CHARACTER INFO
- Star Rank: 5 ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
- Alternative Names: None
- Title: The Shadow of Dawn
- Organization / Circle: Dawn Winery
- Origin: Mondstadt
- Constellation: Noctua
- Vision / Element: Pyro / Fire
- Weapon: Claymore
- Primary Attribute: Critical Rate
CHARACTER DESCRIPTION
Born into the affluent Ragnvindr Clan, Diluc is the current owner of the Dawn Winery and a nobleman of high esteem in Mondstadt society. While a past incident caused him to split ways with the Knights of Favonius, he continues to protect Mondstadt in his own way.
As the wealthiest gentleman in Mondstadt, the ever-dapper Diluc always presents himself as the epitome of perfection. But behind the courteous visage burns a zealous soul that has sworn to protect Mondstadt at all costs, allowing him to mercilessly vanquish all who threaten his city.
TALENTS/ABILITIES
Tempered Sword – Normal/Charged Attack
- Normal Attack: Perform up to 4 consecutive strikes.
- Charged Attack: Drains Stamina over time to perform continuous slashes. At the end of the sequence, perform a more powerful slash.
- Plunging Attack: Plunges from mid-air to strike the ground, damaging opponents along the path and dealing AoE DMG upon impact.
Searing Onslaught – Elemental Skill
- Performs a forward slash that deals Pyro DMG.
- This skill can be used 3 times consecutively. Enters CD if not cast again within a short period (5s).
Dawn – Elemental Burst
- Releases intense flames to knock nearby opponents back, dealing Pyro DMG. The flames then converge into the weapon, summoning a Phoenix that flies forward and deals massive Pyro DMG to all opponents in its path. The Phoenix explodes upon reaching its destination, causing a large amount of AoE Pyro DMG.
- The searing flames that run down his blade cause it to be infused with Pyro.
Relentless – 1st Ascension Passive
- Diluc’s Charged Attack Stamina Cost is decreased by 50%, and its duration is increased by 3s.
Blessing of Phoenix – 4th Ascension Passive
- The Pyro Enchantment provided by Dawn lasts for 4s longer. Additionally. Diluc gains 20% Pyro DMG Bonus during the duration of this effect.
Tradition of the Dawn Knight – Utility Passive
- Refunds 15% of the ores used when crafting Claymore-type weapons.
CONSTELLATION
- Conviction – Diluc deals 15% more DMG to opponents whose HP is above 50%.
- Searing Ember – When Diluc takes DMG, his ATK increases by 10%, and his ATK SPD increases by 5%. Last for 10s. This effect can stack up to 3 times and can only occur once every 1.5s.
- Fire and Steel – Increases Searing Onslaught’s skill level by 3. Maximum upgrade level is 15.
- Flowing Flame – Casting Searing Onslaught in rhythm greatly increases damage dealt. 2s after casting Searing Onslaught, casting the next Searing Onslaught in the combo deals 40% additional DMG. This effect lasts for 2s.
- Phoenix, Harbinger of Dawn – Increases Dawn’s skill level by 3. Maximum upgrade level is 15.
- Flaming Sword, Nemesis of Dark – After casting Searing Onslaught, the next 2 Normal Attacks within the next 6s will have their DMG and ATK SPD increased by 30%. Additionally, Searing Onslaught will not interrupt the Normal Attack combo.
ASCENSION MATERIALS
Ascension 1: Level 20 – Level 40
- Small Lamp Grass ×3
- Agnidus Agate Sliver ×1
- Recruit’s Insignia ×3
Ascension 2: Level 40 – Level 50
- Small Lamp Grass ×10
- Agnidus Agate Fragment ×3
- Recruit’s Insignia ×15
- Everflame Seed ×2
Ascension 3: Level 50 – Level 60
- Small Lamp Grass ×20
- Agnidus Agate Fragment ×6
- Sergeant’s Insignia ×12
- Everflame Seed ×4
Ascension 4: Level 60 – Level 70
- Small Lamp Grass ×30
- Agnidus Agate Chunk ×3
- Sergeant’s Insignia ×18
- Everflame Seed ×8
Ascension 5: Level 70 – Level 80
- Small Lamp Grass ×45
- Agnidus Agate Chunk ×6
- Lieutenant’s Insignia ×12
- Everflame Seed ×12
Ascension 6: Level 80 – Level 90
- Small Lamp Grass ×60
- Agnidus Agate Gemstone ×6
- Lieutenant’s Insignia ×24
- Everflame Seed ×20
BUILD GUIDE
For a complete guide on Diluc, please check our Diluc Best Build Guide page.
