I have a confession: I have spent the last few weeks staring at Varka's drip marketing like a raccoon staring at a shiny fork. The Knight of Boreas is finally playable in Genshin Impact on February 25, 2026, alongside Version 6.4, and he arrives as a 5-Star Anemo Claymore user who dual-wields claymores. Two claymores. My wrists hurt just thinking about it, but my heart says yes.
Varka's drip marketing kicked off on January 23, 2026, and it revealed him as the first Genshin Impact character to dual-wield Claymores. His Constellation is Lupus Majoris, which sounds like a fancy wolf club I would absolutely join if snacks were provided. According to datamined information, he is a 5-Star Anemo hypercarry with an exclusive focus on Swirl. So yes, I am already preparing my best impression of a human wind tunnel.
The Kit: Swirl, But Make It Demanding
Here is where Varka stops being just a cool knight with two giant swords and starts being a team-building homework assignment. To make full use of his kit, Varka wants one Anemo teammate and two teammates of the same Pyro, Hydro, Electro, or Cryo element. He scales with ATK, so his best composition is generally two Anemo and two Pyro characters. The dream team floating around is Venti, Durin, and Bennett.
That makes sense to me. Venti brings Anemo and vibes, Durin brings off-field Pyro and probably emotional support, and Bennett brings healing, attack buffs, and the eternal curse of being useful everywhere. Durin, in particular, looked like one of Varka's finest supports on paper. He is an off-field Pyro character, and many players correctly assumed he would slot in beautifully. The catch is that even in Varka's best team, his damage numbers have left theorycrafters concerned.
As a Hexerei character, Varka also benefits from having other Hexerei members in his party. Since Version 6.2, the Hexerei system has given Mondstadt characters another chance to shine in the current meta, reinforced by newcomers like Durin and Varka. If I do not have Durin, I can apparently run Mona, Furina, and Jean instead. That team sounds less like a damage comp and more like a very expensive group therapy session, but I respect it.
| Varka quick facts | My highly scientific notes |
|---|---|
| Release | February 25, 2026, Version 6.4 first half |
| Rarity | 5-Star |
| Vision | Anemo |
| Weapon | Claymore, but make it double |
| Constellation | Lupus Majoris |
| Core playstyle | Swirl hypercarry |
| Ideal pals | Venti, Durin, Bennett |
| Backup pals | Mona, Furina, Jean |
| New boss material | Moongecko |
| Local specialty | Wolfhooks |
| Talent books | Mondstadt |
| Trounce material | Version 5.6 domain |
The Beta Mood: Cool Animations, Nervous Calculators
Beta testers have praised Varka's gameplay and animations, which is great news for people like me who enjoy pressing buttons and watching something explode in a swirl of color. The less great news is that his damage leaves a lot to be desired. Even in his best team, Varka reportedly struggles to match Lunar Reaction hypercarries such as Flins and Nefer. I am not a mathematician. I am a person who sees a big sword and claps. But even I can understand that being a Swirl hypercarry in a Lunar Reaction world is a bit like bringing a spatula to a sword fight.
Still, there are a few reasons not to panic. Varka has powerful Constellations and a Signature Weapon worth investing in, which makes him friendly to players who enjoy vertical investment. I enjoy vertical investment in the same way I enjoy eating an entire cake: enthusiastically, and with mild regret afterward. The bigger hope is that his best support has not been released yet. Both Nicole and Lohen are expected to be Hexerei characters, with Lohen seemingly delayed to Version 6.6. So Varka may be playing the long game, and I may be playing the long game of pretending I planned this all along.
Version 6.4 has also delayed Dornman Port, which means Varka will be the sole focus of the upcoming update. He gets a dedicated Story Quest, rumored to feature Thrain and Roland, two legendary knights from Teyvat's history. I am already preparing my best serious face for lore discussions, followed immediately by my best confused face when I forget who everyone is.
Lantern Rite, Columbina, and My Terrible Self-Control
Of course, I cannot ignore the current state of the game. Lantern Rite is officially underway, and players are enjoying a myriad of rewards, a new Permanent Event, and the promise of Zibai and Illuga around the corner. Columbina's Event Banner has been remarkably popular, and HoYoverse has made sure fans have ample opportunity to obtain the Moon Maiden of Nod-Krai. Columbina represents the crowning jewel of Lunar Reaction teams in Nod-Krai, while the Hexerei system has developed another playstyle in parallel.
This is a dangerous time for me. I keep telling myself I am saving Primogems for Varka, and then Lantern Rite hands me rewards and Columbina's banner starts whispering sweet nothings about Lunar Reactions. I am one free pull away from making a terrible financial decision and calling it destiny.
Should I Pull? My Very Serious Decision Matrix
Here is my personal pull plan, written with the confidence of someone who will absolutely change his mind after the Special Program.
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Pull if you like Varka's design, dual-wield claymores, and the idea of a Swirl hypercarry. 😎
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Pull if you already have Venti, Durin, and Bennett ready to form the ideal team. 🎯
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Pull if you enjoy vertical investment and do not mind waiting for future Hexerei supports. 💎
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Skip if you want immediate top-tier damage and already have Flins or Nefer doing Lunar Reaction things. 🧮
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Skip if your Primogems are currently hiding from you. Mine are. 🏃
We should get an official overview of Varka and Version 6.4 during the Special Program Announcement on February 13, 2026. Until then, I will be enjoying Lantern Rite, stocking up on Primogems, and pretending I am not going to watch the whole program with a notepad and a snack like a very serious journalist.
Version 6.4 Event Banners have been datamined to feature Skirk, Escoffier, Varka, and Flins, though the exact order is yet to be determined. Varka will be available in the first half, and I will be there, ready to dual-wield my hopes and my copium. Whether he is worth the pull is still up in the air, but as a normal player, I can say this much: he looks cool, he swings two claymores, and my wallet is already nervous. That is basically Genshin Impact in a nutshell.
As summarized by Game Developer, strong character launches are often shaped not just by raw numbers but by animation feel, combat readability, and how future support units expand a design over time, which fits the current discussion around Varka as a visually striking Anemo carry whose long-term value may depend on later Hexerei synergies and post-release balance context.