Blue Archive’s Festive Pick-Up Banners: Who’s Worth Your Pyroxenes?

Ready to test your luck, Sensei? Blue Archive is back with a double whammy of Pick-Up Recruitments, featuring some of the most coveted New Year and Christmas students. Whether you’re a meta-chaser, a waifu collector, or just here for the vibes, this event is about to shake up your roster—and maybe your wallet. Let’s break down what’s hot, what’s not, and how to maximize your pulls before the banners vanish faster than your saved Pyroxenes.

What’s Dropping: Pick-Up & Unique Pick-Up Recruitments

From August 19th (after maintenance) to August 26th, 01:59 AM (UTC), Blue Archive is rolling out two major recruitment events:

Standard Pick-Up Recruitment

• Izumi (New Year, 3★) – Brand new and ready to party!
• Akari (New Year, 3★) – Returning for another round of fireworks.
• Serina (Christmas, 3★) – Back with her holiday cheer.
• Hanae (Christmas, 3★) – Spreading festive healing vibes.

You can snag these students via both Pick-Up and Regular Recruitment during the event, and even after it ends (though Pick-Up rates won’t apply post-event).

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Unique Pick-Up Recruitment

• Haruna (New Year, 3★) – The queen of reruns returns!
• Fuuka (New Year, 3★) – Don’t sleep on this support star.

These two are only available via Regular Recruitment during the Pick-Up period. Miss it, and you’ll have to wait for their next rerun (date TBA, so don’t bank on it).

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How the Rates & Recruitment Points Work (Don’t Get Baited!)

• Pick-Up rates are applied separately for each student. Translation: your odds for each featured 3★ are boosted, but not combined. RNGesus still reigns supreme.
• Recruitment Points: Every pull = 1 point. Rack up 200 points and you can guarantee one of the featured students (Izumi, Akari, Serina, Hanae, Haruna, or Fuuka, depending on the banner).
• Pro Tip: Recruitment Points vanish when the event ends, morphing into Keystone Pieces (1:1). Use them before the timer hits zero—don’t be that player who misses out by a minute!

Eleph/Eligma Rewards: What If You Pull a Dupe?

• Pick-Up Recruitment:
  • 3★: 100 Eleph (Pick-Up), 30 Eligma (Pick-Up), 50 Eleph (Others), 50 Eligma (Others)
  • 2★: 20 Eleph (Pick-Up), 5 Eligma (Pick-Up), 10 Eleph (Others), 10 Eligma (Others)
  • 1★: 1 Eleph/Eligma
• Regular Recruitment:
  • 3★: 30 Eleph (Pick-Up), 50 Eligma (Pick-Up), 30 Eleph (Others), 50 Eligma (Others)
  • 2★: 5 Eleph (Pick-Up), 10 Eligma (Pick-Up), 5 Eleph (Others), 10 Eligma (Others)
  • 1★: 1 Eleph/Eligma

So, even if you get a dupe, you’re still stacking resources for future upgrades. Not a total loss!

Who’s Worth Pulling? Meta, Waifu, or Both?

Let’s be real: Blue Archive banners are as much about heart as they are about meta. Here’s the quick rundown:

• Izumi (New Year): Brand new, so expect her to be in high demand. Early impressions suggest she’ll be a solid DPS with unique utility—perfect for both PvE and PvP.
• Akari (New Year): A rerun, but still a top-tier support for certain raid comps. If you missed her last time, now’s your shot.
• Serina & Hanae (Christmas): Both are strong healers with event-limited skins. If you’re a collector or need more sustain, don’t skip.
• Haruna (New Year): A fan-favorite DPS with a killer kit. She’s been meta before and could easily return to the spotlight.
• Fuuka (New Year): Often underrated, but her AoE healing and buffs can clutch tough content.

Community Buzz & Industry Trends

The Blue Archive community is already buzzing on Reddit and Discord, debating whether to go all-in for Izumi or save for future collabs (Re:Zero, anyone?). With reruns becoming more frequent, FOMO is real—but so is banner fatigue. My advice? Prioritize your favorites, but keep an eye on the meta if you’re aiming for top-tier clears.

Pro Tips for Maximizing Your Pulls

• Set a Pyroxene budget before you start. Don’t let hype drain your stash for future banners.
• Use Recruitment Points wisely—don’t wait until the last minute to spend them.
• Check your roster: If you already have some of these students, consider the Eleph/Eligma rewards for dupes.
• Screenshot your pulls and flex on social media (tag @earlyggcom for a chance to get featured!).

Final Thoughts: Pull or Pass?

Blue Archive’s latest Pick-Up event is a feast for both meta players and collectors. With limited-time New Year and Christmas students up for grabs, now’s the time to decide: are you rolling for love, power, or both? Either way, don’t sleep on those Recruitment Points—and may your pulls be blessed by the gacha gods.

What’s your banner strategy? Who are you pulling for? Drop your thoughts below and let’s get the hype rolling! #BlueArchive #GachaLife