While much of the buzz around Skirk centers on her high DPS and team synergies, a recent hands-on experience shared by creator Jamie (kb9v) highlights several overlooked yet practical elements of her kit—and some broader observations that might reshape how we explore Teyvat. From surprisingly useful charge attacks to vertical tech using Dalia, here’s a quick but insightful breakdown.

Skirk’s Charge Attack: Unexpected Aerial Utility

You’d be forgiven for assuming Skirk is strictly a close-range melee DPS—after all, she fights with dual swords and dashes like a brawler. But her charged attack actually throws her twin blades, creating a mid-range projectile that has real implications for exploration and boss fights.

One specific use case is against the Aeonblight Drake, a notoriously annoying boss due to its aerial phases. Normally, players rely on bow characters to knock it down when its core is exposed. But Skirk’s charged attack can consistently disable the Aeonblight Drake, putting her in the same category as Xingqiu for mid-air boss control—except with more AoE and reliability.

While this doesn’t change her role in Spiral Abyss, it’s a cool bit of utility that could be a lifesaver for players without ranged options.

Dalia’s Skill and the Vertical Overworld Tech Stack

Four-star Hydro sword user Dalia also brings something novel to the overworld: his skill can be stacked with other deployables, like Albedo’s flower or Kazuha’s wind bottle, to build creative vertical routes through the terrain.

For example:

  • Place Albedo’s flower, then cast Dalia’s skill on top of it.
  • Replace the flower on Dalia’s skill, creating layered platforms.
  • Add Kazuha’s wind bottle and Anemo gliding currents for further ascent.

The result? You can chain these elements to scale cliffs, explore hard-to-reach areas, and keep that fluid traversal experience as Natlan wraps up. It’s a niche discovery, but one that explorers and puzzle solvers might love.

Skirk’s Unique Model Size

Skirk’s character model seems to fall between the medium and tall female rigs, creating a unique profile for her animation and movement speed. Some players compare her to Citlali in height and proportions, though no official confirmation exists yet.

In Genshin, different model sizes can affect running speed, climb height, and even animation canceling for attacks. Skirk’s slightly larger-than-average build may grant her smoother mobility without sacrificing attack speed.

This might seem minor, but it’s one more sign that HoYoverse is experimenting with more diverse body types and animations, something long-time fans have been asking for.

Artifact Loadout Update: Not Quite What Players Hoped For

Now for the bad news: the artifact loadout system previewed in Version 5.7 isn’t quite the customizable feature players were hoping for.

While it does allow players to save builds generated through the Fast Equip system, it does not retain manual changes. For instance, if the game recommends a Melt set for Ganyu but you tweak it for Freeze instead—switching in a Crimson Witch Goblet, for example—that custom build won’t be remembered.

The loadout system only saves preset recommendations, not personal loadout adjustments. While this is still an improvement over having no presets at all, it’s far from a complete solution.

That said, if you’re someone who sticks with builds generated by the game (e.g., using Freeze Ganyu with Blizzard Strayer sets), this update does streamline artifact swaps across characters and builds. For meta players, however, a more robust loadout feature is still needed.

Final Thoughts

Skirk may be a hard-hitting Cryo DPS with specific team needs, but this breakdown proves she also has utility and versatility outside of combat. Whether you’re disabling the Aeonblight Drake with her charged attack or climbing the skies with Dalia’s skill, these small mechanics add up.

It’s also a good reminder that Genshin Impact’s meta isn’t everything—sometimes it’s about what makes your world exploration smoother, your gameplay more fun, or your characters more expressive.

We’ll keep an eye out for more updates and fixes to artifact management, especially as the 5.7 quality-of-life features roll in.

For more Genshin builds, exploration tech, and in-depth patch coverage, check out ExploreGenshin.gg

Source: Jamie (kb9v)

Frequently Asked Questions about Skirk, Dalia, and Artifact Loadouts

Can Skirk attack aerial enemies like the Aeonblight Drake?

Yes! Skirk’s charged attack throws her twin blades, allowing her to hit airborne enemies. She can consistently break the Aeonblight Drake’s core during its flight phase, making her one of the few non-bow characters with aerial utility.

Is Dalia useful for exploration?

Absolutely. Dalia’s skill can be placed on top of other objects like Albedo’s flower or Kazuha’s wind bottle, allowing for creative vertical movement. This makes Dalia surprisingly effective in overworld exploration and terrain scaling.

What’s unique about Skirk’s character model?

Skirk’s model size is between the medium and tall female rigs, placing her somewhere between characters like Raiden Shogun and Jean. This can slightly influence movement speed, animation pacing, and exploration ease.

Does the new artifact loadout system save custom builds?

Unfortunately, no. While you can save Fast Equip builds generated by the game, any manual changes you make—such as swapping in a different goblet or circlet—won’t be saved. It’s a limited improvement, not a full customization system.

Is the artifact loadout update still useful?

Yes, it’s a step forward, especially for casual players or those who use recommended sets. It speeds up switching between basic builds, but it’s not yet a solution for players who customize their artifacts deeply.

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