 | Name | Varka |
| Title | Knight of Boreas | |
| Occupation | Knights of Favonius | |
| Association | MONDSTADT | |
| Rarity |  | |
| Weapon |  Claymore | |
| Element |  Anemo | |
| Day of Birth | 17 | |
| Month of Birth | 2 | |
| Vision (Introduced) | Anemo | |
| Constellation (Introduced) | Lupus Majoris | |
| Chinese Seuyu | 郝祥海 | |
| Japanese Seuyu | 杉田智和 | |
| English Seuyu | Joseph May | |
| Korean Seuyu | Park Sang-hoon | |
| Description | Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius. Knight of Boreas, protector of Mondstadt. | |
| Character Ascension Materials |           | |
| Skill Ascension Materials |      |
| Table of Content |
| Stats |
| Skills |
| Skill Ascension |
| Related Items |
| Gallery |
| Sounds |
| Quotes |
| Stories |
Stats
| Lv | HP | Atk | Def | CritRate% | CritDMG% | Bonus CritDMG% | Materials | Total Materials |
| 1 | 982 | 27.46 | 61.92 | 5.0% | 50.0% | 0% | ||
| 20 | 2547 | 71.24 | 160.63 | 5.0% | 50.0% | 0% | 1033 20000 | 103320000 |
| 20+ | 3389 | 94.79 | 213.73 | 5.0% | 50.0% | 0% | ||
| 40 | 5071 | 141.84 | 319.8 | 5.0% | 50.0% | 0% | 32101540000 | 1013186000032 |
| 40+ | 5669 | 158.57 | 357.53 | 5.0% | 50.0% | 9.6% | ||
| 50 | 6523 | 182.43 | 411.34 | 5.0% | 50.0% | 9.6% | 64201260000 | 103318120K9612 |
| 50+ | 7320 | 204.74 | 461.64 | 5.0% | 50.0% | 19.2% | ||
| 60 | 8182 | 228.85 | 516.01 | 5.0% | 50.0% | 19.2% | 38301880000 | 106318200K914303 |
| 60+ | 8780 | 245.58 | 553.74 | 5.0% | 50.0% | 19.2% | ||
| 70 | 9650 | 269.92 | 608.6 | 5.0% | 50.0% | 19.2% | 6124512100K | 1010818300K92630912 |
| 70+ | 10249 | 286.65 | 646.33 | 5.0% | 50.0% | 28.8% | ||
| 80 | 11128 | 311.26 | 701.81 | 5.0% | 50.0% | 28.8% | 6206024120K | 1016818420K946309366 |
| 80+ | 11727 | 327.99 | 739.54 | 5.0% | 50.0% | 38.4% | ||
| 90 | 12613 | 352.79 | 795.45 | 5.0% | 50.0% | 38.4% | ||
| 90+ | 12613 | 352.79 | 795.45 | 5.0% | 50.0% | 38.4% | ||
| 100 | 13510 | 432.16 | 851.99 | 5.0% | 50.0% | 38.4% |
Skills
Active Skils
 | Favonius Bladework: Dancing Radiance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Imitating an ancient knightly war-dance, Varka wields dual claymores to perform up to 5 consecutive strikes. Consumes a certain amount of Stamina to charge forward and perform an especially powerful dual blade slash toward the front. Plunges from mid-air to strike the ground below, damaging opponents along the path and dealing AoE DMG upon impact. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 | Windbound Execution | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manifest the true essence of Favonius Bladework with absolute power. Produces different effects depending on whether the skill is Tapped or Held. Leap forward and slash in one fluid motion, dealing While in Additionally, when in After charging for a while, leap forward. The duration of the charge will increase the distance of the leap. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 | Northwind Avatar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In the name of the mightiest Knight of Boreas, unleash a powerful double slash attack toward the front, dealing 2 instances of If there are | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Passive Skills
 | Homebound Wind's Paean |
| For every party member from Mondstadt, the Hold version of Varka's Elemental Skill This effect does not trigger in Domains, Trounce Domains, or the Spiral Abyss. |
 | Dawn Wind's March |
| When there are Additionally, if there are at least 2 |
 | Wind's Vanguard |
| When nearby party members trigger Swirl reaction(s), Varka gains one stack of |
 | Witch's Eve Rite: Dawn's Return |
| After completing Enhances the special Elemental Skill |
Constellations
 | "Come, Friend, Let Us Dance Beneath the Moon's Soft Glow" |
| When Varka switches to Additionally, after switching to |
 | "When Dawn Breaks, Our Journey Shall Take Flight" |
| When unleashing the special Elemental Skill |
 | "O Friend, Quaff Not the Bitter Wine That Brings Tears of Woe" |
| Increases Elemental Skill Maximum upgrade level is 15. |
 | "For None May Take From Us Our Freedom of Song" |
| When Varka triggers a Swirl reaction, based on the Elemental Types involved in the reaction, all nearby party members gain a 20% |
 | "Fill High the Cup With Fine Wine, for Tyrants Come and Go" |
| Increases Elemental Burst Maximum upgrade level is 15. |
 | "Beloved Mondstadt, Steadfast You Shall Shine" |
· For a short time after unleashing the special Elemental Skill · For a short time after performing the special Charged Attack When triggering an additional special Charged Attack, Azure Devour, or unleashing an additional special Elemental Skill, Four Winds' Ascension, in this manner, the above effect cannot be triggered. Additionally, the |
Skill Ascension
Related Items
| items per Page |
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Gallery
Sounds
| Title | EN | CN | JP | KR |
| Party Switch | ||||
| Party Switch when teammate is under 30% HP | ||||
| Party Switch under 30% HP | ||||
| Opening Chest | ||||
| Normal Attack | ||||
| Medium Attack | ||||
| Heavy Attack | ||||
| loc_combat_sound_1000037 | ||||
| Taking Damage (Low) | ||||
| Taking Damage (High) | ||||
| loc_combat_sound_1000223 | ||||
| loc_combat_sound_1000224 | ||||
| loc_combat_sound_1000225 | ||||
| loc_combat_sound_1000226 | ||||
| loc_combat_sound_1000227 | ||||
| loc_combat_sound_1000228 | ||||
| loc_combat_sound_1000229 | ||||
| Battle Skill #3 | ||||
| Sprinting Starts | ||||
| Jumping | ||||
| Climbing | ||||
| Heavy Breathing (Climbing) | ||||
| Open World Gliding (Start) | ||||
| Open World Idle | ||||
| Fainting |
Quotes
Audio Language:
| Title | VoiceOver |
| Hello | |
| Chat: Drinking | |
| Chat: Weapons | |
| Chat: Rest | |
| After the Rain | |
| When It Snows | |
| When the Wind Is Blowing | |
| Good Morning | |
| Good Afternoon | |
| Good Evening | |
| Good Night | |
| About Varka: Knight of Boreas | |
