One of my favorite characters in Ganyu and Shenhe skins in Genshin Impact.

The developer usually releases multiple skins in a single patch. One of the skins is usually for a 4-star character, while the others are for 5-star units. During the update in which they are released, the skin for the 4-star character is available for free via the flagship event, while the Character Outfit for the 5-star unit is offered at a discounted price. After the end of the update, the skin for the 4-star character can only be acquired via the store, and the skin for the 5-star unit returns to its regular full price in the Genshin Impact store.

Yelan May Finally Get A Skin In Genshin Impact 5.3

The 5-Star Hydro Character Is Rumored To Get A New Character Outfit Soon

Now, a new leak hints at the arrival of a much-expected Character Outfit. According to the information provided by the leaker known as HXG, which was shared in a post flagged as “Suspicious” on Yelan in Genshin Impact to give the character an alternative look should they desire to do so.

It is important to note that, despite how unreliable the leak may seem from an initial standpoint, HXG is not the only leaker who has mentioned such a Character Outfit. The leaker known as Flying Flame also mentioned that Yelan may get a skin on Reddit, sustaining the previous leak. The leaker mentions that the skin will arrive in Version 5.3. It is uncertain exactly when the new batch of skins will actually be added to the game, but based on previous skin releases, it is possible to predict when players may get the rumored Yelan skin in Genshin Impact.

So far, HoYoverse has kept a steady schedule of character skins released during two periods every year. The first batch arrives during the patches that hold the annual Lantern Rite Festival, while the second group of skins is added to the game during the final patch before the arrival of a new Nation on the Teyvat map. This year, the developer released the Shenhe, Ganyu, and Qingqiu skins during the Lantern Rite patch in Version 4.4, while the second batch of skins was released for Kirara and Nilou in Genshin Impact 4.8.

If HoYoverse keeps up with its regular skin release pattern, the next skins may arrive during 2025’s Lantern Rite Festival. It is uncertain in which patch the update will be released, but it could occur in either Version 5.3, as speculated by Flying Flame, or Version 5.4. Version 5.3 is expected to be the big final patch in the Natlan story arc, so HoYoverse may opt to not release the Lantern Rite during the same update. If so, players can expect the next few skins in Version 5.4 instead of Version 5.3 (which may see Mavuika’s release in Genshin Impact).

As a Liyue character, Yelan could, indeed, receive a skin that is themed after the annual Lantern Rite Festival.

Yelan’s Rumored Skin In Genshin Impact Is Personally Exciting

Previous Character Outfit Releases Have Not Spoken To Me So Much

The prospect of Yelan receiving a skin in an patch is exciting to me because a skin for her may be the first one I would consistently across several team comps. The 5-star Hydro character is, arguably, the best sub-DPS in the game and one of my most used characters. I use Yelan in my Bloom, Hyperbloom, Vaporize, and Super-Conduct teams quite consistently due to her great capability of spreading Hydro and dealing high Hydro DMG from off the field in Genshin Impact. While I’ve used Barbara’s skin since its release, the same isn’t true for other characters.

I’ve grabbed most of the skins for 4-star characters in the events they were made available for free but have not really put them to good use. The only exception is Barbara, who I regularly use as a healer, but even so, she is easily substituted by several other healers I have, and her Character Outfit is less seen with every ing day. The skins released for 5-star characters so far have not appealed to me in any way. They are paid cosmetics for Genshin Impact characters I do not use and some of them I don’t even have unlocked.

Yelan would be a different case for me. Because I use her in most of my team comps, I would be able to proudly put my purchase to good use. Even as an off-field sub-DPS, I would regularly swap her in to activate her Skill and her Burst. Furthermore, I use Yelan for exploration thanks to the increased movement speed she gains while using her Elemental Skill. The rumored skin for Yelan would come as a pleasant surprise for me because it would be the first skin for a 5-star character in Genshin Impact I would make an investment toward.

Even though there are multiple leakers reporting the same thing, the rumors of Yelan’s skin should be considered with extreme caution. The information provided by them may be incorrect, incomplete, or simply subject to changes. The mention of a skin could be an alternative outfit for a cutscene, for example, with no availability for players.

If true, its release could even be postponed. Despite how wary I am of the current rumors, I can’t help but be excited about the possibility of getting Yelan, one of my favorite Genshin Impact characters, a new skin to use in and out of battle.

Source: Reddit (1, 2)