Genshin Impact has a massive roster. Though the game includes more than 40 characters already, developer miHoYo continues to add more with each successive update every six weeks, like the recent release of Version 2.3. But even with loads of new content releasing at the beginning of 2022, there’s still plenty of interest in rumors and leaks about future expansions and characters. One new character that might finally be making her debut is Yaoyao, who has been rumored for a long time.

This future addition to the roster could potentially introduce a whole new magical element to Genshin Impact — shaking up familiar combat strategies and character pairings.

Here’s everything we know about Yaoyao.

When is the Genshin Impact Yaoyao release date?

This character still doesn’t have a release date, but according to leaker Lumie on Twitter, Yaoyao might be added with the new Chasm. Many had expected her to officially join the cast earlier in 2021, but this has not been the case. Developer miHoYo has yet to make an official confirmation for Yaoyao’s release date.

How will Yaoyao play in Genshin Impact?

Yaoyao’s playstyle is currently unknown, so it remains to be seen if she’s a support character, a healer, or a main damage dealer. We do know that she fights using a Catalyst and has critters in her backpack.

It’s widely rumored that Yaoyao will be the first character to wield the plant-based Dendro element. We’ve seen enemies use Dendro since launch, but players have been unable to access the ability in any capacity.

In lore, she’s a disciple of chef Xiangling. Xiangling uses her pet Guoba in combat, so perhaps Yaoyao uses animals to fight as well.

We have seen Yaoyao’s walking style due to a leak from the Twitter user Lumie. The leak was pulled from the first Genshin Impact closed beta, so it will likely be different if and when Yaoyao becomes playable.

Are there any Genshin Impact Yaoyao leaks?

Yes, there are! On December 15, 2021, Lumie posted a video showcasing Yaoyao, with brief footage of the new character running around. It’s a brief video, but it does give us a good look at Yaoyao’s character model and running animation. It looks legitimate, proving she’ll likely be added to Genshin Impact at some point.

What is the Genshin Impact Yaoyao story?

We don’t precisely know Yaoyao’s story just yet, but she’s already mentioned in a number of voice lines for Liyue characters. It’s currently believed that Yaoyao is a Liyue-based chef-in-training. Yaoyao is mentioned in the voice lines for Beidou, Ganyu, Ningguang, Qiqi, and Xiangling.

From what we know, Yaoyao is a mischievous child studying to be a chef. She specializes in seafood. It seems that both Ganyu and Xiangling are Yaoyao’s teachers. Ningguang describes Yaoyao as “the girl that Ganyu took under her wing.” Meanwhile, Ganyu’s voice lines make it sound like she was tasked with keeping Yaoyao out of trouble.

“Someone I know at the Ministry of Civil Affairs tasked me with keeping an eye on her in the city,” says Ganyu. It’s unknown to what extent Ganyu “teaches” Yaoyao.

In Xiangling’s voice lines, she describes being a senior chef to Yaoyao under the same master chef. Though it seems Yaoyao has been distracted from her studies recently.

“I’m proud to call her a fellow chef! She hasn’t swung by the Wanmin Restaurant in ages, though” says Xiangling. Yaoyao also seems keen on adventuring. Beidou’s voice lines mention that Yaoyao regularly journeys on her pirate ship, the Crux.

Yaoyao will likely be added to Genshin Imapct in a future update.