In a shocking lore reveal that is stirring the Genshin Impact community, HoYoverse has finally unveiled some of Teyvat’s greatest secrets. The newest Teyvat Chapter Interlude Teaser: The God’s Limits has presented us with the Four Shades who are even mightier than the Archons and serve the enigmatic Heavenly Principles directly. These Rulers are not mere side characters; they are vital for the systemic structure of the world and may heavily influence the plot in Versions 6.0 and 7.0.

For so long, we assumed that the Archons were the utmost divine power in Genshin Impact. However, that truth, long hinted at, exposes a deep celestial hierarchy. The Heavenly Principles cast the Four Shades into Teyvat to rule in absentia, where each governs one of the essential aspects of existence: Death, Time, Life, and Space.

The Four Shades Unveiled

1. Ronova – Ruler of Death

As she worked side by side with Yohualtecuhtin, a contemporary of Natlan, Ronova governed the order of the Night Kingdom. She is notorious for bestowing the Curse of Immortality on the people of Khaenri’ah, a curse that incites the fury of the Abyss Order and halts Khaenri’ah’s resurrection. The suspicion is that her gaze is poised towards a decisive clash with the Abyss.

2. Naberius – Ruler of Life

Perhaps the most disturbing of the Shades, Naberius appears to have fused with Rhinedottir, aka “Gold”, the Khaenri’an alchemist who engineered the Cataclysm 500 years ago. This fusion has created a dangerous entity involved in artificial life creation, from Durin to Albedo, and suggests that Naberius is meddling directly in the cycle of creation and destruction in Teyvat.

3. Istaroth – Ruler of Time

Worshipped by the Enkanomiyans, Istaroth is an ancient being whose influence runs deep in Teyvat’s history. From changing timelines to influencing key events like the Traveler's sibling's decision to leave Khaenri'ah, her parts are both significant and incomprehensible. The teaser shows her off as erratic, but this whimsy could be a mask for something much more calculated.

4. Asmoday – Ruler of Space

Finally confirmed as the Unknown God from the game’s prologue, Asmoday is the being who separated the Traveler twins at the start of their journey. Once calling herself the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, the trailer hints that Asmoday has now turned against her creators. This shift marks a potential turning point for the Traveler’s story and the fate of Teyvat as a whole.

The wait is finally over, and this reveal reshapes Genshin Impact’s story in entirely new ways. The Four Shades go beyond being elements of the background; they change the story framework which reimagines what players have understood about Teyvat, the Abyss, and even the intentions of the Traveler. 

As we approach the release of Version 6.0 with the Nod-krai region set to reveal more of the intriguing lore, there is no better moment for both new and lapsed players to immerse themselves in the growing cosmic saga.