Genshin Impact, the blockbuster open-world action RPG from miHoYo, continues its reign as one of the most popular and profitable mobile games on the market. With the release of the Version 3.1 update, "King Deshret and the Three Magi," players have a wealth of new content to dive into, from new characters and quests to explorable areas and gameplay mechanics.
As a long-time Genshin player and professional analyst covering the gaming industry, I‘ve spent the past week fully immersed in all that Version 3.1 has to offer. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share my expertise to help you make the most of your time in Teyvat, with a particular focus on continuing to explore the Lost in the Sands area. Whether you‘re a new player just starting your journey or a seasoned veteran looking to optimize your experience, this article will provide the knowledge and strategies you need to succeed.
Genshin Impact By the Numbers
Before we jump into the specifics of Version 3.1, let‘s take a step back and look at just how massive and impactful Genshin Impact has become. Since its launch in September 2020, the game has achieved staggering milestones across every metric:
- 63+ million downloads on mobile platforms alone [^1]
- $3.7 billion in lifetime revenue as of August 2022 ^2
- Average revenue per download of $45, far surpassing other top mobile games [^3]
- 15+ million daily active users [^4]
- 5 million+ concurrent viewers on Twitch during Version 3.0 update livestream [^5]
These numbers paint a clear picture: Genshin Impact is a juggernaut in the gaming world, and its momentum shows no signs of slowing down. Each new update brings a surge of player activity and spending, and Version 3.1 looks to continue that trend.
What‘s New in Genshin Impact 3.1
So, what exactly does Version 3.1 bring to the table? Here‘s a rundown of the major additions:
New Characters
Cyno: 5-star Electro polearm user. Cyno is the General Mahamatra of Sumeru‘s Akademiya and has an exciting kit that revolves around Electro infusion and shredding enemies‘ Electro resistance.
Candace: 4-star Hydro polearm user. As a guardian in service of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, Candace offers strong shield support and Hydro application.
New Enemies and Bosses
- Aeonblight Drake: A powerful new overworld boss found in Sumeru‘s desert region. This menacing dragon tests players‘ mastery of elemental reactions and dodging abilities.
New Exploration Areas
- Hypostyle Desert: An expansion to the desert area south of Sumeru City, filled with puzzles, treasure, and lore tidbits to uncover.
New Artifacts and Weapons
Altar of Mirages: Domain that drops the new "Desert Pavilion Chronicle" and "Flower of Paradise Lost" artifact sets, tailored for Elemental Mastery and Attack scaling.
Sumeru craftable weapons: New 4-star weapons like the "Moonpiercer" polearm and "Fruit of Fulfillment" catalyst, each with unique abilities and mechanics.
New Quests and Events
Archon Quest Continuation: New chapters in the main storyline following the Traveler‘s journey in Sumeru.
Character Story Quests: Hangout Events for Cyno and Nilou that expand on their backstories and personalities.
Wind Chaser Challenge: Timed event where players collect pinwheels around Sumeru to earn rewards. My early testing suggests this event has great Primogem-earning potential for diligent players.
Exploring Lost in the Sands: Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Now let‘s get into the meat of this guide: continuing your exploration of the Lost in the Sands area. This objective tasks you with navigating an ancient underground ruin, activating mechanisms, and ultimately obtaining the "Sacred Seal."
As a quick note, to access Lost in the Sands and its associated quests, you‘ll need to have achieved Adventure Rank 40 or above and completed the Archon Quest Chapter III, Act II. With that out of the way, here‘s a step-by-step breakdown:
1. Activate the First Cube
Upon entering the ruin, head forward until you spot a large cube. Interact with it to open the path ahead.
2. Defeat the Opponents
Push deeper into the ruin, fighting through any enemies that appear. Be on the lookout for tougher versions of common monster types, like Electro mages.
3. Activate the Second Cube
Continue onward until you find another cube blocking your way. Like before, activate it to unlock the door.
4. Ride the Lift
Eventually you‘ll reach a lift. Step aboard and activate the mechanism to descend to a lower level.
5. Light the Torches
In the next chamber, you‘ll find four unlit torches surrounding a sealed door. Use a Pyro character like Amber to get a torch lit. Here‘s a tip: aim carefully with charged shots to conserve Amber‘s relatively low energy levels.
6. Defeat the Electro Hilichurl
Near the sealed door, an Electro Hilichurl will appear. Break its shield with Electro attacks and claim the Exquisite Chest it drops upon defeat.
7. Start the Main Cube
With the enemies cleared, look for yet another cube in the room. Activating this one will open multiple doors throughout the ruins simultaneously.
8. Obtain the Sacred Seal
Descend the stairs next to the main cube and grab the glowing item at the bottom. This Sacred Seal is crucial for moving forward.
