Natlan

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Natlan is a fictional nation in Genshin Impact and the sixth region released. It sits in the western part of Teyvat, with the Stadium of the Sacred Flame as its capital and largest city. Natlan became playable on August 28, 2024, with version 5.0.

What Natlan is inspired by
- Its culture blends pre-Columbian American, Sub-Saharan African, and some Oceanian influences. Its music mixes Latin American and African elements, with chants inspired by Mesoamerican and Polynesian styles.

Society and government
- Natlan is a confederation of six tribes ruled by the Pyro Archon, Mavuika. The people value warriors and honor.
- A central tradition is the Pilgrimage of the Sacred Flame, a major tournament held in the capital arena to crown Natlan’s strongest warrior. The ritual also trains Natlanese to stand against threats from the Abyss.

Saurians and exploration
- Natlan features dragon-like creatures called Saurians, each with unique traversal abilities. Players can use these creatures to move around more vertically and quickly, and Natlan’s characters share special traversal skills.

Nightsouls and power
- Natlan is tied to the Night Kingdom, a hidden realm of the dead and memories. When Natlanese die, their souls enter this realm and gradually dissolve.
- Warriors can draw power from Nightsouls, via Nightsoul’s Blessing, Nightsoul Transmission, and Nightsoul Bursts, to boost combat and exploration.
- The Ode of Resurrection is a Natlan ritual that can revive fallen Ancient Name bearers if the team defeats the Abyss. If a warrior dies in battle and isn’t resurrected, their Ancient Name is lost; other deaths may lead to reincarnation in Natlan in a new form.
- The Night Kingdom’s memories don’t fully align with other parts of Teyvat, so feats done outside Natlan aren’t recorded there.

Story and gameplay highlights
- The main Natlan storyline follows characters competing in the Pilgrimage, with the Traveler joining the Night Kingdom if resurrection fails to bring back a friend.
- Natlan’s exploration emphasizes vertical movement due to Saurians and the team’s traversal skills.

Release timeline and reception
- Natlan released in August 2024 (version 5.0). The opening areas covered three tribes: People of the Springs, Children of Echoes, and Scions of the Canopy.
- Version 5.2 (November 2024) added the Masters of the Night-Wind and the Flower-Feather Clan. Version 5.5 (March 2025) added the Collective of Plenty. Version 5.8 (July 2025) introduced the Easybreeze Holiday Resort area, a permanent addition to Natlan’s map.
- Natlan also marked Genshin Impact’s first Xbox release (November 20, 2024).
- Critics praised Natlan’s new traversal mechanics and vertical exploration, as well as its visuals. However, the region sparked controversy over the character designs’ skin tones, which some felt were lighter than the real-world cultures Natlan draws from. Voices from players and some voice actors raised concerns about representation and cultural accuracy, contributing to ongoing discussions and petitions.

Tribes of Natlan
- The six tribes are: People of the Springs, Children of Echoes, Scions of the Canopy, Masters of the Night-Wind, Flower-Feather Clan, and the Collective of Plenty.