Genshin Impact 7.1 "A Rekviem for the Underworld": everything you need to know

Version 7.1, "A Rekviem for the Underworld", went live on September 23, 2026 after a five-hour maintenance. Six weeks after Snezhnaya opened in 7.0, the update pushes the main story forward, adds two 5-star characters built around the new Stellar Swirl reaction and kicks off the game's sixth anniversary.

Two new 5-star characters

• Vesna – Snowy Banquet's Sharp Blade (5★ Anemo, Sword). Commander of the Druzhna and "the Tsaritsa's keen blade", Vesna wields a Stellar Linchpin rather than a Vision. She is an on-field Anemo damage dealer: her passive turns your party's Cryo Swirls into Stellar Swirl, and while she is in the Radiance: Stellar Swirl state, the damage of her Spirit Blades also counts as Stellar Swirl DMG. Out of combat, she can hover through the air, which makes exploring Snezhnaya a breeze.
• Vodyanitsa – Lingering Siren-Song (5★ Hydro, Catalyst). Prima Donna of the Korolevskiy Troupe and a Water Imp who has parted from her kin. Her Elemental Skill lasts 16 seconds on a 16-second cooldown: it heals the active character, grants interruption resistance and lowers enemies' Hydro and Cryo RES. In Stellar Swirl teams, her first passive also cuts Anemo RES by 35%. She fits both Freeze and Stellar Swirl teams.

Both are featured in Phase I, until October 13, 2026 at 17:59 (server time), alongside the 4-star characters Diona, Faruzan and Chongyun. The Epitome Invocation offers their signature weapons, Beyond the Chrysalis (Sword) and Hymn of the Maelstrom (Catalyst), as well as three new 4-star weapons: New Bough, Winter's Heavy Heart and Breezeborne Refrain. Phase II will bring back Skirk and Escoffier.

Story and exploration

• Archon Quest, Chapter VII: Act III "White Night, Like a Dream Upon Waking" and Act IV "A Rekviem for the Underworld" (Adventure Rank 18+, after Act II "Wraith's Nocturne").
• World Quests: "Swords and Secrets" and "Upstream Variations" (the latter requires Meeting Point: Tidesong Cavern Lv. 2).
• New boss: the Guardian Blade of Drifting Snow at Fellfrost Peak. Stellar Glimmer reactions weaken her ice coffin, which then becomes vulnerable to Electro and Anemo attacks.
• Secret Tsarist Assignments: new weekly missions from Confidential Secretary Chayka at Zapolyarny Palace, with furnishings and blueprints as rewards.
• Edge of Survival: the third-person shooter mode gains two new stages, Fiery Feather Pursuit and Ice-Imprisoned Citadel.

Events, anniversary and endgame

• "Silverwing in Pursuit of the Moon" (Moonchase Festival) starts on September 24: complete it to get the free 4-star sword Silver Light, Primogems and a Crown of Insight.
• Sixth anniversary: 10 Intertwined Fates, 1,600 Primogems, a reset of the Genesis Crystal first top-up bonus and two free 5-star characters to pick from selectors.
• Imaginarium Theater: new seasons on October 1 (Hydro, Cryo, Anemo) and November 1 (Hydro, Electro, Geo).
• Spiral Abyss: new season on October 16. Floors 11 and 12 favor Anemo, Cryo and Stellar Glimmer reactions, and the Stardread Moon blessing deals True DMG shockwaves on Superconduct, Stellar-Conduct, Cryo Swirl, Stellar Swirl, Frozen and Shatter.

Genius Invokation TCG also receives Columbina and Illuga character cards. Enjoy the trip to Snezhnaya, Travelers!