Genshin Impact 7.2 "Hour of Ruin" launches November 4, 2026, and completing the Archon Quest within the designated period grants 560 Primogems plus Mitya's Ascension Materials (source: HoYoLAB official 7.2 events overview, 2026-10-23). Genshin Impact 7.2 lands that day, and that leaves you seven days to do three things: redeem the codes, clear the quest, and order your pulls.
| Item | Verdict | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | November 4, 2026 | Announced October 23 |
| Codes | HourofRuin, ExpertMitya, PhotoTime | Official 7.2 hub |
| Quest | 560 Primogems plus Mitya materials | Must finish within the designated period |
| Pulls | Mitya first, Furina depends on account | Both on phase one; Valeriy comes along |
Genshin 7.2 snapshot: November 4 and the seven nations
Applicable version: 7.2 "Hour of Ruin" (launches 2026-11-04, announced 2026-10-23) (Source: miHoYo press release)
Version 7.1 "Requiem for the Netherrealm" went live September 23, 2026 (source: official in-game announcement API), and 7.2 follows. The premise: the Nails of Retribution awaken, light pillars appear across Teyvat, and the Tsaritsa convenes representatives of all seven nations in Snezhnaya to contain the Holy Soil phenomenon.
How the three playable characters split
Mitya is a 5-star Electro Catalyst who converts the party's Superconduct reactions into Stellar-Conduct, boosting party Stellar-Conduct DMG while accumulating special energy (source: miHoYo press release). Tapping his Elemental Skill releases stored energy for periodic Stellar-Conduct DMG; holding consumes it for a flurry of enhanced Charged Attacks, so he shifts between off-field and on-field roles.
Valeriy is a 4-star Electro Sword who provides shields and boosts Electro DMG, built specifically for Stellar-Conduct teams. Both share the first-half banner alongside Furina's rerun.
The new region and two elemental shotguns
Novokitezhgrad in eastern Snezhnaya is the nation's main Kresnik Kristall producer, an entirely underground city encased in the crystal. Further east, Wingspan Peak holds Old Kitezhgrad, the first city, founded by the Belyi Tsar (source: miHoYo press release).
The new traversal hook is Prime Ice Constructs and two elemental shotguns used to neutralize contaminated Kresnik Kristall deposits. That is an exploration mechanic rather than a combat stat, so follow the in-game tutorial.
Genshin 7.2 codes and rewards: take the free stuff first
The official 7.2 page lists three codes: HourofRuin, ExpertMitya and PhotoTime (source: official Genshin site 7.2 hub, retrieved 2026-10-27).
How to redeem and what limits apply
Enter them under Settings, Account, Redeem Code, or through the official web redemption page. Each code works once per account. All three are livestream codes and typically expire, and the official channel has not published an end date, so redeem on November 4.
Fixed rewards inside the version window
The Archon Quest grants 560 Primogems and Mitya's Ascension Materials if completed within the designated period, and Secret Tsarist Assignments add a Snezhnaya-themed Wind Glider (source: miHoYo press release). The limited event grants Primogems, enhancement materials and one 4-star character of your choice.
That last reward is the one people forget. Its value is not the 4-star itself but the constellation, so if you are one copy short on a key 4-star, this is a free fix.
Genshin 7.2 Mitya mechanics: how Stellar-Conduct lands
Mitya rewrites Superconduct into Stellar-Conduct. With him in the party, Superconduct becomes Stellar-Conduct, party Stellar-Conduct DMG rises, and special energy accumulates (source: miHoYo press release).
Why he works both off-field and on-field
Tapping the Elemental Skill spends stored energy for periodic Stellar-Conduct DMG; holding spends it on enhanced Charged Attack strings. The same resource supports two playstyles: bank the energy for steady off-field damage, or dump it for an on-field burst.
The tradeoff is explicit. Off-field is lower effort and lower ceiling; on-field is higher effort, higher ceiling, longer downtime.
Valeriy's slot
A 4-star Electro Sword with shields and Electro DMG amplification, aimed squarely at Stellar-Conduct teams. His value is freeing Mitya from a traditional shielder so the slot goes to amplification.
