Genshin Impact's latest event highlights one of Inazuma's spookiest new enemies: Specters. "Spectral Secrets" is a limited-time expedition special that gives Genshin Impact fans a chance at free Primogems, the most sought-after currency in the wildly popular gacha game. The event is only available until September 26th: don't waste time trying to defeat Specters with the wrong team. This guide will cover how to complete Day 2: Wafting from Afar and provide the best tips for handling Specters throughout the game.

Getting Started with Spectral Secrets

To begin the quest, select the “Events Overview” icon to teleport to Inzauma and speak to everyone’s favorite android in disguise, Katheryne. Choose “Dispatch Character on Expedition” from the character dialogue, and the standard expedition map will launch, now with a new event tab. The map will display seven possible expeditions of differing letter ranks and rewards. Players may choose from four of the seven to complete:

• S-RANK: 20 Primogems, 1 per day
• A-RANK: 15 Primogems, 2 per day
• B-RANK: 10 Primogems, 4 per day

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Along with coveted Primogems, successful dispatches earn secondary rewards such as Mora, Experience Books, Enhancement Ore, Sanctifying Essence, and various domain exclusives. The number of secondary rewards returned fluctuates with your characters’ Element and level. Characters on Spectral Secrets expeditions won’t be available to participate in daily expeditions, so it’s recommended to situate your Spectral Secrets team with high-level characters before sending the low-level stragglers on their customary cross-country journey for fowl.

Spectral Secrets rewards Genshin Impact players with a friends list: those who fall short of meeting the level requirements with their own characters may “borrow” those listed in their friends’ showcases. Players can check the “Support Record” on the event page screen to see who borrowed from their showcase. Note that characters in the individual's showcase currently performing their own expeditions can still be utilized by friends and vice versa.

S-Rank expeditions award the most Primogems, but require a bit more effort to achieve. Upon selecting the daily allotted S-Rank, the map will populate with an indicator of where to conduct a “Preliminary Investigation” to unlock the expedition. This will require a small amount of adventuring and combat with some of Inazuma’s most notorious wildlife – read on for tips on how to breeze through this haunting encounter.

Wafting from Afar: Preliminary Investigation Location

Location: Konda Village on Narukami Island, InazumaRecommended Elements: Pyro, Electro, Cryo

1. Teleport to Konda Village and turn to face the fox shrine.

2. Behind the shrine is a small waterfall and Thunder Sakura Bough on the opposite side: jump across the water to summon the Electrograna.

3. If it’s raining, use Elemental Sight to easily discern the two Electric Lamps in the stream below.

4. Approach the lamps with Electrograna in tow to charge them.

5. Face the waterfall to locate the last Electric Lamp on a tiny outcrop of rock. If you’re having trouble spotting it, use Elemental Sight.

6. Refresh your Electrograna with the Sakura Bough if it’s expired and approach the last Lamp to auto-charge.

7. Charging the last Lamp summons 5 Specters: 3 Geo, 2 Hydro. Because the Geo are near water and the Hydro are water, Wet status is already applied.

8. Defeat the Spectors to complete the Preliminary Investigation and return to Katheryne. The “Wafting from Afar” expedition will now be unlocked and ready for dispatch.

Best Characters for Defeating Specters

Specters are the slimes of Inazuma with fancier hats and a lot more nerve. Genshin fans with full melee teams have found the floating lifeforms frustrating and time-consuming to pin down. The right characters will make a huge difference in how quickly you finish the Spectral Secrets event. Read on for the best recommendations, as well as important info about Specters in general.

Notes about Specters:

• Specters charge “fury”: when hit with strong attacks, their own damage is buffed.
• Both Geo and Hydro Specters deal projectile and AoE damage – shields are recommended.
• Take out the Hydro Specters first: They now include supports in their team comps. Hydro Specters will heal their friends.
• Move away from out-of-range Specters to beckon them closer.
• Don’t stand too close to Specters on the brink of expiration: they explode.
• These event Specters already have the Wet status applied.

Pyro:

• Yanfei: Yanfei is a DPS Pyro Catalyst – perfect for these ranged enemies of susceptible types. Her attacks are Elemental, and her Burst has a decent AoE that enhances her Normal attacks. C4 Yanfei is a certified Ghostbuster: her Burst equips this fragile heavy-hitter with a shield, the only thing she needs to solo this mob.
• Yoimiya: Yoimiya’s Elemental Skill infuses her arrows with Pyro, which is exactly what it’ll take to pop these ghastly balloons. The Wet status inherent to Hydro Specters and these particular Geo opponents means easy Vaporize, one of the best Elemental reactions in the game thanks to its ability to Crit.
• Xiangling: Xiangling’s Pyronado boasts an awesome AoE while remaining on the active character, and her Skill allows for versatile Pyro placement.

For those who rely on Barbara to keep their team healthy and don’t want to bring a water gun to a water balloon fight, Geo shields like Noelle, Zhongli, and Ningguang are options. Keep in mind that Noelle and Zhongli won’t be doing much on their own for the Geo Specters, and Ningguang will only be able to Crystallize Hydro. If you have Diona, she’s the best option and can set up Melt reactions for your Pyro team.

Electro:

• Raiden Shogun: Raiden’s Skill grants an AoE Electro DMG attribute to active characters when attacking, imbuing even basic physical attacks with the gift of Electro-charged. Her Burst also deals AoE Electro DMG while buffing the Elemental Bursts of the entire party. The Shogun predictably demolishes Specters – that’s one creature eternity can do without.
• Fischl: Fischl’s Skill summons Oz and deals Electro DMG even after she leaves the field. In this situation, she can easily apply Electro-charged to the already Wet Specters and shoot them down herself if she has a Physical build.

Electro-charged isn’t the strongest Elemental reaction, but thankfully this isn’t a one-person mission. A Pyro support will create Overload reactions (Raiden and Yanfei would be an unstoppable duo with a quick sequence of Electro-charged/Vaporize/Overload reactions on the Hydro Specters), and Cryo would result in Superconduct for a Physical ranged combatant like Fischl.

Cryo:

• Diona: Diona’s an excellent choice of support for her frosty shield and healing. Her Elemental Burst regenerates HP to party members while continuously dealing Cryo DMG to enemies within the AoE. She’ll keep your party protected while keeping the Specters frozen in place.
• Ayaka: Ayaka’s Elemental Skill has a high enough reach to hit mid-range Specters: if she can freeze them in auto-attack range, they’ll stay in the Ice Age with her Cryo-infused Normal/Charged attacks. Her Burst has a decent AoE, but may be too linear to hit this many Specters without additional Cryo or Anemo support. C2 Ayaka can do whatever she wants.
• Kaeya: Kaeya’s Elemental Burst and Skill can both freeze Specters within range and keep them frozen with his innately great Energy Recharge. His Burst also remains on the active character for its entire duration, providing freeze assistance to whoever is on the field.

Pairing Cryo vision carriers with an Anemo assistant such as Kazuha or Sucrose is the best way to gain leverage over this irritating cloud of ghostly slimes with Cryo. Sorry Venti mains: these things don’t care about crowd control meta at all. Anemo can help spread the reaction Element, but don’t expect these Specters to be moved by a stiff breeze.

Genshin Impact is available on mobile devices, PC, PS4, and PS5.

MORE: Genshin Impact: Spectral Secrets Preliminary Investigation Guide