Kinich or Raiden Shogun: Best character to pull in Genshin Impact 5.0 Phase II

The Genshin Impact version 5.0 second-half banners will go live globally on September 17, 2024, and will remain active until October 9, 2024. They will feature the newest 5-star Dendro DPS, Kinich, and the 5-star Electro sub-DPS, Raiden Shogun. Moreover, their signature weapons will also become available on the Epitome Invocation weapons banner.

Considering the hype surrounding Kinich's debut, and Raiden Shogun being regarded as one of the best Electro characters, players without either must be confused about which character to summon.

That said, this article will discuss the gameplay and abilities of Kinich and Raiden Shogu not help you determine which character to pull for on the Phase II banners of Genshin Impact 5.0.

Note: Some aspects of this article are subjective and reflect the writer's opinions.

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Kinich vs Raiden Shogun: Which character to pull in Genshin Impact 5.0 second half

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While Kinich is speculated to be a strong damage dealer, Raiden Shogun has already proved herself to be one of the best 5-star characters in Genshin Impact. Considering both are drastically distinct in their playstyles and fill different roles in a party, it is important to go for the character that meets your needs.

The following section discusses the advantages and disadvantages of both entities to help you determine which one is best suited for you.

Kinich

Kinich is the latest 5-star Dendro character. He will debut in the second half of Genshin Impact 5.0 and is from the Scions of the Canopy tribe. Like other Natlan characters of the update, he can use the Nightsoul mechanics and his abilities are inspired by the Saurians.

Kinich's Elemental Skill allows him to leap in the air and lock on to enemies using a grappling hook, similar to the Yumkasaur. Afterward, he can continuously deal damage to the targeted enemy by expending Nightsoul points.

As for the Elemental Burst, Kinich summons Ajaw to the field to deal Nightsoul-aligned AoE Dendro DMG. Following this, the latter also deals additional AoE Dendro DMG at certain intervals.

Overall, Kinich is a very powerful main DPS from the Dendro element and can be a great addition to player accounts missing a unit for that particular role. Moreover, he can also make it easier for you to traverse the tricky landscape of the Natlan region.

However, do keep in mind that Kinich shines in Burning and Burgeon-based reaction teams. As such, his team compositions can be quite restrictive.

Also read: Best Genshin Impact Kinich build guide: Artifacts, weapons, and team comps

Raiden Shogun

Raiden Shogun, Inazuma's Archon in the storyline, is a 5-star character in Genshin Impact. As one would expect from the God of Electro, her mastery of the element is unmatched. While she is a strong sub-DPS, she is also viable as a main DPS, especially after unlocking her C2, which allows her to ignore 60% of her enemies' defense.

Raiden's Elemental Skill generates the Eye of the Stormy Judgement, which deals AoE Electro DMG to enemies when the active character attacks them. Moreover, it also buffs the Elemental Burst DMG based on the Energy cost of the party members' Burst. This allows her to consistently apply Electro to trigger reactions from off-field.

Raiden Shogun's Elemental Burst is amazing as well. It deals massive AoE Electro DMG and infuses her Normal Attack with Electro. She can then use her Normal Attacks to deal damage and recover Energy for all party members.

Both of the above-mentioned aspects make Raiden Shogun a top-tier sub-DPS suitable for most team compositions that use Electro-based elemental reactions.

However, you should note that her coordinated attack ability does not work with some characters. Furthermore, she requires a little bit of field time to generate Energy for the team.

Also read: Raiden Shogun DPS and Support build and teams for Genshin Impact

Conclusion

If you are confused about whether to pull for Kinich or Raiden Shogun during Phase 2 of Genshin Impact 5.0, the decision is best left to what your account needs. While both are great options and you can go for whichever one you find appealing, each one serves different purposes.

It is recommended to go for Kinich if you missed out on Alhaitham and are looking for a Dendro main DPS. Moreover, if you summoned Emilie in v4.8, it can be especially worth it. Aside from damage dealing, Kinich will also assist you in navigating Natlan. He will let you leap to tricky places, just as a Yumkasaur.

On the other hand, if your account does not have a reliable off-field Electro character like Yae Miko or Kuki Shinobu, it would be beneficial to summon Raiden Shogun in v5.0. She is an incredibly versatile and top-tier entity that can fit into a variety of team compositions, allowing you to trigger Electro reactions. Furthermore, she can also serve as a main DPS if need be.

Check out our other Genshin Impact articles:

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Edited by Shraman Mitra