HoYoverse announced Genshin Impact Version 7.0 “Everwinter Without Mercy” will launch on August 12 – the update introduces Teyvat’s seventh nation – Snezhnaya – along with two new playable characters, Odette and Alyosha, plus a new Archon Quest activity.
Genshin Impact Version 7.0 Update Highlights
New Nation: Snezhnaya
Snezhnaya is described as a region located on the northern edge of Teyvat, known for its cold conditions and use of Kresnik energy for warmth. The nation’s settlements are connected by a train system, which players can use to travel to areas including Snezhnograd, an urban center that serves as the headquarters of the Fatui faction.
Outside Snezhnograd, the region includes icefields, villages and other settlements. The new Archon Quest focuses on a blizzard affecting the region and an associated energy crisis, and rewards players with up to 560 Primogems upon completion. A Snezhnaya Adventure Journal tracks player progress within the new area.
New Gameplay Mechanics & Items
Upon arriving in Snezhnaya, players receive an item called the Eye of Graeae, which provides protection from cold conditions, allows players to summon trains and enables the creation of Prime Ice Constructs for puzzle-solving. The item also activates a third-person shooter (TPS) mode, which introduces three new firearms and related weapon attachments found throughout the region.
The update also introduces Stellar Swirl, a new elemental reaction triggered by combining Anemo and Cryo elements, which creates a Stellar Vortex dealing Anemo and Cryo damage. Repeated triggers increase the Vortex’s level, affecting its eventual detonation. In open-world exploration, Stellar Swirl increases jump height, while a related reaction, Stellar-Conduct, enables new interactions with in-game objects. Interacting with Statues of the Seven in Snezhnaya grants the player’s character Cryo elemental abilities.
New Playable Characters
Odette, a five-star Cryo Sword character, is introduced as a Fatui operative and ballerina. In combat, her abilities convert Superconduct and Cryo Swirl reactions into Stellar-Conduct and Stellar Swirl, and amplify related reaction damage for the party. Her Elemental Skill deploys a dance double dealing area Cryo damage, and her Elemental Burst deals multiple waves of area Cryo damage.
Alyosha, a four-star Electro Polearm character, fights alongside a companion named Tugarin and provides Stellar-Conduct damage buffs along with healing for nearby party members. Players can obtain Alyosha through progression in the new Archon Quest.
Events & Character Availability
The first phase of Version 7.0’s Event Wishes will feature Odette and Alyosha alongside a returning character, Arlecchino, while the second phase will feature the return of Flins and Ineffa. The update also introduces limited-time events involving train races, target shooting, Domain challenges and an event tied to the character Jack Frost, with completion rewarding a chance to obtain the character Diona for free.
A separate event set in Miliastra Wonderland, themed around summer-related stories, will also launch alongside Version 7.0, offering rewards including a new head accessory.
Pokdepinion: Genshin’s steady stream of new nations keeps giving players fresh reasons to stay invested, even years into the game’s run.
