Wuthering Waves runs on a six-week version cycle split into two three-week phases, and each phase brings a fresh pair of limited-time character banners alongside a rotating weapon banner. The gacha—called Convene—uses a standard 50/50 pity system: if your first 5-star pull lands on a standard roster character instead of the featured unit, your next 5-star is guaranteed to be the rate-up character. That means serious planners budget for two full pity cycles (160 pulls each) to secure a specific 5-star. Knowing exactly which banners are active, which are coming, and which have already passed lets you map out your Astrite spending months in advance.
Current Banners: Version 3.5 Phase 2 (July 30 – August 19, 2026)
Phase 2 of Version 3.5 introduces Suisui as a brand-new 5-star debut on the Firstlight's Herald banner, paired with a rerun of Aemeath on Everbright Polestar. Both run simultaneously from July 30 through August 19, giving you a three-week window to pull for either (or both) limited units. The accompanying weapon banner—Tideforge Reverbs—features signature weapons for Jiyan, Yinlin, Jinhsi, Changli, Zhezhi, and Xiangli Yao, and it spans the entire Version 3.5 cycle (July 9 – August 19). If you're chasing Suisui's kit or missed Aemeath the first time around, this is your shot.
Current Banners: Version 3.5 Phase 1 (July 9 – July 30, 2026)
Phase 1 brought three debut/rerun pairs before Phase 2 took over.
Yangyang: Xuanling made her debut on Azure Oath, while Luuk Herssen returned on Daybreaker's Spine and Lynae reran on Spectrum Blaster. All three character banners shared the July 9 – July 30 window. The Phase 1 weapon banner, Starpath Reverbs, covered the same six 5-star weapons as the Phase 2 weapon banner and ran the full version duration. If you pulled during Phase 1 and walked away empty-handed, your pity counter carries straight into Phase 2—no progress lost.
Next Banners: Version 3.6 (Late August – Early October 2026)
Kuro Games has confirmed Qingxiao and Jingran as the Version 3.6 limited 5-stars. Exact phase dates haven't been announced yet, but following the established cadence, expect Phase 1 to launch around August 19 (immediately after 3.5 ends) and Phase 2 around September 9. Qingxiao and Jingran will each headline their own 3-week banner, likely accompanied by a rerun 5-star each—watch the official livestream roughly two weeks before launch for the full lineup. Start saving now if either unit fits your team comps; two pity cycles means ~28,800 Astrite for a guaranteed grab.
Upcoming Confirmed Characters
Beyond 3.6, the only officially teased future units are Qingxiao and Jingran. Datamines and leaks occasionally surface additional codenames, but Kuro has kept a tight lid on 3.7 and beyond. The safest planning approach: treat unconfirmed characters as speculative, and only commit resources once
a banner appears in a version preview stream. The standard banner—featuring Jiyan, Yinlin, Jinhsi, Changli, Zhezhi, and Xiangli Yao—never rotates, so any off-banner 5-star you pull there is a permanent roster addition.
Banner History: Version 3.4 (June – July 2026)
Version 3.4 packed four distinct phases into a single version. Phase 2 (June 18 – July 9) reran Cartethyia on Defier's Thorn. Phase 1 (June 13 – July 9) debuted Lucilla on Freeze Frame. An overlapping Phase 1 (June 8 – July 9) introduced Lucy on Spectral Trigger and Rebecca on Skull Thrasher simultaneously. An earlier Phase 2 (May 21 – June 7) brought Denia on Forged Dwarfstar, plus reruns for Chisa (Kumokiri) and Phrolova (Lethean Elegy). That's five new/returning 5-stars in one version—an unusually dense schedule that likely drained many stockpiles.
Banner History: Version 3.3 (April – May 2026)
Version 3.3 kept it tighter with two phases. Phase 1 (April 29 – May 21) debuted Hiyuki on Frostburn and reran Mornye (Starfield Calibrator) and Iuno (Moongazer's Sigil). Phase 2 (April 9 – April 29) was a pure rerun festival: Lynae (Spectrum Blaster), Zani (Blazing Justice), and Phoebe (L
uminous Hymn) all returned together. Three reruns in one phase is a strong signal that Kuro uses "rerun clusters" to clear the backlog before major new drops.
