Two 5-star Cryo units share the first half of Genshin Impact 6.7 (Luna VIII), and they pull your Primogems in opposite directions. Sandrone is a brand-new main DPS built around the version’s Stellar-Conduct reaction, while Citlali is a returning support who keeps Melt and Vaporize teams running. Both are strong, but they answer very different needs on your account.
Quick answer: Pull Citlali if you have a well-built Mavuika or Arlecchino team and lack a Cryo support. Pull Sandrone if you want to invest in Stellar-Conduct DPS for the upcoming Snezhnaya meta. If you own neither anchor team, Sandrone holds more future value.
Phase 1 banner window and shared pity
Sandrone and Citlali both run in Phase 1, from July 1 to July 21, 2026. Sandrone debuts on the To the Looking-Glass the Mademoiselle Said banner, and Citlali reruns on Starry Night’s Whispers. This means you cannot chase both without spending across both banners, so your budget matters.
| Detail | Sandrone | Citlali |
|---|---|---|
| Element / Weapon | Cryo / Claymore | Cryo / Catalyst |
| Role | Main DPS (Stellar-Conduct) | Shielder and elemental buffer |
| Banner | To the Looking-Glass the Mademoiselle Said | Starry Night’s Whispers |
| Window | July 1 – July 21, 2026 | July 1 – July 21, 2026 |
Note: The guarantee count for the two Phase 1 character banners is shared, so pity carries between Sandrone and Citlali. Pulling on one does not reset your progress toward the other, which softens the cost of switching targets.
Sandrone: future-proof Stellar-Conduct DPS
Sandrone is a 5-star Cryo Claymore user who deals damage mainly through her Charged Attacks and Elemental Skill. Her kit triggers Stellar-Conduct, a new variant of Superconduct introduced in Luna VIII. With the game moving into the Snezhnaya arc next, Stellar reactions are set to shape both overworld and endgame content, which makes her value hold up over time.
Her early damage multipliers are high, and she stays free-to-play friendly because she works with older Electro and Cryo units. The catch is her current team pool. Without dedicated Stellar supports yet in the game, her strongest lineups lean on Yae Miko or C6 Qiqi, and her output drops noticeably if you lack them.
- Sandrone, Yae Miko, Qiqi, Escoffier
- Sandrone, Yae Miko, Nicole, Qiqi
- Sandrone, Qiqi, Beidou, Sucrose
Even without her best supports, she still deals respectable damage, and her dedicated enablers are expected to arrive in later patches. If your plan is to build toward the Stellar-Conduct meta, she is the pick that pays off later.
Citlali: versatile Cryo support for Melt teams
Citlali is a 5-star Cryo support who slots into a wide range of Melt and Freeze compositions. She provides a durable shield, shreds 20% Pyro and Hydro resistance, and applies off-field Cryo. When equipped with Scroll of the Hero of Cinder City, she also grants a team-wide Elemental DMG Bonus.
Her strongest use case is as the finishing support for Mavuika teams, where she massively boosts frontloaded damage. She is also the current best-in-slot Cryo unit for Arlecchino hypercarry setups, and her shielding makes her a comfortable sustain option against tanky, heavy-hitting enemies. Her value falls off outside Melt and Vaporize teams, and her shield is weaker than a dedicated shielder’s.
- Mavuika, Citlali, Xilonen, Nicole
- Arlecchino, Citlali, Xilonen, Furina
- Neuvillette, Citlali, Escoffier, Furina
How to decide based on your roster
The choice comes down to what you already own, not raw power ratings. Use the checks below to settle it quickly.
| Your situation | Pull for |
|---|---|
| Well-built Mavuika team missing a Cryo buffer | Citlali |
| Running Arlecchino hypercarry and want the best Cryo support | Citlali |
| No Mavuika, or Mavuika team already complete | Sandrone |
| Want to invest early in Stellar-Conduct DPS | Sandrone |
| Have Yae Miko or C6 Qiqi ready to enable her | Sandrone |
If your Primogem stock only covers one guarantee, weigh the Snezhnaya jump in Version 7.0. Stellar reactions are expected to expand there, which tilts long-term value toward Sandrone. Citlali remains the sharper immediate upgrade if she completes a team you already run at a high level.
Both units clear content and both hold a place in the current meta, so there is no wrong answer here, only a better fit. Pick Citlali to finish a team that is already strong, or Sandrone to bet on the reaction system carrying into Snezhnaya. Since Phase 1 pity is shared between the two, you can commit to one target and let the other wait for a future rerun.
