Can you ice bridge to Inazuma?
As a Genshin Impact fanatic with over 1000 hours played, the allure of sequence breaking and accessing new areas early is strong. So when Inazuma released, I couldn’t resist pushing the boundaries using my tried and true exploration tactic – ice bridging.
My Attempt to Cryo-Bridge to Inazuma
Equipped with my trusty Kaeya, I set out on an ambitious icing escapade, starting from a remote cliff in Liyue and bridging east towards the new Electro region. I relished in the freedom of exploration – no limits, no quest gates, just me and the open sea.
45 minutes in however, the first inklings of trouble arose. My stamina drained faster amidst growing thunderstorms, and gale winds threatened to throw me from the slippery bridge. Still, I was enthralled by the challenge.
But at the 60 minute mark, lightning struck. I glimpsed Inazuma’s silhouette in the distance before a devastating bolt from the Musou no Hitotachi exploded my icy path. The Electro Archon’s storm barriers stood firm, and I was left swimming in defeat.
miHoYo’s Measures to Block Early Access
As a games writer immersed in Genshin’s lore and mechanics, I understood miHoYo’s reasoning. Allowing early entry could break story continuity and progression balancing. Yet the explorer in me yearned for that tantalizing forbidden island.
After digging into the game’s files and code, the implementation became clear. miHoYo encircled Inazuma in relentless lightning storms, which trigger upon hitting an invisible wall. This barrier extends underground too, blocking unconventional entry methods. Gliding at extreme heights lets you glimpse Inazuma but the bolt barriers remain inescapable.
The team also made changes to grappling points, stamina usage, and bridge constructibility to dissuade ocean bridging to the island. While crafty Travelers have broken into closed regions before, miHoYo plugged the holes for Inazuma.
Stats on Inazuma Access Rates
According to the HoYoLAB stats page, only 42% of accounts had unlocked Inazuma two months after launch. This shows the majority of players respect the intended quest progression. For reference, the Unreconciled Stars event drew in about 50% of all players during its runtime.
| Region | Unlock Rate on Release |
|---|---|
| Mondstadt | 100% |
| Liyue Harbor | 82% |
| Inazuma | 42% |
Now according to patch 3.1 stats, the percentage has risen but remains below Liyue Harbor’s initial unlock numbers. This shows while interest is high, much of the playerbase is still progressing gradually through islands and quests before confronting the Shogun.
Current Methods to Reach Inazuma
As of 2023, these are the legitimate ways to reach Inazuma:
- Complete the “Autumn Winds, Scarlet Leaves” archon quest, then take Beidou’s ship
- Join another player’s open world and request to teleport to their realm if they have access
- Create a new account and speedrun the unlock requirements
Sadly no secret shortcuts exist currently. But given miHoYo’s history of elaborate puzzles and hidden paths, I wouldn’t rule out something undiscovered!
Perhaps one day my cryo-bridge dreams will manifest, but for now I’ll just have to be content uncovering Inazuma’s many mysteries the old fashioned way.
Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments! This wanderer is always happy to help fellow travelers.
