During the 2.5 livestream on Twitch, Genshin Impact shared a special program of its upcoming banners for the game’s 2.5 update, “When the Sakura Bloom”, arriving on February 16, 2022. Version 2.5 will have two phases with different characters’ banners available during each phase. Phase One will feature a banner for 2.5’s first new character, Genshin Impact's long-awaited Yae Miko. Phase Two will feature two banners: a rerun of the Raiden Shogun’s banner, Reign of Serenity, and a rerun of Kokomi’s banner, Drifting Luminescence.
Alongside the announcement of the upcoming character banners for the 2.5 update, the Genshin Impact livestream shared that the storyline will focus heavily on Inazuma and its affinity with the Electro element. Along with their banners, the Raiden Shogun and Yae Miko will both get new Story Quests in Genshin Impact's version 2.5. A continuation of her previous Story Quest, Raiden Shogun's Story Quest continues with "Imperatrix Umbrosa Chapter: Act II". Yae Miko gets her first Genshin Impact Story Quest, "Divina Vulpes Chapter: Act I." The special program shared details of upcoming Events, with brand-new Events for players to enjoy as well as previous Events making a comeback.
The Genshin Impact 2.5 special program aired on the game’s official Twitch and YouTube channels, on February 4, sharing information about the upcoming update which features lots of Inazuman characters, tying in with the game’s storyline and upcoming events. Fans have long-awaited the arrival of Yae Miko, a new Inazuman character with an Electro Vision who utilizes a Catalyst weapon. Fans are glad she's finally becoming a playable character, but are already asking for Genshin Impact to buff Yae Miko ahead of her release.
Yae Miko: Genshin Impact 2.5's New Playable Character
Yae Miko is a long-awaited upcoming 5-star Electro Catalyst playable character in Genshin Impact, arriving in Phase One of the game’s 2.5 update. Yae Miko will be the second Electro Catalyst user in Genshin Impact, in addition to one of the game’s earliest playable characters, Lisa. Along with Yae Miko’s release, version 2.5 will introduce a new, 5-star Catalyst weapon, Kagura’s Verity, which players will be able to wish for. While it's not yet confirmed that the weapon will be a good fit for Miko, due to its release timing and appearance many speculate that Kagura’s Verity will be intended as Yae Miko’s signature Catalyst, one of Genshin Impact's five weapon types.
Yae Miko, Lady Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine, is the shrine’s head maiden. Yae Miko also runs Yae Publishing House, where she serves as editor-in-chief. Described in the livestream as intelligent and cunning, Yae Miko is of Kitsune lineage, and fans were treated to a glimpse of her nine tails during the stream. Although she is only now becoming a playable character, Yae Miko has appeared many times in-game already in Archon Quests, Story Quests, and a Hangout Event with Gorou. Players will have the opportunity to learn more about “the wise and beautiful Yae Miko” in her Story Quest in version 2.5, “Divina Vulpes Chapter: Act I.”
Genshin Impact 2.5 Phase Two Double Banner: Raiden Shogun
The first of two rerun banners is the Genshin Impact Electro archon Raiden Shogun’s Reign of Serenity banner, expected to arrive around March 8, 2022. Once Phase One of version 2.5 goes live, the exact date of Phase Two will be known. Raiden Shogun was first introduced as a 5-star Electro Polearm playable character in Genshin Impact’s 2.1 update on September 1, 2021. Raiden’s banner also introduced a new 4-star Electro Bow user, Kujou Sara. Raiden Shogun’s rerun banner coincides with the continuation of the Raiden Shogun’s Story Quest, “Imperatrix Umbrosa Chapter: Act II.” also arriving in version 2.5, which will be connected to the history of Inazuma and the Inazuma Archon Quest.
In addition to her rerun banner and Story Quest, the Raiden Shogun will be added to the game as a new Boss in Genshin Impact’s version 2.5. The special program showed gameplay of the new Boss in action, with the Raiden Shogun wielding extra arms, floating on top of a pair of giant hands. The new formidable enemy is anticipated at being one of Genshin Impact’s hardest bosses to date, and players will learn the enemy’s backstory during Story Quests, to reveal the true identity of the new Boss.
Genshin Impact 2.5 Phase Two Double Banner: Kokomi Rerun
The second rerun banner is 5-star Hydro Catalyst user Sangonomiya Kokomi’s “Drifting Luminescence” banner, arriving around March 8th, 2022. Kokomi was added to Genshin Impact as part of the 2.1 update’s second Phase, with the first Phase featuring Raiden Shogun. Like Raiden, Genshin Impact Hydro user Kokomi comes from Inazuma and plays a lead role in the Inazuma storyline. Kokomi leads The Watatsumi Army, a resistance organization that opposes the Raiden Shogun’s Vision Hunt Decree, so it’s likely she’ll feature in 2.5’s quest storylines.
Sangonomiya Kokomi is the young Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island, in charge of the island’s affairs. Kokomi leads the resistance against the Raiden Shogun’s Vision Hunt decree, to protect the people of Watatsumi. While the Raiden Shogun and Kujou Sara describe Kokomi as a military strategist who wages war, and others revere her as Her Excellency, Kokomi’s Character Stories show a different side to her. If one thing is evident about Kokomi, it’s that she treasures Genshin Impact's Watatsumi Island and its people above all else, and will go to war to protect them from the Raiden Shogun and her Vision Hunt Decree.
Genshin Impact’s 2.5 update brings the long-awaited arrival of Yae Miko as a 5-star Electro playable character, as well as reruns for Raiden Shogun and Sangonomiya Kokomi’s banners. Version 2.5 introduces the Raiden Shogun as a new Boss, as well as a continuation of her Story Quest. Yae Miko’s Everbloom Violet banner will be available on February 16, 2022. The double rerun of Raiden Shogun’s Reign of Serenity banner and Sangonomiya Kokomi’s Drifting Luminescence banner will be available around March 8, 2022. The exact date of Genshin Impact's 2.5 double rerun banners for Phase Two will be confirmed when Phase One of Genshin Impact’s version 2.5, When the Sakura Bloom, is released.
Source: Genshin Impact/YouTube