Update (09/14/2022): A wave of additional information from the source of reliable leaker UBatcha about the trading card game mode in Genshin Impact is available.
Genshin Impact TCG: release date
According to the leaks, the targeted release date for the TCG, which is designed as a permanent game mode, is the launch of update 3.3 on Dec. 7, 2022.
Genshin Impact TCG: gameplay
According to UBatcha, the gameplay will look something like this: Both opponents draw five cards and then get to decide how many of them to keep. Then both choose their active character. Each round then consists of both players rolling a set of eight elemental dice: Seven dice represent the elements of the game, and the eighth die represents the Omni element, which can take the form of any other element.
The result of the roll determines which elements the player has available for the round – likely to trigger abilities and reactions that damage the opponent.
At launch, the TCG is expected to have 220 cards. Out of these, 25 cards feature playable characters. These would probably also appear in golden versions, which are more powerful. The following characters are in the game as cards, according to UBatcha:
Amber
Ayaka
Bennett
Chongyun
Collei
Cyno
Diluc
Diona
Fischl
Ganyu
Jean
Kaeya
Keqing
Mona
Ningguang
Noelle
Razor
Sucrose
Xiangling
Xingqiu
Yoimiya
Players can look forward to weekly challenges, various difficulty levels, numerous opponents (including playable characters from the game’s roster), challenges in the open world, and upgrading their cards. That sounds like a lot of content. As usual, please take these details with a grain of salt: there is still a lot of time before the supposed release, so content may change until then. With this level of detail now being known, however, we can safely say that a TCG mode for Genshin Impact is certainly on the way.
Original (09/07/2022): A Gwent-like trading card game for Genshin Impact may be on the developer’s update schedule for 2022: data miners who have access to the beta phase of game version 3.1 discovered hints of its introduction as a playable feature.
According to the data miners, the found texts indicate that you can challenge characters to duels at the Cat’s Tail, a tavern located in Mondstadt known for employing playable character Diona as a barkeeper, via an invitation board. In addition to building your own decks, there seems to be the possibility to customize your own card backs. Characters all around the world of Teyvat will be up for playing against you.
If that sounds like The Witcher 3 and Gwent to you, then that’s probably exactly the inspiration for the feature. Playable inside the roleplaying game, the TCG became so popular that CD Projekt Red released a standalone version of it.
Genius Invokation in Genshin Impact
The name of Genshin Impact’s in-game trading card game is Genius Invokation – a title that may sound familiar to you. Several characters have already made references to the existence of this game in the world of Teyvat in dialogue, so it’s well established at this point.
In Inazuma, for example, both Kamisato Ayato and Arataki Itto are known as big fans of the TCG who like to compete against each other.
In the capital of Sumeru, the most recent region to appear in Genshin Impact, there are a few more references to Genius Invokation at Café Puspa, among other places. Two messages on the message board mention the game – among them is even a notice from a card players’ club, which is looking for new members to discuss deck building and playing techniques. Since the game was invented at the Academy of Sumeru City, it stands to reason that Genius Invokation will become playable as part of the new region over the coming months.
However, this doesn’t mean that the trading card game will appear immediately with update 3.1 – the discovered texts could just be hints of work that is already being done for a version that lies further in the future. At least, the three characters that will come into the game with 3.1 are already officially confirmed: Cyno, Nilou and Candace are waiting in the wings for their debuts.
No matter when the feature is coming out, fans are already looking forward to the many fun interactions that matches in Genius Invokation may unlock with their favorite characters.
Written by Marco Wutz on behalf of GLHF.
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