Candace

Overview

Candace is a playable character from the open-world RPG Genshin Impact. Serving as the dedicated Guardian of Aaru Village in the desert region of Sumeru, she is a descendant of the ancient King Deshret. As a four-star Hydro character who wields a polearm alongside a specialized shield, her primary goal is maintaining the safety of her community. She welcomes peaceful guests and travelers with exceptional kindness while remaining unyielding toward anyone who threatens the village's sanctuary.

Appearance

Candace is a dark-skinned woman with dark blue hair and striking heterochromia, featuring a yellow-amber left eye and a deep blue right eye. Her dark hair is styled with short frontal bangs alongside long sidelocks and low twin locks. Her attire features bare shoulders and an exposed midriff, complemented by sandals, ankle jewelry, and painted nails. She wears ancient Egyptian-inspired ornaments, including an Eye of Horus headpiece, a crescent moon accessory at the back of her hair, an Ankh pendant on her chest, and carries a large shield decorated with a sun-bearing winged bird motif.

Personality

Candace possesses a dual nature: immensely compassionate to guests, yet unyielding to troublemakers. She willingly offers food, water, and rest to weary travelers or wandering mercenaries, provided they follow village rules. However, she shows a terrifyingly cold demeanor toward those who break the law, executing firm interrogations and punishment. Rather than seeking luxury or personal amusements, she finds her greatest joy in simply watching the peaceful, ordinary days of Aaru Village pass by.

Abilities

In battle, Candace combines Hydro powers with spear technique and shield maneuvers. Her normal attack sequence blends thrusts, shield strikes, and spear throws. Her Elemental Skill, Sacred Rite: Heron's Sanctum, delivers a forward shield bash on tap, or forms a defensive shield scaling with her max HP on hold, culminating in a powerful leaping counter-strike. Her Elemental Burst, Sacred Rite: Wagtail's Tide, deals area-of-effect Hydro damage and grants the Prayer of the Crimson Crown effect to her team, enhancing normal elemental attacks, generating water waves on character swaps, and imbuing close-range weapon attacks with Hydro. She also lowers climbing stamina consumption for the active party.

Background

Candace acquired her Hydro Vision after passionately standing her ground against former guardians who refused to accept changes in Aaru Village. As the designated protector, she has spent years shielding her homeland from sandstorms, rogue monsters, and internal disputes. During key crises in Sumeru, she assisted in resolving the cases of missing village keepers and fostering peace between the desert populace and the rainforest scholars, while occasionally visiting Sumeru City for grand festivals when persuaded by friends.

Relationships

She shares a close bond of friendship and mutual respect with Dehya, who often encourages her to relax and gives her fine accessories, which Candace carefully stores for retirement. She maintains a professional relationship with General Mahamatra Cyno, occasionally exchanging interrogation tips for handling village intruders. She also provides refuge and hospitalities to the Traveler, Alhaitham, and other visiting scholars or adventurers.

Trivia

Her name derives from the Latin word for pure and echoes the ancient Nubian royal title of Candace. Her constellation, Sagitta Shield, references Nubia's historical reputation as a kingdom of archers. The designs of her shield and ornaments incorporate motifs from ancient Egyptian myth, such as the Eye of Horus, the Ankh, the moon deity Khonsu, and the Bennu bird. Additionally, she disfavoring fish dishes due to the tedious process of removing bones.