Skirk, the long-awaited five-star sword user, is officially launching in Genshin Impact Version 5.7. With a bold design, unique elemental identity, and extremely restrictive team requirements, Skirk is shaping up to be one of the most polarizing characters ever released. According to Jello Impact, she’s also potentially one of the strongest on-field DPS units — if you can build around her.

Let’s dive into Skirk’s strengths, weaknesses, best builds, and team comps to help you determine whether she deserves a spot on your roster.

Skirk Is Not a Meta Pull — And That’s Okay

Despite her high damage ceiling, Jello makes one point absolutely clear: Skirk is not a meta pull. While she is potentially the second-strongest DPS in the game when paired with her ideal team, she’s also locked behind extreme restrictions. You can only use Hydro and Cryo characters in her team, and she’s heavily reliant on one unit in particular: Escoffier.

That said, she isn’t weak — not even close. Even without Escoffier, Skirk can output around 85k DPS, putting her solidly in top-tier territory. That’s on par with what was considered “meta” in early Fontaine.

But if you’re someone who only pulls for long-term meta viability, you’re better off skipping her. DPS power is always being power-crept. Pull for Skirk only if you love her style and animations.

Prefarming Guide: What You’ll Need

Skirk’s materials are mostly drawn from Natlan and Fontaine, making her relatively accessible if you’ve been keeping up with recent content.

Ascension & Talent Materials:

  • Cryo Gems (even though she’s not truly Cryo — more on that later)
  • Papia from Natlan
  • Sunnatlin books for talents
  • New Weekly Boss drops
  • Mirrors, whistles, and shapeshifter materials for her weapon

Fun fact: Skirk isn’t actually Cryo — she just disguises her element as such. Still, the game treats her as a Cryo unit for gameplay purposes, so you’ll need Cryo materials.

Talent Priority

Focus on her Elemental Skill first. That’s where most of her DPS comes from. Her Elemental Burst is also strong and useful in specific content (like boss phases), but her normal attack can be left at level 1.

Her skill has two modes:

  • Tap for fast damage
  • Hold to enter her mermaid state and access her full burst mode

This dual-mode mechanic gives her two elemental bursts — a tap-based form and a hold-based transformation into a mobile burst state.

Artifact Sets: Marishay Hunter vs. Signature Set

Two artifact sets are viable for Skirk:

  1. Marishay Hunter
    Best for most players. Easier to farm (Golden Troupe domain) and great when paired with Fina or Escoffier.
  2. Skirk’s Signature Set (Finale of the Deep Galleries)
    Better at extremely high investment or when not using Fina. However, it’s close — the two sets are within 2–5% of each other depending on team and substat quality.

If you’re farming for Fina or Escoffier anyway, Marishay Hunter is much more efficient. Plus, if you’re using her in Imaginarium Theater or without Fina, her signature set pulls ahead.

Weapon Guide: Skirk’s Signature Sword

Skirk’s best-in-slot weapon is, unsurprisingly, her signature sword. According to calcs, it performs:

  • ~15% better than Haran or Jade Cutter
  • ~16% better than Mistsplitter
  • ~20%+ better than Finale of the Deep

That said, if you’re using Calamity Queller, it’s a solid 4-star alternative, and Finale of the Deep still performs well with attack speed boosts like Dalia.

Team Comps & Tier List

Skirk’s optimal teams are built around one major requirement: Hydro and Cryo characters only.

Core Units:

  • Escoffier – Mandatory. Best-in-slot support for Skirk and absolutely essential to unlock her true potential.
  • Fina – Highly recommended. Provides essential buffs and support. Replacing her causes a ~9k DPS drop, but still manageable.
  • Flex Slot – Shenhe, Dalia, Mona, Yelan, Ayaka, and others are all viable here depending on your team needs.

Budget/Alternative Teammates:

  • Charlotte – A solid budget Escoffier substitute.
  • Layla, Chongyun, Rosaria, Kaeya – Functional but less optimal Cryo supports.
  • Barbara, Kokomi – TTDS holders and healing options.
  • Dalia – Boosts attack speed and enables Calamity of Ishue builds.

Notable Notes:

  • Without Escoffier, Skirk feels significantly weaker. Charlotte or other four-stars can’t fully replace her.
  • With her ideal team, Skirk hits ~115k DPS, just under characters like Mawuika and ahead of Veresa or Clorinde.
  • As a sub-DPS, she can be slotted into Novalet teams, but it’s not optimal compared to her main DPS role.

Final Thoughts: Is Skirk Worth It?

Skirk is the embodiment of a character designed for people who love her, not people chasing the current meta. Her animation set, dual-mode kit, and incredible synergy with Escoffier make her an absolute joy to play.

That said, she requires commitment: limited team flexibility, specific support needs, and heavy reliance on high-synergy teammates. But if you’re a fan of her playstyle and aesthetic, she’ll reward you with top-tier damage and some of the coolest animations in Genshin Impact to date.

For more Genshin Impact guides, character breakdowns, and theorycrafting, visit ExploreGenshin.gg for the latest.

Frequently Asked Questions About Skirk

Is Skirk Cryo?

Technically, no. Skirk disguises her element as Cryo, but she isn’t actually Cryo. Still, for gameplay purposes, she uses Cryo materials and follows Cryo-based restrictions.

Is Skirk a meta character?

No. While she is very powerful, she is not a safe meta pull due to her extreme team restrictions. Pull her because you love her style, not because you want the strongest team possible.

Who is Skirk’s best teammate?

Escoffier. No one else comes close. Fina is also very good, but more replaceable.

What artifacts should I use on Skirk?

Most players will see better results with Marishay Hunter, especially when running Fina. For high-end players with strong rolls or without Fina, her signature set may perform slightly better.

Is Skirk free-to-play friendly?

Not really. She needs specific five-star supports (especially Escoffier) to reach her full potential. There are budget options, but they come with noticeable DPS loss.

What makes Skirk unique?

Skirk has two elemental burst modes, dual-state gameplay (mermaid and slash), and a disguised element mechanic. She’s both mechanically distinct and thematically rich.