Back in early 2024, when Wuthering Waves was just a twinkle in every gacha gamer’s eye, the drip marketing hit different. I still remember losing my mind over those character reveals on the train to work. Two names that really stuck with me were Jiyan and Taoqi, and somehow, even two years later in 2026, they’ve both carved out a permanent spot in my roster. Let’s take a nostalgic trip back to the pre-launch intel and see how it all holds up now that we’ve been through multiple version updates, dozens of new banners, and countless hours of Echo farming.

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If you were around for the beta tests or just devoured every crumb of info like I did, you’ll remember the basics. Jiyan was leaked as a five-star powerhouse, while Taoqi got that humble four-star tag. Now, don’t let the rarity fool you. Some of the best supports and shielders in the game started off as four-stars, and Taoqi aged like fine wine. But before we dive into my 2026 feelings, let’s break down what we were told back then and why it made us reach for our wallets.

🌪️ Jiyan: The Aero Broadblade Boss

Jiyan’s official reveal was a mic-drop moment. An Aero element character wielding a massive broadblade? Sign me up. He’s the stoic leader of the Jinzhou Midnight Rangers, a faction that screams discipline and cool factor. In those early promo videos, his design—flowing white hair, sharp dragon motifs, and that aura of calm authority—had people instantly declaring him their main. What, you thought you could resist the combination of wind powers and a sword bigger than your entire life plan?

The English voice actor, Alex Jordan, was another huge draw. By 2024, Jordan had already stacked an impressive resume: Jaro in Final Fantasy XVI, Lanzo in Dragon’s Dogma 2, and the unforgettable Mr. Hands in Cyberpunk 2077. Seriously, if you’ve ever begged Mr. Hands for a gig in Dogtown, you know that voice can switch from charming to chilling in a heartbeat. Imagine that same talent channeling Jiyan’s battle cries and calm strategic commands—instant chills. I actually chose the EN voiceover at launch just because of him, and zero regrets.

Fast forward to 2026, and Jiyan remains a beast. Sure, newer limited Aero DPS characters have crept in, but his combination of fast broadblade combos, crowd control, and his signature Liberation that turns him into a draconic blender is still S-tier in endgame content like the Tower of Adversity. And with the right Echo loadout (hello, that one 4-cost with the buff you spend three weeks farming), he still deletes bosses before they finish their monologues. Remember when the meta slaves said \u201che’ll fall off in a year\u201d? I sure don’t.

🛡️ Taoqi: The Havoc Role Model with a Heart of… Shield?

Then came Taoqi, a Havoc element character who also wields a broadblade, but with a completely different vibe. The reveal videos featured her English VA, Clare Louise Connolly, gushing about how Taoqi was a \u201crole model.\u201d And honestly? She wasn’t wrong. Taoqi’s design mixes innocence with an almost knight-like resolve, and her personality shines through her support-oriented kit.

Connolly is one of those VAs where you go \u201cwait, she voices WHO?!\u201d She voiced Rockrock in Arknights, and also lent her talent to both Cider and Colm in Bayonetta Origins. If you’ve ever heard Rockrock’s bubbly yet determined tone, you can instantly picture it layered over Taoqi’s gentle but firm battle lines. She even talked about the Echoes system back then—you know, the whole capture-Pok\u00e9mon-but-they’re-skills mechanic that makes Wuthering Waves so addictive. We all nodded along in 2024 pretending we understood how Echoes would work, but now we have 200 locked ones in our inventory because we can’t make decisions.

What’s the real tea in 2026? Taoqi is the unsung hero of my account. As a four-star, she’s deceptively tanky. Her shield scales off DEF, and when you build her right, she can face-tank hits that would send your maxed-out five-stars into orbit. She pairs beautifully with any Havoc or hybrid team, and her concerto generation is still surprisingly fast. New players often overlook her because she\u2019s not as flashy as the latest limited unit, but veterans know: a well-invested Taoqi can make the difference between a perfect hazard zone clear and a rage quit. I mean, how many times has a well-timed Taoqi shield saved your run? Be honest.

📊 Side-by-Side: The Pre-Launch Intel Table

Just to hit that nostalgia button, here\u2019s what the official reveals told us before May 22, 2024 rolled around:

Feature Jiyan Taoqi
Rarity 5★ 4★
Element Aero Havoc
Weapon Broadblade Broadblade
Affiliation Jinzhou Midnight Rangers (Leader) —
EN Voice Actor Alex Jordan (FFXVI, Cyberpunk 2077) Clare Louise Connolly (Arknights, Bayonetta Origins)
Personality Trait Calm, strategic leader \u201cRole model\u201d, supportive

Now, after two years of updates, events, and character stories, both have been fleshed out even more. Jiyan\u2019s backstory with the Rangers and his personal struggles with the Threnodian threat? Heart-wrenching. Taoqi\u2019s side quests exploring her sense of duty and her connection to the community? I didn\u2019t sign up for feels, Kuro Games.

🎮 From May 22, 2024 to Now

Wuthering Waves launched on May 22, 2024 on PC and mobile, with a huge wave of pre-registration rewards. If you were one of the 30 million pre-registered players, you probably still have that limited avatar frame equipped. I remember logging in at launch, grabbing my free pulls, and immediately going for Jiyan\u2019s debut banner. Got him at 70 pulls? That was lucky, right? Right?!

Now, it\u2019s 2026, and the game has evolved massively. New regions, echo types, and mechanics like the Illusive Realms make team-building more flexible than ever. But every time I scroll through my character list and see Jiyan and Taoqi sitting there with maxed skills, I feel a little proud. They aren\u2019t just metro relics; they\u2019re proof that a well-designed character can survive power creep with pure personality and solid core mechanics.

If you\u2019re a new Rover just starting your journey, don\u2019t sleep on these two. And if you\u2019re a day-one player, take a moment to bring them into your next overworld exploration run. Blast some air slashes with Jiyan, pop Taoqi\u2019s shield right before a boss\u2019s phase transition, and remember why we all lost our minds over these reveals back when we didn\u2019t even know how to parry properly.

Wuthering Waves might be sailing into year three, but some characters are just timeless. And honestly? I wouldn\u2019t have it any other way. 🍃