Nod-Krai () is a fictional region in the video game Genshin Impact published by miHoYo. It is the seventh region to be added to the game, and was released with version 6.0 (titled "version Luna I") on September 10, 2025. It is the main setting for the "Song of the Welkin Moon" quest series. In the game, Nod-Krai is considered an autonomous region of Snezhnaya, and is located to the northwest of Natlan and south of mainland Snezhnaya. The geography and culture of Nod-Krai combine the landscapes of Northern Europe and the Baltic region, but is not based on a single clear real-world area; according to developers, Nod-Krai's overall design and narrative is shaped by interactions between various characters and factions.
Several gaming outlets described Nod-Krai as a transitional arc leading into Snezhnaya, noting its use of multiple factions to connect earlier plot threads. Nod-Krai boosted the game's revenue and player discussion, and it received praise for tying together long-running storylines and engaging players. However, Nod-Krai also received criticism for some of its character designs.
Creation and design Information about Nod-Krai was first released in March 2025. Nod-Krai serves as the primary setting of the "Song of the Welkin Moon" series of updates, beginning with version 6.0 of the game. This chapter connects narrative threads and character foreshadowing established in earlier versions, centering on Teyvat's three moons, two of which are in pieces. The development team stated that the goal of the Nod-Krai arc was to tie up loose ends in the game's plot, bringing previously underexplored information back into the broader narrative. Several project team members wanted to tie up loose ends before continuing to Snezhnaya. The moon is the central motif of Nod-Krai. Unlike earlier story arcs, the story of the Nod-Krai quest chapter is not driven by the concept of a single nation, but instead progresses through the shared objectives and goals of multiple groups of people. In terms of narrative design, the team conceived of Nod-Krai as a stage centered on "people", where groups of different backgrounds and personalities collectively drive the story forward.
Scenes and gameplay
Nod-Krai's landscape is partly based on fjord scenery with Nordic characteristics and the natural environments of the Baltic region, though its cultural setting does not correspond to any clear real-world counterpart. It is also inspired by Slavic and Scandinavian countries. The development team explained that, rather than centering on a single civilization, the region's overall design is instead shaped by the relationships between characters and factions. Nod-Krai's wilderness carries the atmosphere of a dark forest, while its urban areas exhibit a style similar to dieselpunk. Its art also deliberately emphasizes the contrast between natural landscapes and artificial, technological creations.
In version "Luna I" (6.0), a new feature called Meeting Points was introduced, allowing players to enter the everyday living spaces of certain characters from Nod-Krai. The development team wrote that the early stages of the "Song of the Welkin Moon" quest will rely on an expanded main storyline for character development, while integrating story quests and hangout events more naturally into the world. They also expressed the intent to transform certain plot elements, such as the conflict with the Wild Hunt and intelligence gathering at the Curatorium of Secrets, into playable experiences. During exploration, Lauma can transform into a centaur-like form during world exploration, while nearby wildlife will approach her and provide items or healing. Some non-player characters in Nod-Krai also perform unique greeting gestures toward her. Columbina has her own area in Nod-Krai called Silvermoon Hall, where she can ask the protagonist, the Traveler, to hum tunes, have conversations with her, or take a stroll under the moonlight in exchange for rewards.
In the early in-game history of Teyvat, three moons once existed, whose power was more primordial than the seven primordial elements upon which the world operates. A force related to these moons known as kuuvahki is an ancient energy spread throughout Nod-Krai, shaping its terrain and lifeforms. Certain characters can harness this power in combat through devices called Moon Wheels, triggering unique elemental reactions in combat known as Lunar Reactions. Nod-Krai characters also feature a system called Moonsign, which provides buffs depending on the number of Nod-Krai characters in the current party. Across Nod-Krai, monopolar fields affiliated with kuuvahki are common, and they can be used for puzzles and map traversal.
The Nod-Krai music was produced by HoYo-MiX and recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Voices choir, singer Aurora, and folk musicians.
