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Sometimes, it is very common to find similar characters in series, anime, and video games. This happens more often if they are from the same company, or at least HoYoverse seems to abuse a bit of having similar designs or having reused characters called Expys. So, if you have been playing any of the HoYoverse games for a while, or if you play several of them, this becomes more obvious. For example, the launch of Honkai Star Rail brought painful flashbacks for Honkai Impact 3rd players with Himeko or Welt. The same thing happened when Acheron appeared in Penacony and later, with the collaboration between both Honkai games. This could be more common in these games because both have Shaoji as a “narrative designer,” but Genshin Impact has few as well.
What is an Expy?
An Expy is a name for the “reused characters” in the fan community among the various HoYoverse games. Although calling them “reused” is somewhat crude or simplistic. Expys are often the same characters “in the different lines of the multiverse” of HoYoverse; they usually have similar or even the same physical characteristics and powers, although their stories can vary. However, some characters can change their gender or age between universes. Also, the Expys often share the same voice actors, mostly in Japanese and sometimes in Chinese.
All Expy Characters in the HoYoverse
Some Expys are official, but many others have been related by fans and their theories. It is also worth mentioning that many of these reused characters came from Houkai Gakuen and Houkai Gakuen 2 (Gun Girls Z), and now HoYoverse uses some of them in Honkai Impact 3rd. So, these characters are in the same category.
| Honkai Impact 3rd | Honkai Star Rail | Genshin Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welt Yang | Welt | – | Welt is not considered an Expy because he left his universe in Honkai Impact 3rd and went to Honkai Star Rail. He is the same person in both games. |
| Murata Himeko | Himeko | Mavuika | Murata Himeko dies in several lines of Honkai Impact 3rd, where she is very close to Welt. Himeko of HSR is the navigator of the Astral Express. Mavuika appeared as Murata earlier in the leaks, so we must wait and see how the story develops. However, physically, Mavuika and all the Himeko are the same. |
| Elysia | March 7th | – | It is unclear if they could be Expy, but many theorize they could be the same character. Elysia does not die but is preserved and sent into space. While March 7th was in a block of ice drifting in space, she does not remember who he is. Besides, March follows the Path of Preservation. |
| Kevin Kaslana | Caelus | – | They are not considered to be Expys, but both have a remarkable resemblance in their physical appearance. Also, Kevin has a “special constitution” with which he can use an incredible power, similar to Caelus, who was created and has a Stellaron in his body. |
| Kafka (Stigmata) or Eden | Kafka | – | Kafka is a Stigmata from a Houkai Gakuen 2 x Honkai Impact 3 collab with an “artists” theme. She is not a playable character, but a Relic/Artifact with DMG and ammo boost. Both are similar physically and have refined tastes. Also, the Stigmana effect can explain Kafka HSR‘s emblematic guns. |
| Bronya Zaychik (Haxxor Bunny Skin) | Silver Wolf | – | They took one character and split it into two. The Haxxor Bunny Skin is the inspiration for Silver Wolf, but the more adult Bronya Zaychik is more like the ruler of Belobog. |
| Bronya Zaychik | Bronya | – | |
| Cocolia | Cocolia | Both are pretty much alike, in and out. Both even created evil plans for her universes. | |
| Natasha Cioara, aka Raven | Natasha | – | Raven is a mercenary and villain in HI3. Natasha inherited a similar outfit, but it is more adapted to resemble a nurse and her fighting spirit to defend the Underworld. |
| Seele Vollerei | Seele | – | They are similar, at least in terms of hair color and using a scythe as a weapon. Mentally, though, there is a big difference between them. Also, both Seele are close to their own Bronya. |
| Otto Apocalypse | Luocha | – | Aside from their looks, they both have a strange relationship with death. One of them struggles to revive a loved one, while the other travels with a coffin of someone else’s remains. |
| Li Sushang | Sushang | – | Their physical appearance is the same, and they both studied the art of using a sword from their mother. |
| Ma Feima / Ma Yanqing | Yanqing | – | Ma Yanqing is one of Fu Huan’s students in HI3; in this universe, he is more adult. They share the same clothing style, hair color, eye color, and love for swords. |
| – | Huohuo | Sucrose | This comparison is more because both are shy, have a green palette, and noth are semi-human. |
| Fuxi or Nuwa | Lingsha / Dan Zhu | – | While these are two HI3 characters, Lingsha may be more closely related to Fuxi, whose Chinese name is Dānzhū. |
| Aponia | Black Swan | Welkin Moon Lady | Neither of these characters is an Expy officially, but Aponia and Black Swan have similar clothing and are shrouded in mysticism. Although Black Swan and Welkin Moon Lady have the same color palette and share the same flower symbol. |
| Dr. Mei or Riden Mei | Acheron | Raiden Ei | These are all the similarities that the Raiden have with each other. |
| Yae Sakura | – | Yae Miko | Both are Mikos, priestesses who share many physical aspects, such as their pink hair color and being semi-human. |
| Wendy | – | Venti | Venti is, in fact, an elemental being who stole the appearance of a bard, but both characters are the same. The primary difference is that Wendy is a girl. |
| Rita Rossweisse | – | Noelle | They have many physical similarities, but only Rita is taller. In addition, their attire is similar, and they both work as maids. |
| Kallen Kaslana or Theresa Apokalypse | – | Nahida | Theresa is a clone of Kallen (Otto’s niece); Theresa is a loli with white hair and light eyes, blue in her case, which resembles Nahida. Nahida is also considered a kind of clone of Rukkhadevata. |
| Su | – | Alhaitham | Both are related to research and science. Both have gray hair with greenish tones, but Su has longer hair. |
| Kiana Kaslana (Herrscher of Void) | – | Unknown God | They have identical looks, and both have unimaginable amounts of power. They also mainly appear to be the antagonists of each story. |
Related:
Genshin Impact Players Spent Over 4 Years Ranting About This Character, and Now They Miss ThemThis phenomenon of reused characters could be the result of the fact that when miHoYo, now HoYoverse, did not become popular with Houkai Gakuen, they reused many of the characters for Houkai Gakuen 2 (also called Gun Girls Z). Still, they weren’t as big as they wanted. It wasn’t until Honkai Impact 3rd that they managed to stand out a little, taking advantage of their previous characters. Then, they changed their strategy with Genshin Impact, the game that has fewer Expys, but they replicated it in Honkai Star Rail.
I find it incredible and am very excited to see similar characters or their different versions. I would love to see more Expys in HoYoverse games like Yae Miko or Sakura in Honkai Star Rail, even if this trend follows Zenless Zone Zero.
