How good is Genshin Impact’s newest banner, Sparkling Steps?

A new Character Event Wish banner has started in Genshin Impact called Sparkling Steps.

The banner introduces a new playable character, Klee, to the game. While you may be tempted to go all-in for the adorable, explosive girl, you should consider whether or not she may fit your playstyle or team composition.

Sucrose, Noelle, and Xingqiu are the featured four-star characters in this banner, which means that if you’re going all in on Klee, you will definitely collect several copies of all these characters along the way (whether you want them or not).

Ultimately, you should Wish for whatever characters you like, whether that’s because you like their kit, their design, or maybe even their voice actor.

As usual, remember that gacha system is gambling and it’s very likely that you won’t get the character you’re pinning for. (Please spend responsibility, if you choose to!)

How good is Klee?

Klee is the featured five-star character in the Sparking Steps banner, meaning that there is a 50% chance any five-star you get will be her. (Though keep in mind that the odds of getting a five-star in the first place are extremely low.)

Klee is a Pyro Catalyst-user who specializes in launching explosives. As such, she’s meant to be built as a DPS unit, and is pretty good at fighting bosses. All that being said, Diluc is a far better Pyro DPS than she is, thanks to his high damage percentages.

Depending on what Elemental Burst abilities you prefer, she can be a good replacement for Xiangling in two-Pyro compositions with Diluc. Since having two Pyro characters in the party increases damage done by 25%, pairing her with other Pyro characters is highly recommended.

How good is Sucrose?

Sucrose is an Anemo support who uses a Catalyst.

As an Anemo user, Sucrose is situationally good. While not great to use against Slimes and Abyss Mages, her bread and butter comes from her passive skill, Catalyst Conversion, which increases the party’s Elemental Mastery when Sucrose triggers Swirl.

Ultimately, Sucrose can be helpful as an Anemo-user as you solve puzzles around the map, especially if your Traveler is attuned to Geo. The other Anemo characters are five-stars, which means it’s very likely that Sucrose may be your only Anemo option at times.

Sucrose is also helpful for crafting. If you use her to craft enhancement materials, she has a 10% chance to double the product.

How good is Noelle?

Image: Mihoyo via Polygon

Noelle is a Geo Claymore-user who can be used as a DPS or a healer, but she’s not very good at either of these roles.

Every player who rolled in the discounted Beginner’s Wish banner was guaranteed Noelle. She makes shields and serves as a tank-like character, but since Geo abilities don’t add much to fights and her damage is low, Noelle isn’t great. Most people just use her as a “pickaxe” to break open Iron Ore and the like, since her Claymore makes quick work of them. (Sorry, Noelle. You are cute, but …)

How good is Xingqiu?

Image: Mihoyo

Xingqiu is a Hydro support character that wields a sword.

His Elemental Skill, Fatal Rainscreen, helps mitigate damage and heal your allies a bit, though if you need a Hydro healer, Barbara is much more useful. If you find yourself struggling against hard-hitting enemies, Xingqiu can help you to not get killed in one hit.

There are only three Hydro units in the game right now, with one being a five-star. Hydro has a great elemental reaction with Cryo, Electro, and Pyro, so having Xingqiu around to slap some water on enemies before you combine another element is also nice to have.

Xingqiu is also useful for crafting, as he has a 25% chance to refund some of the materials used when crafting talent materials.