Genshin Impact fans have been following news of the game's upcoming updates closely, but as the Version 1.3 keynotes, like Xiao's Lantern Rite Festival, come to an end, more exciting details continue to surface. Travelers are currently able to Wish for the five-star character Keqing as part of the "character event wish," but rumor has it a brand new character will be featured before the next major update arrives.
This rumored character is Hu Tao, who may already be familiar to those following the Genshin Impact leaks. Hu Tao is a purported Pyro-wielding polearm user with close ties to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and she will likely be one of the game's next playable five-star characters.
As per a recently released video shared by leaker NEP NEP, Hu Tao will in fact be a polearm user who specializes in the Pyro Element. Her quick combinations remind players of a fiery Qiqi, with a set of abilities that allow her to dish out Pyro DMG while healing herself (and perhaps teammates). Hu Tao is rumored to possess a skill that increases her DMG in exchange for a cut of her life, and an Elemental Burst that heals depending on total enemies hit.
Players have had an idea of her moveset since rumors of Hu Tao's arrival in Version 1.3 started circulating, but this is one of the first actual looks. The animation involving a butterfly motif is likely the skill that increases her damage output, while the move that highlights the cute white ghost seen by her side is most likely her Elemental Burst. Her movekit is rumored to include an ability that applies a sort of "curse" to enemies when she lands a Charged Attack. This is likely the same "curse" seen as a red/orange dot on the enemies in these clip, which would mean her Elemental Burst applies the effect too.
Especially in light of her rather transformative skill and the curse-like emblem she places on enemies, Hu Tao is also reminiscent of the five-star Hydro character Tartaglia. Tartaglia, also known as Childe, can turn his bow into a pair of daggers (and more) as part of his Elemental Skill and standard attack combinations. Moreover, his CRIT hits apply a sort of Hydro curse to enemies.
Regardless of similarities to Childe, Hu Tao promises to be an interesting new character. Much like the Pyro user Bennett (and her funerary co-worker Qiqi), she seems to employ a blend of offensive support that heals the party as she deals damage to her enemies. Although of course, several characters like that exist, none of them are polearm users and only one of them employs Pyro. Which is to say, Hu Tao will certainly fill a character void.
Genshin Impact is available now on the App Store, Google Play, PC, and PS4, and is currently in development for PS5 and Switch.