Iansan: Genshin Impact's New Bennett Replacement?

Bennett remains a cornerstone of many team compositions in *Genshin Impact*, prized for his versatility and effectiveness since the game's inception. However, with the introduction of Iansan in Version 5.5, set to launch on March 26, the community is abuzz with speculation about whether she might serve as a new "Bennett replacement." Let's delve into the details and see how Iansan measures up against Bennett.

How Does Iansan's Kit Compare to Bennett's in Genshin Impact?

Iansan, a new 4-Star Electro Polearm character from Natlan, steps into the support role much like Bennett, offering both damage buffs and healing. Her Elemental Burst, "The Three Principles of Power," mirrors Bennett's key feature by boosting other characters' attack. Yet, Iansan's approach is unique; she deploys a Kinetic Energy Scale that follows the active character, enhancing ATK based on her Nightsoul Points. If Iansan's Nightsoul Points are below 42 out of a maximum of 54, the ATK bonus scales with both her Nightsoul Points and her ATK. Above 42 points, the bonus scales solely off her ATK, necessitating an ATK-focused build.

A notable feature of Iansan's scale is its reliance on the active character's movement. Both vertical and horizontal movements contribute to the scale logging distance traveled, which in turn, replenishes Iansan's Nightsoul Points over time. This mechanism contrasts with Bennett's stationary field that requires characters to remain within its bounds for buffs.

In terms of healing, Bennett outshines Iansan, with his field capable of restoring up to 70% of a character's HP. Iansan also heals, but not as effectively, and crucially, she cannot heal herself, giving Bennett a clear advantage in this aspect.

Elemental infusion is another area where Bennett has an edge; at C6, he can infuse Pyro into the Normal Attacks of the active character, a feature Iansan lacks. This could be a disadvantage depending on your team's composition.

For exploration, Iansan offers unique advantages, such as the ability to sprint and jump further by consuming Nightsoul Points, without using stamina. However, for teams relying on Pyro, Bennett remains superior due to Elemental Resonance, which boosts ATK by 25% and provides Pyro infusion.

Should You Choose Iansan or Bennett in Genshin Impact?

Iansan and Bennett share striking similarities in appearance and function, but Iansan doesn't replace Bennett outright. Instead, she presents a compelling alternative, especially for secondary teams in Spiral Abyss that need a Bennett-like support. Iansan's Kinetic Scale encourages active movement, offering a fresh gameplay dynamic compared to Bennett's stationary field.

If you're intrigued by Iansan's unique mechanics, you can try her out during Phase I of *Genshin Impact* Version 5.5, launching on March 26.

*Genshin Impact is available to play now.*