Highlights
- Genshin Impact now offers a free 5-star character of choice every anniversary, a community-requested feature.
- Players can choose from characters like Jean, Diluc, Keqing and more, benefiting both newcomers and veterans.
- Genshin Impact will also begin releasing more standard banner characters, increasing the value of this event for future anniversaries.
Genshin Influence has fulfilled a long-awaited wish of its community, as players can now choose a 5-star banner from the standard banner for free on each anniversary. Throughout history, anniversary rewards have been given for Genshin Influence are mired in controversy. While 13 extra moves are nice to have, many Genshin Influence players felt that the developers could have offered more extensive rewards, either by increasing the number of intertwined wishes or by giving players a free 5-star character.
Regardless of which side of the discussion an individual player was on, there was a mutual understanding that these community requests would never be fulfilled by the developers. The generosity of other HoYoverse games such as Honkai: Star Trail contributed to growing discontent Genshin Influence fans, which ultimately sparked another controversy during the Lantern Rite in 2024. Although HoYoverse was never expected to release a free 5-star character in Genshin Influenceit seems the team has changed their mind for version 5.0 and above.
Related
Genshin Impact 5.0 Livestream Redeem Codes
Genshin Impact redemption codes often come with Primogems rewards that enhance players’ gacha experience.
After the announcement of the event banners for version 5.0, Genshin Influence has also revealed an unexpected reward for the game’s fourth anniversary. Starting in version 5.0, players can receive a free 5-star character of their choice from the standard banner during each anniversary event. Given the value of certain constellations, such as those of Dehya and Tighnari, this is a reward that will benefit both newcomers and veterans.
Free 5-star characters for Genshin Impact’s fourth anniversary
- Jean – 5-star Anemo Sword
- Diluc – 5-Star Pyro Claymore
- Keqing – 5-star electric sword
- Mona – 5-star hydrocatalyst
- Qiqi – 5-star Cryo Sword
- Tighnari – 5-Star Dendro Bow
- Dehya – 5-Star Pyro Claymore
While standard banner characters in Genshin Influence are often considered a step below the Event Banner characters, however the Fontaine era has been extremely kind to some of these old units. Furina has dramatically improved Jean’s value as a healer and Diluc is one of Xianyun’s best partners. Interestingly, the developers were also quick to notice that Genshin Influence would release more standard banner characters in the future, which would only increase the value of this event for subsequent anniversaries.
A wealth of improvements to improve the quality of life are coming Genshin Influence in version 5.0, and some of them are truly groundbreaking. For example, the much-maligned Fate Points system on the weapon banner is being overhauled, as players will now only need one Fate Point to complete their Epitomized Path and receive the 5-star weapon of their choice. Version 5.0 will be released on August 28, 2024.
Genshin Influence
- Released
- 28 September 2020
- Multiplayer
- Online multiplayer
- Motor
- Unit
- ESRB
- T for Teen – Fantasy violence, references to alcohol
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Yes
- X|S Improved
- Yes
- PS Plus availability
- N/A
- Save cross
- Yes
- Cross-platform gaming
- Mobile, PC, PS4 and PS5
