Genshin Impact won’t get shields as a weapon type

Genshin Impact’s 3.1 update introduces Candace to the game, a unique playable character who uses both her polearm and a shield in combat. She is the first character to wield two different weapons at the same time.

Among fans, this has caused cautious optimism and speculation about a possible expansion of the available weapon types. Currently, characters can wield a sword, a claymore, a polearm, a bow, or a catalyst. Many users saw Candace’s usage of a shield as a test run by the developers for an upcoming expansion of the available weapon arsenal.

Candace is not a prototype for shield users

Speaking to GLHF, Genshin Impact’s developers seek to curb fan enthusiasm: “At the moment, Candace will only have her shield out when casting some of her skills.” She is still a polearm user at heart.

Continuing on, they elaborate that “her shield does not belong to a common weapon type that can be upgraded.” For now, it seems, an expansion of the available pool of weapons is not in the cards. That might be true for the long-term as well, as the team declares: “In the future, we will release more playable characters with different backgrounds, behaviors, and attack patterns.” That doesn’t explicitly deny potential new weapon types being introduced, but is not exactly inducing much confidence in the other direction either. Time will have to tell.

Nevertheless, the introduction of Candace shows that variety is possible even in the current system with five weapon types. Shikanoin Heizou from update 2.8 is also a shining example: although he uses a catalyst, he is the first melee fighter of this weapon class and has a unique fighting style reminiscent of martial arts monks. With this amount of creativity, fans won’t get bored even without new weapons being introduced.

During our interview, Genshin Impact’s developers also told us their feelings about the steady stream of leaks surrounding the game.

Written by Marco Wutz on behalf of GLHF.