Hey gamers! It's 2025, and I'm back with another deep dive into the eternal struggle that is Genshin Impact's banner choices. Right now, the Phase 1 banners of Version 4.7 are live, and the spotlight is on two powerhouse 5-star DPS characters: the brand-new Electro duelist, Clorinde, and the returning Dendro scholar, Alhaitham. They're both available from June 4th to June 25th, and let's be real, our Primogems are crying. Choosing between them is TOUGH. So, let's break them down together from a player's perspective!
First up, let's talk about Clorinde. She's the shiny new toy in town, finally playable after her NPC debut. As an Electro main DPS, her entire kit revolves around a high-risk, high-reward mechanic called Bond of Life. Sounds cool, right? But what does it actually mean for your gameplay?
Clorinde: The High-Stakes Duelist
When Clorinde uses her Elemental Skill, she enters the 'Night Vigil' state. Here's the catch: she can't receive any healing from your team's healers! 😱 All her healing has to come from herself, tied to managing her Bond of Life. It's a unique, adrenaline-pumping playstyle.
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How her Skill works: Her Normal Attacks become 'Swift Hunt' (Electro shots), and her Skill becomes 'Impale the Night' (a lunging attack).
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The Bond of Life Dance: The effects of these attacks change dramatically based on how much Bond of Life she has.
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Bond of Life < 100%: Swift Hunt grants her more Bond of Life. Impale the Night heals her and gets a damage/AoE boost.
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Bond of Life ≥ 100%: Her Skill transforms into Impale the Night: Pact, which massively increases the healing and damage!
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Her Elemental Burst is a big AoE nuke that also gives her Bond of Life, perfectly setting up her powerful Skill rotations. It's a beautifully synergistic kit, but you need to master the rhythm. One huge QoL perk? She shows Fontaine resources on your mini-map! A lifesaver for farming.
Clorinde's Pros & Cons at a Glance:
| Pros 👍 | Cons 👎 |
|---|---|
| High Damage Potential | Risky Playstyle (No external healing) |
| Easy to Build (Standard Electro DPS artifacts/weapons work) | Rotation can feel clunky until mastered |
| Great Electro Application for reactions | Faces competition from other top Electro DPS like Raiden Shogun |
| Fantastic Fontaine Exploration Passive |
So, is Clorinde for you? If you love mastering complex, high-skill rotations and want a flashy new Electro queen, she's your pick. But if you prefer a safer, more straightforward playstyle, maybe look elsewhere.
Alhaitham: The Unrivaled Dendro Architect
Now, let's switch elements. Alhaitham isn't new, but his reputation as the best Dendro main DPS in the game is rock solid. His damage is insane, and his Dendro application is simply top-tier, making elemental reactions like Hyperbloom and Aggravate an absolute breeze.
His core mechanic is all about Chisel-Light Mirrors. You create them mainly with his Elemental Skill, and they do two amazing things:
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Infuse his Normal Attacks with Dendro. This lets him apply the element crazy fast.
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Trigger 'Projection Attacks' when he hits enemies. More mirrors = stronger projections = BIGGER NUMBERS! 💥
His Elemental Burst is the grand finale. It's a massive nuke that deals damage based on how many mirrors he has. Even better, if you're low on mirrors, using his Burst creates more, making it perfect for refreshing your rotation.
Alhaitham's Pros & Cons at a Glance:
| Pros 👍 | Cons 👎 |
|---|---|
| Best-in-Class Dendro DPS & Application | Complex Rotations to master for max damage |
| Enables Powerful Reactions (Hyperbloom, Aggravate) | Very Interruption-Prone (Needs a shielder!) |
| Flexible & Powerful Burst | |
| Relatively Easy to Build |
Alhaitham's rotations can be tricky. You need to manage mirror generation and consumption while weaving in your supports. And remember, he's a scholar, not a tank—you'll want a strong shielder like Zhongli to keep him from getting knocked around.
The Final Verdict: Who Wins Your Primogems?
So, Clorinde or Alhaitham? Here's my take as a long-time player:
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Pull for Alhaitham if: Your account lacks a top-tier Dendro main DPS. He's essentially in a league of his own for that role. You want to unlock the full potential of Dendro reaction teams and don't mind learning his rotations. You have a good shielder ready for him.
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Pull for Clorinde if: You already have a solid Dendro core and want a powerful, stylish Electro DPS. You enjoy mastering unique, high-skill-cap mechanics. You're actively exploring and farming in Fontaine.
Think about it this way: Alhaitham offers a unique element (top Dendro DPS), while Clorinde enters a more crowded field (Electro DPS). Both are fantastic investments if built well. Ultimately, go with the character whose playstyle speaks to you more!
Remember, their banners are only here until June 25th! After that, Phase 2 with Sigewinne and Furina begins. Good luck with your pulls, and may your 50/50s be ever in your favor! 🍀
