Six years of waiting are finally over. **Genshin Impact Version 7.0** went live on August 12, 2026, and the stage moves at last to **Snezhnaya ☃️**. The frozen empire the Tsaritsa rules, the home base of the Fatui, and the final stop on the Traveler's journey across Teyvat.
Six years of waiting are finally over. Genshin Impact Version 7.0 went live on August 12, 2026, and the stage moves at last to Snezhnaya ☃️. The frozen empire the Tsaritsa rules, the home base of the Fatui, and the final stop on the Traveler's journey across Teyvat.
For most players the question is simple: who is coming on the banners, and who is worth saving for. The lineup is now official. Odette and Alyosha headline the 7.0 launch, while Vodyanitsa, Vesna, and eventually the Tsaritsa are lined up for later patches. This guide starts with the characters, then covers the Stellar reactions, the region, and your pull plan.
If you are pulling on the new banners, you can top up Genesis Crystals up to 30% cheaper at GamsGo.
⚠️ The Version 7.0 banners and content below are official, confirmed in the July 31 Special Program and live since August 12. Anything about Version 7.1 and beyond is still leak-based and may change. Unconfirmed items are labeled as such. We keep this page updated as new information lands.
Version 7.0 release schedule
HoYoverse announced the 7.0 release date back on April 24, 2026, in the special broadcast "Snezhnaya, and Onward to the Future." The redeem code shown on stream, "Snezhnaya20260812," had the date baked right into it, and entering it also granted 200 Primogems. Worth noting: HoYoverse skipped Version 6.8 entirely, jumping straight from 6.7 to 7.0.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Version 6.7 release | July 1, 2026 |
| Version 7.0 release ⭐️ | August 12, 2026 ⭐️ |
| 7.0 Phase 2 begins | September 1, 2026 |
| 7.0 ends | Around September 22, 2026 |
Version 7.0 is titled "Everwinter Without Mercy," a callback to the 2020 Teyvat Chapter Storyline Preview, which described Snezhnaya as an empire of merciless everwinter. Six years later, we are finally there.
New characters and the 7.0 banners
The lineup shifted completely in early July. Right after the trailer dropped, Vodyanitsa was pegged for the 7.0 launch, but the order flipped: Odette and Alyosha are the 7.0 launch characters, confirmed in the July 31 Special Program. Vodyanitsa and Vesna moved to 7.1, and Pantalone, once floated for 7.0, slid further back.
Here is the confirmed 7.0 banner picture, followed by what leaks currently point to beyond it.
| Phase | Characters | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 |  Odette 5★ Cryo |
Official. Phase 1 runs August 12 to September 1. Odette debuts alongside an Arlecchino rerun, and the new 4-star Alyosha is featured on both Phase 1 banners (with Sucrose and Lynette as the other rate-up 4-stars). Odette is the Cryo Stellar support; Alyosha is a Snezhnayan Electro applier you also get for free from the Archon Quest. |
 Alyosha 4★ Electro |
||
| Phase 2 | Flins & Ineffa (reruns) | Official. Phase 2 runs September 1 to September 22. Both are strong Electro units; Ineffa leans into Lunar-Charged, and Flins is an on-field Electro DPS. No new 5-star in the second half. |
| 7.1 | Vodyanitsa (5★ Hydro), Vesna (5★ Anemo) | Leak. Estimated around September 23. Zibai and Linnea are rumored reruns. Phase order is not settled, and the 7.1 Special Program has not aired. |
| 7.2 / 7.3 | The Tsaritsa / Anastasya (5★ Cryo) | Leak. Expected around the Archon Quest climax, most sources point to 7.3 (7.2 not ruled out). Not in 7.0. Plan your Primogems around this window. |
| 7.x later | Pantalone, Mitya, Valeriy, Danica, and more | Leak. Pantalone fell out of the earlier 7.0 rumor and his patch is currently unknown. The remaining Snezhnaya cast is expected to release across the 7.x cycle. |
Odette: the 7.0 launch Cryo support
The headline pull for 7.0 is Odette. In the story she is a celebrated Snezhnayan ballerina who secretly operates as a Fatui assassin under La Signora, one of the four characters HoYoverse singled out in its official reveal. Her kit is now fully confirmed.
