Revision history: Banner

A banner is a gacha pool with its own probability table, item list, and usually a start and end date. When players talk about a game's content schedule, they are mostly talking about its banner schedule: which characters are featured, for how long, and when they might rerun.

A typical modern lineup, using Genshin Impact as the reference: [1]

• Limited character banner: one or two featured top-rarity characters on rate-up, rotating every two to three weeks. The main revenue driver.
• Weapon or equipment banner: featured gear, usually with weaker guarantees.
• Standard banner: a permanent pool of older items, pulled mostly with earned currency. New limited characters usually never enter it.
• Special formats: curated rerun pools, collaboration banners with separate pity, beginner banners with discounts.

Two banner properties determine real cost more than the headline rate does. First, whether pity carries between banners: in HoYoverse games it does, in Fate/Grand Order it resets. Second, exclusivity: a "limited" character who reruns twice a year is a different proposition from one who may not return for two years, and games publish little about future schedules, which is why banner planning is a core player skill.

The word itself comes from the literal advertising banner graphic that announces the pool in-game.

A banner is a gacha pool with its own probability table, item list, and usually a start and end date. When players talk about a game's content schedule, they are mostly talking about its banner schedule: which characters are featured, for how long, and when they might rerun.

A typical modern lineup, using Genshin Impact as the reference: [1]

• Limited character banner: one or two featured top-rarity characters on rate-up, rotating every two to three weeks. The main revenue driver.
• Weapon or equipment banner: featured gear, usually with weaker guarantees.
• Standard banner: a permanent pool of older items, pulled mostly with earned currency. New limited characters usually never enter it.
• Special formats: curated rerun pools, collaboration banners with separate pity, beginner banners with discounts.

Two banner properties determine real cost more than the headline rate does. First, whether pity carries between banners: in HoYoverse games it does, in Fate/Grand Order it resets. Second, exclusivity: a "limited" character who reruns twice a year is a different proposition from one who may not return for two years, and games publish little about future schedules, which is why banner planning is a core player skill.

The word itself comes from the literal advertising banner graphic that announces the pool in-game.