Summary
A reliable source in theGenshin Impactcommunity claims that Madame Ping will not be released in Version 5.3, despite the Lantern Rite taking place during the update. WhileGenshin Impactisn’t afraid of breaking patterns when convenient, the Lantern Rite in Natlan is shaping up to be a curious affair. Not only will it take place an entire patch earlier than its predecessors, but all signs point to its featured 5-Star character being delayed.
While the latter has already happened withBaizhu inGenshin Impact, who launched in Version 3.6 instead of Version 3.4, the former would be a first for the Lantern Rite in more ways than one. The Archon Quest won’t receive an update in Version 5.2, pushing the finale of Natlan’s story to Version 5.3, which is slated to launch on August 03, 2025.
According to hxg_diluc, the plan for Version 5.3 is to feature the Lantern Rite without Madame Ping. It is assumed that a new 4-Star character from Liyue will still launch during the second half of the patch, but a different leak claims that both Lantern Rite characters will launch in Version 5.4. Ping is expected to be a 5-StarHydro character inGenshin Impact, who wields a Polearm and relies on Plunging Attacks to deal damage. On the other hand, not much is known about the upcoming 4-Star, but rumors point towards her being a Catalyst.
Lantern Rite Will Likely Take Place in Genshin Impact Version 5.3
If the Lantern Rite ends up being the Flagship Event for Version 5.3, it will easily be one of the most stacked updates inGenshin Impacthistory. Not only will it come with a map expansion, but it is expected to conclude the Archon Quests in Natlan, release two 5-Star characters, and then feature the Lantern Rite in its second half. The two 5-Star characters of Version 5.3 are assumed to be Mavuika andCitlali inGenshin Impact, which leaves little room for Madame Ping on the Event Banners.
While leaks should be taken with a grain of salt, hxg_diluc has had an impeccable track record, and his claims align with information provided by other sources. In fact, players now have a strong idea about the release order of upcoming characters for the Natlan era, at least up untilMavuika inGenshin Impact. Given how generous Lantern Rite can be, a delayed release for Madame Ping will allow fans to stock up on Primogems before pulling for her on the Event Banners in a future update.
