Hoyoverse has released another one of their lengthy livestreams detailing the upcoming Version 2.8 for Genshin Impact. This is slated to be one of the last (if not the last) full update before the 3.0 Sumeru update, which will introduce a completely new region and mainline Archon Quest.
The Version 2.8 livestream detailed what fans could expect in the upcoming weeks, including the introduction of a new Anemo character, a new area to explore and numerous new events to undertake over the course of the update.
Primogem Codes
As usual, Hoyoverse has given away 3 codes during the 2.8 livestream, all which award 100 Primogems and several other items. Altogether, this equals 300 Primogems for free.
- Code 1: DTNVKAWBWSF5
- Code 2: WANVJAFAXTER
- Code 3: HA6C2AFBXSZV
Version 2.8 New Character and Version Event Wishes
Genshin Impact Version 2.8 is coming to the game with a brand new 4 Star Catalyst and several banner reruns of much anticipated characters.
First, there is the new character: 4 Star Anemo Catalyst, Shikanoin Heizou.
Shikanoin Heizou – Analytical Harmony
Shikanoin Heizou is a character that has been poking around the game for some time now, with mentions from Yae Miko to Sanganomia Kokomi, but now here he is in his full glory. Heizou is a detective, someone who has been going around to various areas investigating something.
“Doushin Shikanoin has admirable wit and insight. While he is unfettered and unrestrained in demeanor, one should not dismiss his talents. The Tenryou Commission is incredibly fortunate to have such a man in their ranks.” – Shikanoin Heizou ‘Analytical Harmony’ Character Description
He is the very first male Catalyst user, and his elemental affinity is that of Anemo. The only other character sharing that weapon and element combination is Sucrose, and from his gameplay, Heizou plays extremely differently.
In battle, Heizou plays like that of a brawler, where instead of fighting at range like many other catalysts he fights with Anemo-imbued punches and kicks. Many people have been asking for a fist/melee-based character and Heizou seems to be the closest to that fantasy. His animations and skills all look super fluid and interesting, especially compared to Sucrose: she specialises in long-ranged support Swirl application, whereas Heizou seems much more in line with a Main DPS Carry unit.
Heizou Full Body
His regular combo is a 5-hit string of close-range punches and kicks, all of which deal Anemo damage, and his charged attack is a massive uppercut kick that launches enemies.
Heizou’s Elemental Skill is a charged Anemo punch that be charged up to 4 levels giving Heizou ‘Declension Stacks’ , each dealing more AOE damage. This is one Heizou’s longer-ranged attacks and gives him an option to deal both massive damage with a bit more range than his regular combo.
Finally, his Elemental Burst is a jumping kick that blasts a ball of Anemo that tracks towards targets, exploding and dealing massive Anemo-AOE damage. His Ultimate also creates a vacuum that continues to suck in enemies after the initial blast, with a delayed detonation happening afterward if another element is Swirled.
Overall, Heizou’s combat kit isn’t like anything else in Genshin Impact right now. With his introduction into Version 2.8, we are seeing the continuation of Hoyoverse pushing the animations and move sets of each character even further – Heizou’s animations could have him pass as a 5 Star but instead, he is a 4 Star.
Version 2.8 Event Wish Banners
There are 3 Banners running over the course of Version 2.8, all of which are reruns.
Phase 1 of the update features reruns of the highly anticipated characters Kaedehara Kazuha and Klee, each on their own separate banner. This is the first time Kazuha has ever reran and is Klee’s third time rerunning, her last being this time last year. A reminder that these banners share pity.
The brand new character Heizou will appear on rate-up in both Kazuha and Klee’s Event Wish Banner as one of the three featured 4 Star Units.
Phase 2 of the update is considerable lonelier, with only Yoimiya rerunning. This is the first time Yoimiya has reran since her initial run back at the launch of Inazuma in Version 2.0.
Version 2.8 Banners
Version 2.8 New Character Skins
Alongside new characters and banner reruns, Version 2.8 also brings with it 2 brand new character skins.
