Genshin Impact Version 5.7 is just days from going live, but surprising new details have emerged about one of the update’s most anticipated features: weapon skins. While the feature was hinted at earlier through minor leaks, we now have solid information about how they work, how to unlock them, and what players can expect in terms of functionality and lore.

Unfortunately, there’s a major catch—these skins are temporary. And while they’re free, not everyone will have the power (or patience) to unlock them all.

Free Weapon Skins… With a Catch

Let’s start with the good news: you can earn these weapon skins completely for free by participating in Version 5.7’s new endgame challenge mode, Tumult Subduer. This mode includes six phases of high-difficulty content with escalating boss encounters. If you can clear each phase in under 180 seconds, you’ll unlock exclusive weapon skins—each one tied to either a five-star or four-star weapon, depending on your performance.

If you beat the time limit, you get the five-star version of the skin. Miss the timer and you’ll only unlock the four-star skin equivalent. Fail to meet either condition and you’ll walk away with the baseline rewards—mainly Primogems—but no cosmetic bonuses.

Temporary Rewards That Reset Each Version

Here’s where it gets controversial: the skins are temporary. Early indications suggest you’ll lose access to them once a new version drops unless you complete the challenge again. It’s essentially a rental system, not a permanent unlock. So, even if you manage to earn the five-star weapon skin, you’ll need to keep re-clearing the challenge every update to maintain it.

While this isn’t new in live service games, it’s the first time Genshin Impact has introduced a temporary cosmetic system. This has sparked mixed reactions in the community, especially given how challenging the content is and how few players are likely to reach the highest tiers of completion.

Are the Skins Just Cosmetic?

Yes. These weapon skins are purely visual. They offer no combat advantage—no buffs, no passives, no stat bonuses. That means all the time and effort you put into unlocking them is for aesthetic purposes only. However, they do include some impressive features, such as:

  • Elemental customization: Each skin can be attuned to one of the seven elements (Pyro, Hydro, Cryo, etc.), allowing you to match a weapon’s appearance to your character.
  • Applicability to 4-star and 5-star weapons: Surprisingly, skins aren’t limited to 5-star weapons. Even 4-star weapons are getting love in this system.

Endgame Challenge Difficulty

According to Fairy Furina, the Tumult Subduer bosses boast up to 15 million HP, far more than anything found in the Spiral Abyss. This makes the time challenge extremely demanding, likely requiring C6 characters, maxed-out weapons, and highly optimized artifact builds.

Casual or free-to-play players may find themselves completely locked out of the five-star skin tier, which raises concerns about accessibility. It’s a form of endgame aspirational content—perhaps too aspirational for most of the player base.

Fortunately, the 450 Primogems offered through the challenge are not gated behind the same difficulty spike. Everyone can earn them regardless of performance, which at least softens the blow.

Lore: The Five Sinners of Khaenri’ah

One of the most interesting and easily overlooked aspects of the new skins is their lore. Each skin is reportedly named after one of the Five Sinners—legendary figures from Khaenri’ah’s dark past:

  • Veterane
  • Proper
  • Rind
  • Certilogi
  • Rarer

These characters were powerful individuals who fell into ruin through their pursuit of forbidden knowledge, echoing the story of Gold (also known as Rhinedottir), the alchemist who created Durin and Albedo. These names are not just flavor text—they potentially hint at future developments involving Khaenri’ah and the Abyss Order. Equipping these skins is symbolic, tying your weapon to the sins of the past and the crumbling history of Teyvat’s most tragic nation.

Final Thoughts: Exciting or Frustrating?

The concept of customizable, lore-rich weapon skins is undeniably exciting. But locking them behind a brutal challenge with temporary availability is a decision many players are finding difficult to accept.

For high-end players, this will be a welcome test of their accounts. For everyone else, it might just feel like another reminder of Genshin’s widening endgame gap. That said, if HoYoverse receives enough feedback, there’s still a chance they could revise the system in future updates—either by easing the difficulty or making the rewards permanent.

For now, the Tumult Subduer mode will be the proving ground for the most invested players. Whether these new skins end up being a beloved feature or a forgotten experiment will likely depend on how HoYoverse responds to the community.

For more Genshin Impact news, updates, and detailed guides, visit ExploreGenshin.gg

Source: Fairy Furina

Frequently Asked Questions about Genshin Impact Weapon Skins

What are weapon skins in Genshin Impact 5.7?

Weapon skins are cosmetic alterations that change the appearance of certain 4-star and 5-star weapons. They offer no combat bonuses or stat enhancements and are purely for aesthetic purposes.

How do you unlock the new weapon skins?

You can unlock the skins by completing the Tumult Subduer challenge mode in Version 5.7. Completing a phase within 180 seconds unlocks 5-star weapon skins, while slower completions unlock 4-star versions.

Are the weapon skins permanent?

No, the skins are temporary. Based on current information, access to these skins will expire with each new version update, meaning you’ll need to re-clear the challenge in future updates to keep using them.

Are the skins available to free-to-play players?

Technically yes, but the difficulty of the challenge makes it hard for casual or free-to-play players to unlock 5-star skins. Bosses in Tumult Subduer have up to 15 million HP, requiring high-level teams to meet the 180-second timer.

Do weapon skins have any gameplay impact?

No. The skins are strictly visual and do not impact gameplay. They don’t provide any buffs, passives, or stat boosts.

Is there lore tied to the weapon skins?

Yes. Each skin is named after one of the Five Sinners of Khaenri’ah—ancient figures who sought forbidden knowledge and fell into ruin. These names deepen the skins’ narrative value and may hint at future story content.