Okay, so I was scrolling through my feed and saw some major tea about Genshin Impact 5.0 and Natlan, and let me tell you, my jaw literally dropped. As a day-one player, the hype for the new Nation of Pyro is real, but these latest leaks? They're giving me serious mixed feelings. The rumor mill is churning, and it's saying that the new Natlan 4-star, Kachina, might NOT be given out for free when Version 5.0 drops. Instead, the freebie is allegedly going to be... Bennett. Yeah, that Bennett. The one most of us veterans have had at C6 for like, two years now. Talk about a plot twist no one asked for.
This leak comes from a supposedly 'Reliable' source on Reddit, shared by Genshin Intel. If it's true, it breaks a super satisfying trend that HoYoverse has been following for the past two years. Let me break it down for you:
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Sumeru (2022): We got Collei for free! She was our gateway to the whole Dendro element. It was perfect, a new character for a new region.
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Fontaine (2023): We got Lynette for free! A stylish new character to explore the steampunk vibes with.
So, naturally, everyone expected the same for Natlan (2025): A free Kachina. It just made sense! It's a tradition, a welcome gift for exploring a brand new world. Kachina is rumored to be tied to some new 'Night Spirit' mechanics unique to Natlan, so getting her for free would let everyone experiment with the new gameplay from day one. But nope, according to this leak, that's not happening.
Why This Stings for Veteran Players
Look, don't get me wrong. Bennett is GOATed. He's arguably the best 4-star support in the game, period. But here's the tea: for players who have been around since the early days, a free Bennett is basically useless. We've pulled him a million times from banners. He's been in the Starglitter shop. My Bennett has been C6 since, like, Version 1.4. Getting another copy? It's just 5 Masterless Starglitter. Not exactly thrilling when you were hoping for a shiny new character.
This potential change feels like HoYoverse is shifting gears. The free character from the new region was such a player-friendly move. It gave you an instant connection to the new land and its mechanics. It was motivation to dive into the new World Quests. Taking that away? It's a major bummer, not gonna lie.
What We Know & What's Next
Of course, this is still just a rumor! We have to take it with a grain of salt. Things in the beta can change. The official confirmation will come during the Genshin Impact 5.0 Special Program livestream (which should be happening super soon!). That's when we'll get the official 411 on what's really going down with Natlan's launch rewards.
My Final Two Cents (The Copium Section)
Part of me is hoping this is just a misinterpretation. Maybe we get Bennett from one event and Kachina from a different, easy quest? A girl can dream. Or maybe the 'Night Spirit' mechanics are so integral that they have to give us a way to experience them easily. Otherwise, locking a core Natlan gameplay feature behind the gacha from day one feels... not very welcoming, you know?
So, fellow Travelers, keep your expectations in check. Prepare for the possibility that our free character streak might be ending. But also, don't lose all hope until the official announcement drops. Natlan is still going to be an absolutely fire region to explore (pun intended), with new story, characters, and mechanics. This just might be the first time in years we have to actually wish for the new region's introductory 4-star. The audacity!
TL;DR for my fellow scrollers:
:fire: Natlan 5.0 leaks say NO free Kachina.
:older_man: Instead, a free Bennett is rumored.
:broken_heart: This breaks the 2-year tradition of free new-region 4-stars (Collei, Lynette).
:face_with_rolling_eyes: For veterans with C6 Bennett, this gift is basically worthless.
:eyes: All will be revealed in the upcoming 5.0 livestream. Stay tuned!