6.6 introduces multiple new characters, including at least two 5-star units (Nicole and Lohen) plus a 4-star Anemo unit (Prune). This makes it a crowded but not top-tier “must-pull” banner cycle in Genshin Impact. Prune (Anemo Catalyst) is listed in official leaks as a new character in the 6.6 content cycle, but she is consistently described as a 4★ unit. 6.7 introduces a Sandrone + Columbina rerun, widely framed as a high-priority Primogem patch with meta-impact expectations. Splitting between phases is the worst outcome for F2P players in 6.6 due to limited pulls per patch. With Sandrone and Columbina coming in at 6.7, the real challenge is resource management. Let’s compare all three characters and find out which are worth your Primogems at the moment.
Nicole (Pyro): The 6,000-Year Wait Pays Off?
Nicole Reeyn remained off-screen for years, but her voice and lore appearances made her one of the most demanded characters. Nicole Reeyn was first introduced to players during the Sumeru storyline. Her deeper involvement with Nod Krai is a much more recent development. However, her role in the Nod Krai storyline became prominent through the Song of the Welkin Moon.
Her Pyro Vision has been officially confirmed through her playable release materials and in-game profile. Nicole’s splash art, model, and character information mark her as a Pyro Catalyst. She has been teased in cutscenes and story sequences using mysterious powers, including telepathic communication and manifestations of golden. It’s worth mentioning that the Pyro roster in 2026 is not one-style dominant anymore. But instead, split into distinct reaction niches.
- Arlecchino → Vaporize Hypercarry
- Mualani → Hydro DPS Vaporize Carry
- Chasca → Reaction/Swirl hybrid DPS
Nicole is primarily a teamwide ATK buffer + shield support. This new character provides off-field damage tied to the active character. However, her damage contribution is secondary to her buffing utility. Her personal damage is not the reason to pull her; instead, her value comes from enabling other DPS characters. This naturally must occupy one of these roles to justify pulls. Overloaded scales only with Character Level + Elemental Mastery, not ATK or Crit. Burning is also a DoT reaction based on EM + level, making her a strong pull.
Lohen (Cryo): Best-Case and Worst-Case Scenarios
Lohen is a 5-star Cryo polearm DPS with a dual-resource system (Joy + Will to Win) in Genshin Impact. This character actually scales well with teammate damage contribution and Cryo burst payoff. His performance comes from Melt compositions with strong off-field Pyro + Hexerei synergy.
- Lohen (Main DPS)
- Nicole (off-field support / sub-DPS)
- Durin (off-field Pyro/damage engine)
- Dedicated support/shielde
The Cryo roster in 2026 includes a large and diverse pool of viable characters, not just one dominant carry. While Citlali is a Cyro support, Wriothesley still ranked as A-tier competitive DPS in modern tier lists. The recent 2026 tier breakdowns consistently show:
- S-tier Cryo: Ayaka, Ganyu, Shenhe
- A-tier Cryo: Wriothesley, Eula, Rosaria, Diona
- B-tier Cryo: Layla, Mika, Qiqi, Kaeya
Best Case
Lohen in Genshin Impact comes with damage systems that scale off teammate contributions. The playstyle revolves around off-field allies doing most of the supporting damage loop. The freeze times are viable, and melt teams are his highest-performance archetype. However, his kit is designed for reaction-based synergy rather than solo DPS output. Lohen has no Physical scaling, so Superconduct is only useful for res shred utility. This makes him excellent as a 4-star alternative to more expensive builds.
Worst Case
Lohen (Cyro) depends heavily on team-generated damage to scale his burst system. Lohen’s kit is not just selfish DPS but is designed around teammates, generating his Triumph / Will-to-Win resource. Keep in mind that scaling his burst is based on off-field damage contributions. Superconduct is currently low-value unless Physical DPS is involved. But he applies Cryo consistently and benefits from off-field Electro/Cryo reaction triggers.
C1 is one of the most impactful early constellations for Cryo supports, providing teamwide buffs, rotation flexibility, and scaling in Freeze teams. Escoffier’s C1 gives large Cryo Crit damage buffs but only in strict Cryo/Hydro teams. Many C1s are strong but rarely required for viability.
Prune (Anemo): Skip Unless Her Kit Is Exceptional
Venti’s Burst has one of the strongest crowd-control abilities in the game. Not only can it lock down groups of small enemies completely, but it can also enable trivial Abyss clears. Kazuha is one of the strongest and most universal supports in the game, providing elemental damage buffs, VV shred synergy, and grouping utility. Anemo’s value is heavily tied to Viridescent Venerer + Swirl utility, not raw kit uniqueness.
Prune’s kit revolves around a swirl reaction triggering conversion states and elemental conversion of her summoned weapon (Banehunter Oathhammer). Swirl determines what element her next attacks convert into. Prune also has burst mode that repeatedly attacks and can trigger Swirl interactions. Her passive effects scale damage based on Swirl-triggered conditions. She comes with a Swirl + ATK buff hybrid with off-field damage. This Anemo support is better than Kazuha in specific teams, especially Hexerei or multi-DPS setups. If Prune has Kazuha-level grouping or introduces a new Swirl scaling mechanic, she is considered C0 pull-worthy even in a crowded banner month. The recent 6.7 banner shows:
- Sandrone (new 5★) is the main meta-defining character of 6.7.
- Columbina (rerun) is positioned as a high-value off-field Hydro support.
- Phase 2 includes strong reruns like Raiden Shogun & Citlali.
If you already have Kazuha or Sucrose, then Prune becomes optional. If you are saving for Sandrone or Columbina, then 4★s are ignored. So, Prune is widely treated as a “skip candidate” for late-game or meta-focused players in 6.7 pull. Travelers comparing all three 6.6 banners should sort out their pull budget first; a Genshin Impact top up at the 1980 or 3280 tier is usually enough to consolidate resources for one target.
Verdict: Who’s Worth It?
Nicole is a Pyro Catalyst support that provides ATK buffs, shielding, and coordinated off-field damage. She’s strongest when paired with reaction-capable DPS units that can actually utilize her buffs. Nicole’s value depends heavily on team composition, synergy, and rotation timing. Make sure to pull Nicole if you run Vaporize / Melt / Overload teams or your DPS scales with ATK. Lohen is a must-pull banner while running Freeze or Superconduct comps that depend on off-field Cryo. Pune is skippable unless she has Kazuha-level grouping or some new unique mechanics.
Sandrone is the main 6.7 new 5★ unit, positioned as a meta-relevant Cryo DPS using Cryo+Electro reaction. However, Columbina is running alongside her as a high-value rerun/support unit. Save Primogems unless a 6.6 character directly upgrades your strongest team because 6.7 introduces high-impact 5★ units (Sandrone + Columbina), and ★ or mid-upgrade 6.6 units generally have lower long-term ROI. For multi-patch planning and resource management, LootBar handles top-ups across all HoYoverse titles.