Nilou revealed in Genshin Impact: Abilities, Sumeru lore, release date

Nilou has finally been officially revealed in Genshin Impact as a playable character. The Star of the Zubayr Theater is a Hydro Sword character dancing away Sumeru’s worries: here’s her leaked abilities, release date rumors, and lore.

With Sumeru finally here with the arrival of Genshin Impact Version 3.0, adventurers are finally becoming acquainted with characters from the Dendro nation.

Nilou breaks away from the norm of wisdom and knowledge ever-present in Sumeru, instead taking up art and dance to add depth to the nation’s society. After many teasers alluding to her, HoYoverse finally confirmed her place among the roster in an August 22 reveal, and more details in the weeks leading up to her release.

Here’s everything you need to know about Nilou in Genshin Impact.

Who is Nilou in Genshin Impact?

Nilou is the Star of the Zubayr Theater, captivating Sumeru audiences with her graceful demeanor, dancing along to classical tunes. While on stage she can exhibit a carefree personality, off it she is sweet and warm ⁠— even while battling around Teyvat with her Hydro skills.

In the Prelude to Wisdom teaser, it was revealed that she “went off the beaten path.” The teaser continues “in such a land that values rationality and wisdom as Sumeru, she instead chose to pursue art and dance.”

This continues with her in-game bio specifying that she believes the high academic standards pushed by Sumeru are inaccessible to most, instead choosing art to unite society and make people forget their worries.

Nilou abilities in Genshin Impact

With the Genshin Impact Version 3.1 soon to go live, players have gotten a first proper look at Nilou’s abilities in-game. The Hydro Sword character has some insane synergy with the new Dendro element, buffing Elemental Mastery and also instantly blooming seeds through the Hydro-Dendro Elemental Reaction.

This is combined with her Elemental Skill, Dance of the Seven Realms, one of the best auto-attack buffs in the game. She enters the Pirouette state, dancing around the battlefield and slicing Hydro attacks through the air. It also leaves a trail behind her that can affect enemies with Wet, allowing her to proc her passive more effectively.

Her Elemental Burst, Dance of the Lotus: Distant Dreams, Listening Spring, is the cherry on top. Nilou deals AOE Hydro DMG in an area around her, tagging them with Lingering Aeon which causes a second tick of damage shortly after.

She has a ton of AOE damage built into her kit and can really make some of Sumeru’s DPS characters (especially Dendro ones like Tighnari) shine with the constant reactions.

HoYoverse

Nilou (second left) has featured prominently on Sumeru marketing material for Genshin Impact.

Nilou release date in Genshin Impact

Nilou didn’t come as part of Genshin Impact Version 3.0 ⁠— that was for Tighnari, Collei, and Dori ⁠— but the Star of the Zubayr Theater will be arriving in Genshin Impact Version 3.1 Phase 2 on

It comes after Candace and Cyno were released in the first wave following the second major Sumeru patch.