaction-based compositions.
B-Tier: Niche but Viable
Yun Jin - Specialized support for Normal Attack-focused teams. Limited utility outside specific scenarios.
Gaming - Plunging attack specialist with unique mechanics. Lacks universal applicability of S-tier options.
Lan Yan - 4-star Anemo Catalyst user introduced in v5.3 as free character. Established F2P accounts likely already own her.
Avoid for Budget Players
Chongyun - Limited meta presence. Freeze teams typically prefer Kaeya. Infusion mechanic conflicts with many DPS characters.
Xinyan - Extremely niche usage in physical damage teams. F2P players rarely build teams around her kit.
Yanfei - Outclassed by Xiangling in most scenarios. Only valuable if you specifically enjoy ranged catalyst playstyle.
Top Recommendation #1: Xiangling
Why Xiangling Dominates
Every F2P account receives Xiangling free through clearing Spiral Abyss Floor 3-3. Her off-field Pyro application through Guoba and Pyronado enables National Team—the most accessible high-performance composition requiring only 4-stars (Xiangling, Xingqiu, Bennett, Sucrose/Chongyun).
Versatility extends beyond National Team:
- Reverse-melt compositions with Kaeya/Rosaria
- Overload teams with Electro characters
- Pyro resonance support for ATK% bonus
Visual Upgrade
New Year's Cheer skin (v5.3) features traditional festival attire with cultural authenticity, replacing default chef outfit. Maintains energetic personality while elevating formal appearance.
National Team Aesthetic
Coordinated team aesthetics enhance gameplay enjoyment. Selecting Xiangling and Xingqiu skins creates visual cohesion in National Team compositions where both appear simultaneously during rotations.
Real Gameplay Experience
F2P accounts running National Team variants showcase Xiangling for approximately 40-50% of combat time. This visibility duration far exceeds situational characters. Players report increased motivation to optimize rotations when main characters feature premium skins.
Top Recommendation #2: Beidou
Rising Dendro Meta Popularity
Dendro reactions (v3.0+) elevated Beidou's meta standing. Stormbreaker provides consistent off-field Electro application for:
- Hyperbloom: Triggering Dendro cores with Electro for AoE damage
- Aggravate: Amplifying Electro damage through Dendro reactions
- Taser teams: Electro-charged reactions with Hydro applicators
F2P players accessing Dendro characters through event rewards (Collei, Dendro Traveler) can build competitive hyperbloom teams using Beidou as Electro trigger.
Screen Time Considerations
Beidou's visibility in taser (Beidou, Fischl, Xingqiu, Sucrose) and hyperbloom teams varies based on rotation structure. Unlike Xiangling who remains on-field during National Team rotations, Beidou typically appears briefly for skill activation before swapping.
When Beidou Outvalues Others
Optimal when:
- You already own Xiangling's skin from previous events
- Your account focuses on electro-charged or hyperbloom compositions
- You actively engage with parry mechanic
- You lack strong Pyro DPS options and invested heavily in Beidou
Starter Character Skins
Amber: Exploration Value
Guaranteed ownership creates unique value. Players using Amber extensively for exploration, puzzle-solving, and overworld content benefit from skin investments despite limited meta presence. Role as Pyro archer for torch lighting and Baron Bunny mechanics ensures consistent visibility. For additional cosmetic options, value primogems purchase for genshin event skins without 5-stars through BitTopup offers secure transactions.
Kaeya: Freeze Team Appeal
Premier F2P Cryo applicator for freeze teams, pairing effectively with Xingqiu or Barbara. Guaranteed ownership and strong performance in budget freeze teams (Kaeya, Xingqiu, Anemo character, flex) justify skin consideration.
Lisa: Collector Value
Most niche starter character for combat. Skin value derives primarily from collector appeal rather than practical gameplay.
Guaranteed Ownership Advantage
Starter character skins eliminate gacha acquisition uncertainty. This guaranteed ownership ensures skin investments never become obsolete due to missing the associated character.
Common Selection Mistakes
Choosing Based on Appearance Alone
Visual appeal represents only one component. Players selecting purely for aesthetic design without considering usage frequency often experience regret when chosen character remains unused.
Ignoring Future Development Plans
F2P progression follows predictable patterns. Players selecting skins without considering their 3-6 month roadmap may choose characters they'll replace or bench as roster expands.
Overlooking Usage Statistics
Review your:
- Spiral Abyss team compositions from past three cycles
- Most-used characters in daily commissions
- Domain farming team preferences
- Overworld exploration character selections
Misconceptions About Rarity
Event-exclusive skins create artificial scarcity influencing perceived value. F2P players must resist scarcity-driven decisions and focus on personal account value.
Step-by-Step Decision Framework
Step 1: Audit Your Roster
Document:
- All owned Liyue 4-star characters
- Constellation status (C0-C6) for each
- Characters you lack but could obtain
- Characters at C5 who would reach C6
Step 2: Evaluate Main Teams
Analyze your three most-used compositions:
- Primary Spiral Abyss composition
- Secondary Abyss team or domain farming setup
- Overworld exploration and daily commission team
Calculate screen time percentages for each character.
