Festive Fever System: Your Path to the Free Liyue 4-Star
Festive Fever is the primary progression currency for Lantern Rite 2026, accumulating through event participation. Unlike previous iterations, this year rewards consistent engagement rather than single-activity grinding.
The event launches January 30, 2026, as part of Version 6.3 (begins January 14, 2026). Accumulate Festive Fever through event quests, Fortune Coins, mini-games, and time-limited activities. The 4-star selector appears at 1200 threshold.
To maximize rewards efficiently, consider securing resources through Genshin Impact Welkin Moon top up instant recharge at BitTopup for competitive pricing and immediate delivery.
How Festive Fever Works
Festive Fever operates as a cumulative point system tracking event participation. A Lanternlit Ode to the Silver Moon serves as the primary source, supplemented by May Fortune Find You, Shutterflash Memory Hunt, and Moonlit Patrol Exercise.
Festive Fever Sources:
- Fortune Coin collection awards Festive Fever through Auspicious Mora rewards
- Mini-game completions provide immediate Festive Fever
- Event quests grant substantial one-time bonuses
- Daily resets at 4:00 AM server time enable repeatable farming
The system displays your current total in the event menu, updating real-time. Unlike resin-gated content, most sources require only time investment, making 1200 achievable for all players.
The 1200 Threshold: Liyue Selector Characters
Reaching 1200 Festive Fever unlocks Words to a Good Friend event, granting the Liyue 4-star character selector with 11 options:
- Electro: Beidou (Claymore)
- Geo: Ningguang (Catalyst), Yun Jin (Polearm)
- Pyro: Xiangling (Polearm), Xinyan (Claymore), Yanfei (Catalyst), Gaming (Claymore)
- Hydro: Xingqiu (Sword)
- Cryo: Chongyun (Claymore)
- Dendro: Yaoyao (Polearm)
- Anemo: Lan Yan (Catalyst)
The selector remains available through February 23, 2026, but unlocking early maximizes time for additional rewards and primogems.
Prerequisites
Requirements:
- Adventure Rank 20 minimum
- Archon Quest Prologue Act 3: Song of the Dragon and Freedom completion
- Some sub-events may require Chapter 5 Act 5 completion
AR 20 represents 10-15 hours gameplay for new accounts. Pre-event preparation: unlock all Liyue Harbor Teleport Waypoints before January 30 to reduce Fortune Coin collection time from 20+ minutes to under 15 minutes.
Complete Day-1 Unlock Path: Hit 1200 in 24 Hours
Fastest path combines mail rewards, opening quest, Fortune Coin collection, and strategic mini-game participation. Requires 2-3 hours focused gameplay.
Hour-by-Hour Timeline
Hour 0:00-0:15 - Initial Setup:
- Log in at server reset
- Paimon Menu > Mail > Claim All
- Collect 1600 Primogems from Lantern Rite mail
- Accept A Lanternlit Ode to the Silver Moon opening quest
Hour 0:15-0:45 - Opening Quest: Complete introductory quest chain for substantial initial Festive Fever. Unlocks Fortune Coin collection and mini-games.
Hour 0:45-1:00 - Fortune Coin Collection: Execute optimized 12-coin route in under 15 minutes. Every 3 coins awards Auspicious Mora: Flowing Fortune.
Hour 1:00-2:00 - May Fortune Find You Mini-Game: Runs January 16 to February 3, 2026. Complete stages by hitting Auspicious Treasure Trees and gathering Jades while avoiding lanterns.
Hour 2:00-3:00 - Additional Activities: Participate in available events with highest Festive Fever returns per time invested.
Activity Priority List
- Claim all mail rewards - Instant, provides primogems and materials
- Complete A Lanternlit Ode to the Silver Moon - Unlocks all activities
- Collect all 12 Fortune Coins - Fastest Festive Fever per minute
- Play May Fortune Find You - Available before main event
- Light Xiao Lanterns - Quick interaction-based Festive Fever
- Complete available event quests - Story-driven Festive Fever
Time-Gated Content
Immediately Available (January 30):
- A Lanternlit Ode to the Silver Moon opening quest
- Fortune Coin collection in Liyue Harbor
- May Fortune Find You mini-game (running since January 16)
- Xiao Lantern lighting interactions
- Initial event mail rewards
Time-Gated:
- Shutterflash Memory Hunt (January 16-26, 2026) - Already concluded
- Moonlit Patrol Exercise (February 9-23, 2026) - Mid-event unlock
- Ley Line Overflow (February 16-23, 2026) - Late event double rewards
Focus exclusively on available activities during Day-1 push.
