The cast of characters in HoYoverse's Genshin Impact hails from the continent of Teyvat,[a] which has seven nations: Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru, Fontaine, Natlan, and Snezhnaya. Each nation is ruled by one of seven Archons, or gods.[b] The seven Archons stand for seven different elements: Anemo (air), Geo (earth), Pyro (fire), Hydro (water), Cryo (ice), Electro (electricity), and Dendro (plant).[1][2] Nearly all playable characters control one of these elements with help from a Vision, a device Celestia grants to those with great ambitions, with the exception of some characters who control the elements through their own supernatural powers, such as the Archons,[c]Dainsleif, Neuvillette, and the Traveler (Aether/Lumine).
Character creation and design
Some of Genshin Impact's characters were first introduced in an official manga released prior to the game's launch.[3]
Genshin Impact producer Cai Haoyu said that characters are one of the most important components of the game. The characters have unique gameplay based on different elements, which represent the cultural characteristics of the respective regions the characters are from. The multi-character design of the game is derived from Japanese card games. To meet the needs of players, new characters will be continuously introduced. At the same time, contrary to mainstream and past designs that used characters to serve the plot, the production team made a design in which the narrative is centered on characters, carrying out multi-plotline parallel narratives under the same worldview. In addition, the characters of Genshin Impact are the main source of profit for the game, while other content in the game is provided to players for free.[4]
Each character is designed by a team rather than an individual and there are no "art director" or "creative director" positions in MiHoYo. The production team will first establish the character's background story and place of residence, then conduct internal discussions and brainstorming. The production team will work as a group to evaluate the character's art style, background design, and gameplay mechanics based on player preferences. After the character concept design is established, the character design process will enter the modeling stage. The production team will continuously review the character's 3D model to ensure that it is consistent with the concept drawing. In terms of character rendering, the in-game character model and the scene are rendered independently. The scene uses deferred shading, while the characters use forward rendering, allowing the production team to control all lighting effects to ensure that the effect of the character presentation always meets the artist's expectations. To maintain the display effect of the character's face, a system that will automatically adjust according to the direction of the main light source was designed. In terms of the overall shadow effect of the character, the production team will ensure the cartoonishness of the character through cel shading, allowing the character to be affected by real-time light sources.[4]
In terms of character artificial intelligence (AI) design, the production team has been developing the game's character AI system since 2017. AI is mainly divided into three categories: humans, wildlife, and non-player characters (NPCs) in combat. There were more than 200 types of AI in the early stages of the game. With the increase in AI brought about by game updates, the production team designed an AI framework and established an independent AI pipeline, breaking the inference modules into different categories according to each function to facilitate subsequent updates and maintenance. The character's behavior is based on a decision tree system to determine the character's skills or movements, and the data will be imported into the animation system for execution. The entire system facilitates giving NPCs different personalities and special abilities, also allowing boss-type characters to have unique actions.[5]
In terms of character background setting, the production team will create the character image by building interpersonal relationships for the character and refining the regional cultural background of the character's origin.[6] Before the character is officially launched in the game, miHoYo will release character-related videos through its official social media accounts for promotion. In the initial stage, "Character Teasers" will be released to show the character's image, identity and personality. This kind of video is usually produced in Live2D to help players establish a first impression of the character and spark discussion among players about the character. After that, the "Character Demo" videos are released, showing the character's 3D model, combat animation, skill effects, and some story clips about the character. Finally, "Collected Miscellany" videos show how to use the character's skills, basic stat changes and other information, also explaining the character's personality based on the worldview.[7]
After the character is officially launched in the game, the production team will launch a character-specific plot, or add content for the character to interact with players in the main storyline and event quests so that the character can attract players' attention soon after its launch. If the player obtains the character, they can obtain more information about the character through character stories. The stories will be gradually unlocked as the player's friendship level with the character increases. In the character's voice-over list, players can see and listen to the character's views on other characters. In addition to showing the character's interpersonal relationships, this also shows the character's personality and values.[7] Some voice lines in the voice-over sections tease things to come, serving as hints and references to upcoming content in the game, including new characters.[8]
