The buzz in the Genshin Impact community has been through the roof recently, all thanks to a leak that hints at the introduction of Ifa, a new 4-Star Anemo Catalyst character. Known as the element’s fifth healer, Ifa’s entry has been creating quite a stir among players. Keen eyes first caught a glimpse of him during the Archon Quest teased in Version 5.1, making the anticipation even sweeter. Part of the excitement around Ifa’s appearance stems from the fact that Genshin Impact hasn’t released a new male 5-Star character since Wriothesley graced the game back in October 2023.
Although Ifa isn’t making his debut as a 5-Star character, his skills and abilities show he has immense potential. As an Anemo healer, he joins the likes of well-loved characters such as Xianyun and Jean. Ifa, hailing from Natlan, already has a strong support role carved out. However, the real questions players are asking center around what makes Ifa stand out from other Anemo Catalysts and how he compares to existing 4-Star characters.
Fans have been able to catch an early glimpse of Ifa’s skill set, thanks to insights from Seele Leaks. Ifa, the Flower-Feather Clan’s veterinarian, is technically described as an enhanced version of Yumemizuki Mizuki, a recent 5-Star addition. He excels in healing without limits, seamlessly keeping up with Furina’s Fanfare. The synergy he shares with Electro-Charged teams is remarkable, making Ororon his go-to partner in battles.
Genshin Impact: A Look at Ifa’s Abilities
Skills
- Normal Attack: Unleashes up to three consecutive attacks, delivering Anemo damage.
- Charged Attack: Expends stamina to deal AoE Anemo damage.
- Plunging Attack: Dives from the air, striking the ground below and dealing AoE Anemo damage upon landing.
- Elemental Skill: Ifa enters the Nightsoul’s Blessing state, accompanied by Cacucu. His Normal Attack becomes Supportive Shooting, firing Medicinal Bullets for damage and healing, scaling with Elemental Mastery.
- Elemental Burst: Releases a Therapeutic Field Sedative, creating a Binding Wind Field that gathers items and enemies, inflicting AoE Anemo Nightsoul-aligned damage. It also applies a "Calm Mark" that causes an elemental explosion, depending on the enemies’ current status.
Talents
- A1: Enhances Swirl and Electro-Charged reaction damage by 1.2% per "Rescue Essentials" point during the Nightsoul’s Blessing state.
- A2: Grants an Elemental Mastery boost when nearby allies trigger "Nightsoul Burst."
- Passive 1 (P1): Prolongs Ifa’s Nightsoul’s Blessing by using Phlogiston, allowing special actions when around Natlan’s Phlogiston Mechanisms.
- Passive 2 (P2): Offers emergency healing using Phlogiston in specific situations, though with some limitations.
Constellations
- C1: Regenerates Energy when "Supportive Shooting" connects with an enemy.
- C2: Boosts Rescue Essentials under conditions, but requires Talent 1.
- C3/C5: Enhancements to Ifa’s Elemental Skill and Burst, respectively.
- C4: Extends and strengthens the Binding Wind Field effect.
- C6: Introduces a chance for additional attacks with "Supportive Shooting."
A standout feature in Ifa’s toolkit is his crowd-controlling Elemental Burst, capable of grouping enemies efficiently. Ifa could become a standout 4-Star powerhouse if executed well. His abilities rely heavily on Elemental Mastery, so securing a suitable Artifact Set promptly could be tricky unless players repurpose their Viridescent Venerer from characters like Kazuha or Lan Yan.
It appears Ifa’s synergy best clicks with Natlan allies, especially one that emphasizes Electro-Charged damage, making Ororon his enduring companion in Genshin Impact. The optimal team setup seems to involve Furina and Fischl, alongside Ifa as the driver of a Taser build, consistent with Ifa’s attack focus. Ifa might also team up well with Yelan. While details are yet to be finalized, precise numbers for Ifa’s skill set are anticipated to be released by March 2025, prior to the rollout of Version 5.6 on May 7, 2025.
