by Want to know about the new Genshin Impact characters? Since its release in 2020, the addictive anime game has received many regular updates expanding the game’s content – and adding tons of new characters via limited-time banners.
New characters from Genshin Impact – per Hoyoverse’s Genshin Impact roadmap – should be released with every major update. If past experience is anything to go by, during each new patch there will be at least one Genshin Impact banner with a new five-star character, and possibly new four-star characters included as well. That said, several new Genshin Impact characters have been added outside of that timeline, like Klee from Genshin Impact – so we might see new characters arriving unexpectedly as well.
Ayato is the latest new character to arrive in the Genshin Impact 2.6 update, and we know that Yelan and Kuki Shinobu are coming, possibly in the 2.7 update. There are also some leaks and some information about new faces that may appear in future Genshin Impact updates. However, until officially announced, these characters are not definitive and may be subject to change.
The new and upcoming Genshin Impact characters are:
GENSHIN IMPACT 2.6 NEW CHARACTERS
ayato
Kamisato Ayato is a new Genshin Impact character that appeared in the first half of 2.6 update. He is a five-star Hydro sword user, and is not only Ayaka’s older brother, but also the head of the Kamisato Clan and the Yashiro Commission.
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Ayato’s banner was released on March 29 and lasted until April 19. If you were lucky enough to get it, check out our Ayato Ascension Materials guide if you want to take it to its final form.
New Genshin Impact characters – 2.7 and beyond
Yelan
twitter user dimbreath I found references to a character named Yelan in the game files a while ago using the ‘lady’ character model type. Since then, Yelan has been found in beta 2.6 data information.
She was officially revealed as a new Hydro character by the official Genshin Impact Twitter account on March 28, 2022:
I’d like to suggest that you treat her like an ordinary person, but if you do, it’s easy to lose control over negotiations. — Yanfei
◆ Yelan
◆ Orchid of the Valley
◆ A mysterious person who claims to work for the Ministry of Civil Affairs
◆ Hydro
◆ Umbrabilis Orchid#GenshinImpact pic.twitter.com/DZ1j3PyshW— Genshin Impact (@GenshinImpact) March 28, 2022
According light, the release date of the Yelan banner could be the first half of the 2.7 update. At the time of writing, the 2.7 update has been delayed until further notice.
Kuki Shinobu
She was officially revealed as a new Electro character by the official Genshin Impact Twitter account on March 28, 2022:
I am writing to introduce a talented person to you. — Kujo Sara
◆ Kuki Shinobu
◆ Tribulation Fixer
◆ Deputy leader of the Arataki Gang
◆ Electro
◆ Tribulatio Demptio#GenshinImpact pic.twitter.com/48q4sY0IP5— Genshin Impact (@GenshinImpact) March 28, 2022
In the same release date leak for Yelan, Lumie thinks the release date for the Kuki Shinobu banner will be in the second half of the 2.7 update and that she will be a four-star character. As mentioned, with 2.7 being delayed, we will have to wait a little longer to see if it will come in the next update.
heiz
Heizou, Detective Inazuman, is mentioned in the lines of several characters. In May, Heizou was officially announced via the Genshin Impact Twitter account:
Shikanoin Heizou ‧ Analytical Harmony
Tenryou Commission DetectiveA young detective from the Tenryou Commission. Free-spirited and undisciplined, but cheerful and lively.#GenshinImpact pic.twitter.com/rmHuQ6egKt
— Genshin Impact (@GenshinImpact) May 16, 2022
Other than that, Heizou appears to be an Anemo character (based on the pendant you can see), no other information or context is provided for the detective. Genshin leaker Lumie claims that Heizou will be the Catalyst’s first male character, though his art shows some sort of melee weapon sheathed on his hip.
Previously, the Genshin Leaker ubatcha suggested that Heizou might be a 4-star character released as part of the 2.6 update. However, a more recent (and, as they describe it, “questionable”) study tweet suggests that Heizou will be released in the 2.8 update cycle.
