Iansan: Genshin Impact's New Bennett Replacement?

In the ever-evolving world of *Genshin Impact*, Bennett has long been celebrated as one of the most versatile and powerful support characters, integral to many team compositions since the game's inception. However, with the arrival of Iansan, a new 4-Star Electro Polearm character in Version 5.5, players are buzzing about whether she could be the new "Bennett replacement." Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see how Iansan stacks up against the beloved Bennett.

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

Iansan hails from Natlan and serves primarily as a support character, much like Bennett, focusing on providing damage buffs and healing. Her Elemental Burst, "The Three Principles of Power," mirrors Bennett's in its ability to buff other characters, but with a twist. Instead of requiring characters to stay within a static field, Iansan summons a Kinetic Energy Scale that follows your active character, boosting ATK based on her Nightsoul Points.

If Iansan has less than 42 out of 54 maximum Nightsoul Points, the ATK bonus scales off both her Nightsoul Points and ATK. However, when she reaches at least 42 Nightsoul Points, the ATK bonus increases and scales purely off her ATK. This dynamic makes building Iansan with a focus on ATK particularly important.

There's a unique mechanic to Iansan's scale: it requires the active character to move, logging the distance traveled and restoring Nightsoul Points to Iansan every second based on that distance. This contrasts with Bennett's more static field, which heals up to 70% of the active character's HP. Iansan also heals, but not as effectively as Bennett, and crucially, she cannot heal herself. Thus, Bennett clearly outshines in the healing department.

Another key difference lies in elemental infusion. At C6, Bennett can infuse Pyro into the Normal Attacks of the active character, a feature Iansan lacks with Electro. The impact of this depends on your team's composition.

For exploration, Iansan offers unique advantages. She can consume Nightsoul Points to sprint quickly without using stamina and jump longer distances, enhancing exploration. However, for Pyro-centric teams, Bennett remains superior due to Elemental Resonance, granting a +25% ATK buff and Pyro infusion.

Should You Choose Iansan or Bennett in Genshin Impact?

Iansan is often likened to Bennett's "long-lost sister" due to their similar appearances and roles. Yet, rather than replacing him, Iansan presents a compelling alternative, particularly useful for secondary team compositions in challenges like the Spiral Abyss, where a Bennett-like support is needed.

One of Iansan's standout features is eliminating the need for what players jokingly call "Circle Impact," where you must remain within Bennett's fixed field for buffs. Iansan's Kinetic Scale encourages mobility, offering a fresh gameplay dynamic compared to Bennett's more stationary approach.

If you're curious about trying Iansan, you'll have the chance in Phase I of *Genshin Impact* Version 5.5, launching on March 26. Whether she becomes your new go-to support or a valuable addition to your roster, Iansan brings a new flavor to the game's support meta.

*Genshin Impact is available to play now.*