MiHoYo have announced some of the changes coming with Version 2.3 “Shadows Amid Snowstorms” of their gacha action-RPG, Genshin Impact.
Version 2.3 launches November 24th.
As stated on the PlayStation Blog, players will feature seasonal events in Dragonspine; including a winter training camp, and meeting up with Albedo and Eula. The rewards for the events include a 4-star Sword Cinnabar Spindle to enhance your characters.
The Dragonspine Special Training tests players with Agility Training (a race track complete with buffs, collectible seals, and obstacles), and Tracker Training (finding Ice Crystal Piles to collect Snowman components). Finally, Combat Training will task players finding special Lures that buff foes with cold air.
As Sheer Cold accumulates as you get closer, causing characters to lose HP without a Heat Source. However, you can use nearby mechanics and Scarlet Quartz to set the Lures to a Heat Source. Those gathered Snowman Components can be used to make your own Puffy Snowmen, exchanged with friends, or used in the Serenitea Pot.
In addition, Teyvat has seen many small animals vanish, starting the latest Bantan Sango Case Files. This time, The Warrior Dog. Players will find the Canine Bunshin patrolling and guarding these missing animals. Sneak past them and their illusionary copies, and rescue the little critters with your Gadget Ubiquity Net. Clever use of smoke machines and fireworks can also make a good distraction.
Other missing animals will be imprisoned in the Den of Thieves however, and all foes must be slain to rescue to the captives. Completing this event nets you Primogems, resources, and the Omni-Ubiquity Net. The latter lets you capture small animals of your own, and replicates them for the Sereniteapot. Speaking of small creatures, Paimon can be invited as a guest into your realm.
On Tsurumi Island, the locals are having to contend with a Golden Wolflord. This new boss is king of the Rifthounds, and as such can apply Corrosion, and summon Rifthound Skulls to protect it. The beast only grows stronger in later stages of the fight, and even gains resistance to Geo attacks.
Finally, two new characters are being introduced. The 5-star Geo claymore wielding Arataki Itto, and the 4-star Geo bow Gorou. You can find the rundown on both below.
“Arataki Itto seems to have a strong will to win, no matter if it’s a ramen eating contest with a fox-eared lady, playing games with children, or his rematch challenge to Kujou Sara. Kujou Sara, the general of the Tenryou Commission, once took him down and confiscated his Vision under the Vision Hunt Decree. But beyond any doubt, Arataki Itto has his unique charisma. We heard he even established his own crew, the Arataki Gang.
In battle, Arataki Itto also possesses powerful attacks, wielding a huge Claymore and the power of Geo. Both his Normal Attacks and Elemental power can be very compelling. Itto may gain stacks of Superlative Superstrength with his Normal Attacks and Elemental Skill. Each stack of Superlative Superstrength allows him to slash an empowered Charged Attack, the Arataki Kesagiri, and once the last stack is consumed, an especially powerful attack will be unleashed. With his Elemental Burst, Royal Descent: Behold, Itto the Evil, Itto lets his inner Raging Oni King emerge, using his Oni King’s Kanabou in battle. When Itto transforms into the Raging Oni King, his Normal, Charged, and Plunging Attacks will be converted to Geo Damage. In addition, Itto’s Elemental and Physical RES drops, while his ATK increases based on his DEF, and his Normal Attack Speed will also increase.”
“Gorou will join as a new four-star character in the same wish event with Itto. The great general of Watasumi Island’s force is in fact younger than many of his subordinates, but he gained the trust of his comrades and the Traveler in the Inazuma storyline. Gorou also wields a Geo Visio, but he favors the bow and can buff his teammates in combat. Both his Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst deals AoE Geo Damage and buffs characters on the field. Besides, the more Geo characters there are in your party, the more bonuses Gorou may provide.”
In addition, both characters have skills to gather resources. Itto has Woodchuck Chucked to gain additional logs of wood, while Gorou’s Seeker of Shinies shows the location of nearby resources unique to Inazuma. There will also be Itto’s Story Quest and Gorou’s Hangout Event to learn more about both of them, and Beidou’s Hangout Event will be available.
Version 2.3 will bring new Event Wishes. Along with Albedo and Eula being available in the earlier phase of Version 2.3, the Two Character Event Wishes available at the same time share the same cumulative pull count towards 5-star drop guarantees. Arataki Itto and Gorou will come after.
You can find the Shadows Amidst Snowstorms trailer below, along with the upcoming Version 2.3 Special Program.
Genshin Impact is available and free-to-play on Windows PC (via the official website), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Android, iOS, and coming soon to Nintendo Switch. In case you missed it, you can find our review here (we recommend it!)