Movies News Talk
According to information obtained by Foul, which was then shared in a post tagged as "Questionable" on Reddit, three playable Natlan characters will be introduced with Version 5.0. Foul has been a reliable source in the past, but given how early the information is being shared, it should be considered with some caution. The confirmation of the three characters should occur on the week of the arrival of Version 4.8, as HoYoverse usually teases characters a patch early. This means they may be showcased on July 15 if the next patch is not postponed.
The release of Emilie in Genshin Impact 4.8 was confirmed just days before the arrival of Version 4.7, for instance. So it's not unreasonable to think that Natlan characters could be revealed sooner than expected.
As seen in Foul’s leak, two of the three characters are rumored to be 5-star units, while the third one is said to be a 4-star unit. According to the leak, one of the 5-star units will be a male character that has a Dendro Vision and uses a claymore in battle. The other 5-star unit is said to be a female character that possesses a Hydro character and employs a catalyst. The third and final character, the supposed 4-star unit, is rumored to be a female character that has a Geo Vision and wields a polearm in Genshin Impact.
While the details are scarce in Foul’s initial report, the leaker did provide some additional information. As seen in more details given by the leaker, which were shared in a post that was also tagged as "Questionable" on Reddit, the 5-star Dendro character is said to be a boy. This may mean that, instead of having an adult body type like Diluc or Kaeya, for instance, the upcoming character will instead have a body-type model like Bennett or Chongyun. When it comes to the rumored 5-star Hydro character in Genshin Impact, the leak mentions she will be a girl. This could mean her body type is the same model as Ayaka Kamisato or Furina, for instance. The leak also mentions that this alleged 5-star Hydro character will be a "front DPS," which could mean she is the team’s main DPS and operates on-field instead of dealing damage while stored away like a sub-DPS. Lastly, the leak mentions that the character has rapid movement on water. It is uncertain if this character will be able to walk on water like Furina in Genshin Impact or if she will have increased underwater speed like Neuvillette in Fontaine. There are no other specific details about the rumored 4-star Geo character, however, such as her body-type model or her skill set. Additionally, the leak mentions that all three new Natlan characters will have dark skin – while Foul’s leak does refer to them as "black," specifically, the Reddit notes highlight that, in Chinese, the word is used broadly to refer to any darker color, which could mean the rumored characters’ skin tone could match those of Dehya of Xinyan, for instance.
In direct comparison to last year, these early Natlan character leaks seem extremely promising. If Version 5.0 does, in fact, introduce two new 5-star units and one 4-star character, the update will be superior to Version 4.0. While the introductory Fontaine patch also introduced three characters, only one of them, Lyney, was a 5-star unit. The other two characters, Lynette and Freminet, were 4-star units. Provided the Version 5.0 leaks are true, players may have a stronger initial Natlan roster to choose from, though they may be challenged when deciding where to deposit their Wishes in Genshin Impact.
The rumored release of two new 5-star units in Version 5.0 may make it harder for players to obtain both of them in the same patch, as pull rates and free Primogem limitations make it hard to even get a 5-star character. In contrast, however, the rumored 4-star character may actually be given out for free as soon as Version 5.0 arrives. While there have been no mentions of their giveaway in leaks so far, the game’s history may help understand why that is likely to occur.
During the end of the Fontaine storyline, Neuvillette explains the Natlan is a Nation of War and dragons. These dragons have been teased by HoYoverse and are confirmed to be called Saurians. Neuvillette also informs the Traveler that the Fatui Harbinger known as Capitano in Genshin Impact has also invested some interest in Natlan’s future, though exactly what will transpire is still a mystery. It will be interesting to see how the dragons play into the Natlan storyline and gameplay, and whether they will be playable characters or simply enemies.
The Fatui Harbinger Capitano is shrouded in mystery, and it is unknown what his involvement in Natlan will be. It is possible that he will be a major antagonist in the Natlan storyline, or perhaps he will be an ally to the Traveler in some way. Only time will tell what role he will play in the upcoming Nation.
In Version 3.0, which saw the release of Sumeru and Dendro as a playable element, HoYoverse gave Collei for free for all players, as a means of allowing them to explore the new Nation using the brand-new playable element. While the Traveler can also use Dendro, Collei’s giveaway allowed for a better understanding of the element, even for those who did not pull for Tighnari at the time. In Version 4.0, the developer gave Lynette for free as a means of incentivizing Fontaine exploration as well as a brief introduction to the Arkhe system in Genshin Impact.
It is unconfirmed if the rumored new 4-star character will be given out for free and what Natlan-exclusive mechanics it may help players better understand, but given the game’s history, it is likely. The supposed addition of three new character with the Nation of Pyro is great news as it shows the location will arrive in great fashion, even if players are unable to obtain all of them in a single patch. Natlan leaks are very scarce, especially in comparison to Fontaine last year, but more details should start arising as Genshin Impact moves closer to the region’s release.