Varka Banner Overview: Version 6.4 Details
Release Date and Duration
Version 6.4 launches February 25, 2026. The Northerly Wind's Song of Triumph banner runs February 25 through March 17, 2026—exactly 20 days. Asia server (GMT+8) starts at 11:00 AM February 25; America region (GMT-5) begins 10:00 PM same day. Banner ends 6:00 PM local time March 17 across all regions.
Players needing last-minute pulls can top up Genshin Impact Genesis Crystals for Varka through BitTopup for instant delivery and competitive pricing.
Featured 4-Star Characters
Runs concurrently with The Lone Light Knocks at Night featuring Flins rerun. Both banners share the same 5-star pity counter. Standard 3.3% 4-star drop rate with guaranteed 4-star every 10 pulls. Evaluate whether featured 4-stars provide value beyond the 5-star target.
Lore Significance
As Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, Varka represents one of the most anticipated releases since launch. His Anemo Claymore kit differentiates him from existing Mondstadt characters. Players must separate narrative appeal from practical gameplay value when making pull decisions.
Complete Cost: Primogems and Pity Breakdown
Pity Mechanics
Character Event Wish maintains 0.6% base 5-star drop rate with hard pity at 90 pulls. Soft pity starts at pull 74, with most 5-star acquisitions occurring between pulls 75-82. Each Intertwined Fate costs 160 Primogems, making hard pity require 14,400 Primogems. The 50/50 system means first 5-star has 50% chance of being Varka.
Average Primogem Cost for C0
Statistical analysis reveals average 5-star acquisition around pull 63:
- Best case: 160 Primogems (0.6% probability)
- Average with 50/50 win: ~10,080 Primogems (63 pulls)
- Average with 50/50 loss then guarantee: ~20,160 Primogems (126 pulls)
- Worst case: 28,800 Primogems (180 pulls)
Budget for worst-case to avoid disappointment.
50/50 System Planning
Players with guarantee from previous banner loss need only 14,400 Primogems maximum. Those on 50/50 face full 28,800 Primogem worst-case. Players with 15,000-20,000 Primogems can guarantee one 5-star but might not secure Varka specifically.
Constellation Costs
- C0: 0-28,800 Primogems (average ~20,160)
- C1: +14,400 (Four Winds' Ascension 200% DMG)
- C2: +14,400 (800% ATK AoE Anemo strike)
- C3: +14,400 (Elemental Skill +3 levels)
- C4: +14,400 (Swirl grants 20% Anemo DMG)
- C6: +28,800 (Azure Fang's Oath +15% CRIT DMG per stack, max 60%)
Total worst-case C6: 115,200 Primogems ($1,600-$2,000).
Meta Position: Performance Analysis
Kit Overview
Varka's Elemental Skill Windbound Execution triggers 12-second Stormward Charge, infusing his claymore with Pyro, Hydro, Electro, or Cryo based on team composition. Damage scaling:
- 140% damage: 2 Anemo OR 2 matching element
- 220% damage: 2 Anemo + 2 matching element
Elemental Burst Northwind Avatar delivers 606.5% + 326.6% Anemo damage, 60 energy cost, 15-second cooldown.
Passive Talents
Dawn Wind's March: Every 1,000 ATK grants 10% Anemo/Elemental DMG bonus, capping at 25% (2,500 ATK).
Wind's Vanguard: Swirl reactions generate Azure Fang's Oath stacks, +7.5% damage per stack for 8 seconds, max 4 stacks (30% total).
Homebound Wind's Paean: 5% Elemental Skill cooldown reduction per Mondstadt team member (20% max with four).
Spiral Abyss Performance
C0 with 4-star weapons clears Floor 12 in 90-120 seconds per chamber with optimal supports—upper-middle tier DPS. Excels in multi-target scenarios but lags behind Neuvillette or Arlecchino in single-target. Elemental infusion provides flexibility against varied enemy lineups.
Imaginarium Theater Viability
Valuable for players lacking diverse DPS options. Anemo element enables Swirl regardless of supports. Team composition requirements (dual Anemo/dual element) can strain limited rosters during multi-team runs.
Character Comparisons
Varka vs Neuvillette
Neuvillette offers ranged attacks, self-healing, minimal team requirements. Varka requires melee range and specific team structures. C0 Neuvillette with signature weapon outperforms C0 Varka by 15-20% in single-target, though Varka's AoE narrows this gap. Investment efficiency favors Neuvillette—consistent performance across constellations while Varka needs C2 for significant spikes.
Varka vs Arlecchino
Arlecchino dominates single-target damage. Varka's single-target requires optimal conditions and consistent Swirl stacking. Team flexibility slightly favors Varka via elemental infusion. For players owning Arlecchino, Varka provides minimal value unless needing Anemo coverage.