Ubatcha also claims that Heizou will be shorter in height than Xiao, Gorou, and Aether. We will keep you updated on any additional information we obtain regarding the release date of the Heizou banner.
Nilou
A recent round of Genshin Impact leaks reference character data assigned to someone named ‘Nilou’. Prominent leaker of Genshin Project Celestia indicates that she has the ‘girl’ body type. Here’s what they said:
[BETA] character data
There are data traces of “Nilou” as a body type female character (eg Keqing). Note that there is a possibility that the body type is a placeholder.
※ Subject to change.#Celestia Project
— Project Celestia (@projectcelestia) February 17, 2022
As Celestia notes, this is all subject to change and may even be a placeholder, so we’ll need to put a pin in this one until more official information comes to light.
Dainsleif
Dainsleif, the Bough Keeper, was officially announced by Hoyoverse during the Tokyo Game Show – however, no release date has been attached. His voice actor has been announced, but we have no indication of when he might arrive.
Dainsleif is from Khaenri’ah, an underground realm that is not part of Teyvat itself – so perhaps one day in the future we will meet Dainsleif when we explore his homeland.
yaoyao
Yaoyao is an adorable NPC who is mentioned in the lines of several characters. She was previously Xiangling’s junior when they both studied under the same kitchen master, but has now become an assistant to Genshin Impact Ganyu.
She appears in the official art above, which might also give us some insight into when she might be able to join us in-game. The art depicts Yaoyao with Qiqi at the Mid-Autumn Festival – so its release could coincide with some sort of festival. She has been dated as a four-star Dendro Catalyst user, which is intriguing since we don’t have any Dendro users available yet.
baizhu
Baizhu is a Genshin Impact NPC and is the owner of Bubu Pharmacy in Liyue. He has a vision for Dendro, which has led fans to believe he might one day be a playable character – although we’ll have to wait for Dendro’s full implementation in the elemental reaction chart.
Cyno
Cyno was revealed in Teyvat Chapter Plot Preview Video – He is a Polearm wielder of Sumeru, one of the future Genshin Impact regions that we will be visiting in later updates.
collei
Collei is a Sumeru character in the official Genshin Impact manga. She was imbued with Archon residue by the seer Barnabus, but was aided by Cyno and Amber to suppress it. References to a Collei Elemental Burst power were found in the 2.5 beta by the Twitter user dimbreath.
In April 2022 there was a new leak from uncle Y which claimed that Collei’s abilities had been completed and were being tested. This leak is considered ‘reliable’ but is still being treated with skepticism for now. Other rumors associated with Collei suggest that she may be a user of the Dendro bow.
lyney and lynette
Lyney and Lynette were revealed in the same plot preview video – they are a pair of twins, presumably, who are dressed like magicians – they hail from Fontaine, a region inspired by France. There’s speculation that they can be recruited as a pair and can switch places with each other in battle – although this might be nothing more than a cool idea.
Iansã
Iansan was also revealed in the Teyvat Chapter Storyline video, in the Natlan section. We believe she is a Pyro user, but we will have to wait until we visit Natlan to learn more about her.
scaramouche
Scaramouche is number 6 of the Eleven Harbingers of Fatui; he introduces himself as an ‘Inazuma Tramp’ who attempts to betray and kill the Traveler during the Unreconciled Stars: Star of Destiny event. Players believe he will eventually be a playable character and speculate that he may be an Electro Catalyst user.
Doctor
Il Dottore is another of the Eleven Harbingers. His name means ‘The Doctor’, but based on his appearance in the official manga, he is more interested in using people for research and experimentation.
Pulcinella
Pulcinella is the 5th of the Eleven Fatui Precursors – all that is known about them is that they recruited Tartaglia into the Fatui after he resurfaced from the Abyss.
These are all new Genshin Impact characters that we believe have a reasonable chance of appearing in the game – we will add new candidates as we discover them. No more illusions – time to focus on the characters you already have; here are the best Genshin Impact characters for beginners and the best Genshin Impact weapons to equip them with.
