Bennett is widely regarded as one of the most valuable characters in *Genshin Impact*, maintaining his relevance and utility since the game's inception. His consistent presence in various team compositions underscores his versatility. However, with the introduction of Iansan in *Genshin Impact* Version 5.5 on March 26, many are wondering if she could serve as a new alternative to Bennett.
Players often discuss how HoYoverse may have unintentionally created overly powerful support characters like Bennett, Xingqiu, and Xiangling. This has prompted the development of new characters with more specialized roles, such as Iansan, a 4-Star Electro Polearm character from Natlan. Her debut has sparked conversations about whether she could replace Bennett, given the similarities in their kits.
How Does Iansan’s Kit Compare to Bennett’s in Genshin Impact?
Iansan primarily serves as a support character, offering damage buffs and healing similar to Bennett. Her Elemental Burst, "The Three Principles of Power," is crucial for boosting other characters, but her approach differs from Bennett's. Instead of requiring characters to remain within a field, Iansan summons a Kinetic Energy Scale that follows the active character and enhances their Attack based on her Nightsoul Points.
If Iansan has less than 42 out of 54 maximum Nightsoul Points, the Attack bonus scales with both her Nightsoul Points and Attack. However, with at least 42 Nightsoul Points, the bonus increases and scales solely off her Attack, indicating a focus on building her with Attack in mind. The Kinetic Energy Scale logs the distance traveled by the active character, restoring Nightsoul Points to Iansan based on this movement.
While both characters offer healing, Bennett significantly outpaces Iansan, healing up to 70% HP within his field, whereas Iansan's healing capabilities are less potent, and she cannot heal herself. Bennett also has the advantage of Pyro infusion at C6, which Iansan lacks, impacting team composition preferences.
For exploration, Iansan provides unique benefits, such as sprinting without stamina and jumping longer distances using Nightsoul Points. However, Bennett remains the preferred choice for Pyro teams due to Elemental Resonance, which boosts Attack by 25% and provides Pyro infusion.
Should You Choose Iansan or Bennett in Genshin Impact?
Iansan can be seen as a counterpart to Bennett, sharing similarities in appearance and function. However, instead of replacing him, she offers a compelling alternative, especially for secondary team compositions in challenges like the Spiral Abyss, where a similar support role is needed.
A notable advantage of Iansan is the freedom from staying within a fixed area for buffs, a common jest known as "Circle Impact" among *Genshin Impact* players. Iansan's Kinetic Scale encourages movement, providing a fresh gameplay dynamic compared to Bennett's stationary field.
If you're interested in trying out Iansan, you can do so during Phase I of *Genshin Impact* Version 5.5, launching on March 26.
*Genshin Impact is available to play now.*
