As the fires of war begin to simmer in Genshin Impact Version 5.2, drip marketing for Version 5.3, which is set to be the climactic conclusion to the main Natlan Archon Quest, has begun rolling out across social media. The first batch of drip marketing has confirmed the arrival of two fan-favourites from Natlan as playable characters in Version 5.3, with one being the Pyro Archon Mavuika and the other being the solitary Citlali.
The first of the two new 5.3 characters to be revealed was none other than the Pyro Archon herself, Mavuika. As expected, Mavuika is a 5-star Pyro unit and, based on what we’ve seen from the Natlan story, she’ll be our first Archon to wield a Claymore (which also makes her the fourth Pyro Claymore unit in Genshin Impact behind Diluc, Xinyan, and Dehya). Interestingly, Mavuika’s biker-esque bodysuit wasn’t just for show, as her splash art has the Archon riding atop a draconic motorbike. The main design philosophy behind all of the Natlan characters has been interesting traversal abilities, and the Pyro Archon seems to be the reigning queen in that department.
Mavuika needs little introduction in terms of her importance. As one of the seven Archons of Teyvat, Mavuika boasts incredible power and affinity over the Pyro element and she gouverns the nation of Natlan dutifully. She’s played a key role in all Acts of the Natlan Archon Quest and has been the star of many memorable moments in Genshin Impact, with the most notable easily being her duel with The Captain during Version 5.0. Mavuika is the sixth playable Archon to be added to Genshin, with Snezhnaya’s Cryo Archon being the final God.
Mavuika, The Pyro Archon
Alongside Mavuika, Version 5.3 of Genshin Impact is set to add Citlali, also known as Granny Itzli. According to the drip marketing, Citlali is set to be the first Cryo unit from Natlan and she’ll likely end up as 5.3’s second 5-sta character. Unlike Mavuika, though, we’ve yet to see Citlali in combat, but the stuffed toy she clutches in her splash art screams Catalyst.
Citlali was first introduced in Version 5.1 and she played a rather large role in the main Archon Quest alongside Ororon, her adopted grandson. Despite her youthful appearance, Citlali is a wise elder from the Masters of the Night-Wind and she’s been alive for more than 200 years (at least according to Mavuika). Even though her name holds incredible prestige and power within Natlan’s borders, Citlali is also quite the recluse and drunkard, two aspects we got to see in full force during the third Act of the AQ.
Citlali, Elder of the Nightwind
Drip marketing is a term used in gacha game circles to describe pieces of promotional material dropped prior to a unit’s official reveal as a way to excite players. Hoyoverse titles like Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero drop drip marketing for new units a full version before they get added to the game, giving players time to save up the funds needed to pull on them or change pre-existing plans.
Version 5.3 of Genshin Impact will launch in early January 2025.
SOURCE: Genshin Impact Mavuika Drip Marketing + Genshin Impact Citlali Drip Marketing
