With Genshin Impact server maintenance expected to end around 3am GMT on December 23, gamers won’t have to wait long to launch the Albedo Banner.
As confirmed earlier this week by developers Mihoyo, Genshin Impact 1.2 update period “Begins at 2020-12-23 06:00:00 (GMT+8) and will take about 5 hours. Precise times are subject to change. Players may also experience disruption outside of this period.”
This will be followed by the launch of the new Albedo Banner, which will unlock the next big character to the game. Albedo will be part of an upcoming event that will include improved drop rates across all platforms.
Here’s the official profile for Albedo, as shared by Mihoyo for PS4, PC and Mobile gamers:
- Star Character “Kreideprinz” Albedo (Geo)
- Vision: Geo
- Weapon: Sword
- A genius known as the Kreideprinz, he is the Chief Alchemist and Captain of the Investigation Team of the Knights of Favonius.
Elemental Skill “Abiogenesis: Solar Isotoma” – Albedo creates a Solar Isotoma using the power of alchemy. When an enemy takes DMG within its range, a Transient Blossom is generated, dealing with additional Geo DMG. The centre of the Solar Isotoma can also provide a crystallized platform to elevate characters.
Elemental Burst “Rite of Progeniture: Tectonic Tide” – Deals AoE Geo DMG in a wide area, and also generates Fatal Blossoms in the Solar Isotoma zone, causing additional Geo DMG.
The event wish “Secretum Secretorum” will be available from after the Version 1.2 update until 2021-01-12 15:59:59. During this time, the event-exclusive 5-Star character “Kreideprinz” Albedo (Geo) will get a huge drop-rate boost.
Genshin Impact 1.2 will also include a new area named Dragonspine, which will be on the chilly side to explore.
A message from Mihoyo confirms: “Here, Travelers will discover a whole new exploration experience, filled with various puzzles as well as new quests and mechanics awaiting at every turn.
“A brand-new environmental mechanic has been specially added for the Dragonspine area — Subzero Climate. In the plummeting temperatures of Dragonspine, characters will continuously accumulate “Sheer Cold.”
“Once Sheer Cold reaches its limit, characters will start periodically losing HP. Certain conditions like Snowstorms and actions like swimming will even accelerate Sheer Cold’s accumulation.
“Travelers will also discover that there are mechanisms which cast special effects on nearby monsters in Dragonspine. Before taking the monsters head on, be sure to try shattering those first.”
Highlights from the official Genshin 1.2 patch notes can be found below:
5-Star Character “Plenilune Gaze” Ganyu (Cryo)
- Vision: Cryo
- Weapon: Bow
- The secretary at Yuehai Pavilion. The blood of the qilin, an illuminated beast, flows within her veins.
- Elemental Skill “Trail of the Qilin” – Ganyu conjures an Ice Lotus that taunts enemies, drawing their attacks and dealing AoE Cryo DMG when it disappears.
- Elemental Burst “Celestial Shower” – Rains down shards of ice over a large area, dealing Cryo DMG.
- The character “Plenilune Gaze” Ganyu (Cryo) will appear in a subsequent event wish.
Summit Shaper (5-Star Sword)
- A symbol of a legendary pact, this sharp blade once cut off the peak of a mountain.
- Increases wielder’s shield strength (when the wielder is on the field, any currently active shield absorbs an additional amount of DMG). On hit, gives an ATK boost (max 5 stacks). When under the protection of a shield, the ATK boost effect increases by 100%.
- The event wish “Epitome Invocation” will be available from after the Version 1.2 update to 2021-01-12 15:59:59. During this time, the event-exclusive 5-star weapon Summit Shaper (Sword) will get a huge drop-rate boost!
Festering Desire (4-Star Sword)
- A creepy straight sword that almost seems to yearn for life. It drips with a shriveling venom that could even corrupt a mighty dragon.
- Complete the Story Quest “Princeps Cretaceus Chapter: Act I” and the event quest “Festering Desire” to receive the exclusive sword, Festering Desire. During the event, the character that equips this sword will receive some special buffs while exploring the Dragonspine area.
Snow-Tombed Starsilver (4-Star Claymore)
- An ancient greatsword that was stored between frescoes. Forged from Starsilver, it has the power to cleave through ice and snow.
- Hitting an opponent with Normal and Charged Attacks has a chance of forming and dropping an Everfrost Icicle above them, dealing AoE ATK DMG. Opponents affected by Cryo are dealt further ATK DMG. Can only occur once in a specified period.
- When exploring in Dragonspine, fulfill certain criteria to obtain the weapon Snow-Tombed Starsilver and unlock its forging method.
Dragonspine Spear (4-Star Polearm)
- A spear created from the fang of a dragon. It is oddly warm to the touch.
- Hitting an opponent with Normal and Charged Attacks has a chance of forming and dropping an Everfrost Icicle above them, dealing AoE ATK DMG. Opponents affected by Cryo are dealt further ATK DMG. Can only occur once in a specified period.
- Complete the World Quest “The Festering Fang” to obtain the polearm Dragonspine Spear and unlock its forging method.
Frostbearer (4-Star Catalyst)
- A fruit that possesses a strange, frosty will. A faint sense of agony emanates from it.
- Hitting an opponent with Normal and Charged Attacks has a chance of forming and dropping an Everfrost Icicle above them, dealing AoE ATK DMG. Opponents affected by Cryo are dealt further ATK DMG. Can only occur once in a specified period.
- Once the Frostbearing Tree has reached Lv. 10, Travelers will be awarded a blueprint for forging Frostbearer.
