Two five-star banners, one shared pity: Genshin Impact 7.1 runs until October 13

Genshin Impact Version 7.1, A Rekviem for the Underworld, went live on September 23. Maintenance began at 6am server time (UTC+8) and was expected to take about five hours[1]. It arrives six weeks after 7.0 opened Snezhnaya, and this time it brings two new five-star characters and two Archon Quest acts at once. Everything below comes from HoYoverse's official notices, checked on September 27, 2026.

Two five-stars on the same day

The first is Vesna, "Snowy Banquet's Sharp Blade," an Anemo sword user described as the Commander of the Druzhna and the Tsaritsa's keen blade. She lets her party trigger Stellar Swirl reactions and, under certain conditions, deals Stellar Swirl damage herself[1]. The second is Vodyanitsa, "Lingering Siren-Song," a Hydro catalyst user and prima donna of the Korolevskiy Troupe. HoYoverse pitches her as a healer and support who fits both Freeze and Stellar Swirl teams[1].

Both banners run from the 7.1 update until October 13 at 17:59 server time, with Diona, Faruzan and Chongyun as the boosted four-stars on each[2]. The two banners are separate, but the pity count is shared: pulls on "Character Event Wish" and "Character Event Wish-2" accumulate together, so progress made on one carries over to the other. Neither limited character joins the standard Wanderlust Invocation banner[2].

The weapon banner carries two new five-stars, the sword Beyond the Chrysalis and the catalyst Hymn of the Maelstrom[1]. If you are not chasing weapons, deciding on one character before you spend is the easiest way to protect your Primogems.

Two story acts at once

Archon Quest Chapter VII adds Act III, "White Night, Like a Dream Upon Waking," and Act IV, "A Rekviem for the Underworld." Both are permanent and require Adventure Rank 18 plus the previous act[1]. Finishing Act III also unlocks weekly Secret Tsarist Assignments from the Confidential Secretary Chayka at Zapolyarny Palace, which pay out furnishings and blueprints[1].

A new boss, the Guardian Blade of Drifting Snow, sits at Fellfrost Peak in Snezhnaya. When its health drops it hides in an ice coffin; weaken the coffin with Stellar Glimmer reactions and break it with Electro or Anemo attacks, and the boss is left vulnerable for a while[1].

What to claim and what comes next

Maintenance compensation is 300 Primogems and can be claimed any time before Version 7.1 ends. A separate 300-Primogem issue-fix compensation went out as well, but its claim window closed on September 26 at 6am (UTC+8). Both required Adventure Rank 5 by the time maintenance began[1].

Two dates follow. A new Imaginarium Theater season opens on October 1 and requires Hydro, Cryo and Anemo characters. The Spiral Abyss refreshes floors 11 and 12 on October 16[1]. Vesna (Anemo) and Vodyanitsa (Hydro) both qualify for the October theater, and it opens before the banners close, so whoever you pull gets an immediate place to be tested.

Sources

[1] HoYoverse. "A Rekviem for the Underworld" Version 7.1 Update Details. September 23, 2026.

[2] HoYoverse. Version 7.1 Event Wishes Notice - Phase I. September 21, 2026.