Unveiling Cloud Retainer: The Maternal Adepti of Genshin Impact

The Enigmatic Cloud Retainer

Details about Cloud Retainer, including her rumored name and ability kit, are slowly emerging in the Genshin Impact community as the Adepti will make her playable debut in Version 4.4 during the annual Lantern Rite festival. The maternal figure to Shenhe and Ganyu, Cloud Retainer has always had her share of fans due to her aloof charm and no small degree of pride. While players were hoping that she would become a playable character in Genshin Impact ever since the Liyue Archon Quests, the possibility of it happening grew exponentially once HoYoverse gave Cloud Retainer a human form during the 2023 Lantern Rite event.

Genshin Impact Cloud Retainer

If the leaked banner order for Genshin Impact holds true, Cloud Retainer is expected to launch alongside Xiao in the first half of Version 4.4. Rumors of her ability kit painted Cloud Retainer as an ideal support healer for characters such as Xiao or Kazuha, as her abilities seemingly buffed Plunging Attacks. However, the current iteration of Cloud Retainer's ability kit seems to hold far more promise.

Cloud Retainer's playable name is revealed to be Xianyun, and as a 5-Star Anemo Catalyst, her ability kit will not only buff Plunging Attacks but also enable them for all team members universally. This will greatly benefit Genshin Impact characters such as Diluc, whose Plunging Attack damage multiplier is one of the best in the entire roster.

Unveiling Xianyun's Ability Kit

According to Black Rose, TL Founiiswaq, and the Plum Team, the Genshin Impact Leaks subreddit seems to have pinpointed the exact details of Cloud Retainer's ability kit. Xianyun's Elemental Skill will 'release the wind domain,' allowing Cloud Retainer (and other characters) to perform three Plunging Attacks in seemingly rapid succession. Where things get interesting, however, is with her Elemental Burst ability. It will initially release a team-wide burst of healing, boost the damage bonus of Plunging Attacks performed in the wind domain, and then provide sustained healing over time.

This iteration of Xianyun's ability kit opens up plenty of new synergy with older characters such as Chongyun, Diluc, or even the Raiden Shogun in Genshin Impact. An important thing to note is that the banners for Genshin Impact Version 4.3 will allow players to pick up Raiden just in time for Xianyun's debut, as Ei is set to re-run with Yoimiya in the second half of the upcoming update. While details on Cloud Retainer's kit are still subject to change, Xianyun will likely open up some interesting team compositions in the near future.

The Impact of Xianyun on Team Compositions

With Xianyun's ability kit set to revolutionize team compositions in Genshin Impact, players are eagerly anticipating the diverse strategies and synergies that will emerge. The prospect of pairing Xianyun with characters like Diluc, Chongyun, or the Raiden Shogun has ignited a wave of excitement within the Genshin Impact community. The potential for enhancing Plunging Attack builds and creating powerful support-healer combinations has players speculating on the future meta of team compositions.

As Xianyun's debut approaches in Genshin Impact Version 4.4, the community is abuzz with theories and speculations about the optimal team compositions that will maximize her potential. The evolving landscape of team synergy and strategic gameplay in Genshin Impact is poised for a significant shift with the arrival of Xianyun, and players are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to explore the boundless possibilities that her ability kit will unlock.