On character birthdays or during in-game events, players will receive letters from relevant characters to increase interaction with players.[7] miHoYo has launched character design surveys to gather feedback on players' opinions on the game's character designs, including what they look for in characters, whether the character's design is close to reality, fits their identity and personality, is original, lines up with other from the same faction, or contains regional cultural elements.[9]
Outside of the game, miHoYo will sometimes launch fan creation activities for specific characters to guide players to participate in discussion and creation, better promoting the characters.[7] The free official manga allows players and fans of characters to spend more time with characters while introducing new characters to them, helping players better understand the game's lore and shedding light on the backgrounds of upcoming characters or those not in the game.[10] In the collaborative activities with KFC, the characters participating in the activities will appear as another side of their persona that is different from their in-game side, with a more modern and lifelike essence.[11]
In terms of gameplay, the playable characters have constellations. When the player obtains the character for the first time, it is called "C0". After that, when the same character is acquired repeatedly, the constellations will be activated, which can provide additional status effects; each character has six constellation levels.[12] The character's constellation name and the names of each level are usually related to the character's setting and identity. For example, Hu Tao's constellation name (PapilioCharontis) is related to work in the deathcare industry.[13] The player can choose the Traveler's in-game birthday and celebrate the birthdays of all other playable characters plus Paimon. On character birthdays, the player will receive a short message from the character, including their signature dish and other items; for the Traveler, a birthday cake is sent to the player via in-game mail.[14]
When designing characters, the designers first decide who the character is at their core as well as their needs, then may design them to fit that original idea and those needs.[15] Designers may also consider the relation of a character to other characters in Teyvat: for instance, the elegant and reserved opera singer Yun Jin was designed to juxtapose the fiery and unbound rock star Xinyan.[16]
Many characters are derived from legends of certain nations: for instance, the adepti of Liyue are based on the Xian of Daoism. The idea of the Vision is derived from Daoism: in the game, the concept of a third eye manifests itself in humans in the form of their Vision.[15] Some characters are named after historical or literary figures; for example, Alhaitham, Tighnari, and Xiangling are named after Ibn al-Haytham, Al-Tighnari, and Xiangling from Dream of the Red Chamber.
Characters
Playable
The following is a table that lists all currently confirmed playable characters by region in alphabetical order. All playable characters are associated with a specific region, with the exception of the Travelers and Aloy, who come from their own world.
The main protagonist of the game, commonly referred to as the Traveler. Players can choose to play as either Aether (male) or Lumine (female), while the other is taken away to become the leader of the Abyss Order. After being separated from their twin, they embark on a journey to meet the gods of Teyvat and reunite their lost sibling. Players can name the Traveler at the beginning of the game. The name chosen by the player will be the name used most to refer to the Traveler in-game. Only the Traveler's Sibling calls the Traveler by their real name. In Natlan, their Ancient Name is Tumaini (Hope).
The Chief Alchemist of the Knights of Favonius and the Captain of its Investigation Team. Albedo is not human, but rather a homunculus created by the Khaenri'ahan alchemist Rhinedottir.
An outgoing, gregarious Knight of Favonius and the only member of its Outrider unit; she is widely regarded as the gliding champion of Mondstadt. Amber is the first playable character that players obtain in the game, other than the Traveler.
The Deaconess of the Church of Favonius and the younger sister of Jean, who is also a famous idol. Players can obtain Barbara after completing the prologue of the main story.
A solitary businessman and vintner who was formerly the Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius. He and Kaeya grew up as adopted brothers, but are no longer on friendly terms. He secretly operates as a vigilante nicknamed "the Darknight Hero".
An alcohol-hating bartender who works at the Cat's Tail and is a descendant of the Kätzlein bloodline. She has some cute cat features.(cat ears and tail)[25]
A descendant of the Lawrence Clan, whose tyrannical rule of Mondstadt eventually resulted in its overthrow and exile. She currently works for the Knights of Favonius as the Captain of its Reconnaissance Company.
An eccentric investigator for the Adventurers' Guild who claims to be a princess from another world. Her real name is Amy and she is based on the chūnibyō trope.[26]
The Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius and Diluc's adopted brother. Kaeya is the second character that players obtain in the game. Kaeya originally hails from the mysterious nation of Khaenri’ah and serves as a sleeper agent for one of their ancient plots.
