Genshin Impact 7.0 Everwinter Without Mercy: Full Breakdown

Version 7.0, Everwinter Without Mercy, is one of the most consequential updates in Genshin Impact's history. It opens the long-awaited Snezhnaya region, introduces the Cryo Traveler, adds the Stellar Swirl reaction, and starts the Chapter VII Archon Quest. For the full context, bookmark the latest Genshin Impact updates hub before the servers go down.

Maintenance begins on 2026-08-12 06:00 (UTC+8) and is expected to take about five hours. Travelers at Adventure Rank 5 or above can claim 600 Primogems in total compensation: 300 for maintenance and 300 for issue fixes. Here's everything that matters in the official patch breakdown.

At a Glance

• Maintenance: 2026-08-12 06:00 (UTC+8), estimated 5 hours
• Compensation: 300 Primogems (maintenance) + 300 Primogems (issue fix)
• New region: Snezhnaya, with five explorable areas
• New characters: Odette (Cryo 5-star Sword), Cryo Traveler, Alyosha (Electro 4-star Polearm)
• New reaction: Stellar Swirl, triggered by Anemo and Cryo
• New systems: Meeting Points, Eye of Graeae, Third-Person Shooter combat, Snezhnaya Adventure Journal
• Spiral Abyss refresh: Phase 1 on 2026-08-16 and Phase 2 on 2026-09-16

Maintenance and Compensation

The update maintenance window is scheduled for 2026-08-12 06:00 (UTC+8) and should last roughly five hours. Travelers at Adventure Rank 5 or above by the start of maintenance will receive:

• Maintenance compensation: 300 Primogems
• Issue fix compensation: 300 Primogems
• Deadline for issue fix claim: 2026-08-15 06:00 (UTC+8)

Maintenance compensation must be claimed before the end of Version 7.0. All rewards are distributed through in-game mail within five hours after maintenance ends, and the mail expires after 30 days. If you need pre-install instructions for PC, mobile, PlayStation, or Xbox, our Genshin Impact 7.0 maintenance schedule and compensation guide has the full rundown.

Snezhnaya Arrives

Version 7.0 adds five new Snezhnayan areas: Volkodlak Tundra, White Birch Snowgrave, Everfrozen Earth, Flamefeather Valley, and Fellfrost Peak. If you've completed Archon Quest Prologue: Act III — Song of the Dragon and Freedom, a Teleport Waypoint southwest of Volkodlak Tundra will unlock automatically after update.

Snezhnaya also brings the Meeting Points system. By spending Cryo Sigils, Travelers can construct Tidesong Cavern, Huntsman's Cabin, and The Korolevskiy Theater, then raise their levels for supplies. Daily Commissions, expeditions, new fishing points, and the Snezhnaya Fishing Association are part of the package. The Cryo Traveler becomes available by resonating with Cryo at Statues of the Seven in Snezhnaya.

New Characters: Odette, Cryo Traveler, and Alyosha

Odette is a 5-star Cryo Sword support built around the new Stellar Glimmer reactions. She provides off-field Stellar Glimmer DMG and consistent Cryo application while boosting the party's Stellar-Conduct and Stellar Swirl damage. Her kit makes her a natural anchor for Snezhnaya reaction teams.

The Cryo Traveler is a 5-star form that can trigger Stellar Glimmer reactions from off-field or in quick-swap rotations. In the Radiance: Stellar-Conduct state, the Traveler can also work as an on-field DPS, giving players flexibility without requiring a dedicated limited character.

Alyosha is a 4-star Electro Polearm support who heals the party while dealing continuous Electro DMG. He's positioned as a practical sustain option for exploration and reaction-focused teams.

Should You Pull?

Exact banner phases were not stated in official materials, but the event-exclusive 5-star Sword Whitelake Frostfeather is tied to the Event Wish. If you're planning pulls based on the new reaction meta, Odette's off-field application looks more future-proof than a standard DPS, but wait for live showcases before committing.

Weapon and Artifact Highlights

The update adds a major set of equipment, including:

• Whitelake Frostfeather