The scent of volcanic ash and petrichor whispers on the wind, beckoning me onward. As 2025 unfolds, the horizon of Teyvat shimmers with a new, primordial heat. Natlan, the land of dragons and flame, is no longer a legend scribbled on ancient maps but a reality waiting to be tread upon. The anticipation is a physical thing, a pulse in the air, thrumming in time with every traveler's heart. We have journeyed through Mondstadt's breezy plains, Liyue's jutting peaks, Inazuma's storm-wracked shores, Sumeru's verdant canopies, and Fontaine's gleaming courts. Yet, this new chapter feels different—it feels like a homecoming to the world's first, forgotten fire. This isn't just another region to conquer; it's a covenant with the earth itself, a promise of freedom offered not just to the chosen few, but to every soul who has ever walked these lands with wonder in their eyes.
And at the heart of this promise are the Saurians. Oh, these magnificent, scaled companions! To think that these ancient beings, whose lineage stretches back to the dawn of time, would deign to carry us upon their backs. HoYoverse has woven a beautiful, inclusive tapestry with this revelation. While the new champions—Mualani, Kinich, and Kachina—may ride with a grace that steals the breath, their Saurians moving with the fluidity of liquid flame and shadow, the rest of us are not left to wander on foot. No, every character, from the humblest free-to-play adventurer to the most seasoned veteran, will be granted this gift of flight and fury. My own roster, filled with beloved companions from years past, will not be relics left in the dust. They, too, will feel the surge of primal power beneath them, hear the rumble of a Saurian's call echoing their own resolve. This is the soul of Teyvat: a world where every journey, no matter how it began, is valued.
Of course, the path for us free spirits is painted with a slightly different, more earnest brushstroke. The developer's words echo in my mind: "a little more clunk and a little less flair." It’s a charming, almost poetic admission. My Saurian won't be a burst of dazzling pyrotechnics or a silhouette of perfect, predatory elegance. It will be a creature of honest labor, its movements perhaps a touch more deliberate, its landings accompanied by a heavier thud that sends tremors through the soil. Combat, they say, may feel "slightly more difficult." But I find a strange beauty in this. It mirrors my own travels—not the effortless glide of a born hero, but the hard-won triumph, the stumble that makes the summit all the sweeter. This isn't a penalty; it's a different rhythm, a more grounded symphony of adventure. The core melody of exploration remains untouched and glorious.
Let me paint for you what this means, in the quiet moments between grand quests:
-
The Climb: Where Kinich's mount might scale a cliff face with the silent grace of a shadow, mine will dig its claws into the stone, sending pebbles skittering down in a percussive cascade. Each scrape and grunt is a testament to the effort.
-
The Glide: Kachina's Saurian may cut through the thermals like a razor, while mine will ride the currents with the sturdy, reliable bulk of a storm cloud, offering a wider, more stable view of the world below.
-
The Skirmish: In battle, Mualani's partner might be a whirlwind of precise, elemental strikes. Mine will be a force of nature—slower to turn, perhaps, but each blow carrying the weight of the mountain, demanding smarter positioning and a deeper understanding of the terrain.
This nuanced approach ensures that obtaining the new characters remains a thrilling prospect, their unique synergy with their Saurians a coveted prize. Yet, it never gates the essential, soul-stirring experience of soaring over Natlan's lava flows and ancient forests. It’s a balance that honors both the dream and the reality of a traveler's life.
The early whispers from those who have touched the embers of Version 5.0 sing a unanimous song of awe. They speak of a world that feels like the culmination of half a decade of growth, a testament to how far this journey has come since those first steps in Mondstadt in 2020. Natlan is described not just as a new set of waypoints, but as a living, breathing character—its canyons are deep with forgotten lore, its geysers pulse with elemental heartbeats, and its skies are painted with the wings of creatures older than memory. To explore it, even with my "clunkier" companion, is to engage in a dialogue with the primordial world itself.
And the time for that dialogue is almost upon us. The wait, that exquisite torture, is measured now in mere heartbeats. The gates to Natlan swing open on August 28. This is the moment. This is the call. Whether you are a lord of the gacha or a wanderer who has collected every Anemoculus with patience, the earth of Natlan will welcome your footsteps. Its Saurians will answer your call, in their own unique, glorious ways.
So I stand here, on the precipice of the old world, looking into the fiery maw of the new. My pack is ready, my resolve is steel, and my heart is light. I may not ride the most elegant beast, but I will ride with the fullest heart. For in Teyvat, the truest exploration has never been about the elegance of the mount, but the wonder in the eyes of the rider. Natlan awaits, not just for the heroes of its tales, but for every one of us who still believes in the magic of the next horizon. The adventure continues, and this time, we all take flight.
