What to Expect in Genshin Impact 3.4

With 3.3 winding down, it’s time to look forward to a new version of Genshin Impact. Of course, since it’s the new year, we can expect the annual Lantern Rite Festival in Liyue. However, that’s only part of what’s coming in this version. Let’s see everything announced in the livestream, plus some bonus rumors from leaks.

New Characters and Featured Banners

Everybody’s favorite Akademiya Scribe is finally becoming available to wish for. Alhaitham premiers as the featured character banner of 3.4 alongside Xiao. He’s a Dendro Sword user with an ability kit players have been comparing to Keqing’s.

His E skill lets him teleport to a destination, much like the Electro user’s ability. Holding the button down also allows him to aim where to teleport. More than that, it has additional effects, such as infusing his sword with Dendro energy and giving him bonus attacks. Over time, the buff will disappear, which also happens when he leaves the field.

His Burst creates a small area of prisms that reflect Dendro lasers around. If the buff from his E skill is still active, the duration of the effect lengthens. Yes, visually, it still looks like Keqing’s Burst, except Alhaitham doesn’t do the heavy lifting. His Story Quest will also become available on his release.

Another new character is Yaoyao, another anticipated character from long ago. She has been announced as a Dendro polearm user who can also heal. With the help of her companion Yuegui, she can deal Dendro DMG to enemies. If there are allies around that have less than 70% HP, Yuegui will prioritize healing them.

Her Burst lets her throw her companion just by sprinting around. Yuegui has much of the same effects through her Burst. Her abilities are like a mix of Klee’s and even Bennett’s skills, with a dash of Amber. In true Hoyoverse deliberation, they likely waited until the Year of the Rabbit to release her. Yuegui does look similar to one, fitting with the theme of the Chinese New Year. She will feature alongside Alhaitham and Xiao.

The second phase of the patch features Yelan and Hu Tao. These two are popular choices as DPS support and an on-field DPS. They even work together well. It’s nice to see them featured and have a significant appearance at the Festival.

As for the weapons, there’s only one new one for Alhaitham, the Light of Foliar Incision. It will share the banner with the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear, Xiao’s signature spear. For the second phase, the Epitome Invocation will feature Yelan’s Aqua Simulacra and Hu Tao’s Staff of Homa.

New Skins

The livestream also announces new skins for Kamisato Ayaka and Lisa. Ayaka’s Springbloom Missive takes some inspiration from Fontaine fashion, with frills, ruffles, and a stylish hat. Contrary to rumors and leaks, it is not a 5-star skin like Diluc’s. It’s a 4-star skin with a price of 1,680 Genesis Crystals, 1,350 with a discount.

Lisa’s skin is A Sobriquet Under Shade, which looks like Sumeru robes. It’s reminiscent of her robes as a student in the Akademiya. Like the other skins, it’ll be priced at 1,680 Crystals. However, as a skin for a 4-star character, you can get it for free as a reward from the Second Blooming event.

New Location, World Quests, and Enemies

There’s a giant sand spout (or sand tornado, if you prefer) north of the Hypostyle Desert and the Land of Lower Setekh. Version 3.4 finally makes it an explorable location as the Desert of Hadramaveth. It’s plagued with constant sandstorms and has new enemies to defeat.

New Eremite enemies are the Floral Ring-Dancer and Scorching Loremaster. They’re like the Stone Enchanter and the Galehunter, who summons an animal friend to aid them when damaged enough. The Dancer calls a Spirit-Serpent, and the Loremaster a Scorpion.

From the wildlife, the Blessbone variants of the Scorpions, Red Vultures, and the Flying Serpent will harass you. There’s also a new World Boss, the sandworm Setekh Wenut. This is also the boss that drops Alhaitham’s Ascension Materials, so you can’t pre-farm it, unfortunately.

As for the quests, there will be a follow-up to Jeht and Benben’s story after the Golden Slumber questline. You’ll be exploring the new areas of the desert with them, alongside discoveries of long-forgotten lore and ruins.

All the Events!

The Lantern Rite Festival: The Exquisite Night Chimes

Lantern Rite is back again. Judging from the trailer, the theme this time is music, which means a specific Windborne Bard is coming to Liyue! For many players, two Archons meeting and interacting is a dream come true, and it’s certainly possible this time.

The event quests will feature all released Liyue characters, even Hu Tao. She was once banned as it was inauspicious to have a Funeral Director join the festivities landing on a Chinese New Year. Baizhu will also make an appearance again, despite his release getting pushed further in the future.

