Genshin Impact – How to get the Waverider boat
The large, sprawling world of Genshin Impact has many islands dotted around, making sea travel a key part of your exploration. Although your characters can swim, you’ll struggle to reach all of the locations without a boat. Thankfully, since the boat was revealed in a v1.6 Livesteam, it’s easy to unlock quite early in the game.
The boat in question is called the Waverider, which can speed you through the waters whilst possessing a solid arsenal of weapons as well. The Waverider was previously only available in the Inazuma region, but it has later been made available to the entire world of Teyvat.
Here’s how to get a boat in Genshin Impact, with our full guide to the Waverider boat and how it works.
How to unlock the Waverider boat in Genshin Impact
The Waverider boat can be unlocked by using a Waverider Waypoint. However, Waverider Waypoints are not available until you unlock the region of Inazuma, where you can finally get a boat.
Complete the following steps to unlock the boat in Genshin Impact:
- Reach Adventure Rank 30 – increase this by completing quests, daily commissions, investigation objectives and opening chests
- Compete Archon Quest Chapter 2 Prologue – Autumn Winds, Scarlet Leaves – this is essentially a continuation of the main story so you can’t really miss this quest. Once it is complete, you can commence Archon Quest Chapter 2 Act 1 which will take you to Inazuma
- Find a Waverider Waypoint in Inazuma and activate it – there are many of these placed around Inazuma, and we have a map showing these below
Once you have completed the above, you will finally have your boat to sail the seas and explore the world further. Just be aware that your boat can be attacked by enemies whilst in the water, so you’ll need to make the most of the Waverider’s offensive capabilities.
Waverider Controls
The controls for the Waverider differ slightly depending on the platform, but are mapped to the same corresponding buttons:
- Swiftstrike Cannon attack – Standard attack button
- Heavy Cannon attack – Elemental Skill button
- Eject from the boat – Jump button (hold)
- Accelerate (depletes stamina) – right shoulder button (right mouse click on PC)
The Waverider is a pretty easy vehicle to operate, coming with only a few functions that are utilised similarly to the normal controls.
How to summon the Boat
Don’t worry if you lose track of the Waverider’s location after heading back onto land. When your boat is nowhere to be found, simply reach another Waverider Waypoint which you can activate to summon the boat to your location. It will miraculously appear at a shore right next to the Waypoint, where you can jump back inside.
If the boat is already nearby, then you can approach it and hop right in without the need to find a Waverider Waypoint.
Waverider Waypoints in Inazuma – all locations
Although Waverider Waypoints are actually scatted around virtually any area that has access to the sea, your first exposure to them will be in Inazuma.
To get you started with the Genshin Impact boat, here is a map of the Waverider Waypoints in Inazuma:
These aren’t 100% exact, but show that Waverider Waypoints are very common, and you generally aren’t far away from one if you are in any coastal region or island that touches the sea.
Tips for using the Waverider in Genshin impact
The Waverider has plenty of useful features that make it a great vehicle to use for your journey around Teyvat:
- The Swiftstrike cannon (standard attack button) deals physical damage at a standard rate of 100% with a small cooldown for repeat firing
- The Heavy Cannon (Elemental Skill button) deals strong physical damage at a rate of 200%, following up with a large AOE explosion. This has a 15 second cooldown
- Exiting the boat will propel you high up into the air, making it possible to glide back onto land without having to swim
- The Waverider will automatically heal itself over time, but heals faster when the player is inside the boat
- You can heal the Waverider with the Waverider Repair Toolkit, which replenishes 50% of its health. However, this item is not readily available so you will usually need to rely upon its self-healing
- Your character does not take any damage within the boat, but if the boat is reduced to zero health, they will be forcibly ejected where you will be immediately vulnerable to damage again. Don’t panic – the Waverider will still repair itself and can be summoned again afterwards
- When accelerating the Waverider, it will deplete its stamina. However, the boat has its own stamina gauge that is separate to the player’s stamina gauge
There are also numerous achievements available from the Waverider. One is unlocked by simply getting on board for the first time, whereas others require continuous use of it. There’s even one called “…And Her Name Is The Mary Celeste” which triggers when the Waverider is destroyed. Finally, you can snag an Achievement by getting into the boat of another player.
These award 5 Primogems each, which are always welcome.
Can you unlock any other boats in Genshin Impact?
No. The Waverider is the only boat that can currently be unlocked and used in Genshin Impact.
This is not to be confused with the Pearl Galley boat in Liyue Harbor. The Pearl Galley cannot be acquired and driven in the sea, but is simply a location that can be accessed during the Ocean Pearl quest.
You’ll board the Pearl Galley during the quest, and after you have completed it you will be able to come and go as you please. However, this is just a case of visiting it whilst docked and you’ll never be able to drive it anywhere. It’s a shame, because the Pearl Galley is a fine looking boat, but we’ll have to make to with the Waverider.
That’s how to get a boat in Genshin Impact, with everything you need to know about the Waverider and how to operate it. For more Genshin Impact tips and guides, check out the articles below:
