Genshin Impact 7.1 Anniversary Guide: Vesna & Vodyanitsa Banners, Selectors & Primogems

Genshin Impact Version 7.1 launches September 23, 2026 with the subtitle "A Rekviem for the Underworld" and the game's sixth anniversary celebration stacked on top. Phase 1 puts new Snezhnaya five-stars Vesna and Vodyanitsa on banner. Phase 2 brings Skirk and Escoffier reruns. Between the banners sit mail Primogems, a seven-day Fate login track, and two five-star selectors that reward players who actually finish the new Archon Quests.

This is the checklist guide: banner calendar, anniversary claim path, event priorities, and a Primogem plan that does not blow Phase 1 wishes you need for Phase 2.

When Does Genshin Impact 7.1 Launch?

September 23, 2026. Version title: A Rekviem for the Underworld. The patch is the sixth-anniversary vehicle for 2026, which is why rewards are heavier than a normal mid-version drip.

Expect the usual version-day pattern: maintenance first, then banners, mail, and event pages unlocking on staggered timers. Log in after maintenance, not during it, if you care about first-hour shop and mail claims.

Genshin 7.1 Banner Schedule: Phase 1 and Phase 2

Phase 1: September 23 to about October 13, 2026

Featured characters and weapons:

• Vesna: 5-star Anemo sword user
• Vodyanitsa: 5-star Hydro catalyst user
• Beyond the Chrysalis: Vesna's 5-star signature sword
• Hymn of the Maelstrom: Vodyanitsa's 5-star signature catalyst

Phase 1 is the new-character window. If you are pulling for Snezhnaya roster building, this is the spend block.

Phase 2: about October 13 to November 3, 2026

Reruns:

• Skirk
• Escoffier

Phase 2 is the "I saved for the rerun" window. Players who dump everything into Phase 1 signatures often regret it when the second half arrives. Decide your hard pity plan before you touch the Epitomized Path.

What Are the Genshin 6th Anniversary Rewards in 7.1?

Anniversary value is split across mail, login, and selectors. Headline package reported with the 7.1 benefits overview:

• Primogems ×1,600 (mail / anniversary gift path)
• Intertwined Fate ×10 (Rainbow's End login track over seven days)
• Standard 5-star character selector
• Limited 5-star character selector from a fixed six-character pool
• Genesis Crystal first top-up bonus reset called out in HoYoverse benefits messaging
• Additional materials through login and mail

Combined, 1,600 Primogems plus 10 Intertwined Fates is a 20-wish floor before you count Archon Quests, events, exploration, and the battle pass. That is enough to change a soft-pity plan if you claim everything on time.

Limited 5-star selector pool

Reported limited selector options:

• Tartaglia
• Baizhu
• Nilou
• Chiori
• Clorinde
• Varesa

Standard 5-star selector pool

Reported standard selector options:

• Jean
• Diluc
• Qiqi
• Mona
• Keqing
• Dehya
• Tighnari
• Yumemizuki Mizuki

Selector requirements that matter

• Standard selector: available after logging in following the 7.1 update.
• Limited selector: requires completing the Version 7.1 Archon Quests before November 3, 2026.

That second line is the trap. Players who skip story for banner spam can miss the limited selector deadline. Put Archon Quests on the must-finish list, not the "someday" list.

Anniversary Claim Checklist

Work this list in order on version day and the first week:

• Finish maintenance login and open in-game mail for Primogem / material gifts.
• Open the Rainbow's End login event and claim day 1. Return for seven cumulative days to secure all 10 Intertwined Fates.
• Claim the standard 5-star selector when the UI unlocks. Pick the character that fills a real team hole, not the meme pick.
• Start Chapter 7 Act 3 / Act 4 Archon Quests immediately if you want the limited selector.
• Hold some wishes until you clear early story impressions of Vesna and Vodyanitsa kits in the open world / trial stages.
• If you buy crystals, note the first top-up bonus reset window before you double-charge on impulse.

What Story and Events Arrive in Genshin 7.1?

Archon Quests

• Chapter 7 Act 3: "White Night, Like a Dream Upon Waking"
• Chapter 7 Act 4: "A Rekviem for the Underworld"

These are not optional flavor if you want the limited anniversary selector. They are also the narrative core of Snezhnaya's 7.1 beat.

Events to prioritize

• Silverwing in Pursuit of the Moon: Moonchase Festival event with a free 4-star sword
• Carefree Snowball Fight
• Predictive Victory Dynamics
• Overflowing Favor: double artifact rewards window
• Miliastra Wonderland anniversary showcase: minigames and outfits

Weapons and boss materials

Reported 7.1 weapon / boss additions:

• Silver Light: 4-star event sword
• New Bough: 4-star sword
• Winter's Heavy Heart: 4-star catalyst
• Breezeborne Refrain: 4-star bow
• Guardian Blade of Drifting Snow: new Snezhnaya field boss for character materials

Overflowing Favor weeks are when you burn fragile resin on the artifacts your Phase 1 pulls actually need. Do not waste the double window on random domains "for later."

