Genshin Impact May Break Tradition With Skirk’s Debut

Recent datamining suggests that Genshin Impact might be breaking one of its long-standing patterns with the introduction of Skirk. Traditionally, 5-Star characters in the game have been showcased in trial domains with accessible 4-Star teammates—allowing players to test them with easily obtainable characters. However, Skirk’s upcoming trial in Version 5.7 reportedly includes Escoffier, a limited 5-Star character from the previous patch (5.6). If true, this marks the first time a limited 5-Star has been included in another 5-Star’s trial team.

This unspoken rule in Genshin Impact—highlighting a new 5-Star through synergy with 4-Stars—has generally been seen as a way to let players evaluate a character’s potential without needing a heavy investment. For instance, Hu Tao’s trial has always featured Xingqiu rather than her ideal teammate Yelan, despite Yelan offering stronger synergy. The assumption is that 5-Stars should stand on their own, given how many Intertwined Fates are required to secure one. Meanwhile, 4-Stars, being more common, have always been the preferred supporting cast in trials.

According to leaks from Seele Leaks, the beta version of 5.7 shows the full trial rosters for Skirk and Dahlia. Dahlia’s team appears standard, but Skirk’s includes Escoffier, alongside Xingqiu and Barbara. This pairing makes sense mechanically: Escoffier is a powerful support for Freeze-based teams, and Skirk’s kit reportedly revolves around Freeze reactions. Together, they offer a synergistic showcase—but this also implies that Skirk is a high-investment character, dependent on another limited 5-Star to perform at her best.

Trial Characters in Version 5.7:

• Skirk (5-Star Cryo Sword): Skirk, Escoffier, Xingqiu, Barbara
• Dahlia (4-Star Hydro Sword): Dahlia, Freminet, Chongyun, Sucrose

While this gives players a clear idea of Skirk’s full potential, it also introduces concerns. Some fans fear that this might become the norm—where future 5-Star characters are designed around synergies with other limited 5-Stars, pushing players toward more expensive team setups. HoYoverse has already taken this direction in other games like Honkai: Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero, so it’s not out of the question for Genshin Impact to follow suit. Despite its relatively controlled power creep, Genshin has seen a steady rise in expectations for top-tier units like Neuvillette, Arlecchino, and Mavuika.

As the game evolves, players may see more characters with niche roles or synergy-dependent kits. Unexplored reactions like Superconduct could eventually rise in popularity, similar to how Chevreuse revitalized the Overload reaction. Whether Skirk signals a one-time exception or the beginning of a new trend will likely become clearer when Version 5.7 launches on June 18, 2025.

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---Silviya.Y