Will Cloud Retainer's Human Form Be Playable?
Matthew Harrington Cloud Retainer’s human form was shown in Genshin Impact’s Lantern Rite, but could she be playable? Some information suggests that it is possible.
Cloud Retainer’s human form in Genshin Impact has been officially revealed through patch 3.4’s most recent story event. The well-known adeptus from Liyue currently embodies a crane and resides in Mt. Aocang. However, in the past, Rex Lapis’ old ally took on a human-like form. This is also true for a few of her other adepti colleagues, like Streetward Rambler and Guizhong.
The human form Genshin Impact’s Cloud Retainer took on before the Archon War was featured in 2023’s Lantern Rite Festival story event. While players are uncovering details about Streetward Rambler’s shared past with Guizhong, they get a glimpse of how Cloud Retainer used to look, since she is the narrator of the tale. She is represented by an adult woman with dark green hair and hues of light green, much like Xiao in Genshin Impact, but with longer hair and a hairpin that resembles a feather. She also wears red glasses and elegant clothing.
Playable Cloud Retainer Makes Perfect Sense In Genshin Impact
While there is no concrete evidence or even leaks that indicate as much, Cloud Retainer’s human form in Genshin Impact could possibly become a playable character in the future. While HoYoverse has previously shown full designs of characters, such as the ones of the other yakshas, the main difference here is that Cloud Retainer is still alive in-game. This could justify her joining the Traveler in their adventures throughout Teyvat. To further back that up, Cloud Retainer has shown herself more amicable than ever in Genshin Impact’s 2023 Lantern Rite, hinting at a more involved interest in humankind. This could easily be followed by her embracing her human form once again, to live unnoticed in society.
Cloud Retainer Could Be An Anemo Archer In Genshin Impact
There are certain lore elements that may tease players into believing that Cloud Retainer’s human form can become playable in Genshin Impact, but it also makes sense gameplay-wise. Due to her control over the wind - her Chinese name, Liúyún Jièfēng Zhēnjūn, literally means “The Perfected Lord who Retains the Clouds by Borrowing the Wind”, according to Genshin Impact Fandom - she could be an Anemo-wielding character. Not only that, but Cloud Retainer could actually use a bow to represent an homage paid to Guizhong’s mechanical ballista. Although Genshin Impact introduced Faruzan as a playable 4-star Anemo archer recently, there has been an absence of similar archetypes since Venti, which came out with the game’s launch back in 2020.
Having Cloud Retainer’s human form interpret an Anemo archer in Genshin Impact could present a variety of new possible builds, such as a sub-DPS that would be an Anemo counterpart to Yelan, for instance. There is also the possibility of her being a Cryo Vision-wielder since both of her disciples, Shenhe and Ganyu, are specialists in control over ice. Cloud Retainer’s crane form could also play a part in her abilities. If she is to be added as a playable character, it could happen during next year’s Lantern Rite, perhaps coinciding with her newfound taste for adventure.
It is common for playable characters to be presented as in-game NPCs instead of illustrations in cutscenes, such as Mika in Genshin Impact, so this could be a change of pace for HoYoverse. Nevertheless, Cloud Retainer’s playable human form in Genshin Impact would be a pleasant surprise. To see both Ganyu’s and Shenhe’s master join them on their adventures and once again understand where her innate love for humanity comes from certainly seems like an emotional move Genshin Impact would take.