Banner History: Version 3.2 (March – April 2026)
Phase 1 (March 19 – April 9) introduced Sigrika on Solsworn Cipher alongside a Qiuyuan rerun on Emerald Sentence. Phase 2 (April 9 – April 29) brought back Lynae, Zani, and Phoebe—the same trio that would reappear in 3.3 Phase 2. This back-to-back rerun clustering suggests Kuro groups characters by element, weapon type, or faction for thematic banner waves.
Banner History: Version 3.1 (February – March 2026)
Phase 1 (February 5 – February 26) was a heavyweight debut: Aemeath arrived on Everbright Polestar (her first run, now rerunning in 3.5), joined by Chisa (Kumokiri) and Lupa (Wildfire Mark) reruns. Phase 2 (February 26 – March 18) debuted Luuk Herssen on Daybreaker's Spine and reran Galbrena on Lux & Umbra. Aemeath's quick return in 3.5 (roughly five months) is one of the faster rerun turnarounds in the game's history—worth noting if you're tracking rerun cadence for other units.
Banner History: Version 3.0 (December 2025 – February 2026)
The Version 3.0 launch version ran two phases. Phase 1 (December 25 – January 15) debuted Lynae on Spectrum Blaster and reran Cartethyia (Defier's Thorn) and Ciaccona (Woodland Aria). Phase 2 (January 15 – February 4) debuted Mornye on Starfield Calibrator and reran Augusta (Thunderflare Dominion) and Iuno (Moongazer's Sigil). Lynae and Mornye both got their first reruns just one version later in 3.2—a pattern where new 5-stars often return within 6-8 weeks.
Banner History: Version 2.8 (November – December 2025)
Phase 1 (November 20 – December 11) debuted Chisa on Kumokiri and reran Phoebe on Luminous Hymn. Phase 2 (December 11 – December 24) was a short two-week phase rerunning Phrolova (Lethean Elegy) and Cantarella (Whispers of Sirens). The compressed Phase 2 aligns with the holiday season, a trend that repeats in Version 2.3 and 3.0.
Banner History: Version 2.7 (October – November 2025)
Phase 1 (October 9 – October 30) debuted Galbrena on Lux & Umbra and reran Lupa on Wildfire Mark. Phase 2 (October 30 – November 19) debuted Qiuyuan on Emerald Sentence and reran Zani on Blazing Justice. Galbrena and Qiuyuan both received their first reruns in 3.1 and 3.2 respectively, reinforcing the ~5-month rerun window.
Banner History: Version 2.6 (August – October 2025)
Phase 1 (August 27 – September 17) debuted Augusta on Thunderflare Dominion and reran Carlotta (The Last Dance) and Shorekeeper (Stellar Symphony). Phase 2 (September 17 – October 8) debuted Iuno on Moongazers Sigil and reran Ciaccona on Woodland Aria. Shorekeeper's rerun just two versions after her 1.2 debut shows support units can cycle back faster than DPS carries.
Banner History: Version 2.5 (July – August 2025)
Phase 1 (July 24 – August 14) debuted Phrolova on Lethean Elegy and reran Roccia on Tragicomedy. Phase 2 (August 14 – August 27) reran Brant (Unflickering Valor) and Cantarella (Whispers of Sirens) in another compressed two-week window. Phrolova's kit introduced a new support archetype that shaped team building for the next year.
Banner History: Version 2.4 (June – July 2025)
Phase 1 (June 11 – July 3) debuted Cartethyia on Defier's Thorn—her only appearance before 3.0 and 3.4 reruns. Phase 2 (July 3 – July 23) debuted Lupa on Wildfire Mark. Cartethyia's long gap between debut (2.4) and first rerun (3.0, six months) contrasts with the faster cycles of later units, suggesting Kuro accelerated rerun pacing post-2.0.
