Hilichurls

Hilichurls are a goblin-like family of monsters in Genshin Impact, and are one of the first enemy family types the player will encounter early in the game.

Description[]

Regardless of what stage of growth they are currently at, all Hilichurls are bare-chested and bare-footed, and have a large mane covering most of their head. They appear to have two elongated ears sticking out of their mane. The only clothing they wear is a loincloth, while their arms and legs are loosely wrapped in bandages. Every Hilichurl wears a mask, as to prevent themselves from seeing their own hideous faces in reflections. While elementally-affiliated Hilichurls, such as Samachurls, Hilichurl Rogues and Lawachurls take on the color of their element, their skin is naturally of a grayish-black hue.

Elementally affiliated hilichurls, such as Samachurls and Lawachurls, also take on the element's appropriate color for both their skin and masks. Despite their general hostility towards outsiders or humans and a less than optimal lifestyle, Hilichurls are also intelligent for their standards, as a few use tools and Slimes, scavenge and even engage in agriculture, albeit limited to raising livestock due to the race's general dislike of vegetables. They have a fairly impressive, albeit archaic architectural style, the construction or purpose of them unknown.

As a hilichurl grows and survives, they eventually turn into Mitachurls, who are larger and bulkier. Mitachurls that continue to grow and survive eventually accumulate an excess of the elemental energy in their area, turning them into Lawachurls. It is not known how long it takes for this growth to occur.

Some hilichurls may instead go rogue; unlike other hilichurls, these rogues are not part of a tribe, instead wandering around Teyvat for an unknown reason. However, they may occasionally help other hilichurl tribes for a short time before leaving. These hilichurls are larger, being of a similar height to a mitachurl, and are also said to be intelligent for hilichurl standards.

They appear to not have an archon or god governing them, rather relying on the most strongest and ferocious among them to lead the tribe. Most tribes also have Samachurls who act as the spiritual leaders of the group. The Lawachurls whose name is derived from the Hilichurlian way of respectfully addressing a king or ruler are revered by younger Hilichurls due to their strength. Despite their status as a role model or "king" for the smaller hierarchy, most Lawachurls prefer solitude.

Hilichurls appear to have a reliable social network, as some Hilichurls are friends with others across vast distances.^[1] Like humans, Hilichurls can live in a myriad of environments and acclimate themselves accordingly.

Many Hilichurls are also affiliated with the Abyss Order, as the Abyss Mages are able to speak fluent Hilichurlian. Unlike humans, who usually have to rely on a Vision or science to manipulate the elements, some Hilichurls are naturally capable of doing so, such as the samachurls — why or how is unknown. That said, Hilichurls typically stay away from areas with high elemental concentrations, as it places a great burden on their body.^[2]

Types[]

Element	Common Enemies	Elite Enemies	Special Enemies
Physical	Hilichurl Hilichurl Shooter Unusual Hilichurl	—	Mystifying Megachurl
Anemo	Anemo Samachurl	Anemo Hilichurl Rogue	—
Cryo	Cryo Hilichurl Grenadier Cryo Hilichurl Shooter Cryo Samachurl Ice Shield Hilichurl Guard	Frostarm Lawachurl Ice Shieldwall Mitachurl	—
Dendro	Dendro Samachurl Hilichurl Fighter Wooden Shield Hilichurl Guard	Wooden Shieldwall Mitachurl	—
Electro	Electro Hilichurl Grenadier Electro Hilichurl Shooter Electro Samachurl	Crackling Axe Mitachurl Thunderhelm Lawachurl	—
Geo	Geo Samachurl Rock Shield Hilichurl Guard	Rock Shieldwall Mitachurl Stonehide Lawachurl	—
Hydro	Hydro Samachurl	Hydro Hilichurl Rogue	—
Pyro	Hilichurl Berserker Hilichurl Grenadier Pyro Hilichurl Shooter	Blazing Axe Mitachurl	—

Drops[]

Hilichurls[]