A cheerful young girl who refers to herself as the Spark Knight and is the daughter of Alice, a powerful sorceress. Klee's obsession with explosives at a young age has caused her to often be in solitary confinement.
The head librarian of the Knights of Favonius and a former student of the Sumeru Akademiya. She is the third character that players can obtain in the game.
A maid employed by the Knights of Favonius who dreams of someday joining their ranks. She is one of the first characters that players can obtain through the "Beginner's Wish" banner.
A guard of the Sword and Strongbox Secure Transport Agency, which escorts goods from Yilong Wharf to Liyue Harbor. As the head of the Mighty Mythical Beasts, he seeks to make the Wushou Dance a regular occurrence in Liyue Harbor.
The half-qilin secretary of the Liyue Qixing. She is also an adeptus, a species of illuminated beasts native to Liyue, and is currently bound by a contract involving the Geo Archon.
The 77th Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, who is carefree and lively. She never misses an opportunity to sell coffins to people, and enjoys playing pranks on others.
A member of the Liyue Qixing, the governing body of Liyue, who manages the nation's real estate. Some consider her odd due to her lack of devotion to the Archons.
The sole remaining member of the Yaksha, a specialised group of adepti tasked with protecting Liyue from evil gods and spirits, at the cost of being infected with karma.
A ronin and poet who is a temporary member of Beidou's crew. Despite his remarkable skill with a blade, Kazuha is a gentle soul who wishes to travel without the burdens of his past.
A mujina ninja who is a member of the Shuumatsuban, an organization the Yashiro Commission secretly runs. She believes that sleeping will make her grow taller.
A clever kitsune and the owner of the Yae Publishing House. She is also the head shrine maiden of the Grand Narukami shrine and an old friend of Raiden Ei.
An Avidya Forest Ranger trainee under Tighnari's mentorship and a close friend of Amber. She is one of the main characters of the manga, which details her traumatic past. Players can obtain Collei by completing Floor 4 of the Spiral Abyss.
A theoretical astrology student at the Sumeru Akademiya who suffers from chronic sleep deprivation. It is also possible that she has a more lively, pragmatic alter ego.
The former Sixth Fatui Harbinger, Scaramouche, also known as the Balladeer and Kunikuzushi by Raiden Ei, who originally created as a prototype for her mortal vessel before she abandoned him. He seeks to destroy himself from the world's knowledge to rid himself of his sins. Players can rename the Wanderer after completion of a certain quest. He is frequently called Hat Guy upon being enrolled into Vahumana.
An undefeated Champion Duelist in Fontaine who once served as Furina's personal bodyguard. A successor of Fontaine's Marechaussee Hunters of old, she is trained in the art of their swordsmanship.
A renowned perfumer whose products are highly sought out by Fontaine's fashionistas. A friend of Chevreuse, she has helped her solve some difficult cases.
An actor and celebrity in Fontaine who has a childlike temper, but who can also be caring at times. She is the vessel of the former Hydro Archon, Focalors.[f]
An introverted catgirl who is Lyney's sister and assistant. Like him, she belongs to the House of the Hearth, an orphanage run by the Fatui. Players can invite Lynette after reaching an Adventure Rank of 25.
Lynette's brother, who is a famous magician in Fontaine. He is outgoing and spirited, in contrast to his siblings. Like his sister, he belongs to the House of the Hearth.
The president of the Spina di Rosula, an organization in Fontaine that extends aid and assistance to citizens that the nation's governing body does not cover.
The imposing Chief Justice of the Court of Fontaine. He is also the reincarnation of the Hydro Sovereign, the Dragon of Water, one of the rulers of Teyvat's ancient dragon race.
The Administrator and Warden of the Fortress of Meropide, an underwater autonomous stronghold that serves as Fontaine's de facto prison. He often goes by the title of "Duke", or "Your Grace".
