Genshin Impact 5.5 livestream summary: New characters, codes, events, and more

The content for Genshin Impact’s next major update has been announced, and it’s so much more than we were expecting. Here’s a rundown of everything that was revealed during Genshin’s 5.5 special program, including those juicy Primogem codes.

Genshin Impact Version 5.5, titled Day of the Flame’s Return, is scheduled for release on March 26, 2025.

Genshin Impact 5.5 Trailer

5.5 special program Primogem codes

GI55Teteocan
GoGoVaresa0326
CoachIansan0326

Each code gets you 100 Primogems and some assorted level-up materials. Redeem them on Genshin Impact’s official redemption website or enter them in-game. They will expire within a couple of days of the special program premiere, so act fast!

Genshin Impact 5.5 Banners

Banners are confirmed to feature Varesa (5-star Electro Catalyst) and Xianyun (5-star Anemo Catalyst) in the first half. They will be accompanied by Iansan (4-star Electro Polearm). The weapon banner should contain Vivid Notions – Varesa’s 5-star signature weapon – as well as Crane’s Echoing Call.

The second half’s banners will feature reruns of Xilonen (5-star Geo Sword) and Venti (5-star Anemo Bow). The weapon banner will consist of their respective signatures: Peak Patrol Song and Elegy for the End.

No Chronicled Wish banner has been announced for 5.5, and the 4-stars for each banner are yet to be determined.

New characters: Varesa and Iansan

Two new characters make their debut in Genshin Impact as playable characters. Varesa is a 5-star Electro Catalyst user who excels as an on-field Plunging Attack DPS. Her playstyle consists of spamming short dashes, jumps, and Plunging Attacks for a fast-paced, hyper-mobile experience. Her sweet, cutesy appearance belies a monstrous strength and appetite. 

Iansan is a 4-star Electro Polearm user who fills an off-field support role. Like Bennett, Iansan is an ATK buffer, making her useful in a variety of teams. Unlike Bennett, Iansan’s buff isn’t limited to a circle, offering a way out of Circle Impact. In fact, Iansan’s buffs increase with how far your active character moves. Iansan also has the benefit of being a Natlan character, giving her access to the Cinder City artifact set. As Varesa’s personal trainer, it looks like Iansan will be a great support for Varesa and other mobile carries like Mavuika, Mualani, Kinich, and Xiao.

Both characters have a dashing ability that can be used outside of combat for speedy exploration and puzzle-solving. They can traverse long distances in an instant or use their momentum to smash through obstacles. I expect this ability to come in handy for certain puzzles in Natlan.

New area: The Collective of Plenty

With the 5.5 update, we can now visit Natlan’s sixth and final tribe: The Collective of Plenty. This tribe lives at the base of an active volcano – a fitting location for a tribe of thrill-seekers. You’ve probably seen the volcano erupt a few times while exploring Natlan, and now, you can go there to get in on the action! Not only can you scale the volcano’s exterior, but you can also explore the floating islands above it and the sacred city of Tollan hidden inside.

The volcano is also where your little Tepetlisaurus buddy needs to go as part of his questline, so we can expect to see the final chapter of his quest, too. Completing this quest, as well as other exploration objectives, will net you up to 400 Primogems.

With the new tribe comes a new species of Saurian: the Tatankasaurus. Large, bulky, and powerful, these beasts look like something between a Triceratops and a rhinoceros. Their signature ability is a high-speed dash that they can use to break through or push objects in their path. 

The new zone will also have a new artifact domain featuring two new artifact sets: Long Night’s Oath and Finale of the Deep Galleries. Though artifact effect details are still under wraps, lore enthusiasts can look forward to new information about the history of Nod-Krai.

New boss: Lava Dragon Statue

A new world boss will offer Varesa’s Ascension materials. The Lava Dragon Statue is a larger version of the Avatars of Lava found around Natlan. Like its smaller counterparts, it looks like the strategy to beat it will be to fight fire with fire. Bring a Pyro character to counteract this boss’ mechanics and make it change form.

Events

Genshin Impact Version 5.5’s flagship event is called the Tournament of Glory in Bloom. There’s a capture-the-flag mode as well as a Saurian-themed puzzle game. Rewards include Primogems, level-up materials, and a free 4-star character, Ororon.

Other casual events include Quirky Quaking Arena, which reminds me of Mario Kart minigames. Use your character’s unique traversal mechanics to gather as many coins as possible while blocking other players. There’s also Rhythm Ball Meztli, which is another version of the Breakout-style minigame.

Unlimited Fighting Championship is a high-difficulty combat event to deal as much damage to a boss as possible. Stack as many buffs as you can and fight bosses with massively inflated health bars. Combat enthusiasts can use this event to test their builds and flex their strongest characters.

Toward the end of the patch, Overflowing Favor will provide a week-long period with double artifact drops. Up to three domain challenges per day will yield twice the normal number of artifacts. A great time to grind for your favorite characters.

As for updates to existing systems, Dehya and Venti will receive Envisaged Echo effects. Dehya’s looks like red chains, while Venti’s has a cute feather trail. Genius Invokation TCG and the built-in rhythm game will also receive new cards and tracks, respectively. There are lots of other quality-of-life updates, too, which we covered separately.

Once again, there's a lot to look forward to in the upcoming version of Genshin Impact. I'm excited to explore the new area, and I wish everyone good luck with their Varesa pulls!

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