1. Skirk
Skirk is a flexible on-field DPS character who can either maintain sustained Normal Attack output or execute quick burst combos. However, her kit heavily depends on having three Hydro or Cryo characters in the party to fully activate her talent buffs and an extra skill level for her Elemental Skill.
This rigid team-building requirement is a major drawback. Hydro-Cryo comps are highly specialized and prone to Abyss restrictions—if Cryo content is nerfed or restricted, Skirk comps may struggle significantly.
Another issue is Cryo/Hydro team utility. Only Echette currently provides Cryo RES shred, making her a core piece of Skirk’s best comps. Without Echette, you may be missing crucial multipliers. Moreover, Echette’s healing allows you to drop a dedicated healer and run extra buffers or sub-DPS, boosting total damage.
Verdict: Whether you should pull Skirk largely depends on whether you own Echette.
That said, when her full Cryo-Hydro team is online, Skirk’s damage potential is explosive. To compensate for her team-lock drawbacks, her personal numbers are very high. Her talent that buffs teammates’ skill levels makes her entire team stronger, especially if you already have strong sub-DPS units.
However, Skirk’s long-term value is only average. As power creep progresses, it's highly likely that a more versatile Cryo DPS without rigid team requirements will be introduced.
Pull Recommendation: If you don’t have a high-constellation Cryo DPS and do own Furina + Echette, pulling a C0 Skirk is a good short-term investment.
2. Shenhe
As a Cryo support, Shenhe has struggled to maintain relevance, especially when Cryo content isn’t favored. She’s a fantastic support for Ayaka and similar main DPS units, providing flat Cryo damage, resistance shred, and general buffs.
However, her synergy with Skirk is questionable.
Skirk needs uninterrupted on-field presence, but Shenhe’s Icy Quill buff only applies for 5 hits (7 with a charged skill). To maintain buffs, Shenhe must be rotated in mid-combat, which forces you to swap characters—canceling Skirk’s elemental infusion and reducing total uptime.
If you don’t rotate, Shenhe's buffs are limited and underwhelming. Compared to other buffers like Yelan, Mona, or even 4-star Tartaglia, Shenhe offers less overall value in a Skirk team unless she’s at C6.
Pull Recommendation: Skip unless you’re a completionist or have high investment in Cryo teams.
3. Marvaka (Pyro Archon)
Marvaka boasts the strongest burst potential of any character to date—but she requires proper team support, especially Chino. Without Chino, you’ll need at least two Natlan characters to battery her or pull a C1 Marvaka for more flexibility.
She also relies heavily on reaction-based damage. Running her in mono Pyro or reactionless teams undercuts her true potential. Her best team style is Melt, which also demands units like Citlali. While there are other Cryo options, few match the synergy.
Beyond her role as a main DPS, Marvaka fits well into other Natlan teams as a sub-DPS/buffer. Units like Marlani, Kinich, Chasca, and Varesa all pair effectively thanks to her universal Pyro infusion and damage buffs.
Even for overworld exploration, Marvaka is top-tier. In Natlan, her movement skills let you traverse terrain and water with ease. Outside of Natlan, the effect duration drops—but she's still more mobile than most characters.
At C2, her damage jumps by ~40%, especially with reaction bonuses. But her C0 version is already strong. As a raw stat-stick DPS, her long-term value may dip, and pulling constellations now is less cost-effective than at release.
Pull Recommendation: If you own Chino, pulling C0 Marvaka is highly recommended. If you have C1 and plenty of Primogems, consider going for C2.
4. Emilie
Emilie relies almost entirely on Burning reactions to function effectively. Currently, the only meaningful synergy exists with Kinich. Unless you’re building a Kinich team, Emilie offers limited value.
Pull Recommendation: Only pull if you are building a Kinich-focused team. Otherwise, skip.
Final Decision: Skirk vs. Marvaka?
Many players are torn between Skirk and Marvaka. Here's how to choose based on your current account status:
❖ Q1: I don’t own either—who should I pick?
Check your available team members:
If you own Echette, Furina, and maybe Yelan, Skirk is a great pick.
If you own Chino (even without Citlali), Marvaka is the better option.
❖ Q2: I have 0/C1 Marvaka. Should I pull Skirk or go for C2 Marvaka?
This depends on your team structure again:
If you own Furina or Echette, C0 Skirk is a worthwhile pick—even her budget team comps outperform older low-con Ice teams.
Also, the next few Abyss rotations are rumored to favor Cryo, making Skirk even more valuable.
❖ Q3: I already have a high-constellation Cryo team (e.g., C3+ Ayaka + Shenhe + Furina)?
Then C0 Skirk doesn’t add much. In this case, going for C2 Marvaka brings a more noticeable power spike.
Of course, if you're in the Q3 category and don’t need either, saving your Primogems may be the smartest move.
That’s everything for the 5.7 pull guide! Weapon banner analysis will follow once Skirk’s signature weapon stats are officially revealed. Stay tuned!
