Introduction
Mihoyo consistently introduces new characters into the Genshin Impact universe, with the most recent addition being Hu Tao. Each character possesses distinctive abilities, and Hu Tao is no exception.
Having already made an appearance in the game, Hu Tao is slated to return on November 3rd, showcasing her range of attacks, skills, and age in Genshin Impact.
Who is Hu Tao in Genshin Impact?
Since her initial leak, Hu Tao has become a highly anticipated character among players of Genshin Impact. She is a five-star rarity Pyro user who wields a polearm.
One of the reasons why Genshin Impact’s characters are so beloved by its community is not just their design but also because they are fully voiced by some of the industry’s most talented voice actors.
Hu Tao is a character featured in the popular game Genshin Impact, known for her cheerful and lively personality. Despite her role as a funeral director, she maintains an energetic disposition and is not deterred by discussing grim topics such as death.
While her exact age is never mentioned in the game, her youthful appearance and demeanour suggest she is likely around 18 to 20 years old. This makes her a relatable character for players who seek a connection with a character closer to their age.
There are different speculations about Hu Tao’s age, with her position as the Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor suggesting that she is at least 16 years old. While the game is vague about character ages, Hu Tao’s “medium” model implies that she is a teenager.
She inherited her position after performing her first funeral ceremony for her grandfather, indicating that she is older than thirteen. However, despite her natural talent, Hu Tao still needed time to learn about the business side of her role, suggesting that she gained maturity and understanding over time before being formally given her title as Director.
Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that she is in her late teenage years, somewhere between 16 and 19 years old.
Hu Tao’s Age in Genshin Impact
Hu Tao’s age in Genshin Impact can be inferred to be at least 19 years old based on her character description and voice lines. As the 77th Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, she inherited the business at a young age, as stated in her character description.
Upon reaching friendship level 5 with Hu Tao, a new voice line becomes available in which she reveals that she took over funeral affairs a few years ago, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, who was the 75th Director.
This suggests that Hu Tao is at least in her early twenties, although her exact age remains unspecified.
Hu Tao’s Special Abilities in Genshin Impact
Hu Tao remains one of the most effective DPS characters in Genshin Impact due to her potent Pyro damage and wide-reaching Elemental Burst. Her high damage output makes her a formidable opponent, even against tough adversaries.
In particular, Hu Tao pairs exceptionally well with characters like Xingqiu, who can easily trigger Vaporize reactions, further boosting her already impressive damage output to incredible heights. As a result, Hu Tao’s skills and abilities make her a top pick for players looking for a reliable and devastating DPS character.
Hu Tao’s distinctive playstyle, which involves draining her own HP to deal additional damage, provides players with the flexibility to build her with high HP stats, making her a sturdy character who can withstand heavy hits and recover quickly.
As a result, Hu Tao is widely regarded as one of the top-tier characters in Genshin Impact, and players are highly recommended to invest in her if they want to deal significant damage.
Her Pyro-based Elemental Skill and Elemental Reactions make her a formidable opponent, especially against enemies vulnerable to the element. Overall, Hu Tao is an invaluable addition to any party in Genshin Impact.
Hu Tao’s impressive burst damage can efficiently break through Cryo shields, which makes her an indispensable member when dealing with a group of enemies.
Furthermore, her Elemental Skill can trigger Melts or Vaporizes, providing her with the ability to eliminate entire groups of foes with just one hit. Thus, Hu Tao is a formidable opponent and must not be underestimated in any situation.
Hu Tao’s Favorite Animal in Genshin Impact
Hu Tao has a special fondness for stone lions, a common sight in Liyue. She used to visit them daily and even gave them names, such as Whiskers and Mittens.
In Hu Tao’s eyes, these stone lions are the best cats in all of Liyue, and no ordinary feline can compare. While she doesn’t seem to visit them as frequently as she used to, her love for these stone lions remains strong.
Hu Tao’s Poetry
Hu Tao’s fame primarily stems from her remarkable talent in poetry rather than her role as Director. Known as the “versemonger of the darkest alleys,” she has earned the admiration of many, including Xingqiu, for her free verse compositions.
Her song “Hilitune,” which is now popular in Liyue Harbor and sung by children in Qingce Village, serves as a testament to her creative genius. Hobbyists and critics alike have been awed by the originality of “Hilitune” and have flocked to Wanwen Bookhouse to discover more of her works.
Unfortunately, her two anthologies, “Fiddlesticks” and “Of Common Lives,” have yet to be published.
Hu Tao’s Design Association in Genshin Impact
Hu Tao’s character design in Genshin Impact draws inspiration from butterflies, which is evident in her animations and constellation. The butterfly is not just a visually stunning creature, but it also carries a significant symbolic meaning that is fitting for Hu Tao’s character traits and role in the game.
Butterflies are commonly associated with transformation and rebirth, which are relevant themes for Hu Tao, who serves as the Director of a funeral parlor and helps guide the souls of the departed to the afterlife.
Hu Tao’s design is not limited to just the butterfly symbolism; it also incorporates various elements that represent transition and rebirth. One example is her hat, which is adorned with a Plum Blossom that she has grown and plucked.
