Genshin Impact version 4.5: Should you pull for Chiori, Itto, or save your Primogems and go for Neuvillette and Kazuha instead?

Genshin Impact version 4.5 is right around the corner, and with this new update comes the debut of Inazuman Fashion Designer, Chiori! She will be featured in a double Geo 5-star banner alongside a rerun for Arataki Itto, so players looking to strengthen their Geo roster will love this update.

But while our focus will be on Chiori and Itto in the first half of version 4.5, we also can't ignore the other meaty banner coming in the second half featuring Neuvillette and Kaedehara Kazuha.

So, if you're still on the fence on whether you should pull for Chiori or Itto in the first half of this version or wait until the second half for Neuvillette or Kazuha, read on and we'll help you decide.

Need a stylish quickswap Geo DPS? Get Chiori

Brash, stubborn, and headstrong, Chiori is a force to be reckoned with both within the fashion world and in the battlefield.

Chiori is 5-star Geo sword user who's all about unleashing a flurry of quick attacks alongside her summons, making her perfect for a quickswap DPS or sub-DPS role. She is unique in that her damage scales on both her ATK and DEF, which makes her easier to build compared to someone like Itto as you won't feel like any ATK or DEF substat rolls on your artifact will be wasted.

This also means that Chiori isn't locked to having a DEF-scaling weapon, making it easy to find alternative options if you don't have her signature sword.

Chiori's elemental skill is her bread-and-butter (or should we say thread-and-needle?) ability that can be tapped and held, with each also having a different effect thanks to her Talent.

When tapped, it allows Chiori to dash forward to deal area-of-effect Geo DMG to enemies near her vicinity. After dealing DMG, she summons her own automoton Tamoto to aid in battle, slashing at enemies in intervals, dealing aoe DMG based on Chiori's ATK and DEF.

If there is another Geo construct on field, like Zhongli's pillar for example, Chiori will also summon an additional Tamoto.

Meanwhile, holding her skill will allow Chiori to enter aiming mode to target where her dash will go.

Chiori's Talent will trigger the 'Tapestry' effect when it is tapped. Tapestry will cause her to automatically switch to the next character in your roster and enable her Tamoto summon to perform coordinated attacks. Holding her skill will instead grant Chiori's attacks a Geo infusion for a short period.

So, if you want to use Chiori as a quickswap DPS, then make sure to only tap her skill when using it and have your second DPS go after her in your party order. If you want to use Chiori as your on-field main DPS instead, then make sure to hold her skill when using it.

While Chiori's skill isn't an ability you can just mindlessly use, her burst is more straightforward. When used, it lets her unleash a powerful attack that deals area-of-effect Geo DMG based on both her ATK and DEF.

Because Chiori works as a quickswap DPS, she can mesh well into Geo-focused teams with other DPS characters like Navia or Itto. But if you want to main her, a team composition with her as your DPS can be comprised of Bennett for heals, energy regeneration, and buffing, Furina for support and DMG increase, and Zhongli for an additional Geo construct and powerful shield.

Since Chiori's damage scaling isn't restricted only to her DEF, she's pretty easy to build and doesn't need as much investment as other characters to reach her max potential.

Both the Golden Troupe and Husk of Opulent Dreams artifact sets will work with her nicely. And if you're not too keen on getting her signature weapon, you can opt for the 5-star generalist sword Primordial Jade Cutter, or other 4-star weapons like the Battle Pass-exclusive Wolf-Fang, the event-exclusive Cinnabar Spindle (HoYo... please... re-release Cinnabar Spindle I am begging you), or even the 3-star wonder Harbinger of Dawn.

Need an unga-bunga, cow-yeeting Geo DPS? Get Arataki Itto

Inazuman gang leader, self-proclaimed Onikabuto battling champion, resident troublemaker, jail connoisseur— Arataki Itto is arguably Genshin Impact's most lovable problem child. However, he can also seriously pack a punch with his Geo-infused attacks. His best move? Literally yeeting Ushi the cow at enemies with all the force of a meteor that can even rival Zhongli's.

Itto has a more or less easy playstyle if you're looking for a "no thoughts, head empty" experience. All you need to do is rack up stacks of his 'Superlative Superstrength' buff through normal attacks, by chucking Ushi into the battlefield with his skill, or using his burst.

Gaining enough Superlative Superstrength buffs gives Itto access to his signature Arataki Kesagiri charged attack sequence, which does not consume stamina. Using his burst infuses his attacks with Geo and makes it much easier to unleash Arataki Kesagiri.

Gameplay wise, Itto's kit is very uncomplicated and easy to follow through. He just needs loyal lackeys to buff him to the extreme when it's time for his enemies to catch his hands (or when using his skill, his cow).

Since Itto purely focuses on Geo DMG, and is dependent on DEF, he needs a team that focuses on buffing his defense and shielding him from enemies, as he is also prone to interruption. A support team comprising of Albedo, Gorou, and Zhongli is his top pick.

Itto's signature artifact set, the Husk of Opulent Dreams, isn't much of a problem to get too. If you have tons of artifacts just sitting in your inventory, you can take a gamble at getting good pieces from the Artifact Strongbox.

However, to get Itto to his maximum potential as the strongest Oni there is, you're going to have to tap into your Primogem pool to get his signature 5-star weapon Redhorn Stonethresher as well as ideally have the doggy general Gorou at max Constellation level.

This makes Itto a rather expensive investment if you're looking to make him into your main DPS, but letting him reach his full potential is very much worth it.

But if you're not into meta building and grinding, and just want to have fun, you can easily slap 4-star weapons like the Battle Pass-exclusive Serpent Spine or the craftable Whiteblind on Itto and he can still deliver great Geo DMG.

Overall, Itto is a fun addition to your character roster if you're convinced to pull for him!

Should you wait for Neuvillette and Kazuha instead?

The second half of version 4.5 boasts a very powerful pair of characters in Neuvillette and Kaedehara Kazuha. They are two of the most broken characters in the game, so it's perfectly understandable if you choose to skip Chiori and Itto's banners to go for Neuvillette or Kazuha instead.

Neuvillette is a Hydro DPS with a devastating kit focused on his enhanced charged attack, which basically lets him unleash a beam of water that decimates every enemy in the battlefield with little effort. Neuvillette has climbed the metagame rankings since his release and now sits comfortably at the top, so if you're looking to utterly dominate in Spiral Abyss or even in the overworld, he's the perfect character to pull for.

Kazuha, on the other hand, is the best Anemo support for elemental DMG dealers like Neuvillette. His buffing capabilities increase your DMG, and he can also do some light crowd control in situations where enemies are just a tad bit too far apart from each other. If you're feeling like your elemental teams are missing that oomph to ger your damage to the other level, then Kazuha's definitely the missing link.

Of course, we advocate for pulling the characters you want, but version 4.5's second half is something you definitely don't want to skip out on!

Genshin Impact version 4.5 will drop on 13 March and will see the release of a new 5-star character in Chiori, reruns for the 5-star characters Arataki Itto, Neuvillette, and Kaedehara Kazuha, as well as the new Chronicled Wish banner system.

For more information on what's to come in Genshin Impact version 4.5, check here.

Yan Ku is a full-time dog parent, part-time (gacha) gamer, and part-time writer.

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