Primogem Planning for Vesna, Vodyanitsa, and the Reruns

A clean plan for most accounts:

If you want one Phase 1 five-star

• Claim anniversary Fates + Primogems first.
• Pull Phase 1 until you secure the character.
• Stop before signature weapons unless that character is your main for the next two versions.
• Park remaining wishes for Skirk / Escoffier if they are roster gaps.

If you want both Vesna and Vodyanitsa

• You need a real stash. Anniversary 20-wish floor helps but does not replace months of saving.
• Skip both signatures.
• Use the limited selector to cover a support / flex hole instead of forcing a third limited pull.

If you are waiting for Phase 2

• Still log in for Rainbow's End and mail.
• Still finish Archon Quests for the limited selector before November 3.
• Do not "accidentally" spend soft pity on Phase 1 because a YouTube showcase looked cool at 1 a.m.

Signature weapon advice

Beyond the Chrysalis and Hymn of the Maelstrom are luxury pulls. Event 4-stars and existing craftable / battle-pass options usually keep a character playable while you save for the next limited unit.

Team Building Notes Without Overfitting Leaks

Play the character trials. Official kit pages and in-client demos beat timeline fluff.

Broad planning angles that match published elements:

• Vesna (Anemo sword): expect Anemo support / driver patterns that want strong on-field partners and swirl-friendly secondaries.
• Vodyanitsa (Hydro catalyst): expect Hydro application / catalyst catalyst-style play that pairs with freeze, bloom, or hypercarry enablers depending on final numbers.
• Skirk / Escoffier reruns: evaluate against your current Cryo / support bench before you panic-pull duplicates.

Use the free Moonchase sword and 7.1 craftables to bridge gear while you farm Guardian Blade of Drifting Snow materials.

Soft Marketplace Note for Account Collectors

Anniversary versions create a spike in "almost built" accounts and primo-stocked profiles. If you are shopping rather than pulling, verify login region, 5-star inventory screenshots, and whether the limited selector was already claimed.

First 72 Hours After 7.1 Drops

Day 1

• Claim mail + login day 1
• Pull only if your Phase plan is written down
• Start Archon Quest Act 3

Day 2

• Continue story, unlock field boss materials, clear early event stages for the free sword track

Day 3

• Spend Overflowing Favor resin if the event is live
• Finalize selector picks
• Reassess Phase 1 vs Phase 2 after real kit time

Mistakes That Waste Anniversary Value

• Ignoring Archon Quests and missing the limited selector deadline on November 3
• Buying both signatures on Phase 1, then having zero wishes for the rerun you actually wanted
• Letting Rainbow's End lapse because you "will log in tomorrow" for seven days straight
• Using the standard selector on a character you already C6'd on an alt account brain fog
• Spending the double artifact event on domains your new characters do not use

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Genshin Impact 7.1 release?

September 23, 2026. The version title is A Rekviem for the Underworld, and it carries the sixth-anniversary reward package.

Who is on the Genshin 7.1 Phase 1 banners?

Vesna (5-star Anemo sword) and Vodyanitsa (5-star Hydro catalyst), plus their signatures Beyond the Chrysalis and Hymn of the Maelstrom. Phase 1 runs from September 23 to about October 13, 2026.

Who is on Genshin 7.1 Phase 2?

Reruns of Skirk and Escoffier, currently scheduled from about October 13 through November 3, 2026.

What are the Genshin 6th anniversary rewards in 7.1?

Reported package includes 1,600 Primogems, 10 Intertwined Fates via Rainbow's End, a standard 5-star selector, a limited 5-star selector from six characters, a Genesis Crystal first top-up bonus reset, and additional login / mail materials.

How do I unlock the limited 5-star selector?

Complete the Version 7.1 Archon Quests and claim before November 3, 2026. The standard selector unlocks from post-update login without that story gate.

Which characters are in the limited anniversary selector?

Tartaglia, Baizhu, Nilou, Chiori, Clorinde, and Varesa, per 7.1 guide reporting aligned with anniversary messaging.

Should I pull Vesna or wait for Skirk?

Pull Vesna if your account needs the new Anemo kit and you accept spending Phase 1 pity. Wait if Skirk or Escoffier is the actual roster hole and your wish count cannot cover both phases. Claim anniversary currency first either way so the math is honest.