| About Varka: The Expedition | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Us: Outlander | * Complete "Song of the Dragon and Freedom" |
| About Us: Catching the Wind | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 6 |
| About the Vision | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| Something to Share: The Four Winds | |
| Interesting Things: Cats and Dogs | |
| About Venti | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Razor | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Rosaria | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Diluc | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Kaeya | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Jean | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Noelle | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Lohen | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Mika | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Eula | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Amber | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Albedo | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Durin | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Klee | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Alice | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Nicole | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Barbeloth | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Aino | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Ineffa | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Flins | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Nefer | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Jahoda | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About Mavuika | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| About The Captain | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| More About Varka: I | |
| More About Varka: II | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 3 |
| More About Varka: III | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| More About Varka: IV | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 5 |
| More About Varka: V | * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 6 |
| Varka's Hobbies | |
| Varka's Troubles | |
| Favorite Food | |
| Least Favorite Food | |
| Receiving a Gift: I | |
| Receiving a Gift: II | |
| Receiving a Gift: III | |
| Birthday | |
| Feelings About Ascension: Intro | * Unlocks at Ascension Phase 1 |
| Feelings About Ascension: Building Up | * Unlocks at Ascension Phase 2 |
| Feelings About Ascension: Climax | * Unlocks at Ascension Phase 4 |
| Feelings About Ascension: Conclusion | * Unlocks at Ascension Phase 6 |
| Charged Attack: I | |
| Charged Attack: II | |
| Elemental Skill: I | |
| Elemental Skill: II | |
| Elemental Skill: III | |
| Elemental Skill: IV | |
| Elemental Skill: V | |
| Elemental Skill: VI | |
| Elemental Skill: VII | |
| Elemental Skill: VIII | |
| Elemental Skill: IX | |
| Elemental Burst: I | |
| Elemental Burst: II | |
| Elemental Burst: III | |
| Sprint Start: I | |
| Opening Treasure Chest: I | |
| Opening Treasure Chest: II | |
| Opening Treasure Chest: III | |
| Low HP: I | |
| Low HP: II | |
| Low HP: III | |
| Ally at Low HP: I | |
| Ally at Low HP: II | |
| Fallen: I | |
| Fallen: II | |
| Fallen: III | |
| Light Hit Taken: I | |
| Light Hit Taken: II | |
| Heavy Hit Taken: I | |
| Joining Party: I | |
| Joining Party: II | |
| Joining Party: III |
Stories
| Title | Text |
| Character Details | It is in bustling taverns that the grand tales of Varka are told, and they almost always begin with the extraordinary story of his birth. Some claim that, when he was still in his swaddling clothes, two venomous serpents sought to slay the hero he was to be. Yet the infant, not a full month old, seized them, one in each hand, and tossed them from his cradle as if they were mere playthings. And thus, 'tis said, he grasped the secret to wielding twin blades! Some say that, upon the very hour of his birth, a bitter north wind, the likes of which had not scourged Mondstadt in a century, tore through the sunlit skies. And from the depths of Wolvendom rose a chorus of wolf cries, one answering another. 'Twas a declaration that the "North Wind" would rise again to reclaim his place as the mightiest of the Four Winds! Some whisper that he was born to be a knight, a favored child of fate, destined for greatness since his first breath... Such whispers, of course, are but the idle stuff of tavern tales. In Mondstadt, there are no fell serpents that single out infants as targets for their venom, nor packs of wolves that howl for no rhyme or reason. These tales are naught but the beguiling babble of tavern bards, who, with much ado, weave epics of high destiny and doom for entertainment. Not all legends are born of legendary beginnings, nor must every myth be guided by a god's own hand. On a perfectly ordinary day, without a breath of wind or drop of rain, in a home neither poor nor prosperous, Varka came into the world in the most ordinary way. No peril arose, no omen struck. In the days that followed, he grew up no differently from any other ordinary child in Mondstadt. Listening to the bards' tales of knights and gods, he dreamed of the day he might charge across a battlefield, just like the heroes of those very tales. Yet, when the tales were over, and the children departed in twos and threes, he would always linger, clinging on with ceaseless questions... —Why is it that the heroes are always born of some ancient bloodline, or blessed by the favor of gods long past? The bards could only offer an awkward smile and reply, "That's how the stories have always been told." —Then who founded those ancient bloodlines? Who blessed the gods before their divinity? At this juncture, most bards would fall silent. A handful would point towards the Knights of Favonius's library. —One cannot look to "stories" for these answers; one must look to "history." And fewer still, wearied by such questions, would point towards the boundless wilderness beyond the city walls... —What do I know? I'm just a bard! Ask Barbatos! ... Many years later, when Varka had at last become a "Legendary Knight" of the new generation and the hero of his own tale, he finally understood the bards' predicament. Reality requires no justification, yet a tale must earn the credence of its audience. And for the ordinary listener, it is nearly impossible to conceive: Without ancient bloodlines or divine favor, with nothing but ceaseless effort and unyielding will, how could a mortal forge a legend? |