Natlan was released in August 2024.[57] Natlan characters are grouped into the six tribes of the nation: Nanatzcayan (Children of Echoes), Meztli (People of Springs), Huitztlan (Scions of the Canopy), Mictlan (Masters of the Night-Wind), Tlalocan (Flower-Feather Clan) and Teteocan (Collective of Plenty); each of which aligns with six of the game's seven elements and each owns specified Saurian (tamed and developed dragon). The names of Natlan's tribes are derived from the Thirteen Heavens.[citation needed]
A well-known peacekeeper from the Tlalocan who is adopted by the Qucusaurs as a child. She is one of the six heroes chosen by the Wayob and her Ancient Name is Vuka (Transcension).
The high priestess of the Mictlan, who had left the tribe to live alone. She is called "Granny Itztli" by Natlanese and her predictions are always accurate. Her Ancient Name is Ukumbuko (Memory).[g]
A fitness instructor and Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame champion mentor who is from Teteocan. She is one of the six heroes chosen by the Wayob and her Ancient Name is Uwezo (Power).
A young and determined girl from the Nanatzcayan, known for her tenacity and knowledge of the land. Her Ancient Name is Uthabiti (Resilience). Players obtain Kachina by progressing through the Natlan Archon Quest, Natlan! A New Adventure.
A hunter of Saurians from the Huitztlan, who is notorious for charging fees for his services and for his ruthless nature. He is one of the six heroes chosen by the Wayob and his Ancient Name is Malipo (Turnfire).
The current human vessel of the Pyro Archon, Haborym. She was a member of Huitztlan before ascending as Pyro Archon. Her Ancient Name is Kiongozi (Leader).
A young man from the Mictlan, with a strong ability to perceive souls who grew up as a disciple of Citlali. He is one of the six heroes chosen by the Wayob and his Ancient Name is Bidii (Devotion).
A smith from the Nanatzcayan who crafts the Ancient Names. Her skill with the forge is renowned throughout Natlan. She is one of the six heroes chosen by the Wayob and her Ancient Name is Baraka (Blessing).
Snezhnaya is expected for release in 2026. Some characters have been released early due to the Fatui's involvement in other regions' Archon Quests.[57]
The Fourth of the Fatui Harbingers, sometimes called "The Knave" or commonly "Father" by members of House of the Hearth whom she is the current director of the House. She obtained the title after killing Crucabena, the previous Knave. She is diplomatic, cunning and ruthless, yet well-intentioned. Her real name is Peruere.
The Eleventh of the Fatui Harbingers, more commonly known as "Childe". The youngest and lowest-ranking Harbinger, he is often carefree and enjoys fighting powerful opponents. His real name is Ajax.
A wandering stranger from the fallen civilization of Khaenri'ah, who served as the captain of its royal knights and was cursed with immortality after failing to protect its citizens. He used to travel with the Traveler's sibling and occasionally meets with the Traveler to share information he has gathered about their lost twin.
Paimon (Voiced by: ZH: Duoduo Poi (Shi Xinlei), EN: Corina Boettger,[17]JA: Aoi Koga,[17]KO: Kim Ga-ryeong) The Traveler's guide and companion, who mostly speaks for them due to them being a silent protagonist.
Unknown God (Voiced by: ZH: Tao Dian, EN: Christie Cate, JA: Rie Kugimiya, KO: Unknown) The mysterious god who fights the Traveler and abducts their sibling at the beginning of the game, thus beginning their journey through Teyvat.
Katheryne (Voiced by: ZH: Xiao N (Jiang Li), EN: Erica Mendez,[69]JA: Mai Sato, KO: Park Go-woon) The receptionist of the Adventurer's Guild. It is later revealed in the Sumeru chapter that Katheryne is a bionic puppet made in Snezhnaya.
Il Capitano (Voiced by: ZH: Wang Wei, EN: Chris Tergliafera, JA: Narita Ken, KO: Min Eung-sik), or commonly "The Captain." The First Harbinger. Extremely powerful and enigmatic, he is well-respected within the Fatui, and has a strong sense of righteousness. A survivor of Khaenri'ah, he fled to Natlan, only to find that the nation was under attack by Abyss Order which he forced to fight. He eventually joined Fatui and appears in Natlan Archon Quests. In Natlan, he decides to confront Mavuika, Pryo Archon, and loses the duel but manages to escape with the help of Ororon. With his help, he rebuilds the nation's severely damaged Ley Lines by acquiring and activating Source Mechanism. His plan fails as it instead awakens Yohualtecuhtin. He eventually agrees to Mavuika's plan and assists her in repelling the Abyss when they invaded the nation. Afterwards, he helps Natlanese to recover from the PTSD and after the victory over the Abyssal force, transfers his life force to Yohualtecuhtin, preventing the latter from dying. His consciousness remains currently unknown as his physical body remains sitting on the throne in Ochkanatlan. His real name is Thrain.
