With the Genshin Impact livestream released on March 31, the next events of the game have been announced. As per usual, there are new characters and weapons to collect. This update also opens a new area for exploration and related quests. The ‘flagship event,’ a new hangout, and new artifacts will also be added to obtain on your accounts.
New Characters and Returning Banners
Two new characters are coming in Patch 3.6. They are Baizhu (5* Dendro Catalyst) and Kaveh (4* Dendro Claymore). The former would be an exciting addition to your team because of his healing and shielding capabilities.
He also has the unusual passive skill that lets him concoct medicines as you collect plant resources in the wild. Yes, a small portion of HP will be recovered when you pick up flowers, fruits, or herbs. Lastly, he is the first Dendro shielder character, which has never been seen before.
Kaveh is Alhaitham’s roommate and the star of the Kshahrewar Darshan of the Akademiya. However, despite his popularity, his strong empathy and compassion always lead him to financial difficulties. That is also his point of contention with the scribe, his polar opposite. Kaveh has minor healing capabilities, but his abilities primarily revolve around the Bloom reaction.
The other character banners for this patch are Nahida’s and Nilou’s reruns. Baizhu will be accompanied by Ganyu and Kaveh in the second phase of the patch. Unusual, as Hoyoverse often puts the new featured characters in the first phase.
The Epitome Invocation (Weapon) Banners will be for ‘A Thousand Floating Dreams’ and ‘The Key of Khaj-Nisut’ for the first phase. ‘Jadefall’s Splendor’ and the ‘Amos’ Bow’ will follow in the second. Baizhu’s signature weapon is part of the Primordial Jade series along with the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear and the Primordial Jade Cutter.
New Artifacts
Two artifact sets will be released in this patch. The first is Nymph’s Dream. Its 2-set effect is an increase (+15%) in Hydro DMG. For the 4-set effect, when attacks (normal, charged, plunge) and abilities (E Skill and Burst) hit enemies, the character receives a stack of Mirrored Nymph for 8s. Each stack will add to ATK (9% per iteration) and Hydro DMG Bonus (5-6% for every stack).
The second is Vourukasha’s Glow. The 2-set effect is a boost to HP. When two more are added, it increases Elemental Skill and Burst damage by 10%. If the equipping character takes damage, the mentioned bonus increases by 80% (to 18%, not 80%) for 5s. This can stack up to five times (50% total). This can still trigger even if the equipping character isn’t on-field.
New Location
It will be called the Girdle of the Sands. According to leaks, it will be located north/northwest of the Desert of Hadramaveth, the sandstorm area. Of course, this would mean more exploration goals such as Dendroculus, chests, and puzzles.
The livestream also introduces a new gadget to use in the area. This will make some hard-to-reach locations more accessible, allowing you to fly freely and even drop bombs.
According to stories, this area was one of the most important sites of the Abyssal invasion during the Cataclysm. Monsters from Khaenri’ah poured out, and the land became a battlefield, only ending when the gods suppressed the invasion. The location still bears scars from this event, showing that even the desert sand can’t cover everything.
New Boss and Enemies
A new weekly-recurring boss will be added, the Guardian of Apep’s Oasis. You’re not precisely trying to fight it. Instead, you’ll research what ails it and how to heal or alleviate its pain. The ‘battle’ will have three phases, each with a different goal.
There will also be an Abyss-themed world boss, the Iniquitous Baptist. It’s similar to Abyss Lectors, but with four arms and can use 3 elements simultaneously. It will undoubtedly be challenging to defeat, and it will likely drop the boss materials for Baizhu and Kaveh.
Hilichurl enemies will also get two new additions. They are the Hilichurl Rogues, with an Anemo and Hydro variant. They have somehow learned to wield unusual weapons for hilichurls (the Hydro variant uses a scythe) and wander around. If they see a group of its kin being attacked, they will help, but they’re usually lone drifters, not part of any tribe.