| Character Story 1 | When a younger Varka first participated in the Knights' prep exams, he floored every single examiner. That is to say, he literally bowled them over. Just as he was brimming with confidence, ready to receive his formal appointment as a knight, a letter of rejection arrived, shattering every last one of his dreams. "To Varka: First and foremost, we would like to express our sincere appreciation for your participation in this assessment. Your capabilities and your aspiration to become a knight have left a lasting impression on us." "However, after careful consideration and thorough review, we regret to inform you that..." Before he could even finish the rest of the letter, Varka scrunched it into a ball and threw it into the wastebasket. Then, he reached for a scrap of paper to plan his next move. That very night, as Valentine, former Grand Master and the previous Lionfang Knight, was making his way home after a drink, he was ambushed by an assailant. With all his attendants laid out, Valentine was left to face the attacker alone, both impressed and speechless. Impressed, because the assailant was much more capable than he had imagined, and his ability to conceive and execute the ambush in under half a day was nothing short of astonishing. Speechless, because the assailant's absurd declaration left him in bewildered silence: If the Knights of Favonius can't even protect their own Grand Master, how can they protect Mondstadt? They might as well hand the job to him! "Did you... not finish reading the letter I wrote you?" "Hmm? Who reads a rejection letter to the end?" "I always put the important part in the postscript." Fortunately, Valentine had already intended to speak to Varka in person, as noted in his postscript. But Varka's speed in turning thought into action had advanced their meeting by a wide margin. So, after shaking the attendants awake and apologizing to each one in turn, Varka followed Valentine for a second round of drinks and to hear the reasons behind his rejection. Over drinks, the two spoke at length. But it all boiled down to something quite simple: The wind, born free, should not be caged within city walls too soon. Valentine believed that, instead of standing guard in Mondstadt or patrolling its outskirts, Varka should venture out to distant nations and uncharted frontiers. Just as the adage holds: only by practicing a thousand melodies can the bard strike an extraordinary chord; only by studying a thousand blades can the smith forge a legendary weapon. "Not to mention, if we actually made you sit in an office for three years... No, three months, you'd be handing in your resignation!" Confronted by Valentine's piercing observation, Varka gave a noncommittal laugh, swallowing his "three days, give or take" with a gulp of wine. "What I really want is for you to find your own reason for being a knight," Valentine said, his smile turning serious. "And it shouldn't be your starry-eyed fantasies, nor something you heard from a bard's tale. Once you've found that reason, come back to Mondstadt." The very next day, Varka set out on his journey to discover what could make the free wind content to remain within city walls... and become a "knight." "...Even if the day should come when, for the sake of being a knight, you find yourself doing the work you loathe, day after day." Borne by the salt-tinged breeze of Dornman Port, the young man narrowed his eyes against the rising sun and recalled the old knight's solemn counsel once more. "...Even if the day should come when, for the sake of that very same title, you must surrender the glory and pride you hold dearest." * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 2 |
| Character Story 2 | No homeland was, 'til other lands defined its frame. No longing was, 'til farewell spoke its name. ... While Seamus Pegg wrote that short verse into his notebook, Varka crouched by the campfire, warming a pot of wine. "If you ask me, you should really come to Mondstadt. With your gift for song and words, you'd be a sensation among us!" "We'll see." Seamus accepted the cup from Varka and shrugged noncommittally. "...At least that dandelion wine you mentioned sounds worth a try." On a winter night in a distant land, two up-and-coming adventurers, far from their respective homelands, crossed paths by chance. By then, Varka had already journeyed through many nations. He had witnessed the most monstrous of creatures prowling the mountain peaks and churning oceans into towering waves. He had seen the bravest of men, armed with little more than crude spears and cloth armor, standing their ground against hordes of enemies. The Millelith, the Gardes... Different people from different lands, called by different names, sharing the very same spirit. Yet, it felt as though a veil still hung between him and the answer he so desperately sought. As the years abroad slipped by, his longing for home was the only thing that stayed. "I wonder... Did young master Crepus go back to take over the winery, or did he finally achieve his dream of becoming a knight?" "And what of Frederica, who never had a good word for anyone? Has hell finally frozen over? Has she taken a