A few years after its release, Genshin Impact's storyline has barely scratched the surface. The expansion of new regions further unlocks hidden lore that can be interpreted if players take their time in reading the available items. For example, at first, people speculate that an Archon is an entity that grants mortals their Vision. However, from Raiden Shogun's voice lines, fans now know that the decision to grant a Vision does not solely depend on the Archon.
Before Inazuma, Raiden Shogun was also seen as a tyrant, one who insisted on pursuing eternity for her land. While Ei is now more understood, here are some Genshin Impact characters that can still be considered evil.
Updated July 30th, 2023, by Nahda Nabiilah: As Genshin Impact’s story slowly heads toward a conclusion, many theories are proven to be right or wrong, and many characters’ motives start to be clearer. The expansion of the regions also further unlocks hidden lore that can be interpreted if players take their time in reading the available items. With a lot of events and twists, some characters maintain their immoral purpose and evil self, while others find a better goal, just like Scaramouche who later becomes Wanderer. For these reasons, this article will be updated to improve the lore of previously written materials and update new villains in the roster.
14 Unknown God
The Unknown God is the top villain in Genshin Impact to date. It's still far from clear why she blocks the twins' ways as they try to leave, but she's likely connected to Celestia, as she claims to be the "sustainer of heavenly principles."
The term "heavenly principles" is mostly used in a negative tone by existing characters. For example, in Raiden Shogun's Story Quest in Genshin Impact, former Electro Archon Makoto says "The Sacred Sakura blooms from the darkness, finally free from the clutches of the Heavenly Principles." While the Archons are always reluctant to talk about Celestia and what happened 500 years ago in Khaenri'ah, it appears that most of them don't see the "divine" as a friendly party.
13 Enjou
Initially introduced as a researcher to help the players, Enjou later reveals himself to be an Abyss Lector, disguising himself as a human to infiltrate Enkanomiya. When the underwater region was first introduced, Enjou didn't really do anything evil (except, of course, when he attacked the Traveler). But as most would've expected, his arc didn't end there.
In version 2.5, Enjou restored the three Towers of the Void. As a result, darkness engulfed Byakuyakoku once more. It is said that the Lector made a pact with the Bathysmal Vishap, where he promised to cover Enkanomiya in darkness for the Vishaps to save their kin. In return, the Dragonheir of the Depths has to grant the Abyss Order a safe passage. Unfortunately, Enjou betrayed their alliance. The darkness that covers the region now poisons every non-abyssal creature.
12 Decarabian
Back in the day, Andrius' power engulfed the land with blizzards and snow. Because humans couldn't live in these conditions, Decarabian decided to protect the people with a wind barrier. The God of Storms thought that he did the humans a favor by shielding them and creating an extremely organized city where he dictates everything for his subjects.
Of course, the sentiment is not shared by the mortals. Humans can't live without freedom, and so they were discontent with Decarabian's reign. Soon enough, the humans rebelled against the god. Instead of trying to understand his people, Decarabian fought back and killed many. While the God of Storms never had bad intentions toward humans, his lack of love and attention is enough to make him the villain of the story.
11 The Old Lawrence
After Barbatos established the new Mondstadt, he decided to let humans live in freedom, a contrast to Decarabian's rule. However, this freedom is soon enough misused by bad intentions. The City of Freedom turns into the City of Slavery, where some people are even used for a gladiator-like battle.
The ruling family was the Lawrence Clan. They are the ancestors of Eula, which causes her to be disliked by the citizens of Mondstadt. The fact that Eula's predecessors from thousands of years ago still cause hate in the land, shows how bad the Lawrence Clan was.
10 Gold
Rhinedottir, more commonly known as "Gold," is an alchemist who hails from Khaenri'ah. She's infamous for having her creations roam all across Teyvat, wreaking havoc over the continent. From the Golden Wolflord world boss drop, it's said that Rhinedottir created the Riftwolves "almost as if by accident."
It's not yet clear why she makes monsters in particular, but it's known that she strives to create life to obtain the "apex achievement." While not all of Gold's creation turns out to be evil (like Albedo and Durin), Rhinedottir's ambition may be one of the reasons for the catastrophe that wipes an entire civilization.
9 Albedo's Impostor (Primordial Albedo)
Albedo is a mysterious face in Mondstadt. Nobody knows where he came from — he just appeared one day and became the Chief Alchemist for the Knights of Favonius. Of course, this is no problem in the City of Freedom, where everyone is accepted no matter who they are. In Genshin Impact 1.2, Albedo was the star of the event. In the last scene, the Alchemist says, "If one day I lose control… destroy Mondstadt… destroy everything… Can I rely on you to stop me?" This is likely because Albedo is an unstable Homunculus and can turn rogue anytime.
In Genshin Impact 2.3, the first version of Albedo escaped the belly of Durin, the giant dragon that's entombed in Dragonspine. Upon seeing how the current Albedo fits in greatly with "normal" humans, the Primordial Albedo grew jealous and wished to replace the Chief Alchemist's existence. For this purpose, the impostor concocts a plan to get rid of the real Albedo, even going as far as making a giant Fellflower hurt him.
8 Childe
As a Fatui Harbinger, it's easy to see Childe as an evil character. However, Tartaglia truly is evil in Genshin Impact. In the Archon Quest, Childe releases Osial, the Overlord of the Vortex. This God has the power to destroy Liyue and everything in it. Despite all that, the Harbinger did not think of the consequences and did it anyway.
