Blue Archive Banner Guide: Swimsuit & Bunny Reruns January 1
Blue Archive kicks off 2024 with swimsuit and bunny Pick-Up reruns for Misaki, Akane, Saori, Hiyori, Neru, and Karin. Should you pull this cycle?
Caelus Chen Blue Archive Banner Update: Swimsuit & Bunny Reruns Overview
Blue Archive launches its first major banner cycle of 2024 with returning Swimsuit and Bunny versions of key students. Starting January 27, 2024 (UTC), players have a limited window to recruit top-rated event units, including Misaki (Swimsuit), Akane (Bunny), and more. With these banners' rerun structure and overlap, careful planning is essential for both free-to-play and competitive players looking to optimize roster growth and future event clears.
At a Glance
- Recruitment period: 2024-01-27 (after maintenance) to 2024-02-10 01:59 (UTC)
- Banner highlights: Misaki (Swimsuit), Akane (Bunny), Saori (Swimsuit), Hiyori (Swimsuit), Neru (Bunny), Karin (Bunny)
- Unique Pick-Up: Limited rerun units available only during this cycle
- Recruitment points: Secure targets before banner expiry; redemption period can vary by device
- Source: Official Blue Archive Patch Notes, 2024-01-27
Banner Schedule & Summary Table
| Phase | Start (UTC) | End (UTC) | Featured Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Misaki (Swimsuit) Pickup | 2024-01-27 Post-main | 2024-02-10 01:59 | Misaki (3★, Swimsuit) |
| Akane (Bunny) Pickup | 2024-01-27 Post-main | 2024-02-10 01:59 | Akane (3★, Bunny) |
| Saori (Swimsuit) Unique Pickup | 2024-01-27 Post-main | 2024-02-10 01:59 | Saori (3★, Swimsuit) |
| Hiyori (Swimsuit) Unique Pickup | 2024-01-27 Post-main | 2024-02-10 01:59 | Hiyori (3★, Swimsuit) |
| Neru (Bunny) Unique Pickup | 2024-01-27 Post-main | 2024-02-10 01:59 | Neru (3★, Bunny) |
| Karin (Bunny) Unique Pickup | 2024-01-27 Post-main | 2024-02-10 01:59 | Karin (3★, Bunny) |
Note: Banner end time may vary by 1–2 minutes depending on device/region. Use recruitment points several minutes early to avoid lockouts.
Should You Pull? F2P & Competitive Perspective
These reruns combine high-value limited event units, but priorities depend on your resource situation and endgame focus. Here's a breakdown by player profile:
| Profile | Pull Priority | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| F2P/Light Spend | Neru (Bunny), Saori (Swimsuit) | Both excel in select raids/bosses; rare outside this banner cycle |
| Meta-focused | Misaki (Swimsuit), Akane (Bunny) | Utility in PvP and event rotations; may miss future reruns |
| Collection | Any | Cosmetic appeal; try to acquire event-limited outfits |
- Pity structure: Not stated in official materials. Historically, Pick-Up rates are increased for featured units, and you may exchange recruitment points for event characters within the event window.
- Overlap: All banners run concurrently, so budget accordingly.
- Availability: Unique Pick-Up units (e.g., Saori, Neru, Karin) are not available in regular recruitment outside the Pick-Up window.
Team & Synergy Breakdown
Misaki (Swimsuit)
- Role: AoE attacker with strong synergy for summer-themed event content.
- Pairings: Works well in teams leveraging water/Swimsuit-themed buffs or bonus events.
Akane (Bunny)
- Role: Single-target control and support; excels in challenge events with boss-level targets.
- Pairings: Bunnies or mixed raid squads; can flex into multiple PvE comps.
Neru (Bunny) & Karin (Bunny)
- Role: Neru brings high burst and utility to Bunny comps, Karin offers unique support for raid rotations.
Saori & Hiyori (Swimsuit)
- Roles: Both shine in PvE event cycles—Saori for offensive raids; Hiyori for utility and flexible clearing.
- Min-max: These units create options for F2P to keep pace in difficult raid content without premium-limited units.
Preparation Checklist
- Recruitment points: Track resource accumulation; redemption strictness increases as banner expiry approaches.
- Event materials: Stock up on event currency for secondary rewards in event shops (not listed in source; check in-game for updates).
- Daily tasks: Complete all daily/weekly content for extra pulls.
Banner Pull Mechanics
- Enhanced rates: Pick-Up and Unique Pick-Up rates apply only to featured units during banner phase.
- Redemption: Use recruitment points before event ends; after expiry, featured event units are not obtainable until potential future reruns. Device-based end-time variances have been noted by the publisher—redeem early for safety.
- Access: All banners accessible via both Pick-Up and Regular Recruitment, but Unique units appear in regular only during this window.
- Banner reruns: No confirmed dates for future reruns per official sources. Not stated in official materials.
Endgame Impact: PvE & PvP
Many of these event units have outsized impact in Blue Archive’s toughest PvE content and can offer edge-case builds for top PvP squads. For instance, Neru (Bunny) and Akane (Bunny) are often critical in raid rankings, while Misaki (Swimsuit) provides coverage in content with unique resist traits. Their limited availability increases the meta value of securing them now.
Conclusion: Limited Opportunity, Plan Carefully
With all seven event units on offer during this two-week window, this rerun cycle is one of the most important for roster optimization in early 2024. Prioritize according to gameplay needs, available resources, and likely rerun scarcity—especially if targeting performance in top raid content.
For additional event details, official patch notes, or schedule updates, refer to the Blue Archive Patch Notes, 2024-01-27. For more event coverage, tier lists, and team guides in Blue Archive, follow EarlyGG’s deep-dive analysis and future patch previews.