shine to some lucky fellow?" "What about Eroch? He was always so quick to point out how I fell short of the chivalric code. Has he grown more forgiving with time?" "I wonder if the wine back home still tastes the same as I remember. I wonder if my family misses me as often as I miss them..." "If you're so curious, why not just go back?" Bluntly, Seamus interrupted Varka's incessant rambling. "You're not like me. I don't have anyone left to miss in Nod-Krai." "Go back? But I still haven't found my answer..." "Those people you were just rambling about... Why can't they be your answer?" Varka fell silent, his cup frozen halfway to his lips. It was as though a veil in his heart had been torn away. "Home" was never some nebulous concept. Likewise, the reason for becoming a "knight" never required the burden of a grand, noble purpose. Only... How could such a simple truth take so many years to click? If he went back now, wouldn't those guys back home laugh themselves hoarse? Shouldn't a hero's awakening come in a moment of legend, followed by a triumphant return at an epic hour? This isn't how it goes in the bards' tales! Still, perhaps the truth isn't nearly as simple as people think. After all, one has to leave home before one can learn to miss it... Sensing the turmoil in Varka's thoughts, Seamus cleared his throat and snapped his notebook shut. "Ahem... Fine, if you need a reason that badly, then consider it your job to get me to Mondstadt. Besides, I want to see this Freder— I mean, this dandelion wine you keep talking about! I want to see if it's really as impressive as you say!" * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 3 |
| Character Story 3 | Since formally inheriting the title of the Knight of Boreas, Varka remained undefeated across every campaign he led. If Lionfang is a blessing of abundance for the earth, then Boreas is the indomitable spirit behind a formidable strength. Be they vile outlaws or monstrous terrors that ravage the realm, or even the creeping darkness of the Abyss, all shatter beneath a blade that bears the North Wind's biting chill. Following a series of campaigns, any remnant danger within the territory was utterly purged, and Mondstadt entered a golden age of peace as none had seen before. Peace arrived with such apparent ease that people began to view it as the natural order of things. A sentiment arose that, in this age of tranquility, the Knights should hang up their swords and spend their days finding lost cats or wrangling misbehaving dogs... After becoming Grand Master, Varka drowned out these noises and pushed forward with the next expedition. His early years as an adventurer served as a constant reminder: the peace that they were enjoying was but a happy accident. The absence of a visible threat did not mean that the danger had vanished. The Abyss still festered in the North, monsters still lurked beneath the waves; Durin still resided in the snowy mountains, Ursa was only deep in slumber... Any of these could shatter the fragile peace they had fought so hard to secure. The seniors who had paved his path had grown old: Lionfang Knight Valentine, Calvary Captain Feroux, Captain of the Ranged Company Adorno... And yet, the knights of the new generation still had much to learn. Varka knew all too well that his own prime would eventually wither with age. As Grand Master, he sought to buy more time for the next generation. As a warrior in his own right, he wanted to test his mettle against the mightiest of enemies before his best years began to fade. And so, after entrusting Mondstadt's affairs to the veteran knights and Inspector Eroch, Varka set out once more on another expedition. ...But this time, Varka suffered a most devastating defeat. In his own blinding brilliance, the knight remained blind to the shadow he cast, where jealousy and malice had begun to spawn. Varka never realized that, from the day he returned to Mondstadt and joined the Knights of Favonius, a twisted seed had already taken root in Eroch's heart. And when The Doctor's Segments whispered to the man of power and authority beyond all measure, the darkness within Eroch surged forth like a flood. —A wanderer who spends his days idling abroad, hailed as the strongest Knight of Boreas in history? —A lawless maniac who flouts every code of chivalry, yet lays down the law for the other knights? Warped obsessions and the passage of time can turn friends into foes as easily as the wind changes its course. The Inspector, who was meant to safeguard order in Varka's stead, trampled upon every principle of justice instead. Eroch, the man solemnly entrusted with the security of the seal, roused an ancient horror from its slumber, plotting to lay claim to the power of the heavens alongside The Doctor. Even as Varka was once again striking down formidable foes beyond the borders, holding the line for Mondstadt at the frontiers, devastating news arrived from home — his old friend Crepus had died in combat, and Inspector Eroch had turned traitor. Varka returned in haste, immediately setting to work uprooting those who had colluded with the turncoat. But Eroch had inflicted too many wounds upon Mondstadt in the intervening years. Cornered by Varka with no way out, he took his own life amidst peals of manic laughter. That laughter held no words, yet every note rang with a clear, biting mockery of the Invincible Knight of Boreas, the Grand Master Who Rivals the Gods. —Behold. You've stumbled. You've failed. —You are only human, after all. * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| Character Story 4 | No matter how formidable a single person's power may be, even if that power rivals the divine, they cannot protect all things. There are corners in this vast world that will always remain unseen, schemes in this unpredictable life that will always remain unforeseen. Mondstadt's freedom and peace were won at a