Genshin Impact’s Version 5.3 Citlali Leaks are Long Overdue

Recently, Genshin Impact has been neglecting Cryo characters, and this has reached a new extreme in 2024, with the latest Event Wish Banners rarely featuring new or returning Cryo characters. Yet, while this problematic trend is expected to continue throughout the rest of 2024, recent leaks about a new playable character coming to Genshin Impact, Citlali, could be just what the Cryo Element needs.

There’s still a lot of uncertainty surrounding the latest leaks about Citlali, such as the character’s rarity and abilities. However, beyond this, Citlali is widely believed to be a Cryo Catalyst user who will be released in Genshin Impact’s 5.3 update. Whether Citlali will establish a new meta for Cryo characters remains to be seen. Nevertheless, Citlali’s anticipated release will still be a cause for celebration considering that the release of a new Cryo character in Genshin Impact is long overdue by now.

2024 Has Been a Sad Year For Fans of Genshin Impact’s Cryo Characters

As of Genshin Impact’s 5.1 update, it’s been almost a year since a new Cryo character was released, with the last new Cryo character being Charlotte from the 4.2 update in November 2023. To make matters worse, according to recent leaks, Genshin Impact’s 5.2 update isn’t expected to introduce any new Cryo characters, so the next opportunity for a new Cryo character might not be until the 5.3 update, which won’t be released until early 2025.

Genshin Impact
’s release schedule for updates suggests that the release date for the 5.3 update will be January 1, 2025.

Overall, reruns of existing Cryo characters are also experiencing a drought, with Genshin Impact’s character rerun waiting list filled with Cryo characters who are long overdue for a rerun. Currently, Shenhe has the longest rerun waiting period among any other limited characters in Genshin Impact’s Event Wish Banner. Meanwhile, Wriothesley still has yet to have their first rerun since their debut in the 4.2 update from October 2023.

This drought of new and returning Cryo characters has become a long-running trend throughout 2024. However, the latest leaks suggest that a new Cryo character could be coming soon, which will finally bring this drought to an end. According to leaks, Genshin Impact’s 5.3 update will introduce Citlali, a Cryo character who players recently met in the Natlan region’s Archon questline.

Citlali Could Bring an End to Genshin Impact’s Cryo Element Controversies

Citlali is believed to be a Cryo Catalyst character, although any additional information about this character’s kit and whether they will be a four-star or a five-star character remains uncertain for the time being. So far, the prevailing theory is that Citlali could be a 5-star shield support character.

In addition to Citlali, leaks also suggest that Mavuika, the Pyro Archon, could be introduced as a playable character in
Genshin Impact
’s 5.3 update.

As a Natlan character with a unique Nightsoul’s Blessing ability, Citlali could potentially compete with the current meta for Cryo team compositions in Genshin Impact. Although, regardless of whether or not Citlali is enough to establish a new Cryo meta, this character being the first Cryo character to release in Genshin Impact in over a year will still be a cause for celebration for players who have been waiting for this exact opportunity. Ultimately, if these leaks about the long overdue release of a new Cryo character turn out to be true, players may want to start saving their Primogems as soon as possible to obtain Citlali when their banner runs in the 5.3 update.