CHARACTER OUTFIT
Darknight Blaze – Default Outfit
Description:
Diluc’s outfit. A smart and tasteful suit fit for a nobleman.
How to Obtain:
Unlocked upon obtaining character
CHARACTER LORE
As the city of ballads and wines, Mondstadt’s alcohol industry is renowned all over Teyvat.
As the owner of the Dawn Winery, Diluc is essentially in charge of the industry. This means he has a huge stream of revenue and an entire network of information in the form of tavern patrons’ gossip right at his fingertips.
In a way, he is the uncrowned king of Mondstadt.
The scent of wine always lingers in the air in Mondstadt.
If one were to follow the scent to its source, one would invariably arrive at Diluc’s Dawn Winery.
A wooden plaque proudly announces the winery’s name, and beneath it is written the winery’s motto:
“Shine True.”
Most interpret this to mean that the wines are brewed for consistency of taste, with time-honored techniques and that same healthy dose of sunny optimism that the dawn brings. Meanwhile, the more pragmatic Knights of Favonius are reminded of the long history of mutual support between the winery and the city.
The winery holds festivities from time to time. These events are routinely attended by enthusiastic fathers, eager to introduce their wonderful daughters to the young and single winery master.
This is all highly entertaining to the other guests, who watch on and comment, mockingly:
“We’d much rather Master Diluc stays married to the winery, given how good this wine is!”
Diluc deals impeccably with all situations, no matter who or what comes his way.
Diluc is a fine young gentleman in every conceivable respect.
Diluc avoids talking about the past.
“If only Diluc were still a member of the Knights…” After a few drinks, senior knights will say words to the effect with a sigh.
They refer to events from a long time ago, back when Diluc’s father, Master Crepus, was still the owner of the winery. Master Crepus’ wish was for his son to become the most esteemed knight of all and safeguard Mondstadt, the City of Freedom.
As per his father’s wishes, Diluc trained rigorously to make himself worthy of the Ragnvindr name. Sure enough, he passed the Knights of Favonius’ trials, swore the oath of protection to Mondstadt, and entered their ranks. Before long, he received an early promotion which saw him become the youngest-ever Cavalry Captain.
Over the course of his missions and patrols, the denizens of Mondstadt gradually came to know this young and passionate Cavalry Captain.
No matter what the missions demanded from him, he always maintained his composure and his passion. No matter how big the challenge before him, his boundless courage always led him to the front line. The praise he received from his comrades and citizens spurred him on.
But the words of praise he valued most of all were: “Good job. Now, that’s my son.” His father’s words fueled the fire inside his heart and served as his greatest motivation.
His faith was an unquenchable fire the burned strong and bright inside him.
Diluc was so young back then.
“Sometimes, life can change in an instant.”
The day that Crepus spoke these words to Diluc would turn out to be the latter’s last as a Knight of Favonius.
For on that day, a horrific monster attacked the transport fleet he and his father were traveling with.
There was no time for Diluc to send for help. The monster was stronger than any foe the young Cavalry Captain had ever encountered and overpowered him.
Diluc could never have anticipated the way this battle would end: His Father, who had been denied admittance into the Knights and who was shunned by the gods, defeated the monster with an unknown evil power—before that same power backfired, mortally wounding Crepus himself. Crepus died shortly after in his son’s arms. With a heavy heart, Diluc returned to the Knights’ headquarters, only to receive an unthinkable order from Inspector Eroch: “Conceal the truth.”
Eroch insisted that the incident must be portrayed as an unfortunate accident in order to maintain the reputation of the Knights of Favonius in the eyes of the public.
Such was the sheer outrageousness of this request that Diluc did not think it was even worth trying to argue. Diluc’s father had once said to him that the world would never turn its back on the faithful. But now, the Knights of Favonius trampled on his faith like it was nothing. He couldn’t help but wonder: What was his father’s view on faith in his final moments?