great cost, and safeguarding them is a task far beyond the reach of a single man, or a single god. One can never be too prepared. And so, the Knights of Favonius must keep up with the times. The Ranged Company must be outfitted with new firearms to bolster their stopping power, while the Support Company must develop modern fortifications to adapt to the changing face of the battlefield... There is no need to rely solely on the brilliance of a few outstanding heroes. The evolution of tactics and equipment can tangibly improve the combat effectiveness and survival rate of every single knight. And so, the Knights of Favonius must nurture a legacy that endures. A new generation of knights, whom he had watched grow up, was now coming into its own. Many are already serving as the organization's new backbone. Yet, there are still those who have not truly grasped what it means to be a knight, nor are they ready to shoulder the weight of that title — just as Varka was in his youth. And so, Mondstadt must have resolute and reliable allies. Under the mediation of the Anemo Archon, Varka took his place at the Tripartite Conference. With cunning charm and a silver tongue, he sought to win over a mage who walked beyond the world's common logic. "I never expected a knight to have such a way with words... It almost makes one wonder if Barbatos might be whispering lines into his ear." Such was Alice's assessment of Varka's display. At last, the mages set their names upon the pact. Perhaps they were unmoved by his words... Perhaps they had motives of their own. In any case, with this pact in place, Mondstadt had secured one more safeguard for its future. ... In accordance with the pact, the trial forged by the combined power of the mages was finally completed. Varka, who hadn't let loose in ages, could at last set all worldly duties aside and lose himself in a truly exhilarating fight. At the end of the trial, the mages asked the knight to make a wish, but the knight had nothing to ask for. The city he sought to protect was safe, and the power he desired, he would seize with his own hands. And so, on a whim, Varka asked if he might steal a glance at Barbeloth's scryglass. Just to satisfy the sudden spark of curiosity. Before the thrill of the battle could even fade, Varka caught a glimpse of fate's design reflected in the scryglass. What the water mirrored was at once a vision of boundless glory and endless suffering. He saw the legends he had idolized since childhood locked in a struggle against real dragons. He saw them surpass their own limits in the heat of blood-soaked battle, becoming the heroes of dreams amidst cheers of jubilation. But he also saw a dark calamity creeping across the lands of Nod-Krai and Snezhnaya, and heard the wails of strangers echoing from the depths of the snowfields. Why become a knight? In his younger years, Varka had given himself an answer — to protect those he loved, and protect those who loved him in return. Now, fate greeted him with a colder, more cutting question: Would a knight still fight for those who might not even know his name? If fate was bold enough to show its hand, why not play the hand he was dealt? If the storm has yet to reach Mondstadt's shores, why cast aside his dreams now to go chasing shadows in the North? There was no need for hesitation. The unruly North Wind has never followed anything but its own whims. And every child of Mondstadt, born into freedom, carries the same answer in their heart. "We will not bow before any tyrant, even if that tyrant is fate itself!" * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 5 |
| Character Story 5 | There are numerous ways to enjoy Tabletop Troupe, a game popular across many nations. Even the expeditionary force makes use of it, hosting games during their leisure hours to help broaden the knights' strategic thinking. Traditionalists insist that roleplaying and narrative are the heart of the game. But every game has its rules, and so long as there are rules, there will be players looking to push them to their absolute limit. "My 'Character' is a righteous and honorable knight, but I once crossed paths with a cursed blade! To suppress its fury, I have no choice but to carry it with me at all times..." "And while I am merely an ordinary bard, the rumors I've picked up in countryside taverns have taught me many a secret regarding the hidden depths of magic..." Beyond that, you'll find the people who insist on pitting these "Characters" against each other to see who comes out on top. "A high-level Master of Qi can attack five times in one turn? And leap onto rooftops in a single bound? That's way too strong!" "But what happens when they run into magic? They'd be sitting ducks! Magic casters are obviously superior, they can reshape the world itself." "No, no, look at this. A heroic bard can cast spells while attacking, and if they've dabbled in these other trades... Not only can they cast spells, but they can also hit their target twenty times over in a single turn!" "You're just exploiting a loophole!" "But that's exactly how it's written in the rulebook!" Whenever such a stalemate arose over the expeditionary force's sand table, all the bickering would end with one thing: "Grand Master, what's your call?" As Grand Master and Game Master, Varka's response was very blunt. "Ekbert, your Master of Qi is trapped within six invisible walls." "Ugh...!" "Winfried, a Bathysmal Vishap has dragged you underwater. You can't cast spells now." "Uh..." "Leifhelm... According to the rules, you can cast spells while attacking." "Ha! Told you I'm the strongest!" "In that case, you are now facing a behemoth that deflects those very spells. Take your time." After a few rounds of wailing, all three knights' characters were tragically "Wiped Out." "...A single person can only be so strong. The dangers out there never end. Luckily, we're only playing