Hoyoverse dropped a proverbial bombshell on the Genshin fandom this weekend, showing off a trailer that featured all of the remaining Fatui Harbingers. But just who are the Fatui Harbingers in Genshin Impact?
We've all come across the Fatui in Teyvat - they've infiltrated every region, especially Inazuma - and its never for a good reason. Hailing from Snezhnaya, the seventh nation, there are eleven Harbingers. This is interesting, as the trailer dropped on July 11, making it 7/11. Just some food for thought.
While we untangle the lore behind all the Harbingers and their relation to the Genshin story, check out what's coming in Version 3.0 which brings Sumeru, and characters such as Collei, Tighnari, and Dori. There's the banner schedule too, to keep track of who to pull for.
What Are The Fatui Harbingers in Genshin Impact?
Hoyoverse just released the Teyvat Chapter Interlude Teaser: A Winter Night's Lazzo, which has surprisingly shown off all of the current Fatui Harbingers. So, who are they?
Collect Now: The Latest Genshin Impact Figures at Sideshow.com
Players have met a couple of them, and anyone reading the descriptions of items will have noticed a few more names pop up, too.
The Harbingers are powerful and often wealthy and wise people who carry Delusions. These are like Visions, but use the remains of old Gods and powerful beings, and thus wield more power. This chaotic power comes at a cost to the user, however.
The Delusions are granted by the Tsaritsa, the Cryo Archon of Snezhnaya, who presides over the Harbingers. She is top dog in the Fatui, and is one of the Seven. She's yet to appear in the game. The Harbingers are her lieutenants, and have been given almost absolute power.
Who are the Harbingers?
The Fatui Harbingers are a group of eleven that have names and alias based on the 'commedia dell'arte'; an Italian theater trope that often uses masks to depict each character. This is carried over as most of them wear at least a partial mask. Upon joining the Harbingers, the individuals are given a new name and alias.
Note that these names (aside from Childe, La Signora, and Scaramouche) are likely to change as official character names are released. As of now, most are based on translations of the Chinese script.
La Signora AKA The Lady
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+ 11La Signora is one of the few Harbingers that we've actually met in Genshin Impact. If you've not played the story up to the current update, then read on at your own risk of being spoiled.
Signora is number 8 of the Harbingers, and has a dastardly plan that she's working on. She wants to get all the Gnoses off the Seven for her own gain. This is why we see her in chapters involving Venti, Zhongli, and the Raiden Shogun. She already has a Pyro Vision, and a Cryo Delusion at her disposal.
Fun fact - she is the reason Traveler and Paimon get stuck in Ritou, in Inazuma. She put Scaramouche in charge of essentially blocking off the area to you, and then left.
In the latest trailer, she is the one being discussed that died on foreign land, after being slain by the Raiden Shogun, for losing a duel with the Traveler. This means, obviously, she won't be a playable character.
Capitano AKA The Captain
click to enlarge + 11Capitano, The Captain, has only one small mention so far in Genshin lore; a Fatui member mentions he'd rather be working for Capitano.
It is likely that Capitano, or any information about him, will be released way down the line. Even so far as 6.0, if Hoyoverse adds one new area per update - Sumeru being version 3, then Fontaine being 4, Natlan being 5, and Snezhnaya Version 6. This is following the order shown to us in the Teyvat Chapter Storyline Preview.
We hear Capitano's voice in the 3.1 trailer, alongside seeing a glimpse of Dottore.
Dottore AKA The Doctor
click to enlarge + 11For anyone who's read the manga, the name Dottore is not new. However, his appearance has changed quite a bit. In the Genshin manga, he was a diplomat in Mondstadt, way before the events of the game. Now, he's a harsh scientist that performs questionable experiments on both machinery and humans.
He was recruited to the Fatui by Pierro, who found him at Sumeru Academia, quietly studying his questionable subjects. The Institute of Toy Research in Liyue is one of Dottore's places. It is likely not filled with toys.
Dottore will make an official appearance in the Genshin story during the Version 3.1 update, along with Scaramouche, though they are likely not allied.
He is slated to be a playable character in future, and his tall male character model reflects this. In terms of weapon or element, this remains unclear. A Catalyst would make sense, given his almost magical scientific powers.
Pierro AKA The Jester
click to enlarge + 11Number one of the Harbingers is Pierro, The Jester. He was the first Fatui, as well. He went on to personally recruit Signora and Dottore, among others. As the 'leader' of the Fatui, he was the one to place agents in Inazuma, along with Signora.
