Highlights

  • Genshin Impact's 4.6 update may introduce new characters, bosses, and artifacts, as leaks suggest.
  • Arlecchino may be spotlit as both a banner and a new boss battle, alongside some high-profile banner reruns.
  • Quality of life updates, new events, and areas like Petrichor Island could be on the way.

The next major update to Genshin Impact is scheduled for the end of April. The 4.6 update is rumored to feature a ton of new content, including a new Trounce Domain, a new weekly world boss, and a new area of the map to explore. Many of these features are indeed just rumors thus far, shared by leakers and beta testers, so this information must be taken with a grain of salt. That said, if even a fraction of the rumors are true, then there are some big changes coming to Genshin Impact in the 4.6 update.

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New Banners Feature Arlecchino, Lyney, Wanderer, and Baizhu

Players have long been anticipating the release of Arlecchino, also known as "The Knave," the Fourth of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers. She will be a powerful 5-star Pyro unit armed with a polearm. It is likely that her signature weapon, the rumored 5-star "Crimson Moon’s Semblance," will also be made available during her run. Leaks suggest that she will be on the first banner during the first half of this update. Lyney, a 5-star Pyro bow user, will be on the second banner during the first half. This is fitting, considering that Arlecchino is Lyney's "Father" through her role at the House of the Hearth orphanage where Lyney and his twin Lynette were raised.

Players have expected Arlecchino to be prominently featured, but the banners allegedly featured in the second half of the 4.6 update come as more of a surprise. Given the history of Genshin Impact's banners, fans expected a re-run for Furina. This is because Archons like Nahida or Raiden Shogun typically receive re-run banners four or five updates after their initial banner. Furina may not be receiving a re-run because she is no longer an Archon.

The second half of 4.6 will allegedly make The Wanderer, a 5-star Anemo catalyst user, and Baizhu, a 5-star Dendro catalyst user available. This will be the third re-run for Wanderer and for Baizhu. Baizhu's return was perhaps presaged by the addition of Chenyu Vale in update 4.4. This region of Liyue is the homeland of the snake called Chengshang that encircles his shoulders.

Petrichor Island and Bayda Harbor Mind the Gap

genshin impact version 4.6 map expansion petrichor remuria bayda harbor

Trusted leaker Uncle K has alleged that the amorphous gap in the map between Sumeru, Fontaine, and Liyue will be filled with the 4.6 update. Although part of the map will remain missing, the new area will feature a Fontaine island called Petrichor and a new region of Sumeru called Bayda Harbor. The new areas will play host to a new weekly boss and the Arlecchino Trounce Domain. The rest of the space will be occupied by an "ancient Khaenri'ah battlefield" according to Uncle K's post. This is possibly connected to the alleged "gateway to Khaenri'ah" under Sumeru discovered around this time last year.

Petrichor Island might also play host to a huge underground/underwater region called Remuria. According to notes within the game, the name means "golem" in an ancient language. This aligns with rumors of a new golem-like enemy in an underground area. Remuria has been referred to as an ancient, Rome-like civilization that rose and fell before the creation of modern Fontaine. If it is truly a new part of the map, players will be able to discover what truly happened to Remuria after it was swept into the Abyss.

New Weekly Boss Arlecchino and New World Boss Centaur

Genshin Impact - Arlecchino

Since Childe first came to Liyue in version 1.1, Fatui Harbingers have been given the honor of having their own weekly Trounce Domains. Arlecchino will be no different. Rumor has it that 4.6 will see Arlecchino as a fearsome, two-stage boss armed with scythes. The aforementioned Petrichor Island will feature the location for this new battle.

The new region will also play host to a new world boss in the form of a massive, mechanical centaur. Gameplay has been leaked of the fight with this Pyro-powered machine armed with a sword and shield. The sword has Pyro attacks, while the shield has a Geo component. The animations for the boss feature flaming musical notes. While players don't know the story behind this creature, it's possible that this world boss will have the ascension material needed for Arlecchino.

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New 4-Star Sumeru Character Sethos

Genshin Impact Leaks Show New Explorable Areas

Some rumors have suggested that there will be no new 4-star characters with the 4.6 update. Another leak, backed up with voice lines and the word of the trusted leaker Mero, suggests that 4.6 will feature Chapter 2 of Lupus Aureus, Cyno's story quest. This story quest will involve Sethos, a new 4-star bow user that has some kind of connection to Cyno, the General Mahamatra of Sumeru's Akademiya. It's unclear if he is from the Akademiya or from the desert like Candace and Dehya.

