As a long-time Genshin Impact player, I've been following the whispers and leaks about the upcoming Natlan region like a hawk. With 2026 on the horizon, the anticipation for the Nation of Pyro has reached a fever pitch. We already know from Neuvillette's hints and HoYoverse's official roadmap that our next stop is a land of dragons and perpetual warfare, a place where the societal fabric is woven with draconic beings unlike anything we've seen. But the latest leak, I gotta say, has the entire community buzzing. It's not just about a new map or characters anymore; the very foundation of how we build our teams might be on the verge of a seismic shift. The talk of the town is that with Version 5.0 and the debut of Natlan, our beloved characters might just break through the ceiling we've known for years.
The rumor mill, spearheaded by a leaker known as Foul, suggests that the maximum character level will skyrocket from 90 to 100 as soon as the Natlan patch drops. Now, I know what you're thinking—take this with a massive grain of salt, as all Natlan info is still early and subject to change. But if this leak holds any water, it's a game-changer, literally. The implications are huge, and my mind is already racing with the possibilities and, let's be real, the potential grind. It's not just about slapping on ten extra levels; this could mean a whole new layer of progression that will redefine the endgame.
The Grind is Real: Preparing for a New Ascension Hell
If my years in Teyvat have taught me anything, it's that levels don't come easy after a certain point. The first thought that popped into my head was: another Ascension threshold. Going from 80 to 90 already requires a final Ascension. It's only logical that pushing to 100 would demand one more. And with Ascension comes farming—oh boy, the farming. We're talking about a potential surge in required materials that could make our current grind look like a walk in the park.
Let's break down the potential material nightmare:
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Boss Materials: Currently, the final Ascension needs 20 boss drops. At a rate of 2-3 per run, that's 8-10 sessions of whacking a weekly boss. If the new cap requires more, say 30 or even 40... well, you do the math. With our daily Resin limit still being a pain point, this could be excruciating.
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Local Specialties: These are the bane of my existence. Limited nodes, 48-hour respawn timers. If I need 50 more Violetgrass or Onikabuto for every character, I might just lose my mind. The farming period would stretch from days to weeks.
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Mora and EXP Books: Don't even get me started. The costs increase exponentially. Leveling from 80 to 90 alone costs over 8 million Mora and hundreds of EXP books. Adding ten more levels? My Mora reserves are already sweating.
Now, there's a silver lining to this cloud of endless farming. The leak also hints that a character level increase could bring along World Level 9. This is a double-edged sword. On one hand, enemies get tougher—no more steamrolling hilichurls with my underbuilt team. On the other hand, and this is the good part, boss drops could become more generous. Higher difficulty often means better rewards. If that new World Level means bosses start dropping 4-5 materials per run instead of 2-3, then the farming burden eases up significantly. It's a fair trade-off: more challenge for better efficiency. Sadly, this wouldn't help with Local Specialties, as world design stays the same.
Power Creep or Welcome Buffs? The Meta Shake-Up
Alright, enough doom and gloom about farming. Let's talk about the fun part: power. An increase to level 100 isn't just a number—it's a potential power spike for our entire roster. Every Ascension in Genshin comes with significant stat boosts to base ATK, DEF, and HP. Ten extra levels on top of that? That's a recipe for some serious, involuntary buffs.
Characters who scale with HP, like the ever-reliable Zhongli or the fiery Natlan-native Hu Tao (if she gets a story tie-in), would see a direct and massive boost to their damage and survivability. My Neuvillette's HP pool could reach astronomical levels, making his charged attacks hit like a freight train. Even characters who are already meta staples, like the Anemo supports Kazuha or the Dendro archon Nahida, could see their utility enhanced with higher base stats, making their buffs and reactions even more potent.
This could lead to a fascinating meta shift. Older characters who've fallen off might find new life with these base stat increases. Imagine a Diluc with a substantially higher ATK base, or a Qiqi whose healing scales even harder. It's a buff that touches everyone, not just the new Natlan characters, which is pretty exciting for a veteran player with a deep bench.
My Take: A Necessary Evolution for the Game's Future
Look, change is scary, especially when it involves more grind. But stepping back and looking at the big picture, a level increase feels like a necessary step for Genshin's longevity. We've been at level 90 since the game launched back in 2020. Six years is a long time in a live-service game. Introducing a new progression ceiling with Natlan, the fifth major nation, symbolizes a new chapter. It gives veterans a fresh long-term goal and a reason to re-invest in our favorite characters.
The key, as always, will be in HoYoverse's execution. If they pair the level increase with:
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A more generous Resin system or increased drops (hello, World Level 9!)
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Engaging new ways to farm materials in Natlan itself
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Meaningful rewards beyond just bigger numbers
...then this could be a fantastic update. If it's just a brutal, unrewarding grind wall, then the community backlash will be real. Personally, I'm cautiously optimistic. The prospect of taking my main team to level 100, conquering a new World Level, and exploring the dragon-infested, war-torn landscapes of Natlan is the kind of content I've been craving. It's time to shake things up. So, here's to hoping the leaks are true, and we're all about to embark on the most challenging—and rewarding—chapter of our journey yet. Time to start saving those Fragile Resins, folks. The grind to 100 awaits.