Unique Advantages
Elemental infusion flexibility combined with Anemo's universal reaction access. No other character adapts damage type based on team while maintaining Anemo grouping and Viridescent Venerer resistance shred. Mondstadt-specific passive creates synergies with Bennett, Mona, Fischl.
Constellation Value Analysis
C0 Performance
Competent but unremarkable Anemo DPS, 20-25% below premium C0 alternatives with signature weapons. Base kit provides all essential mechanics but suffers energy generation issues without C1, requiring higher ER substats.
C1 and C2
C1: Adds Four Winds' Ascension (200% damage), improving energy and damage instances. Quality-of-life over transformative damage—low priority.
C2: First significant spike, adds 800% ATK AoE Anemo strike. Increases burst damage 25-30%, improves AoE clear substantially. Optimal stopping point for committed players.
Combined C0-C2 investment: 43,200-57,600 Primogems worst-case ($600-$800).
C6 Evaluation
Transforms Azure Fang's Oath into CRIT DMG amplifiers (+15% per stack, max 60%). Performance gains from C0 to C6 reach 80-100% under optimal conditions. Whale-exclusive territory—avoid unless unlimited budget.
Constellation Priority
- C0: Baseline functionality
- C2: First major spike, optimal stop
- C1: Skip unless pursuing higher
- C4: Poor value relative to cost
- C3/C5: Minimal impact
- C6: Whale-only
Signature Weapon Analysis
Weapon Stats
Gest of the Mighty Wolf: 608 base ATK, 33.1% CRIT Rate at level 90. Passive Four Winds' Hymn grants +6% damage per stack (max 5), triggering every 0.1s for 4s. Additional +10% ATK SPD.
Performance Gap
20-25% damage difference versus optimal 4-stars (Serpent Spine, Prototype Archaic). Gap narrows to 15-18% against Blackcliff Slasher with CRIT DMG optimization. Signature is luxury, not necessity.
Weapon Banner Cost
Epitomized Path guarantees selected weapon within 240 pulls worst-case (38,400 Primogems). Average acquisition: 100-150 pulls (16,000-24,000 Primogems). Often exceeds C0 Varka cost.
Best 4-Star Options
- Serpent Spine (Battle Pass): Best 4-star, within 15-18% of signature when refined
- Prototype Archaic (Craftable): Accessible ATK% scaling
- Blackcliff Slasher (Starglitter): CRIT DMG secondary
- Tidal Shadow (Gacha): ER and ATK% bonuses
Team Compositions
Core Archetypes
Dual Anemo + Dual Element: Maximizes Stormward Charge (220%). Example: Varka, Kazuha, Bennett, Xiangling.
Mono Element + Anemo: Achieves 140% Stormward Charge. Example: Varka, Faruzan, Bennett, Xiangling.
F2P Teams
Pyro Focus: Varka, Sucrose, Bennett, Xiangling Electro Focus: Varka, Traveler (Anemo), Fischl, Beidou Cryo Focus: Varka, Sucrose, Kaeya, Rosaria
Perform 15-20% below premium but viable for all content.
Premium Teams
Team 1: Varka, Kazuha, Bennett, Furina (220% Stormward Charge) Team 2: Varka, Xianyun, Zhongli, Albedo (comfort focus) Team 3: Varka, Faruzan, Wanderer, Jean (mono Anemo)
Premium teams increase performance 25-35% over F2P alternatives.
Synergy Check
Strong indicators: Own Kazuha/Xianyun, C6 Faruzan, Bennett C1+, Furina Weak indicators: Lack Anemo supports, missing elemental applicators, no shields/healing
Pull Decision Framework
New Players (AR 1-45)
Skip Varka. Team requirements demand specific supports new accounts lack. C0 with 4-stars doesn't justify opportunity cost. Exceptions: love character design, already have Bennett/Kazuha, plan long-term Mondstadt focus.
Mid-Game (AR 45-55)
Pull if: Lack Anemo DPS, own optimal supports, need claymore users, have 20,000+ primogems.
Skip if: Own strong multi-element DPS, lack support depth, under 20,000 primogems without guarantee.
Endgame Veterans (AR 55+)
Pull for collection: Complete Mondstadt roster, value lore over meta, disposable income.
Pull for performance: Lack Anemo DPS, target competitive rankings, plan C2+ investment, have optimized supports ready.
F2P Considerations
Questionable value due to high support requirements, moderate C0 performance, weapon dependency. F2P should prioritize self-sufficient kits with strong C0 performance and 4-star weapon viability.
Spender Optimization
For committed pulls, buy Genshin Impact Primogems fast recharge through BitTopup for competitive rates and instant delivery.
