Are you ready to dive into the watery depths of Fontaine? The long-awaited Genshin Impact 4.0 update is almost upon us, and HoYoverse has treated fans to an extensive preview of what’s coming. As a passionate Genshin player myself, I couldn’t be more excited to share all the juicy details about the new Hydro nation, its captivating characters, powerful weapons, unique artifacts, and breathtaking areas that await us. This massive update represents one of the game’s most ambitious expansions yet, introducing underwater exploration mechanics and a steampunk-inspired region that promises to refresh the Genshin experience in meaningful ways.
Exploring the Majestic Nation of Fontaine
Fontaine has long been teased in Genshin lore as a technologically advanced nation with a complex relationship to justice, art, and innovation. The 4.0 update finally lets us explore this fascinating region firsthand.
The Underwater Realm: A New Dimension of Exploration
Perhaps the most groundbreaking addition in Version 4.0 is the introduction of underwater exploration. For the first time in Genshin Impact, players will be able to:
- Dive beneath the surface of Fontaine’s waterways
- Explore elaborate underwater ruins and ecosystems
- Experience new movement mechanics unique to underwater environments
- Discover hidden treasures and secrets in the depths
The underwater mechanics aren’t just a visual gimmick—they fundamentally change how we’ll interact with the game world. According to the preview livestream, players will receive a special ability called “Xenochromatic Extension” that allows them to breathe underwater indefinitely, eliminating the stamina concerns that might have made underwater exploration frustrating.
“This is the first time we’ve created a fully realized underwater world in Genshin Impact,” said the development team during the preview. “Our goal was to make underwater exploration feel as natural and engaging as exploring on land, but with its own unique charm and sense of discovery.“
Court of Fontaine: Steampunk Architecture and Judicial Themes
The Court of Fontaine serves as the main urban hub of the new region, featuring:
- Belle Époque-inspired architecture with steampunk elements
- A central court system where the “Hydro Archon” presides as judge
- Multi-level urban design with numerous vertical exploration opportunities
- A complex transit system of water elevators and pneumatic tubes
The city’s design draws inspiration from late 19th century European capitals like Paris and London, but with a distinctive fantasy twist. The official Genshin Impact website has already showcased several key locations within the Court of Fontaine, including the grand courthouse, the opera house, and the bustling market district.
The Outlying Areas: Diverse Landscapes to Discover
Beyond the Court of Fontaine, the new region includes several distinct areas:
- Erinnyes Forest: A lush woodland area with unique flora and fauna
- Belleau Canyons: Dramatic cliff formations carved by ancient waterways
- Liffey Complex: An industrial district showcasing Fontaine’s technological prowess
- Morte Shoals: Mysterious shallow waters harboring ancient secrets
Each area features its own distinctive challenges, puzzles, and enemy types. The preview suggested that Fontaine will have a more varied environmental design than previous regions, with sharp transitions between areas that tell the story of a nation at the crossroads of tradition and progress.
New Characters Coming in Version 4.0
The 4.0 update will introduce several new playable characters, each with ties to Fontaine’s unique culture and storylines. Here’s what we know about them so far:
5-Star Characters
Neuvillette: The Chief Justice
- Element: Hydro
- Weapon: Catalyst
- Background: As the Chief Justice of Fontaine, Neuvillette is a central figure in the nation’s judicial system. His mysterious past and connection to the Hydro Archon form a key part of the main story.
- Playstyle: According to the preview, Neuvillette employs a unique charged attack system that becomes more powerful the longer you hold it, making him a potentially powerful DPS option.
Lyney: The Magnificent Magician
- Element: Pyro
- Weapon: Bow
- Background: A famous magician who performs regularly at Fontaine’s Opera House. His charming personality masks a deep involvement in the nation’s political intrigues.
- Playstyle: Lyney appears to be a charge-shot focused archer with abilities that create illusions to distract enemies while dealing significant Pyro damage.
4-Star Characters
Lynette: The Assistant
- Element: Anemo
- Weapon: Sword
- Background: Lyney’s assistant and twin sister, Lynette maintains a more serious demeanor than her brother. She’s highly protective of him and harbors her own secrets.
- Playstyle: The preview suggests Lynette will function as a support character with crowd control abilities.
Freminet: The Deep Sea Diver
- Element: Cryo
- Weapon: Claymore
- Background: A professional diver who explores Fontaine’s deepest waters. His specialized diving suit allows him to withstand extreme pressures and temperatures.
- Playstyle: Freminet seems to be designed as a physical DPS with Cryo infusion capabilities, potentially offering interesting superconduct team compositions.