tabletop games right now, and not standing before the Abyss." Varka flicked over the last chess piece representing a character without hesitation. "Next time, remember to scope out the enemy and assign roles before charging into battle! Even Lohen knows that Tabletop Troupe isn't a solo game!" ... With the fleeting years and scant wisdom of a human life, no man is an island, especially against the myriad foes of this world. Only when scattered embers are drawn together, each kindling the space before it, shall their light mingle and thus rival the stars and moon. "To you, the soul of a God is no gift. It is a lethal poison. The strength of mankind is bought by bitter toil. Are you certain you wish to do this?" On the eve of the expeditionary force's departure, the Dominator of Wolves posed this very question to the visiting knight. "I am certainly not the only one capable of slaying the God of the North Wind." Varka grinned as he always did, as if nothing more than a common errand lay ahead. "But throughout history, the only ones who can truly 'answer' the God of the North Wind have been the Knights of Boreas. Am I wrong?" "...You've changed, it seems." The Wolf of the North closed his eyes. For a moment, it was as if he could see that brash young knight once more, a young man who had challenged him time and again in a relentless pursuit of the pinnacle of power. "In the past, you never would have squandered your own power like this." "I've found something far more precious than mere power. Something I would defend more dearly." The morning light filtered through the mist and tangled boughs of Wolvendom, scattering across the knight's armor. Whether a trick of the senses or something more, the wild breeze carried echoes of the distant city. The playful shouts of children, the good-natured grumbling of elders. The rhythmic strike of hammer on anvil, the clink of glasses over fine wine. The banners snapped in the wind; the knights stood in rank and file. "Besides, as for this 'power' of mine..." Varka ran his hand over his battle-scarred greatsword, then hoisted it onto his shoulder one more time. "—It is every person at my back." * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 6 |
| Wolf's Homecoming Song | Word is that the first knight to be known as Boreas would hum the same song in the tavern every time he returned from a monster hunt. The origins of that song, much like the knight's own name, was lost to the ages. Perhaps it was a lingering echo he brought back from a distant land, or a melody he happened to catch drifting on the wind. Or, it might have been a little ditty composed by a destitute musician in place of payment after being rescued by the knight. In any case, the tune clearly won the knight's heart. He hummed it thousands of times without ever growing weary of it. And since he always hummed the melody upon his return, it eventually became a signal to all. Whenever the tavern patrons heard that song, they knew the knight had returned in triumph. And whenever the townspeople heard it, they knew the monsters beyond the walls had finally been slain. Later, the knight's companion remained forever in the land of wind, while the knight himself set out on a new journey. Since then, the melody seemed to have faded from all memory. Years later, the blacksmith's son, Ravenwood, took up the heavy claymore under the name of Boreas once more. As the crowds cheered, they joined their voices in the knight's homecoming hymn once again. And so, the melody would forever endure in Mondstadt alongside the title of Boreas. Passed down through generations by the bards, it has since been woven into countless versions and a multitude of legends. Legend has it that the troops of Arundolyn, the Lion of Light, once sang a rousing anthem of victory as they swept across the north, purging the calamities that plagued the land. Legend tells of how Rostam, the "Wolf Pup," once listened to a tender nocturne beneath the starlight, drifting peacefully into the land of dreams. And so, the lyrics of the song grew longer and longer with each passing year, as if it were a heroic epic that could never truly reach its end. ... It was Varka's first expedition since becoming the Grand Master. Keeping with tradition, the knights gathered on the training grounds, singing ancient songs to pray for victory and a safe return. After concluding the rally with a brief speech, Varka pushed open the door to his office, only to find that someone had left a long, wide gift box upon his desk. "The off-hand sword you've been using is beyond repair, right? You might as well replace it with a new one right now." "With the way you swing a blade, even the finest sword is nothing more than a consumable... I hope this one lasts a bit longer in your hands." "Also, happy birthday. You may have forgotten, but we certainly haven't." Turning the letter over, he found the signatures and a postscript scrawled on the back. "Seamus, Frederica, Valentine, and all the Knights of Favonius." "P.S. We argued about what to name this sword for the longest time. Unfortunately, we could not agree on anything, so we figured we'd just leave it up to its master to decide." On the training grounds, the knights' singing had yet to cease. Even through several thick stone walls, their voices remained clearly audible. Gripping the cold steel of the hilt, he pointed the blade toward the distant moonlight shimmering outside the window. A never-ending surge of poetry and song swelled in Varka's heart, echoing resoundingly: Triumph! For justice, and chivalry indomitable! * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4 |