Fortune Coin Collection: Optimized Routes
12 Fortune Coins in Liyue Harbor represent the most time-efficient Festive Fever source. Every 3 coins awards Auspicious Mora: Flowing Fortune.
Northern Route: Coins 1, 2, 3, 11 (5-6 Minutes)
Start at northern Liyue Harbor gate, proceed clockwise:
- Coin 1: North of main gate entrance, near stairs
- Coin 2: Bubu Pharmacy counter near Qiqi's position
- Coin 3: Near northern waypoint, adjacent to Adventurers' Guild
- Coin 11: Inside Reputation Guild building, on desk near Katheryne
Use northern waypoint as starting teleport for fastest access.
Central Route: Coins 4, 5, 6 (3-4 Minutes)
Navigate commercial center:
- Coin 4: Xinyue Kiosk restaurant
- Coin 5: Downstairs plaza area, near central fountain
- Coin 6: Highest bridge connecting upper and lower harbor
Fastest completion time due to compact placement. Experienced players complete in under 3 minutes.
Southern Route: Coins 7, 8, 9, 10 (4-5 Minutes)
Cover southern harbor district:
- Coin 7: Platform before southern bridge, overlooking water
- Coin 8: West gazebo
- Coin 9: Inside Yanshang Teahouse, ground floor near entrance
- Coin 10: Near southern waypoint, adjacent to harbor exit
Use gliding between elevation changes to maintain speed.
Dockyard Route: Coin 12 (1-2 Minutes)
Final coin at southeast harbor entrance near dockyard. Teleport to southern waypoint and sprint directly.
Total completion: 13-17 minutes depending on familiarity. Sub-15-minute times achievable with pre-unlocked waypoints.
May Fortune Find You: Mini-Game Strategy
Runs January 16 to February 3, 2026. Available before Lantern Rite's official start for early Festive Fever accumulation.
Core Mechanics
Auspicious Treasure Tree Hitting: Interact with glowing trees to shake and release Fortune Coins. Each tree yields multiple coins with respawn timers. Prioritize trees with golden auras for maximum yields.
Jade Collection Navigation: Collect floating Jades while avoiding lanterns. Lantern contact reduces collection multiplier, impacting final Festive Fever rewards.
Optimal Rotation:
- Clear all Auspicious Treasure Trees in one zone
- Navigate Jade collection course while trees respawn
- Return to trees for second collection cycle
- Complete final Jade collection for maximum multiplier
Charm Coin Enemy Encounters
Combat encounters yield Charm Coins converting to Festive Fever. Require minimal investment—low-level characters clear efficiently.
Focus on:
- AOE characters for grouped waves
- Quick burst damage to minimize clear time
- Elemental reactions for faster elimination
Combat stages award higher Festive Fever per completion than navigation-only stages.
Festive Fever Milestone Rewards
300 Festive Fever
- 300 Primogems
- 50 Hero's Wit
- 3 Philosophies of Prosperity
- 2 Mystic Enhancement Ore
Unlocks within first hour through opening quest and initial Fortune Coin collection.
600 Festive Fever
- 600 Primogems
- 50 Hero's Wit
- 3 Philosophies of Diligence
Reached after Fortune Coin route and May Fortune Find You participation.
900 Festive Fever
- 900 Primogems
- 50 Hero's Wit
- 3 Philosophies of Gold
Unlocks after 2-2.5 hours focused participation, signaling 75% toward selector.
1200 Festive Fever
- 1200 Primogems
- Springtime Folding Screen: A Touch of Red (furnishing)
- Springtime Folding Screen: Fragrance Fills the Air (furnishing)
- Access to Words to a Good Friend 4-star selector
1500 Festive Fever
- 1500 Primogems
- 50 Hero's Wit
- Crown of Insight (limited talent enhancement material)
Combined: 4500 Primogems through Festive Fever progression alone, plus 1600 from mail = approximately 28 wishes total.
