Bennett has long been hailed as one of the most versatile and essential support characters in *Genshin Impact*. Despite being part of the game since its initial release, he continues to be a staple in numerous team compositions. However, with the upcoming arrival of Iansan in *Genshin Impact* Version 5.5 on March 26, many players are asking: Is Iansan the new Bennett replacement?
Recommended Videos
Since launch, *Genshin Impact* players have often joked that HoYoverse unintentionally created overly powerful support units like Bennett, Xingqiu, and Xiangling. This led to the development of newer characters with more niche roles to diversify gameplay. Enter Iansan—a 4-Star Electro Polearm character from Natlan, whose kit bears striking resemblance to Bennett’s. While many call her the “new Bennett,” let’s take a closer look at how their abilities stack up and whether she can truly replace him.
How Does Iansan Compare to Bennett in Genshin Impact?
Iansan is primarily a support unit, much like Bennett, offering both healing and damage buffs. Her Elemental Burst, The Three Principles of Power, generates a Kinetic Energy Scale that follows your active character, increasing their ATK based on her Nightsoul Points. Unlike Bennett's field, which requires staying within a fixed radius, Iansan encourages mobility, making her ideal for fast-paced combat styles.
If Iansan has fewer than 42 out of 54 maximum Nightsoul Points, the ATK boost scales based on both her current Nightsoul Points and ATK. But if she reaches or exceeds 42 Nightsoul Points, the bonus becomes purely ATK-based, emphasizing the importance of an ATK-focused build.
The unique mechanic here is that movement—both horizontal and vertical—by the active character increases Iansan’s Nightsoul reserves every second. This creates a dynamic synergy that rewards constant motion, setting her apart from Bennett’s stationary playstyle.
While both characters provide healing, Bennett clearly holds the edge. His Elemental Burst heals the active character for up to 70% of his max HP, making him a reliable off-field healer. Iansan also offers healing, but not to the same extent, and notably, she cannot heal herself.
Another key difference lies in elemental infusion. At C6, Bennett grants Pyro infusion on the active character’s Normal Attacks, which can be crucial in certain team comps. Iansan does not offer such a feature, though this may not always be a drawback depending on your setup.
Iansan vs. Bennett: Which Should You Choose?
At first glance, Iansan could easily be mistaken for Bennett’s long-lost sibling—both visually and functionally. However, rather than replacing Bennett outright, she serves as a strong alternative, particularly in Spiral Abyss lineups where flexible positioning and sustained ATK buffs are advantageous.
One of Iansan’s biggest strengths is eliminating the need to stay within a fixed area to maintain buffs. For fans tired of the infamous "Circle Impact" meme referring to Bennett’s field requirement, Iansan brings a refreshing change of pace by encouraging free movement and dynamic engagement.
That said, Bennett remains superior in Pyro teams due to the Pyro Resonance bonus, which grants +25% ATK and Pyro infusion—features Iansan doesn’t replicate. For exploration purposes, however, Iansan shines with her stamina-free sprint and extended jump distance when using Nightsoul Points, making map traversal smoother.
If you're curious about Iansan’s capabilities, you'll get your chance during Phase I of *Genshin Impact* Version 5.5, launching on March 26. Whether she becomes your new go-to support or simply another tool in your arsenal depends on your playstyle and team needs.