As the subject of the Tsaritsa, this character only cares about Her Majesty's goal. He will do anything for the Cryo Archon, and that includes wreaking death and destruction.
7 La Signora
It's amusing how a lot of stories in Genshin Impact are hidden right in front of players' eyes. For example, the story of Ruu in Tsurumi Island is clearly written in the Thundering Fury artifacts. As for La Signora, her stories are told in the Crimson Witch of Flames artifacts.
A long time ago, Rosalyne was an average maiden in love with a knight named Rostam. After she came back from her studies in Sumeru, she found that Rostam had died fighting monsters. In grief, the Fair Lady uses her life's flame to kill monsters and demons, scarring her own body in the process. Although she didn't hurt anyone, people grew fearful of her. They called her the Crimson Witch.
Before the flames fully engulfed her, Rosalyne was recruited by a Harbinger, and she suppressed her power with a Cryo Delusion. From then on, La Signora became a loyal subject to the Tsaritsa.
6 Scaramouche
Another Fatui Harbinger on the list, Scaramouche first appeared in version 1.1, when no one knew anything about him. His origins were revealed in Genshin Impact 2.1, where Yae Miko says that Scaramouche was supposed to be a puppet for the Electro Archon. The 6th Harbinger was a prototype that got discarded. Raiden Shogun didn't want to kill him, so instead, she sealed his power and let him be free. Within the ranks, Scaramouche is disliked for his arrogance and foul mouth. This character is also known for being two-faced. He would betray anyone, even the Fatui. After Scaramouche got his hands on Raiden Shogun's Gnosis, he allegedly went rogue.
Following the events of Sumeru’s Archon Quest, Traveler and Nahida fought fiercely against Scaramouche in his God Mode, Shouki no Kami, the Prodigal. Later on, after Nahida hides him away, Scaramouche makes it into Irminsul to hide away all his past and knowledge of his existence. Sadly, his plan didn’t work fully since he couldn’t change the past. He was only able to make everyone forget his existence, even himself, and he lives as a Wanderer. Eventually, Nahida helps Wanderer by bringing back his memory, and he sets a new goal to hunt down Dottore.
5 Jiu (Azhdaha)
Before Genshin Impact 1.5, Jiu can be seen standing next to the Dragon-Queller Tree in Nantianmen. She speaks of how there will be a resurrection of an ancient Liyue beast. Jiu also clearly expresses her resentment towards Morax, the Geo Archon.
After Zhongli's second story quest is released, it's revealed that Jiu is an embodiment of Azhdaha's anger. Azhdaha and Morax are actually close friends. However, the Geo Archon had to seal him because erosion started to take away the Dragon's sanity. After millennia, Azhdaha even starts to believe that Morax betrayed him. Therefore, Jiu was created to unseal the Vishap Lord from the outside. The blue-haired girl possesses miners to dig inside the tunnel, making them work mindlessly for a long time.
4 Arlecchino
Described as not having a single sane bone in her body by Childe, there is so much to uncover about Arlecchino. The Harbinger of the Fatui runs the House of the Hearth located in Snezhnaya, an Orphanage responsible for turning capable children into sleeper agents when they come of age. Perhaps, the scariest thought when it comes to Arlecchino and her Orphanage is what happens to the incapable children.
Tartaglia doesn’t just accuse The Knave of insanity, he also mentions that she would betray anyone for her self-interest, even the Tsaritsa herself. On the other hand, Wanderer describes her as a wolf in sheep's clothing and anyone who discovered that has disappeared.
3 Il Dottore
Il Dottore, the second of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers, also known as The Doctor. Following the events of Genshin Impact, it’s hard to believe The Harbinger was able to offer his knowledge of Teyvat as a price for the Archon of Wisdom’s Gnosis. To better observe the world, Dottore saved segments of all his ages and made them into separate individuals, which, in Nahida’s words, is an insult to the very concept of life. He has no sympathy toward anyone and views himself above others. Even when he told Nahida he would treat her with proper respect and dignity, she immediately denied it.
Dottore also plays a major role in the Manga. In Wanderer’s voice lines, he expresses that anyone who works with The Doctor is sure to meet a nasty end, and this is well reflected in the prequel where Il Dottore turns one of his minions into a machine after the subordinate failed him. Childe says that he loves tinkering with old things, but Dottore is actually far more ruthless than that. "The Doctor" is known for conducting unethical experiments on humans. These test subjects are even forced to fight in an underground arena called Haeresys. He also practices this cruelty on Collei. In her own voice lines, Collei suffered at his hands and hated the entire world for it, not just the Fatui. For his immoral hobby, Dottore was disdained in the Sumeru Academia.
2 The Twin
If players choose Aether as their main character, then Lumine will be the "evil" twin, and vice versa. One of the theories regarding this is that the evil twin didn't fall into a long slumber like the main character. Thus, they witnessed all the destruction that happened in Teyvat, leading them to be the Prince/Princess of the Abyss.
While the "good guy" in Genshin Impact is still a gray area, the lost sibling is, for now, considered evil for siding with the Abyss Order.
1 Tsaritsa
The Cryo Archon was once the God of Love. However, a major event must have caused a change in her heart. Now, she no longer loves her people, nor do her people love her.
Just like the twin, the Tsaritsa's motive is not yet revealed. But for now, Her Majesty is the biggest tyrant in the story. She orders her Fatui Harbingers to steal (or collect) the other Archons' Gnosis, by any means necessary. It is said that the Tsaritsa plans to rebel against the Divines.
Genshin Impact is available for Mobile, PC, PS4, and PS5, with a Switch version in development.