In this detailed material we will tell you exactly when update 6.3 (Moon 4) will be released for Genshin Impact, what new banners, characters, events, tasks, locations and bosses await players, as well as what weapons, artifacts and cards for the Sacred Call of the Seven will appear in the game. We will gradually update the material, so we recommend adding it to your bookmarks.
Note: Currently, the information below is based not only on statements from the developers, but also on leaks and files obtained by data miners and testers, so it is not 100% reliable and may change over time.
Release date for version 6.3 (Moon 4) for Genshin Impact
HoYoverse usually releases updates every 6 weeks, so the next patch should be released on January 14, 2026. It will be replaced by version 6.4 around February 25 next year.
You can preload the client a few days before its release. The developers will probably carry out technical work, which can last up to 5 hours. Players are usually given compensation in the amount of 300-600 source stones.
Live broadcast on Genshin Impact 6.3
The development team almost always conducts special streams one and a half to two weeks before the release of a new update. They usually take place on Friday-Sunday. For this reason, the live broadcast of version 6.3 should take place on January 2, 2025 at 15:00 Moscow time. During it, three promotional codes for 300 primogems will be posted.
New characters and banners
Studio miHoYo has not yet officially presented the new characters that will appear in the upcoming patch, but insiders have already reported that they will be: Columbine, Zi Bai and Illugi. They also shared information about their abilities and rerans of other heroes.
Banners of the first phase
Informants suggest that in the first half of the patch the following fighters will be presented in banners:
- 5-star – Columbine (Hydro, catalyst) and Nevillet (Hydro, catalyst).
- 4-star – not yet known.
Columbine is the moon goddess and former Harbinger of Fatui number 3. She plays an important role in the plot of Nod's End and, apparently, her story will finally receive a final chapter in the upcoming patch. As for her role in the squad, she will most likely turn out to be a secondary damage dealer/support, whose abilities are aimed at strengthening Lunar reactions.
In “Incarnation of a Deity” you will be able to obtain Columbine’s signature catalyst called Nocturne’s Call and Nevillet’s signature catalyst – Rite of Eternal Flow.
Phase 2 Banners
In the second half of the update (starts on February 4), the following characters will most likely be released:
- 5-star – Zi Bai (Geo, one-handed sword) and Ineffa (Electro, spear).
- 4-star – Illugi (Geo, spear).
Zi Bai is a White Horse adept from Li Yue, as well as a five-star Geo one-hander, playing through the accumulation of a special resource, converting attacks into Geo, and playing through Lunar Crystallization. In a squad, she will be able to serve as the main damage dealer, dealing enormous damage to enemies.
Illugi – Geo-spearman and support, playing through the Lunar Crystallization reaction. It buffs the damage of allies, especially if they deal Geo Damage or activate Lunar Crystallization, and also receives additional stacks from Geo Constructs. Now Illugi looks like a budget but valuable element of the Nod End roster, especially for packs for the new reaction.
As for the weapon banner, you should expect the appearance of Zi Bai's signature one-handed sword called Luminous Moon Shard and Ineffa's signature spear – Shattered halo.
Prayer of the Chronicles
Considering that the Prayer of Chronicles dedicated to Sumer was released back in patch 6.0, it is unlikely that the next regional banner will appear in version 6.3. Perhaps it will be placed only in update 6.4. If it is nevertheless presented, then with a high probability it will be dedicated to Mondstadt again.
New locations
Insiders firefly and kuroo showed an updated map of the new island that will appear in version 6.3. And if the early hints seemed impressive, the latest materials only confirm: the zone will be large and will significantly expand the northern part of Nod's Land.
According to the leaked data, the new area includes:
- 3 Archon statues
- 27 teleporters
- Separate boss location
- Dungeon for farming artifacts
Such a number of teleports hints at a large, multi-level and rich area.
HHW insiders have published another collection of leaks – this time these are images of specific landscapes, points of interest and the dungeon of the new boss.
Dungeons
In addition to story dungeons, the game will feature new dungeons related to obtaining resources. One of them concerns the weekly boss, and the second concerns new artifact sets. Their approximate location, by the way, is shown on the maps above.
New NPCs of the future region
Insider Jelena showed models of two new NPCs that will appear in 6.3:
Alia: a character in a suit with leather elements and blue horns. Outwardly, he resembles a representative of the Children of the Frost Moon.
NPC in the form of the Imperial Military Academy of Snow: another confirmation that the plot of Snow is gradually beginning to penetrate into Teyvat, even if the region is still far away, heroes and organizations from there become part of the story. The uniform of the new NPC is made in strict, gray and black tones.
New meeting places
Players will have three more meeting places, for which they will need to collect moon seals and explore the locations associated with them.
New skins
Insider hakushin said that in version 6.3 we should expect fresh costumes for:
- Nevilleth
- Yao Yao
- Travelers
All of them are designed in a winter themed setting, which fits perfectly with the overall visual direction of Nod's End and the beginning of the new year. Until renderings or screenshots leaked online.
