As I watched the first official Natlan teaser from HoYoverse, a wave of pure, unadulterated excitement washed over me. For nearly four years, since the game's initial release, the community has whispered about the possibility of mounts, and seeing those magnificent, diverse Saurians roaming the Pyro nation's lava rivers and cavernous canyons felt like a childhood promise finally being kept. The Nation of War, as Neuvillette hinted in Fontaine, is not just a land of conflict but a realm where dragons are woven into the very fabric of society. Now, in 2025, this isn't just lore; it's our next playground, and we're getting the keys to ride its most spectacular inhabitants. The teaser, brief as it was, confirmed that the mount-based system is real, transforming Natlan from a distant concept on the map into my most anticipated adventure.
The core of this new system revolves around the Saurians, creatures as varied as the biomes they inhabit. From what I've gleaned, these aren't just reskins of a single model; each seems uniquely adapted to conquer Natlan's extreme environments. I can already imagine the tactile sensation of controlling them:
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The Subterranean Geo Dragon: A creature that moves through earth and rock like a hot knife through butter, allowing for exploration of underground networks that would make the Chasm seem quaint.
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The Lava Swimmer: A beast impervious to molten rock, opening up entire volcanic rivers and lakes as new avenues for travel and hidden treasure hunts.
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The High-Jumper: A Saurian with powerful leg muscles capable of launching itself to towering heights, potentially bypassing entire cliff faces in a single, exhilarating bound.
This promises a level of environmental interaction that goes far beyond simple traversal. It feels like we're not just visiting Natlan; we're learning to live in it, to move through it as its native inhabitants do. The potential here is staggering—it could be the most significant exploration mechanic added since gliding itself.
My mind immediately draws parallels to Fontaine's underwater exploration, which revolutionized how we interacted with that region. Natlan's mounts seem poised to do the same, but on a grander, more dynamic scale. Where swimming was a serene, weightless experience, riding these Saurians looks to be powerful, grounded, and visceral. The teaser hinted at incredible diversity in the landscapes we'll conquer: fresh-water rivers cutting through jungles, obsidian caves glowing with internal heat, and wind-swept canyons that stretch into the clouds. Each biome feels like it will demand a specific approach, perhaps even specific Saurian companions. Exploring these areas won't just be about endurance or finding a path; it will be about choosing the right mount for the job, making exploration a strategic, engaging puzzle.
The most tantalizing glimpse, however, came at the very end of the teaser. After a creature scaled a canyon, the camera panned to the horizon to reveal another Saurian soaring through the skies. This single shot sent my imagination into overdrive. Could this mean true, sustained flight? For years, gliding has been our primary mode of aerial travel, a graceful but ultimately limiting descent. The thought of mounting a flying dragon and taking to the skies of Teyvat with complete freedom is a dream scenario. It would transform the entire exploration meta, making the world feel smaller and more conquerable, yet infinitely more vast and wondrous. Controlling such a creature would be like holding the reins of a living storm cloud, a direct conduit to the raw, untamed power of the elements.
Reflecting on HoYoverse's pattern, this tease follows their successful playbook. Just as they previewed Fontaine's swimming mechanics well in advance, this Natlan showcase suggests a confident, steady development cycle. With a predicted release later this year, the wait suddenly feels agonizingly short and thrillingly tangible. The inclusion of mounts isn't just a new feature; it feels like the maturation of Genshin Impact's open-world philosophy. We've gone from walking and climbing in Mondstadt, to sailing in Inazuma, to deep-sea diving in Fontaine. Now, we prepare to ride dragons in a land forged by war and fire. It's a progression that makes perfect sense, and witnessing it unfold is one of the great joys of being a long-term Traveler.
As I think ahead to my first moments in Natlan, several questions burn brighter than the nation's Pyro Archon. How will we bond with or command these Saurians? Will it be a simple summon, or a deeper mechanic involving trust or resources? Could different Saurians have combat applications, turning battles into chaotic, mounted skirmishes? The social implications are also fascinating. If dragons are part of society, will we forge alliances with them, or are they seen as beasts of burden? The narrative potential is as rich as the gameplay.
In many ways, this new system feels like the final piece of a puzzle I didn't even know I was solving. Genshin's world has always been breathtaking, but occasionally, traversing its vastness could feel like a marathon. Natlan's mounts promise to turn that marathon into a symphony of movement. Riding a creature through a river of lava won't just be efficient travel; it will be an experience, a moment of awe as permanent as my first flight over Liyue's stone forests. It represents a shift from seeing the world to truly feeling it, to moving through it with a power and grace borrowed from the land's most majestic creatures. The wait for Natlan is now colored by visions of soaring over canyons and diving through molten rock, and I, for one, cannot wait to saddle up.