— Mora

— Character EXP

Lv. 1+ Damaged Mask

Lv. 40+ Stained Mask

Lv. 60+ Ominous Mask

Hilichurl Shooters[]

— Mora

— Character EXP

Lv. 1+ Damaged Mask

Lv. 40+ Stained Mask

Lv. 60+ Ominous Mask

Lv. 1+ Firm Arrowhead

Lv. 40+ Sharp Arrowhead

Lv. 60+ Weathered Arrowhead

Samachurls[]

— Mora

— Character EXP

Lv. 1+ Damaged Mask

Lv. 40+ Stained Mask

Lv. 60+ Ominous Mask

Lv. 1+ Divining Scroll

Lv. 40+ Sealed Scroll

Lv. 60+ Forbidden Curse Scroll

Mitachurls/Lawachurls[]

≤200 Mora

— Character EXP

Lv. 1+ Damaged Mask

Lv. 40+ Stained Mask

Lv. 60+ Ominous Mask

Lv. 1+ Heavy Horn

Lv. 40+ Black Bronze Horn

Lv. 60+ Black Crystal Horn

Set Traveling Doctor

Set Ber­ser­ker

Set In­struc­tor

Set The Exile

Hilichurl Rogues[]

— Mora

— Character EXP

Lv. 1+ A Flower Yet to Bloom

Lv. 40+ Treasured Flower

Lv. 60+ Wanderer's Blooming Flower

Set Traveling Doctor

Set Ber­ser­ker

Set In­struc­tor

Set The Exile

Tribes[]

While Hilichurls can be found all over Teyvat, some of them in small tribes, there are three prominent tribes, all of whom can be found in Dadaupa Gorge. A tribe's composition tends to vary, usually containing a large amount of normal hilichurls. Most tribes also have Samachurls, who are the oldest of the Hilichurls and often lead the tribes.

Some tribes may not have Samachurls, which is the result of younger, stronger members overthrowing them. These tribes are most likely led by Mitachurls and are far more aggressive. Even fewer tribes are led by Lawachurls, as the few that are around prefer solitude and dislike the reverence the younger members give them.

Sleeper Tribe[]

The Sleeper Tribe Hilichurls are known for napping whenever possible. Due to their emphasis on sleeping, the Sleeper Tribe is rumored to have extremely soft animal-skin beds.

Meaty Tribe[]

The Meaty Tribe Hilichurls are known for making sacrifices on a regular basis. They pray for meat every day and highly value strength. Apart from building huge altars, they possess a massive cooking pot and a huge arena for members of the tribe to spar.

Eclipse Tribe[]

The Hilichurls of the Eclipse Tribe are said to be extremely mysterious; all Hilichurls of that tribe know how to draw an eclipse symbol. It is rumored that the Dada Samachurls of this tribe know the reasoning behind this.

Lore[]

It is heavily implied that hilichurls were once human beings who were cursed by the Gods for "sinning." While the punishment of the Gods could take many forms (such as immortality), this particular affliction is known as the "curse of wilderness," which causes people to transform into monsters and grants them an unnaturally prolonged life. Given that the Hilichurls' existence has been known for over a thousand years, it is likely they originate from the many ancient civilizations that once thrived on Teyvat before their eventual demise in various catastrophic events across Teyvat's history. In particular, their presence has increased since the cataclysm occurring 500 years ago,^[3] coinciding with the destruction of the ancient human civilization of Khaenri'ah. In fact, Dainsleif confirms that the hilichurls encountered in the Chasm are actually former citizens of Khaenri'ah,^{[4][Note 1]} and Chlothar Alberich further reveals that those who were not "pure-blood Khaenri'ahns" were the ones that turned into monsters.^[5]

Due to the curse, memories of their former life are gradually forgotten, as well as most semblances of humanity they once had. Their intelligence and behavior are gradually degraded, and they can no longer speak nor understand the common language of Teyvat. Despite all this, Hilichurls still seem to be capable of at least some rudimentary self-awareness and emotion. For instance, they still recall what it was like to have a human face, as the reason they wear masks to hide their true countenance is because they cannot stand the mental anguish of seeing their own hideous reflections in a body of water.^[6]

