Shenhe is one of Genshin Impact’s rumored upcoming characters that are much anticipated by the Genshin community. In this article, Gurugamer is going to reveal what we know about Shenhe Genshin Impact so far, including her release date and abilities.

Genshin Impact Shenhe
Genshin Impact Shenhe's appearance

1. Who is Shenhe in Genshin Impact?

For people who are not keeping up with the Genshin Impact lore and community theories, here is a small recap about Shenhe Genshin Impact and what players could expect from miHoYo if she ever goes live.

Also known as Shenli or Shen He, Shenhe was one of the eight Genshin Impact characters leaked November last year as part of fans' datamining efforts. miHoYo has left a lot of crumbs about Shenhe's identity in Genshin Impact, with most Liyue characters having voice lines about her.

Apparently, Shenhe came from Liyue and is likely to have ties to Cloud Retainer and the Adepti. Shenhe's name can be translated into "God of Crane", which is rather weird due to her affiliation to the Cloud Retainer, who is a white crane with blue, gold, and black plumage.

Shenhe's in-game model
Many find Shenhe appreance resembles the Cloud Retainer.

Is Shenhe the human form of Cloud Retainer?

Cloud Retainer is one of the Adepti who has a contract with the Geo Archon, Rex Lapis. She is an Adeptus who looks like a blue crane bird, and we meet her several times in-game, most notably during the Liyue Archon story chapter.

Many fans speculated that Shenhe might be the Cloud Retainer's human form because of her similar clothes and her name. However, nothing of the data mined pointed toward that direction so far. Furthermore, despite being related to the Crane, she does not have an Anemo vision.

Update 23/11/2021:

According to her official lore, she is an exorcist who trained under the Cloud Retainer as a disciple.

From miHoYo’s blog post:

Living with adepti as a human is by no means an easy task, but Shenhe has a unique constitution, an immensely strong will, and a great talent for adepti arts, all of which have won her the acknowledgment of the adepti. However, the long years of cultivation, coupled with the habit of eating divine herbs and drinking the dew of the mountains, have made her more and more distant from earthly life, and she has even been regarded as a mysterious white-haired adeptus.

Shenhe Genshin Impact appearance

Shenhe wears a form-fitting jumpsuit-like outfit similar to the usual Genshin Impact characters, with the same theme color as the Cloud Retainer. She also has long white hair.

What did other characters talk about Shenhe?

  • Ganyu heard from Cloud Retainer that Shenhe is likely to lash out at her surroundings when she gets mad enough.
  • Xingqiu is wary of her, as she always gives him a "fierce" gaze as if he has offended her somehow.
  • Hu Tao considers Shenhe to be a unique individual, who is "pure" and "pristine".

2. Shenhe Genshin Impact release date

Shenhe was originally datamined in Genshin Impact right before the Inazuma update, however, all traces of her existence were removed from the code afterward. However, they have recently surfaced again, after the 2.2 update.

One leaker has suggested a release date simultaneously or right after Itto, which is version 2.4. This means Shenhe or Shenli might come out in early 2022. While the credibility of the source is not yet certain, based on the amount of conversation, it might not be too far off.

3. Shenhe Genshin Impact element and abilities

Is Shenli a 5-star character? What element does she belong to? Which ascension materials does she need to level up? Here's the answer to all of your questions regarding Shenhe's skills in the game.

Shenhe element

Many leakers in the Genshin Impact community think that Shenhe will be a 5-star Cryo character, with her own unique weapon banner.

Did Shenhe get scraped? Probably not. Before Eula was released, some rumors floating around stated that Shenhe's kit was given to Eula. This colludes with the above leaks about the changes.

Below are the leaked new kits of Shenhe.

Shenhe's splash art
Genshin Impact Shenhe vision fanart

Shenhe skills and details

Originally, Shenhe was datamined to be a Claymore user, however, that has since changed multiple times, from Claymore to Catalyst user to, more recently, a Polearm user. Below are the various details about Shenhe's skill and abilities:

  • She is going to be a physical DPS/sub DPS with single targeted damage.
  • Shenhe's Elemental Skill spawns an Ice cloud similar to that of Cryo Abyss Mages. It applies the Wither effect that decreases the attack and resistance of enemies inside. The buff gets weaker the more enemies it affects. The skill does not deal much damage, but it amplifies Shenhe's physical damage.
  • Shenhe Elemental Burst is almost identical to Eula. Afterward, Shenhe's attack will send out flying cryo cranes that deal physical damage. The damage from cranes stacks, which means she gets stronger in longer fights. The effect disappears when Shenhe leaves the field.

Shenhe ascension and materials

  • Shenhe's first ascension talent increases her damage to enemies affected by Wither.
  • Her fourth ascension talent gives her extra crit rate when inside the Ice cloud. Ascending Shenhe gives her a maximum of 40% extra physical damage.
  • Shenhe's Ascension materials are Glaze Lillies, Fatui Insignias, Juvenile Jades and Shivada jades.
  • Her talent level up material is the Book of Diligence.

4. Shenhe Genshin Impact weapon

Apparently, she will come with her exclusive polearm called Brisk of Illumination. It increases attack damage and crit by a large amount. Genshin Impact Shenhe mains will definitely be satisfied with it.

This is a brand new 5-star weapon whose power may surpass many names in the polearm Genshin Impact tier list now.

Shenhe's weapon and skills
Very pixelized leaks of Shenhe's weapon and skills

Interested in more of our articles related to Genshin Impact? Please check out this post to find out more about Elegy For The End Genshin Impact: How To Get & Use The Best DPS Bow