When I first saw Arataki Itto burst onto the scene in Genshin Impact, I’ll admit, I was caught off guard. There he was, with horns, absurdly toned muscles, and a grin that practically dared you not to smile along. I’ve been playing since the Inazuma days, and I’ve pulled for my fair share of characters, but something about this Geo claymore wielder made me stop and actually care. Maybe it was the way he made the Traveler’s world feel a little louder and a lot more fun. If you haven’t met him yet—or if you’re just curious why so many of us have completely fallen for this big, boisterous Oni—let me walk you through everything that makes Arataki Itto unforgettable.

The first thing anyone notices about Itto is, without a doubt, that design. In a game full of elegant swordsmen and poised mages, Itto stands out like a crimson bull in a porcelain shop. His art immediately pulls you in with that huge, muscled frame and a wild mane of white hair streaked with red. I remember thinking he looked like he’d stepped right out of a Demon Slayer episode—others said the same about his resemblance to Rengoku—and that comparison stuck. But don’t let the imposing silhouette fool you. This Oni has a heart of pure gold, and his look is less \u201cmenace\u201d and more \u201cmischievous guardian.\u201d

Back when Genshin Impact first teased him, I saw plenty of debate about whether his in-game model would really be different. After all, we’ve had characters like Diluc and Albedo whose art promised one thing while their models delivered a slightly toned-down reality. Would Itto actually be taller and broader? I crossed my fingers, and when he was finally released, the developers delivered. Standing next to my Zhongli, you could see he was something special—a physically distinct presence that made him feel like a true tank. Yes, he carries a claymore and scales off defense, so he’s an absolute beast in the field for mining ores and soaking up hits. But that’s just the surface level of why I adore him.

His connection to the Oni bloodline is what gives him those striking horns and that imposing aura. I’ve always been fascinated by how Genshin plays with mythological heritage—like how Ganyu and Yanfei are part adepti. Itto’s Oni ancestry makes him stand out in Inazuma, a land already brimming with yokai and spirits. But instead of isolating him, it shapes his personality in the most endearing ways. He’s loud, competitive, and utterly shameless about it. Isn’t that exactly what you’d expect from a guy who knows he looks like a demon but would rather use his strength to win a beetle fight than pick a real one?

Speaking of fights, you can’t talk about Itto without mentioning his eternal rivalry with Kujou Sara. I nearly choked on my tea the first time I read one of their bulletin board exchanges. She, the stern tengu general, took his Vision, and he’s been pestering her ever since to get it back—often through increasingly dramatic challenges. Is it a grudge? A crush? A bit of both? The community certainly ran with it, and piles of fan art later, I still can’t look at them without smiling. The way he provokes her and she rolls her eyes is a dynamic that makes Inazuma’s lore feel alive. It’s that perfect blend of comedy and chemistry.

Now, what really cemented Itto in my heart wasn’t his muscles or his claymore—it was how he treats kids. Have you ever seen a hulking Oni drop everything to cheer up a group of children? I have, and it’s pure magic. Inazuma is full of stories about him playing games with the little ones, letting them climb all over him, and even training them in beetle battles. He doesn’t just tolerate kids; he becomes their biggest playmate. It floored me that a character who could crush boulders with his bare hands would spend his afternoons letting toddlers win races. If that doesn’t make him loveable, I don’t know what does.

And those beetle battles? Oh, the Onikabuto obsession. When I learned that he meticulously raises these beetles and enters them into arena fights with kids watching and betting on the outcome, I laughed out loud. It’s so wonderfully ridiculous and yet perfectly him. The fact that Onikabuto beetles are his ascension material is the icing on the cake; every time I farm them for his talents, I imagine him carefully selecting the strongest ones for his stable. \u201cThis one\u2019s a champion!\u201d I bet he’d say. It adds a layer of personality that most characters don’t get.

His friendships are just as colorful. Yoimiya\u2014explosive, warm Yoimiya\u2014mentions in her voice lines that Itto only looks scary and that he\u2019s incredibly popular with the local kids. She talks about their eating competitions, where the children gather to watch and cheer. I can picture it now: Itto inhaling noodles while Yoimiya laughs under the fireworks. It\u2019s a friendship I never knew I needed, and it makes Inazuma feel like a real, interconnected community.

Of course, not every contest goes as planned. There\u2019s the infamous ramen-eating showdown with Yae Miko that nearly cost him his life. A street vendor tells the tale: an Oni and a kitsune (Yae, of course) bet on who could eat the most ramen. Itto won, but the broth contained fried tofu\u2014beans, the bane of Oni-kind. He swelled up from an allergic reaction and supposedly barely survived. Every time I recall this, I can’t decide whether to cringe or laugh. It\u2019s peak Itto: reckless, competitive, and just a little bit tragic, yet completely unforgettable.

And let\u2019s not forget his self-proclaimed title: head of the Arataki gang, the \u201cfirst and greatest.\u201d We still don’t know every detail about this gang, but it likely ties to a martial arts school in Teyvat. Itto strutting around as a leader fits him, adding a layer of goofy authority to his character. Imagine him commanding his followers with the same bravado he uses to challenge kids at Onikabuto racing. It\u2019s absurd, and I\u2019m here for every second of it.

As a Geo enthusiast, I can say without hesitation that building Itto was a joy. His defense scaling opened up artifact sets I normally ignored, and pairing him with Gorou, Albedo, or Zhongli became my new favorite team comp. He swings that claymore like he\u2019s dancing, and his charged attacks hit with a satisfying weight that reminds you why you pulled for him. But honestly, even if he were a mediocre unit, I\u2019d still slot him into my party just to hear his voice lines and watch him flex.

So, why do I love Arataki Itto? Is it because he\u2019s a powerhouse? Partly. Is it because he\u2019s hilarious and full of heart? Absolutely. In a game filled with tragic backstories and solemn warriors, Itto is a breath of fresh, rowdy air. He\u2019s the Oni who’d rather you remember him for the friends he made and the beetles he trained than for the Vision he lost. And to me, that\u2019s worth more than any meta team. If you haven\u2019t given the big guy a chance, I dare you to listen to his idle chatter just once. You might just find yourself smiling\u2014and farming Onikabuto for weeks.