Here’s How the Genshin Impact Theater Mechanicus Works

The Genshin Impact Theater Mechanicus tower defense event is about to begin. As usual, miHoYo decided to offer a little insight into what to expect ahead of the activity. This single-player or cooperative begins on February 10, 2021. Success means earning Peace Talismans that can be used on one four-star Liyue character.

First, you need to complete Xiao’s The Origin of the Lanterns quest and a Liyue Theater Mechanicus quest to unlock this Genshin Impact event. You’ll also need to use one Xiao Lantern each time you play. Then, you’ll be able to take on the first three stages. The first will have two difficulty levels, the second three, and the third four. To unlock additional fourth and fifth stages, you will need to complete Festive Fever’s Guests Flock from Afar. The sixth stage, which has a Blink of an Eye mode, will only unlock after Festive Ever’s Glow of a Thousand Lanterns is done. Difficulty levels increase the challenge and reward multiplier.

As for the activities themselves, it sounds like a Genshin Impact Theater Mechanicus stage is like any tower defense game. Before a wave begins, you have an idea of where enemies will come from and go. Your goal will be to use Veneficus Points to build Mechanici along the path before time runs out to defeat them. Before a wave begins, you’ll know how many foes will show up and how many you can’t afford to let escape. You’ll also know which kinds of monsters you’ll face. Then, between waves, you’ll have a chance to take Veneficus Points earned from beating foes to build more Mechanici or reconstruct them. When a wave is in-progress, you can have your playable character use an Elemental Skill to trigger reactions with a Mechanicus.

There are also ways to improve your odds or make it more challenging. You can also acquire and upgrade the Mechanici you have in the Armory between stages. Your personal Armory investment carries over even if you play with another person. You can choose Mystic Arts to make things easier by paying Veneficus Points. For example, one screenshot showed paying 40 to reduce the price of a Cryo Mechanici by 20% or pay 200 to allow you to increase your Mechanici cap by one.

As for the reward, you get Peace Talismans for going through the event quests. Collecting 1,000 lets you pick Beidou, Chongyun, Ningguang, Xiangling, Xingqiu, or Xinyan as your new ally.

Genshin Impact is available for the PlayStation 4, PC, and mobile devices. A Nintendo Switch version is on the way too. The Theater Mechanicus event will end on February 28, 2021.