Iansan: Genshin Impact's New Bennett Replacement?

Bennett has long been celebrated as one of the most valuable characters in *Genshin Impact*, maintaining his relevance since the game's inception and featuring prominently in various team compositions. However, with the introduction of Iansan in *Genshin Impact* Version 5.5, set to launch on March 26, speculation is rife about whether she could serve as a replacement for Bennett. Let's delve into the details to see if Iansan truly is the new Bennett.

Many *Genshin Impact* players believe that HoYoverse inadvertently created overpowered support characters like Bennett, Xingqiu, and Xiangling, prompting the development of more specialized characters to diversify player options. Iansan, a 4-Star Electro Polearm character from Natlan, is poised to debut, and some are touting her as a "Bennett replacement" due to similarities in their kits. Let's compare their abilities to see how they stack up.

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

Iansan's primary role is as a support character, much like Bennett, focusing on providing DMG buffs and healing. Her Elemental Burst, "The Three Principles of Power," is crucial for buffing other characters. Unlike Bennett, who requires characters to stay within his field to benefit from his buffs, Iansan employs a different approach. She summons a Kinetic Energy Scale that follows the active character, boosting their ATK based on her Nightsoul Points.

If Iansan has fewer than 42 out of her maximum 54 Nightsoul Points in *Genshin Impact*, the ATK bonus scales off both her Nightsoul Points and ATK. However, with at least 42 Nightsoul Points, the ATK bonus increases and scales solely off her ATK, highlighting the importance of building her with ATK in mind.

A unique aspect of Iansan's Kinetic Energy Scale is that it requires the active character to move, logging the distance traveled and restoring Nightsoul Points to Iansan accordingly. This mechanic encourages dynamic gameplay, contrasting with Bennett's static field.

When it comes to healing, Bennett outshines Iansan significantly, with his field healing up to 70% of the active character's HP. Iansan also heals, but less effectively, and crucially, she cannot heal herself, unlike Bennett. Therefore, Bennett clearly has the upper hand in healing capabilities.

Another key difference is elemental infusion. Bennett can infuse Pyro into the Normal Attacks of the active character at C6, a feature Iansan lacks with Electro infusion. This difference can be significant depending on your team's composition.

In terms of exploration, Iansan offers unique advantages. She can consume Nightsoul Points to sprint a certain distance without using stamina and can also jump longer distances. However, for Pyro-based teams, Bennett remains the superior choice due to Elemental Resonance, which provides a +25% ATK buff and Pyro infusion.

Should You Choose Iansan or Bennett in Genshin Impact?

Iansan could be considered Bennett's counterpart, sharing similar aesthetics and functions. Rather than replacing him outright, she presents a strong alternative, especially for secondary team compositions in the Spiral Abyss that require a similar support role.

Iansan's standout feature is the elimination of the need to stay within a fixed field for buffs, a common gripe among players known as "Circle Impact." Her Kinetic Scale promotes movement, offering a fresh gameplay dynamic compared to Bennett's stationary field.

If you're interested in trying out Iansan, you can do so during Phase I of *Genshin Impact* Version 5.5, launching on March 26.

*Genshin Impact is available to play now.*