Il Dottore (Voiced by: ZH: Wu Lei, EN: Mick Wingert,[71]JA: Toshihiko Seki,[72]KO: Park Seong-tae), or "The Doctor." The Second Fatui Harbinger, he is a mad scientist and the main antagonist of the Sumeru Archon Quests, attempting to create an artificial god to replace the Dendro Archon. His real name is Zandik.[h]
La Signora (Voiced by: ZH: Ziyin (Qi Tianyi), EN: Unknown, JA: Yui Shoji, KO: Unknown), or "The Fair Lady". The Eighth Fatui Harbinger, she steals Venti's Gnosis, bargains with Zhongli for his Gnosis, and tries taking the Raiden Shogun's Gnosis as the Tsaritsa desires to collect all Archons' Gnoses. After helping to incite turmoil and a civil war in the nation of Inazuma, the Traveler challenges her to a duel that leads to her execution by the Raiden Shogun. Her real name is Rosalyne-Kruzchka Lohefalter.
Traveler's Sibling (Voiced by: Aether: ZH: Luyin (Dong Hailong), EN: Zach Aguilar,[17]JA: Shun Horie,[17]KO: Lee Kyung-tae; Lumine: ZH: Yanning (Geng Minglin), EN: Sarah Miller-Crews,[17]JA: Aoi Yuki,[17]KO: Lee Sae-a) Lost twin sibling of the Traveler and the Prince[i]/Princess[j] of the Abyss Order. During the beginning cutscene, the sibling is sealed first by the Unknown God. It is later revealed in the end of Sumeru chapter that the sibling is not considered as Descender as Irminsul has the records of the sibling's sudden appearance in Khaenri'ah before the Cataclysm and their journey through the seven nations of Teyvat after being sealed. It is also revealed in Portended Fate that the sibling was Prince[i]/Princess[j] of Khaenri'ah before its demise.
Alice (Voiced by: ZH: Zhang Qi, EN: Rachel Kimsey, JA: Kikuko Inoue, KO: Yeo Min-jeong) Klee's mother and founder of Hexenzirkel which conducts Irminsul explorations and gathers around for "formal tea parties.". A powerful traveling sorceress who is often destructive. Her codename of the organisation is "A".
Rhinedottir (Voiced by: ZH: Fan Churong, EN: Ivy Dupler,[73]JA: Atsuko Tanaka, KO: Ahn So-yeon), or "Gold." An alchemist from Khaenri'ah with the ability to create life, she is the creator of Albedo, the dragon Durin, and the Riftwolves that plague Teyvat. She is also responsible for triggering the cataclysm that destroyed Teyvat 500 years prior to the game's events, making her one of Five Sinners of Khaenri'ah. She is also a member of Hexenzirkel with her codename "R".
Oz (Voiced by: ZH: Zhao Yuecheng,[k]EN: Ben Pronsky, JA: Masutani Yasunori, KO: Lee Hyun) Fischl's night raven familiar and companion. His full name is Ozvaldo von Hrafnavins.[l]
Changsheng (Voiced by: ZH: Wang Xiaotong, EN: Xanthe Huynh, JA: Yui Shoji, KO: Jang Mi) An adeptus, formerly known as the Herblord, currently in the form of a snake. She is bound by contract to Dr. Baizhu and aids him in using his own life force to heal patients.
Skirk (Voiced by: ZH: Xie Ying, EN: Cat Protano, JA: Noto Mamiko, KO: Seo Dahye) A mysterious swordswoman who took Tartaglia as an apprentice after he fell into the Abyss as a teenager.
