As a long-time Genshin Impact player, I was buzzing with excitement when Dahlia, the new 4-Star Hydro character for Version 5.7, was announced earlier this year. 😊 HoYoverse always hypes up their updates, and after Skirk's reveal, I thought Dahlia would add a fresh twist to my teams. But diving into the beta tests? Wow, it's been rough. I jumped in expecting a fun support character, only to find myself scratching my head at how underwhelming he feels. His Elemental Burst costs a whopping 60 Energy, yet he barely generates any particles himself—it's like trying to run a marathon with no shoes on. What happened to the hype? I remember logging in on day one of the beta, eager to test him out in my Freeze team, but instead of fluid combos, I got energy droughts that made battles drag on forever. And that exploration ability? Barely lifts you off the ground—more of a gimmick than anything useful. my-genshin-impact-dahlia-beta-disappointment-and-concerns-image-0 Honestly, it left me wondering if this is just a beta quirk or a sign of things to come. Players are buzzing in the forums, too; some say it's the worst kit they've seen in ages, while others hold out hope for tweaks. But for now, Dahlia feels like a missed opportunity, especially since he's only the second Hydro 4-Star since the game launched. Why release him like this? Maybe HoYoverse is scared of another Xingqiu situation, but it stings for us fans.

Right off the bat, I need to unpack Dahlia's abilities because they're puzzling. His Elemental Skill supposedly drops a trap that generates 3 Elemental Particles—but only if enemies trigger it. In my tests, that meant waiting for mobs to walk into it, which rarely happened in fast-paced fights. 😔 Then there's his Elemental Burst: a 12-second Hydro Shield on a 15-second cooldown. Sounds decent, but with that high 60 Energy cost and poor particle generation, I struggled to keep it active even with battery characters like Fischl. I timed it—shield uptime was spotty at best, leaving my team vulnerable. And don't get me started on his buffs: attack speed boosts are nice, but they're locked behind Freeze comps thanks to his passive talent. No Hydro application at all? That's bizarre for a Hydro character! It felt like playing with half a kit. Here's a quick breakdown of my frustrations in a table:

Ability Issue My Experience
Elemental Skill Only 3 particles if triggered Often missed in combat, leaving me energy-starved
Elemental Burst 60 Energy cost, 12s shield Hard to activate without help; downtime hurts survival
Passive Talent Restricted to Freeze teams Limits team-building options unnecessarily
Exploration Weak lift for plunging attacks Barely noticeable; felt pointless in open-world

Compared to other supports, Dahlia falls flat. Mika, for instance, gives better attack speed boosts and heals the whole party, which synergizes perfectly with Furina—I've run them together for months, and it's smooth sailing. But Dahlia? In my Wanderer team trials, Mika outshone him easily. 🔥 Why would I bench a reliable character for this? The community consensus is that HoYoverse might be throttling Hydro 4-Stars on purpose. Xingqiu has been meta-defining since 2020, and after Furina's dominance, they seem hesitant to release strong Hydro applicators. Uncle Balls' leaks about Dahlia's energy woes only fueled the fire—if true, it's a design flaw, not a bug. I keep thinking: could this be intentional to sell more 5-Stars? But that feels cynical. Players are begging for fixes: increase Hydro application or beef up his shield and buffs. The latter might make him viable for Wanderer comps, offering an alternative to Mika. But with Version 5.7 set to drop on June 18, 2025, time's ticking. HoYoverse has changed numbers mid-beta before, so fingers crossed. Yet, first impressions linger—lukewarm at best, even in polite chats. I remember one forum post where someone said, "He's a puzzle with missing pieces," and I couldn't agree more. Overall, it's a letdown for a character I was hyped about.

To wrap up my thoughts, I'll answer some common questions I've seen floating around:

FAQ

  • Q: Why is Dahlia's energy generation so problematic?

A: His Elemental Skill only produces 3 particles if enemies trigger the trap, making it unreliable and insufficient for his 60-energy Burst.

  • Q: Can Dahlia work outside of Freeze teams?

A: Not really—his passive talent restricts buffs to Freeze comps, and with no Hydro application, he's niche at best.

  • Q: How does Dahlia compare to Mika?

A: Mika provides stronger attack speed boosts and group healing, synergizing better with Furina, while Dahlia struggles with energy and utility.

  • Q: When is Version 5.7 launching?

A: It's scheduled for June 18, 2025, so changes could still happen before release.

  • Q: What improvements do players want for Dahlia?

A: Most suggest boosting Hydro application or enhancing his Shield and buffs to make him a viable alternative in teams like Wanderer's.