Over 720 days have passed since Genshin Impact fans last saw the beloved Hydro character from Liyue, Yelan, highlighted in the game. The expansive and varied list of playable characters in Genshin Impact, currently numbering around 90, is among its greatest strengths. Each character brings their own unique stories and gameplay styles to the table.
In the newest update, Version 5.3, three fresh characters have been introduced, including two 5-star units and one 4-star. Of these, Mavuika and Citlali, both 5-stars, were showcased in the initial banner cycle, while players now have access to Lan Yan as part of the Lantern Rite event. Completion of a few specific quests in Update 5.3 allows players to obtain Lan Yan for free.
As the roster of characters continues to grow, it becomes a juggling act for HoYoverse to feature each character in the game’s ongoing narrative. Recently, a Reddit user by the name of bakedrefriedbeans brought attention to the extended absence of Yelan from banners. This is notable because Yelan, paired with Hu Tao in a double banner, still holds the revenue record. Her last appearance was during the Lantern Rite Festival in Version 3.4. Given her ties to Liyue, many fans hoped she would play a role in this year’s Lantern Rite.
Fans of Genshin Impact are feeling the absence of Yelan considerably. Many have chimed in to express their dissatisfaction with her prolonged disappearance, especially since she was a key figure in a highly lucrative banner. Although her stealthy and enigmatic nature might somewhat explain her in-game absence — she is depicted as a clandestine agent often missing from her official position in Liyue — this doesn’t fully assuage fan frustration. Some players believe that allowing more interaction with characters while exploring the expansive world of Teyvat would make beloved characters like Yelan feel more integral to the ongoing narrative.
Improvements, players suggest, need not be complex. Simple interactions or dialogues on special occasions, like birthdays, could help develop Teyvat as a living, breathing environment. As one of the game’s longest-missing 5-star characters, Genshin Impact’s Kaedehara Kazuha holds the silver medal, having last appeared in June 2023. But rumor has it Kazuha might return in the next update, with HoYoverse hinting at a comeback to the Electro nation in Version 5.4. Fans are hopeful Yelan might also reunite with the storyline or feature in a banner soon, especially given that characters from Version 4.7, Furina and Sigewinne, are slated for the Limited Character banner in the upcoming Version 5.4.
