Ganyu, the elegant half-qilin secretary of the Liyue Qixing, has long held her place as one of Genshin Impact’s premier Cryo DPS units. Since her debut in January 2021, she’s been a community favorite—not just for her graceful design and lore, but for her raw power and versatility on the battlefield. Now, as players cross the 500-day mark since her last rerun, the big question resurfaces: Is Ganyu still good in 2025?
The Long Wait—and a Promising Return
According to recent leaks and dataminer reports, Ganyu is finally expected to return on January 21, 2025, during the Lantern Rite festivities in Genshin Impact’s Version 5.3 update. This timing makes narrative and thematic sense, as Ganyu is a central figure in Liyue’s lore and has been tied to previous Lantern Rite events. If these reports are accurate, it will mark her first rerun since May 2023—nearly two years ago.
This extended absence has only fueled anticipation, especially among longtime players and newcomers who’ve heard legends of her capabilities but never had a chance to pull for her.
Meta Relevance: Is Ganyu Power-Creeped?
In today’s constantly evolving meta, the rise of characters like Neuvillette, Navia, and Arlecchino raises the bar for raw damage output. However, Ganyu remains shockingly relevant, and even after years, her kit holds up in both Spiral Abyss and overworld play.
- Her Charged Shot (Frostflake Arrow) still delivers some of the highest single-shot Cryo damage in the game when fully charged.
- Her Elemental Burst, Celestial Shower, continues to provide wide AoE Cryo application, making her a beast in freeze and melt teams.
- Her free positioning and long-range capabilities mean she’s safer to play than melee characters, especially against bosses.
In recent DPS tier lists from respected theorycrafters like KeqingMains and GenshinLab, Ganyu remains an A- to S-tier DPS, depending on team synergy and investment. While newer characters may outshine her in raw numbers or offer flashier kits, Ganyu’s consistency, ease of use, and team flexibility keep her in the upper ranks.
Team Comps: Who Works With Ganyu in 2025?
The Freeze and Melt comps that made Ganyu shine in earlier patches are still viable—and even more so now, with the introduction of newer supports:
- Ganyu + Shenhe + Kokomi + Kazuha – A premium Freeze team that melts content (pun intended).
- Ganyu + Bennett + Xiangling + Mona – A strong Melt team that spikes her DPS to the ceiling.
- Ganyu + Furina – If you’ve pulled Furina recently, her off-field Hydro application and support potential synergize beautifully with Ganyu’s Burst and AoE skills.
Additionally, her Cryo resonance with characters like Ayaka or Wriothesley opens new opportunities for crit rate bonuses and elemental resonance advantages.
Should You Still Pull for Ganyu?
If you’re a fan of charged-shot playstyles, long-range sniping, or powerful Cryo-based team comps, Ganyu remains one of the best investments in Genshin Impact. Her gear requirements (Wanderer’s Troupe or Blizzard Strayer sets) are accessible, and she functions exceptionally well even at C0—meaning you don’t need constellations to get top-tier performance.
Of course, newer characters offer fresh mechanics and exciting synergies. But Ganyu is the rare example of a four-year-old unit that hasn’t lost her edge. In fact, with powercreep flattening and elemental mastery changes favoring reactions, her Melt teams are thriving again.
Final Thoughts
While she’s been MIA from banners for an astonishingly long time, Ganyu hasn’t faded from the spotlight in terms of power or relevance. If her rerun in January 2025 comes to pass, it might be the perfect moment for old players to revisit her strengths—and new players to experience one of Genshin’s most iconic DPS units for the first time. Whether you’re planning for Freeze comps, Melt teams, or just want a graceful Cryo carry who gets the job done, Ganyu is still absolutely worth your Primogems.
Key Takeaways
- Ganyu’s next rerun is expected on January 21, 2025, during Version 5.3’s Lantern Rite celebration.
- Her previous banner rerun was available from May 2-23, 2023, alongside Baizhu’s banner.
- As a powerful Cryo bow user from Liyue, Ganyu remains one of Genshin Impact’s most valuable DPS characters.
Ganyu’s Role in Genshin Impact
Ganyu serves as a powerful Cryo bow user in Genshin Impact, functioning primarily as a sustained DPS character. As a half-qilin adeptus who has served the Liyue Qixing for thousands of years, her combat capabilities reflect her dedication and experience.
Skills and Abilities
Ganyu’s kit revolves around her exceptional Charged Attack mechanics. Her Frostflake Arrows are the cornerstone of her damage output, dealing significant Cryo damage in two stages – an initial hit followed by an area-of-effect Cryo bloom. This unique charged attack is what makes her stand out among bow users.
Her Elemental Skill, Trail of the Qilin, allows her to dash backward while deploying an ice lotus that taunts enemies and explodes for Cryo damage. This provides both defensive utility and crowd control.
Ganyu’s Elemental Burst, Celestial Shower, summons ice shards that fall continuously within a large area, dealing Cryo damage to opponents. This ability has impressive uptime and area coverage, making it excellent for applying consistent Cryo status.
Gameplay and Strategy
Ganyu excels in two primary combat styles: Melt and Freeze compositions. In Melt teams, she pairs with Pyro characters to trigger the powerful Melt reaction with her Charged Attacks, significantly boosting her damage output.
