The cold is creeping in, just before the Traveler begins the next chapter of his journey in Snezhnaya.
Genshin Impact Version 5.7 brings with it a storm of Cryo might, led by two powerful warriors: the long-awaited debut of Skirk and the return of the ever-graceful Shenhe. Alongside them, new weapons, events, and a pivotal Archon Quest give players plenty of reasons to log in and gear up. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the new characters, weapons, and events that make Version 5.7 one of the coolest updates yet.
New Character: Skirk
A living legend wrapped in mystery, Skirk finally makes her playable debut in Genshin Impact. Known in the lore as Tartaglia’s enigmatic master from his time in the Abyss, Skirk is a fearsome swordswoman whose strength surpasses even the Fatui Harbinger. She trained Childe in the deadly arts, yet rarely spoke to him and reportedly never even fought him using both hands. Now that she’s stepping into the spotlight, it’s our turn to witness her terrifying potential.
Skirk is a 5-star Cryo sword-user with a unique resource called Serpent’s Subtlety. She shines as a main DPS who pairs excellently with Hydro and Cryo teammates. Thanks to her Passive skills, she gets massive boosts when her allies trigger Frozen or other Cryo-related reactions. Stack her with Xinqiu or Yelan, and you’ve got a recipe for non-stop Cryo mayhem.
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Shenhe Rerun
The elegant Shenhe returns in 5.7 with her rerun banner—an event as rare and as welcome as a snowflake in Mondstadt in summer. As a Cryo polearm unit, Shenhe serves best as a Cryo buffer. Her abilities boost both Cryo DMG and Elemental Skill/Burst DMG, making her the ideal support for units like Ayaka, Ganyu, or now, Skirk.
She might seem aloof, but when it comes to buffing Cryo damage, Shenhe is as essential as Bennett is to Pyro teams. Her synergy with Skirk is near-perfect, boosting her output while also enabling frequent Frozen reactions when paired with Hydro characters.
Phase 1 Featured Characters
5-Star:
- Skirk
- Shenhe
4-Star:
- Diona
- Candace
- Dahlia
New Weapon: Azure Light
Alongside these Cryo queens, 5.7 brings two high-end weapons designed to maximize their frostbitten fury:
Azure Light
- Base ATK: 674
- Crit Rate: 22.1%
- Passive: After using an Elemental Skill, ATK increases by 24%. If the wielder has 0 Energy, ATK is boosted again by 24% and Crit DMG is increased by 40%.
This is the best-in-slot for Skirk, especially in rotations where you burn energy quickly and rely on raw skill scaling.
Calamity Queller
- Base ATK: 741
- ATK: 16.5%
- Passive: Boosts all Elemental DMG by 12%. After using a skill, gain Consummation for 20s which increases ATK by 3.2% per second (up to 6 stacks). Off-field, the ATK bonus stacks faster.
This weapon is tailor-made for Shenhe and great for off-field buffers.
New Archon Quest: A Space and Time for You
In Chapter 5 – Act 6, titled “A Space and Time for You,” we inch closer to Snezhnaya and finally get more screen time with the Traveler’s twin. Dainsleif returns to push the story deeper into Abyssal territory, and the tension snowballs quickly. Expect big revelations, emotional confrontations, and a beautifully written arc that sets the stage for the next major region.
New Events
Battle of the Imagined Arrays
Team up with Akademiya researchers and lead adorable Companion Pieces through mini adventure routes like the Whispering Forest and Rasping Desert. Level up your companions, defeat enemies, and encounter random events to collect loot! Complete stages to unlock buffs and, best of all, a free 4-star Electro character, Sethos.
Stygian Onslaught
Looking to farm artifacts without burning out? This new permanent combat mode offers an exciting challenge across five battlefields, with increasing difficulty and co-op options. Defeating high-level bosses lets you earn artifacts using Resin, and characters marked as Exalted Ones can provide buffs to your teams. It’s an efficient and engaging way to build your strongest rosters.
From new Cryo powerhouses to gripping story updates and generous event rewards, Genshin Impact Version 5.7 brings plenty of reasons to chill and grind. Skirk is an incredibly unique DPS with layered mechanics that reward quick reflexes and strong team coordination, while Shenhe remains the quintessential Cryo support for anyone serious about Freeze comps.
Now for the real question: do you have enough Primogems for this stacked update? Make sure to top up your Genesis Crystals quickly and securely at Codashop for hassle-free gaming!