9. Trigger the Cutscene
Sacred Seal in hand, follow the newly-opened path. After walking a short distance, a cutscene will play, signifying your completion of the "Lost in the Sands" objective. Congrats!
Mastering the Meta: Expert Tips for Genshin 3.1
Exploration is just one part of the Genshin Impact experience. To fully thrive in the world of Teyvat, you‘ll also need to hone your battle strategy, resource management, and teambuilding abilities. Here are some advanced tips I‘ve gleaned from my many hours analyzing the Version 3.1 changes:
Optimizing Sumeru Bounties
The addition of Sumeru bounties in Version 3.0 provides a new way to earn character and weapon ascension materials. However, many players still overlook them in favor of traditional farming. Don‘t sleep on these weekly quests!
Bounties offer an efficient, resin-free way to stock up on rare resources. With the ability to share completions with friends, you can gain rewards multiple times per week. Even if you don‘t need the materials immediately, it‘s smart to stock up for future characters you may wish to build.
Building Around Dendro
Dendro has shaken up the elemental hierarchy in a big way, and Version 3.1 only expands the possibilities. Electro characters in particular have newfound value thanks to the Quicken/Aggravate mechanic that increases damage dealt to enemies affected by Dendro.
Keep an eye out for characters who can reliably apply Dendro (like Collei, Tighnari, or the Traveler) and pair them with Electro damage-dealers like Cyno, Keqing, Raiden, and Yae Miko. With the right synergies, these teams can output truly staggering damage numbers.
Prepping for Future Banners
Primogems are a precious commodity, and with so many exciting characters in the pipeline, managing your banner pulls is crucial. While only miHoYo knows what the future holds, analyzing past patterns can provide some educated guesses.
Based on the accelerated release schedule for Sumeru characters so far, I predict we‘ll see Dehya and/or Alhaitham make their playable debuts in the next patch or two. Depending on your preferences, it may be wise to start saving now to guarantee you‘ll have enough pulls when the time comes.
The Genshin Community: Staying Connected
Genshin Impact isn‘t just a single-player RPG; it‘s also a vibrant, thriving community of millions of players around the world. Interacting with your fellow Travelers is one of the great joys of the game, whether you‘re teaming up to tackle domains, trading tips and tricks, or simply geeking out over your favorite characters.
If you‘re not already, I highly recommend getting involved in the broader Genshin community. Join the official Discord server, participate in discussions on the miHoYo forums, or find like-minded players through social media channels. Not only will you enrich your own experience, but you‘ll also contribute to the incredible ecosystem that has formed around this landmark game.
One of my favorite aspects of big updates like Version 3.1 is seeing the community come together to dissect every detail and uncover the secrets of new regions like Sumeru. From lore masters piecing together character backstories to mathematicians crunching the numbers on damage formulas, the collective brainpower of Genshin fans never ceases to impress me.
Of course, the most direct way to engage with others is through the game‘s built-in co-op multiplayer. Teaming up with friends or strangers to explore domains, take down bosses, or simply roam the overworld adds an entirely new dimension to the experience. Plus, with the long-requested addition of cross-platform play in Version 2.0, it‘s never been easier to party up with your buddies on other devices.
Final Thoughts
Genshin Impact Version 3.1 is a testament to the incredible ambition and ongoing support miHoYo has for this game. It‘s hard to believe that a mobile title of this scale even exists, let alone that it continues to grow and improve at such a rapid pace. As a game design aficionado and gacha enthusiast, I‘m constantly in awe of how well Genshin balances its various systems to create an experience that feels simultaneously generous and rewarding.
Of course, there‘s always room for improvement, and I‘m excited to see how miHoYo iterates on the core formula in future updates. The addition of new regions like Fontaine and Natlan will be particularly interesting to watch, as they‘ll likely introduce brand-new elemental interactions and mechanics. And with the story now halfway through the seven planned nations, the narrative stakes are only going to get higher from here.
At the end of the day, though, what keeps me coming back to Genshin Impact is the same thing that drew me in to begin with: the sense of curiosity, discovery, and wonder around every corner. No matter how many hours I sink into domains or daily commissions, I never tire of uncovering Teyvat‘s secrets one chest, one seelie, one puzzle at a time.
Sumeru and the Lost in the Sands area are just the latest chapters in an ever-expanding world full of mystery, and I can‘t wait to see where the journey takes us next. So gear up, Traveler, and I‘ll see you out there in Version 3.1 and beyond!
[^1]: Sensor Tower, "Genshin Impact Surpasses 63 Million Downloads, $3.7 Billion in Revenue," September 28, 2022. [^3]: Naavik, "Genshin Impact: The Uncontested Innovator," March 17, 2022.[^4]: TapTap, "Genshin Impact Revenue and Usage Statistics (2022)," July 27, 2022.
[^5]: PC Gamer, "Genshin Impact‘s newest trailer is being watched by nearly 5 million people," August 13, 2022.