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Odette 5★ Cryo Sword · 7.0 Phase 1 |
|
| Element | Cryo |
| Weapon | Sword |
| Rarity | ★★★★★ 5★ |
| Role | Off-field Stellar reaction support (Stellar-Conduct / Stellar Swirl) |
| Banner | 7.0 Phase 1 (August 12 to September 1) |
Odette is an off-field Cryo support built around the new Stellar system. When she is on the team, Superconduct and Cryo Swirl become Stellar-Conduct and Stellar Swirl, and she amplifies all Stellar Glimmer reaction damage for the whole party. Her Elemental Skill deploys a dance double that deals continuous AoE Cryo damage and grants a party-wide Stellar Glimmer damage bonus. Casting the skill again pairs the double with Odette for a finishing hit. Like a back-line buffer, she stays off-field and boosts your Stellar reaction carry rather than dealing damage herself on-field.
Her signature weapon is the 5-star sword Whitelake Frostfeather, which leans toward raw damage stats. As with most supports, more of her ceiling comes from constellations than from her base C0, so free-to-play players can run her at C0 comfortably. In short: Odette is the Cryo enabler for the Snezhnaya meta and the most straightforward 7.0 target.
Alyosha: the free 7.0 Electro 4-star
Alyosha arrives at launch alongside Odette, and the best part is that he is free. You get him simply by progressing through Archon Quest Chapter VII, Act I. He is a Snezhnayan hunter who fights alongside his hound, Tugarin, and he was shown battling beside the Traveler in the Snezhnaya teasers.
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Alyosha 4★ Electro Polearm · 7.0 Phase 1 (free) |
|
| Element | Electro |
| Weapon | Polearm |
| Rarity | ★★★★ 4★ |
| Role | Off-field Electro applier / support |
| How to get | Free from Archon Quest Chapter VII, Act I; rate-up on both Phase 1 banners |
What makes him matter is the Electro. Sandrone and the new Stellar-Conduct reaction both want off-field Electro application, so a free Snezhnayan Electro unit lets you enable Stellar-Conduct without spending a single wish. His Elemental Skill, Tactical Sweep: Thunder Blitz, is an armored forward dash that deals AoE Electro damage and leaves a Volt Beacon on the field. The beacon periodically pulses off-field Electro damage and restores energy when it triggers a reaction, and he also buffs party movement and attack speed. After his Phase 1 rate-up ends, he joins the Standard Banner.
Vodyanitsa: the Siren of Snezhnaya
⚠️ Update: Vodyanitsa did not launch in 7.0. Current leaks place her in 7.1 alongside Vesna. Her lore and kit direction below still hold; only the release window changed. Her Story Quest, however, takes place during 7.0, so you can meet her before her banner arrives.
Characters name-dropped in voicelines tend to become playable (Albedo, Hu Tao, Arlecchino). Vodyanitsa was named as a "talented opera singer" in Linnea's voicelines, and she was the very first character on screen in the "Sudden Snow" trailer. That reading once looked like a 7.0 signal, but the latest leaks point to 7.1.
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
 Vodyanitsa 5★ Hydro · 7.1 (leak) |
|
| Title | Prima Soprano of the Korolevskiy Troupe |
| Race | Snowland Fae (Siren subtype) |
| Element | Hydro(confirmed in the Sudden Snow trailer) |
| Rarity | ★★★★★ 5★****(expected) |
| Weapon | Polearm (leak) |
| Banner | 7.1 (leak) |
HoYoverse leaned into her design in both the special broadcast and the trailer. She sings while using her skills, a first for Genshin. Her trailer lines carry a rebellious streak: she calls every rule of Teyvat a curse and stands squarely against the Heavenly Principles.
The name "Vodyanitsa" comes from a water spirit in Slavic folklore, and the trailer confirmed she is Hydro (early leaks tagged her Electro). A Hydro kit does not point to Superconduct, it points to Freeze, Bloom, and Vaporize synergy, plus Stellar Swirl support. So if you pulled Sandrone in 6.7 and need an Electro partner, the answer is not Vodyanitsa, it is the free Alyosha.
