Genshin Update: Lantern Rite Character Revealed in Leak

A recent leak seems to confirm that the next character to debut during the Lantern Rite in Genshin Impact will be none other than Streetward Rambler herself – Madame Ping. While Madame Ping was long rumored to become a playable Genshin Impact character, it was difficult to pinpoint when she'd officially join the rest of the cast. Along with Cloud Retainer, her playable model was introduced during the Lantern Rite cinematic for Version 3.4, and Xianyun herself became a playable character a year later, in Version 4.4.

Unlike most Adepti, Madame Ping takes the form of an elderly woman enjoying a quiet life on the streets of Liyue. She is a mentor to Yao Yao and Xiangling in Genshin Impact, and once served the role of Yanfei's caretaker. From a gameplay standpoint, Madame Ping helps the Traveler set up their Serenitea Pot after completing the Archon Quests in Liyue. However, she is set to become a playable character in Version 5.4 during the Lantern Rite in 2025.

The leak was shared by hxg_diluc, one of the most reliable sources in the Genshin Impact community, though they marked it questionable. It states that Madame Ping will debut in Version 5.4 as a 5-Star Polearm character. Furthermore, her Signature Weapon will have an 88% CRIT DMG bonus and will be compatible with Xiao in Genshin Impact for players who don't have the Primordial Jade-Winged Spear. Whether she appears during the first or second half of Version 5.4 remains to be seen, but players interested in obtaining Madame Ping and her Signature Weapon should start stocking up on their Primogems.

Which Element Will Madame Ping Have in Genshin Impact Version 5.4?

As the martial arts master of Yao Yao and Xiangling, Madame Ping wielding a Polearm is a rather obvious direction for the character. On the other hand, her element still remains the subject of much speculation in the Genshin Impact community. Given that her outfit incorporates fish scales into its pattern and her color scheme predominantly leans blue, Madame Ping is most likely going to be the first 5-Star Hydro Polearm character in Genshin Impact.

Version 4.8 is expected to add Emilie to Genshin Impact, a 5-Star Dendro Polearm, and Version 5.0 will feature three new characters from Natlan: a Dendro Claymore, Hydro Catalyst, and Geo Polearm. Though it remains to be seen how the full lineup for the upcoming region will turn out, the current examples imply that HoYoverse will be placing an emphasis on Pyro reactions instead of the element itself for the Natlan era.