Even though the full Natlan region isn't accessible yet in Genshin Impact 5.8, Hoyoverse has been seeding lore bombs all over Teyvat—especially through Fontaine’s final acts and artifact descriptions. The mysterious Dragonlord technology, ancient volcanic ruins, and cryptic allusions to “the Frostmoon Scions” suggest that Sandrone, the Fatui Harbinger obsessed with automatons, might be playing a far bigger role than we expected.
Let’s break down the leading theory: Is Sandrone manipulating Natlan’s past, Dragonlord remnants, and opposing forces like the Frostmoon worshippers?
🧠 Who Is Sandrone, Really?
Sandrone, also known as “Marionette,” is one of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers. Her obsession with automation and control has already sparked fan theories about her connection to the Katheryne puppet network and even Fontaine's Ruin constructs.
Official trailers show her riding a massive automaton, hinting that she doesn't just build machines—she commands them like weapons. With her likely arrival in Natlan or Nod-Krai, players are speculating she’s the mastermind behind some of the most advanced Dragonlord tech we’ve seen.
🔧 Canon Lore Recap: What We Know So Far
-
Fontaine Questline: Mentions a rogue Dragonlord experiment that blurred lines between technology and organic life.
-
Artifact Set “Song of Days Past”: Describes a volcanic land where machines wept, potentially referencing Mare Jivari or deep Natlan.
-
5.8 World Quests: Talk of a “machine goddess” who tried to control the volcanic flame, only to be overthrown by “moon-watchers” and a pactbreaker.
These clues align suspiciously well with Sandrone’s known interests.
⚠️ Community Lore Theory Zone Begins Here
This section contains lore speculation based on community translations, leaks, and in-game clues. Treat these as well-reasoned theories, not confirmed canon!
🤖 Theory 1: Sandrone is Reviving Dragonlord Technology
The Dragonlords, first introduced with Azhdaha, were bio-mechanical titans—somewhat organic, but also bound by contracts and corrupted over time. In 5.8, Fontaine’s late-game quests reference a failed Dragonlord prototype buried in volcanic lands—its heart missing, but its systems “reactivated by someone ancient.”
Many believe Sandrone is attempting to revive or replicate this prototype, possibly to build a controllable god. The Harbingers are racing for power, and with Tsaritsa's Gnosis collection plan escalating, Sandrone might be the one trying to manufacture her own Archon equivalent.
🌑 Theory 2: The Frostmoon Scions Are a Rebellion from Nod-Krai
5.8 also hints at an anti-Sandrone faction—the “Frostmoon Scions.” These mysterious figures are tied to Nod-Krai, a glacial region west of Snezhnaya that worships an ancient moon and detests artificial life.
-
“They walk under frostlight, not fire.”
-
“They are kin of stars, not steel.”
Community translators connect these lines to old Celestial lore, possibly the same faction that created the Seelies or exiled the shades (see: Nibelung, Palesky Edict, Vaka).
This sets up a thematic clash:
-
🔥 Sandrone = Flame, Automation, Control
-
🌙 Frostmoon = Cold, Lunar Faith, Resistance
Could Natlan become a battlefield between Fire-born automatons and Celestial lunar descendants?
🕸️ Bonus Theory: Sandrone Created the Katheryne Puppets
This one’s been around since the early Fontaine updates, but 5.8 nearly confirms it:
-
The way Neuvillette reacts to Katheryne in Act 6
-
The “Sub-ordinator” title mentioned in Sandrone’s leaked descriptions
-
Connection to Snezhnayan puppet tech
If true, Sandrone has already embedded herself into every region via Adventurers’ Guild terminals. That means she isn’t just a looming threat in Natlan—she’s been watching all of Teyvat from the beginning.
🔥 Natlan’s Volcano, Och-Kan & Mare Jivari: What’s Their Role?
We can’t forget Och-Kan, the rumored Abyssal volcano sealed by the Pyro Archon in ancient times. Some believe this is where the Dragonlord prototype was buried—and where Sandrone is now digging.
Mare Jivari, long thought to be a wasteland of broken ambitions, might house the last living Celestial technology, which Sandrone could corrupt for her cause. Meanwhile, the Frostmoon Scions want to stop her from awakening what's buried beneath the lava.
🧩 Final Theory Summary
| Element | Sandrone Role | Frostmoon Role |
|---|---|---|
| Dragonlord Tech | Builder / Reviver | Sealers / Opponents |
| Nod-Krai Connection | Infiltrator / Aggressor | Defenders of Old Faith |
| Katheryne Puppets | Creator | Possible Hackers? |
| Och-Kan | Weaponizing it | Preventing Reawakening |
📣 What’s Your Theory?
Do you think Sandrone is the next major antagonist in Natlan? Is she building a new Dragonlord—or something worse?
Comment below with your take, or join the community theorycrafting on:
Comments
Post a Comment