The Tsaritsa (Anastasya): the Cryo Archon
The Tsaritsa's setup has been building since day one. Back in 2020, the "Teyvat Storyline Preview: Journey" foreshadowed the Snezhnaya chapter as a "cruel god of love." Six years later, the "Sudden Snow" trailer finally revealed her face.
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
 Anastasya (the Tsaritsa) 5★ Cryo · Cryo Archon |
|
| Full name | Anastasya Feodorovna Snezhnaya (community usage, not officially finalized) |
| Title | Cryo Archon / the Tsaritsa |
| Element | **❄**Cryo |
| Rarity | ★★★★★ 5★****(expected) |
| VA (JP) | Haruka Tomatsu |
The trailer showed the Tsaritsa in full for the first time. One scene has her recalling a child who called her "Mother," with a heavy implication that the child was taken by the Heavenly Principles. She ends up facing two of the Four Shades, Ronova and Rinedottir, and is shown playing chess with Rinedottir, a scene that symbolizes Snezhnaya raising its banner directly against Celestia.
Every Archon so far has become playable, and the Tsaritsa will be no exception. Leaks point to Version 7.3 (7.2 remains possible), around the climax of the Archon Quest. She is the last of Teyvat's gods and, arguably, the most anticipated character since launch. Expect a must-pull unit on both the meta and the collection front. If you are aiming for her, start banking Primogems now; you have roughly four versions of runway.
Pantalone: the Regrator
Ninth of the Fatui Harbingers. While the others were dispatched across Teyvat to collect Gnoses, Pantalone stayed home. He runs the Northern Kingdom Bank and the Fatui's financial empire, the money engine of the whole organization. His real name is Feofan Sergeyevich Bezkel, and it is confirmed he has no Vision and no supernatural combat ability. His power is purely economic and political.
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Harbinger rank | 9th of the 11 Fatui Harbingers |
| Title | "The Regrator" |
| Vision | None(confirmed) |
| Rarity | ★★★★★ 5★****(expected) |
In the trailer he is tied to a mysterious plan codenamed "Stuzha," working with Pulcinella, and his lore fixates on the idea of a "fair trade." How HoYoverse turns a Visionless banker into a playable combat character (illusions, a weapon system, or something entirely new) is one of Snezhnaya's biggest open questions. Leaks currently peg him as Dendro, which would make an unusual Dendro-Cryo synergy piece.
He was floated as a 7.0 candidate early on but slid back, and his release version is currently unknown. Until there is confirmed information, do not spend Primogems on the assumption of a Pantalone release date.
❄️ Saving Primogems for the Tsaritsa?
Top up Genesis Crystals before her banner arrives and save up to 30% on every recharge at GamsGo.
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Every Snezhnaya character from the Sudden Snow trailer
On June 26, 2026, HoYoverse released the overture trailer "Sudden Snow," revealing 11 Snezhnaya characters and their voice cast at once. The official reveal singled out four as the core faces: Vodyanitsa, Alyosha, Odette, and Valeriy. Here is the full lineup for reference.
| Character | Element | Notes | VA (JP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vodyanitsa |
Hydro | Prima Soprano of the Korolevskiy Troupe. Snowland Fae (Siren). Leaked for 7.1. | Kanae Itou |
| Alyosha |
Electro | A hunter who fights with his hound Tugarin. Free 4★ in 7.0. | Gen Satou |
| Odette |
Cryo | Ballerina and Fatui assassin. New 5★ Cryo Stellar support in 7.0. | Sumire Uesaka |
 Valeriy |
Unknown | A major at Fatui HQ. In the trailer he moves to stop Alyosha from firing. | Makoto Furukawa |
 Vesna |
Anemo | Leader of Druzhina, a military order that predates the Fatui. Leaked for 7.1. | Aya Hirano |
 Danica |
Unknown | Appears in a maid outfit. Role and affiliation unknown. | Yumi Hara |
 Noy |
Unknown | An ancient fae with pointed ears and a neck tattoo evoking Asmoday. | Shinichiro Miki |
 Mitya |
Unknown | A researcher-type design. Limited trailer screen time. Leaked 5★ for a later 7.x patch. | Yusuke Kobayashi |
 Pulcinella |
Unknown | 5th Fatui Harbinger, "The Rooster." Mayor of Snezhnograd. | Chō |
 Pantalone |
None (no Vision) | 9th Harbinger, "The Regrator." Controls the Northern Kingdom Bank. | Takanori Hoshino |
| Anastasya (the Tsaritsa) |
Cryo | Cryo Archon. Face revealed. Leaked for around 7.3. | Haruka Tomatsu |
Stellar reactions: the Cryo meta turning point
Snezhnaya's region mechanic is Stellar reactions, collectively called Stellar Glimmer. It sits in the same lineage as Fontaine's Arkhe, Natlan's Nightsoul, and Nod-Krai's Lunar reactions: an amplified family of elemental reactions built around Cryo. In short, Cryo teams finally break into the upper meta, and the long-dead Superconduct comes back to life.
