Genshin Impact 6.2 drops December 3, 2025—Phase 1 (Dec 3–23) stars Durin (5★ Pyro Sword), Venti, and Jahoda. Phase 2 (Dec 23–Jan 13, 2026) brings Varesa and Xilonen. Then 6.3 hits January 21 with Columbina (5★ Hydro Catalyst) in Phase 1. For whales? Xilonen edges out as top pick, then Durin—save 28,800 Primogems for Columbina at C2. F2P folks get about 71 pulls in Phase 1 off 10,240 Primogems.
Diving into Genshin 6.2-6.3 Banners: Whale Edition
Phase 1 kicks off Dec 3–23 with Durin, Venti, Jahoda. Phase 2 rolls Dec 23–Jan 13: Varesa, Xilonen. 6.3 lands Jan 21 with Columbina and Illuga. Don't sleep on maintenance Dec 3 (08:30 UTC)—that's 300 free Primogems. Livestream Nov 21? Snag 900 more.
Events pile on 2,080 Primogems total: Soulblazers' Snowbound Journey (Dec 19–Jan 5, hands out a 4★ Bow), Bing-Bang Finchball (Dec 5–15), Heroic Clash (Dec 29–Jan 7).
Hit these quick:
Redeem those Nov 21 codes—900 Primogems, easy.
Pre-install Dec 1, claim the 300 maintenance gems.
Grind events daily. You'll hit Phase 1 soft pity (74 pulls) no sweat.
Banner Timeline at a Glance (Dec 2025-Feb 2026)
Natlan's roadmap crams in 11 characters early 2026. Oh, and 5.3 reruns Mavuika/Citlali Jan 1, plus Mualani/Kinich/Chevreuse.
Whales, why the fuss? Strategic planning's your lifeline. F2P squeezes 5,700 Primogems monthly—dailies 1,800, Abyss 1,200, events 900–1,260, exploration 1,800–2,700. Stack Welkin + BP? That's 8,700 over a 42-day Phase 1, netting 95–100 pulls. Solid.
Durin's Full Kit: The Breakdown
Durin's Binary Form Skill flips between modes. Press for White Flame—AoE Pyro DMG, lasts 30s. Normal Attack? Black Decay, three single-target Pyro hits, also 30s. Burst summons a dragon: White mode dishes three AoE blasts plus periodic AoE; Black goes three AoE with periodic single-target. After Burst, rack up 10 Primordial Fusion stacks (20s duration, +3% DMG/100 ATK per stack, caps at 75%).
A1 passive? White shreds 20% Pyro/other RES (jumps to 35% with 2+ Hexerei). Black amps Vaporize/Melt by 40% (+70% with Hexerei). Ascension stat: CRIT DMG +38.4%. Energy restore on entering states (once/6s). Hexerei amps Secret Rite to +75% on A1.
Pro tips:
Grind that Hexerei quest—unlocks +75% bonuses for Durin, Venti, Klee, Albedo, Mona, Sucrose, Fischl, Razor.
Rotation's simple: Skill to swap form → Burst → swap out. Dragon sticks around; it's self-battery.
Build heavy CRIT DMG. Durin slots in, bumping Xiangling/Bennett with RES shred and reactions.
Base Stats & Signature Weapon
Signature Athame Artis (Base ATK 608, CRIT Rate +33.1%): Boosts Burst CRIT DMG 16–32%; post-Burst ATK +20–40% for self/party (3s, +75% with Hexerei).
Where Durin Shines in Meta Teams
T0 for Melt/Vape single-target niche, off-field Pyro applicator. White handles Overload/Burning; Black owns Vaporize/Melt.
Constellation Breakdown
C1: 20 Cycle stacks—Purity +60% Durin ATK DMG/stack; Darkness +150% Burst Durin ATK/2 stacks.
C2: +50% Pyro/reaction DMG (6s).
C4: +40% Burst DMG, 30% no stack consume.
