Genshin Impact new character leaks: what we know so far

07 July 2023 , 05:00

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Three new Genshin Impact characters coming in the Fontaine update 4.0 from left to right: Lynette, Freminet, and Lyney (Image: HoYoverse)

Genshin Impact update 3.8 has just dropped, bringing the Secret Summer Paradise event with it, but players are already looking towards update 4.0 and the new Fontaine region along with a bunch of new characters.

The new characters in Genshin Impact haven't been a well-kept secret by any means. Between leaks and teases from developer HoYoverse, we already have a good idea of the slew of new faces expected to make their in-game debut when update 4.0 goes live. On top of that, HoYoverse has officially revealed three new Genshin Impact characters this week, confirming rumours that have been swirling for a while now.

The Final Feast trailer also gave us a look at upcoming Fontaine characters and there are 12 in all, with both Japanese and English voice actors confirmed:

Charlotte: Maya Aoki Tuttle / Azumi Waki
Clorinde: Crystal Lee / Yui Ishikawa
Egeria: Courtney Steele / Sayuri Yahagi
Freminet: Paul Castro Jr. / Shunichi Toki
Furina: Amber Lee Connors / Inori Minase
Lynette: Anairis Quiñones / Yu Shinohara
Lyney: Daman Mils / Hiro Shimono
Navia: Brenna Larsen / Ai Toyosaki
Neuvillette: Ray Chase / Hiroshi Kamiya
Sigewinne: Sarah Williams / Hina Kino
Wriothesley: Joe Zieja / Daisuke Ono
'The Knave' Arlecchino: Erin Yvette

The Genshin Impact Twitter account has put faces to some of those names, and you may recognise some of the characters who've been popping up over the years in story teasers. Details for Freminet, and sibling duo Lyney and Lynette have already been confirmed so at least we know what to expect in advance of their debut.

Genshin Impact: Lynette

A confirmed Anemo user, Genshin Impact leaker @merlin_impact says that Lynette will be a four star sword user. Leaked gameplay (via @Dimbreath) on Twitter shows off Lynette's attacks, and elemental skill, while @merlin_impact has shared details of what these will reportedly be. A lot of the leaked screenshots are already being taken down, so bear in mind they may disappear as HoYoverse carries out its clean-up operation. The details below are courtesy of Dexerto who managed to grab them before the screenshots were removed.

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Lynette Normal Attack: Rapid Ritesword

Normal Attack: Performs up to four rapid strikes.
Charged Attack: Consumes a certain amount of Stamina to unleash two rapid sword strikes.
Plunging Attack: Plunges from mid-air to strike the ground below, damaging opponents along the path and dealing AoE DMG upon impact.

Lynette Elemental Skill: Enigmatic Feint

Lynette flicks her mantle and executes an Enigma Thrust, dealing Anemo DMG. When the Enigma Thrust hits an opponent, it will restore Lynette’s HP based on her Max HP, and in the 4s afterward, she will lose a certain amount of HP per second. Based on whether you press or hold this ability, she will use Enigma Thrust differently.

Press: Lynette swiftly uses an Enigma Thrust.
Hold: Lynette will enter a high-speed Pilfering Shadow state and apply Shadowsign to a nearby opponent. When this high-speed state ends, Lynette will unleash her Enigma Thrust. if there is an opponent with Shadowsign applied to them nearby, Lynette will approach them in a flash before using Enigma Thrust.

A maximum of 1 opponent can have Shadowsign at any one time. When this opponent gets too far from Lynette, the Shadowsign will be cancelled.

Fundamental Force: Ousia

At specific intervals, Lynette will unleash a Surging Blade when she uses EnigmaThrust, dealing Ousia-aligned Anemo DMG.

Lynette Elemental Burst: Bogglecat Box

Lynette raises her mantle high, dealing AoE Anemo DMG, using skillful sleight of hand to make a giant Bogglecat Box appear!

Bogglecat Box

Taunts nearby opponents, attracting their attacks.
Deals Anemo DMG to nearby opponents at intervals.
When the Bogglecat Box comes into contact with Hydro / Pyro / Cryo / Electro, it will gain the corresponding element and additionally fire Vivid Shots that will deal DMG from that element at intervals. Elemental Absorption of this kind will only occur once during this ability’s duration.

