NewGenshin Impact5.7 leaks about Skirk have emerged, and considering the footage that was shown, I’m even less excited about her release than I already was. HoYoverse has teased Skirk as one of the new playable characters in Version 5.7, alongside Dahlia.The developer has only revealed that Skirk is a Cryo character, while Dahlia is a Hydro unit. However, the Version 5.7 beta tests are revealing a lot of information about the update. So far, for example, the leaks have detailedSkirk’s materials inGenshin Impact5.7, allowing eager players to pre-farm to fully Ascend and upgrade her.
The leaks have also highlighted information about Skirk’s gameplay kit, revealing that she should be a main DPS in team comps, primarily those focused around Frozen Elemental Reactions. Based on the leaks, Skirk does not have a traditional Energy system to fuel her Elemental Burst, somewhat like Mavuika, for example. According to theGenshin Impact5.7 banner leaks,Skirk should be released during the Phase 1 banners, accompanied by a useful Cryo character rerun who could intensify her damage potential. The leaks also show that Phase 2 banners may contain two awaited characters who may rerun for the first time.
New Footage Of Skirk’s Gameplay In Genshin Impact 5.7 Has Leaked
Four Videos Of The Character In Combat Have Been Shared
Even though footage of Skirk had already leaked and the kit leaks had already provided a clear understanding of her rotation, a new set of leaks has emerged, granting further insight into her abilities and, consequently, some of her flaws. A set of videos was provided by the leaker known as GI Kitchen, in whichSkirk’s abilities and the AoE (area of effect) auto-targeting system are highlighted. The compilation of leaked footage files was shared by user Blue_Special61 in a post tagged as “Reliable” onReddit. In total, there are four leaked videos showingSkirk inGenshin Impact.
The first video shows Skirk using her Enhanced Basic Attacks to continuously strike a single target, alternating between Normal Attacks and Dashes to cancel the animation and allow her to immediately strike again with Normal Attacks.The second video highlights Skirk facing a large group of Hilichurls, using her Normal Attack combos to strike the enemies. The third video shows Skirk using Enhanced Charged Attack and canceling with the Dash to execute another Charged Attack right after the initial blow. Lastly, the fourth video shows Skirk slowly performing her Normal Attacks inGenshin Impactwithout any enemies or external influences.
Skirk’s AoE Auto-Target Puts A Damper On Her Damage Potential In Genshin Impact
The Character Moves Around A Lot During Her Attacks
What can be seen, particularly in the second leaked video, is that Skirk has an auto-target system applied to her AoE attacks, which is mentioned by the leaker in the Reddit post. According to them, the AoE of her attacks is chosen automatically by her, and the player can’t control who she is targeting with it. For reference, they mention that they held the forward-moving button during the combo’s execution.From what can be gathered from the leak is that Skirk automatically targets the closest enemy within her range, even if that goes against sound logic inGenshin Impact.
The video with the Hilichurl group showcases this problem well. While fighting, Skirk moves around a lot, and, in the process, there is a moment in which she is closer to an individual Hilichurl rather than the larger group. At this point,she unleashes her Normal Attacks’ AoE combo, striking the single Hilichurl rather than using it against the group with more enemies, which would’ve been more effective. If players have to interrupt their combos and sacrifice their AoE attacks to ensure they are closer to the desired targets, it could be tough to controlSkirk’s kit inGenshin Impact.
In doing so,Skirk loses a lot of the damage potential she has, as the powerful AoE is set aside to prioritize the onslaught of strikes against a group. Skirk’s animations are undeniably stylish, but flourish over performance is never really sought after by players. Seeing this after my initial disappointment with Skirk, I’m demotivated to pull for her, as much as I anticipated having her as a playable unit. For reference, Skirk isn’t the only character who reportedly struggles with an auto-targeting system that occasionally fumbles the players’ strategy inGenshin Impact.
The leaker mentions that instead of using two Normal Attacks and walking with Skirk to cancel the animation and restart the combo, its better to use all five of her Normal Attacks or use a Dash after her third Normal Attack. The leaker also praises the Charged Attack, followed by a Dash cancel for quick and high damage output.
Other characters like Arlecchino and even Mualani often have a hard time focusing on the players’ desired target because another enemy is close by. As a player who, by chance, uses these two characters quite frequently,I can attest to how common it is for them to strike the opponent I wasn’t aiming at because of their auto-tracking systems. It hasn’t proven to be game-breaking just yet, but it certainly is annoying. If I end uppulling for Skirk inGenshin Impact, I fear I’ll have to endure the same problem with her.
Skirk’s Rumored Reliance On Freeze In Genshin Impact Also Limits Her
The Character Can’t Completely Enjoy Melt Or Superconduct Teams
This is the most recent reason I’m upset about Skirk’s release. I was already demotivated to pull for her when the initial leaks about her kit emerged, indicating that she would only work with Freeze teams. While I do enjoy a Permafreeze team comp that keeps enemies at bay, this is one of the weakest Reactions in the game. The worst part about it is thatSkirk’s leaked reliance on Freeze inGenshin Impactalsoblocks her from being used in other types of team comps, like those centered around Melt and Superconduct.
I’d be thrilled to use my Mavuika as a Pyro sub-DPS for Skirk, for example, aided by Xilonen and a sustain character. Skirk could even work with my Raiden Shogun, who could ensure continuous Energy Recharge for the rest of the team while constantly triggering Superconduct. However, Skirk’s damage multipliers seemingly only activate if she has Hydro and Cryo characters in her team, exclusively. This makes her team comps extremely limited. What was supposed to be an excellent Cryo DPS to rival Wriothesley has seemingly become Skirk, an exciting lore character I’m not looking forward to obtaining inGenshin Impact.