| Vision | Even without the favor of a Vision, mankind is still capable of monumental feats. In Natlan, the human king led heroes toward the divine throne. In Fontaine, a genius once mapped the world's fate through numerology. And in Liyue, the grandmaster of spear and blade swept across the lands, unrivaled. Across vast spans of time, through the endless tides of humanity, there will always emerge those variables who defy the common order of things. In Mondstadt, too, there was once a knight who was never blessed with a Vision. He reached the pinnacle of strength through sheer power and speed, wielding a claymore in one hand and a longsword in the other, performing a blade dance that verged on the divine. But a wild card of such raw talent was a mere stroke of luck. Since the Lion of Light's passing, Mondstadt was left without an heir to his genius. Even the one hailed as the "Perfect Knight," the great hope of both the Wolf Pup and the Lion of Light, was lost to a blood-stained crusade before he could ever master the dance. Among the knights of later generations, many have mastered both the claymore and the longsword. Yet none have ever matched the original, wielding both blades as extensions of their own arms. ... When this problem was laid before Varka, even he was stumped. He certainly didn't lack the raw physical strength to rival the Lion of Light. However, he soon discovered that dual-wielding required not just brute power, but also masterful technique. Without it, even his most forceful attempts left him strained and unsteady, each move offsetting the last. For him, it proved far less effective than the sheer, single-minded speed of a solitary sword. Within the Knights' records, studies of that blade dance contain no description of its technique. Evidently, Varka's predecessors were so focused on its ferocity that they underestimated its finesse. But that was of little consequence. While the complete form of the blade dance had already faded from human memory, there was one in Wolvendom who might have witnessed the Lion of Light at the height of his glory. Back then, the young and brash knight was the type to act on impulse. So, with a jug of wine in one hand and two blades strapped to his back, he marched off into the hills. ... One day passed, then two. The Great Wolf King of the North howled and roared, and Varka was thrashed until he was howling right along with him. Three days, then four. The howling and roaring began to fade, replaced by the increasingly clear, sharp ring of steel clashing against fang and claw. Even across thousands of years, as far as Lupus Boreas could recall, challengers like this were few and far between. Though the trial was long won, he continued to charge over and over again. He had won the favor of a god, yet he remained his own harshest critic. But... Another question gnawed at Lupus Boreas. After yet another clash that ended in a stalemate, he turned his gaze to the knight, who was tossing back a jug of hard liquor. "Human... Your strength is absolute, your conviction a raging fire... In this age, the title of Boreas is rightfully yours." Lupus Boreas fell silent for a moment. "...Then why has the gaze of the heavens not yet fallen upon you?" "The gaze of the heavens? ...Oh, are you talking about my Vision? It's right here." With a nonchalant shrug, Varka unveiled a brilliant, glowing jewel he had tucked behind his waist. "I think it just appeared in my cup while I was drinking one day... Or maybe I found it amongst the spoils I gained after an adventure?" "The eye of heaven has been upon you all this time? Then why do you not draw upon its power?" "Well, if Arundolyn could create his blade dance without a Vision, then it's only right that I recreate it under the same conditions." Getting to his feet unhurriedly, Varka shook out his arms and settled his grip on his swords once again. "As for what happens next... Caught your breath yet, O Great Wolf King?" His swords crossed. For the first time in forever, the Vision at his waist flared with a brilliant, blinding light. "—Now, I'm going to surpass him!" To learn, to inherit, and then to transcend. This is what humanity has always done best. * Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 6 |
92 responses to “Varka”
There might be a new set of hexerei artifact for suporting comes out in 6.6, together with Nicole. So i’m not worried about Varka’s damage at all.
c6 r1 varka (c6 durin/bennet/c2 venti) vs c6 r1 zibai (c6 columbina c6 illuga c6 gorou)
440k dps vs 500k dps on average
I am actually OK with this. Varka can slide into hydro/cryo/electro teams too don’t forget. With the right supports (present and future) you can make him work in a lot of different ways. Flexibility means something in this very inflexible meta we are in.
Scales really well with attack speed buffs so there might be some interesting builds come out
Watch and learn kids, Hoyo are masters of the art called: “Fumbling the bag for a badass/edgy & powerful archatype & its audience”
Sorry nobody lifts in China, the 0.1% that does seems to just eat roids & looses braincells and the rest 99% are femboys so they dont know how to produce, design and sell a strong character that is built in their 20s to 30s or uses any level of armor (Dehya, Varka, Itto noodle arms.) Also East didn’t believed you could sell a game without bland, spineless selfinsert soy young boy MC before Jin from Ghost of Tsushima popped off there. (At least FFXVI got the memo) and we know how corporate and safe HOYO plays and operates, of course they didnt had the balls.
Meanwhile the most popualar worldwide consumed genres are still Shonen and Seinen (Kaisen, dragonz bawls, Berserk, dandadan, CSM etc, with MC ALWAYS having some muscle monster or jacked man install/form) – RIDDLE ME FUCKING THIS, JOKER. These stupid ahh mfs are allergic to income… They have immense uncaptured audience of women that would thirst over it and if you make the kits cool enough the drip cool enough and wfx and lore cool enough the people would FIND a reason to make it work themselves. & Wold pull & play that too, i dont get it. If pros outweight the cons why not.
