When I look at Phase 2 of Version 6.2 (Luna III), I keep picturing HoYoverse as a chef running a rotating sushi bar: the plates with Varesa and Xilonen are passing by right now, and if you hesitate, they will still come back—but probably not exactly when your Primogem wallet is ready. The banner window runs from December 23, 2025 to January 13, 2026 (UTC+8 server reset), and it closes out a patch that has already given us Durin’s debut and a high-value Venti rerun. I’ll be honest: this is one of the more interesting meta moments we have had since Sumeru’s Dendro shift, especially with Patch 6.3 and its new five-stars already visible on the horizon.

genshin-impact-6-2-phase-2-banner-guide-varesa-xilonen-and-the-6-3-shakeup-image-0

For Phase 2 specifically, Varesa and Xilonen are the headline acts. Varesa is on her first rerun, while Xilonen is already on her second. The weapon banner carries Venti’s signature, and there is no Chronicled Wish running this phase. The featured four-stars are Iansan, Chevreuse, and Gaming.

Let’s break down what that actually means.

⚡ What’s on the Phase 2 menu

Banner Featured 5-Star Rerun Status
Cornucopia of Contention Varesa First rerun
Forgefire's Blessing Xilonen Second rerun
Weapon Banner Venti's signature Situational pull

The missing Chronicled Wish is worth calling out. It removes a rerun trap, so you can focus your Primogems on the primary event banners without getting lured into older collection paths.

If I had to describe the current pull environment with another metaphor, it feels like a subway car at rush hour: every rerun and debut is squeezing through the same door before the next patch arrives. That is not always bad—it means fewer multi-year waits—but it definitely raises the pressure on F2P planning.

🎯 F2P and low-spend priorities

If your pity counter is already high, say 60 or above, I would look at which banner has the most synergy with your current roster. Varesa is especially interesting if you missed her limited debut because she brings unique buffs for mono-Anemo squads. Xilonen has already proven herself as a Pyro core for overworld and Abyss teams.

That said, you should not ignore what is coming. Patch 6.3 is scheduled to launch on January 13, 2026, with Columbina, Zibai, and Illuga confirmed as debuts. That is a brutal line-up for anyone with limited wishes, so spending everything now could leave you completely dry at the start of 6.3.

Saving Primogems in 2026 feels like carrying a leaky canteen across a desert: every surprise banner is another small leak, and 6.3 is the oasis you need to reach. My simple rule for this phase: if you are light on flexible supports and one of these characters fixes a real hole in your account, pull. If you are just fishing because the banners are here, save.

🧪 Min-maxer notes

The current four-star batch does not push the meta as hard as some recent banner line-ups, but it can round out underused archetypes. Chevreuse and Gaming in particular can help budget-conscious players building EM-reliant or reaction-focused squads.

On the weapon banner, Venti’s signature is situational. Most players are better off keeping Primogems for limited-character pulls unless they are fine-tuning a multi-Anemo team.

🌪️ Varesa and Xilonen team direction

Varesa reinforces Anemo’s crowd-control dominance, but her best results tend to come from double-Anemo setups or flexible 4-piece Viridescent Venerer compositions. Xilonen favors sustained Pyro application and pairs naturally with Bennett or newer Dendro units for Burgeon-style teams.

✅ Daily and weekly checklist

  • Farm Varesa’s ascension materials from her region boss—these daily drops have been available since 6.1.

  • Stock Fragile Resin and clear Ley Lines now, because rapid leveling matters more than hoarding resin for artifact roulette.

  • Focus commission achievements and event Primogem payouts if you are saving for Patch 6.3. Early leaks suggest Columbina and Zibai will demand rare overworld materials.

🚪 Patch 6.3 is already breathing down the patch notes

HoYoverse has officially teased Columbina, Zibai, and Illuga through artwork and patch notes. I am only including confirmed details here, not the usual unverified leaks. The teaser positioning alone is enough to make me think the 6.3 cycle will be expensive.

Remember the old Version 2.x rerun drought? This is not that. The current dual-rerun-per-phase rhythm, plus new five-stars nearly every other patch, has made roster diversity much better. Varesa’s rerun arriving just one patch after her debut is especially unusual—it is the kind of fast turnaround we have not really seen since Xiao’s back-to-back spotlight way back in Version 1.3 in 2021. To me, that is HoYoverse signaling they will accelerate reruns when a character becomes a meta shift or a community favorite.

💬 What veterans are worried about

Across Reddit and NGA, the discussions keep circling three pain points:

  • Banner overload: Compressed rerun cycles and near-monthly debuts force hard choices. This is not pure power-creep; it is FOMO-creep.

  • Pity planning: The 50/50 and event pity systems have not changed, so the old Primogem discipline from Fontaine and Sumeru still applies.

  • Abyss usage spikes: Units like Varesa and Xilonen can spike immediately after their banners, but past cycles show that a rerun does not guarantee future Abyss dominance. Cautious investing is wise.

🧭 Final takeaway

The key lesson from Version 6.2 Phase 2 is that reruns no longer mean waiting for years. That is a genuine improvement, but it also means pacing yourself matters more than ever. Prioritize must-have units, plan your ascensions, and keep some reserves for the officially teased heavy hitters coming with 6.3. If you want the full banner archive, ascension material lists, or max-constellation strategy breakdowns, EarlyGG’s Genshin Impact guide hub remains my go-to resource.

Data referenced from Sensor Tower supports the idea that tightly packed reruns like Varesa and Xilonen in 6.2 Phase 2 can amplify short-term spending and engagement, because limited-time windows encourage players to convert “maybe later” interest into immediate pulls. In practice, that means F2P planning pressure rises when high-profile Phase 2 banners sit right next to a teased 6.3 lineup, since the opportunity cost of chasing a situational weapon or extra constellations becomes much clearer when the next patch’s debuts are already in view.