Genshin Impact 5.3 Update: Release Date, Banners, Characters and Events
All information about the January version: leaks from insiders and official announcements from the developers.
2024-12-03
Genshin Impact 5.3 Update: Release Date, Banners, Characters and Events
All information about the January version: leaks from insiders and official announcements from the developers.
Update 5.3 in Genshin Impact is a January intermediate patch primarily dedicated to the Lantern Sea Festival in Liyue. While the traditional winter event will be the centerpiece of the version, Natlan's story will continue with the release of another chapter of Archon quests and the release of the long-awaited Pyro Archon of Mavuika. Expansion of the already available game territories is not expected, and therefore all the planned content will be concentrated only in quests, fresh events and reruns of already familiar events, as well as new characters.
In this article, we have collected all the known information about the January update from insiders and developers. Next, let's take a look at when patch 5.3 will be released and when the developer broadcast dedicated to it will take place. Let's take a look at what characters will be released in the version, what events will take place, and whether there will be new locations in Natlan.
Some of the information below is taken from insider sources and may change by the time the patch is released.
Genshin Impact 5.3 release date
If there are no changes to the current schedule, update 5.3 will be released on January 1, 2025. Already on December 30, a pre-load version will be available in the launcher, which will allow you to download the necessary files in advance so that you don't have to do it on release day. After the servers open and the maintenance is completed, all players will receive two letters of 300 Primogems each in the in-game mail as compensation for waiting for and fixing the bugs of the previous patch.
Genshin Impact 5.3 Developer Stream
The 5.3 broadcast will take place on December 20, 2024 on the official Twitch and YouTube developer channels. The stream will be launched at 15:00 Moscow time, they will talk about all the innovations planned in the update, and also share three gift promo codes for 300 Primogems.
What banners will be
Thanks to the announcements of the developers, it became known about the upcoming release of two legendary characters Mavuika (Pyro, two-handed) and Sitlali (Cryo, catalyst), whose banners will take place in version 5.3. A reliable team of HomDGCat insiders, in turn, shared that in parallel, the prayers of 5⭐ Clorinda (Electro, one-handed) and Harlequin (Pyro, polearm) are expected in the patch. The order of the phases is not specified at the moment.
Of the epic characters, the developers introduced Lan Yan (Anemo, catalyst), whose release may fall on both the first and second half of the patch. The following 4⭐ characters are also expected to be included in the banners:
- Chevrez (Pyro, polearm);
- Diona (Cryo, Ranged);
- Rosary (Cryo, polearm);
- Bennett (Pyro, one-handed).
If the composition of the heroes turns out to be correct, then among the weapons in the banners will be Maviuiki's greatsword "Thousand Dazzling Suns", Sitlali's catalyst "Vigil of the Caller to the Stars", Clorinda's one-handed sword "Absolution" and Harlequin's spear "Outline of the Scarlet Moon".
Prayer of the Chronicles
The long-awaited regional banner is likely to be available in-game again in conjunction with the Lantern Sea Festival. The Prayer of the Chronicles will presumably be dedicated to Liyue and will include:
- standard Qi Qi and Ke Qing;
- event Ganyu, Tartaglia, Xiao, and Bai Zhu;
- all 4⭐ heroes from Liyue;
- All 5⭐ standard weapons;
- signature bow North Star and catalyst Azure Vault splendor;
- limited claymore Lighthouse of the Reed Sea and bow Hunting Trail.
Zhongli, Hu Tao, and Yelan would most likely not appear in the banner, since their reruns had only recently been held.
New Character
Mavuika is the current Pyro Archon Haborim, who regained her title shortly before the events of the game in order to fight the Abyss and implement her plan to save the region. A former pupil of the Scions of Cronus, she once won the Pilgrimage Tournament with a greatsword, and since then she prefers to fight with claymore, although she has other powers and abilities.
Sitlali
Sitlali is a Cryo seer from the Night Wind Lords tribe who actively participated in the storyline and game events. The talented fortuneteller is proficient in many techniques and is able to perform any ritual known to her people, for which she has become widely known not only in the settlement, but throughout Natlan. Many locals and even heroes already familiar to players turn to the services of the catalyst: for example, Mualani turned to Sitlali so often for a prediction that the seer prepared a forecast for her for ten years ahead.
Pyro the Traveler
According to information from several insiders, the Traveler will receive Pyro powers and unlock all constellations at once after completing the Archon quest in patch 5.3. The Cornerstone of Stars and Flames, as well as the Flaming Flint Ore, collected earlier, will be useful for leveling the hero's talents. The protagonist, having received the ancient name and blessing of the Archon, will become an available Pyro applicator, and will also learn to interact with the energy of the Night Spirit, like all local characters.
Lan Yan
Lan Yan is an epic catalalist heroine who will make her first appearance at the Lantern Sea Festival. The girl in the unusual costume for the Liyue culture has never been mentioned by the game characters before, and therefore there is almost no information about her. According to preliminary data from insider seele, the stranger will become the first Anemo shield in the game.
New Weapons
In January, only two new legendary weapons will be available, which seele also talked about:
- Mavuika's signature claymore greatly increases attack power and critical hits. The wielder's damage after activating an Elemental Skill or Elemental Burst for a short time. The duration of this effect can be slightly extended by performing normal or charged attacks. The basic substat of weapons contains a critical chance.
