Genshin Impact's 6th Anniversary: Which Free 5-Star Should You Choose From Each Selector?
Genshin Impact's sixth anniversary brings two free 5-star selectors instead of one — a standard pick from the Wanderlust Invocation banner and, for the first time, a limited pick from six previously banner-exclusive characters. Here's how to unlock both and which characters are worth choosing.
Genshin Impact's sixth anniversary landed on September 28, 2026, and Version 7.1, "A Rekviem for the Underworld," backs it up with the most generous free-character giveaway HoYoverse has ever run for the event: two separate 5-star selectors, one standard and one limited, both claimable through November 3, 2026. That is up to 14 characters to choose between, and unlike a banner pull, this pick is permanent the moment you confirm it.
If you only open the game once for the anniversary, make it count. Here is what each selector actually offers, how to unlock both of them, and how to think about the pick instead of just grabbing whichever name you recognize.
1. What's New for Genshin Impact's Sixth Anniversary
Version 7.1 went live on September 23, 2026, closing out the Nod-Krai storyline with the Archon Quest "A Rekviem for the Underworld" and adding two new playable 5-stars, Vesna and Vodyanitsa, to the standard rotation of new content. HoYoverse detailed the update during the Version 7.1 Special Program on September 12, then followed it five days after launch with the sixth-anniversary celebration on September 28 — six years to the day since Genshin Impact's original release.
For our full rundown of what shipped with the patch itself, including Vesna and Vodyanitsa's kits, see our breakdown of Version 7.1's new characters and anniversary rewards. This guide focuses specifically on the two free 5-star selectors and which characters are worth taking.
Official trailer
2. The Two Free 5-Star Selectors, Explained
Every anniversary since the game's fourth year has included a free standard 5-star selector, letting players pick one character from the permanent Wanderlust Invocation banner. Version 7.1 adds a second, brand-new selector on top of it: a free limited 5-star, chosen from a fixed pool of six characters who have all previously appeared on event banners. HoYoverse has framed this as a recurring sixth-anniversary-onward tradition, with the character pool changing each year.
Both selectors are separate rewards — claiming one does not use up the other — and both remain open until November 3, 2026. Take your time and compare your account's current roster before locking anything in, because neither choice can be changed once confirmed.
3. Choosing Your Standard 5-Star (Wanderlust Invocation Pool)
The standard selector pulls from the Wanderlust Invocation banner's permanent 5-star pool: Dehya, Diluc, Jean, Keqing, Mona, Qiqi, Tighnari, and Yumemizuki Mizuki. A few pointers for newer or returning players:
- Jean is the safest all-round pick if you don't already own her — an Anemo support who heals, buffs the whole party's attack, and slots into almost any team without needing extra investment.
- Diluc and Tighnari both work as straightforward on-field main DPS characters (Pyro claymore and Dendro bow, respectively) if your account is short on damage dealers.
- Mona and Qiqi are more niche — Mona's utility shines in Hydro-reaction teams, and Qiqi is a dedicated healer — so they're better picks if you already have your damage dealers covered and want to round out team options.
- Keqing and Dehya reward players who enjoy fast, on-field quick-swap or sub-DPS playstyles over hands-off support.
If you're unsure, the general rule is to take whichever of these you're missing that best fills a hole in your current teams — healer, shielder, or a second elemental damage type — rather than chasing whichever name is most talked about.
4. Choosing Your Limited 5-Star (Anniversary Selector Pool)
The limited selector's pool is Varesa, Clorinde, Chiori, Nilou, Baizhu, and Tartaglia (Childe) — six previously banner-exclusive characters now available for free, one-time, to every player who meets the unlock condition below.
- Varesa is the newest character in the pool and a strong Electro on-field damage dealer built around plunging attacks; if you don't already own her, most guides treat her as the pool's default pick since she's usable at base constellation without heavy investment.
- Clorinde is another Electro on-field carry, pairing well with Furina-style Hydro support teams for large burst damage windows.
- Tartaglia (Childe) remains one of the series' most requested reruns — a hybrid melee/ranged Hydro DPS who has been absent from banners for extended stretches, making this a rare no-cost way to add him.
- Nilou is a Hydro specialist built specifically around the Bloom reaction with Dendro characters; she's excellent in the right team but does little outside of a dedicated Bloom setup.
- Chiori is a Geo sub-DPS who buffs and converts damage for a driver character, useful if you're building around Geo or Itto-style teams.
- Baizhu is a Dendro healer and shielder, a solid pick if your account still lacks a reliable non-Cryo healer.
Because this selector only comes around once a year with a different lineup each time, it's worth picking the character you're least likely to pull naturally rather than the strongest character in a vacuum — a 5-star you'll never spend Primogems chasing anyway is effectively free value either way.
5. How to Unlock and Claim Both Selectors
The two selectors have different unlock requirements:
- Standard selector: Available immediately to any Adventure Rank-eligible account through the anniversary login event — no quest required.
- Limited selector: Unlocks only after you complete the Version 7.1 Archon Quest, "A Rekviem for the Underworld." Once finished, the pick becomes available through the in-game event menu under the anniversary celebration tab.
For both, open the in-game Events menu during the celebration window, select the 5-star of your choice, and confirm. Double-check your pick on the confirmation screen — HoYoverse does not offer a way to swap afterward. If you're mid-way through the Archon Quest and want the limited selector's full six-character pool available, finish the quest before the November 3 cutoff.
Not sure where you left off in the Nod-Krai story? our guide to Vesna's Patrol event and the current active redeem codes covers some of the side content running alongside the main quest this patch.
6. Other Sixth Anniversary Rewards
Beyond the two selectors, the anniversary celebration also hands out login and mail rewards, including Primogems and Intertwined Fates on top of what the two free 5-stars are worth in wishes. HoYoverse has also included an anniversary-themed glider as part of the celebration gifts. As with the selectors, these rewards are only available for a limited window tied to the anniversary event, so log in and check your in-game mail before it closes.
Quick Recap
- Two free 5-star selectors are live now through November 3, 2026: one standard (Wanderlust Invocation pool), one limited (six previously banner-exclusive characters).
- The standard selector needs no quest progress; the limited selector unlocks after finishing the Version 7.1 Archon Quest, "A Rekviem for the Underworld."
- Both picks are final once confirmed — compare your existing roster before choosing.
- Pick to fill a gap in your teams (a missing healer, element, or playstyle) rather than defaulting to whichever character is most popular.
Official Resources
Looking for more on what else launched this patch? Browse our full library of game walkthroughs and guides for everything else we've covered this season.