In the ever-evolving world of Genshin Impact, players have witnessed both spectacular and disappointing banner releases over the years. Looking back at the Genshin Impact worst banners of all time, certain patterns emerge that even in 2025, continue to influence HoYoverse's banner strategy.
Remember when Nilou's banner set a record as one of the lowest-selling banners in Genshin Impact history? Only Keqing's banner performed worse in terms of revenue generation. What made this particularly interesting was that Nilou wasn't necessarily a bad character - she was simply ahead of her time, released before adequate Dendro supports existed to maximize her unique bloom-focused kit.
Why Do Some Banners Fail?
Several factors contribute to a banner's poor performance:
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Timing relative to anticipated releases - When placed before highly anticipated characters
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Limited team compatibility - Characters with niche playstyles
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Rerun frequency - Too many reruns in short timeframes
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Regional preferences - Some characters underperform in specific markets
Perhaps the most notorious example of poor timing was Version 2.2, widely considered the worst update in Genshin's history. This update featured Childe's third run alongside Hu Tao's rerun, generating significant player frustration.
Have you ever wondered why HoYoverse sometimes places weaker banners before highly anticipated ones? It's a deliberate strategy to drain player primogems, forcing many to resort to purchasing crystals when the desirable banner arrives.
The Regional Factor
Interestingly, what constitutes the worst region for banner sales varies by player base. While Japanese players typically spend heavily on certain character archetypes regardless of meta relevance, Western audiences tend to prioritize gameplay utility.
As one player commented on forums back in 2022: "I'll wait until the next abyss that doesn't buff her niche to actually judge her strength. As of now I have her at 9/9/9 with her weapon and she can't kill any bosses faster than my other hydros."
Most Disappointing Banners Through 2025
Looking at the historical data, several banners stand out as particularly disappointing:
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Nilou's debut banner - Released before adequate Dendro supports existed
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Childe's third rerun - Excessive reruns without significant kit changes
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The 4.2 dual banner - Featured underwhelming 4-stars alongside a mediocre 5-star
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The infamous 6.3 banner - Widely considered to feature the worst character oat in terms of kit design and utility
What makes these banners particularly disappointing isn't necessarily the 5-star character's power level, but rather the overall package. When 4-star characters are undesirable and weapon banners feature niche options, players feel justified in skipping entirely.
Have Banner Strategies Improved?
Has HoYoverse learned from these mistakes? To some extent, yes. Since late 2023, we've seen more balanced banner distributions, with fewer instances of back-to-back must-pull characters.
However, the fundamental strategy remains unchanged - place less desirable characters before highly anticipated ones, and occasionally sandwich a mediocre character between two highly desirable ones.
As one veteran player noted: "The game's banner strategy has evolved, but the core principle remains the same - create artificial scarcity and FOMO to drive spending."
Looking Forward
As we move through 2025, what lessons can we learn from these historical disappointments? For players, patience remains the most valuable currency. No character is truly must-pull, and with Genshin's slow power creep, even older characters remain viable for years.
For collectors aiming to obtain every character, strategic spending and saving during these historically weak banners has proven effective. With HoYoverse's pattern of reruns, even missing a character initially rarely means waiting more than 6-8 months for another opportunity.
What's your experience with Genshin Impact's banner system? Have you ever regretted pulling on what turned out to be one of the worst banners, or conversely, skipped a banner only to regret it later? The game's gacha system continues to be both its most controversial and most profitable feature, ensuring these discussions will remain relevant throughout Genshin Impact's lifespan.