Bennett has long been heralded as one of the most valuable characters in *Genshin Impact*, maintaining his relevance since the game's inception and featuring prominently in numerous team compositions. However, with the introduction of Iansan in *Genshin Impact* Version 5.5, launching on March 26, many players are questioning whether she could be the new "Bennett replacement." HoYoverse has been known to create support characters that are exceptionally powerful, such as Bennett, Xingqiu, and Xiangling, leading to speculation that newer characters like Iansan are designed with more niche roles to diversify player strategies.
How Does Iansan's Kit Compare to Bennett's in Genshin Impact?
Iansan, a 4-Star Electro Polearm character from Natlan, steps into the game as a support character, echoing Bennett's role with damage buffs and healing capabilities. Her Elemental Burst, "The Three Principles of Power," mirrors Bennett's by boosting other characters' performance. However, Iansan's method is unique; she deploys a Kinetic Energy Scale that trails the active character, enhancing ATK based on her Nightsoul Points, rather than requiring characters to remain within a fixed area like Bennett's field.
If Iansan's Nightsoul Points are below 42 out of a maximum of 54, the ATK bonus is derived from both her Nightsoul Points and ATK. At 42 or more Nightsoul Points, the ATK bonus intensifies and is solely based on her ATK, making ATK a crucial stat for her build. The catch with Iansan's scale is that it requires the buffed character to move, logging distance traveled to restore Nightsoul Points.
While both characters offer healing, Bennett's Burst can restore up to 70% of the active character's HP, significantly outpacing Iansan's healing capabilities. Additionally, Bennett can heal himself, a feature Iansan lacks. In terms of elemental infusion, Bennett at C6 can imbue Pyro into the Normal Attacks of the active character, a feature absent in Iansan's kit, potentially impacting certain team compositions.
Iansan shines in exploration, utilizing Nightsoul Points for stamina-free sprinting and enhanced jumping distances. However, for teams leveraging Pyro synergies, Bennett remains superior due to Elemental Resonance providing a +25% ATK buff and Pyro infusion.
Should You Choose Iansan or Bennett in Genshin Impact?
Iansan could be seen as Bennett's counterpart, with similar appearances and overlapping roles. Yet, she does not replace him but serves as a compelling alternative, particularly for secondary teams in challenges like the Spiral Abyss that require a Bennett-like support.
Iansan's Kinetic Scale encourages active movement, offering a dynamic playstyle that contrasts with Bennett's stationary field requirement, humorously dubbed "Circle Impact" by the community. If you're interested in experimenting with Iansan, you can try her out during Phase I of *Genshin Impact* Version 5.5, available from March 26.
*Genshin Impact is available to play now.*
