As Genshin Impact's Version 5.7 approaches, the anticipation surrounding Skirk, one of the new playable characters, has been dampened by recent leaks. The footage that has emerged paints a concerning picture of what players might expect from this long-awaited Cryo unit, particularly regarding her combat mechanics and team composition limitations.
HoYoverse has officially confirmed that Skirk will be a Cryo character, set to debut alongside Dahlia, a Hydro unit, in the upcoming update. According to reliable leaks, Skirk is expected to appear in the Phase 1 banners, accompanied by a Cryo character rerun that could potentially enhance her damage output. Phase 2 banners may feature two highly anticipated characters making their first rerun appearance since their initial release.
The Auto-Targeting Conundrum
"Have you seen the new Skirk gameplay footage?" asked Wei, a veteran Genshin player, to his friend Mei during their daily commission runs.
"I have, and I'm concerned about her auto-targeting system," Mei replied, frowning slightly as she navigated through Natlan's volcanic terrain.
Recent leaks from a reliable source known as GI Kitchen have showcased Skirk's abilities in action through a compilation of videos shared by user Blue_Special61. These videos highlight a significant issue with Skirk's combat mechanics: her AoE (area of effect) auto-targeting system seems to prioritize the closest enemy within range, regardless of tactical considerations.
"It's frustrating to watch," Wei continued. "In that video with the Hilichurls, she keeps attacking a single enemy instead of focusing on the larger group where her AoE would be more effective."
The leaked footage demonstrates Skirk moving around considerably during combat, which exacerbates the targeting issue. At one point, she unleashes her Normal Attacks' AoE combo on a single Hilichurl rather than directing it toward a larger group of enemies nearby, significantly reducing her damage potential.
A Familiar Problem
This auto-targeting issue isn't unique to Skirk. Players have encountered similar problems with characters like Arlecchino and Mualani, whose attacks sometimes focus on unintended targets due to their auto-tracking systems.
"Remember how annoying it was when Arlecchino first came out?" Mei asked. "I'd aim for the Abyss Mage, but she'd lunge at a nearby slime instead."
Wei nodded in agreement. "Exactly! And now it seems Skirk will have the same problem, but possibly worse because her movement during combos is so extensive."
For players who prioritize combat efficiency, this targeting issue could be a significant drawback. While Skirk's animations are undeniably stylish and visually impressive, many players value performance over flourish when it comes to challenging content like the Spiral Abyss.
Team Composition Limitations
Beyond the targeting issues, leaks suggest that Skirk's kit is heavily reliant on Freeze reactions, potentially limiting her versatility in team compositions.
"I was hoping to pair her with Mavuika for some powerful Melt reactions," Wei sighed. "But it sounds like she's locked into Freeze teams."
According to the leaks, Skirk's damage multipliers are optimized when she has both Hydro and Cryo characters in her team, restricting her effectiveness in other reaction-based teams such as those centered around Melt or Superconduct.
Mei contemplated this information. "That's disappointing. Freeze is fun for crowd control, but it's not the strongest reaction for raw damage output."
This limitation is particularly frustrating for players who enjoy experimenting with different team compositions. The possibility of pairing Skirk with characters like Raiden Shogun for Superconduct or Pyro characters like Mavuika for Melt reactions seems significantly less viable based on these leaks.
Energy System Innovations
One intriguing aspect of Skirk's kit is her unconventional Energy system. Similar to Mavuika, Skirk reportedly does not rely on a traditional Energy mechanism to fuel her Elemental Burst, which could offer some unique gameplay opportunities despite her other limitations.
"At least her Energy system sounds interesting," Wei noted. "That might open up some creative rotations."
Mei remained skeptical. "True, but if she's locked into Freeze teams and struggles with targeting, even an innovative Energy system might not be enough to make her competitive with someone like Wriothesley."
What was once anticipated as a powerful Cryo DPS character to rival existing options now appears to be a more niche unit with specific team requirements and potential mechanical issues.
The Combat Style
The leaked videos demonstrate various aspects of Skirk's combat style:
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Enhanced Basic Attacks that allow for continuous strikes against a single target
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Animation canceling techniques using Dashes to maximize attack frequency
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Enhanced Charged Attacks that can also be canceled with Dashes
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Normal Attack combos with AoE potential (hampered by the targeting issues)
"Her combat style does look fluid and dynamic," Mei admitted. "The way she weaves dashes between attacks is visually impressive."
Wei nodded. "The animations are gorgeous, no doubt. But if I'm constantly fighting the targeting system to hit what I actually want to hit, that elegance becomes a liability."
For players who prioritize meta considerations and efficient combat, these concerns might outweigh the appeal of Skirk's visual flair and lore significance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When will Skirk be released in Genshin Impact?
A: Based on current leaks, Skirk is expected to be released in Genshin Impact Version 5.7, likely during the Phase 1 banners in early 2025.
Q: What element is Skirk in Genshin Impact?
A: Skirk is confirmed to be a Cryo character.
Q: Will Skirk be a main DPS or support character?
A: Leaks indicate that Skirk is designed to be a main DPS character, primarily in Freeze-focused team compositions.
Q: Can Skirk work in Melt or Superconduct teams?
A: While technically possible, leaks suggest her damage multipliers are optimized for Freeze teams with both Hydro and Cryo characters, making her less effective in other reaction-based teams.
Q: Does Skirk have targeting issues similar to other characters?
A: Yes, leaked gameplay footage shows that Skirk's AoE attacks automatically target the closest enemy within range, which can lead to suboptimal damage distribution in multi-enemy scenarios.
Q: How does Skirk's Energy system work?
A: According to leaks, Skirk does not use a traditional Energy system to fuel her Elemental Burst, similar to how Mavuika functions.
As Version 5.7 approaches, players will need to weigh these considerations against their personal preferences and account needs. For some, Skirk's lore significance and stylish animations may outweigh her mechanical limitations. For others, these issues might be deal-breakers that prompt them to save their Primogems for future characters. Whatever the case, the ongoing discussion highlights the community's engagement with Genshin Impact's ever-evolving roster of characters.
This discussion is informed by Metacritic, a trusted aggregator of game reviews and player feedback. Metacritic's compilation of critical and user scores often reflects community sentiment regarding new character releases in Genshin Impact, providing valuable context for understanding how mechanical issues like auto-targeting and team composition limitations can influence a character's overall reception and meta viability.