New equipment
Weapons
In patch 6.3, players will receive two new 5-star weapons, which will become the signatures of Columbine and Zi Bai. The table below shows the approximate characteristics and passive abilities of the new weapons.
| Name | Characteristics | Ability |
|---|---|---|
Luminous Moon Shard (5 stars) | Base attack: 44-542 Crit. damage: 19.2-88.2% | Increases defense by 20-40%. For 5 seconds after the equipped character uses an elemental skill, Moon Crystal reaction damage is increased by 64-128%. |
Summon Nocturne (5 stars) | Base attack: 44-542 Crit. damage: 19.2-88.2% | Increases max. HP by 10-18%. When an equipped character activates Lunar Reactions or damages an enemy with them, he recovers 12-16 units of energy and receives the effect of Nectar Seas for 12 seconds: max. HP is additionally increased by 14-22%, and crit. damage of Lunar reactions increases by 60-140%. This effect can occur once every 18 seconds and triggers even when the equipped character is not on the battlefield. |
Artifacts
The developers will also add two sets of artifacts, one of which is intended for characters using Lunar Reactions, and the second for Witch heroes who have activated their buff.
| Name | Bonuses |
|---|---|
First set | 2 parts: Increases elemental mastery by 80 units. 4 parts: When the equipped character is not on the field, the damage of Lunar reactions increases by 20%. If the unit's Lunar Omen is not lower than Supreme Radiance, the damage of Lunar Reactions is increased by an additional 40%. 3 seconds after the equipped character becomes active, this effect disappears. |
Second set | 2 parts: Increases attack power by 18%. 4 parts: Hitting an enemy with a normal attack, a charged attack, an elemental skill, or an elemental explosion for 6 seconds grants the effect of the Love of Wind and Poetry: attack power increases by 25%. If the equipped character has already completed the Witches' Lessons, then Love of Wind and Poetry improves to Determination of Wind and Poetry: Critical Chance. hits of an equipped character who has passed the test are additionally increased by 20%. This effect works even if the equipped character is not on the battlefield. |
New quests
Archon Quest
Insider HomDGCat confirmed that version 6.3 includes 2 acts of Archon quests: 7 and 8. This means that the main plot of Nod's End will continue and will probably reach 2/3 of the arc. Considering that the update introduces new bosses, we can expect some emotional content.
In turn, kazusa showed more images from the future quest and the new location, as well as an updated statue of Kuutar in Nod's Land:
Legends Quest
Although the developers said that from now on they were going to seamlessly fit the stories of new characters into story quests, they moved away from this tradition in update 6.2, releasing the Legends of Durin quest. For this reason, there is a small chance that personal quests from Zi Bai or Columbine await us.
World quests and assignments
Given the addition of a new island, we can expect a huge number of new side quests to appear on it, some of which may be a continuation of previous chains, for example, related to Reed Miller's treasure.
New enemies and bosses
False Moon God (Doctor)
The main news is a full-fledged look at Dottor, who in version 6.3 will appear in the form of the False Moon God and will summon creepy shadow. The leaks showed renderings of the model, splash art, musical theme and description of the lore.
Due to the color combinations and posing, the community immediately picked up the new images into memes, comparing the Dottore boss to Phaenon and Sunday from Honkai: Star Rail.
Insider Seele published descriptions of new items that drop for defeating the False God. And they are quite eloquent:
Aberrant Core of the Deep Shadow – a philosophical description of the border between reason and madness, hinting that Dottore deliberately rejected conventional norms for the sake of truth.
Beak of the Deep Shadow – the text of the description criticizes pseudoscience and speaks of the desire for knowledge without restrictions. A clear reference to Dottore's ideology – the abandonment of morality for the sake of research.
Fractured Eye of the Deep Shadow – the material refers to the theme of medicine, which is no longer obliged to follow natural laws. In the right hands, as the description says, the body can go beyond life and death.
Lord of the Hidden Depths: Whisper of Nightmares
Renders and splash art of the new world boss of the region – Lord of the Hidden Depths: Whisper of Nightmares are shown.
In appearance, this creature resembles a hybrid of mechanical structures and the dark deep forces of the Wild Hunt. Materials from this boss will likely be used to level up one of the new 6.3 characters.
Local Legends
The developers will also add three new local legends: Granny Hilyetta, Seasoned Radiant Glacier Wolf, and Seasoned Sixteenfold Mandrake. Most likely, as in the case of previous legends of Nod's Land, access to them is gained through quests.
New mechanics and improvements
Lunar crystallization
Insider HomDGCat published a detailed mathematical formula for the new reaction.
In brief:
- Lunar Crystallization is considered similar to Lunar Charge, but with reduced multipliers
- Direct Lunar Crystallization: multiplier 1.6
- Reaction Lunar Crystallization: multiplier 0.96
- After three reactions, three appear Lunar Seals that deal damage
- Damage scales from Defense/Elemental Mastery/Crits and from all characters who participated in the reaction
By the way, kuroo's showcase has become one of the most discussed recordings, because Zhong Li's pillar resonates with Lunar Crystallization and helps trigger reactions.
New story quest menu
Kuroo insider showed a video showing a completely redesigned quest interface.
What will change:
- The usual vertical list will disappear
- Instead, a tree map of storylines will appear, as in Honkai: Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero
- Acts, sub-chapters and side quests will now be connected by visual branches
- The interface will tell you in what order to complete the quests so as not to get lost
This may be one of the best QoLs of the patch, as many new players found themselves getting confused by dozens of old quests, especially given the need to progress through the very long arcs of previous regions. Now the whole structure will become extremely clear.
Sacred Call of the Seven
The developers are preparing the next update for the card game, which will add several new character cards. Plus, new artifacts and skill cards will be added.
New events
Main Event
Information will appear in the near future.
Memory Hunt
Information will appear in the near future.
Crying for the Shadowed Low rock
Information will be available in the near future.
Night patrol exercises
Information will be available in the near future.