In Chinese culture, the Plum Blossom symbolizes perseverance and hope in difficult times, as well as unexpected beauty. It is also often associated with transition, as it blooms even in the harshest of conditions, signifying the arrival of spring and the promise of fruitfulness.
The Equinox flower, embroidered on the back of Hu Tao’s coat, is another element in her design that carries a significant meaning.
In Japanese funerals, these flowers are commonly used, but in Chinese Buddhism, they are known as the “flowers of hell” because they are believed to originate from the underworld and bloom along the paths that lead mortals to reincarnation in the cycle of life and death.
Hu Tao’s Harmony Hexagram Hat draws inspiration from Taoist principles. Its shape is reminiscent of a Lingpai, a tool used in Taoist rituals for tasks such as guiding the deceased’s soul, driving away malevolent spirits, and comforting the distressed. These practices align with the services offered by Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Hu Tao’s Mysterious Ghost Companion in Genshin Impact
Hu Tao’s Burst, Splash Art, and idle animations all feature a cute, spectral figure that accompanies her. While this ghostly companion fits Hu Tao’s role as a guide of souls, not much is known about it as the game has not revealed any details about it through its story or her voice lines.
Nevertheless, the Genshin Impact community has affectionately dubbed it “Boo Tao.” Despite its enigmatic nature, it is speculated that this companion is not a traditional ghost, as it does not resemble other ghostly entities in the game. Instead, Boo Tao is more of her elemental energy manifestation.
Hu Tao’s Birthdate
Hu Tao’s birthday is a uniquely meaningful occasion as it falls on July 15th, which holds special significance in both the Gregorian calendar and the Chinese lunar calendar. Not only does this date align with the height of summer, reflecting Hu Tao’s association with the Pyro element, but it also coincides with the Ghost Festival, also called the Zhongyuan Festival in Taoism and Yulanpen Festival in Buddhism.
Similar to the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead, this festival is a time for honouring and paying tribute to deceased loved ones.
During the Ghost Festival, which falls on Hu Tao’s birthday, people celebrate the reunion of the living and the souls of their ancestors. To pay tribute to this event, various ceremonies like burning incense, releasing river lanterns, and singing prayers are held.
The rich symbolism behind these customs and their connection to Hu Tao’s design showcases the exceptional attention to detail of the creators of Genshin Impact.
Hu Tao and the Staff of Homa
Hu Tao is a popular character in Genshin Impact among gamers who often prioritize building her with high max HP. Her ideal weapon is the Staff of Homa, which has a passive ability that synergizes well with her high max HP build. By using her Elemental Skill, Hu Tao can activate the Paramita Papilio state, which grants her an ATK boost based on her max HP.
As a result, the Staff of Homa is considered a crucial component of Hu Tao’s gear and one of the reasons why gamers opt to focus on maximizing her max HP. Although the Staff of Homa is Hu Tao’s best-in-slot weapon due to its passive ability, players can still achieve good damage outputs from her using other weapons and items.
Weapons such as the White Tassel, Dragon’s Bane, and the Primordial Jade-Winged Spear are also great options for increasing Hu Tao’s damage output. However, the viability of a character in Genshin Impact also relies on the artefacts and team compositions used.
FAQs
Following are the frequently asked questions about Hu Tao and Genshin Impact:
Q1: How old is Hu Tao in Genshin Impact?
Ans: According to the official Genshin Impact website, Hu Tao’s age is unknown. However, some fan theories suggest that she may be in her late teens or early twenties based on her appearance and personality.
Q2: When is Hu Tao’s birthday?
Ans: Hu Tao’s birthday is on July 15th, which coincides with the Ghost Festival in Chinese culture, a time for honouring and remembering the deceased.
Q3: What is the significance of Hu Tao’s birthday?
Ans: Hu Tao’s birthday is significant as it mirrors her Pyro vision, falling in the middle of summer, and also aligns with the Chinese lunar calendar’s Ghost Festival. It further reflects the attention to detail given to her design, which incorporates many symbols and traditions related to death and rebirth.
Q4: What is Hu Tao’s best-in-slot weapon in Genshin Impact?
Ans: Hu Tao’s best-in-slot weapon is the Staff of Homa, which has a passive ability that works well with builds focused on high max HP. However, players can also use other weapons such as the White Tassel, Dragon’s Bane, and the Primordial Jade-Winged Spear to increase their damage output.
Q5: Can Hu Tao be built without the Staff of Homa?
Ans: Yes, even without the Staff of Homa, players can build Hu Tao with other weapons and artefacts to achieve good damage output. The viability of a character in Genshin Impact depends not just on their equipment but also on their team composition and playstyle.
Conclusion
Hu Tao is a fascinating character in the popular game Genshin Impact. From her unique design, inspired by butterfly symbolism, to her weapon and abilities, gamers have found various ways to build and play her.
Hu Tao has become a beloved character among fans, and it’s no surprise why – with her intriguing background and gameplay mechanics, she has truly captured the hearts of Genshin Impact players around the world.