Genshin Impact just dropped one of its biggest lore updates to date—and longtime players are buzzing. In a nine-minute cinematic teaser titled “Teyvat Chapter Interlude Teaser: The God’s Limits”, HoYoverse finally confirms the long-speculated identities of the Four Shades of the Primordial One: Asmoday, Istaroth, Ronova, and Naberius (now merged with Rhinedottir).
Shared across Genshin Impact’s official social platforms on July 8, this reveal reshapes the understanding of Teyvat’s divine hierarchy and sets the stage for future endgame narrative arcs.
Who Are the Four Shades?
The Four Shades are ancient divine beings created by the Primordial One to enforce cosmic order after defeating the Seven Sovereigns. Until now, they existed mostly as mythic figures, alluded to in quests, artifact lore, and item descriptions. Now, we know their true identities—and their influence may even rival that of the Seven Archons.
Let’s break down what this means for the game’s ongoing lore.
Istaroth: The Shade of Time
Often referred to as the “Thousand Winds of Time,” Istaroth is one of Genshin’s most mysterious figures. She’s been tied to various regions and events, from Enkanomiya and Mondstadt’s Windblume Festival, to the tragic backstory of Raiden Makoto. The new teaser visually confirms her identity and deepens her connection to Venti, whose voice actors across all languages also voice Istaroth—a subtle hint that’s now canonized.
Her domain: time, fate, and cycles. She exists in every era of Teyvat, silently steering history.
Ronova: The Shade of Death
Ronova steps into the spotlight following her debut in Version 5.3’s Natlan Archon Quest. Her power isn’t just destructive—it’s erasing. She dissolves matter, space, and existence itself. Though her title suggests dominion over death, her powers blur boundaries between Shades, hinting that these entities aren’t limited to one domain.
Ronova openly serves the Heavenly Principles, not the Primordial One, and acts as a strict enforcer of divine law. Her appearance confirms a shifting balance of power in the cosmos.
Naberius and Rhinedottir: The Shade of Life
Naberius, originally mentioned in artifact lore, has now been fully overtaken by Rhinedottir, the infamous alchemist of Khaenri’ah and creator of Albedo and Durin. Rhinedottir devoured the Heart of Naberius and inherited her authority—effectively becoming the new Shade of Life.
Her transformation, shown in Version 5.6’s Paralogism Quest, marks her ascent from mortal alchemist to divine force. This change could spell major narrative consequences as Khaenri’ah’s secrets unravel further.
Asmoday: The Shade of Space
Asmoday is the true identity of the Unknown God, the figure who stops the Traveler in the game’s opening cutscene. Her manipulation of space—those ominous cubes, the ability to sever dimensional threads—confirms her status as the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles and Shade of Space.
She does not appear directly in the teaser, but her presence is felt. Fans speculate a growing connection between Asmoday and Paimon, with recent teasers suggesting a link that may shake the foundation of the Traveler’s journey.
What This Means Moving Forward
This reveal isn’t just lore—it’s setup. The Four Shades may soon step from the shadows into the forefront of Genshin’s evolving endgame. With Rhinedottir’s ascension, Istaroth’s connection to Venti, and Asmoday’s looming return, the conflict between mortals and divine beings is heating up.
For theory crafters, this is a goldmine. For storytellers, it’s a new era.
