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One of the biggest enigmas in the mysterious World of Teyvat is the adorable ‘Emergency Food’, Paimon. Her existence has been the topic of many internet squabbles but we all share one thing in common.
We really don’t know anything about her.
So today, we’re taking a deep dive into fan theories and what little we know from Genshin Impact lore and events to unveil Paimon’s identity. We’re trying to figure out a mystery here, so let’s start with what we do know about Paimon.
What is Paimon in Genshin Impact?
The first time we meet Paimon is after the two siblings Lumine and Aether meet the Unknown God. We fish her out of the nearby lake and she follows the main characters around from that point on, guiding them through Teyvat.
From the time we spend with her, we know she’s got a penchant for rare treasures, has an insatiable appetite, and she’s knowledgeable about Teyvat but is sometimes oblivious to her surroundings.
Many characters refer to her as ‘a flying pet’, ‘little one’, ‘child’, etc. But other than that, there’s no real reference to her race or where she comes from.
Additionally, it’s strange that no one seems to question her true identity when there are no other creatures like her around.
We do know that she is a Celestial Being of some kind but she’s never revealed where she comes from. The major theory is she is from Celestia which is home to the Gods of Teyvat.
Check out this comparison of similar motifs and designs on Paimon and Celestia architecture from HoYoLAB user Simpette –
This means Paimon could be someone who was cast out from Celestia for unknown reasons or she could be a God herself.
Is Paimon an Archon?
The main indicator to support her being a ‘God’, is her name, Paimon, which is the name of a demon from Ars Goetia. This is similar to the naming scheme of the other Archons (or Gods) in Teyvat that also share names derived from the Ars Goetia.
For example, Venti is Barbatos, Zhongli is Morax, Raiden Shogun is Baal, etc.
This implies that Paimon could be one of the Archons but people might have forgotten about her. Or maybe, she was a God before The Seven was formed which could explain people moving on from the “old ways”.
Luckily, there is some lore around a ‘Forgotten God of Time’, known as Istaroth, that matches the description.
Is Paimon the God of Time?
Ironically, as time passed, Istaroth the God of Time was forgotten in Mondstadt and no one seems to recall its existence.
This means Paimon could somehow be related to this ‘God of Time and Space’ since she can instantly disappear and teleport.
Plus, in the entirety of Genshin Impact, she is the only one that can stop time. Every time you pause in Genshin Impact, time freezes. But conveniently, Paimon can be seen floating around when you’re on this menu.
It’s far-fetched, sure, but why can she move? Does this mean she can freely manipulate time without being constrained by it? Check out the GIF below to see what I mean.
This theory is just one of many about Paimon’s identity and there are a few more minor indicators to support it. However, the most prevalent theory many people seem to believe is that Paimon is the Unknown God.
Is Paimon the Unknown God?
We’ve talked about the Unknown God’s identity before and even then we highlighted the possibility that Paimon could be the Unknown God. The Unknown God is the notorious God that stops the Travelers from leaving Teyvat.
She’s also responsible for separating Lumine and Aether, after which conveniently we meet a tiny floating fairy-like creature, Paimon. This coincidence is suspicious because it’s a normal trope seen in Anime and pop culture.
The closest, most ‘harmless’ person to the main character will in some way betray them.
The theory of Paimon being the Unknown God also relates to their aesthetic similarities. They both look eerily similar with white silky hair and capes that feature celestial designs.
Paimon’s hairpin is also the same motif as the Unknown God’s powers.
Additionally, the Unknown God can control space, and Paimon who can freely teleport in and out of dimensions is doubly suspicious. This suggests the ability to manipulate space and use it at will.
These similarities are a big reason this theory is widespread in the fandom.
Whether Paimon is the Unknown God, an offspring, or someone sent to monitor the Travelers, is uncertain at this point.
But there are too many coincidences to disregard the theory. All fingers point to this being Paimon’s true identity.
But till now, this hasn’t been confirmed either.
However, there is one more theory that we think is the most likely answer to her mysterious origins. She’s a lost Seelie.
Is Paimon a Seelie?
Another popular theory is that Paimon is a lost Seelie. Seelies are spirits like in the GIF above. You’ll find them across Teyvat and in most cases they’re looking for their ‘court’.
Once you show them back to their courts, they’ll award you treasures, solve puzzles, or other places of interest. But according to in-game lore, in the past, they once had a physical form with ashen white skin and slender fingers.
From one of Genshin’s loading screens, the flavor text describes the Seelie as a ‘mighty race’ that guided humanity and rewarded treasures. They also could disappear and reappear whenever they pleased.
So, with everything we’ve gone through so far, doesn’t the description of the Seelie race eerily match someone we know? Paimon could very well be the last Seelie with a physical form, guiding the Traveler along the way, searching for her lost home.
This seems to be the likeliest answer of the bunch thanks to the limited lore we know from the game.
How Old is Paimon in Genshin Impact?
Paimon’s age in Genshin Impact is unknown. She has the form of a cute little child of 5-8 years old. But her knowledge of Teyvat suggests she’s much older and her age could range in the 1000s.
And with that, we’ve reached the end of our investigation and the answer is that we don’t know. Paimon’s identity could be any of the theories we’ve mentioned so far, or it could be none.
Only time will tell as HoYoverse unveils Genshin Impact’s story and all its mysteries. But who do you guys think Paimon is? Sinister or just plain cute? Hit us up in the comments!
