Genshin Delusions: Notes and theories
This is in two parts because I was sharing my notes as I researched and needed to do something, so its in two parts now ------ Delusions themselves: They are given to those loyal to the tsaritsa in the fatui ranks by the archon herself, most likely meaning that it does tie into what the person is like, as if the theory about archons hand out visions is true, she would know the requirements for them, or at least have noticed them over time. One important thing to note is that in german, visions are called "The Eye of God" and delusions are called "The Eye of the Devil" Arlecchino's delusion and vision: Arlecchino possesses both a pyro delusion (used in her boss fight and is featured in beta design leaks that are similar to the current design) and a pyro vision (used in regular gameplay), which is quite strange. Her vision appears to be dim/dulled compared to other visions, suggesting a deeper meaning (as i really dont think its a mistake, this is hoyo we're talking about). Her vision also has a snezhnaya casing, even though visions tend to reflect where the user got their vision, which might suggest that there is an aspect to the casing of visions of the persons aliegence. It is also confirmed that Arlecchino's curse caused her to have natural pyro abilities, which is even stranger so. The running theories are that she is using it to amplify her own power to further the fatui or maybe for personal gain, or (what i am personally leaning to) is that it relfects her personality and her instability. Many design elements of a character tend to relfect what they are like as people, so it might be a relfection of that
EDITS FROM AFTER A BIT MORE RESEARCH:
Arlecchino - another layer of depth is that in her voicelines, it actually states that she is from Khaenriah
Vision replacement theory - Another theory is that delusions replace visions when being used, but thats more wishy-washy
Childe's Foul Legacy Transformation - For the first two stages of his boss fight, he follows the same rule we have seen elsewhere, with someone only being able to use either a vision or a delusion, never both at the same time (as childe uses his vision in his first stage, and his electro delusion in his second stage), but in his third stage, the foul legacy transformation, he uses both. The running theory, and what I had come up with before, is that it may have something to do with the abyss. He gained the foul legacy through being stuck in the abyss, and so using that ability, that might be why he is able to use both at once, in fact, they are both seen on his person during that transformation.
Another theory as to why Arlecchino uses a delusion in her boss fight but a vision in normal gameplay - Delusions are more powerful than visions, so she may be using it to be stronger during her fight, but the reason they aren't always used is because they have more repercussions
Personal idea on that topic - I believe that she may have gotten a pyro delusion either because she already had natural pyro abilities and she had a pyro vision, so she was simply more comfortable with pyro and would adjust easily, but another idea is that it may be because her body might not be able to handle another element. We see with delusions that vision wielders are naturally able to use a delusion of a different element, but due to Arlecchino's curse, she may be unable to use any other elemental power Quick note if anyone is confused on why most are able to use delusions well, but in inazuma it caused harm to everyone wielding them: Usually, time is taken to make delusions, they are crafted carefully and go through many tests, and are personally approved by the tsaritsa (from what I've gathered), so they are fairly stable.
The difference in Inazuma stems from why they were creating delusions in the first place. It was to help the fatui, but they were not made for the fatui. The goal in mass producing them was to give them out to the people of Inazuma, in order to bring the whole nation down. That was what they were trying to do, as seen with them handing them out and bribing the commisions, they were trying to take Inazuma down while remaining in a good light with the Raiden Shogun so that she wouldn't be able to stop them, as she was unaware of their plans and thought of them as good people.
Those delusions were created with harm in mind, so they mass produced them with little regard for safety and they did not quality check them, as the intent was for harm to come to anyone trying to use them. They were purposefully made to be unsafe and to kill those using them, unlike delusions used by the fatui. It was all with the plan to take down Inazuma from behind the scenes to benefit the fatui
