Chenyu Vale, the newest area on the map of Teyvat, has deep lore hidden in every nook and cranny. With this new addition to Liyue, Genshin Impact has added hours of content that further explore the storied nation's creation. The land has been shaped by the actions of adepti, like the game's newest 5-star character, Xianyun. Chenyu Vale is a gorgeous, mountainous vista known for its tea production, but it wasn't always so idyllic. One of the relics of the Archon War left behind in the Vale explains just how brutal the distant past was in Genshin Impact.
Who Wielded the Genshin Impact's Calamity Queller Before?
In a cave in the Yaodie Valley of Chenyu Vale's southern mountainside, players have found a familiar-looking polearm stuck in a rock. Although dusty and forgotten now, the design is undeniably that of the Calamity Queller, a 5-star weapon that was first released in Version 2.4. As it turns out, this is the original version of the weapon, and it has been languishing in the dark since the end of the Archon War. A "wind-worn inscription" on the polearm reads:
...This spear once had the name 'Calamity Queller' engraved upon it, and it was meant to head off disaster. Its previous owner--my comrade--swore to inherit its will and suppress a great catastrophe, but failed to live up to this oath... The demons have yet to be purged, but this treasure has been damaged by a quarrel between old friends... Thus it has been left, and here it will lie until sins have been cleansed, and the time comes when this spear shall be retrieved once more...
The previous owner in question here is the Yaksha Bosacius, one of the Five Yaksha that served Morax during and after the Archon War. The Five Yaksha, save for lone survivor Xiao, all met terrible fates. Because of the karmic darkness that the yaksha faced, each one steadily went mad over the centuries. The "quarrel between old friends" in the inscription refers to the battle between Yaksha Bonanus and Yaksha Menogias, and it is implied that they killed each other in a fierce fight.
Menogias has been given particular attention during this year's Lantern Rite. His Chinese title translates to "General Monkey-Mind" and this is reflected in the giant, monkey-like statue of him illuminated in Liyue Harbor to celebrate the new year. Furthermore, Xianyun shares a memory of him with the Traveler, saying that he was a tailor who foisted new outfits upon his fellow yaksha. Even when Rex Lapis himself complained of the clothing's impracticality, Menogias was stubborn and could not be swayed.
Shenhe's Signature Weapon in Genshin Impact
The new wielder of the Calamity Queller is Shenhe, a 5-star Cryo character and adoptive daughter of Xianyun, who is known as Cloud Retainer in the world of adepti. Though Shenhe is not an adeptus herself, she has the otherworldly temperament of one due to the red ropes binding her soul and keeping her homicidal tendencies in check. It is interesting, then, that she was chosen to wield the Calamity Queller given its description:
The Calamity Queller was also lost, together with the Yaksha who wielded it -- both returned to silence. In times thereafter, those who wielded this spear would largely meet similar fates. But there were people who would fight without requiring orders or protect people without taking any oaths. For them, such a fate was hardly one to be lamented... It is also said that this spear was once borrowed from someone. And in a deserted, water-eroded cave, it would bear witness to a clash between intimate friends.
The two descriptions connect to tell the tragedy of Xiao's former friends. It also implies that the weapon is cursed, much like how Shenhe was described as a "cursed child" after the events that led her into Xianyun's care.
Xiao, who was once known as Yaksha Alatus, is on the current banner for the Version 4.4 update. He is less apt to share details of the past in the way that Xianyun often does. Given her knowledge and having lived through the era of the yaksha, it is entirely possible that she is aware of the history behind the Calamity Queller.
Genshin Impact
- Released
- September 28, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
Step into Teyvat, a vast world teeming with life and flowing with elemental energy.
You and your sibling arrived here from another world. Separated by an unknown god, stripped of your powers, and cast into a deep slumber, you now awake to a world very different from when you first arrived.
Thus begins your journey across Teyvat to seek answers from The Seven — the gods of each element. Along the way, prepare to explore every inch of this wondrous world, join forces with a diverse range of characters, and unravel the countless mysteries that Teyvat holds...
MASSIVE OPEN WORLD
Climb any mountain, swim across any river, and glide over the world below, taking in the jaw-dropping scenery each step of the way. And if you stop to investigate a wandering Seelie or strange mechanism, who knows what you might discover?
ELEMENTAL COMBAT SYSTEM
Harness the seven elements to unleash elemental reactions. Anemo, Electro, Hydro, Pyro, Cryo, Dendro, and Geo interact in all sorts of ways, and Vision wielders have the power to turn this to their advantage.
Will you vaporize Hydro with Pyro, electro-charge it with Electro, or freeze it with Cryo? Your mastery of the elements will give you the upper hand in battle and exploration.
BEAUTIFUL VISUALS
Feast your eyes on the world around you, with a stunning art style, real-time rendering, and finely tuned character animations delivering you a truly immersive visual experience. Lighting and weather all change naturally over time, bringing every detail of this world to life.
SOOTHING SOUNDTRACK
Let the beautiful sounds of Teyvat draw you in as you explore the expansive world around you. Performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the soundtrack changes seamlessly with the time and gameplay to match the mood.
BUILD YOUR DREAM TEAM
Team up with a diverse cast of characters in Teyvat, each with their own unique personalities, stories, and abilities. Discover your favorite party combinations and level up your characters to help you conquer even the most daunting of enemies and domains.
JOURNEY WITH FRIENDS
Team up with friends across various platforms to trigger more elemental action, tackle tricky boss fights, and conquer challenging domains together to reap rich rewards.
As you stand atop the peaks of Jueyun Karst and take in the rolling clouds and vast terrain stretching out before you, you may wish to stay in Teyvat a little longer... But until you are reunited with your lost sibling, how can you rest? Go forth, Traveler, and begin your adventure!
- ESRB
- Teen / Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)
- Publisher(s)
- HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)
- Engine
- Unity
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, iOS, Android
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action, Adventure, Gacha, Open-World
- Metascore
- 86
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- Mobile, PC, PS4 & PS5