Sethos allegedly takes the place of Emilie, a Fontaine character that has been mentioned by several characters. Emilie is a perfumer and good friend of Chevreuse. Her inclusion, if she is ever included as a playable character, will have to wait for a future update.

Two New Artifact Sets

Genshin Impact Dendro character

Version 4.6 will allegedly feature two new Genshin Impact artifact sets, one tailor-made for Arlecchino and another Dendro set. Many 5-star units like Arlecchino are given signature artifact sets designed both to match their aesthetic and to enhance their abilities. The Dendro set, in contrast, is meant to capitalize on the Burning effect that happens when Pyro meets Dendro. Leaker Litian provided this information on Reddit:

Bond of Life Artifact Set

  • 2p: ATK +18%
  • 4p: Increases damage dealt by 18% when the value of the Bond of Life contract is increased or decreased for 6 seconds. The effect can be stacked up to three times. It is unknown if the effect can be triggered when the character is off-field.

Burning Reaction Artifact Set

  • 2p: ATK +18%
  • 4p: Increases damage dealt by 50% after 3 seconds of combat have passed. If there is no Burning enemy for 6 seconds, the damage bonus decreases by 10% per second. When a Burning enemy is present, the bonus increases by 10% per second up to 50%. The effect can also be activated when the character is off-field.

New Events And Old Favorites

Arataki Life Rock Rainbow Grand Tour

According to a contributor on the Genshin Impact Leaks subreddit, ukrisreng, there will be four events across the Genshin 4.6 update. One will bring players back to Inazuma, a nation that has not enjoyed new content since the launch of Version 4.0 and Fontaine. Given the name of the event, it's safe to assume that this event will involve Arataki Itto, the 5-star Geo claymore character and swaggering leader of the Arataki Gang. Presumably, the "rock" in question is rock music.

Windtrace: The Scheme of a Certain Strategy

The Windtrace event is Mondstadt's take on the classic game of hide and go seek. It's a fan favorite as both an easy way to earn Primogems and a fun way to interact with other players. This will be the fourth return of the Windtrace event since its introduction in Version 1.5.

Chronicles of the Dragon of Unique Form in Search of Battle

This event has not been heard of before. The title is a little confusing, and contrasting posters have alleged that the translation of "dragon" should actually be "saurian." Saurians are creatures native to Natlan, the new region set to be released later this year. The people of Natlan apparently use Saurians as mounts, a possible new feature that will premiere alongside the big 5.0 Natlan update.

Vibro-Crystal Applied Research

Vibro-Crystal Research was an event introduced in Version 2.6 wherein players helped a researcher named Patrice from Fontaine study gems called Vibro-Crystals. This was before Fontaine was available to players, so revisiting Patrice on his home turf makes sense. The change of name from just "Vibro-Crystal Research" to "Vibro-Crystal Applied Research" suggests that the event will be slightly different.

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Quality of Life Updates for Genshin Impact

madame ping in genshin impact

Amid all these rumors, one of the most anticipated is a few miscellaneous improvements to players' quality of life. Small changes can make big differences. One such small change is rumored to be a change to the Treasure Compasses. They won't just point players to chests, but also show an icon for the chest on the mini-map while equipped.

Furthermore, trusted leaker TeamMew alleges that a new "Focused Experience Mode" will make completing multi-stepped quests easier by prioritizing that quest line. This means that players will no longer have to worry about finishing out other quests that don't necessarily affect the timeline of the quest that they are focusing on, but still involve the character. If Cyno is a part of a half-finished quest, for example, players won't have to go and finish that quest if they activate Focused Experience Mode on a different quest line that involves Cyno.

Another quality of life update involves the Teapot, the magical item gifted to players by Madame Ping. Decorating the Realm Within the Teapot will be made easier with a "Fast Obtain" option on Genshin furniture. Players can simply inspect and then purchase missing pieces of furniture from furniture sets rather than having to remember to build them at a later time. After Trust Rank 10, prices for furniture will be discounted and players will be able to purchase up to ten items at a time.

Genshin Impact is constantly evolving, and no update is without its own merits. The details surrounding the upcoming 4.6 update have not yet been officially confirmed by HoyoVerse, but leakers have speculated on the possibilities of new bosses, new areas, and new artifacts. While this information has to be taken with a grain of salt, it certainly speaks to the high expectations fans have for the new version of the game.