Albedo, as shown in game, standing in Dragonspine.

Albedo, as shown in game, standing in Dragonspine.

Albedo, the Kreideprinz

"Albedo is the step in which change begins. Clearing away the excess so we can take on all the knowledge that is available. Would you like to investigate this world with me?"

— Albedo, Feelings about Ascension: Building Up


<aside> ❓ Albedo is a playable 5-star Geo character released in Version 1.2 (Dragonspine update). He was available in the Event Wish Secretum Secretorum.

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A mysterious alchemist that arrived in Mondstadt three years ago on the recommendation of the adventurer Alice, Albedo has quickly climbed the ranks of the Knights of Favonius and currently holds the titles of Chief Alchemist and Captain of the Investigation Team. Under his genius commands and actions, Mondstadt's achievements in alchemy have become second only to Sumeru.

In contrast to the other Captains, the reclusive Albedo is usually sequestered in Dragonspine in order to better pursue the "truth of this world." If not in the mountains, he can usually be found painting or taking care of Alice's daughter, Klee.

From birth, Albedo was already traversing domains with his master, Rhinedottir. But when they discovered the Heart of Naberius, Rhinedottir disappeared, leaving only a note, a classical text, and a recommendation letter.

"Your final assignment: show me the truth and the meaning of this world."

Since then, Albedo has worked tirelessly to discover what his master meant. But for all his genius, he has made no headway.

<aside> <img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/2479e236-abda-49a7-a6ee-10eb8a251e54/khaenriah_callout_icon.png" alt="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/2479e236-abda-49a7-a6ee-10eb8a251e54/khaenriah_callout_icon.png" width="40px" /> Read Albedo's Stories and Voicelines.

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Albedo's talents as shown in game.

Albedo's talents as shown in game.

Is Albedo a homunculus?

It's very likely.

First of all, what is a homunculus? In this context, a homunculus is an inorganically created human, either through alchemy or other means.

Many things imply that Albedo is not human. He is closely associated with creating life from inorganic material: bringing back a ley line branch, creating cecilias from ash, and living organisms from drawings on paper.

His constellation, Princeps Cretaceus ("Chalk Prince"), takes the form of a human fetus. There are only three other constellations in the game that depict a human or humanoid: Viator/Viatrix (The Traveler), Carmen Dei (Venti), and Lapis Dei (Zhongli). Both Venti and Zhongli are archons, and the Traveler is at least implied to be not human.

Albedo is explicitly said to have explored domains with Rhinedottir since birth. A human would not have been able to do so but an artificially created being might. Albedo's Story 5 also says this: "His master was not his birth mother, but Albedo has no doubt that his life stems from her nonetheless."

In addition, Albedo's third passive is called "Homuncular Nature". You can't get more obvious than that.

THEORY: Albedo is a homunculus who was originally conceptualized by Gold and/or Khaenri’ahan alchemists. His master, Rhinedottir, finished the work by completing the task of Albedo's creation. I hypothesize that Rhinedottir is a Khaenri’ahan remnant or a scholar of Khaenri’ah, and she implanted the Heart of Naberius in him before she left him. –– Moonstadt, Albedo, Homunculi, and Archons