C6: Ignores 30% DEF (+30% shred White, +40% Black). Whales chase C1/C2; F2P thrives at C0.
Need a quick top-up to smash pity? Check Genshin Impact Genesis Crystals top up on BitTopup—killer prices, instant delivery, fully safe, all servers covered, and their support's top-notch.
Columbina: Speculated Kit from Leaks
Columbina, 5★ Hydro Catalyst, plays support/sub-DPS. Skill slaps Wet plus a “XX” entity (triggers extra Lunar DMG post-Lunar, scales on enemy HP/type). Burst? Field that pumps Lunar DMG—ties into Charge/Bloom/Crystallize. Lunar Charge/Bloom/Crystallize all in play; multi-instance Charged Attacks pop Lunar Bloom.
Synergies scream Lauma/Nefer (Verdant Dew caps at 6); Nod-Krai tailored. She outpaces Furina/Neuvillette. C0 Chasca? Pairs best with Columbina/Ineffa/Bennett.
Build smart:
Hoard Heart of Depth for Hydro app.
Core team: Columbina + Lauma/Ineffa/Bennett (6+ CAs, zero downtime).
Watch leaks—Hiisi Island/Nod-Krai drops post-6.0.
Playstyle Vibes
Moon and song themes. Powercreeps Neuvillette in Lunar-Bloom setups.
Natlan/Snezhnaya Ties
Neferuri C4 + Columbina recharges dew together—peak Dendro hyper.
Leak Cred
Sources line up post-6.2; Jan 21 Phase 1 with Illuga (4★ Geo Polearm). (Leaks can shift, but these hold water so far—editor's take.)
Head-to-Head: Durin vs. Columbina
Durin nails T0 niche Melt/Vape ST (Hexerei-reliant, off-field flex). Columbina? Lunar Bloom support/sub-DPS (team-locked, Furina-smasher).
Durin C0 shreds RES, edges Venti (ST reactions beat AoE CC). Columbina caps Dew at 6—needs Lunar chars, unlike Durin's Pyro squads. Pull order: Xilonen (T0 RES shred/heal/shield) > Durin > Varesa > Venti.
Durin fills Pyro/Hexerei holes; Columbina owns Lunar meta.
Whales: C2 Columbina trumps C1 Durin (530 pulls for C2R1 Durin).
Metric | Durin | Columbina
DPS Focus: ST Reactions (40-70% bonuses) | Lunar Bloom (multi-instance)
Utility: RES Shred + Dragon | Dew Cap 6 + Field Boost
Investment: C1/C2 Spike | C0 Team OP
Boost that Primo pool smart—grab buy Genshin Genesis Crystals cheap via BitTopup. Best rates, fast credits, locked-down security, wide coverage, support that delivers, sky-high user scores.
DPS & Utility Numbers
Durin levels up Bennett. Columbina? Powercreep for Nod-Krai.
Whale ROI on Investment
Skip weapons first; consts after roster fills. Durin C6? T0 hypercarry.
Meta Scores
Durin rules now; Columbina owns 6.3+.
Primogem & Pity Cruncher
Character pity: 90 hard (14,400 Primogems), soft at 74 (6.6% rate), nightmare 180 (28,800 with 50/50). 6.2 Phase 1 (42 days): F2P 10,240 = 71 wishes; Welkin ~95.
Breakdown: Archon/Story 680; dailies 2,520; events 2,080+; Abyss 1,200 (36-star); Imaginarium 1,000; Natlan exploration 1,000+; Anniversary 1,600–2,400. Paimon's Bargains: 10 IF + 10 AF monthly.
Day 1: Quests/Abyss for 1,880+.
Biweekly Abyss: 300–600; save under 70 pulls for Phase 2/6.3.
Eye 28,800 guarantee (3–4 months Welkin+BP).
6.2 Pull Plays
F2P: Xilonen/Varesa/Durin/Venti. Whales: 530–550 for C2 targets.