Advanced Day-1 Strategies
Pre-Event Preparation Checklist
- Unlock all Liyue Harbor Teleport Waypoints
- Clear inventory space (minimum 50 slots)
- Stockpile stamina food for extended sprinting
- Review Liyue Harbor map layout
- Complete pending Archon Quests
Players maintaining recharge needs can streamline resource management through purchase Genshin Impact Battle Pass top up online at BitTopup for secure transactions and fast delivery.
Stamina Management
Gliding Shortcuts:
- Drop from upper harbor levels to lower sections
- Glide from northern waypoint toward Bubu Pharmacy
- Use bridge-to-plaza gliding for central route
Stamina Food Buffs:
- Northern Apple Stew reduces sprinting stamina by 25%
- Lotus Seed and Bird Egg Soup provides similar benefits
Character Selection:
- Tall male characters (Zhongli, Diluc, Kaeya) have faster sprint speeds
- Anemo Resonance reduces stamina consumption by 15%
- Sayu's passive reduces sprinting stamina cost
Optimizations reduce collection time from 15 minutes to under 12 minutes.
Mini-Game Score Thresholds
Stages feature score-based rewards with Festive Fever scaling to performance. Maximum Festive Fever doesn't require perfect scores.
Three Reward Tiers:
- Bronze: 60% of maximum Festive Fever
- Silver: 85% of maximum Festive Fever
- Gold: 100% of maximum Festive Fever
For Day-1 completion, target Silver tier consistently. The 15% difference between Silver and Gold requires disproportionate time investment.
Common Mistakes
Incomplete Prerequisite Quests
Most common blocker: missing Archon Quest prerequisites. Players without Prologue Act 3 completion can't access Lantern Rite regardless of AR.
Verify through:
- Quest Menu > Archon Quest tab
- Check Completed status on Prologue Act 3
- If incomplete, prioritize before event participation
Prologue Act 3 requires 2-3 hours first-time completion.
Inefficient Fortune Coin Routes
Random collection wastes time. Players collecting in encounter order spend 25-30 minutes on a 12-15 minute task.
Optimized four-route system (Northern, Central, Southern, Dockyard) minimizes backtracking and leverages waypoint teleportation.
Mini-Game Perfectionism
Pursuing maximum scores creates diminishing returns. Festive Fever difference between adequate and perfect performance rarely justifies time investment.
Adopt good enough mentality:
- Accept Silver tier instead of retrying for Gold
- Skip optional objectives not contributing to Festive Fever
- Move to next activity after meeting minimum thresholds
Mail Reward Oversight
Event mail rewards remain claimable for 30 days with 1000 message capacity. Claim All in Paimon Menu > Mail takes under 10 seconds, providing 1600 Primogems—highest-value activity per time invested.
Alternative Paths for Limited Playtime
90-Minute Speed Route
Minutes 0-10: Mail and Quest Start
- Claim all mail rewards
- Accept opening quest
- Complete initial dialogue
Minutes 10-40: Opening Quest
- Focus on main story progression
- Skip optional exploration
- Advance to Fortune Coin unlock
Minutes 40-55: Fortune Coin Collection
- Execute optimized route at moderate pace
- Prioritize Northern and Central routes (7 coins minimum)
Minutes 55-90: May Fortune Find You
- Complete available stages at Silver tier
- Focus on Auspicious Treasure Tree stages
- Skip combat-heavy stages if undergeared
May not achieve 1200 Day 1 but establishes strong foundation for Day 2 completion.
Mobile-Optimized Activity Selection
High Mobile Efficiency:
- Fortune Coin collection (simple navigation)
- Xiao Lantern lighting (tap interactions)
- Event quest completion (dialogue-focused)
- Auspicious Treasure Tree stages (simple mechanics)
Low Mobile Efficiency:
- Precision platforming challenges
- Combat stages requiring quick reactions
- Timed navigation with tight margins
Mobile players budget 18-20 minutes for coin collection vs PC/console 12-15 minute baseline.
Beyond 1200: Maximizing Event Value
Character Selector Decision Framework
For New Players:
- Xingqiu: universal team value as premier Hydro enabler
- Xiangling: top-tier off-field Pyro damage
- Both remain meta-relevant across all content
For Established Accounts:
- Select for constellation advancement
- Prioritize characters you enjoy but haven't obtained
- Consider upcoming banner schedules to avoid duplicates
For Collectors:
- Fill roster gaps
- Lan Yan and Gaming represent newer additions with limited availability
- Yaoyao provides unique Dendro healing niche
Selector available through February 23, 2026.
