A recent leak within the Genshin Impact community has given fans a peek at two much-anticipated 5-Star characters, Effie and Skirk. While Version 5.5 is shaping up to be thrilling, many are eagerly anticipating the second half of Natlan as Skirk’s debut in the spotlight. Known as Tartaglia’s mentor and having trained under Surtalogi, Skirk seems poised to unravel some of the deepest secrets of Khaenri’ah and the Abyss for the Traveler and Paimon.
Skirk is expected to grace the game as a Cryo Sword user, with hints suggesting she’ll be playable by late spring 2025. Effie, on the other hand, remains quite the enigma. Rumor has it she’s a chef hailing from Fontaine, but her element and weapon type are still up in the air. Dataminers hint at a potential release for Effie in Version 5.6, which might also coincide with Skirk’s introduction.
Seele, a well-known figure in the Genshin community, speculates that Effie, possibly also known as Akkefi, bears a striking resemblance to Pecorine, sporting blonde hair and white stockings. Her Elemental Vision might be Pyro or Cryo. Seele even suggests she’d excel alongside Skirk and Furina, possibly due to her group healing abilities and synergy with Freeze teams.
The comeback of Freeze in the current meta might just rekindle interest in characters like Ayaka and Shenhe, who have somewhat slipped into the shadows since Dendro’s rise in Sumeru. However, a new pattern seems to be emerging with Natlan’s launch. Characters are not only crafted to complement each other but are also released simultaneously. If what Seele says holds true, Effie and Skirk will follow the same path as Mavuika and Citlali.
Building a Genshin Impact team can be a costly endeavor, especially on short notice. If Skirk does make her appearance in Version 5.6, HoYoverse seems to be banking on fans spending their in-game currency on new characters right away, instead of waiting for their reruns. This move, while profitable, might stir some frustration among the player base.
The Natlan era has certainly not shied away from transformative changes. From expanding the exploration of Teyvat to tweaking the gacha mechanics and even introducing new gameplay activities in Version 5.3, bold strides have been taken. Players won’t have to wait much longer to learn more about Effie and Skirk, with more details set to emerge following the Version 5.5 release on March 26, 2025.