Banner History: Version 2.3 (April – June 2025)
Version 2.3 was the first anniversary version and ran an extended Phase 2 (April 29 – June 11) alongside a standard Phase 1 (April 29 – May 22). Zani debuted on Blazing Justice in Phase 1, while Ciaccona debuted on Woodland Aria in Phase 2. Both phases also featured "Anniversary Rerun" and "Anniversary Weapon Rerun" banners—special one-off events that brought back launch-era units and weapons for celebration pulls.
Banner History: Version 2.2 (March – April 2025)
A short version with two phases. Phase 1 (March 27 – April 17) debuted Cantarella on Whispers of Sirens and reran Camellya on Red Spring. Phase 2 (April 17 – April 28) was an 11-day mini-phase rerunning Shorekeeper on Stellar Symphony. The ultra-short Phase 2 is an outlier—likely a scheduling adjustment before the anniversary version.
Banner History: Version 2.1 (February – March 2025)
Phase 1 (February 13 – March 6) debuted Phoebe on Luminous Hymn. Phase 2 (March 6 – March 26) debuted Brant on Unflickering Valor and reran Changli on Blazing Brilliance. Changli's rerun just two versions after her 1.1 debut (Version 1.1, July 2024) was the fastest rerun at that point—a record since matched by Lynae and Mornye.
Banner History: Version 2.0 (January – February 2025)
The 2.0 launch version. Phase 1 (January 2 – January 23) debuted Carlotta on The Last Dance and reran Zhezhi on Rime-Draped Sprouts. Phase 2 (January 23 – February 12) debuted Roccia on Tragicomedy and reran Jinhsi on Ages of Harvest. Jinhsi's rerun came exactly six months after her 1.0 debut, establishing the early rerun benchmark.
Banner History: Version 1.4 (November 2024 – January 2025)
Phase 1 (November 14 – December 12) debuted Camellya on Red Spring. Phase 2 (December 12 – January 1) reran Yinlin (Stringmaster) and Xiangli Yao (Verity's Handle). The holiday-season Phase 2 was another compressed two-week window.
Banner History: Version 1.3 (September – November 2024)
Phase 1 (September 29 – October 24) debuted Shorekeeper on Stellar Symphony—the game's first dedicated support 5-star. Phase 2 (October 24 – November 13) reran Jiyan on Verdant Summit. Shorekeeper's early arrival (four months post-launch) signaled Kuro's commitment to support diversity.
Banner History: Version 1.2 (August – September 2024)
Phase 1 (August 15 – September 7) debuted Zhezhi on Rime-Draped Sprouts. Phase 2 (September 7 – September 28) debuted Xiangli Yao on Verity's Handle. Back-to-back debut phases with no reruns—standard for the game's first few versions.
Banner History: Version 1.1 (June – August 2024)
Phase 1 (June 28 – July 22) debuted Jinhsi on Ages of Harvest. Phase 2 (July 22 – August 14) debuted Changli on Blazing Brilliance. The launch version's Phase 2 (June 6 – June 26) had debuted Yinlin on Stringmaster, and Phase 1 (May 22 – June 12) debuted Jiyan on Verdant Summit.
Planning Your Pulls: Practical Takeaways
The banner history reveals three actionable patterns. First, new 5-stars typically rerun within 5-6 months (roughly 3-4 versions). Second, reruns often arrive in clusters of two or three, grouped by element or faction. Third, holiday versions (2.3, 2.8, 3.0) compress Phase 2 into two weeks—plan your pity timers accordingly so you don't get caught mid-pull when a banner ends early. Track your pity count in the Convene menu (it carries across all limited banners), and remember that the standard banner is always there as a safety net for off-banner 5-stars. If you're targeting Suisui or Aemeath right now, you have until August 19—after that, the next confirmed window is Qingxiao and Jingran in late August. Save smart, pull happy.
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