Nearly every "Genshin 7.1 characters" page you will find today is a leak roundup: kits, constellation text, banner order, all of it lifted from beta builds that HoYoverse has never published. This page is the opposite. It is the list of things HoYoverse has actually printed with its own name on it — and an honest list of what is still blank.
That distinction matters more than usual this version, because one of the two confirmed characters does not carry a Vision at all.
Quick answer: HoYoverse has officially introduced exactly two new characters for the Snezhnaya arc so far: Vesna, Commander of the Druzhna, who carries an Anemo Stellar Linchpin (not a Vision), and Vodyanitsa, Prima Donna of the Korolevskiy Troupe, who carries a Hydro Vision. Their constellations are Amentum Vernum and Piscicula Aurea. Everything else — rarity, weapon type, talents, constellation effects, banner phase, release date, even the version's subtitle — is not officially published. The Version 7.1 Special Program broadcasts on 12 September 2026 at 08:00 (UTC-4), which is 12:00 UTC and 20:00 in UTC+8, and that is when the rest gets confirmed.
Article status: verified on 12 September 2026 against HoYoverse's own posts on HoYoLAB for Genshin Impact — the Official Introductions for Vesna (article 46329024) and Vodyanitsa (article 46345084), plus the Version 7.1 Special Program Preview (46604275) and Miliastra Wonderland Preview (46636428), all read in full — plus the live in-game announcement feed for the Version 7.0 event and wish end times. Version 7.0 "Everwinter Without Mercy" is the live version at the time of writing. Community wiki material is used only for Snezhnayan mechanics that HoYoverse has explained in the Special Programs but not in a written notice, and it is labelled as such every time it appears.
What has HoYoverse actually confirmed about the Genshin 7.1 characters?
Both characters were revealed through HoYoverse's standard drip-marketing format: a single HoYoLAB Official Introduction post with a name card, a title, an element line and a constellation. Here is every field the two posts contain, with nothing added.
| Field | Vesna | Vodyanitsa |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Snowy Banquet's Sharp Blade | Lingering Siren-Song |
| Role | Commander of the Druzhna | Prima Donna of the Korolevskiy Troupe |
| Element source | Stellar Linchpin: Anemo | Vision: Hydro |
| Constellation | Amentum Vernum | Piscicula Aurea |
| Region | Snezhnaya | Snezhnaya |
| Introduced on | 17 August 2026 | 18 August 2026 |
| Rarity | Not stated | Not stated |
| Weapon type | Not stated | Not stated |
Two things in that table are worth pausing on.
The first is the dates. A lot of aggregator pages recycled these introductions on the morning of the Special Program and framed them as fresh reveals. They are not. The HoYoLAB timestamps are unambiguous: Vesna's post went live at 04:01 UTC on 17 August 2026 and Vodyanitsa's at 04:00 UTC on 18 August 2026, roughly four weeks before the stream. What happened on 12 September was a re-share of the same cards as pre-stream promotion.
The second is the element row, and it is the single most interesting line HoYoverse has published this cycle.
One more thing belongs in the "not confirmed" column, and most pages get it wrong: the version subtitle. Every Genshin version carries a name — 7.0 is "Everwinter Without Mercy", printed in HoYoverse's own Update Details notice. No such notice exists for 7.1. Both official 7.1 posts say plainly "Version 7.1" and nothing more, so the evocative subtitle you will see attached to 7.1 across aggregator sites is not first-party.
Beyond the two characters, HoYoverse has confirmed exactly one more thing: the Version 7.1 Miliastra Wonderland Preview, posted 10 September 2026, promises "a first look at the latest updates coming to Miliastra Wonderland in the upcoming version." That is the entire official 7.1 content list at the time of writing.
Why does Vesna have a Stellar Linchpin instead of a Vision?
Read the two official cards side by side and the wording is deliberately different. Vodyanitsa's reads "◆ Vision: Hydro." Vesna's reads "◆ Stellar Linchpin: Anemo." HoYoverse does not swap that line by accident.
The Stellar Linchpin is the Snezhnayan artefact introduced alongside the 7.0 region. Per the community wiki's compilation of the Version 7.0 Special Program, Stellar Linchpins are Vision-like objects originating from Snezhnaya that let their bearers manipulate the elements the way a Vision does, and every playable Linchpin user carries a Stellar Jubilee Passive — a passive talent that unlocks Stellar Glimmer Reactions. Two of those reactions are known so far, Stellar-Conduct and Stellar Swirl, and they do something no ordinary reaction does: they interrupt a specific attack used by Snowland Fae and Aberrant Chimeric Monsters, the two enemy families that fill Snezhnaya's overworld.
That is why the element line is a gameplay signal rather than a lore footnote. If Vesna follows the established pattern, she is not simply "an Anemo character" — she is an Anemo character who plugs into the Cryo-conversion reaction system 7.0 built, and whose natural teammates are the other Linchpin bearers. Five are documented so far: Sandrone, Odette, Vesna, Danica and Mitya, plus the Cryo Traveler, who also receives a Stellar Jubilee Passive.