Lynette Constellations

Level 1 — A Cold Blade Like a Shadow: When Enigmatic Feint’s Enigma Thrust hits an opponent with Shadowsign, a vortex will be created at that opponent’s position that will pull nearby opponents in.
Level 2 — Endless Mysteries: Whenever the Bogglecat Box summoned by Magic Trick: Astonishing Shift fires a Vivid Shot, it will fire an extra Vivid Shot.
Level 3 — Cognition-Inverting Gaze: Increases the Level of Magic Trick: Astonishing Shift by 3. Maximum upgrade level is 15.
Level 4 — Tacit Coordination: Increases Enigmatic Feint’s charges by 1.5.
Level 5 — Obscuring Ambiguity: Increases the Level of Enigmatic Feint by 3. Maximum upgrade level is 15.
Level 6 — Intent-Identifying Insight: When Lynette uses Enigmatic Feint’s Enigma Thrust, she will gain an Anemo Infusion and 20% Anemo DMG Bonus for 6s.

Genshin Impact: Lyney

Lynette's older brother, Lyney is a Pyro user who'll reportedly be a five star bow user, according to @merlin_impact. A short gameplay video of Lyney has also been shared by leaker Dim showing off his attack and elemental skills

Lyney Normal Attack: Card Force Translocation

Normal Attack: Performs up to four consecutive shots with a bow.
Plunging Attack: Fires off a shower of arrows in mid-air before falling and striking the ground, dealing AoE DMG upon impact.
Charged Attack: Performs a more precise Aimed Shot with increased DMG.

Grin-Malkin Hat:

Can taunt nearby opponents and attract their attacks. Each opponent can only be taunted by the Hat once every 5s.
The Hat’s endurance is a percentage of Lyney’s Max HP.
If destroyed, or if its duration expires, it will fire off a Pyrotechnic Strike at 1 nearby opponent, dealing Pyro DMG.

One Hat can exist at any given time.

Fundamental Force: Pneuma

At certain intervals, when the Prop Arrow hits an opponent, a Spiritbreath Thorn will descend on that opponent’s location, dealing Pneuma-aligned Pyro DMG.

Lyney Elemental Skill: Bewildering Light

Lyney does a flourish with his hat, unleashing a firework surprise. When used, he will clear all current Prop Surplus stacks and deal AoE Pyro DMG to opponents in front of him. DMG will be increased according to the stacks cleared, and this will also regenerate Lyney’s HP based on his Max HP. If the fireworks hit opponents, the number of stacks will be the basis for energy restoration to Lyney.

When a Grin-Malkin Hat created by Lyney is on the field, the fireworks will cause it to explode, dealing AoE Pyro DMG equal to that of a Pyrotechnic Strike. The DMG dealt through the Grin-Malkin Hat in this way is considered Charged Attack DMG.

This Talent can be unleashed while in Aiming Mode.

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Lyney Elemental Burst: Wonderous Trick: Miracle Parade

Lyney turns himself into a Grin-Malkin cat that can move around quickly. When the Grin-Malkin Cat gets close to opponents, it will send flames falling down on them, dealing at most one instance of Pyro DMG to each opponent. When the duration ends or Lyney uses his Elemental Skill, he will dimiss the Grin-Malkin Cat and ignite fireworks that deal AoE Pyro DMG, summon one Grin-Malkin Hat, and grant himself one Prop Surplus stack.

Lyney Constellations

Level 1 – Whimsical Wonders: Lyney can have two Grin-Malkin Hats present at once. Additionally, Prop Arrows will summon two Grin-Malkin Hats and grant Lyney one extra stack of Prop Surplus. This effect can occur once every 15s.
Level 2 – Loquacious Lure: When Lyney is on the field, he will gain a stack of Crisp Focus every 2s. This will increase his CRIT DMG by 20%. Max three stacks. This effect will be cancelled when Lyney leaves the field.
Level 3 – Prestidigitation: Increase the Level of Normal Attack: Card Force Translocation by 3. Maximum upgrade level is Level 15.
Level 4 – Well-Versed, Well-Rehearsed: After an opponent is hit by Lyney’s Pyro Charged Attack, this opponent’s Pyro RES will be decreased by 25% for 6s.
Level 5 – To Pierce Enigmas: Increase the Level of Wonderous Trick: Miracle Parade by 3. Maximum upgrade level is 15.
Level 6 – A Contrary Smile: When Lyney fires a Prop Arrow, he will fire a Pyrotechnic Strike: Reprised that will deal 100% of Pyrotechnic Strike’s DMG. This DMG is considered Charged Attack DMG.