| Reaction | Elements | Overview |
|---|---|---|
| Stellar-Conduct | Cryo + Electro | The Stellar form of Superconduct. Confirmed. Designed to rebuild Cryo-Electro teams and give Superconduct real damage relevance again. |
| Stellar Swirl | Cryo + Anemo | The Stellar form of Cryo Swirl. Confirmed. Triggering it creates a Stellar Vortex that explodes after a short delay; stacking more Swirls levels the Vortex up for higher explosion damage, and it can also boost jump ability. Opens fresh team options for Anemo units like Varka. |
| Name TBC | Cryo + Dendro | Leak, not officially confirmed. Believed to be an evolution of the Imaginarium Theater "Frostgrass" gimmick that could create an "iced-grass" effect. May not carry the "Stellar" name at all. |
Two 7.0 characters tie directly into these reactions. Odette is the Cryo support that switches them on, and Alyosha's Electro feeds Cryo-Electro Stellar-Conduct. One version earlier in 6.7, Sandrone arrived as the first Stellar-Conduct main DPS, and she needs off-field Electro application to work. That is exactly the slot a free Electro unit like Alyosha fills.
Datamining backed this up ahead of launch. In Version 6.6, Diona's C6 was briefly updated to read "Stellar-Conduct, Superconduct, and Cryo Swirl DMG +20%," then HoYoverse pulled the wording from the public build. It is the same pattern seen before the Lunar reactions were announced.
Cryo Traveler and new outfits
Version 7.0 adds the Cryo Traveler, the Traveler's seventh elemental form. It unlocks by resonating with the Statues of the Seven in Snezhnaya, and it can trigger every Stellar Glimmer reaction. HoYoverse also revealed new Traveler outfit concept art: a deep-green suit for Aether and a short sundress for Lumine, both with fur-trimmed collars and gloves.
Snezhnaya: region and story
Dragonspine was only a taste. Snezhnaya is the real thing: the frozen empire the Tsaritsa rules, the Fatui's headquarters, and the final stop on the Traveler's journey across Teyvat. The developers compared the mood to the film "Snowpiercer" and the "Metro" games, and cited heavy inspiration from Eastern Europe and the Arctic. Picture rugged glaciers, dense conifer forests, and snow that never melts.
The capital, Snezhnograd, houses a massive heating core called the Kresnik Lantern that keeps the whole nation from freezing over. Other settlements confirmed include Morepesok and Belovodye, both hinting at coastal trading cultures. Snezhnaya is also the homeland of the Snowland Fae, the ancient race behind Linnea, Flins, and Vodyanitsa.
On the story side, 7.0's Archon Quest (Chapter VII, split into two acts, "Everwinter Without Mercy" and "Wraith's Nocturne") finally addresses the long-running question of why each nation's god willingly surrendered its Gnosis.
A major story debut this patch is Ronova, the Ruler of Death. Completing the Archon Quest within the version window rewards 560 Primogems plus Odette's ascension materials.
Exploration mechanics
Snezhnaya is the most ambitious exploration system since Fontaine's underwater diving.
