I still remember the moment I opened the Version 6.5 second-half banner announcement and felt that familiar tug-of-war between my heart and my Primogems. As a player who has been wandering through Nod-Krai since the Song of the Welkin Moon began, I thought I had my pulling plans figured out. Then HoYoverse dropped a lineup that made me question everything: Nefer and Lauma sharing the Event Banner spotlight, with Kirara, Xingqiu, and Jahoda tagging along, while the first Fontaine Chronicled Banner quietly stacked Lyney, Navia, Clorinde, Sigewinne, and Emilie on its own stage. Who wouldn’t pause at that? Isn’t this exactly the kind of schedule that makes a free-to-play player sweat?
Let me walk you through my own little saga. I’ve been running a Lunar-Bloom team ever since Nefer first debuted, and Lauma has been the missing puzzle piece in my roster. The two of them together are, without exaggeration, one of the strongest duos for that particular Lunar Reaction. So when I saw both of them on the same second-half Event Banner, my first thought was simple: this is the best opportunity I’ll get for a long time. Their first rerun is happening right now, and according to the usual pattern, players can expect a second rerun within the next twelve months. But why wait a whole year when the banner is sitting right in front of me until May 20, 2026?
Of course, the four-star lineup is what really made me smile. Jahoda can substitute as a support for Nefer, which means newer players can wish on both the Lauma and Nefer banner and assemble a genuinely powerful team without needing a dozen lucky five-star pulls. Xingqiu and Kirara are both budget-friendly options for Lunar-Bloom, and I have to appreciate how perfectly harmonious this second half feels. Isn’t it rare for a banner to be this kind to account progression? I remember struggling through early Spiral Abyss cycles with half-built teams, and this lineup would have saved me weeks of resin and regret.
But then my eyes drifted to the Chronicled Banner, and the dilemma deepened. The Fontaine Chronicled Banner is a first for Genshin Impact, and it brings Lyney, Navia, Clorinde, Sigewinne, and Emilie back into the spotlight. I’ve always wanted Navia—her elegant cannon gameplay and Fontaine charm are hard to resist—and Clorinde’s swift pistol-blade style looks like pure fun. Sigewinne is adorable, Emilie brings a unique Dendro approach, and Lyney remains one of the flashiest pyro damage dealers around. Yet Wriothesley is conspicuously absent. Does that mean the warden of Meropide will get his own separate banner when Snezhnaya rolls around? That’s my guess, and honestly, it makes sense. Neuvillette, Furina, and Arlecchino are understandable exceptions too—the Hydro Sovereign, the former Hydro Archon, and a Fatui Harbinger don’t exactly need a Chronicled Banner to sell themselves.
So here I am, staring at two very different paths. On one side, the Lunar-Bloom dream team is calling my name. On the other, the Fontaine Chronicled Banner is offering a nostalgic tour of one of my favorite regions. What’s a player supposed to do? I’ve made a little table to sort out my own priorities, and maybe it will help you too:
| Banner | Featured 5-Stars | Why I’m Tempted | My Honest Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Event Banner (Second Half) | Nefer, Lauma | Best Lunar-Bloom duo; first rerun; strong synergy with Jahoda, Xingqiu, Kirara | 🥇 Top priority for my account |
| Fontaine Chronicled Banner | Lyney, Navia, Clorinde, Sigewinne, Emilie | Navia and Clorinde are long-time wants; Fontaine nostalgia | 🥈 Tempting, but Wriothesley’s absence stings |
I also have to think about what comes next. Version 6.6 is expected to be the capstone for Hexerei characters, with Nicole, Lohen, and Prune all releasing in the same patch. That’s a lot of new toys to consider. Then Version 6.7 is rumored to introduce Sandrone as a Stellar-Conduct character, and it’s confirmed as the final patch of Nod-Krai. So this is the last hurrah for the Song of the Welkin Moon—a finale featuring the region’s last zone and the first character to wield Snezhnaya’s combat mechanic. If Stellar Reactions are coming with Snezhnaya, will Lunar-Bloom teams still shine in endgame modes like the Stygian Onslaught, the Spiral Abyss, or the Imaginarium Theater? Probably not as brightly. That’s the cold truth I keep telling myself.
So my final decision? I’m spending my pulls on the Event Banner because I truly want the Lunar-Bloom characters. I enjoy the playstyle, I already have a foundation for the team, and Jahoda is available for free through the Flagship Event anyway—which is a lovely bonus for collectors and budget players alike. As for the Fontaine Chronicled Banner, I’ll admire it from afar and keep a small stash for Wriothesley’s eventual return. After all, isn’t patience the real endgame currency in Genshin Impact?
If you’re a newer player, this second half is a golden chance to grab Nefer and Lauma together and build one of the strongest teams in the game. If you’re a veteran like me, you probably already have one or both of them, and your sights might be set on Snezhnaya’s shiny future. Either way, the banner lasts until May 20, 2026, so there’s still time to decide. Just remember: pull for the characters you genuinely want, not for the ones the meta whispers about. That’s the lesson I keep learning, one wish at a time.