To be exact about the limits: HoYoverse has confirmed that Vesna's Linchpin is Anemo. It has not published her Stellar Jubilee Passive, her talents, or which Stellar Glimmer Reaction she triggers. The pattern above is a strong expectation, not a specification.
Vodyanitsa sharpens the contrast. She is a Water Imp, one of the Snowland Fae — a lineage the wiki records as originally designated Filii Adamici Evoluti, created by the Hyperboreans and later unified under the Belyi Tsar, Snezhnaya's first Cryo Archon. A non-human fae from the deep snow, and the Vision system picked her anyway. Whatever the Stellar Linchpin replaces or supplements in Snezhnaya, it is plainly not a blanket regional substitute for Visions.
Who is Vesna in Genshin Impact?
Vesna Strivozha commands the Druzhna, the Tsaritsa's personal guard. The clan name carries weight: the official introduction describes House Strivozha as an ancient Vila bloodline that "was already in existence long before Snezhnaya's turbulent early days." The wiki adds that the Druzhna is drawn largely from Vila and is responsible for containing Shadow Realm breaches, and that the name traces to the Russian druzhina, the retinue of warriors around a medieval knyaz.
The character HoYoverse writes, though, is not a stiff military officer. Her introduction opens with a warning from someone else entirely:
"Should you suddenly find the contents of my plate replaced with lemon slices, or doodles drawn on the bottom of my teacup... Don't make a fuss — rather, turn a blind eye. The greater the reaction to these pranks, the more delighted she who hides in the shadows will be."
— Head Housemaid Danica, cautioning the new maids of Zapolyarny Palace
The post goes on to describe a commander who "drives the train at such reckless speeds that all it leaves behind is a blur — and a reprimand waiting for her at the end of the line," and who was known early in her career as "that little lass from House Strivozha" until her results made the nickname unusable. Her constellation is Amentum Vernum, and her English voice actor is Ari Thrash, with Aya Hirano in Japanese.
Player reaction has been heavily weighted toward her. As of 12 September 2026, Vesna's Official Introduction post had accumulated 226,008 views, 5,810 likes and 974 replies on HoYoLAB — the higher view count of the two by roughly 32,000.
Who is Vodyanitsa in Genshin Impact?
Vodyanitsa is the lead singer of the Korolevskiy Troupe, Snezhnograd's opera company — the same troupe that counts Odette as its Prima Ballerina. Her official card calls her "Prima Donna of the Korolevskiy Troupe." Worth flagging for anyone cross-referencing: the community wiki's faction page lists her as "Prima Soprano" instead. Where the two disagree, the HoYoLAB card is first-party and the wiki is not, so "Prima Donna" is the wording to trust.
Her introduction is a small tragedy dressed as a comedy. It describes a Snezhnaya where Water Imps once sang "all over the city" before the stages and alleyways "quietly lost their singers." Vodyanitsa stayed, and the post pointedly refuses to say why. Her opening quote is her running lines to herself in an empty dressing room, addressed to two names the game has not introduced yet, Paraskeva and Xenia.
Her constellation is Piscicula Aurea, her English voice actor is Suzie Yeung, and her HoYoLAB post stands at 194,055 views, 5,981 likes and 841 replies — fewer views than Vesna but more likes, which says something about how hard her design landed with the people who did see it.
What weapons do Vesna and Vodyanitsa use?
Officially: unknown. Neither Official Introduction states a weapon type, and neither does any piece of art HoYoverse has released.
The art tempts you into guessing. Vesna's shows her holding a slender ornate rod, which could read as a catalyst or a polearm depending on what you want it to be, and her banner illustration places her in front of Druzhna soldiers carrying long bladed weapons that are not hers. Vodyanitsa's art shows her holding a handheld mirror and no weapon at all.
Drip-marketing art has repeatedly shown characters holding props, off-hand items or nothing, and weapon type has only ever been locked in at the Special Program or the character demo. Any page quoting a confirmed weapon type today is reading a beta build, not HoYoverse.
The same applies to rarity. Neither card prints a star rating, and neither does the artwork — we checked all four official images and none carries a rarity indicator. Community trackers list both as 5-star, which is very likely correct, but it is not something HoYoverse has said.
When will the Genshin 7.1 characters be confirmed?
At the Version 7.1 Special Program. HoYoverse's own announcement, posted to HoYoLAB on 7 September 2026, gives the slot precisely: the program "will premiere on the official Twitch and YouTube channels on 09/12/2026 at 08:00 AM (UTC-4)." Converted, that is 12:00 UTC, 20:00 in UTC+8 and 05:00 Pacific on the same day.