Saving for 6.3: Monthly Math
Light spender: 9,600/month. Dec–Feb covers C2 Columbina (90–180 pulls).
Pity Refresher Across Banners
Pity carries—pull at 70+.
Your Pull Decision Roadmap
Universal picks first (Xilonen) over niche (Durin). Whales: Durin if Hexerei/Pyro heavy; bank for Columbina. Risks? 50/50 losses, rogue 5★.
Tally pity (F2P ~71 Phase 1).
Hexerei deep? Durin C1/C2. Nah? Save.
Weapons last; Xilonen hybrid to Columbina.
Check Your Account (Pity, Stash)
Wish import via PC PowerShell/Android ADB.
Pull or Pass Flowchart
Pyro thirst? Durin. Lunar bets? Columbina.
Hybrid Plays
C1 Lauma/C0R1 Durin/C2 Columbina (550 pulls).
Pitfalls Whales Dodge
Skip low-prios like Chasca; don't overstack team-locks (Columbina Nod-Krai over Furina). Const-chasing pre-roster, 50/50 hell, Varka mystery.
Track 70+ pity; weapons only on guarantee.
C0 fresh runs, cons on reruns.
F2P: Xilonen/Varesa lead.
Soft Pity Blunders
Always pull 70+.
Rerun Blind Spots
Venti C2/C4/C6 if you're a fanboy.
C6 Traps
Durin C1 minimum—don't blow on low-value like Faruzan/Iansan C6.
Whale Sims & Case Studies
530–550 pulls: C2 Mualani/Varka/Durin/Lauma/Columbina (Welkin+BP+200 Genesis). Order: Alice+wp > Columbina+wp > Sandrone+wp > Varka. Sims show Durin C2R1 crushing.
Dec–Feb budget: Phase 1 Durin → Phase 2 Xilonen → 6.3 C2.
Tailor to account: Durin/Xilonen, bank Columbina.
Community Spends
C1 Lauma/C0R1 Durin/C2 Columbina—real wins.
Sim Tool Outputs
~530 pulls balances the gamble.
Team Synergies & Swaps
Durin: Melt/Vape (Durin + Hydro/Cryo + Bennett/Xiangling); Hexerei (Durin/Venti + Klee/Albedo). Columbina: Lunar Bloom (Columbina/Lauma/Ineffa/Flex); Chasca (Columbina/Ineffa/Bennett). Xilonen T0 Geo (shield/RES shred/heal); Varesa Electro DPS (Overload).
Durin off-fields Xiangling.
Skip Varesa, chase Columbina; Chasca flexes.
Durin Squads
White: Overload. Black: Vaporize.
Columbina Hypo Teams
Ditches Furina; Nefer dew 3→6.
Safe Skips
Varka/Nicole till we know more.
Essential Tools
Wish import for pity. Paimon's Bargains. Biweekly Abyss 33+ stars.
USB debug for ADB import.
Dailies + exploration daily.
Natlan chests/achievements (1,000+ Primogems).
FAQ
Is Durin worth pulling in Genshin 6.2?
Yes for Pyro/Hexerei gaps (T0 Melt/Vape C0); skip if saving Columbina.
When is Columbina banner in Genshin Impact?
Leaks: January 21, 2026 (6.3 Phase 1) post-6.2.
Should I save primogems for 6.3 banners?
Whales yes (28,800 for C2); F2P Xilonen first, hold <70 pulls.
Durin vs Columbina: which is better for whales?
Durin current niche; Columbina future Lunar (C2 > C1 Durin).
Genshin Impact banner schedule December 2025?
6.2 Phase 1 Dec 3–23 (Durin/Venti); Phase 2 Dec 23–Jan 13 (Varesa/Xilonen).
How many primogems to guarantee Durin C1?
28,800 worst-case (180 pulls with 50/50); track 74 soft pity.