Vanessa (Vennessa) in Genshin Impact

Vennessa is Mondstadt's founding hero: a Muratan slave who fought in the Colosseum as the undefeated Lionfang Knight, overthrew the aristocracy, founded the Knights of Favonius, and ascended to Celestia at Windrise.

Lore character · ~1,000 years agoFirst Grand MasterFalcon of the West
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In one line: Vennessa was the slave-gladiator who freed Mondstadt from its tyrant nobles and became its first Grand Master - and one of the only mortals known to have ascended to Celestia. (Her official spelling is "Vennessa"; "Vanessa" and "Venessa" are common search spellings.)

Her story

  1. 1
    Muratan nomad

    Vennessa's people were a nomadic clan hardened by survival. Starved out by Ursa the Drake, they fled to Mondstadt - where the ruling aristocracy enslaved them.

  2. 2
    The Lionfang Knight

    Forced into the Colosseum, she fought alongside her sister Lind and went undefeated, earning the name Lionfang Knight.

  3. 3
    Rebellion

    With help from Barbatos (Venti), Dawn Knight Ragnvindr and uncorrupted nobles like the Gunnhildr clan, she overthrew the aristocracy and liberated the city.

  4. 4
    First Grand Master

    She founded the Knights of Favonius to guard against future tyrants, serving as first Grand Master and first Dandelion Knight - the Lion of the South.

  5. 5
    Ascension

    At the end of her life the gods recognized her deeds: she ascended to Celestia at Windrise, taking the form of a falcon - the Falcon of the West, one of the Four Winds. The great oak there, the Symbol of Mondstadt's Hero, grew where she rose.

Her legacy in the game

The Four Winds

Vennessa essentially created the title system - Wolf of the North (Andrius), Falcon of the West (Vennessa), Dragon of the East (Dvalin) and Lion of the South (the Grand Master line, now Jean).

Two Winds at once

She's the only figure to hold two Four Winds titles: Lion of the South in life, Falcon of the West after ascension.

Windrise

The oak at Windrise has a real connection to Celestia - Venti heals there twice in the prologue, and it's where Vennessa ascended.

Proof allogenes can ascend

She's the game's clearest example that a Vision bearer can become a god - see what allogenes are. Post-7.2 lore adds that ascended allogenes become data preserved before civilizations fall.

FAQ

Is Vennessa playable?

No - she's a lore figure from ~1,000 years ago, told through books, the manga and NPC accounts. Jean inherits her title.

Vennessa vs Vanessa?

Same person - "Vennessa" is the official English spelling used in-game and in the manga.

Where is she now?

Ascended to Celestia as the Falcon of the West - one of only two characters confirmed to have reached Celestia.