- Sitlali's signature catalyst is aimed at increasing the wearer's elemental mastery, as well as increasing the damage of the active character under the shield. The operation of the positive effects of the catalyst is ensured by the creation of a shield by the owner.
New Skins
According to information from insiders Nicole and Jokerverse, Update 5.3 will feature winter-themed skins for Hu Tao and Xiang Ling. The preliminary rarity of outfits is 4⭐. It can be assumed that the "New Year's Mood" costume for the epic Xiangling, according to custom, will be given out for free as a reward for completing the main event, and the "Snow-covered cherries" on Hu Tao will be available at a discount during the version period.
New areas of Natlan on the map
According to preliminary data, the release of new areas in Natlan or Liyue, where the main event of the patch will take place, is not expected in the January update. However, to the west of the Flower Feather Clan settlement, a dungeon will appear belonging to the kingdom's first weekly Pyro boss.
New Quests
In addition to the event storyline in Liyue, at least three quests related to the story of Natlan will appear in the game.
Legend Quests
With the release of Sitlali, the storyline of the Chronicles of the Night Wind Lords tribe will finally come to an end. The Soothsayer's Legends Quest will be the third chapter of the Colorful Memories chain. For completing the quest as part of update 5.3, an additional reward will be available in the form of Primogems and Fortune Teller's leveling materials.
In addition to the final chapter of The Chronicles of the Lords of the Night Wind, there will be two Legends quests in the classic version: the Legends of Mauruiki quest and the second chapter of the Legends of Hu Tao quest.
New Bosses
In the dungeon, the appearance of which was told by insiders, players will face a new weekly boss - the Abyss Dragon Gosoitot. The creature has already appeared in the story as a huge black ball during the battle with the Abyss in the quest "The Rainbow Is Doomed to Burn". For the first time, you will be able to get into the dungeon only during the passage of the corresponding Archon task, after which the dungeon will become forever available for farming materials.
The number of world bosses will be replenished with the Priestess of the Lords of the Night Wind "Spirit-Speaking Hermit Who Has Lost His Way". Materials from the boss will be needed by Cryo catalyst Sitlali, who belongs to the same tribe as the priestess.
A New Mansion Form in the Serenitea Pot
In Patch 5.3, the mansion will be reshaped to Natlan, and with it, new furniture sets will be available for companions from the Pyro Kingdom. The main building is represented by a multi-storey tower, with graffiti-painted rocks and tropical trees and waterfalls characteristic of the region in the background.
Imaginarium Theater Renovation
New features to the Imaginarium Theatre persistent game mode include unique photo poses and character special effects.
New secrets of acting
In patch 5.3, the range of secrets for trading "Toy Medals" will be expanded by four more positions. With the start of the new season, it will be possible to study the poses of Yae Miko, Bennett, Tartaglia and Lynette.
New Echoes of Fantasy
In addition to adding new poses for Photo Mode, two characters will have personal echoes of fantasy. The next heroes who will receive unique effects for the sprint will be Kazuha and Ganyu.
New Musical Instruments
A music shop will appear on the territory of the community of the Spring People, where you can buy traditional musical instruments for mora - ukulele and juju drum. Buying one item will cost 150,000 mora, while updating the store is not provided.
New TCG Cards
The list of cards available to play in Sacred Call of Seven will be updated with at least four new positions: Mualani and Clorinda's cards, as well as their special talents that can be activated in a duel.
New Events
Thanks to the insider flying flame, it became known about several events that will take place in the update:
- The main event of the patch is the Sea Lantern Festival, which will be held in Liyue. In addition to story quests, players will be able to participate in traditional mini-games to earn valuable rewards and event points needed to exchange for other gifts. Upon reaching a certain number of points, a selector of 4⭐ Geo Kingdom heroes will become available, among which Lan Yang will appear. One of the festival modes will be "Tetris in multiplayer mode".
- A musical event with a rhythm game that will later become permanent. It is not yet known how this feature will be integrated into the game, but some players suggest that a song editor and a general list of created melodies will be available to play at any time.
- Reran of bug fights with Arataki Itto.
- A limited-time obstacle course event where the goal is not only to complete the path on time, but also to collect Shiny Coins.
- A combat event in which you are asked to choose a difficulty modifier and defeat as many opponents as possible in a limited time.
New Mechanics
On the top floor of Ochkanatlan, the location with the stone throne will change: blue shards will appear in the place, resembling the color of Capitano's abilities. In the trailer for version 5.2, the Fatui Harbinger has already appeared in the specified location, which confirms its connection with the new mechanic. Probably, the throne in Ochkanatlan will become a new place for an offering or a unique dungeon with gradual leveling.
Game Improvements
Other gameplay improvements include the following:
- The process of respawning world bosses will be simplified: enemies will appear 5 seconds after collecting rewards, and there will be no need to teleport a long distance.
- When leveling artifacts, a numerical indicator will be displayed on how many times a certain substat has been raised.
- The maximum number of artifacts in the inventory will be expanded from 1800 to 2100 units.
We hope this article has helped you learn more about the 5.3 update in Genshin Impact.