His name, more than any others, is subject to change. Originally appearing as 'Pedrolino', it was changed to appear as The Jester. Now, it is Pierro. It may change again before we see his official release.
Also, eagle eyes may have realised that like Kaeya and Dainsleif, Pierro has pupils that are shaped almost like Primogems. This means he likely came from the destroyed civilisation of Khaenri'ah, like Dainsleif and Kaeya. Speaking of Kaeya, there are a lot of similarities between the two. Could they perhaps be related? Is Pierro Kaeya's real father? We'll have to wait and see.
Sandrone AKA The Marionette
click to enlarge + 11Of all the Harbingers, the Marionette - Sandrone - has the least information and speculation so far. She's thought to match the 'tall female' character model, which may hint to her being playable. The only mention of her so far was in a description of Tartaglia's story, and gives nothing away.
Looking at the origin of her name and role, it is interesting that it seems flipped: in the commedia dell'arte, the wife is the puppet, but here, it appears to be the 'husband'. It also appears to be a modified Ruin Guard...
Arlecchino AKA The Knave
click to enlarge + 11Seemingly well-meaning Arlecchino runs an orphanage in Snezhnaya, where she helps to raise children into Fatui agents. They then get sent across Teyvat to carry out the Fatui's bidding - especially in Inazuma where some of them came across the Traveler and Paimon.
'Arlecchino' comes from the translation of Harlequin, which could mean that Arlecchino will play the part of a double-crosser in the Harbingers. There is very little information as to her character, elemental Delusion, or whether she is playable yet.
Tartaglia AKA Childe
click to enlarge + 11We've all met Childe, or Tartaglia, before, but let's recap. His real name is actually Ajax, and hails from a small village in Snezhnaya. He ended up being taken into the Fatui due to his evolved powers and combat skills. He is the 11th and youngest Harbinger, named so after climbing the ranks.
We meet him during the Liyue story quests, and discover that he is not the friend he appeared to be. He is one of the weekly Trounce Domains that players can face.
Everyone's favourite friend-turned-villain is already available in the game as Tartaglia, a Hydro bow user, and will likely get a banner rerun during the version that focuses on the Harbingers.
Pantalone AKA The Regrator
click to enlarge + 11Harbinger number 9 is Pantalone, known for being the wealthiest of them all, and is in charge of the region's economics. He wishes to make Snezhnaya the 'heart' that pumps money around the world, by any means necessary.
We see his name pop up in Mondstadt, where he has rented the entire Goth Grand Hotel for the Fatui's use. He also crops up in Yelan's story quest, but only in a brief mention.
In terms of in-game, Pantalone will likely have a tall male model akin to Baizhu.
Columbina AKA The Damselette
click to enlarge + 11This is the first time we have seen Columbina, and so there isn't much to tell yet about this mysterious Harbinger. We see her mourning over the coffin of La Signora, singing an eerie melody.
We're also not sure that Columbia is her real name, as that is a rough translation from the Chinese name that was released. Stay tuned for more!
Columbina is designed as a short female model, and is assumed to likely be playable due to this.
Pulcinella AKA The Rooster
click to enlarge + 11Pulcinella might jog your memory - he is the shadowy figure sat in a throne in the Teyvat Chapter Storyline Preview, as the character in the Snezyhnaya region along with his 'followers'.
He's the fifth Harbinger, and was the one to induct Tartaglia into the group. He is a wise member of the group, and appears somewhat older than the others. This raises some interesting questions as to whether he will ever be a playable character, as his model, age, and design are something not seen in the game so far.
Scaramouche AKA The Wanderer
click to enlarge + 11The sixth Harbinger is Scaramouche, The Wanderer. We met Scaramouche in the Unreconciled Stars event, where he introduced himself to the Traveler as a vagrant. He is generally disliked by everyone around him, including the other Harbingers.
This is likely due, in part, to him stealing the Raiden Shogun's Gnosis and abandoning the Fatui Harbingers after La Signora's death. It is assumed he has gone to follow his own path for now. Scaramouche will return in the Version 3.1 update's story and seems to be a formidable Electro boss. He now goes by The Wanderer.
In terms of when we might see him released, he will probably be the next Harbinger to become a playable character and may see an early 2023 release.
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