Genshin Impact’s 2.5 Special Program announced major updates including new events, Character and Story Quests, and the reveal of the two featured Character Banners. Electro-user Yae Miko - head shrine maiden of the Grand Narukami Shrine - is confirmed to be the first featured 5-star. Genshin Impact’s Raiden Ei and Hydro-user Kokomi will feature concurrently in the second half of Version 2.5.

[Warning: Spoilers for Inazuma’s main story below.]

Yae Miko was first introduced as an NPC in Genshin Impact’s Version 2.0 update along with the new region of Inazuma. The Traveler meets Yae Miko at the Grand Narukami Shrine as she solves the mystery of a supposed demonic possession. She then reveals that she has high expectations for the traveler, seemingly forewarning the future that lays ahead.

Related: All Confirmed Genshin Impact 2.5 Characters

As a descendant of Kitsune lineage, Yae Miko is extremely clever. She often uses her wit and intelligence to achieve her goals as well as neutralize dangerous situations. This is shown at the end of Version 2.1’s Archon Quest when she allows Genshin Impact’s Sixth Harbinger, Scaramouche, to have the Gnosis in exchange for Paimon and the Traveler’s safety. As the Electro Archon’s right hand, Yae Miko proves to be a powerful and cunning ally.

Genshin Impact: Yae Miko’s Powerful Electro Elemental Skill & Burst

Yae Miko uses her Elemental Burst in Genshin Impact.

Yae Miko is the first 5-star Electro-user in Genshin Impact to use the Catalyst weapon. Yae Miko’s Normal Attack, Spiritfox Sin-Eater, deals Electro DMG with every hit. Like other Catalyst-users, Yae Miko will be able to act as a reliable applicator of her Element with every attack. Yae Miko’s Elemental Skill, Yakan Evocation: Sesshou Sakura, allows her to swiftly dash forward, leaving behind a fox-shaped Electro construct called a Sesshou Sakura. These Sesshou Sakura act as beacons for lightning strikes that will occur periodically. Up to three of the Sesshou Sakura can exist at one time.

Similar to other Elemental Bursts in Genshin Impact, Yae Miko’s Elemental Burst is incredibly powerful. Great Secret Art: Tenko Kenshin allows Yae Miko to unseal all nearby Sesshou Sakura in a massive Tenko Thunderbolt attack that descends from above. Yae Miko’s first passive Talent, “The Shrine’s Sacred Shade,” allows her to reset the cooldown for one charge of her Elemental Skill with every Sesshou Sakura destroyed during her Elemental Burst. Yae Miko’s second passive Talent, “Enlightened Blessing,” the damage dealt by the Sesshou Sakura will be increased based on the amount of her Elemental Mastery.

Related: Genshin Impact: All Sacred Sakura Tree Rewards

Yae Miko’s last passive Talent, “Meditations of a Yako,” allows players the chance to receive an extra Talent Material of the same region of a random type when crafting Character Talent Materials. The rarity of the awarded Talent Material will be the same rarity as the material that has been used to craft. This would benefit players who require plenty of Talent Books for their characters.

Genshin Impact: Kagura’s Verity Is Yae Miko’s Signature Weapon

Genshin Impact’s New 5-Star Catalyst Kagura’s Verity Is Yae Miko’s Signature Weapon

Kagura’s Verity is a 5-star Catalyst that differs from the other Catalysts in Genshin Impact. It has a unique form that resembles the object used in official shrine rituals. As Yae Miko is the head shrine maiden, this pairs perfectly with her aesthetic. Many 5-star characters premiere with a weapon that matches their aesthetic and skill-set respectively, and Yae Miko is no exception. For example, 5-Star Pyro-user Hu Tao was first featured with the 5-star Polearm, Staff of Homa, and 5-Star Hydro-user Kokomi was featured with the 5-star Catalyst, Everlasting Moonglow. Though officially unconfirmed, it is very likely that the Kagura’s Verity’s sub-stats and passive ability fully caters to Yae Miko’s kit in Genshin Impact.

Yae Miko Will Be Receiving Her Own Story Quest In Genshin Impact

Yae Miko Will Be Receiving Her Own Story Quest In Genshin Impact

Players will be able to learn more about Yae Miko as she will be receiving her own Character Quest in Genshin Impact 2.5. These quests place characters in a central role that they may not receive in the main Archon Quests. In order to unlock Yae Miko’s Story Quest - "Divina Vulpes Chapter: Act I" - players must first complete both parts of Raiden Ei’s Story Quest, "Imperatrix Umbrosa Chapter: Act I" and "Act II." Yae Miko’s Story Quest is expected to reveal more about the history of Inazuma, highlighting its past and how it came to be as the Traveler knows today.

Yae Miko’s Role in Genshin Impact’s 2.5 Archon Quest In Inazuma

Yae Miko’s Role in Genshin Impact’s 2.5 Archon Quest In Inazuma

At the end of "Chapter II, Act III: Omnipresence Over Mortals," Raiden Ei abolishes the Vision Hunt Decree - which was a ploy enacted by Genshin Impact’s Fatui - and orders the Shogun to return the seized Visions to the Vision-holders. However, as hinted in the Genshin Impact Version 2.5 trailer, the Shogun puppet has presumably chosen to defect from her creator in order to enforce the idea of eternity that Raiden Ei had once guided her to do. It looks as though Raiden Ei enters the Shogun’s realm in order to defeat her. Raiden Ei entrusts Inazuma in Yae Miko’s hands in her absence.

Related: Genshin Impact Characters With The Biggest Death Flags

Instead of assisting Raiden Ei in the realm, Yae Miko sends the Traveler to help as the Electro Archon duels the Shogun puppet. In the outside world, Yae Miko is presumed to be protecting Inazuma. As there is trouble in Enkanomiya - which had manifested in powerful new monsters and a strange darkness - Yae Miko may have a more prevalent role in helping Hydro-user Kokomi protect the underground region. In addition to helping Raiden Ei with the Shogun, the Traveler must also be prepared to help defend Enkanomiya from the darkness shrouding the Dainichi Mikoshi.

Version 2.5 may mark the end of the Inazuma story arc as the Chasm in Genshin Impact has been recently teased for 2.6. Newer monsters may appear, along with a terrain that may be difficult to maneuver. In order to prepare, players will be able to uncover the secrets of Inazuma’s history as told through the Kitsune descendant, Yae Miko. Genshin Impact players will be able to Wish on Yae Miko’s Character Banner when Version 2.5 is officially released on February 16, 2022.

Next: Genshin Impact 2.5 Livestream Biggest Reveals