Preview: Snezhnaya Was Worth The Wait In Genshin Impact 7.0

It’s hard to believe Genshin Impact launched way back in September 2020, and it’s not long after taking your first steps into the opening city of Mondstadt that you hear your first mention of the mysterious Fatui. They’re a delegation of folks from the frigid northern region of Snezhnaya, and a major military force to be reckoned with. The Fatui act on behalf of the terrifying Tsaritsa, and, based on her directive, have spent years doing dastardly deeds in the name of misguided diplomacy.

Sending her Fatui Harbingers around Teyvat to establish power and suppress opposition, we’ve been dealing with the icy reach of Tsaritsa for almost six years now. And when the nation of Snezhnaya finally debuts in Genshin Impact’s new update next week, we’ll get to confront the Cryo Archon face-to-face.

Exploring The Land Of Ice And Snow

If you thought the vibe was cold in Nod-Krai, the autonomous satellite region of Snezhnaya we’ve been exploring throughout version 6.0 and its subsequent updates, just wait until you arrive on the shores of this new Cryo region.

When the update launches, you’ll have a waypoint unlocked that grants access to an entry point into Snezhnaya, but from there, exploration of the region is fully down to you. One of the more focal points of the update is a train that runs throughout the icy northern tundras to help you do just that. The Eye of Graeae is a new key item that will allow you to call the train to any stop you come across and use it to speed between towns across Snezhnaya with ease.

Climb aboard and soar through the wintry wonderland of the north, taking in the wintry, blue-hued scenery as you travel. There are a few Statues of the Seven to unlock in this earliest section of Snezhnaya in version 7.0 as well, located in gorgeous places like the stunning capital of Snezhnograd or out near where the original Cryo Archon was laid to rest, although the train is bound to be a delight as you move between townships around the region.

But summoning the train isn’t the only way the Eye of Graeae can help – it’s pivotal to the nine new ways you’ll find to traverse the frigid frontiers, unlocking a total of nine Prime Ice Constructs.

After collecting enough Prime Ice around Snezhnaya, a new resource coming in the 7.0 update, you’ll be able to make all kinds of gear to help you in your trek across the ice. From portable fires to stave off the cold to traversal items like climbable ice cubes or launching platforms, you’ll use these new items to help reach new heights in the glacial mountains outside the northern cities.

The Eye of Graeae also grants you access to a brand-new third-person shooter mode that allows you to make use of a selection guns to give more ranged combat options. There are three of them coming in the update, as well as four “Frag Crystals,” which function like elemental grenades using Cryo, Hydro, Electro, or Pyro. Toss them at enemies to get the fight started and open fire on them from afar with your weaponry for a whole new take on ranged, over-the-shoulder combat.

To herald the arrival of the aforementioned firearm function, we’ll be getting a new character who can make ample use of it. Alyosha is one of two new Snezhnayan characters debuting on the banners when the 7.0 update arrives, a four-star Electro character who fights using ranged weapons, his trusty Polearm, and his dog Tugarin. He’s a healer and support character for the most part, but still packs a serious punch.

Not only is Alyosha great for the TPS mode and support in active combat, but he’s specifically well-matched with the new five-star character debuting alongside him, Odette. She’s a ballerina and former member of the Fatui, and her elemental skills make great use of a body double to really bring the pain when it comes to her Cryo swordplay.

The pair are meant to be run on the same team to give you the best shot at experiencing the new and improved Stellar reactions we began to dabble with back in Nod-Krai last year. The Stellar-Conduct reaction occurs when Cryo and Electro meet on the battlefield, which means you’ll be able to use Alyosha to effectively trigger the effect when Odette uses her most powerful moves.

But that’s not to forget a whole new reaction in Stellar Swirl. You’ll need to swap a powerful Anemo character into the team to pull it off, but it’s well worth the effort if you’re running a multi-element team. To tie the recent Cryo abilities we’re seeing into the classic Anemo of the first region of the game, Stellar Swirl creates a staggering vortex on the field. These erupt to deal phenomenal Cryo damage, which makes for an excellent off-field burst of Cryo damage if you need to swap Odette out but keep the power of ice going strong.

Since they’re the Snezhnayan diplomatic military force, and we’re finally in the political powerhouse region, Odette won’t be the only member of the Fatui, former or active, that you encounter during the update.

We’re going to meet the famed Tsaritsa at long last, the leader of the Fatui and the reigning Cryo Archon of Snezhnaya, after hearing all about her military might for the past six years. She’s long been on a mission to steal all of the Gnoses from the other Archons of Teyvat, and she’s nearly finished. She’s not on the debut banner for this version, but we’re always able to pull on the Archons in Genshin, and I for one can’t wait to get her onto my team.

Overall, we’ve spent years hearing all about Snezhnaya, and finally getting here this past week as I rode and fought my way through a preview build from HoYoverse, it’s well worth the wait. The geography is gorgeous, the abilities you’ll use to explore it are fun, new characters will certainly turn all of us into whales, and the story is coming to a boiling point as the Cryo Archon makes her final push to overthrow the Heavenly Principles.

Genshin Impact version 7.0 launches on August 12 to bring you into the Cryo region at last, and if your journey through it is anything like mine has been in my time with the early-access preview, you’re in for a (frozen) treat.