Collei
A trainee Forest Ranger from Sumeru who overcame illness and trauma.
Collei, a trainee Forest Ranger from the fictional nation of Sumeru, appears in the video game *Genshin Impact* by miHoYo. She first debuted as the protagonist of the game’s prequel manhua, which started in 2018, where she was depicted as a frail, bandage-wrapped girl with a pessimistic and serious demeanor. In July 2022, miHoYo unveiled her official in-game artwork and profile, and she became a playable four-star Dendro character in version 3.0 the following month. By then, her appearance and personality had matured significantly, showing greater confidence. Her accessories and skill design incorporate elements tied to Amber, a friend from the manhua, such as a ribbon ornament resembling Amber’s bow and skill effects that echo Amber’s. Collei’s backstory involves illness, trauma, and personal growth, and her role has drawn positive critical attention, with some viewing her as a key element for the game’s long-term narrative foreshadowing.
In the manhua, Collei has short emerald-green hair and a body wrapped in bandages, reflecting her past experiences that made her pessimistic and distrustful. In the game, she is taller, has longer hair, and exudes confidence, now wielding a Dendro Vision. Her English voice actress, Christina Costello, was asked during auditions to convey the feeling of a character suffering from illness; Costello, who has real-life health conditions, met this request, and the team felt she was well-suited for the role. Japanese voice actress Ryoko Maekawa was instructed to read the manhua and occasionally reveal Collei’s introverted, gloomy side. The recording process spanned several rounds, with Maekawa noticing clear growth in Collei each time. Because Collei and Amber are close friends, Maekawa researched Amber beforehand and, for their Windblume Festival meeting, portrayed Collei as blushing, shy, and speaking faster. Collei is voiced in Chinese by Qin Wenjing and in Korean by Bang Siu.
Collei’s story begins in Sumeru, where she suffered from Eleazar, a terminal illness. Her mother sent her to an aid organization that was actually a Fatui front for human experimentation, granting Collei the ability to control black flames but tormenting her body. She escaped and wandered, seeking revenge on the Fatui. In Mondstadt, Amber warmly welcomed her, and they became friends.
- First appearance
- 2018 (manhua)
- Playable debut
- August 2022 (version 3.0)
- Nation
- Sumeru
- Occupation
- Trainee Forest Ranger
- Weapon
- Bow
- Vision
- Dendro
- Voice actors
- Christina Costello (English), Ryoko Maekawa (Japanese), Qin Wenjing (Chinese), Bang Siu (Korean)
Lore & Background
Collei was born in Sumeru and suffered from a terminal illness known as Eleazar as a child. Her mother sent her to an aid organization that claimed to help the infected, but it was actually a Fatui front for human experimentation. Through these experiments, Collei gained the ability to control black flames, but her body was tormented by this power. She escaped and wandered, seeking revenge on the Fatui. While passing through Mondstadt, she was warmly received by Amber, a member of the Knights of Favonius, and the two became friends. Lisa Minci asked Cyno for help, and he successfully sealed Collei's black-flame ability. Collei then returned to Sumeru with Cyno for treatment, becoming the apprentice of Forest Ranger Tighnari, who treated her and trained her. During the Archon Quest, the Traveler and Nahida worked together to address the root cause of Eleazar, which was tied to the Withering and Irminsul's pollution. As a result, many Sumeru citizens, including Collei, saw their Eleazar symptoms alleviated or cured, though the condition did not disappear solely due to that specific collaboration.
Reader's Guide
Collei is significant as the first four-star Dendro character in Genshin Impact, introduced in version 3.0. Her backstory involves illness, trauma, and personal growth, and her role in the story has attracted player attention and positive commentary from critics. She is regarded as an important vehicle for the game's long-term narrative foreshadowing. In gameplay, Collei uses a bow, with a Normal Attack that has quick shots and a charged Dendro shot. Her Elemental Skill throws a Dendro-imbued boomerang, and her Elemental Burst deploys a doll named Culein-Anbar that attacks enemies. Players could obtain her through the Wish system or by meeting conditions in a limited-time event. Her design incorporates elements from her friend Amber, such as a ribbon ornament and skill effects resembling Amber's. Collei's story continues in events like the Windblume Festival, where she returns to Mondstadt cured of Eleazar, and later in Nod-Krai, where she receives visions from the god remains within her body, which are revealed to be fragments of the Goddess of Flowers. She eventually becomes a full-fledged Forest Ranger and says goodbye to her 'past self'.
Did You Know?
- Collei was the protagonist of the Genshin Impact prequel manhua, which began serialization in 2018.
- Her English voice actress, Christina Costello, was chosen after the production team learned she had health conditions similar to the character's suffering.
- Collei's Elemental Burst throws out a doll named Culein-Anbar, which automatically attacks enemies.
- In May 2023, Genshin Impact collaborated with American cosmetic retailer Kiehl's, with Collei and Tighnari as representative characters.
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