Mythic moon-eater rises: Genshin’s Bakunawa set to shake Natlan

Bernadette Soriano

Genshin Impact’s long-teased Philippine serpent-dragon, Bakunawa, is finally surfacing, and it’s not just a cameo.

In the Version 5.8 preview livestream, developer HoYoverse unveiled Bakunawa as Natlan’s new weekly boss, residing deep in the blistered landscape of Mare Jivari.

The lore-laden creature draws from pre-colonial Philippine mythology, where it’s said to have swallowed seven of the moon’s sisters, plunging the world into chaos and eclipses.

Some legends paint the Bakunawa as a vengeful guardian — avenging the death of a beloved sister or betrothed — while others frame it as beauty’s most dangerous admirer.

But no matter the version, one motif echoes: people banging pots and pans in a desperate plea to scare the beast into spitting the moon back.

HoYoverse’s take is darker. The in-game Bakunawa is a Khaenri’ahn bio-weapon, engineered by Rhinedottir — alchemist and sinner.

Immortal and regenerative, this Bakunawa doesn’t just eat moons, it regrows limbs mid-battle, making it a formidable combatant in Natlan’s fire-scorched badlands.

Mare Jivari, previously only whispered in dialogue and journals, is described as a “sea of ashes where the wind does not blow”, a region that vanished thirty years ago.

Now, it returns with volcanic terrain, looming lore, and the most fearsome serpentine boss the game has ever seen.

Beyond the boss drop, Version 5.8 also ushers in summer flair with new skins for Bennett and Yelan, and the seasonal flagship event.

Players will also meet Ineffa, a key figure in the incoming Archon Quest, as Genshin’s narrative hurtles toward Nod Krai, the game’s next major region.

Version 5.8 goes live globally on July 30, bringing with it molten trials, mythic terror, and one more moon-hunting legend; this time, controllable only by player skill.