Details of the new update 2.5 for Genshin Impact were showcased by miHoYo on Twitch on February 4, 2022.

The official name for this update is “When The Sakura Bloom” and is going to be released on February 16, 2022.

The livestream revealed lots of new information. So let’s break it down and take a look at what’s going to come in update 2.5!

Character

Yae Miko

Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine and a descendant of Kitsune lineage, Yae Miko is finally joining the roster!

She was first introduced in Update 2.0 when Inazuma was first introduced. Since then, fans were waiting for the day to play her and finally in update 2.5, they can!

She is also an old friend of Ei, the current Electro Archon and the owner and editor-in-chief of Yae Publishing House, which is a publisher of light novels in Inazuma

She is a catalyst star user who wields the Electro element. Not only is she the 8th Electro user but also the 8th catalyst user who was introduced to the game.

Yae Miko can provide both constant damage off-field and high burst damage on-field.

Yae Miko’s Elemental Skill allows her to move swiftly and leave behind a Sesshou Sakura, periodically striking nearby opponents with lightning.

Yae Miko’s Elemental Burst, all nearby Sesshou Sakura will be unsealed, destroying their outer forms and transforming them into Tenko Thunderbolts that descend from the skies.

With her Passive Talent, each Sesshou Sakura destroyed by her Elemental Burst resets the cooldown of her Elemental Skill.

After much teasing from Yae, it looks like she is finally going to reveal her tail to us all. You can see her glowing fox tails in the game when she casts her Elemental Burst.

(I guess that means that a lot of our dreams are coming true…)

Banners

Character Banners

There is going to be three character banners in update 2.5.

In the first phase, there will only be one character banner, which will be Yae Miko.

In the second phase it will be Her Eternal Excellency Raiden Shogun and the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island, Sangonomiya Kokomi.

This will be the first rerun for both Raiden Shogun and Kokomi. Both of these character had their first banner very recently in update 2.1

Weapon Banner

There is also going to be two phases for weapon banners on this update.

There will be a new weapon called Kagura’s Verity whixh will be featured in the phase. This also happens to be Yae Miko’s weapon.

It can be predicted that in the second phase, the weapons that are going to be featured will be same two weapons that were in update 2.1.

They are the Best-in-slot (BiS) weapons for both Raiden Shogun and Kokomi. They are Engulfing Lightining and Everlasting Moonglow respectively.

Story Quest

There will be 2 story quests in update 2.5

Raiden Shogun story quest (Imperatrix Umbrosa Chapter: Act II) and Yae Miko’s Divina Vulpes Chapter: Act I).

Raiden Shogun’s story quest is related to the Inazuma’s archon quest (which is basically the main questline of the game) so you can only access it after you finish the archon quest and Shogun’s first quest

Yae Miko’s story quest takes the same approach as it is also will be available after Raiden Shogun’s story quest.

Raiden Shogun is the second character to have a second story quest after Zhongli. It looks like currently this treatment is given to the archons.

And since Raiden’s quest is following the footsteps of Zhongli’s quest, it will also have an exciting boss fight.

The boss you have to fight is the almighty Raiden Shogun herself!

That’s right, you heard it correctly. We are going to have a boss battle against the very same person’s quest.

It is worth pointing out that this is going to be the third boss fight against Raiden Shogun and also this is currently, the only archon you have to face as a boss.

First one was in the archon quest in update 2.0, and the second was in the archon quest of update 2.1.

Looking at the trailer, it looks like we are going to fight her in a new domain and her outfit has also changed.

The biggest difference in this battle is that she has constructed more arms than before. This is very similar to one of the special techniques in the Naruto franchise called Susanoo. Both abilities seem to create a larger skeleton-like construct that moves according to the user’s wishes.

Many fans (including myself) are really looking forward to this boss battle!

New Enemy

In update 2.5, there will be a new enemy type introduced called Shadowy Husks. The name is reminiscent of the Hollow in Dark Souls.

These enemies are capability to heal and provide a shield to other foes.

There are three types of Shadowy Husks: Hydro Husk, Cryo Husk and Pyro Husk

Events

Three Realms Gateway Offering

The event takes place in an area in Enkanomiya.

Once players enter this area, they’ll continuously accumulate corrosive darkness and can only resist the energy with a gadget called Bokuso Box that helps overcome the corruption in the event area.

The box has an energy meter that depletes over time, or when the player finishes off elite mobs or access chest, challenges, and Aphotium ore.

This event is set to last for the entirety of Version 2.5 and some of the rewards include Primogems and the new 4-star catalyst weapon, Oathsworn Eye.

Divine Ingenuity

In this event you are given the ability to create domains.

You are given preset domains and are able to make them how you see fit.

From the trailer it looks like you can only make time trial domains where you have to go to final checkpoint in the set amount of time.

After you make your domain, you have to test it out yourself before sharing it with the rest of the world.

This entire event’s gameplay is oddly similar to Mario Maker.

Of Drink A-Dreaming

In this event, you become a bartender at the Angel’s Share, which is Diluc’s tavern.

You are tasked to make different kind of drinks with the given ingredients.

You are able meet other characters and spend some time with them.

Hyakunin Ikki

The fourth and final event in the new update is going to be return of a event in update 2.1 called Hyakunin Ikki.

It is a tag-team fighting tournament in Inazuma.

The players will create six teams of two characters, and earn points by rapidly combo-ing between them to defeat enemies before the time runs out.

Imagine a running relay, except with fighting!

New Region

At the very end of the livestream, miHoYo gave a small sneak peak a new location that is going be featured in update 2.6 and that is The Chasm.

The location is actually seen in the map but is blacked out and is unable to access it currently.

This also happens to be once the abode the legendary Lord of Vishaps, Azhdaha whom you have met in Zhongli’s second story quest in update 1.3.

Looking at the sneak peaks it looks like you able to explore above and below the ground as well.

Fans are excited to see the new location and see the aftermath of the great battle between Azhdaha and Morax.

There is also the possibility of getting more lore about Azhdaha and the location’s history!

There is going to be a new enemy that will be native to The Chasm and it called Ruin Serpent.

Looking at the name and it design, it looks like it is part of the “Ruin” enemy types.

miHoYo even showed us some of the concepts for this new enemy.

miHoYo also gave timed redemptions codes during the livestream. You should go and redeem it fast.

Here you go (you’re welcome):

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That’s about all of the details revealed during the livestream.

Are you excited for the new update? Who are you hoping to pull in this update?