Genshin Impact

The Spiral Abyss constantly changes enemy and buff rotations, typically in favor of which characters are being currently promoted in the gacha; I wouldn't be shocked if future iterations introduce mechanics that encourage deliberately handicapping the party in exchange for monstrous buffs.

Besides, it seems that exploration itself, not the Abyss, is the endgame of Genshin Impact. Heck, I also wouldn't be shocked if in some future story patch the game implies that obsessing with getting stronger without appreciating the world around them was a terrible mistake of the Abyssal Sibling, and now they're being manipulated by certain sinister forces preying on their ignorance to suit their ends (e.g., spending too much time in the Spiral Abyss; come to think of it, IIRC Tartaglia and Scaramouche/Wanderer were also mentally changed for the worse due to overexposure to the Abyss).

Edited by zero5889 on Apr 19th 2024 at 10:31:04 PM

If Abyss wasn't the endgame for Genshin, we wouldn't have the Artifact system (and signature Artifacts that increase a team's power). Exploration is easy even with bad Artifacts.

And even then, the introduction of Local Legends altered the equation such that the Spiral Abyss is no longer the only source of difficult endgame content and thus encouraging loadout optimization even outside it (maybe even encourage co-op).

Also, as mentioned elsewhere, rumors of changes to combat-oriented content come v4.7 may or may not shift attention away from the Spiral Abyss, so we might as well wait and see.

Local legends are less difficult, more like damage sponges. They just take forever to kill, they're not really a challenge.

The casuals who form a vast majority of the game's player base and aren't hyper-investing in the Spiral Abyss would beg to differ. Even with adequate levels and loadout there's no guarantee they can mop the floor with Local Legends, even on co-op.

While I wouldn't mind a Difficulty Spike in Natlan to the point that some investment is required to merely operate there, I do worry that such a thing would make pulling for characters like Arlecchino and the future Natlan roster a must instead of how it is as of now.

I doubt the Bond of Life gimmick will extend beyond Arlecchino (and presumably Clorinde and Sigewinne, too) and Fontaine; if anything, it's more like a variant of that nation's HP manipulation gimmick (and again, perhaps a transitional hint to what to expect in Natlan).

Besides, the two previous x.0 patches have given free 4★ characters to help players ease into the newest Archon-state's gimmick (Sumeru gave Collei as an introduction to Dendro, while Fontaine has Lynette, the Ousia counterpart to the Pneuma-aligned Hydro Traveler), so if the trend continues Natlan and Snezhnaya will be no different.

Edited by zero5889 on Apr 20th 2024 at 4:47:07 PM

I bring you joy

Part 3 Genshin V As play among us

I'm going to put my trust in Ann

I WAS WRONG!

Edited by FrozenWolf2 on Apr 20th 2024 at 5:53:19 AM

Man, hearing the V As in their natural habitat makes me wish some of their traits passed onto their characters. Foul-mouthed Yoimiya and Nilou in particular.

Except Itto, Cyno, and Yae. They're perfect as-is (although Cyno's VA is a riot).

Edited by Stage7-4 on Apr 21st 2024 at 9:33:48 AM

I'm pretty much done preparing for 4.6 patch. I managed to get level 50 on the pass, got myself Neuvillette, and despite being at 0 pity I feel lucky after getting 17 intertwined fates from all the world quests I did in my spare time. These are the most fates I've gathered in a long time and I expect MOAR from maintenance.

4.7's drip marketing is here:

• Clorinde "She's got nice guns... and a pistol"
• Siegewinne " A Melusine? She's got a gun!"
• Sethos "We've got Claude at home".

It has been a long while since we've got two 5* and a 4* in one patch. I guess I will hold my Arle pulls just a little to confirm that neither of them isn't blatantly broken.

Edited by Kiefen on Apr 22nd 2024 at 1:46:14 PM

4.6 banner characters revealed to be Oops All Fatui! So Lynette and Freminet for Lyney and Arlecchino.

Well, also Xiangling but she's not Fatui. Unless!?

Il Cuocolino 10th of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers

Edited by Kiefen on Apr 22nd 2024 at 3:51:25 PM

Edited by asterism on Apr 22nd 2024 at 7:01:59 PM

Turns out Xiangling and her family are double agents for Arlecchino. After all, no one suspects the family restaurant.

It's kinda hard to see in his picture, but Sethos uses a bow

Since the 4-stars on Arlecchino's banner are pretty underwhelming for me, I went for the coinflip for Neuv's C1 and won, plus I finally got Diona's C6.

I don't currently plan on going for Clorinde or Siegewinne (unless Clorinde is somehow the Aquila Favonia-wielding Physical DPS I've waiting for), especially since my primogems could get a lot lower after Arlecchino and maybe Baizhu, and Natlan isn't too far away.

Edited by Eschaton on Apr 22nd 2024 at 12:25:09 PM

Xiangling being a Fatui spy would legit be an interesting twist.

It's not like the Traveller can say any more that he wouldn't still be friends with someone if they turned out to be a spy.

Edited by KnownUnknown on Apr 22nd 2024 at 12:59:41 PM

Rough lineup for me, collecting Fatui so Arle (and her weapon) and Scara are a must, but bloodborne fan so it feels wrong to not go for Chlorine Gah they did this on purpose

I have top 2% Raiden on Akasha and a high constellation Cyno. Clorinde would have to do something spectacular to get me to pull for her.

Father's demo

dubstep and creepy child choirs, yes

4.7 leaks are flying in:

• Clorinde's kit is an on-field DPS with Bo L features similar to Arle. At C1 she gains extra attacks with each NA during her infusion which allow her to trigger lots of reactions thanks to the 3-hit rule.

• Sigewinne's kit is a weird cross of Kokomi and Neuvilette. Her E lets her throw a bouncing ball that heals the rest of the party with each bounce. This can be charged to be bigger and at max charge also have CC for smaller mobs. Her Ult is literally just Neuvilettes laser in a slightly wider cone.

• Sethos is a charge attack based bow user who's charged arrows pierce.

The new abyss' gimmick is apparently that your are restricted to certain elements, with the first iteration being Pyro, Electro, and Anemo only. The good news is that you may borrow a unit from a friend.

Edited by Kiefen on Apr 23rd 2024 at 4:25:32 PM

I don't have many funds after Yae decided to dodge me (again), so I think I'll skip Arle in favour of Clorinde. Think being the keyword here because I still want to see how is her playstyle.

Sounds like Clorinde would be able to do a lot of damage paired up with Nahida

I've won my 50:50 on Arleccino...and immediately got her C1 on the next 10 pull.

Then I got her signature weapon TWICE on the first 10 pull I did on the weapon banner.

I know dice don't have memories but this is ridiculous.

Edited by Kiefen on Apr 23rd 2024 at 7:38:57 PM