When the Lantern Rite rolls around, you know it will be a big event. It has several phases, depending on how much Festive Fever you’ve accumulated. It also features several activities you can do to increase the fever.

Radiant Sparks

This is much like the other ‘collect orbs/coins through an obstacle course’ activities in other events or time-trial challenges. What makes this different (and even better) is the inclusion of fireworks! With every boost you use, fireworks appear, making things more festive and dynamic.

A Few Words in the Foreground

A new event in 3.4 that lets you experience paper puppet shadow theater. Control the set’s props and environment to tell the protagonist’s story (or make it even more of a tragedy).

Vigilance at Sea

Huixing of the Crux Fleet is planning a new training test during the Lantern Rite! It’s a sailing obstacle course with various new mechanics and features to take advantage of.

Behind the Scenes

While the citizens enjoy the Festival, a specific character is working behind the scenes to make everything as peaceful as possible. Help her defeat waves of enemies to make the Festival a success!

Rewards

You’ll get the usual rewards of Primogems, Talent Level Up materials, Ascension Materials, Enhancement Materials, Mora, and Liyue 4-star. As of this version, that roster now includes the following:

• Ningguang
• Beidou
• Xiangling
• Xingqiu
• Chongyun
• Xinyan
• Yanfei
• Yun Jin
• Yaoyao

If you want constellation upgrades or a free guaranteed Yaoyao, this is your chance!

Log-In Event: May Fortune Find You

Like previous iterations of the Lantern Rite, this provides 10 Intertwined Fates, Enhancement Materials, and more. Travelers must only log in for a few days to get all the rewards. In addition, there will be bonus rewards through the mail from the developers (three more Intertwined Fates!).

Other Events in 3.4

Warrior’s Spirit

The parry-and-counter event from Inazuma is coming back! With just your sword, defeat these mighty spirits for rewards!

Almighty Arataki Extraordinary and Exhilarating Extreme Beetle Brawl

After months of Itto boasting about his Onikabuto prowess, we finally get to try beetle-fighting ourselves. That is, outside of his story quest, anyway. Hopefully, we can battle Itto for supremacy and maybe even fight Ayato.

Second Blooming

Lisa visits Sumeru for some purpose the Traveler gets roped into. It’s a battle domain with new and exciting features, such as being able to reuse characters from a previous composition. As mentioned, participating in this event will reward players with Lisa’s skin for free.

TCG Updates

Of course, HYV will not neglect every Traveler’s new favorite pastime! The TCG is getting a new Limited-Time Gameplay Mode: Heated Battle. Under this mode, all dice rolls will yield 8 Omni-Element dice. Remember, this affects both participants, so you’ll have to beat your opponents to the punch.

There will also be two new character cards to collect: Klee and Beidou. The developers also announced that they will add new cards to the roster for the TCG every version update.

Leaks, Rumors, and the Future

Leaks are floating around that 3.5 will feature Dehya (simps won’t have to wait too long for her!). 3.6 might feature Baizhu, but that’s even more uncertain. Kaveh is slated to release in the future, with no definite version yet. He has been mentioned as using a Claymore and the Dendro element. Mika’s release is also unspecified, though we can expect him soon.

More information will be revealed when the Beta goes live, and drip marketing starts.

A slew of character designs from Fontaine is going around, some saying that it’s the Hydro Archon Focalors and Chief Justice Neuvillette. There are also others with uncertain origins. Take these with a grain of salt, as they are subject to change. Also, some of these were never intended to be leaked, and those who shared them now face legal troubles.

Whoever those characters are, it’s proof that the Fontaine release is on the horizon. Considering their past patterns, the Sumeru cycle (3.x) of updates will end in 3.8 as another Midsummer Event rolls around. Then it’s 4.0 and time for Fontaine.

Other future TCG cards in the works are:

• Albedo
• Amber
• Eula
• Kujou Sara
• Sangonomiya Kokomi
• Xiao
• Zhongli

No details when. There could be a version that will release a character card not on this list. As Zhongli is slated to have a card, the other Archons will eventually have one.

As always, with leaks, these are subject to change and might not reflect actual gameplay on release. Take them with a grain of salt, and don’t believe everything you hear.

Look Forward to Version 3.4, the Lantern Rite, and More!

That’s all from the Version 3.4 Livestream (and some leaks). With all of these features, events, and new stuff, there’s much to do in Genshin Impact’s Version 3.4. Happy New Year, and let’s look forward to a musical Lantern Rite, long-awaited characters and interactions, and more.

Here’s to another year with Genshin Impact, and keep enjoying the game!