Lastly, there will also be two new consecrated beasts. One is the Consecrated Horned Crocodile, and the other is the Consecrated Fanged Beast. Like the others, you can stun them once they release a crystal, and you hit it with specific elements.
Events in 3.6
The flagship event is ‘A Parade of Providence,’ which some have called a ‘sports festival’ for the Akademiya. It has two parts.
In the first, each of the six Darshans has prepared various activities for participants and rewards for any winner. There are all kinds of activities:
- Rtawahist: Astrolabe constellation arrangement (arrange stars to form the constellation)
- Kshahrewar: Teapot arrangement (arrange teapot furniture and landscape platforms so you can pass through checkpoints and get to the goal)
- Vahumana: Archaeology activities (search for relic replicas with a specific device)
- Haravatat: Storytelling (ask questions to get to the truth of the story)
- Spantamad: Combat experimentation (timed combat with buffs and debuffs)
- Amurta: Mimetic replication (control bionic animals according to a rhythm)
The second is the ‘Interdarshan Championship.’ The six schools have sent out their representatives to try and win the prestige of being the best Darshan. There are 6 playable characters for each:
- Cyno (Spantamad)
- Kaveh (Kshahrewar)
- Faruzan (Haravatat)
- Tighnari (Amurta)
- Layla (Rtawahist)
- (Wanderer for Vahumana, unrevealed in the livestream, but he was in the trailer)
This event will reward a free invitation for Faruzan, allowing you to have the character (or a constellation upgrade) without wishing or wasting fates.
An event to upgrade and practice using the new gadget will also be available. You’ll use Sorush (the ‘device’) to complete various tasks and get acclimated to using it. You’ll take on battle challenges, test your navigational skills, or solve puzzles using its abilities.
There will also be two new battle events. One will make the Traveler brave sandstorms to help a researcher out. Players will have to protect the cannons to drive the Wenut away. At the same time, enemies try to sabotage your efforts in a raging sandstorm.
The other is a ‘rerun’ of the Brewing Potions event. In-universe, you’re testing some concoctions, but these give you a random buff in gameplay. Find a party configuration that lets you use these powerful boosts and defeat as many enemies as possible!
Lastly, near the end of the patch, there will be an Overflowing Mastery event, where all skill book domains will have double rolls. It will be time to farm these books for talent upgrades!
A Hangout for Layla
Layla will have her hangout stories in 3.6! Learn more about this sleepy Rtawahist student and earn Primogems and other nifty stuff. Maybe we’ll see an explanation about her sleepwalking habits or at least get to see her relaxing instead of stressing out.
Nahida’s Story Quest, Act II
If you haven’t noticed, usually, HYV will add a second weekly boss to a nation with the second chapter to an Archon’s Story Quest. Zhongli’s SQ added Azhdaha and Ei’s the Shogun Puppet fight. Venti doesn’t have his yet, but 3.6 will add Nahida’s and the Guardian of Apep boss. Then again, there are already two weekly bosses in Mond, Stormterror and the Spirit of Andrius.
Like the other Act II Story Quests, this chapter will explain more about Apep’s role in maintaining the balance in Sumeru. Also, hopefully, we will figure out what’s causing its illness and find a solution.
Let’s All Look Forward to Genshin Impact 3.6!
Surprisingly, there’s no word about TCG updates. HYV might be switching to an ‘every-other-update’ schedule for it. Still, we can expect more characters to be added to its roster in future patches. Even without that, the next update is exciting enough.
New characters, locations, events, and more will keep Travelers busy for the next six weeks. By then, the next update will be on the horizon, starting the cycle anew. This puts us one step closer to the release of Fontaine. After this, there will only be one or two (likely the latter) updates before a new nation opens!
Sure, it’s still months away, but every day brings it closer and closer. The hype is real, and the game’s storyline is heating up with all the revelations the Sumeru chapter has brought. If HYV can ride that momentum and carry on with the impactful plot lines, any Traveler in it for the lore will be overjoyed.