“Each of these characters represents an important aspect of Fontaine’s culture,” explained HoYoverse during the preview. “From its justice system to its entertainment industry to its relationship with the sea—they all tell part of the story of this nation.“
Powerful New Weapons to Wield
The 4.0 update introduces a new series of weapons with unique passive abilities tied to Fontaine’s themes of justice and duality.
5-Star Weapons
Tome of the Eternal Flow (Catalyst)
- Base ATK: 608 (at level 90)
- Secondary Stat: CRIT DMG (66.2%)
- Passive: “Judgment of the Waters” – After using an Elemental Skill, gain a 12% Elemental DMG Bonus for 15 seconds. After causing a reaction, this effect is increased to 20% for 15 seconds. Can occur once every 10 seconds.
This catalyst seems tailor-made for Neuvillette, supporting his Hydro damage output while rewarding reaction-based gameplay.
The First Great Magic (Bow)
- Base ATK: 542 (at level 90)
- Secondary Stat: CRIT Rate (44.1%)
- Passive: “Audience Acclaim” – Normal Attack hits have a 60% chance to grant a stack of Stellar Acclaim. Upon reaching 4 stacks, consume all stacks to deal 100% ATK as additional DMG to the target and nearby enemies. This effect can occur once every 14 seconds.
This bow complements Lyney’s performance-themed abilities, potentially allowing for powerful AoE damage during normal attack strings.
4-Star Weapons
The preview also showcased several 4-star weapons that will be more accessible to free-to-play players, including:
- Flowing Purity (Sword)
- Song of Stillness (Claymore)
- Tidal Shadow (Polearm)
- Flowing Rings (Bow)
- Flowing Wisdom (Catalyst)
These weapons share a similar aesthetic and a passive ability called “Press Release” that increases ATK by 12% after triggering an Elemental Reaction, with an additional effect based on the wielder’s Elemental Type.
New Artifact Sets to Enhance Your Builds
Two new artifact sets will be introduced with the 4.0 update, offering exciting new build possibilities:
Golden Troupe
- 2-Piece Bonus: Elemental Skill DMG +20%
- 4-Piece Bonus: When not on the field, Elemental Skill DMG +25%. When on the field, Elemental Skill DMG +25% for 10s after using an Elemental Skill.
This set caters to characters with powerful Elemental Skills, particularly those who can deal off-field damage or who rely on skill usage for their core damage output. It could be excellent for sub-DPS characters like Fischl or Xingqiu.
Marechaussee Hunter
- 2-Piece Bonus: Normal and Charged Attack DMG +15%
- 4-Piece Bonus: When current HP increases or decreases, CRIT Rate +12% for 5s. Max 3 stacks.
This set appears designed for main DPS characters who rely on normal and charged attacks, particularly those who have HP management mechanics like Hu Tao or characters who benefit from healing or shielding.
“These new artifact sets offer exciting new build possibilities that might shake up the meta,” noted several Genshin theorycrafters invited to preview the content. “The Golden Troupe set in particular could become BiS for several existing characters, not just the new Fontaine roster.“
New Enemies and Challenges
The 4.0 update will introduce several new enemy types to challenge players:
Fontaine Mechanical Enemies
- Clockwork Meka: Steampunk-inspired mechanical enemies with various weapon attachments
- Fontaine Defensive Automatons: Guardian robots designed to protect important locations
- Mek-Overseers: Larger mechanical foes that coordinate smaller units
Aquatic Creatures
- Fontemer Aberrants: Mutated aquatic creatures that can attack both underwater and on land
- Deepwater Terrorshroomers: Fungal enemies that thrive in underwater environments
- Hydro Phantasms: Spectral beings born from the condensation of Hydro energy
New Boss: “Opera Epiclese”
The preview offered a glimpse of a massive new weekly boss called the “Opera Epiclese,” which appears to be a mechanical construct with operatic themes. The boss fight seems to take place in a theater-like arena and features multiple phases, with the environment itself changing as the battle progresses.
The Archon Quest Continues: Chapter IV
The 4.0 update will continue the main story with Chapter IV: Act I – Prelude of Blancheur and Noirceur, which will introduce us to the Hydro Archon Furina and the complex political landscape of Fontaine.
According to the preview, the story will explore themes of:
- Justice and judgment
- The price of progress
- The relationship between gods and mortals
- The concept of divine justice versus human law
The Archon Quest promises to be one of the most narratively rich chapters yet, with multiple factions vying for influence in Fontaine and the Traveler caught in the middle of conflicting interests.