Setting
Geography In the game, Nod-Krai is an autonomous region located northwest of Natlan and at the southernmost edge of Snezhnaya and lies on the edge of Teyvat. It is considered an autonomous region of Snezhnaya, and is ruled by the Voynich Guild, a group of local merchants. Situated on the fringes of Teyvat, it has long been influenced by multiple factions as well as the antagonistic power of the Abyss. It is said to be lawless in nature. Numerous groups from across Teyvat have gathered there, including the Knights of Favonius of Mondstadt. Another ongoing threat comes from the Abyss in the form of the Wild Hunt, which continually takes a toll on the land's vitality. In version "Luna I" of the game, the first part of Nod-Krai to be released consists of three insular regions, with the story beginning in Nasha Town. Although the town features mechanical-style streets, its overall appearance more closely resembles an industrial settlement pieced together from limited resources, reminding one author of 1990s-era art. Nasha Town is a chaotic melting pot, home to an independent organization known as the Curatorium of Secrets, which accepts commissions and handles matters that cannot be openly resolved. Further west is Hiisi Island, inhabited by the Frostmoon Scions, a group associated with ancient ruins and lunar traditions. The Lightkeepers, an ancient organization dedicated to safeguarding Nod-Krai's freedom and stability in the face of the Wild Hunt, are based at Paha Isle and Voidsea Outlook, and their members carry special lanterns that function as warning signs when the Wild Hunt is nearby. In version "Luna IV" and "Luna VII", Nod-Krai was expanded northwards and added to the launch pod that takes people to the Frost Moon.
Lore Nod-Krai originated during Teyvat's primordial dragon era when part of one of the world's moons fell into the sea. This event infused the area with kuuvahki, a unique lunar energy that altered local flora and fauna over time. Six thousand years before the game's events, the ancient civilization of Hyperborea was destroyed by a divine Celestial Nail, coincidentally triggering a conflict known as the War of Funerary Flame, and two of Teyvat's moons were destroyed. Canon (also known as Huurrekuutar), the surviving goddess of the Frost Moon, led refugees to Hiisi Island in Nod-Krai, where they established the Frostmoon Scions. Following Huurrekuutar's death, the Scions maintained a practice of selective bloodline preservation to produce a host for her reincarnation. Five hundred years prior to the main narrative, the new Frost Moon goddess, Kuutar—later revealed as the Fatui Harbinger Columbina—was born among them.
Nod-Krai was one of the first regions corrupted by the Abyss around at the same time. Since then, it has been repeatedly invaded by the Wild Hunt, a force controlled by Rerir, one of the Five Sinners of Khaenri'ah, who uses its power to restore his strength and reconstruct his body. After receiving intelligence about Abyssal incursions, the Knights of Favonius of Mondstadt, led by Grand Master Varka, set out for Nod-Krai. Following their journey in Natlan, the Traveler, Paimon, and Ineffa, one of their friends, arrive in Nod-Krai, where they meet Lauma, leader of the Frostmoon Scions, and Flins, a Lightkeeper. Together, they begin resisting the Wild Hunt and uncover Rerir as the source of the threat. During the investigation, the Traveler discovers Columbina living in seclusion among the Frostmoon Scions, who view her as a moon goddess Kuutar. As other Fatui Harbingers search for her, Columbina then befriends the Traveler, and with Arlecchino help, they expel Rerir from Teyvat. Columbina then attempts to return to the Frost Moon to restore her strength, but is stopped by Il Dottore, another Fatui Harbinger, who seizes the power of the three moons in an attempt to ascend to godhood. Columbina allows herself to be imprisoned in the moon's reflection to prevent him from fully controlling her power. The Traveler and allies conjoin the plans to revive Columbina and later confront Dottore. Meanwhile, Columbina travels back in time, receives divine power from the three ancient moon goddesses whom Columbina transports them back to the real world, closing the loop, and with help of the Traveler and their allies, returns to Teyvat to defeat him, bringing the Frost Moon back to Teyvat in process.
Release and promotion
A short film was released in July 2025 which showcased upcoming character and scene designs which would be used in Nod-Krai. Nod-Krai was released in Version "Luna I" of the game on September 10, 2025. Versions Luna II and III were released later that year, continuing the story. Version "Luna IV" featured the release of a new area of Nod-Krai and was released on January 13–14, 2026.
On March 10, 2025, Genshin Impact officially launched a promotional event for Nod-Krai, and players held discussions around the concept of a "moon goddess" and the three moons, with related hashtags trending across Chinese social media. An update to the web event on March 31 revealed the factions of Nod-Krai and new areas of the map. On April 30, miHoYo released a behind-the-scenes documentary which officially announced that the Nod-Krai chapter would begin after version 5.8 and last for roughly one year. The developers described Nod-Krai as a stage for reconnecting previously-existing plot threads and bringing together multiple factions across Teyvat. On July 22, they released a promotional short film for Nod-Krai which showcased the region's characters and design. It introduced eleven characters, all but one of which were new. According to GamesRadar+ editor Austin Wood, the most anticipated reveals were long-teased characters finally making their first full appearance, namely, Columbina, Varka, and Alice. Alice is the mother of Klee and leader of the Hexenzirkel, a powerful group of witches. She had previously only appeared vocally in limited-time events. Varka, meanwhile, had been mentioned as early as version 1.0. At Gamescom in 2025, miHoYo released another trailer revealing Flins, and hosted demos of the region via livestream.