Nilou was finally officially revealed through the recent Genshin Impact video previewing Sumeru. Here's everything we know about her.
The information below was not released through official means unless indicated otherwise and should be taken with a grain of salt. There might also be some story spoilers.
Nilou
Nilou is a Hydro character, will wield a Sword and have a 5-star rarity. For those saving for her, she's expected to release in Version 3.1. This falls in late September or early October, if no changes to the schedule is made. It should be noted that Cyno is also set to release on this patch.
August 22 edit: After the drip marketing, Nilou has been confirmed to be playable on Version 3.1, with the update expected to be on September 28 due to the shortened patches. Her being a Hydro character has also been confirmed, but her rarity and weapon type have not yet been officially revealed.
She uses the “short girl” model, similar to Kamisato Ayaka and Sucrose. Despite what her design suggests, healing does not seem to be part of her main kit. Her playstyle will revolve around the Bloom reaction (Dendro + Hydro), and even has a Passive Talent dedicated to it.
We will get the chance to know Nilou further when her Character Story Quest releases in Version 3.1, the same patch that she becomes playable.
Appearance
The most notable thing about Nilou's design is her horns that look identical to Azhdaha's.
Talents
Her Elemental Skill is four sword slashes, which procs a ring of water to appear that applies Hydro. Pressing the Skill button activates the first slash, while the rest of the slashes can be proc'd by the Skill button or Normal Attacks. Both will deal Hydro damage, but uses different animations. It is currently unknown whether they deal different amounts of damage. The fourth slash needs to be proc'd by the Skill button to activate the Hydro ring.
Nilou's Elemental Burst can be described by one term – Splash Damage. It initially deals AoE damage, and upon damaging an enemy, deals additional splash damage. It costs 70 energy to cast, and has an 18 second cooldown.
Her first passive talent causes Bloom Seeds to Rupture immediately, and the second one boosts Bloom multipliers.
Due to the nature of her Elemental Skill and its long cooldown, Nilou is unfit to be an on-field DPS. Having her at C6 takes away the 4 slash limit, giving her permanent infusion and hence enables the on-field playstyle.
There is an effect that has the following description:
“Each point of Nilou's maximum HP increases Bloom damage by 0.001%, Hyperbloom damage by 0.001%, and Burgeon damage by 0.001% for all characters within the range of the ‘Harvest Song' effect.”
It is currently unknown if this is a Passive Talent or an effect from an event.
Lore
Unfortunately, not much is known about Nilou's place in the Genshin Impact lore aside from her being a dancer at Zubayr Theater. It seems we will get to meet her at Version 3.0.
When asked about Nilou's personality, a leaker replied the following:
“All Nilou wants is to make people happy. She believes Higher Academia to be polarizing and inaccessible to the masses, while art can bring together anyone who sees it. She's a little sheltered, and going to new places outside of the city can send her into an anxiety spiral.
A lot of who she is today was shaped by negative experiences in her childhood home. She dances to distract people from their worries. She is the type of person to put herself last if it means making sure someone else is okay.”
Official Reveal and Description
HoYoverse officially introduced Nilou in the drip marketing for Genshin Impact 3.1, meaning she will be playable in that version. Nilou got the usual character art and lore snippet:
“What's so great about that little theater? If she went with me on tour all around Teyvat, she could earn so much Mora, more than what she could ever dream of… Alas, she's too innocent. So innocent that she knows nothing of her own worth.” — Dori
The dance of the lotus blooms, awakening from an ethereal dream.
◆ Nilou
◆ Dance of Lotuslight
◆ Star of Zubayr Theater
◆ Hydro
◆ Lotos Somno#GenshinImpact #Nilou pic.twitter.com/eMwQkq0M1q— Genshin Impact (@GenshinImpact) August 22, 2022
If you have time, don't miss the performance at the Zubayr Theater.
Against a backdrop of lights and music, Nilou's graceful demeanor resembles that of an unsullied lotus flower, her delicate dance leading the audience into a world of fantasy.
When the performance comes to an end, the audience is brought back to reality, often in a trance.
“The girl dancing on stage is so beautiful, she looks straight out of a fairy tale.”
But those who are close to Nilou know that she is very different from the aloof image she portrays on stage.
Once Nilou steps off the stage, she is like any girl her age: sweet, warm, and smiling.
If you meet Nilou off-stage, don't be intimidated. Say hello to her, and she'll be very happy about it.
For more Genshin Impact leaks, click here.
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