Wanderer (Genshin Impact)
A puppet turned wanderer, seeking redemption for a past erased.
The Wanderer (Chinese: 流浪者; pinyin: Liúlàngzhě) appears in the video game Genshin Impact, created by miHoYo. He debuted in Version 1.1 in 2020 and became playable in Version 3.3 in 2022, which also introduced a boss version of him—the Everlasting Lord of Arcane Wisdom, first added in Version 3.2. He is an artificial lifeform, called a puppet in the game, built by Raiden Ei, the ruler of the nation of Inazuma. Over time, he adopted several names: he called himself Kunikuzushi (国崩; Guóbēng), later joined the antagonistic Fatui organization, where he was named Scaramouche (斯卡拉姆齐; Sīkǎlāmǔqí) and given the codename The Balladeer (散兵; Sǎnbīng). In his boss fight, he is titled the Everlasting Lord of Arcane Wisdom (七叶寂照秘密主; Qīyè Jìzhào Mìmì-zhǔ; 'Everlasting Omniscient Lord of Wisdom and Mercy'). He acts as a villain during the Inazuma storyline but reforms in the subsequent Sumeru arc, becoming a ward of the Dendro Archon, Nahida.
The character’s names draw from stock figures in kabuki theatre and Italian commedia dell’arte. His concept also takes inspiration from the Japanese deity Takeminakata and the Queen song "Bohemian Rhapsody". He is voiced by Lu Yin in Chinese, Tetsuya Kakihara in Japanese, Patrick Pedraza in English, and Min Seung-woo in Korean. Critics have given mixed opinions on his design and story portrayal. While his tragic backstory earned sympathy, his shift toward the protagonists sparked criticism and controversy among some players. His gameplay and combat abilities were positively received by reviewers.
In his early antagonist appearances, he was depicted as sharp-tongued and ruthless, a high-ranking Fatui Harbinger. The name "Kunikuzushi" comes from a kabuki villain archetype who seeks to overthrow a nation through deceit. The Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya gave him the name "Scaramouche," taken from the commedia dell'arte stock character Scaramuccia, though the French version is used, unlike other Harbingers who use Italian titles. His Anemo-themed design is thought to be influenced by the Japanese deity Takeminakata, who, like Takemikazuchi, was born from the corpse of the creator goddess Izanami.
- First appeared
- Version 1.1 (2020)
- Became playable
- Version 3.3 (2022)
- Boss version introduced
- Version 3.2 (2022)
- Creator
- Raiden Ei
- Type
- Artificial lifeform (puppet)
- Former aliases
- Kunikuzushi, Scaramouche, The Balladeer
- Boss title
- Everlasting Lord of Arcane Wisdom
- Voice actors
- Lu Yin (Chinese), Tetsuya Kakihara (Japanese), Patrick Pedraza (English), Min Seung-woo (Korean)
Lore & Background
The Wanderer was created by Raiden Ei as a puppet body but was deemed a failure due to his fragile disposition. Sealed and abandoned in Tatarasuna, he was found by a man named Katsuragi and integrated into human society, learning swordsmithing from Niwa Hisahide. After a series of betrayals involving the Fatui Harbinger Il Dottore, he renamed himself Kunikuzushi and joined the Fatui as Scaramouche, the Balladeer. He later allowed himself to be modified to use a Gnosis and become a god, but was defeated by the Traveler and subsequently made a deal with Nahida to enter Irminsul.
Reader's Guide
The Wanderer is significant as a complex antagonist-turned-protagonist whose story explores themes of identity, betrayal, and redemption. His design draws from kabuki theatre, commedia dell'arte, the Japanese deity Takeminakata, and the Queen song 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' Critics have expressed mixed opinions about his narrative portrayal: his tragic past was seen as sympathetic, but his turn toward the protagonists drew controversy among some players. His gameplay as an Anemo catalyst user received positive evaluations, with his Elemental Skill allowing flight and his Burst dealing area-of-effect damage. He is one of only three playable characters whose name can be changed by the player, though the system rejects names tied to his former identities or those of other characters. His voice actors include Tetsuya Kakihara, who initially felt uneasy voicing the arrogant character but was relieved by player reception. The character's debut OST, 'Ominous Fandango,' and trailer title 'Any Way the Wind Blows' both reference 'Bohemian Rhapsody.'
Did You Know?
- The Wanderer's name 'Scaramouche' is taken from the French version of the commedia dell'arte stock character, unlike other Fatui Harbingers who use Italian names.
- His Japanese voice actor, Tetsuya Kakihara, initially thought the codename 'Balladeer' referred to an ordinary foot soldier due to its literal Japanese translation.
- The Wanderer is one of only three playable characters whose name can be changed by the player, but the system rejects names like 'Scaramouche' or 'Balladeer.'
- His gameplay preview trailer, 'Any Way the Wind Blows,' references the lyric 'Any way the wind blows doesn't really matter to me' from Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody.'
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