Genshin Impact V6.3 Phase 1 Overview and Pull Strategy

Genshin Impact V6.3 Phase 1 is the kind of banner half that makes your Primogems feel personally attacked. Columbina’s debut is landing with Ineffa’s rerun, and the patch framing is basically screaming “Lunar teams are the future, good luck resisting.” 

This Phase 1 matters because it’s not just “new character hype.” It’s a pairing that looks intentionally built for synergy, especially if your account is already leaning into Nod-Krai/Lunar mechanics or you’ve been waiting for an excuse to fully commit. 

So this breakdown is about practical planning. You’ll get the Phase 1 dates, what each character is trying to do, who should you pull first, and how to prep for day one without panic-farming at 2AM.

Genshin Impact V6.3 Phase 1 Overview

Phase 1 Banner Dates

Genshin Impact V6.3 Phase 1 is currently listed as running from January 14, 2026 to February 3, 2026. 

Genshin Impact V6.3 Phase 1 Character Banners

Phase 1 is headlined by:

• Columbina (new 5-Star Hydro Catalyst) 
• Ineffa (5-Star Electro Polearm rerun) 

See Also: Genshin 6.3 Banner: Columbina, Weapons & Events

Columbina Kit Breakdown: How She Actually Plays

Current public kit write-ups consistently describe Columbina as a Hydro Catalyst that functions like a Lunar Reaction enabler/support with strong off-field contribution, including a skill that maintains Hydro application and a burst that creates a special “domain” style effect for reaction performance. 

The important part for pull value is the direction: she’s being framed less like a generic Hydro unit and more like a system piece for Lunar mechanics.

Columbina’s Elemental Skill: Persistent Hydro Pressure

Columbina’s Elemental Skill is built around reliable off-field Hydro application, rather than burst damage or flashy front-loaded hits. Early previews and testing impressions consistently frame it as a “set and maintain” skill that keeps Hydro active while you rotate through the rest of your team.

In practice, this is what lets Lunar reactions stay online without you constantly swapping back to her. You’re not playing Columbina like a traditional on-field Catalyst DPS, you’re placing her Skill, rotating, and letting the reaction engine do its work.

Columbina’s Elemental Burst: Lunar Amplification Zone

Her Elemental Burst is where the Lunar identity really shows. Instead of pure damage, the Burst creates a field-style effect that boosts Lunar reaction performance and stabilizes reaction uptime for the team.

This is why Columbina is often described as a system support rather than a raw buffer. The Burst doesn’t exist to nuke enemies, it exists to make sure Lunar reactions trigger consistently, scale properly, and don’t fall apart when rotations get messy.

Columbina’s Scaling and Build Direction

Current information points toward HP-focused scaling, with Lunar reaction value tied more to consistency and amplification than Crit fishing. That naturally pushes her toward a supportive build mindset instead of chasing DPS benchmarks.

This also explains why early discussions emphasize patience. Columbina’s value doesn’t always show up in isolated damage screenshots, it shows up in how smooth and repeatable your team rotations feel once she’s slotted in.

What the Kit Tells Us About Her Role

Taken as a whole, Columbina’s kit is clearly designed to:

• Keep Hydro application stable without on-field commitment
• Enhance Lunar reactions rather than replace existing DPS units
• Reward players who already understand rotation discipline

She’s not trying to compete with traditional Hydro carries. She’s trying to make Lunar teams feel like a finished system instead of an experiment.

Columbina Pull Value

Pull Columbina if your account goals look like any of these:

• You enjoy building around new mechanics and want a “core” unit for Lunar teams
• You already play with Lunar-focused rosters and want the reaction engine to feel complete 

Skip (or treat as luxury) if you’re mostly playing classic comps and you’re only tempted because she’s new. A system support is cracked when you’re inside the system, and dramatically less exciting outside it.