Rail network
A full train system links the regions together. It is more than an upgraded warp point: the developers confirmed theatrical performances inside train cars, outdoor camping at stations and trackside stops, and action gameplay on top of moving trains. Building an entire railway signals that the Snezhnaya map is closer to Sumeru scale than Nod-Krai.
Cold and ice mechanics, the Eye of Graeae
Dragonspine's deep cold returns, colder than before. Snezhnaya's freeze mechanic is tied directly to Elemental Skill use, letting you break, shatter, and reshape the environment with ice skills and turn the terrain itself into a weapon mid-fight.
The new exploration tool is the Eye of Graeae: it protects against the cold, summons trains, and creates Prime Ice Constructs for puzzle solving, and it also unlocks the new third-person shooter (TPS) combat mode. A resource gauge tied to the cold (Pure Frost) was also spotted in development footage.
TPS mode
Version 7.0 introduces a third-person shooter mode, a first for Genshin, unlocked through the Eye of Graeae. It is a distinct combat style layered on top of the usual action gameplay, fitting Snezhnaya's firearm-carrying hunters like Alyosha.
NPC and enemy AI
HoYoverse highlighted AI improvements across Teyvat, not just Snezhnaya. Patrolling guards may now join fights based on their faction, and enemies coordinate with allies and use the terrain instead of only chasing the player. Defeating certain monsters can also trigger hidden quests.
Version timeline into 7.0
For context, here is how the run into Snezhnaya played out.
| Version | Date | Key content |
|---|---|---|
| 6.7 | July 1, 2026 | Sandrone debut (first Stellar-Conduct main DPS) with Citlali rerun (Phase 1); Columbina and Raiden Shogun reruns (Phase 2); Nod-Krai final map; the fate of the last Gnosis |
| 7.0 | August 12, 2026 | Snezhnaya opens; Odette and Alyosha in Phase 1, Flins and Ineffa reruns in Phase 2; Cryo Traveler; Stellar reactions go live; trains and TPS mode |
Pull strategy and Primogem planning
Version 7.0 is live and every pull is a tradeoff. Here is how to decide based on your situation.
Your situation Recommendation Why I want a 7.0 launch characterPull Odette in Phase 1Odette is the confirmed 7.0 debut 5★, a Cryo Stellar support. Phase 1 runs to September 1, and Alyosha comes free from the Archon Quest. I want the Snezhnaya meta right nowPair Sandrone with OdetteSandrone (from 6.7) is the confirmed Stellar-Conduct DPS, and Odette plugs into the same system. If you missed Sandrone, Odette plus free Alyosha still anchors a Stellar core. I am saving for the TsaritsaSkip the Phase 2 reruns if you canThe Tsaritsa is leaked for around 7.3. Securing hard pity needs at least 28,800 Primogems. Bank now and you arrive comfortably. I like VodyanitsaSave through 7.0 and aim for 7.1Leaks put her in 7.1, not 7.0. Wait for the 7.1 Special Program before committing your Primogems. I am F2P and Primogems are tightPick one target and go all inDo not split Primogems across banners. Alyosha is free from the Archon Quest, so you get a solid 4★ without spending a wish. I have not decided yetTry Odette in the Stellar Trials first7.0 offers trial runs of the new characters and reactions. Test the kit in your own account before you spend.
From the 7.0 launch through the end of Phase 1 (September 1), a free-to-play account can earn roughly 12,000 Primogems (about 75 wishes) from daily commissions, the Archon Quest (Chapter VII alone gives 560 Primogems plus Odette's ascension materials), the new World Quests, events, Imaginarium Theater, the Spiral Abyss, exploration, Paimon's Bargains, and check-ins.
The Blessing of the Welkin Moon adds roughly another 1,900 over the same 21 days. That is enough to reach soft pity from zero, but it does not guarantee a limited 5-star if you start with no pity and lose the 50/50, so keep a buffer. Worst-case hard pity for a limited 5-star is 180 wishes (about 28,800 Primogems).
Pre-farm checklist
Now that 7.0 is live, Snezhnaya materials are farmable. Stack universal resources first, then move to region-specific mats.
