Genshin 5.8 pulling advice: who is the must-pull in phase 1?

Hello, travelers! Genshin version 5.8 officially launched on July 30. The phase 1 includes two 5-star characters, Ineffa and Citlali and three 4-star characters. Players have access to a brand-new banner, packed with powerful characters and weapons.

Which character is better to pull? Are these characters’ weapons worth to collect? Today, LDShop will bring you some pulling advice from the phase 1 banners.

Five-star Characters

Ineffa

Overview:

• A newly released 5-star Electro polearm user available through the Astral Actuation event wish.
• Her role as an off-field Electro Sub-DPS and support makes her a strong asset to various main carries.  
• Currently, she has the highest baseline damage potential in this patch.
• Even a minimally built Ineffa can deliver over 50,000 DPS.
• Ineffa introduces a new reaction---Lunar-Charged, a boosted version of Electro-Charged effect.

Pulling advice:

Ineffa’s Lunar-Charged reaction can exceed 40,000 raw damage when paired with teammates who shred enemy resistance. The reaction itself must be triggered by an Electro or Hydro source, so the best line-up pairs Ineffa with Varesa, Neuvillette, Xianyun and an Electro or Hydro main DPS. 
For Electro mains, two stand-outs emerge:
Varesa – Her rapid, high-frequency plunges deliver steady DPS, while her short-cooldown Burst adds reliable front-loaded damage.
Clorinde – Lower mobility makes her interruption-prone; Ineffa’s 13 k-shield (boosted by high-ATK weapons) is therefore essential to keep Clorinde stable during her 9-second burst window. Replace Xianyun with Xilonen or Sucrose for resistance reduction—Xilonen is preferred for the extra healing and support.
With Xilonen’s universal RES shred and Neuvillette’s off-field Hydro application, the team achieves strong single-target and AoE output. Neuvillette outperforms other Hydro units at low investment, while Kazuha brings more value against high-pressure foes like Secret Source Automation.
Lastly, Raiden Shogun and Cyno are also viable. Cyno in particular syncs well with Ineffa, as her 20-second skill duration aligns perfectly with his long rotation. 

Weapons:

• Consider pulling Radiant Spark if Ineffa is your main DPS or you want a strong all-purpose polearm with high ATK.
• If you have limited Primogems resources, it is wiser to invest in character banners, as Ineffa can perform well using various 4-star weapons.

In general, a single pull C0S0 is recommended for most beginner players. Fans of Genshin with well-developed rosters have greater flexibility in deciding how much to invest based on their own preferences.

 

Citlali

Overview:

• A 5-star Cryo Catalyst support who excels at shielding and benefits greatly from scaling with Elemental mastery.
• Known as “Granny” among the Masters of the Night-Wind.
• Her main strengths lie in her consistent Cryo application from afar and her ability to generate protective shields.
• Citlali’s Elemental Burst delivers a strong Melt reaction that can freeze enemies in place.
• This greatly enhances the performance of certain single-target burst Pyro characters, like Mavuika and the Fate Servant.

Pulling advice:

Citlali is a best companion for Mavuika. Without her, Mavuika’s ceiling drops sharply; with her, the pair rivals the impact of Xilonen. Citlali’s potent Cryo application, sturdy shielding, and off-field support unlock Mavuika’s full potential in Melt compositions that also welcome Hu Tao or Xiangling. Against mechanical bosses, her reliable Cryo and protection shine even further. While Citlali can team with Sucrose for a workable—if sub-optimal—setup, she should otherwise be slotted only alongside Mavuika; forcing her into other rosters rarely pays off.

Weapons:

• If you have Citlali and plan to pull Ineffa, pulling 5-start weapons is worthwhile.
• Among 4-star options, the two Zephyr’s weapons stand out for their versatility, especially the Zephyr Bow, which is useful for most bow users. Expert players should have them all.

In general, if you have Mavuika and Arlecchino, you should consider pulling Citlali. For other characters, it's best to decide based on your personal situation and preferences.

 

Four-star Characters

Xingqiu

Overview:

• It's been 250 days since Xingqiu’s last appearance in Patch 5.1.
• He has remained a four-star “War God” for nearly five years and continues to be highly valuable in the current meta.
• Knowing for his incredibly versatility, he serves as a sub-DPS with defensive utility, offering minor healing and more, earning him the nickname "6-Star War God" among many players.
• With all his constellations unlocked, the difference between a C0 and C6 Xingqiu is substantial.

Pulling advice:

• Expert players are expected to have fully unlocked his constellations.
• He remains highly valuable through both early and late game stages, making him a priority to level up if you pull him.

 

Fischl

Overview:

• Nicknamed “Little Amy” or “the Princess”, she has been available for 208 days.
• She's a four-star “War Archon” since the game’s launch and remains highly effective.
• Her C6 is essential, extending duration by two seconds and boosting synergistic damage, which enhances her value as a sub-DPS by increasing damage and mining frequency.
• The Princess' team compos pairs well with Overload, Intensify, and the upcoming Lunar-Charged reactions.

Pulling advice:

• For new players, she is almost a must-training character.
• For expert players, it is suggested to unlock at least 3 constellations, with 6 constellations being the optimal choice for maximizing her potential.

 

 

Sethos

Overview:

• He has been on the scene for 250 days.
• There are two main playstyles: one focuses on using his ultimate followed by basic attacks to deal piercing damage, while the other centres on charging his weapon for enhanced effects.
• Each charged shot consumes 20 energy and has a relatively high damage multiplier.

Pulling advice:

• For beginners, a 3-star slingshot weapon is recommended, which is better than most 4-star weapons because it doesn't rely much on attack damage.
• For artifacts, go with a 4-piece Thundering Fury set, as the character’s damage is treated as heavy (amplified) damage.
• Constellation upgrades rely on a charge-attack-focused build. At higher constellations, prioritize charged attacks; at lower constellations, a basic attack build is more effective.
• If teamed with Ineffa, unlocking the C4 is recommended, as it grants 80 Elemental Mastery to the entire team, boosting shock damage for about a month.
• A strong team compo includes Sethos, Xingqiu, Sucrose, and Ineffa.
• Sethos has taken the place of the original “Princess” in this lineup, but he requires frequent normal attack. At C6, both characters are nearly equivalent in strength.

 

Conclusion

Version 5.8 phase 1 presents a compelling banner lineup with Ineffa and Citlali—two uniquely built 5-star support characters that shine in reaction-heavy teams.

If you're looking to boost your elemental synergy, this banner is a solid choice to invest in. That said, if your current lineup already covers your support needs or you are saving up for potential game-changers in Version 6.0, it might be wise to holding off.

That wraps up our pulling advice to the Genshin Impact’s 5.8 banner. We hope it helps players make informed choices. For more updates and in-depth guides, stay tuned to LDShop’s website, where we'll share the latest and most comprehensive content daily.