Genshin Impact: Every Leak You Should Know About Xbalanque

For Genshin Impact fans eager to learn more about the new Natlan area and its characters, some leaks have surfaced that could introduce one of the area’s most intriguing characters – Xbalanque – the “One Entombed With the Primal Fire.” We dive into what we know so far about this fiery newcomer.

Xbalanque: Who is he?

Xbalanque was first teased by a tweet from the official Genshin Impact account featuring Fontaine’s Hydro character Neuvillette. The cryptic quote attributed to him reads “And then their true trial shall begin someday when they return.” This has prompted speculation that Xbalanque is somehow tied to the Fontaine storyline involving Neuvillette.

The fact that he is “One Entombed With the Primal Fire” is a direct reference to his origins in the burning Natlan region of the Pyro Archon. Given the real-life inspirations for Natlan’s culture, which combines Latin American, Mesoamerican and West African influences, fans have speculated that Xbalanque’s name and powers may have roots in ancient Mayan mythology.

New Leaks Shed Light on Xbalanque’s Role

While details are still scarce, a recent leak from Genshin Impact insider TeamMew may have leaked some major details on what players can expect from Xbalanque:

Character Model: The leak suggests Xbalanque will use the “boy model” look associated with Bennett, Razor, and Xingqiu. This has prompted speculation that he could be a strong teenager or young adult, like the fiery and upbeat Bennett from Mondstadt.

Vision 1and1 Weapon: Not surprisingly for a Natlan native, Xbalanque should be armed with a Pyro Vision. More notably, he appears to be armed with a polearm, making him one of the few Pyro Polearm fighters to join Hu Tao in the series.

Support in Off-Field: Perhaps the most exciting leak is that Xbalanque may introduce new off-field Pyro application options. This could make him a valuable addition to team compositions with elemental reactions such as Vaporize, Melt, or Burning in the difficult Spiral Abyss content.

Relationships to Mayan Myth

With the heavy Mesoamerican influences on Natlan’s aesthetic, fans have started piecing together potential connections between Xbalanque and figures from Mayan mythology and folklore:

The Name: “Xbalanque” is a direct allusion to the names of the Mayan hero twins Hunahpu and Xbalanque in the Popol Vuh texts. If this theory is true, it may be that Xbalanque has an equally strong twin, which may be added later.

Jaguar Motifs: The hero twins were called “jaguar-men” and possessed jaguar characteristics and abilities. This has led some to speculate that Xbalanque’s design, abilities, or constellation may include jaguar imagery, movements, or even transformation mechanics.

Primal Fire Connection: The twins had a minor incident with the Lords of the Underworld, resulting in their being sacrificed and reborn. Xbalanque’s description of being “entombed” could reference this mythical rebirth through primal fire.

A Promising Roadmap Ahead

Version 4.0 of Genshin Impact released the full Fontaine region this week with its usual 6-week update cadence. The majority of projections place Natlan and characters such as Xbalanque around 8-10 months away in Version 5.0 sometime in late 2023 or early 2024.

But that only gives Travelers more time to save their Primogems and prepare their accounts! Genshin Impact 4.6 is also just around the corner, with the long-awaited Arlecchino set to shake up the established meta.

As more details and leaks about Xbalanque come to light, we can hardly wait to see what happens to this fascinating Natlan fighter buried in primal fire. His possible Mayan myth ties and off-field Pyro skills suggest a character that could lend itself to potent new team compositions. Travelers have plenty to look forward to in the fiery days ahead in Natlan!