Diluc resigned from the Knights that day and left everything behind, including his Vision. He swore to avenge his father’s death, and to find the source of the occult power which had caused his father’s demise.
After Diluc resigned and discarded his Vision, he handed the running of the Dawn Winery over to the head housemaid and left Mondstadt altogether. Diluc traveled all across the seven nations of Teyvat in search of the truth. All clues pointed toward a behemoth of an organization: The Fatui. He learned that they made counterfeit Visions in secret, calling them “Delusions.” A Delusion could amplify the power of its bearer to its extreme, but also carried the risk of backfiring. That was what had caused his father’s death.
Was it possible that his father could have obtained such a sacrilegious item in order to do good? Diluc knew he may never know the full truth, but that could never stop him from pursuing it. Like an eagle scouring the wilderness, he set off on his hunt for the truth. Determination burned like fire in his heart; unfathomable enigmas and unending battles could not sway him from his course. He pressed on relentlessly, scarred but undeterred, like a fiery tornado burning through the dense fog of mystery.
The Fatui’s rulers, The Eleven, monitored Diluc’s progress from the shadows. The prowess with which he laid waste to numerous Fatui strongholds caught their attention, and forced them to take action. Diluc narrowly escaped death at the hands of the Eleven thanks to a third-party observer from the north, who was part of a vast underground intelligence network. The observer claimed to have been observing Diluc for some time and approved of his methods. After his close encounter with death, Diluc took a long hard look at his past and the anger he had harbored for so long. Acknowledging his shortcomings, he decided to join the underground intelligence network.
Just like when he first joined the Knights of Favonius, Diluc committed himself fully to his work. His talents and skills saw him rise steadily through the ranks into the upper echelons of the network. The network was made up of volunteers, and many of its members had willingly given up their prior positions and reputations to join. Some had even abandoned their names. Could working with these new comrades finally restore the faith he once clung to? The faith that had been all but destroyed in the events surrounding his father’s death?
“Shine True.”
The background to this motto is hotly contested, but to Diluc it has one simple, clear meaning.
“Evil cannot go unpunished.
Never settle for mediocrity.
Never forget that the dawn will one day come.”
Diluc’s solitary sojourn lasted for three years.
Four years on, Diluc had returned to Mondstadt and taken over as head of the family winery, now a young man.
In the space of these four years, Eroch had been purged from the Knights of Favonius after being shown to be a traitor, while Grand Master Varka had left on an expedition, leaving Master Jean to assume the role of Acting Grand Master.
The return of the Dawn Winery’s master should have been a momentous occasion for Mondstadt, but strangely it went unnoticed.
The reason? Mondstadt’s citizens were far too busy pondering the mysterious case of an unknown “Guardian of Mondstadt.”
All that was known about the anonymous guardian was that the smell of burning would follow in his wake, and that a flash of red flames would reveal his silhouette for but a moment in the darkness of the night before he disappeared in an instant.
The bodies of monsters that had plagued Mondstadt for an age now lay dead in the wilderness… Mondstadt’s most wanted thieves suddenly appeared bound and gagged, hanging from their feet in the statue plaza… All the Knights of Favonius were dispatched to reckon, once and for all, with the Abyss Mage behind countless crimes in the city but they arrived only to discover that he had long since been killed…
Aided by wine-fueled conversations, word of the mysterious guardian spread swiftly, and he came to be known as the “Darknight Hero.”
In public, Diluc appeared to hold this Hero in contempt, his face curling up in disgust every time his name was uttered.
Elzer of the Mondstadt’s Wine Guild was one of the select few who was in the know, and once queried Diluc about this: Was his disapproval of the Darknight Hero just an act, intended to throw the knights off his trail and protect his anonymity?
But Diluc simply frowned once more, and curtly replied: “It’s just a stupid name.”
Diluc may hold the whole wine industry in the palm of his hand, but he himself is not fond of wine.
At Diluc’s request, the Dawn Winery developed several alcohol-free beverages, a decision which was met with resounding approval from those in Mondstadt who could not drink alcohol but still wanted to partake in the drinking culture.
One of those alcohol-free beverages is Mondstadt’s apple cider vinegar, the success of which is on par with dandelion wine in terms of monthly sales volumes.
