HoYoverse have released update 2.7 “Hidden Dreams in the Depths” for their gacha RPG, Genshin Impact.
Update 2.7 was delayed for several weeks due to the lockdown in Shanghai, where the developers are based. However, the update is now finally live, with the first half of the update’s events now active.
One of the update’s biggest highlights is the addition of Yelan, Genshin Impact‘s latest 5-star character. Yelan claims to work for Liyue’s Ministry of Civil Affairs, but there are no public records about her. She is a phantom that suddenly appears to resolve a crisis in Liyue before mysteriously disappearing once again. Those who have heard of Yelan speculate that she is a secret agent for some shadowy organization, but no one knows for sure.
Yelan is a bow-wielding Hydro DPS. Like all bow characters, she has a basic physical damage combo, as well as a charged shot. When Yelan isn’t in combat for several seconds, she gains the Breakthrough effect, reducing the charge time on her next charged shot. This Breakthrough shot also deals AoE Hydro damage that scales based on Yelan’s max HP. Yelan’s noncombat skill increases the amount of rewards you get when you send her on a 20-hour expedition.
Her Elemental Skill can be tapped for a quick forward dash, or held to allow Yelan to quickly sprint around the battlefield. In this state, Yelan has increased resistances and can mark enemies she passes by. When exiting her Elemental Skill, all marked enemies will take Hydro damage that scales based on Yelan’s max HP. If Yelan marked a specific number of enemies, she also gains the Breakthrough effect.
Meanwhile, Yelan’s Elemental Burst causes AoE Hydro damage and applies the Exquisite Throw effect on the active character. Exquisite Throw will follow your party around, dealing Hydro damage whenever you perform normal attacks. The power of these attacks scale based on Yelan’s max HP, and also gradually increases while Exquisite Throw is in effect.
Here’s a new trailer showing off Yelan’s abilities:
Yelan is the focus of Genshin Impact update 2.7‘s first limited time character wish banner, Discerner of Enigmas. She is accompanied by the 4-star characters Noelle, Barbara, and Yanfei, all of which receive an increased pull rate. Alternatively, players can instead wish for Xiao, who has received a rerun banner alongside Yelan.
The latest Epitome Invocation banner is also live, and features the brand new 5-star bow Aqua Simulacra, and the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear, the signature weapons for Yelan and Xiao respectively. The banner’s 4-star weapons include the Lithic Spear, Sacrificial Sword, Favonius Greatsword, Eye of Perception, and Sacrificial Bow.
The first half of Genshin Impact update 2.7 is all about the Perilous Trial limited time event. This story quest will have players return once again to The Chasm, the new area that was added in 2.6, to complete dangerous trials and investigate mysteries.
Rewards for the event include Primogems, Mora, upgrade materials, a valuable Crown of Insight, and the exclusive Fading Twilight 4-star bow. To get the most out of the story, you’ll want to make sure you’ve completed the Raiden Shogun and Arataki Itto story quests.
Genshin Impact is available and free-to-play on Windows PC (via the Epic Games Store and official website), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Android, iOS, and coming soon to Nintendo Switch. In case you missed it, you can find our Genshin Impact review here (we recommend it!).
