When the Version 6.5 second-half banner details landed in late April 2026, the Genshin Impact community reacted like a navigator studying a tide chart while the first snow clouds gathered on the horizon. Nefer and Lauma were confirmed as the featured 5-star Dendro catalysts, returning for their first reruns with a combined pull that felt like a greenhouse at the edge of a Snezhnayan frost. For a veteran Traveler named Mira, the reveal was not merely a banner announcement; it was a test of whether her Primogem reserve could survive until the coming Snezhnaya expansion.

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The phase ran from April 24 to May 20, 2026, UTC+8. Its structure was not a random assortment but a carefully braided rope: each strand supported a different Dendro-core team. Nefer and Lauma both commanded Dendro catalysts, while Jahoda brought Anemo Bow utility, Xingqiu supplied Hydro application, and Kirara offered shields with Dendro resonance.

Rarity Character Element / Weapon Pull Value Note
5-star Nefer Dendro / Catalyst Off-field Dendro engine and teamwide buffs
5-star Lauma Dendro / Catalyst On-field Dendro damage and flexible slot
4-star Jahoda Anemo / Bow Free event copy; possible sleeper support
4-star Xingqiu Hydro / Sword Proven Hydro enabler for many meta squads
4-star Kirara Dendro / Sword Shield and mobility for Dendro teams

The Fontaine Chronicled Banner added another layer to Mira's decision. It curated Lyney, Navia, Clorinde, Sigewinne, and Emilie, but Wriothesley was missing. His absence read like a missing note in an overture, hinting at a future Snezhnaya rerun rather than an oversight. The flagship event sweetened the second half further by offering one free copy of Jahoda, the first confirmed Jahoda giveaway, with Primogems and a one-time character claim available until 2026-05-20 UTC+8.

Character Value Breakdown

Nefer remained the go-to choice for off-field Dendro application and teamwide buffs, a steady current beneath every Lunar-Bloom rotation. Lauma offered a different flavor of on-field Dendro damage and could slide cleanly beside Nefer in established compositions. Xingqiu's rerun was nearly always welcome; for new players, he could anchor National, Hyperbloom, and Taser teams. Kirara provided the rare combination of shielding and traversal that made Dendro squads safer in Spiral Abyss and Imaginarium Theater. Jahoda's support value was still developing, but early math from NGA and KQM testers suggested she could be a sleeper pick with the right artifacts and constellations, with C2 delivering a substantial Lunar-Bloom buff.

Pull Recommendations

  • 🌱 F2P / Low-Spenders: Pull only if Nefer or Lauma is missing, or if the account lacks a strong Dendro core engine. A settled roster should save for Snezhnaya.

  • 🎨 Collectors: This is the best window until at least 2027 for both catalysts, given the proven 10 to 14 month rerun pattern for debut region characters.

  • 🏆 Meta Chasers: Be cautious. If Stellar Reactions supplant Dendro as the top meta after 6.7, long-term value may be limited.

Team Ideas and Artifacts

Several post-patch team shells emerged:

  • Nefer / Layla / Xingqiu / Fischl: a community-circulated rotation built on off-field cycling and low interruption.

  • Lauma / Tighnari / Kirara / Flex: an on-field Dendro core with shielding and fast swap potential.

  • Budget Lunar-Bloom: free Jahoda can stand in for Sucrose or Faruzan as Anemo support in Hyperbloom or Burgeon lines.

For these teams, Energy Recharge and Elemental Mastery were the twin currencies of survival. Early analysis pointed to Deepwood Memories as the ideal set for both Nefer and Lauma, with main stats often listed as EM/EM/CR or EM/EM/EM.

The Road to Snezhnaya

Mira knew that Version 6.6 would shift focus to Hexerei units, and 6.7 would mark the end of Nod-Krai. The banner before her was a dendro-laced weather vane spinning before a Snezhnayan storm. Some community members called it the last hurrah for Dendro fans; others were simply relieved that Nefer and Lauma had clear rerun cycles after the Fontaine overlap caused many players to miss them. Endgame modes such as Stygian Onslaught might soon favor new Stellar Reactions, leaving Dendro-centric teams with less future banner support.

In gacha, patience is a weapon as sharp as any five-star. For Dendro specialists and collectors, this window was rich with purpose. For everyone else, the sharpest move might be to let the Snezhnaya horizon arrive with Primogems still intact.