Lyney Passives

Perilous Performance

If Lyney consumes HP via firing a Prop Arrow, the Grin-Malkin Hat summoned when this Prop Arrow hits will deal 80% more ATK as DMG.

Conclusive Ovation

When dealing DMG to opponents affected by Pyro, Lyney will receive the following buffs:

DMG increased by 60% at base.
Each Pyro party member other than Lyney will cause this effect to receive a further 20% bonus.

Lyney can gain a total of 100% increased DMG to opponents affected by Pyro in this way.

Trivial Observations

Displays the location of nearby resources unique to Fontaine on the mini-map.

Genshin Impact: Freminet

The sceenshots for Freminet are still up for now.

Freminet Normal Attack: Flowing Eddies

Normal Attack: Performs up to 4 consecutive strikes.
Charged Attack: Drains Stamina over time to perform continuous spinning attacks against all
nearby opponents. At the end of the sequence, performs a more powerful slash.
Plunging Attack: Plunges from mid-air to strike the ground below, damaging opponents along the path and dealing AoE DMG upon impact.

Freminet Elemental Skill: Pressurized Floe

Freminet does an upward thrust that will deal Cryo DMG and cause Freminet to enter PersTime for 10s. While in Pers Time, his Elemental Skill will turn into Shattering Pressure.

Shattering Pressure

Executes different sorts of attacks based on the Pressure level of Pers Time, and then cancels Pers Time.

Level 0: Unleashes a vertical cut that will deal Cryo DMG.
Levels 1 to 3: Unleashes a vertical cut alongside Pers, dealing Cryo DMG andPhysical DMG. DMG dealt scales based on Pressure level.
Level 4: Borrows the power of a fully-pressurized Pers to deal Physical DMG.

Pers Time

When Freminet uses Normal Attacks, he will also unleash waves of frost that deal Cryo DMG and increase Pers’ Pressure level. The accompanying Cryo DMG dealt this way is considered Elemental Skill DMG. After Pressure Level 4 is reached, initiating a Normal Attack will convert it to a Level 4 Shattering Pressure.

Fundamental Force: Pneuma

At certain intervals, after using the upward thrust, a Spiritbreath Thorn in the form of another upward thrust will be created, dealing Pneuma-aligned Cryo DMG. To immobilize one’s opponent without taking their life can also be considered something of a 'survival' strategy that one may choose.

Freminet Elemental Burst: Shadowhunter’s Ambush

Unleashes a wave of untouchable cold, dealing AoE Cryo DMG, resetting the CD of the Elemental Skill Pressurized Floe, and causing Freminet to enter the Stalking mode for 10s. While Stalking, his interruption resistance will increase, and Pressurized Floe will obtain the following buffs:

CD decreased by 70%.
Normal Attacks will give Pers 1 additional Pressure stack, and the frostreleased by his Normal Attacks deal 200% of their original DMG.

This effect will be canceled when Freminet leaves the field.

Freminet Constellations

Level 1 — Dreams of the Seething Deep: The CRIT Rate of Pressurized Floe: Shattering Pressure will be increased by 15%.
Level 2 — Penguins and the Land of Plenty: Unleashing Pressurized Floe: Shattering Pressure will restore 2 Energy to Freminet. If a Pressure Level 4 Shattering Pressure is unleashed, this will restore 3 Energy.
Level 3 — Song of the Eddies and Bleached Sands: Increases the Level of Normal Attack: Flowing Eddies by 3. Maximum upgrade level is 15.
Level 4 — Dance of the Snowy Moon and Flute: When Freminet triggers Frozen, Shatter, or Superconduct against opponents, his ATK will be increased by 9% for 6s. Max 2 stacks. This can be triggered once every 0.3s.
Level 5 — Nights of Hearth and Happiness: Increases the Level of Pressurized Floe by 3. Maximum upgrade level is 15.
Level 6 — Moment of Waking and Resolve: When Freminet triggers Frozen, Shatter, or Superconduct against opponents, his CRIT DMG will be increased by 12% for 6s. Max 3 stacks. This can be triggered once every 0.3s.

Freminet Passives

Saturation Deep Dive

When using Pressurized Floe: Shattering Pressure, is Pers Time has less than 4 levels of Pressure, the CD of Pressurized Floe will be decreased by 1s.