Back in the day, specifically in March 2022, the Genshin Impact fandom was on absolute tenterhooks waiting for Version 2.6, and now, from our 2026 vantage point, it’s a total no-brainer that those banner reruns were a major flex by HoYoverse. The developer, which had just rebranded from miHoYo, dropped the official deets on the recurring 5-star characters, and the community basically lost its collective mind. It was the kind of hype that only a gacha juggernaut could generate, and for good reason—this patch was packed with fan favorites that had players scrambling for their Primos.

Let’s rewind the clock and set the scene. Genshin Impact was still reigning supreme as one of the top anime games worldwide, though in Japan, the birthplace of mobile gacha, it was seeing fierce competition from titles like Uma Musume and the fresh-out-of-the-oven Heaven Burns Red, crafted by Angel Beats' creator Jun Maeda. But when it came to sheer social media buzz, Genshin had a chokehold on the zeitgeist thanks to its charismatic, time-limited characters. Missing out on a unit felt like a punch in the gut, so reruns were akin to a second Christmas. Version 2.6 didn’t disappoint, serving up a triple threat of Kamisato Ayato in the first half, followed by Venti’s comeback, and then Ayaka in the second half. Leakers had already spilled some tea ahead of the official live stream—UBatcha, the go-to insider at the time, confirmed Ayaka as the sole rerun in the latter phase, with no sight of the elusive Kaedehara Kazuha. That tidbit alone fueled countless debates on Reddit and Twitter.

Now, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of these characters, because even in 2026, their legacies are still felt. Ayaka, the Cryo queen, was an absolute powerhouse. Her kit was chef’s kiss: a Charged Attack that could hit multiple enemies in rapid succession, an Elemental Skill with a cooldown so short you could practically spam it, and a Burst that, while tricky to aim, unleashed cataclysmic Cryo damage on frozen foes. If you were scouting for a top-tier DPS, she was the bee’s knees. But beyond meta, her charm was off the charts—her elegant design, stoic yet endearing personality, and that buttery voice by Saori Hayami made pulling for her a no-brainer. As any seasoned Traveler knows, waifu over meta is the real endgame. Meanwhile, Venti was the undisputed Anemo archon of crowd control. His Elemental Skill had a laughably short cooldown, and despite the buffs and nerfs over the years, he never truly got power crept into irrelevance. His ability to group enemies made him a staple in Spiral Abyss teams well into the Sumeru era. Then there was Ayato, the smooth-talking Hydro swordsman. Even before his gameplay was fully dissected, the fandom was already sold on him—Akira Ishida’s velvety voice acting was enough to make wallets fly open. He turned out to be a versatile unit, slotting into various comps with his flashy Hydro slashes, and his rerun in later patches only cemented his popularity.

The banner schedule for 2.6 was a strategic masterpiece by HoYoverse. Here’s a quick breakdown of how it all rolled out:

Phase	Character	Element	Role	Voice Actor
First Half	Kamisato Ayato	Hydro	Main DPS / Sub-DPS	Akira Ishida
First Half	Venti	Anemo	Support / Crowd Control	Ayumu Murase
Second Half	Kamisato Ayaka	Cryo	Main DPS	Saori Hayami

Looking back, this patch was a turning point for many players. The hype wasn’t just about the characters themselves; it was the perfect storm of lore drops, new events, and the long-awaited Chasm expansion in Liyue. The live stream on March 18, 2022, was a whole event in itself—it teased Ayato’s gameplay, introduced fresh bosses, and dished out those coveted Primogem codes that everyone rushed to redeem before they expired. The version launched on March 30, and for weeks, the community was awash with pull reactions and damage showcases.

What really caught everyone’s eye, though, was the looming shadow of Sumeru. By mid-2022, whispers of Dendro characters and the enigmatic Baizhu were already making the rounds. Savvy players who held onto their Primos for Version 3.0 ended up striking gold when the Dendro meta flipped the game on its head. But for those who went all-in on Ayaka or Venti, there were zero regrets—these units aged like fine wine. Fast forward to 2026, and you’ll still see them in niche teams or nostalgic reruns, a testament to their timeless design.

In typical Genshin fashion, the 2.6 banners were more than just a cash grab. They were a love letter to the community, giving latecomers a shot at beloved characters and veterans a chance to snag constellations. The art alone was worth the hype—the official illustrations from the stream were pure eye candy, featuring chibi forms that melted hearts across the globe. So, if you’re a newer player in 2026 diving into Genshin’s ever-expanding world, take a page from the old guard: sometimes, the best pulls are the ones that spark joy, not just big numbers. And hey, with the game now exploring the far reaches of Teyvat, those 2.6 memories are a sweet reminder of simpler times. Spill the tea in your co-op chats—did you pull for Ayaka, or were you a Venti loyalist? No cap, it’s all about the journey.