I hollered whereas I used to be watching the Genshin Impression replace stream. Except for giving gamers free stuff (arguably the least thrilling a part of being a Genshin enjoyer) throughout China’s greatest vacation, the builders teased one thing that I suspected all alongside: The hyper-secretive Alhaitham may very well be probably the most fascinating character of the present Sumeru storyline. To everybody who believed the lore that stated Alhaitham was just a few dude: Did you additionally consider that the immortal Zhongli was just a few dude? Come on, now.
First, a little bit of context. Throughout the present storyline, Genshin gamers have often encountered Alhaitham, an unassuming scribe who presents himself as an odd, boring authorities worker. Right here’s how the replace stream amusingly blew the lid off of that concept: One in every of Genshin’s writers was introducing Alhaitham as a secretary who had helped gamers save an imperiled goddess from his personal authorities. HoYoverse’s CEO Da Wei requested: “That is the ‘feeble scholar’ Alhaitham?” playfully referencing the way in which the bureaucrat had described himself in entrance of the protagonist. The author began laughing on the spot.
A good portion of the Genshin fandom believed that Alhaitham was really simply some man attempting to reside his life, therefore the origin of the feeble scholar joke. Psych. Though he rejected the very best authorities place within the nation, his personal friends will drive him to change into their chief within the close to future. So we’ll be seeing much more of this feeble scholar attempting to tug his nation collectively throughout the subsequent main story patch.
Some followers are devastated on the risk that Alhaitham is perhaps vital. It’s okay. You’ll get by means of this one way or the other. Personally, I feel HoYoverse already gave us loads of hints. When he talked in regards to the plight of students who have been “disappeared” for creating psychological sicknesses, he was clearly hiding precisely how a lot he knew about their plight. I’m beginning to suspect that he’s protecting a low profile due to one thing that occurred in his previous.
My Alhaitham thirst apart, listed below are the opposite highlights from the stream:
A brand new desert space
The Desert of Hadramaveth will proceed the lore-heavy storyline of the mercenary Jeht and her mechanical companion. The teachers of Sumeru believed that the traditional king of the Eremites (a marginalized racial group) was an terrible tyrant. This narrative has been used as justification to marginalize the Eremites. Earlier quests have instructed that the reality is extra sophisticated, and gamers will have the ability to discover out extra within the close to future. Since Genshin tends to lock areas behind sure quests, it’s best to end “Golden Slumber” and the brand new “The Dirge of Bilqis” earlier than attempting to discover Hadramaveth.
The Lantern Ceremony competition
Genshin has a Chinese language New 12 months-inspired occasion yearly, and it’s coming within the subsequent patch, bringing with it new minigames which you could play. Finishing them will award you premium foreign money and different helpful gadgets. In case you end sufficient minigames, you’ll additionally have the ability to redeem one free 4-star character. Final 12 months, I wrote up a helpful information on which character to select. The brand new healer Yaoyao is included in 2023’s lineup.
The wind god Venti might be visiting the China-inspired area for the competition, which has despatched shippers right into a frenzy about their favorites assembly onscreen for the primary time. Congratulations, Xiaoven shippers. Your time has lastly come after virtually three years of ready.
New characters
MY BOY ALHAITHAM IS FINALLY HERE. I do know that there’s a excessive likelihood that you simply’ve seen the leaks. However HoYoverse nonetheless has a few weeks to tweak his package, so keep in mind that he may not be as highly effective or weak as leaks might recommend. That’s not accounting for the potential for mistranslations (Raiden Shogun) or modifications (Zhongli, Yae Miko). YouTubers are already panicking over leaks about an alleged Alhaitham nerf that might harm his harm potential.
However these are invisible harm multipliers. It’s a lot tougher for the builders to alter issues that they’ve already revealed within the livestream. To this point, it looks as if Alhaitham is meant to be both a DPS or a sub-DPS character. His potential permits him to realize Dendro utility, and Dendro is a response factor. So his package facilitates protecting him on-field whereas being supported by off-field characters resembling Raiden Shogun or Kokomi.
Yaoyao is a assist character who must be simpler to acquire attributable to her decrease gacha rarity. She might be our first ever Dendro healer, which supplies her a distinct segment that no different character has at current. However earlier than you dump all of your primogems into her banner, I’d recommend you wait. You may get a free copy of her by taking part in the Lantern Ceremony occasion. So if you’d like her, I recommend grinding for her as an alternative of going all-in on the gacha.
Alhaitham and Yaoyao might be accessible throughout the first half of the patch. Xiao can even have his rerun throughout this era. You’ll have the ability to pull for Hu Tao and Yelan throughout the second half. So remember to plan fastidiously, otherwise you would possibly end up spending greater than you supposed.
Ayaka and Lisa are getting new skins
Okay, don’t get too excited. Although I feel it’s fascinating that they’ve used a European design for Ayaka’s pores and skin, I don’t really feel prefer it’s an enchancment over her default outfit. Her authentic garments balanced her light-colored design with deep blue hues. This spring-hued gown appears blinding compared.
Lisa’s outfit relies on her academy days, and it’s… superb, I assume? Lisa is without doubt one of the most underwhelming characters within the sport, and I gave up on elevating her ranges way back. This plain faculty uniform doesn’t compel me to make use of her any extra usually. I really feel like this one was a miss. Cease attempting to make Lisa occur, HoYoverse. She’s not going to occur with no vital buff.
Genshin Impression’s replace might be accessible ranging from January 18.
