"Iansan: Genshin Impact's New Bennett Replacement?"

In *Genshin Impact*, few characters have remained as consistently valuable since launch as Bennett. A staple in countless team comps, his mix of healing and powerful ATK buffs has made him a near-universal support. However, with the arrival of Version 5.5 on March 26, players are buzzing about Iansan—a new 4-Star Electro Polearm character from Natlan who some claim could be Bennett’s replacement. But is that really the case? Let’s take a closer look at both characters to see how they stack up.

Is Iansan Really a Bennett Replacement?

It's no secret that many *Genshin Impact* fans consider Bennett, Xingqiu, and Xiangling to be overpowered supports—so much so that HoYoverse may have intentionally designed newer characters with narrower roles to encourage diversity in team builds. Enter Iansan, a character whose kit bears enough resemblance to Bennett’s to earn her the nickname “Bennett 2.0.” But while their functions overlap, the way they deliver support is quite different.

Iansan vs. Bennett: A Closer Look at Their Kits

Like Bennett, Iansan shines as a support character, offering ATK buffs and healing. Her Elemental Burst, *The Three Principles of Power*, creates a Kinetic Energy Scale that follows your active character and boosts their ATK based on her Nightsoul Points. This differs from Bennett’s field, which requires staying within a fixed area to benefit from its effects.

If Iansan has fewer than 42 out of her maximum 54 Nightsoul Points, the ATK boost scales off both her current Nightsoul Points and total ATK. Once she hits 42 or more, the buff becomes purely ATK-based, making her ideal for an ATK-focused build. The trade-off is that the active character must move—any movement counts—to restore Nightsoul energy every second based on distance traveled.

On the healing front, Bennett still holds the edge. His Elemental Burst heals the active character for up to 70% of their max HP and can even heal himself. Iansan offers healing too, but it’s less potent and lacks self-sustain, making her a weaker choice for extended survival support.

Infusion and Exploration: Key Differences

Another major point of difference is elemental infusion. At C6, Bennett grants Pyro infusion to the active character’s Normal Attacks—an incredibly useful trait for certain team comps. Iansan, by contrast, does not offer any form of Electro infusion, which may limit her versatility depending on your team setup.

Where Iansan gains an edge is in exploration. By spending Nightsoul Points, she allows the player to sprint long distances without consuming stamina and jump further, making her a better option for fast travel and map navigation.

Team Composition and Playstyle Considerations

For Pyro-heavy teams, Bennett remains the superior choice thanks to the +25% ATK Elemental Resonance bonus and Pyro infusion. However, Iansan offers a fresh playstyle that encourages mobility instead of stationarity. Her Kinetic Energy Scale rewards constant movement, eliminating the need to stay within a fixed field—something longtime fans jokingly refer to as “Circle Impact” when using Bennett.

Final Thoughts: Should You Pull for Iansan?

While Iansan shares visual and functional similarities with Bennett, she isn’t a direct replacement. Instead, she serves as a strong alternative—especially for players looking for a mobile support option in Spiral Abyss or secondary team setups.

If you're aiming for flexibility in movement and want a change from Bennett’s field-dependent gameplay, Iansan might just be the breath of fresh air your team needs. She debuts in Phase I of *Genshin Impact* Version 5.5, launching March 26. Whether you’re building a new comp or just exploring Teyvat faster, she’s definitely worth trying out.