Low Spenders ($5-$50/month): Target C0 only, skip weapon Medium Spenders ($50-$200/month): Consider C0 + weapon OR C2 without weapon High Spenders ($200+/month): Target C2 + weapon, consider C6 only if primary DPS
Smart Top-Up Strategies
Genesis Crystal Bonuses
First-time bonuses double base crystal amounts. $99.99 tier provides 12,960 crystals with bonus (81 pulls)—most efficient for large quantities.
BitTopup Advantages
- 3-8% below official rates
- Instant automated delivery
- Encrypted payment processing
- 24/7 multilingual support
- Multiple payment methods
- No regional restrictions
Calculating Exact Amounts
- Determine current pity count
- Assess guarantee status
- Calculate pulls needed
- Account for existing resources
- Add 10-20 pull safety buffer
Purchase Timing
Before banner: Calm evaluation, no time pressure, flexibility to change plans During banner: Test in trial, wait for community analysis, additional daily primogems
Optimal: Calculate before launch, test first week, purchase 3-5 days before banner ends.
Future Considerations
Leaked Characters (6.5-6.7)
Version 6.5: New Natlan characters Version 6.6: Possible archon reruns Version 6.7: Snezhnaya preview speculation
Official announcements during 6.4 livestreams provide confirmed 6.5 info.
Varka Rerun Predictions
Based on historical patterns:
- Earliest: Version 7.0-7.2 (August-October 2026)
- Most likely: Version 7.4-7.6 (December 2026-February 2027)
- Latest: Version 8.0+ (April 2027+)
Expect rerun within 8-12 months.
Emergency Primogem Farming
Daily sources: Commissions (60), Welkin (90) One-time: Events (940 total), Abyss reset (600), exploration, achievements
Total emergency potential: 2,000-3,000 primogems.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Myth: Every New 5-Star is Meta-Defining
Most new 5-stars occupy mid-tier positions. Varka is competent but not revolutionary. Meta-defining characters (Neuvillette, Furina, Kazuha) are exceptions.
Ignoring Account-Specific Needs
Audit roster before pulling:
- Which elements lack DPS coverage?
- What content challenges teams?
- Which supports sit underutilized?
- What playstyles do you enjoy?
Constellation Trap
C1 provides minimal impact. C2's damage increase rarely justifies 14,400-28,800 primogem investment for budget players. Adopt strict stopping rules.
Sunk Cost Fallacy
Previous spending shouldn't influence future decisions. If continuing requires compromising future plans or exceeding budget, stop regardless of previous investment.
Final Verdict
MUST PULL
- Lack any Anemo DPS
- Complete Mondstadt collectors
- Own optimized supports (Kazuha, Bennett, Faruzan C6)
- Varka enthusiasts prioritizing design
- Need claymore users
CONSIDER CAREFULLY
- 20,000+ primogems with guarantee
- Mid-game seeking diversity
- Enjoy melee DPS playstyle
- Partial support coverage
- Monthly budget accommodates Varka + future characters
SKIP/WAIT
- New players (AR 1-45)
- Own strong Anemo DPS alternatives
- Complete DPS coverage
- F2P under 20,000 primogems without guarantee
- Prioritize leaked future characters
Quick Decision Checklist
- Have 28,800 primogems or guarantee? (Yes = +2)
- Own 2+ of: Kazuha, Bennett C1+, Faruzan C6, Xianyun? (Yes = +2)
- Lack strong Anemo DPS? (Yes = +2)
- Can secure without compromising next 2-3 banners? (Yes = +2)
- Genuinely enjoy Varka's design/playstyle? (Yes = +2)
8-10 points: Strong pull 5-7 points: Situational 0-4 points: Skip
FAQ
When does Varka banner release?
February 25, 2026 through March 17, 2026. Asia (GMT+8) starts 11:00 AM, America (GMT-5) starts 10:00 PM February 25.
How many primogems to guarantee Varka?
28,800 Primogems (180 pulls) worst-case on 50/50. 14,400 Primogems (90 pulls) with guarantee. Average: ~20,160 Primogems (126 pulls).
Is Varka worth pulling?
Depends on roster and resources. Worth if lacking Anemo DPS, own optimal supports, have sufficient primogems. Skip if own strong multi-element DPS, lack supports, prioritize future characters. C0 performance: upper-mid tier.
Does Varka need signature weapon?
Provides 20-25% damage increase over 4-stars but not necessary. 38,400 Primogem worst-case often exceeds better investments. Use Serpent Spine or Prototype Archaic instead.
Best team compositions?
Optimal: Varka, Kazuha, Bennett, Xiangling (220% Stormward Charge). F2P: Varka, Sucrose, Bennett, Xiangling. Requires specific supports—struggles in generic teams.
Which constellations worth getting?
C0 for baseline. C2 for first major spike (+25-30% damage)—optimal stop for committed players. C1 minimal value. C6 whale-only (115,200 Primogems). Budget players: C0 only.
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