First his design was mediocre, with ASSymetric half armor leftowers with somehow light brown/orange colors for an anemo, then his element is not fitting the idea at all, and the nail is his kit and VFX aint shit either, so what do we have, a not cool enough looking character to capture the audience that likes the archetype. And not strong enough to grab a wider pulling audience, or meta slaves.
Story and characterisation are fine, but bro he aint allat in practice.
They should just make only cute and lesbian women honestly.
Some popular characters aren’t really that cool or visually impressive but sell a lot because they are the centerpiece of the story and carried by lore. On the other hand in terms of meta some players may pull for a NPC looking character if its game breaking enough. We will see, only time will tell.
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Off-topic question. Should I get Varka or just wait for Chasca rerun, last anemo on-fielder I got is Wanderer and I don’t have Xiao, and I want something different, especially when taking Imagnarium Theatre in mind.
Even Chasca wont doing too impressive without cons/ weapon investment. If you seeking a “meta” Anemo, there is none atm. Skip both & borrow c6 dps from whale in Theater 😅
he is male char guys, gender equality exists in teyvat, the fact is there if u can see read and think
I have been playing Genshin Impact since Day 1, and Varka will be the first character I pull for purely based on appeal (a rare opportunity to play as a middle-aged man in an anime-inspired video game, as someone middle-aged myself).
Obviously I have a bias towards him, but after following the discourse on him, I don’t believe that he is “bad” character. The only 5* characters that I personally viewed as “bad” upon their initial release were Dehya, Hydro Traveler, and Mizuki.
I acknowledge that at a base level, he seems like a “mediocre” character. Sigewinne is the closest comparison I can think of to Varka in his initial state.
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His biggest issue at C0 seems to be his lack of a good free-to-play weapon and very limited team options. His best teams at C0R0 is looking to be Columbina/Ineffa Wheelchair or Anemo/Pyro with Bennett, Durin, and Venti being all mandatory teammates to do acceptable damage in end game content. He can’t reliably use Tidal Shadow because Bennett cannot overheal, and none of the other free to play weapons seem to be any good.
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However, it does seem that investment does solve many of his issues. His signature weapon is looking like to be the biggest increase in damage (relative to free to play options) for any character so far, and his C1 and C2 seem to further bolster his damage numbers.
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At C2R1, Varka seems to finally become a complete character. He starts to scale alot better from offensive buffs from his teammates. This makes Hydro, Electro, and Cyro teams more viable while giving more flexibility teammate options for Pyro teams. Ultimately we need to see if there are any changes done to Varka before he hits the live server, but I’m going to guess that his power level will be around late Fontaine/early Natlan.
This is all before we get future characters that will help support Varka. For example:
I am guessing that Nicole will be both a shielder and a Hexerei damage buffer. Flat bonus damage (like Shenhe quills) being the best since all of the Hexerei main DPS character do many small hits in their rotation. It’s possible other characters could open
If Lohen is a Hexerei character he could be a much needed Cyro option for Varka.
And possibly others.
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Needless to say, Varka will still be poor pull value when compared against the Moonsign DPS characters (especially Zibai who does better damage than C2R1 Varka when she is at C0R0 with only 4* teammates). However poor value does not equate to being a bad character.
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I’m looking forward to when we start getting footage from content creators who have access to the preview servers, and how much those findings match what we have been seeing throughout the beta.
i have no life: i invest emotionally in anime character pretending this is “love”, because im too pathetic to understand my condition and seek a therapist
“However poor value does not equate to being a bad character.”
This litteraly DOES mean that.
The definition is in value.
Dont get me wrong, Varka is a pull on my end too. Yet I have no illusion.
His kit on all fronts is underwelming to any other new 5* in the patch. Making him in general “a bad character”
The problem is, people think Nicole or another character will “save him”, guess who had the same vibe? xiao and look at what happend back then who no one plays now.
RN, its wiser to just skip him and “IF” Nicole or a 6.x character fixes his issue’s. Get him on the rerun..
But yea.. its a massive dissapointment for me.
Value does not equate to power level, though there can be a correlation. Most carries by default aren’t high value, but they can be very strong. One example is how in Nod Krai you can get just the supports and have pretty good teams that don’t rely on an extra pull. Another example would be if you already have a Nod Krai carry, which makes the other carries’ value drop further.
Not to speak on Varka’s power level, everyone’s views on him can be slightly different. Someone might view him as plain bad, someone else as just okay, it’s all in the eye of the beholder since everyone has different standards. His value is most definitely particularly low for a carry, however.
Glad for you. I like the Dante archetype but, daaaamn… Just DAAAAAAMN… I know all and any gachaslop devs/companies play favourites with their characters, but still not having an ironclad character, and the one to closely being the one in a FK FANTASY SET GAME, is this dude teased since 1.0, however cool he is, with THAT kit. I can’t tell i’m positive.
Well he is worse than I thight lol. To bad they ruined one of the coolest chaaracters. Pretty much just basic normal attack spammer with low numbers.
At least Mavuika can hot over a Mill on Burst and be an crazy on and off field DPS. Really sad to see such a cool character being this bad in the current Meta. Yes you can
use him in the Spirla Abyss (good luck with 12) and Stygian is pretty much over for him, low numbers, low dmg…