New leaks about Genshin Impact's upcoming 4.5 update suggest a revolutionary change to the game's pulling system, potentially altering how players acquire certain characters and weapons. Currently, the game is in Version 4.4, which introduced Xianyun and Gaming as playable characters and unveiled the Chenyu Vale subregion in Liyue. This new area not only expands Liyue but also establishes a connection between Liyue and Fontaine, offering plenty of exploration opportunities and more than just a simple route between the two nations.
The current version also features the annual Lantern Rite Festival, featuring a limited yet significant story event that adds depth to Liyue's history. Additionally, players can enjoy various mini-games during the festival, with valuable rewards such as a free 4-star character. Despite this wealth of content, leaks hint at what may be coming in the next update, with recent ones suggesting a groundbreaking change to the gacha banners' pulling system in Genshin Impact.
Genshin Impact 4.5 May Introduce Region-Themed Banners
According to information shared by three well-known Genshin Impact leakers named UncleX, GenshinMeow, and MadCroiX, which was compiled and posted on Reddit, Version 4.5 might introduce a third type of banner focused on regional themes. This information was also corroborated by another leaker known as Mero in a post shared by a Reddit user. Instead of featuring a single character, this new banner may include multiple characters and weapons from a single region. Additionally, it's rumored to offer a choice mechanic similar to the Epitomized Path in the weapons banner in Genshin Impact.
While the post containing information from UncleX, GenshinMeow, and MadCroiX was labeled as "Questionable" on Reddit, the one featuring details from Mero was marked as "Reliable" on the platform.
How Genshin Impact 4.5’s Rumored Banner May Benefit The Game
The rumored addition of a third region-themed banner in the gacha system could potentially address a significant issue with the game's banners: long periods of absence for certain characters. With Genshin Impact's expanding playable roster, cycling between characters in limited-time banners becomes increasingly challenging, as evidenced by characters like Albedo. The 5-star Geo unit hasn't had a rerun since Version 3.1, nearly a year and a half ago. This potential feature mentioned in the Genshin Impact 4.5 leaks could offer a solution to this issue.
If a Mondstadt-themed banner were to be introduced, there's a chance that Albedo could be featured in that loot pool, even if this third banner ends up being limited and rotating. According to rumors, characters like Albedo would be mixed with several other Mondstadt characters and weapons in the banner, making the chances of pulling him relatively low but still existent, unlike the current situation. In Version 4.5, characters like Neuvillette are rumored to be part of banner reruns, even though they debuted less than a year ago.
The prioritization of certain characters can lead to less popular ones being put on hold for reruns for extended periods, especially as more characters are added with each update. The release of Chiori in Version 4.5 will introduce another Geo sub-DPS unit to the game, potentially affecting when characters of the same category, like Albedo, are featured in banners. The rumored third banner system could provide players with more frequent access to certain characters and weapons, even if they don't appear often in limited-time banners. This would allow HoYoverse to continue releasing new characters at the current pace without completely blocking the availability of certain characters for extended periods, while also easing the pressure from player demands for certain reruns.
Long absences of certain characters can also impact players who already have them, as obtaining additional copies is crucial for leveling Constellation levels, which unlock special abilities.
Rumored Banner In Genshin Impact 4.5 Comes With Some Problems
While the rumors of a third banner in Version 4.5 bring hope for the return of long-forgotten characters to the gacha system, there are potential issues to consider. One major concern is that all limited-time characters and weapons could be mixed into a single loot pool with minimal differences in pull rates. This means players may not have the usual 50/50 odds to obtain specific characters like Albedo, for example, as they would in his respective limited-time banner in Genshin Impact. This could make obtaining specific characters more challenging.
The supposed solution to this problem is the adoption of the Epitomized Path mechanic, which the rumored banner is said to be taking from the current weapons banner system. However, the Epitomized Path system has been criticized for its flaws. It offers both featured weapons in the same banner, allowing players to select which weapon they desire before pulling. If players fail to obtain their desired item after two 5-star pulls, they are guaranteed to pull it on the next attempt.
The issue arises with the hard pity in the weapons banner, which requires 80 pulls. If players have to reach hard pity for all 5-star pulls, they would need to do 240 pulls to obtain the desired weapon. This is an enormous number of pulls in the weapons banner. If the rumored third banner in Genshin Impact 4.5 adopts a similar system, players may end up spending a considerable amount of Primogems before obtaining the character or item they want.
While the availability of characters and weapons missing from limited-time banners is notable, if the leaks are accurate, the rerun system may be controversial, as players could face worse odds and higher expenses. It's essential to remember that leaks should be taken with a grain of salt, as the information may be incorrect or subject to change before its alleged release in Genshin Impact 4.5.