Step 3: Compare Visual vs Practical Value
Weighted scoring system:
- Usage frequency: 50% weight
- Visual upgrade quality: 30% weight
- Character ownership: 20% weight
Step 4: Consider Long-Term Goals
Project 6-12 months:
- Which characters will you prioritize for artifact farming?
- What team compositions do you plan to build?
- Are you saving for specific upcoming banners?
- How will new releases affect current teams?
Final Checklist
Before confirming:
- ✅ You own the character or will obtain through selector
- ✅ Character appears in at least one main team
- ✅ You've invested or plan to invest resources
- ✅ Skin provides meaningful visual distinction
- ✅ You've considered alternatives
- ✅ Decision aligns with current usage and future plans
Maximizing Event Rewards
Daily Task Priority
- Immortal Combat: Score 800 initially, then 1200 (Jan 26) and 1600 (Jan 28)
- Springtime Charms: Daily objectives January 24 to February 9
- Drills by Lamplight: Stage 1 Fiery Assault and Stage 2 General Insights
- Custom Gift Envelope: Complete both stages
Hidden Currency Sources
- Exploration rewards: Lantern Rite-themed chests and puzzles
- NPC interactions: Dialogue sequences and fetch quests
- Photography challenges: Themed screenshots
- Mini-games: Festival-specific activities
Time-Efficient Route
- Week 1 (Jan 7-13): Immortal Combat and Drills by Lamplight
- Week 2 (Jan 14-20): Custom Gift Envelope and exploration
- Week 3 (Jan 21-27): Springtime Charms daily tasks
- Week 4+ (Jan 28-Feb 17): Daily participation for supplementary rewards
Backup Plans
If you miss the February 17 deadline:
- Standard Banner: Liyue 4-stars appear in permanent wish pool
- Rate-up banners: Wait for featured banners with increased drop rates
- Starglitter shop: Monthly rotation availability
Post-Event Acquisition
Genesis Crystal Purchase
Event-exclusive skins typically become available for direct purchase:
- 4-star skins: Approximately 1,350-1,680 Genesis Crystals
- 5-star skins: Approximately 1,980-2,480 Genesis Crystals
Neuvillette paid skin (v6.3) follows premium pricing with enhanced visual effects.
Rerun Probability
Observable patterns:
- Annual event reruns: Major festivals repeat yearly with modified rewards
- Skin rotation uncertainty: No consistent rerun schedules established
- Permanent shop additions: Some skins transition to permanent availability
Conservative F2P strategy prioritizes claiming available free skins during events.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Immediate Event Participation:
- Cost: 30-45 minutes daily
- Benefit: Free character/constellation + skin
- Opportunity cost: Minimal
Post-Event Purchase:
- Cost: 1,350-1,680 Genesis Crystals (~$20-25 USD)
- Benefit: Skin only
- Opportunity cost: High (could purchase Intertwined Fates)
Recommendations by Account Type
Pure F2P National Team Users
Recommendation: Xiangling
Guaranteed ownership, constant visibility, universal team applicability. If you already obtained Xiangling's skin from v5.3, select Xingqiu.
Welkin-Only Light Spenders
Recommendation: Xingqiu or Beidou
Light spenders accumulate enough Primogems for occasional limited 5-stars, potentially reducing reliance on pure 4-star compositions. Xingqiu's universal support or Beidou's electro-charged specialization becomes more valuable.
Collector Accounts
Recommendation: Ningguang or Yaoyao
Prioritize roster completion and cosmetic diversity over meta optimization. Select based on design aesthetic appeal.
New Players
Recommendation: Xiangling or Lan Yan
Prioritize characters providing immediate team-building value while remaining relevant through endgame. Avoid selecting based purely on appearance.
FAQ
Which skin should F2P players choose in Lantern Rite 6.3?
Xiangling provides maximum value due to guaranteed ownership, universal National Team presence, and constant combat visibility. If you already own her skin from v5.3, select Xingqiu.
How do I unlock the Skin Selector?
Accumulate 1200 Festive Fever points by completing Immortal Combat challenges, Drills by Lamplight, Custom Gift Envelope, and Springtime Charms tasks. Requires Adventure Rank 20 and Archon Quest Prologue Act 3 and Chapter 5 Act 5.
Can I get multiple skins from Lantern Rite 6.3?
The selector is one-time choice only. However, the event also provides free Yaoyao skin separately, allowing multiple cosmetics through different reward tracks.
Do event skins affect character stats?
No. Skins are purely cosmetic and don't modify statistics, damage output, skill effects, or gameplay mechanics.
Will Lantern Rite skins come back?
Rerun schedules remain uncertain. Some transition to permanent Genesis Crystal availability, while others haven't reappeared. Claim desired skins during free event availability.
Is Xiangling skin better than Beidou for F2P?
Yes, for most F2P players. Xiangling appears in more teams, serves as primary damage dealer in National Team, and guarantees ownership through Spiral Abyss Floor 3-3. Beidou provides superior value only if you specifically focus on electro-charged/hyperbloom compositions.
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