I’ve been watching the Skirk chatter since the first leaks, and now the official word is here: she is joining the playable roster in Genshin Impact as a 5-star Cryo sword user on the Void Star’s Advent event wish. As of 2026, the official schedule places the start at October 13, 2026, at 18:00 server time. If you are new to gacha, think of this as a limited-time shop window: Skirk gets a massive drop-rate boost, but she will not be added to the standard pool afterward. Miss her, and you wait for a rerun that could take months. A gacha banner is less a train and more a tide—if you miss this wave, another may come, but not on your schedule.

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Here is the quick facts table I wish every banner had:

Detail What it means
Character Skirk — 5-star Cryo sword user
Banner Void Star’s Advent
Start October 13, 2026, 18:00 server time
End Not officially stated; event wishes usually last about three weeks
Pity Standard rules: 90 pulls for a 5-star, 50/50 for the featured character
Worst-case cost Up to 28,800 Primogems for hard pity
50/50 shot About 14,400 Primogems for 90 pulls

The exact end date and time have not been announced yet. If this banner follows the usual three-week pattern, I would expect a close around early November 2026, but that is my guess, not an official promise. Check the in-game wish details before you budget your pulls. The pity system carries over between event banners, so every pull you make here still counts toward your next 5-star. Your pity counter is a patient accountant: it remembers every pull even when your wallet wishes it didn’t.

So should you pull? I split it into two simple camps.

Pull if:

  • You need a strong Cryo main DPS or sub-DPS for your team.

  • You already have characters that synergize with Cryo, like Kazuha or Shenhe.

  • You are a collector and love Skirk’s design or story.

  • You have enough Primogems saved to reach pity—at least 14,400 for a 50/50 shot, and up to 28,800 for the worst case.

  • You enjoy freeze or melt teams and want a new centerpiece for them.

Skip if:

  • You are saving for a future character you want more, especially with Version 6.3 leaks floating around.

  • You already have a solid Cryo DPS like Ayaka or Ganyu and do not need another.

  • You are a free-to-play player with limited Primogems and prefer to wait for a character that fills a real gap in your roster.

  • You are pulling only because the splash art is pretty. That is like trying to catch moonlight in a colander—it feels productive until you look at your Primogem count.

For free-to-play players, every Primogem counts. Do not pull on impulse. Set a budget: decide how many pulls you can afford and stick to it. For low-spenders, the Welkin Moon and Battle Pass usually offer the best value for Primogems, but only spend if you are comfortable and plan to play regularly. A banner is not a race, and a 50/50 loss is not the end of the world. It is just a detour with a receipt.

Skirk is a Cryo sword user, so she fits naturally into freeze or melt compositions. Here are a few early team ideas I would test first:

  • Freeze: Skirk + Mona + Kazuha + Diona — keeps enemies frozen while Skirk deals damage.

  • Melt: Skirk + Xiangling + Bennett + Zhongli — Pyro application from Xiangling and Bennett lets Skirk trigger melt for big numbers.

  • Hypercarry: Skirk + Shenhe + Kazuha + Bennett — stacks Cryo buffs and attack buffs to push Skirk’s personal damage.

These are starting points, not gospel. As with any new character, the community will discover optimal builds and teams within days of release. For now, pair her with characters that can apply Pyro or Hydro and buff her damage, then adjust once real testing lands.

The Void Star’s Advent banner is not tied to a specific event, but Version 6.3—which this banner likely belongs to—is expected to bring new events and rewards. According to leaks, Nod-Krai will expand with new areas like Piramida and Lake Amsvartnir, offering fresh exploration and Primogem opportunities. Remember, those are unconfirmed and subject to change. I would treat them as interesting rumors, not a spending plan.

My final call: Skirk looks exciting, especially if you love Cryo teams. If you have the Primogems and need a strong Cryo damage dealer, she is worth considering. If you are unsure, wait for community testing and reviews before committing. Either way, mark your calendar for October 13, 2026, at 18:00 server time, and may your pulls be lucky.