Pushing Toward 1500 Festive Fever
Crown of Insight at 1500 justifies continued participation. Rare material enables talent level 10 upgrades.
Post-1200 Sources:
- Daily event mission resets at 4:00 AM
- Time-gated activities unlocking throughout event
- Moonlit Patrol Exercise (February 9-23, 2026)
- Ley Line Overflow participation (February 16-23, 2026)
Casual daily participation across 24-day duration easily achieves 1500.
Additional Event Rewards
Daily Login Rewards:
- 10 Intertwined Fates from January 30 to February 23, 2026
- Equivalent to 1600 primogems in wish value
- Requires simple daily login
Yaoyao Outfit:
- Rainlit Bamboo Reverie costume unlocks via Fortune Coins completion
- Permanent cosmetic for Yaoyao owners
Event Shop:
- Crown of Insight available for purchase
- Character ascension materials
- Weapon enhancement materials
- Mora and Hero's Wit in bulk
Day-1 Completion Verification
Checking Current Festive Fever Total
- Open event menu from main interface
- Navigate to Lantern Rite event page
- View Festive Fever counter in upper section
- Confirm 1200/1500 or higher progression
Counter updates real-time as you complete activities.
Missing Points Troubleshooting
Verify Fortune Coin Collection:
- Return to Liyue Harbor
- Check each route location for missed coins
- Confirm Auspicious Mora rewards claimed
Confirm Quest Completion:
- Review quest log for incomplete event quests
- Check for dialogue options requiring selection
- Ensure all quest stages marked Complete
Review Mini-Game Participation:
- Access May Fortune Find You event page
- Verify stage completion status
- Confirm rewards claimed
Check Mail Rewards:
- Open Paimon Menu > Mail
- Verify all event messages opened
- Confirm Claim All executed
Most shortfalls result from overlooked Fortune Coins or unclaimed mini-game rewards.
Preparing for Day 2 and Beyond
If Day-1 completion proves unachievable:
Complete Remaining Prerequisites:
- Finish incomplete Archon Quests
- Reach AR 20 if below threshold
- Unlock missing Liyue Harbor waypoints
Identify Missed Activities:
- Create checklist of incomplete Day-1 activities
- Prioritize highest Festive Fever value tasks
- Schedule specific time blocks
Leverage Daily Resets:
- Daily missions reset at 4:00 AM server time
- New Festive Fever sources become available
- Combine Day-1 carryover with Day-2 fresh content
The 24-day duration provides substantial buffer, making Day-2 or Day-3 completion entirely viable.
FAQ
How much Festive Fever do you need for the free 4-star selector? Exactly 1200 Festive Fever unlocks Words to a Good Friend event containing the Liyue 4-star character selector. This threshold rewards 1200 Primogems and two furnishings alongside selector access.
Can you get 1200 Festive Fever on Day 1 of Lantern Rite? Yes, Day-1 completion is achievable through opening quest, all 12 Fortune Coin collection, May Fortune Find You mini-game participation, and Xiao Lantern lighting. Optimized route requires 2-3 hours focused gameplay.
What activities give the most Festive Fever points? Opening quest A Lanternlit Ode to the Silver Moon provides largest single source, followed by complete Fortune Coin collection (all 12 coins with Auspicious Mora rewards) and May Fortune Find You mini-game stages at Silver tier or higher.
Do you need resin to unlock the Lantern Rite selector? No, 1200 Festive Fever is achievable entirely through resin-free activities. Fortune Coin collection, event quests, and mini-games require only time investment. Ley Line Overflow (February 16-23) offers resin-based rewards but isn't necessary for selector unlock.
What is the minimum AR for Lantern Rite 2026? Adventure Rank 20 minimum, alongside Archon Quest Prologue Act 3: Song of the Dragon and Freedom completion. Some sources suggest Chapter 5 Act 5 completion may be required for certain sub-events.
Which Lantern Rite activities are time-gated? Moonlit Patrol Exercise unlocks February 9-23, 2026. Ley Line Overflow runs February 16-23, 2026. Main event and Fortune Coin collection are immediately available January 30. May Fortune Find You started January 16. Shutterflash Memory Hunt concluded January 26 before Lantern Rite's official start.