In Freeze compositions, Ganyu works alongside Hydro characters to keep enemies frozen, allowing for safe, uninterrupted damage dealing. This playstyle capitalizes on her range advantage, as she can attack from a safe distance while enemies remain immobilized.
Her gameplay requires proper positioning and charged shot timing. Players often utilize the “hold and strafe” technique while charging attacks to avoid incoming damage, making her a safe but skill-intensive character to play.
Ganyu’s flexibility in team compositions and consistent damage output have kept her relevant in the meta despite being one of the earlier 5-star characters released.
Latest Updates and Summons
Ganyu fans have exciting developments to look forward to in Genshin Impact as new banner information and special events have recently been announced. The beloved Cryo archer continues to be a highly sought-after character for both new and veteran players.
New Character Banners
Ganyu’s rerun banner is scheduled to appear in the next update cycle, starting April 7, 2025. This marks her fifth appearance since her initial release, giving players another chance to add the powerful DPS character to their roster.
According to reliable leaks, Ganyu will be featured alongside the new 4-star Cryo support character, Yinhe. Players can expect the usual 50/50 pity system to apply to this banner.
The weapon banner will feature Ganyu’s signature bow, Amos’ Bow, which significantly boosts her charged attack damage. Other rate-up 4-star weapons include:
- Sacrificial Bow
- The Bell
- Dragon’s Bane
- Favonius Codex
Special Events and Collaborations
A new story quest chapter for Ganyu titled “Qilin’s Path” will launch alongside her banner. This quest explores her ongoing duties as the secretary of the Liyue Qixing and her relationships with cloud retainer.
HoYoverse has announced a special login event called “Cocogoat’s Blessing” that rewards players with:
- 10 Intertwined Fates
- 120,000 Mora
- Ganyu-themed glider
- Special name card
Additionally, a collaboration with a popular anime series will feature Ganyu as the main promotional character. Limited-time merchandise including figurines, posters, and a special edition gaming peripheral set will be available for purchase starting March 30, 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Players often have specific questions about Ganyu’s abilities, availability, and optimal usage in Genshin Impact. These questions cover recent updates, future banner appearances, and strategies for maximizing her performance.
What enhancements were made to Ganyu in the latest patch release?
The latest patch (version 3.8) made minor adjustments to Ganyu’s charged attack mechanics. Her frost flake arrow damage calculation now includes a slight increase in the bloom damage multiplier from 392% to 400% at talent level 10.
This change helps Ganyu maintain competitive damage output against newer DPS characters. The update also fixed an occasional animation glitch with her Celestial Shower ultimate ability.
When is the Ganyu banner rerun scheduled for 2025?
Based on current information, Ganyu’s next banner rerun is expected in June 2025, during the Lantern Rite celebration. This follows HoYoverse’s pattern of featuring Liyue characters during this annual event.
The exact date hasn’t been officially confirmed, but leaks suggest it will be the second phase of version 5.6. Players should begin saving primogems about 2-3 months in advance to ensure they can reach pity.
What are the optimal build recommendations for Ganyu this season?
For Freeze teams, the 4-piece Blizzard Strayer remains Ganyu’s best artifact set. Players should aim for Cryo DMG bonus, ATK%, and CRIT DMG main stats with CRIT Rate and Energy Recharge substats.
For Melt compositions, 4-piece Wanderer’s Troupe or 4-piece Shimenawa’s Reminiscence provide the best damage output. The Amos’ Bow continues to be her signature weapon, though the craftable Prototype Crescent performs well for free-to-play users.
How does Ganyu perform in the current meta?
Ganyu remains a solid A-tier DPS character in the current meta despite being released over four years ago. She excels in both Freeze and Melt team compositions, offering versatility few characters can match.
Her charged attack playstyle presents a higher skill ceiling compared to newer characters. This makes her somewhat challenging to use optimally, as noted in community discussions.
Recent Dendro reactions haven’t significantly impacted her viability. She continues to perform exceptionally well in Spiral Abyss floors that favor ranged attackers.
What are the storyline developments involving Ganyu in the latest update?
The recent “Legends of Liyue” story quest featured Ganyu prominently as she helped investigate mysterious disturbances at Qingce Village. This quest revealed more about her experiences during the Archon War and her relationship with Cloud Retainer.
Players learned additional details about Ganyu’s half-qilin heritage and her centuries of service to the Geo Archon. The quest also hinted at a possible future story arc involving the adepti’s changing role in Liyue’s governance.
Which characters pair well with Ganyu in team compositions?
In Freeze teams, Ganyu works exceptionally well with Mona or Kokomi for Hydro application, Kazuha or Sucrose for Anemo support, and Diona or Layla for Cryo resonance and shielding.
For Melt compositions, Xiangling remains her best Pyro enabler, with Bennett providing ATK buffs and healing. Zhongli is highly recommended for his strong shield, which prevents interruptions during charged attacks.
The newest Hydro character Neuvillette has shown surprising synergy with Ganyu in Freeze teams. Their combined ranged charged attack playstyles create consistent freeze uptime against multiple enemies.
