The vibrant world of Teyvat barely settled after Version 2.1's explosive arrival when seismic news emerged from the 2.2 beta test. Contrary to widespread anticipation and credible leaks, the shimmering silhouette of Yae Miko was conspicuously absent from the files. Instead, pyro polearm wielder Thoma stood alone as the sole new playable character—a 4-star addition that sent shockwaves through the community. This unexpected pivot occurred while players were still exploring 2.1's offerings: the Electro Archon Raiden Shogun's thunderous arrival, tactician Kokomi's hydro strategies, archer Sara's precision, and the tranquil yet unexpectedly addictive fishing mechanics that transformed waterways into bustling activity hubs.
🌊 The 2.1 Afterglow
Players globally remained engrossed in Inazuma's expanded archipelago, where Engulfing Lightning—the 5-star spear—dominated meta discussions. Fishing associations bustled as travelers exchanged pufferfish and butterfly fins for weapons like The Catch, proving miHoYo's knack for turning serene activities into compelling progression systems. Yet beneath this surface calm, data miners already scoured 2.2's beta build, only to uncover what leaker abc64 termed "character drought." The absence of Yae, heavily teased since Inazuma's debut, felt particularly jarring given her prominence in Archon quests and promotional art.
🔥 Thoma's Solitary Spotlight
As the beta commenced, Thoma emerged as the update's lone newcomer—a protective retainer serving the Kamisato clan. While his fiery shield mechanics intrigued theorists, the decision to release him without any accompanying 5-star shattered established patterns. Since launch, updates typically featured dual 5-stars or one alongside reruns. This deviation fueled frenzied speculation:
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Was Yae's kit mechanically incomplete?
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Did narrative pacing demand her delayed entrance?
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Or had miHoYo deliberately misled to preserve story surprises?
Leakers admitted the banners' unpredictability, though prior accuracy lent weight to their original Yae forecasts.
⚡ The Rerun Conundrum
With no new 5-stars detected, attention pivoted to potential reruns. Community wishlists surged:
| Most Requested Reruns | Element/Weapon | Last Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| Ganyu | Cryo Bow | Version 1.3 |
| Hu Tao | Pyro Polearm | Version 1.3 |
| Albedo | Geo Sword | Version 1.2 |
| Xiao | Anemo Polearm | Version 1.3 |
This rerun dependency highlighted a growing tension: could character scarcity sustain player engagement? The 2.1 weapon Engulfing Lightning had already demonstrated miHoYo's ability to monetize gear independently of new heroes. Yet Inazuma's lore-rich environment demanded fresh faces, making Yae's omission perplexing.
❓ Echoes in 2025
Looking back from 2025, this beta leak became a pivotal moment in Genshin's evolution. Thoma's release preceded Yae's eventual arrival in Version 2.5—a delay that allowed intricate kit refinement, culminating in her meta-defining electro application. Yet the incident exposed miHoYo's agile development approach, where narrative urgency and technical readiness could override leak-fueled expectations. As the gaming landscape shifts toward AI-generated content and dynamic storytelling, does preserving surprise justify disrupting player anticipation? And with Fontaine's underwater mechanics now mirroring 2.1's fishing innovations, will future updates prioritize systemic depth over character volume?