That single broadcast is what turns this page from a lore summary into a plan. The same announcement confirms the stream "will also 'drop' some redemption codes and other goodies" — HoYoverse does not commit to a number, though recent Special Programs have each given out three. Beyond codes, Special Programs have reliably delivered in one sitting: rarity and weapon type for each new character, the full banner line-up with both phases, the new weapons on the Epitome Invocation, the event schedule and the version release date. If you only want the codes, we track them live on the Genshin 7.1 livestream codes page, and the 7.1 release date breakdown has the maintenance window converted per server.
The version timing is already bounded by the live game, regardless of what the stream says. All three Version 7.0 Event Wishes — the Shadowy Lights banner, Ineffa's Astral Actuation banner and the matching Epitome Invocation — are scheduled to end at 14:59:59 on 22 September 2026, server time. A Genshin version has never outlived its final wish phase, which puts 7.1 on the immediately following maintenance. Our September 2026 banner schedule tracks the phase boundaries as they shift.
How should you prepare for Version 7.1 right now?
There is one genuinely time-sensitive thing to do today, and it has nothing to do with either character's kit.
The "Overflowing Abundance" event went live at 05:00 on 12 September 2026 and runs until 03:59:59 on 21 September 2026, per the in-game announcement. It doubles drops on Talent Level-Up Materials and Weapon Ascension Materials. That window closes before 7.1 arrives, which means it is the last cheap bulk-farming period before two new characters need talent books and a new weapon banner needs ascension mats. Spending resin there now is worth roughly twice what the same resin will be worth in ten days.
Beyond that, the honest advice is short, because guessing at builds for unpublished kits is how people waste Fragile Resin:
Sensible prep while the kits are unknown:
- Bank Primogems rather than pulling on the closing 7.0 banners if either character interests you, since the phase order is unannounced and a first-phase debut would leave no recovery time.
- Farm Talent and Weapon Ascension materials during Overflowing Abundance while they are doubled.
- Hold artifact strongboxes rather than converting them, because neither character's stat priorities are published.
- Keep the current codes page open during the stream, because livestream codes expire in about 24 hours.
- Browse more Genshin Impact guides for the events running in the meantime.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many new characters are in Genshin 7.1? HoYoverse has officially introduced two: Vesna and Vodyanitsa. That is the confirmed count as of 12 September 2026, and a Special Program can add more. Versions frequently ship a third character who is only announced on stream.
What element is Vesna in Genshin Impact? Anemo. Her official card reads "Stellar Linchpin: Anemo," which means her element comes from a Stellar Linchpin rather than a Vision.
What element is Vodyanitsa? Hydro, from an actual Vision. Her card reads "Vision: Hydro," which is a meaningful difference from Vesna's wording rather than a stylistic one.
Are Vesna and Vodyanitsa 5-star characters? Almost certainly, but HoYoverse has not printed a rarity for either. No star rating appears on the introduction cards or on any released artwork. The Special Program confirms it.
What weapon types do Vesna and Vodyanitsa use? Not officially announced. Any specific weapon type you see quoted today comes from a beta build, not from HoYoverse.
Will Vesna and Vodyanitsa be on the same banner phase? Unannounced. Both characters debuting in the same phase is possible but uncommon, and the phase order is one of the first things the Special Program reveals.
What is a Stellar Linchpin? A Snezhnayan artefact that grants elemental power much like a Vision. Per the community wiki's record of the Version 7.0 Special Program, playable bearers also receive a Stellar Jubilee Passive that enables Stellar Glimmer Reactions, which can interrupt a specific attack from Snowland Fae and Aberrant Chimeric Monsters.
What is Genshin Version 7.1 called? HoYoverse has not published a subtitle for 7.1 yet. Both official 7.1 posts say only "Version 7.1." Version subtitles become official in the Update Details notice, which is published after the Special Program.
When is the Genshin 7.1 release date? Not officially announced at the time of writing, but the Version 7.0 wishes are scheduled to end at 14:59:59 on 22 September 2026, which places 7.1 on the following maintenance.
Sources
- HoYoLAB Official Introduction, "Riding the Winds, Subduing the Snowlands" (Vesna), article 46329024, published 17 August 2026.
- HoYoLAB Official Introduction, "Fleet of Form, Sweet of Song" (Vodyanitsa), article 46345084, published 18 August 2026.
- HoYoLAB, "Genshin Impact Version 7.1 Special Program Preview," article 46604275, published 7 September 2026 — the source for the broadcast time and the redemption-code confirmation.
- HoYoLAB, "Genshin Impact Version 7.1 Miliastra Wonderland Preview," article 46636428, published 10 September 2026.
- Genshin Impact in-game announcement feed, read 12 September 2026: "Overflowing Abundance" event notice, the three Version 7.0 Event Wish notices, and the Version 7.0 Update Details notice.
- Official Genshin Impact news for version and event scheduling.
- Community wiki for Stellar Linchpin, Stellar Glimmer Reaction, Druzhna, Korolevskiy Troupe and Snowland Fae background, used only where HoYoverse has no written notice and labelled as such in the text.
