Genshin Impact has unleashed the final phase of its Lantern Rite event for 2022, concluding the story quest component full of a bunch of different character cameos, and unlocking the final activity needed to purchase the most coveted prizes of the event, the free outfit for Ningguang and a free 4 star hero of your choice from Liyue.
So, how do you get your free 4 star? You need to amass two different kinds of currency, the second of which was not live until today.
The first currency is 1,000 Affluence Talismans, gotten through the pretty easy activity Flameplume Starflowers where you build different types of fireworks.
The second currency is 1,000 Conquest Talismans, which you get through completing the Oceanic Defender event, which just went live. It’s a boss battle we’ve done before against the three-headed water Serpent. In order to get 1,000, you’ll have to beat him three times.
After that, you will then be able to pick the Liyue 4 star of your choice, even the brand new character Yun Jin. I wrote this up a few days ago where I listed my rationale for each choice, and I will just reiterate that train of thought below:
Xiangling (Pyro Polearm) – She’s been the feature of a few events in the past, but she remains one of the best sub-DPS options in the game with her ability to have both her elemental skill and burst do pyro damage when she’s off the field. A “fire and forget” character, and a great asset to even high level teams.
Beidou (Electro Claymore) – She’s more of a starter character, and was a better option when there were fewer electros, but she’s still solid. Just keep in mind that she’s also part of the featured drop set for Ganyu and Zhongli right now.
Xingqiu (Hydro Sword) – One of the best characters in the game, four or five star, because of the insane utility of his water swords which can apply hydro, do extra damage, reduce damage from enemies and heal your team. If you don’t have him, get him. If you do have him, seriously consider getting him just for another constellation level. You really want to have him maxed.
Ningguang (Geo Catalyst) – She’s the featured star of the event story, but I’m not sure how high she is on this list. If you’re going for Geo characters you may want the brand new Yun Jin instead, also on this list. If you’re going hard for Geo, you should be doing the Zhongli banner, as he’s the best Geo character in the game. Still, she’s fun, and has a pretty dress you can unlock for her during this event.
Chongyun (Cryo Claymore) – Sorry but he just can’t really hang these days. Applying cryo to everything is good, but there are many, many better cryo options out there overall, including some of the game’s best characters like Ayaka. I wouldn’t waste this moment on him.
Xinyan (Pyro Claymore) – Same thing goes for Xinyan. She’s like the third best pyro option in this list. She needs some buffs if she’s ever going to be a real contender.
Yun Jin (Geo Polearm) – This is our brand new Geo 4 star hero and I know for many people, myself included, if you already have everyone else, you’re almost certainly going to grab her. Everyone is still working out just how good she is, but there’s a case to be made for her as decent DPS when built right.
Yanfei (Pyro Catalyst) – Again, another character featured in the actual banners this time around, so you may just want to snag her there instead of wasting a freebie on her. She’s solid pyro DPS, but it depends how much you enjoy using catalyst heroes, and I think there are overall better options here. Get deep into her constellation and then maybe we’ll be talking.
So, once again my top choices would be Xiangling or Xinqiu for overall utility, but if you already have decent constellations on those, maybe new characters like Yanfei and Yun Jin will suit you better.
Happy hunting!
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