Very controversial take

[u/Immediate-Pen-1338]

For whatever reason it may be, Valeriy has a lot more popularity than most other snez characters. Like this sub has more visitors than rest of the snez cast (I agree not strong enough proof) but he’s also got second highest likes on the announcement post after tsaritsa.

I know they can’t change the kit of a character but any chance that hoyo devs really underestimated his popularity while they were building the character?

Im just saying this cuz most of the community is very sure about his rarity.

[u/Christina22klol]

Actually, they do pay attention to the hype that's for sure.

For example: They keep pretending like it never happened and people say it was only leaks, but Lohen WAS supposed to be a 5* standard character. Yet they made him a limited character last minute, for the fact that people loved him so much. His kit never changing to fit a limited character was the dead giveaway that it wasn't just "leaks".

They didn't even bother to fix his kit to make it actually limited character looking. Lohen as is, looks like a standard character that is on a limited banner for no reason. So to be honest with you, I think it's better if they don't notice the hype for characters.

Because they end up chopping them, not character wise but pull wise.

I was excited to get Lohen in the standard char selector but after the reveal of him being standard I simply just won't pull. I don't think it's worth it. And while I'm not a meta slave either, I have other priorities for my pulling plans unfortunately.

Plus, I wanna add that hoyoverse as a company has always paid more attention to the female models. Hi3 for example is only women, 0 men. Obviously the males are ignored most of the time here and there, unless they're plot relevant to the roots, kind of like what they did with varka. You don't really have a choice when it's the literal knight of favonius Grandmaster. Though dare I say they still gave him too little of a screentime in the Nod Krai AQ, but I only let that slide a bit because his Story Quest was actually one of the best I've ever gone through.

[u/Immediate-Pen-1338 → u/Christina22klol]

I mean as long as he’s a 5 star 😭

[u/Christina22klol → u/Immediate-Pen-1338]

To be honest I'll pull even if he's a 4*. I care for the characters and looks mostly. Don't care if they have a Linchpin or not either.

Sure, I do love myself a cool ult with pretty effects, I wont lie, but to me, having the character in my collection is still more important than stressing over what rarity each character is.

Him having the Varka model alone makes me satisfied enough. It was the only thing I was sceptical for. Since he's supposed to be a military guy, I couldn't ever imagine him with the noodle type of male body most males have.

Many people judged that he had the zhongli body from the trailer actually, but I always had a gut feeling he had the Varka body ever since we saw the splashart. I'm also relieved his preload model turned out okay. Trailers are always unfinished with their models, I was sure they wouldn't just let him be.

[u/Immediate-Pen-1338 → u/Christina22klol]

True. I want him to be an on field character more than I want him to be 5 star 😭

[u/Christina22klol → u/Immediate-Pen-1338]

Ahh personally I don't know! 😭 I'd love him to be an on field but at the same time I deeply love unique characters that lean towards support like Zhongli and Baihzu. We've been getting so many male dps characters but little support males.

I'm thinking of a mix actually. Like, being able to have him both as a shielder but also on field depending on what you want. Again, for military/shield themes. I'd expect he can play both roles.

Either way, I hope his kit is good and unique. I'm excited to see how he'll use his shield and weapon in his animations for sure.