I've been grinding Genshin Impact like a madman since launch, and let me tell you, Version 2.1 'Floating World Under The Moonlight' has been an absolute game-changer! It's 2025 now, and looking back at this pivotal update still gives me goosebumps. This was when miHoYo really showed they weren't playing around with the Inazuma storyline.

The Electro Archon Finally Revealed

When that trailer dropped and Yae Miko called the Raiden Shogun by her true name - Raiden Ei - I literally spat out my energy drink. The lore implications were HUGE!

So let me break this down for you newbies:

  • Baal = her Archon title

  • The Raiden Shogun = her leadership title in Inazuma

  • Raiden Ei = her actual name (with Ei being her first name)

Die-hard Honkai Impact fans immediately caught the reference to Raiden Mei, complete with the same legendary voice actress, Miyuki Sawashiro. The character design parallels were chef's kiss 🤌

genshin-impact-2-1-my-deep-dive-into-raiden-ei-s-world-image-0

Fishing - More Fun Than It Had Any Right To Be

I remember thinking, 'Great, another mindless activity to grind.' BOY WAS I WRONG! The fishing system they introduced was surprisingly chill and rewarding. I spent WAY too many hours trying to catch rare fish for my Serenitea Pot.

The Luxurious Sea-Lord claymore (literally a giant fish!) became my Diluc's weapon of choice for months - not because it was meta, but because nothing says 'I'm a serious knight' like slapping hilichurls with a massive tuna. 🐟

Anniversary Rewards Drama

Let's get real for a second. The initial anniversary rewards were... how do I put this nicely... TRASH. The community went nuclear, and honestly, I was right there with them. The login bonus felt like getting socks for Christmas when you asked for a PS5.

However, miHoYo did eventually respond with additional rewards. Was it because they planned it all along or because of the backlash? I'll let you decide. Either way, the top-up bonus reset was a wallet-emptying temptation I couldn't resist.

The Epic Conclusion to Inazuma's Story

The final chapters of the Inazuma Archon Quest had me GLUED to my screen for days. Seeing Scaramouche return was wild, but La Signora becoming a weekly boss? THAT was the real shocker!

I still remember the collective gasp from the community when we all experienced THAT moment in the story. No spoilers here, but if you know, you know. 😱

The new islands they added - Watatsumi and Seirai - were visually stunning. Watatsumi's coral aesthetic was a refreshing change from the stormy vibes of the main island.

The banners were brutal on my savings:

  1. Raiden Shogun (Sept 1) - Featuring Kujou Sara

  2. Sangonomiya Kokomi (Three weeks later)

I went all-in for Raiden and her signature weapon, Engulfing Lightning. Was it worth emptying my primogem stash and eating instant ramen for a month? ABSOLUTELY.

The Aloy Collaboration That Divided Players

As a PlayStation player, getting Aloy early in 2.1 felt like a VIP backstage pass. She wasn't meta-defining, but having a collab character from Horizon was pretty cool. PC and mobile players had to wait until 2.2 unless they used cross-save, which seemed a bit unfair but hey, Sony's gotta Sony.

The Moonchase Festival - A Liyue Celebration

The Moonchase Festival starring Xiangling and Keqing was a delightful return to Liyue. The treasure hunt across Liyue, Mondstadt, and even frigid Dragonspine had me combing every inch of the map.

The Hyakunin Ikki battle event in Inazuma was INTENSE. Pairing different characters for quick-swap combat was a fresh challenge that tested even my whale account builds.

New World Bosses = New Pain

Two new world bosses entered the chat:

  • Thunder Manifestation (for Kokomi materials)

  • Hydro Hypostasis (for Raiden materials)

The Thunder Manifestation was particularly annoying with its constant teleporting. I'd chase it around like a cat trying to catch a laser pointer, only to get zapped for my troubles.

Final Thoughts

Looking back from 2025, Version 2.1 was when Genshin Impact truly cemented itself as more than just a gacha game. The story depth, character development, and world-building reached new heights.

For all its flaws and the occasional community drama, this update showed what makes Genshin special: it's not just about collecting characters, but experiencing their stories in a living, breathing world.

And yes, I still use that giant fish claymore sometimes. Because in a world of gods and monsters, sometimes you just need to beat evil with seafood. 🐠

What are your favorite memories from this version? Did you pull Raiden or save for Kokomi? Let me know in the comments!