Some think that Diluc must have such high standards when it comes to wine that he is never seen drinking the mediocre-quality beverages that are available to the public. Others think that drinking wine must surely remind him of his father, and that that is why he does not touch it.
When pressed about his drinking habits, he responds by saying that alcohol clouds his thoughts, and consuming it would impact his day-to-day work.
But the thing that people don’t understand is: What kind of day-to-day work does a winery master do, if it requires him to never touch a drop of alcohol?
VISION
Crepus had two regrets in his life: One was never becoming a knight, and the other was never obtaining a Vision.
For this reason, in the moment Diluc received his Vision, he took it as recognition by the gods of his and his father’s shared ambition — finally, he could make his father proud.
Just a few years later, his father died on a dark gloomy day. The hopes and dreams that burned bright in Diluc’s Vision were extinguished in the torrential rain that fell on that night. No matter how upright and good-hearted a person may be, death will still come to them without warning. Is this where the tale of justice ends? Just like that?
It seems to him that his Vision and his status as a knight were both equally ineffectual at enabling him to protect the things that he treasured most. It was time to discard them both, he decided.
When he recognized his own powerlessness, his Vision became but a burden, of no greater service than a Delusion. Empty titles were of no interest to him. He sought after ardent flames that would burn brighter than any other, and an unshakable resolve. Only a firm resolve can drive the truth-seeker forward, and only ardent flames can vanquish the ice that freezes the hand of justice.
On the day Diluc returned to Mondstadt, he took up his Vision once more. The events of his years away had purged him of his childish immaturity, and turned him into a hero ready to shoulder his father’s will once more. Each night, he fought for Mondstadt.
He did not discuss the past. But he did not deny his past, either. To the lost, perhaps a Vision is a beacon of light given by the gods to help them find a way forward. But for those with conviction, a Vision is simply an extension of their strength, a medium for channeling their willpower, a tribute to the experiences that have shaped them, and a testament to the story of their life so far.
NAMECARD
Diluc – Flames
Obtain:
Reward for reaching Friendship Level 10 with Diluc
Description:
Master Crepus painted many eagles during his lifetime, but he never could’ve foreseen creating an eagle with such fire.
SPECIAL DISH
Once Upon a Time in Mondstadt
Description:
Diluc’s specialty. Feast your eyes and then your stomach upon this delicacy as the soft ribs melt in your mouth. Who knew Diluc was able to cook this well?
Base Dish:
Pile ‘Em Up
Effect:
Increases all party members’ CRIT Rate by 20% and CRIT DMG by 20% for 300s.
Dish Type:
ATK-Boosting Dishes
Rarity:
✦ ✦ ✦
TRIVIA
- Diluc’s name is derived from the Latin word dīlūculum, meaning “daybreak” or “dawn“.
- His father, Crepus, has his named derived from its antonym, crepusculum, meaning “twilight,” “dusk” or “darkness“.
- His constellation, Noctua, is Latin for “The Owl” or “Night Bird“.
- His family name, Ragnvindr, may be derived from the Old Norse words regin (gods) + vindr (wind), meaning “God of Wind“.
- Kaeya was adopted into the Ragnvindr family. In the original Chinese version, Kaeya used to call Diluc “sworn elder brother
- Despite owning a winery, Diluc dislikes the mouthfeel of alcohol and prefers grape juice, which he keeps stocked at Angel’s Share.
- According to Vile, Diluc once downed an entire glass of Snezhnaya’s specialty alcohol, Fire-Water, in one go during a banquet with Snezhnayan merchants. Afterwards, he passed out for three days, and Adelinde remarked that she’d “never seen someone get drunk like that before.” Charles’ dialogue about Fire-Water may be referencing this incident.
- Diluc has an anonymous message on the Cat’s Tail Message Board, in which he lets himself express wistfulness for the past before wishing Cat’s Tail luck in their business.
- Diluc owns an Umbertail Falcon.
- Diluc is one of only two residents of Mondstadt who are aware that Venti is Barbatos, the other being Jean. While Venti also revealed himself to Stanley, the latter does not remember their conversation.
- Based on his character stories, Diluc’s estimated age is roughly 22 years old. Diluc left Mondstadt after his father’s death on his 18th birthday, and by the time he returned 4 years later, Varka—who embarked on his expedition 6 months before the game’s story—was already gone.
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