Genshin Impact V6.3 Phase 1 Ineffa: The Rerun That Still Hits

Ineffa Role Snapshot

She is commonly described as a 5-Star Electro Polearm Sub-DPS tailored around Lunar-Charged, with her kit emphasizing Electro application, Lunar-Charged conversion/boosting, and team utility (including EM-oriented benefits). 

Ineffa Pull Value

Ineffa’s pull value is simple: she’s a rerun that still feels modern because she was designed around the Lunar direction in the first place. Community discussion around Lunar-centric teams (especially mains communities) keeps circling back to her being a strong value pick when you’re committing to that ecosystem. 

If you want a cleaner rule, Ineffa is usually the safer pull if you want immediate team function, while Columbina is the bigger bet on long-term Lunar scaling.

See Also: Durin Genshin Impact Kit Guide – Two Forms, One Dragon

Genshin Impact V6.3 Phase 1 Teams: Why This Pairing Is So Tempting

Columbina + Ineffa Synergy

A lot of Phase 1 hype exists for one reason, many kit summaries frame Columbina as a Lunar reaction booster, while Ineffa’s identity is tied to Lunar-Charged conversion and amplification. In plain language, one looks like a broad Lunar enabler, the other looks like a Lunar-Charged engine. 

That doesn’t automatically mean “must pull both.” It means the pairing is designed to feel good together, which is exactly why it’s dangerous for your Primogems.

Genshin 6.3 Phase 1 Team Building Priorities

If you’re building around this Phase 1 core, your priorities are usually:

• Stable application (so reactions don’t fall apart mid-rotation)
• Survivability that doesn’t kill DPS (shield/heal that doesn’t consume your whole team slot value)
• One flexible slot you can swap based on content (Abyss, boss vs waves, etc.)

You don’t need perfect meta spreadsheets to win. You need a team that keeps the reaction loop alive without your rotation collapsing the moment you dodge.

Who Should You Prioritize In Genshin Impact V6.3 Phase 1?

If You’re Free-to-Play

Pick one clear target and commit. Phase 1 is built to bait “just a few pulls on both,” and that’s how you end up with neither.

Most F2P accounts should prioritize like this:

• Pick Ineffa if you want a proven Lunar-Charged core piece and immediate team payoff 
• Pick Columbina if you’re investing in Lunar as your long-term direction and want the system-defining unit 

If You’re a Meta Chaser

Your best move is to wait for the first wave of stable testing impressions (not day-one doomposting). Even early discussion threads tend to split “safer value now” vs “higher ceiling later,” which usually means both units are good, but for different account shapes.

If You’re a Collector

This Phase 1 is clean: new Harbinger debut + popular rerun. If you’re collecting, the real question is weapon banner risk, not “should I pull.”

Genshin 6.3 Phase 1 Prep Checklist: What to Do Before Day One

Farming and Readiness

Do these before the banner goes live:

• Clear space for artifacts and level mats so you’re not doing inventory Tetris mid-pull
• Decide your one “main build plan” per unit (support/sub-DPS focus) so you don’t split resources across three half-builds
• Pre-plan your team slot roles so you know what your flex slot is

Primogem Plan

Go in with rules, not vibes:

• If you lose the 50/50, do you keep going or stop?
• Are you touching the weapon banner at all?
• What’s the one outcome you’ll be happy with?

The banner is temporary. Your regret is permanent.

See Also: Genshin Impact 6.3 Banner Value Guide: Best Characters to Pull

Genshin Impact V6.3 Phase 1 is a classic “synergy trap” done right. Columbina looks like a Lunar system centerpiece, Ineffa remains one of the cleanest ways to make Lunar-Charged teams feel real, and the Phase 1 window is long enough to plan but short enough to punish indecision. 

Pick the unit that matches your account’s direction, commit to a pull plan, and don’t let the pairing pressure you into split pity.And when you’re ready to lock in your pulls and prep for launch day, top up Genshin Impact on Joytify so you’re set the moment the banner drops.