Although most Hilichurls are incapable of human speech and intelligence, it is possible to reverse parts of the curse, such as when Caribert was able to speak again after being imbued with the power of the abyss from the statue of the Sinner.^[7] Moreover, in Fontaine, Narzissenkreuz was able to give an Anemo Hilichurl Rogue sentience, granting him both a "human" form and the ability to speak and understand human language, giving him the name Caterpillar.^[8]

Hilichurls are unable to truly die a natural death on account of their immortality; as they grow older, their physical bodies and mental state erode to the point that is like 'death'. Because of this, aged Hilichurls are in a state of perpetual agony. However, Hilichurls seem to know that they are cursed and are also somehow aware of the properties of an area in The Chasm that can temporarily assuage the effects of their curse. Therefore, some Hilichurls instinctively venture to this region when they want to 'die' — ignoring all bodily needs of food or defense, and desiring nothing else than to waste away with at least some semblance of comfort.

Trivia[]

• It is not confirmed who or what the hilichurls from more than 500 years ago are. However, there is a Frostarm Lawachurl enemy on Dragonspine who is named Ukko, suggesting that Khaenri'ah is not the only destroyed civilization with people who turned into hilichurls.
  • It seems that Hilichurls have an affinity for remnants of the past.^[9]
  • After the fall of the ancient city of Gurabad, which involved Abyssal powers, its people were said to have been "scattered amidst a world of darkness, left to become wild creatures who had lost their language and faces." This description shares some similarities with the behavior of Hilichurls.^[10]

• Hilichurls may be inspired by a type of oni called Amanojaku (Japanese: 天邪鬼 "heavenly evil spirit"). It is also called a jaki (Japanese: 邪鬼) in some branches of Buddhism. These creatures are also the inspiration for the main enemy type in the game Ōkami, which also wear masks.
• The word Hilifolk may be intended as a collective synonym for Hilichurls; the term is written in the Teyvat alphabet on the covers of Hilichurl Cultural Customs and the Handy Handbook of Hilichurlian.
  • Hilichurls are also called "hill devils", but Ella Musk calls them "hill dwellers" instead.^[11]
• A tribe in Dadaupa Gorge called the Eclipse tribe worships an object that appears to represent an eclipsed sun. The tribe or the object might be a reference to the now fallen Eclipse Dynasty in Khaenri'ah.
• Hilichurls seem to recite poems or songs, according to Jacob Musk. These range from expressions of grief, festivity, and so on.^[12]
• The manga depicts beings resembling Hilichurls that existed during the time of Vennessa, though they are different in appearance compared to their present-day counterparts. For example, they are shown to have more colorful masks, and could be seen using traditional bows instead of the crossbows now wielded by Hilichurl Shooters. Notably, there was also a kind of flying creature with bat-like wings that is not known to appear in any other media.^[13]
  • None of the hilichurl designs seen in the prologue appear afterwards. However, Chapter 5 of the manga depicts hilichurls in present-day with Amber. These hilichurls have the same design used in-game and in official media.
• An unarmed Hilichurl will throw rocks with their left, suggesting that it's supposed to be also used by Hilichurl Fighters (who wield clubs with their right).
• If a Pyro Hilichurl Grenadier attempts to dig out a slime in shallow water, they will humorously show up empty handed while looking on with confusion. Cryo Hilichurl Grenadiers can successfully do so. However, and interestingly, the Cryo slimes they dig up appear to be Frozen.
• In some areas of Sumeru and during specific one-time off events and commissions, players may encounter unconscious hilichurls laying on the ground, most often near active dangerous enemies. These always utilize the normal, plain hilichurl model and can be seen moving when examined up close.
• The people of Sumeru's desert historically referred to hilichurls as "majuj" (Arabic: مَأْجُوجُ).^[14][15]

Notes[]

Other Languages[]

Change History[]

References[]

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