I’ll be honest with you: when Skirk’s first banner ran in 5.7, I told myself she was a luxury pull. I had Ayaka, I had Furina, and I had a bad habit of saying “I’ll grab her on rerun.” Now it’s 2026, Genshin Impact Version 6.4 Phase II is live as of 2026-03-17 (UTC+8), and I’m staring at her rerun next to Escoffier like a traveler who forgot to pack winter clothes before climbing Dragonspine. Yeah, I’m that player.

why-genshin-6-4-phase-ii-is-the-freeze-reunion-i-almost-missed-image-0

Let’s get the banner facts out of the way before my Primo stash decides it wants to be zero.

Category Details
Start 2026-03-17 (UTC+8)
End 2026-04-08 (UTC+8)
Featured 5-Stars Skirk (Sword, Cryo), Escoffier (Polearm, Cryo)
Featured 4-Stars Charlotte (Catalyst, Cryo), Candace (Polearm, Hydro), Dahlia (Sword, Hydro)
Weapon Banner Azurelight (Skirk’s Sword), Symphonist of Scents (Escoffier’s Polearm)

The synergy here is not subtle. This is an Elite Freeze core team banner wearing a rerun costume. Normally I roll my eyes when a phase looks like Cryo Impact, but this one is different. Escoffier alone is one of the highest-value Cryo supports in the game. She brings off-field healing, group-wide Cryo particles, and strong auto-apply mechanics without the awkward ICD interactions that make some healers feel like they are fighting your main DPS. Pair her with Skirk, and you are rebuilding the classic permafreeze identity—think Morgana and Permafreeze 2.0, but with modern Fontaine-era numbers.

Let’s be real: Freeze teams have been punished in some Spiral Abyss rotations, but 6.4 is quietly rewarding players who keep a permafreeze answer in their back pocket. Skirk’s hypercarry role is less flexible outside Freeze, but inside it she delivers some of the highest single-target Cryo burst I have seen since Ayaka’s prime. I won’t say she powercrept Ayaka, but she definitely took over one of my Abyss teams during testing.

Who should pull here

  • 🎯 If you missed Escoffier, she slots into nearly every Freeze or permafreeze hybrid: Neuvillette, Wriothesley, Ayaka, and even old Ganyu comps.

  • ❄️ If you are a Skirk collector, this is her only rerun since 5.7. I skipped her debut and regretted it. If you did too, this may be your last clean chance for months.

  • 💎 F2P tip: Chronicled banners are rotating older regions, not recent Fontaine-era debut units, so do not assume Skirk or Escoffier will show up there soon. Calculate your 50/50 pity carefully.

When I would skip this banner

  • 🔥 If you are deep into Lunar Reaction or Hexerei teams, saving for 6.5’s expected Linnea, Nicole, or possible Varka banners might serve you better.

  • 🧊 If you already own both 5-stars at C0 or higher and you do not run dedicated Freeze comps, additional copies have diminishing returns.

  • 💸 If your Primogem wallet is already wheezing, late-phase event income may not save you. Heavy investment here could mean skipping future releases.

One thing I like about this lineup is that the 4-stars are not dead weight. Charlotte is a solid alternative if Escoffier refuses to come home, especially when paired with Furina. Dahlia gives reliable Hydro application when Furina or Yelan are already busy, which matters a lot for consistent Freeze uptime. Candace can work as a Hydro flex in freeze or mono-Hydro experiments, though she is more of a niche pick.

Weapon banner reality check

  • 🗡️ Azurelight is only worth it if you genuinely main Skirk. For other sword users, it is suboptimal.

  • 🎼 Symphonist of Scents is the standout support polearm. Its flexibility reminds me of Staff of Homa for support kits, and I can see it on Iansan, Xiangling, or Rosaria.

From a meta perspective, Version 6.4 Phase II feels like the first time since Fontaine’s launch that Hoyoverse has leaned back into classic core mechanics instead of experimental combos. Yes, Nod-Krai keeps pushing Hexerei and the Lunar Reaction, but this banner says Freeze still matters. It echoes the old 1.2 Albedo/Ganyu meta shift, when permafreeze ruled and crowd control was the premium answer. Over on the usual theorycrafting corners and community boards, many veterans are reading the Skirk and Escoffier return as a quiet acknowledgment that classic Freeze still offers unmatched crowd control and damage filtering in newer Abyss lineups. Sentiment is mostly positive, though some players are worried about banner fatigue before Snezhnaya inevitably floods us with new Cryo units.

If you are pulling, prep now. Stockpile regional boss drops and Cryo ascension gems. I would put Blizzard Strayer on Skirk and a healing-focused set like Ocean-Hued Clam or healer options on Escoffier. Both featured weapons need Fontaine weapon materials, so clear those domains early. Farm talent books, weekly bosses, and event Primogems while you still can.

Upcoming competition is real: 6.5 is expected to bring Nicole and Linnea, and 6.6 has Nicole or Lohen chatter. If you favor non-Freeze comps such as Bloom, Lunar, or Hexerei, saving may be the cleaner call. Chronicled Banner trends suggest older regions will continue rotating, but there is no confirmation for Skirk-era reruns before the 7.0 Snezhnaya rollout.

For me, this banner is personal. I skipped Skirk once and told myself I would be fine. I was not fine. If you missed Escoffier or want to rebuild a classic Freeze core, this phase is unlikely to repeat soon. If your eyes are locked on future Hydro or new element teams, hold your pity. Know your priorities—and for Archon’s sake, know your pity.