The first is the skin for the 4 Star Electro Bow, Fischl. Fischl will feature heavily in the story content for the event and her outfit is based upon fantasy princesses. This skin will be available to earn for the duration of the version through the event Resonating Visions.
Fischl Skin
The second skin is for the 5 Star Pyro Claymore, Diluc. Diluc’s skin will be available from the shop and is said to be the first 5 Star Skin in game. Jean and Keqing both received skins before, but it looks like Diluc’s will be the first to feature new idle animations and animation changes for his skills, thus earning the 5 Star branding.
Diluc Skin
New Area to Explore in Version 2.8
A new area will be available to explore during Version 2.8, one that veteran players will know quite well.
Welcome the return of the Golden Apple Archipelago, or at least the base version of it. The Isle has returned to the game with a fresh new makeover with tons of new architecture, buildings and places to explore. While built ontop of the bones of the original, this revamped version will offer new story, new events and new areas to explore when compared to the original. Whether this stays around much after Version 2.8 is yet to be known, but based on the fact that the Golden Apple Archipelago disappeared after the Summer update last year, we can expect it to do the same again here.
This time, the story of the Archipelago seems to heavily revolve around 4 characters: Kazuha, Fischl, Xinyan and Mona. How each are involved isn’t 100% clear right now, save for Kazuha and Fischl; the former having something to do with a cursed katana that revolves around Kazuha’s family of swordsmiths, where as Fischl seems to be here due to the large castle that has appeared in the Archipelago. The livestream mentioned that the islands are heavily linked to each character, even showing off a Domain with heavy ties to Xinyan due to it’s musical nature.
New Version 2.8 Events
There are tons of new events coming with Version 2.8.
Firstly, there is the main Summertime Odyssey event where players will go through the Archipelago trying to make out what has happened and why all our characters are connected. If players collect enough event currency through completing challenges, they will be able to invite Fischl to their team for free.
Summertime
Next there is a returning event in the form of Resonating Visions. Much like our last visit to the Archipelago, Traveller’s can collect various conch shells that are scattered around the islands in order to piece together a new story based on those who lived there. Players will be rewarded with Primo, level up materials and, as previously stated, Fischl’s brand new outfit.
Another event is called Hidden Strife and features Diluc and his new skin. Not much is known aside from this is like the Phantom Flow event from a few updates past, and it will give players the opportunity to play with Diluc in his brand new skin, with the event even giving the backstory of the skin itself. It will also offer the usual rewards of Primogems and levelling materials.
Reminiscent Regimen is a co-op exclusive event that sees Travellers working together in order to tackle a series of challenges. One involves transporting a convoy Overwatch payload style, taking out enemies and breaking obstacles as you go. Another features riding the Waverider to storm enemy vessels and take them out, while the final event titled Descent has players descending from the sky, taking out all enemies as they go in the quickest time.
Evermotion Mechanical Painting is a puzzle based event where players must slot specific cogs and wheels into place so that the painting will work as intended. Difficulty will increase as the event progresses, and it will offer the usual rewards as well as a unique furniture item.
Mechanical Painting
What Comes After 2.8: A Brief Look At Sumeru
After the main livestream concluded, we got a brief bit of dialogue from a character many assume to be the Dendro Archon of Sumeru, Kusunali. Then we got our first official look at Sumeru: a beautiful dense land of foliage and rainforest plant life. It looks completely unlike anything else in Genshin Impact right now and just these few glimpses are worthy of getting excited about.
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- Sumeru 1
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- Sumeru 2
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- Sumeru 3
Genshin Impact Version 2.8 launches on July 13th and as usual will last around 6 weeks. More information can be found on the Official Genshin Impact Twitter account or the Official Hoyoverse website.
SOURCE: OFFICIAL GENSHIN IMPACT VERSION 2.8 LIVESTREAM ON TWITCH/YOUTUBE
