THE Bakunawa is coming to Genshin Impact— and it’s fire!
The game is officially bringing in a creature from Philippine mythology—and it’s none other than the legendary Bakunawa, the moon-eating dragon said to cause eclipses.
The Bakunawa was revealed during the version preview for Natlan, Genshin’s upcoming fire region. Inspired by indigenous communities around the world, Natlan draws from Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Oceania.
The mythical creature will emerge in Mare Jivari, a brutal volcanic wasteland described as a “sea of ashes where the wind doesn’t blow.”
Said to be a place where even gods and the strongest warriors perish, Mare Jivari sets the stage for the Bakunawa to rise—bringing with it an apocalyptic presence drawn straight from Filipino legend.
In precolonial Philippine folklore, the Bakunawa was believed to be a giant sea dragon that tried to swallow the moons, plunging the world into darkness. Ancient communities would bang pots and shout at the sky to scare it away during lunar eclipses.
Its inclusion in Genshin marks a rare moment where Southeast Asian mythology enters the mainstream of global gaming.
The Bakunawa boss will be available starting July 30, as part of Genshin Impact’s Version 5.8 update.
