I’ve been glued to Genshin Impact news for weeks, and the latest drop from HoYoVerse about Major Valeriy of the Special Assignments Battalion has me both hyped and cautious—here’s the full breakdown of what we know, what we don’t, and how to plan your pulls for the November 4 version 7.2 update.

First, let’s start with the big, game-changing confirmation: HoYoVerse explicitly stated Valeriy will get a "huge drop-rate boost" right after the November 4 update. For anyone who’s played Genshin long enough, that phrasing is almost always tied to a featured 5-star rate-up banner—but here’s the catch: the post never explicitly says "5-star." That means we can’t lock in his rarity just yet; it’s still unconfirmed, and we’ll have to wait for the official banner preview to be 100% sure. The teaser also confirms Valeriy is tied to the 7.2 launch window, not a later phase of the patch, so we know his banner will drop the same day the update goes live.

genshin-impact-7-2-major-valeriy-s-banner-teaser-breakdown-image-0

Now, let’s get into the details that are still up in the air—because there are a lot of them. The post frames Valeriy’s daily routine to tease his character, but it doesn’t list any core mechanics: no element, no weapon type, no exact banner phase (we don’t know if he’ll share Phase 1 with another character or get a solo banner), and no exact drop rates. Even the prior context we have is limited: Valeriy was revealed alongside Mitya as an Armory Palace figure from Snezhnaya, and both were noted to be Electro-aligned in that reveal—but that doesn’t confirm Valeriy’s playable element. That’s a huge gap, because element is one of the biggest factors in deciding if a character fits your roster.

So, what can you actually plan for right now? The only safe move is pity management, and I can’t stress that enough. Let’s break that down:

  • If you’re near a guaranteed 5-star pity: Hold onto it through the November 4 update. That way, you can watch the official banner preview and gameplay footage to see Valeriy’s kit before you commit your pity. No more blind pulls for a character you might not even like.

  • If you’re at low pity and saving for a known rerun: Be careful. A rate boost isn’t a discount—Primogems per pull stay the same, so pulling for Valeriy could mean missing out on a character you already know you want. The opportunity cost is real.

For F2P players, the smartest path is to bank your Primogems until we get more info. Don’t waste a single Primogem on guesswork. For low-spend players, the question is even more specific: will Valeriy’s role overlap with a team slot you already have? Without knowing his element, weapon, or kit, you can’t answer that yet. For example, if you already have a strong Electro support, is Valeriy a better version? Or is he a DPS that fills a gap? We have no clue.

I’ve seen so many players make the mistake of pre-farming artifacts or ascension materials for unconfirmed characters, and I’m begging you not to do that. Spending resin on a guessed stat line is the most common pre-banner mistake, and it’s such a waste. Resin is too valuable—save it for characters you know you want, or for materials you can use on multiple characters. Right now, we don’t even know if Valeriy will need Electro ascension materials, or if he’ll use a sword, polearm, or something else. Farming for a guess is just throwing resin away.

Another thing to note: the post doesn’t mention any accompanying events, login campaigns, or compensation Primogems tied to Valeriy’s release. It just directs players to official social channels for discussion. So don’t count on extra Primogems to pull for him—plan with the Primogems you already have saved.

Let’s recap everything to make it clear:

✅ Confirmed:

  • Valeriy is a Special Assignments Battalion member from Snezhnaya

  • He will get a "huge drop-rate boost" after the November 4 7.2 update

  • His banner is tied to the 7.2 launch window

❌ Unconfirmed:

  • Rarity (even though the rate boost hints at 5-star, it’s not official)

  • Element, weapon type, and core kit details

  • Banner phase (solo or shared with another character)

  • Exact drop rates

  • Any accompanying events or Primogem bonuses

At the end of the day, the schedule teaser is just a timing signal, not a pull recommendation. The November 4 update is the date to circle, and we’ll get all the details we need in the official banner preview that drops right before the update. Until then, save your pity, save your Primogems, and save your resin. Don’t let the hype make you make a decision you’ll regret. I’ll be watching for the preview just as closely as you are, and I’ll break it down as soon as it drops—so stay tuned!