Who Is Netochka?
Netochka isn’t just a thief in the shadows. She’s a young woman wrestling with what it means to matter. Born in Novokitezhgrad, Snezhnaya, she’s the daughter of Police Chief Stalanov. Yet she feels overlooked, as if her worth is measured only by her father’s trainees. Among those trainees was Raskolnikov, who became central to her story both as mentor and obstacle.
Rather than stealing out of desperation, Netochka idolizes the romanticized notion of rogues: she wants daring and recognition more than survival. Her role as an outlaw is aspirational. She’s not running from poverty but toward a “big moment”. Toward being seen.
The Heist: Netochka’s World Quest Arc
Netochka’s most pivotal moments come in the world quest “The Shoemaker’s Children Go Barefoot”, part of the East of the Moon, West of the Sun quest chain.
- Infiltration & Rescue: The Traveler helps her break into the Fatui’s Kuuvahki Experimental Design Bureau, using a stealth puzzle involving a cleaning bot to free her from a cell.
- Escape & Exploration: Together, you and Netochka navigate the bureau. You look for clues in dorm rooms, search containers, and piece together her mission.
- Archive Confrontation: You fight through Fatui soldiers. In the archives, you face Senior Sergeant Melekhov (on a timer) and later a large mech in the workshop.
- Final Showdown with Raskolnikov: In a tense duel, you break his shield (using charged attacks or elemental reactions). He does not use all of his power with you during the fight. He gives you the Proof of the Cognoscenti. He recognizes that the Proof only brings chaos.
Netochka’s Growth: From Audience to Main Character
Raskolnikov giving up the Proof makes Netochka reevaluate why she did the heist in the first place. Her self-worth wasn’t tied to the treasure itself. It was tied to the idea she could be someone important.
When she thanks you after the fight, she admits: part of her wanted to be “the main character.” She wasn’t just stealing; she wanted validation. Through real danger and genuine confrontation, she begins to understand that being seen is more complicated than fantasy.
Identity & Family: What Netochka’s Arc Says About Belonging
Netochka’s longing for recognition reflects a universal struggle: figuring out who you are, especially when your life feels defined by someone else’s shadow. Her father, Chief Stalanov, taught and cared deeply but seems to have prioritized others (like Raskolnikov) over her.
Paimon’s advice during the quest is striking: don’t try to copy others. Be yourself. It’s blunt, but true. Netochka’s twisted belief is that if she can’t be the best companion to the Traveler and Paimon, then she must be an adversary. Yet, in reality, friendship isn’t a zero-sum game. Even though the Traveler and his sister are estranged, she’s his “best” friend, with Paimon close behind. The Traveler has made many friends on their journey. Netochka could have been part of that circle, not outside it.
Home Is Where the Heart Is Even When It Hurts
A raw, emotional moment: in Nasha Town, Netochka says she misses home. She reflects, “I felt stifled while I lived there, but now that I’ve left, I find myself missing it… This is the first time I’ve been so far from home.”
That line hit: she didn’t fully appreciate what she had until it was gone. Her journey isn’t just mission-driven. It’s a kind of homesickness, a search for identity in a place she both escaped and longs for.
Raskolnikov: A Foil and a Mirror
Raskolnikov is fascinating: strict, disciplined, but not heartless. He respects Stalanov, admires potential, and clearly has complicated feelings for Netochka.
When he gives up the Proof, it’s not just to stop the chaos. It’s a gift of trust, but also a test. By giving it up, he signals that power and status aren’t everything, and challenges Netochka to grow beyond the fantasy of being a daring outlaw.
Why Netochka Matters in Genshin Lore
Netochka’s quest ties into bigger themes in Snezhnaya and Fatui politics. The fact that she infiltrates a Fatui bureau and walks away (with the Proof) suggests she’s engaging with real power, not just chasing thrills. Her relationship with Raskolnikov humanizes Fatui structures. It’s not all monolithic.
Her arc also connects to the Selenic Chronicles, hinting at wider Fatui conflicts and perhaps more to come.
A Character Full of Promise
Netochka is one of the emotionally layered new characters in Genshin Impact. She’s not just a thief or a daughter. She’s someone grappling with her place in a world that both underestimates and obsesses over her. Her growth isn’t in stealing a powerful artifact. It’s in understanding why she stole it, what she truly wants, and how to define herself on her own terms.
I hope we see her again. I want to know: what’s next for her? How does she use this new awareness? In a world of power plays and political intrigue, will she remain a “main character” not just in her own stories, but in the larger story of Teyvat?
