HoYoverse announced an update to Genshin Impact Version Luna III titled “Song of the Welkin Moon: Interlude - A Nocturne of the Far North” which will be released on December 3. This update continues the story in the Nod-Krai region, presents Durin as a playable character, and introduces the Hexerei system for some characters associated with Hexenzirkel.
Continuation of Nod-Krai Story and Hexenzirkel's Role
The story continues after the defeat of the Rächer of Solnari. Nasha Town is once again bustling with the “Moon-Prayer Night” festival, Dameselette's last night before her journey to the moon. Players are invited to tour the festival area, try out various game stalls, and fill out souvenir stamp books as a way to capture the moment.
The festival is more than just a festive atmosphere. Alice, Klee's mother, and Nicole Reeyn, who had previously helped explain Fontaine's prophecy, appeared directly as part of the story. Both come bearing warnings that the boundaries of Teyvat are beginning to destabilize, while the phenomenon of “phantoms” appears at various points of Nod-Krai. Players will team up with Albedo, Durin and Wanderer to investigate the source of this disturbance in the latest Archon Quest. Completion of the quest rewards 500 Primogems for a limited period of time.
In addition, interactions with Dameselette continue in Silvermoon Hall. The focus here is quite strong on the themes of separation and preparation for the journey to the moon, making the Nod-Krai arc feel like a bridge to the wider conflict in the world of Genshin Impact.
Durin as a 5★ Character with Two Forms
Durin comes as a five-star Pyro-type character with a Sword weapon. His background is quite unique as he was previously known as a dragon from the fabled world of Simulanka. His human body is now the result of Albedo's alchemy that transferred Durin's dragon heart energy into a new form, so Durin has two sources of power.
In gameplay, Durin has two very different forms of combat. One side represents Simulanka's pure soul that acts as a team support. This form lowers the enemy's Elemental Resistance while providing AoE Pyro DMG suitable for reaction team compositions. The other side is filled with Abyssal energy and focuses on single-target attacks with massive DMG potential, including the increased effectiveness of her self-generated Vaporize and Melt reactions.
Durin's special Story Quest reveals more about the relationship between her, Albedo, and Hexenzirkel. Completing the quest will provide special rewards for Durin that seem designed to reinforce his identity as a character with two sides of power.
The first phase of Banner Version Luna III will feature the debut of Durin and Jahoda as well as a Venti rerun. The second phase will feature the return of Varesa and Xilonen.
Hexerei System for Mondstadt Characters
This update introduces the “Hexerei characters” system, a kind of special reinforcement for characters closely related to Hexenzirkel. After completing Alice's quest titled “Witch's Homework”, some characters will gain Hexerei status. The list of characters includes Durin, Venti, Klee, Albedo, Mona, Razor, Fischl, and Sucrose.
Each character has their own quests that tell a new story, grant additional abilities, and change the effects of their Constellation. This system makes old characters that have been on the roster for a long time feel fresh in terms of mechanics and builds.
There is also a team effect called “Hexerei: Secret Rite” which activates if there are at least two Hexerei characters in the party. This effect provides a significant boost to the combat abilities of all team members. One example of a major change is with Venti. After the quest is completed, when Stormeye Burst is active, her Normal Attack changes to “Windsunder Arrows” which can pierce through enemies and potentially extend Stormeye's duration. The full details of these improvements can be seen through a new gadget called “The Little Witch's Dictionary”.
One more important point, once the quest conditions are met, players can invite Razor, Fischl, or Sucrose to the party, which indicates a free four-star character option for players.
Winter Event, Jahoda, and Miliastra Wonderland Update
In addition to Durin, this update also brings Jahoda, a Bow-using four-star Anemo character. Jahoda focuses on healing the team and has the ability to absorb elements to produce DMG that matches the elements absorbed. This combination of healer and converter roles provides a new option for players looking for an Anemo support with great flexibility.
The seasonal event “Soulblazers’ Snowbound Journey” brings players back to Dragonspine with a series of winter-themed minigames. Rewards include the exclusive four-star weapon “Rainbow Serpent's Rain Bow”, Primogems, and other rewards that support account progression. Meanwhile, the Envisage Echoes system received an update that added echos for Klee and Albedo as rewards.
On the UGC mode side, the Miliastra Wonderland module also received an update. The “Wonderland Resource Center” feature allows creators to share and access resources and creative content through editing tools. Various rewards such as new actions, expressions, and free pulls are available in this version. In addition, a winter-themed Main Hall will also be present during the Luna III Version period.
Overall, this update combines the development of the Teyvat world story, the strengthening of old characters through the Hexerei system, the presence of Durin as a key figure, and a series of events that take players back to popular areas such as Dragonspine while getting to know more about the new conflict in Nod-Krai.