- Primogems: aim for at least 28,800 (secures the 180-wish pity)
- Hero's Wit: about 420 to take a character from level 1 to 90
- Mora: roughly 8 million per character (ascension and talents)
- Refinement ore: stockpile for new weapons
- Check Genshin Impact redeem codes regularly for free Primogems
If you pulled Odette, her ascension uses Cryo gems (Shivada Jade), a Snezhnaya local specialty, and a new boss material, all now farmable in 7.0. For Vodyanitsa (leaked for 7.1), start banking Hydro ascension gems. Talent books and weapon materials for the 7.1 cast are Snezhnaya-region drops.
Note: Exact material lists will be updated as the wiki and datamines finalize.
Closing thoughts
Version 7.0 is not just a patch. It is the update where six years of story converge, a new reaction system that reworks Cryo teams wholesale, and the single trailer that revealed more characters than any before it in Genshin's history.
On the banner front, the July lineup is now official: Odette and Alyosha open 7.0, Flins and Ineffa return in Phase 2, Vodyanitsa and Vesna are leaked for 7.1, and the Tsaritsa lands around 7.3.
Your move is clear. Pick a target, bank your Primogems, and skip reruns that do not feed your Snezhnaya plan. With the final act underway, a single Primogem can decide the outcome.
GamsGo keeps this page updated as new leaks, beta data, and official info land. Bookmark it.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Who are the new Genshin 7.0 characters?
Officially, Odette (5★ Cryo Sword) and Alyosha (4★ Electro Polearm, free from the Archon Quest) debut in 7.0. Odette headlines Phase 1 alongside an Arlecchino rerun; Phase 2 brings back Flins and Ineffa. Vodyanitsa (5★ Hydro) and Vesna (5★ Anemo) are leaked for 7.1, the Tsaritsa (Anastasya) is leaked for around 7.3, and Pantalone fell out of the 7.0 rumor and has no confirmed version.
When did Genshin 7.0 release?
Version 7.0 went live on August 12, 2026. HoYoverse locked the date at the April 24 special broadcast via the redeem code Snezhnaya20260812. Version 6.8 was skipped entirely.
What region opens in 7.0?
Snezhnaya, the seventh and final nation of Teyvat. It is the home of the Cryo Archon, the Fatui headquarters, and the Adventurers' Guild headquarters.
Is the Tsaritsa playable in 7.0?
Not at launch. Based on how past Archons released, she is expected around Version 7.3 (7.2 not ruled out), as the Archon Quest wraps up. Her face, voice, and major story beats were revealed in the Sudden Snow trailer.
Is Vodyanitsa Electro or Hydro?
Hydro. Early leaks tagged her Electro, but the Sudden Snow trailer confirmed Hydro. In other words, she is not the Sandrone Electro applier some rumors suggested.
What are Stellar reactions?
A Cryo-centered family of amplified elemental reactions introduced in Snezhnaya, collectively called Stellar Glimmer. Confirmed so far are Stellar-Conduct (Cryo + Electro) and Stellar Swirl (Cryo + Anemo, which creates a Stellar Vortex). A Cryo + Dendro reaction is leaked but unconfirmed. It is the region mechanic in the lineage of Arkhe, Nightsoul, and the Lunar reactions.
How many Primogems do I need to guarantee a 7.0 character?
Worst case, a guaranteed limited 5★ costs 180 wishes (about 28,800 Primogems). Add roughly 80 more wishes if you also want the signature weapon.
Should I pull now or keep saving?
It depends on your goal. For a Stellar-Conduct team, Odette in Phase 1 is worth it (and Alyosha is free). If the Tsaritsa or a later Snezhnaya 5★ is your real target, saving through the Phase 2 reruns is the smart play.
Is there a Dragonspine-style cold gauge?
Yes. The freeze mechanic runs deeper than Dragonspine, and you can break and reshape the environment with ice skills to use it in combat. Development footage showed a "Pure Frost" gauge, and the Eye of Graeae tool protects against the cold.
🔍 Related guides:
- Latest Genshin Impact redeem codes (coupons and free Primogems)
- Genshin Impact 7.1 Banners: Vesna, Vodyanitsa, and every rerun
- Genshin Impact 6.7 Banners: Sandrone, Stellar-Conduct meta, endgame guide