“We wanted to create a story that explores more mature themes while still being accessible to our broad audience,” said the writing team during the preview. “Fontaine’s story deals with complex moral questions without clear-cut answers.“
Innovative Gameplay Mechanics
Beyond the underwater exploration, Version 4.0 introduces several new gameplay mechanics:
The Pneumatic System
Fontaine features a complex network of pneumatic tubes that can transport players across the region, serving as both a traversal mechanic and a puzzle element. These tubes can be activated by using Anemo abilities or specialized mechanisms found throughout the environment.
Arkhe System
The preview revealed a mysterious new “Arkhe System” that seems to involve two opposing forces: Pneuma (associated with life and creation) and Ousia (associated with destruction and entropy). Certain puzzles and enemies will require players to understand and manipulate these forces using specialized gadgets provided during the storyline.
Court Trials
In keeping with Fontaine’s justice theme, players will occasionally participate in “Court Trials” where they must gather evidence, interview witnesses, and present their findings to solve disputes and unlock rewards. These mini-game sequences offer a refreshing break from combat and exploration.
My Thoughts on Genshin Impact 4.0
As someone who’s been playing Genshin Impact since launch, I can confidently say that the 4.0 update looks like one of the most ambitious expansions yet. The underwater exploration mechanic alone represents a significant technical achievement and opens up incredible new possibilities for level design and puzzle mechanics.
The steampunk aesthetic of Fontaine provides a welcome visual departure from previous regions, and the justice-themed narrative promises to explore more complex themes than we’ve seen before. I’m particularly excited about the new characters, especially Neuvillette, whose unique charged attack system could introduce fresh playstyles to the catalyst user roster.
That said, I do have some concerns about how the underwater movement will feel in practice. Water levels in games have a notoriously mixed reception, so much will depend on how smoothly HoYoverse implements the controls and camera in these sections.
Overall, though, Version 4.0 seems poised to inject fresh excitement into Genshin Impact at a time when many long-term players were beginning to feel content fatigue. The combination of new areas to explore, characters to collect, and mechanics to master should provide ample engagement for both veterans and newcomers alike.
Conclusion
The Genshin Impact 4.0 update represents a watershed moment for the game, introducing the Hydro nation of Fontaine with its unique underwater exploration, steampunk aesthetic, and justice-themed narrative. With compelling new characters like Neuvillette and Lyney, powerful weapons and artifacts, and innovative gameplay mechanics, Version 4.0 promises to be one of the most significant updates in Genshin Impact’s history.
As players around the world prepare to dive into Fontaine’s depths, one thing is clear: HoYoverse continues to push the boundaries of what a free-to-play gacha game can offer, delivering content that rivals premium AAA titles in both scope and quality. Whether you’re a veteran Traveler or considering jumping into Teyvat for the first time, the Nation of Hydro awaits with open arms and countless secrets to discover.
The Genshin Impact 4.0 update is scheduled to launch on August 16, 2023, following the conclusion of Version 3.8. Be sure to complete any time-limited events in Sumeru before then!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When exactly will Genshin Impact Version 4.0 be released?
Version 4.0 is scheduled for release on August 16, 2023, following the standard six-week update cycle of Genshin Impact. As with previous major updates, server maintenance is expected to begin at 6:00 AM (UTC+8) and last approximately 5 hours.
2. Will I need to complete all of Sumeru’s Archon Quests before accessing Fontaine?
Yes, to access the main Fontaine storyline, you’ll need to have completed Chapter III: Act VI of the Archon Quest (A Parade of Providence). However, players will likely be able to explore parts of Fontaine’s overworld without completing all previous content, as was the case with previous regions.
3. How will the new underwater exploration affect existing characters?
All characters will be able to explore underwater thanks to the “Xenochromatic Extension” ability granted during the storyline. However, combat abilities will function differently underwater, with some characters having advantages based on their elemental types. Hydro characters in particular may receive bonuses in underwater environments.
4. Are there any free characters or weapons coming with Version 4.0?
While not confirmed in the preview, Genshin Impact typically offers a free 4-star character or weapon with major updates. Based on patterns from previous versions, we can expect either Lynette or Freminet to be obtainable through an event during the early phases of Version 4.0.
5. Will there be changes to existing game systems in Version 4.0?
Yes, the preview mentioned several quality-of-life improvements coming in Version 4.0, including expanded inventory space, additional loadout slots for character builds, and refinements to the fishing system. There will also be adjustments to some underperforming characters, though specific details were not provided in the preview.