K'uhul Ajaw (Voiced by: ZH: Mi Yang, EN: Abby Espiritu, JA: Takeuchi Junko, KO: Park Ri-na) Kinich's companion who self-proclaims as Almighty Dragonlord who is notorious for his rudeness. Ajaw was sealed several millennia ago and rescued by Kinich under the condition that he would take Kinich's body once he had passed away. In return, he would be Kinich's companion and would lend his powers to him on a limited, restricted basis. The contract between Ajaw and Kinich is still valid. His name in game means Destined Rulership.
Cacucu (Voiced by: ) Ifa's Saurian companion and self-proclaimed "brother". He assists at Ifa's clinic and is capable of understanding and mimicking human speech. Due to the limits of his vocal cords, he can only communicate by repeating catchphrases he learned from Ifa, such as "No way, bro!" and "The heck are you on about?". (see Gen Z Slang)
Reception
The characters of Genshin Impact have enjoyed positive reception, especially in terms of revenue: as Genshin Impact is a gacha game, much of its revenue comes from sales of in-game currency players use to obtain characters. Most revenue comes from limited character banners. Across all platforms, including mobile, console and computer platforms, the game is estimated to have grossed nearly US$3.7billion in its first year by September 2021, the highest ever first-year launch revenue for any video game.[74][75][76] The mobile version grossed a further US$567million between January and March 2022.[77]
Several of the game's characters have enjoyed massive popularity and have earned millions of dollars in revenue. For instance, in March 2021, it was reported that Zhongli was the game's highest grossing character, with US$15.5million reported in revenue at the time.[78] This number was later eclipsed by the December 2022 release of the Raiden Shogun, whose first banner earned US$9million in two days from Chinese iOS sales;[79] by the time the banner ended, it had netted around US$33million in the Chinese market alone.[80] Shogun's record was eventually broken by the November 2, 2022 banner, which introduced the Dendro archon Nahida and earned US$34million in the Chinese market.[81]
Controversies
In November 2020, following Zhongli's release he received criticism from fans; due to his equipment and gameplay being viewed as poor, many took Zhongli as an insult toward Chinese players. miHoYo published a blog post in response, noting that the character was working as designed.[82] Later, miHoYo issued an apology, and promised to improve the character's kit during beta testing for version 1.3.[83]
In early March 2023, HoYoverse was criticized following Dehya's release, as some of the game's fanbase argued that her kit was underpowered and dysfunctional, particularly compared to those of lower-rarity characters.[84][85] Several players announced that they had stopped spending money on the game, while others sent feedback to HoYoverse demanding improvements.[86] As one of the few dark-skinned playable characters in the game, some suggested that her poor skillset might be due to colorism, given similar accusations made against HoYoverse in the past.[87] A campaign urging the wider playerbase to press HoYoverse for change trended on Twitter under the hashtag #FixDehya, with many spamming the game's official account.[88]
^In the Korean version of the game, Cyno was originally solely voiced by Lee Woo-ri. However, after his death, he is now being voiced by Jung Eui-jin with Lee's existing voicelines retained.
^In the English version of the game, Tighnari was originally voiced by Elliot Gindi. However, after sexual abuse allegations were raised against Gindi, he was replaced by Gordon.[47][48]
^Furina was created by the Hydro Archon Focalors to impersonate the Archon, thereby preventing a cataclysmic prophecy. Furina was believed to be an Archon by the people of Fontaine, but the end of Fontaine's story revealed the truth. After Focalors sacrificed herself to prevent the prophecy, Furina's childlike temper and irritability decreased.
^It is unclear whether Citlali received the Ancient Name or not yet since the ancestor only said that she will inherit the name "when the time comes."
^Dottore's real name was not explicitly stated in-game, but was stated in the official manga.
^In the Chinese version of the game, Oz was originally voiced by Li Yuantao. However, after allegations of abuse, he was replaced with Zhao Yuecheng.
^His name is inconsistent throughout the game. Fischl's lore depicts it as Ozvaldo Hrafnavins while her English voiceovers depicting it as Ozvaldo von Hrafnavins; the Chinese version of the game depicts it as Ozvaldo Hrafnavines.
^ abcd九莲宝灯 (November 19, 2021). "《原神》的角色人设方法论". 游戏葡萄 (in Chinese (China)). Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
^원신 | 3.7 버전 PV: 「듀얼! 소환왕 결정전!」 (Television production) (in Korean). HoYoverse. May 13, 2023. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