This is not "a 4-star is always the downgrade." It is "he is the dedicated utility slot for this reaction." Outside Stellar-Conduct, both his shield and his Electro buff depreciate.
Genshin 7.2 pull planning: phase one versus phase two
| Phase | Banner | Best for | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Mitya + Valeriy + Furina rerun | Missing an Electro Catalyst main, or missing the Stellar-Conduct core | Prioritize Mitya; Valeriy comes along on the same banner |
| Phase 2 | Zibai + Linnea reruns | Missing Natlan damage, or filling reruns | Skippable if your teams are set |
| Chronicled Wish | Selected Natlan characters | Filling a specific Natlan gap | Pick one, do not spread |
Three pull-ordering rules
One: no Electro Catalyst main at all means Mitya first. New reaction archetypes usually keep receiving components in later versions, so owning the core early is safer.
Two: if you own Furina but lack constellations, a slice of the budget can go to her rerun. Her flexibility is version-independent.
Three: if you only lack raw damage and not an archetype, wait for phase two or skip. Both new characters are tied to Stellar-Conduct and lose value outside it.
Budgeting Primogems
A version's free Primogems come from the Archon Quest, events, daily commissions and the Abyss. The only officially confirmed figure is 560 Primogems from the Archon Quest (source: miHoYo press release); everything else follows in-game delivery. I am not publishing a total because event payouts shift between versions.
Genshin 7.2: should you pull Mitya?
Verdict: pull if you lack an Electro Catalyst main and are willing to follow the new reaction; wait if you only need generic damage.
First, no 5-star Electro Catalyst on the account. Pull. He is the first Stellar-Conduct core, and later versions will likely add support for it.
Second, an established Electro team such as Raiden Shogun's. Skippable. Stellar-Conduct is a separate reaction and does not slot into existing Electro teams.
Third, pulling for exploration and story. Unnecessary. The new region and Archon Quest are not character-gated; existing teams clear them.
Genshin 7.2 common mistakes and prep checklist
- Letting the codes expire. No published end date; redeem on day one.
- Leaving the Archon Quest until late in the version. The 560 Primogems and Mitya materials require completing it within the designated period.
- Forgetting the free 4-star selector. Use it on a missing constellation.
- Treating Valeriy as a generic shielder. His shield and Electro buff are Stellar-Conduct specific.
- Running old Abyss lineups in the new region. The Kresnik contamination and shotgun mechanics are new, and old habits stall exploration.
Where do you enter the 7.2 codes fastest?
Settings, Account, Redeem Code in-game, or the official web redemption page. Each code is once per account with no daily cap, but livestream codes expire and the official end date is unpublished.
Genshin 7.2 FAQ
When exactly does 7.2 launch?
A: November 4, 2026, per the official HoYoLAB events overview published 2026-10-23. As of October 28, seven days remain.
Is Mitya a 5-star, and what weapon does he use?
A: 5-star Electro Catalyst. Valeriy is a 4-star Electro Sword, and both debut on the phase one banner.
Who is on the phase one banner?
A: Mitya and Valeriy debut with a Furina rerun. Phase two returns Zibai and Linnea plus a Chronicled Wish for selected Natlan characters.
How many Primogems does the Archon Quest give?
A: 560 Primogems plus Mitya's Ascension Materials within the designated period, and Secret Tsarist Assignments add a Snezhnaya-themed Wind Glider.
Can you play 7.2 without pulling?
A: Yes. The eastern Snezhnaya region and Archon Quest are not character-gated, and the exploration mechanics use Prime Ice Constructs and elemental shotguns.
Action list
- Redeem HourofRuin, ExpertMitya and PhotoTime on November 4.
- Push the Archon Quest immediately for the 560 Primogems and Mitya materials.
- Order pulls by gap: Mitya for Electro Catalyst mains, Furina for constellations, otherwise wait.
- Do not skip the free 4-star selector; fill a missing constellation.
- Read the Kresnik contamination tutorial before exploring the new region. Final values follow live servers and official notices. For more Genshin version breakdowns and Abyss lineups, see the guide hub at gghubs.com.