I have a confession: in 2026, I still measure my free time in resin. And the fastest way to make resin less lonely is Genshin Impact co-op. I remember the days when I thought Teyvat was a solo hiking simulator with occasional wind gliding. Then I hit Adventure Rank 16, opened the co-op menu, and suddenly my quiet exploration had witnesses. Beautiful, chaotic, occasionally embarrassing witnesses.

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Unlocking Co-Op Is Easier Than Beating a Hilichurl With a Spoon

Reaching Adventure Rank 16 is the gate. You get there by doing quests, opening chests, solving puzzles, and pretending you meant to fall off that cliff. Once you are AR16, co-op unlocks. From the main screen:

  1. Open the Paimon Menu.

  2. Tap the Co-Op icon at the top left.

  3. In the new menu, enter a friend's UID to join their world, or request to join a random player's world.

That is it. No secret ritual. No sacrifice to Paimon. Although she might still ask for snacks.

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Hosting: The Power Goes to Your Head

If you want friends to visit your world, you become the host. With great power comes a tiny menu at the bottom left of Co-Op Mode. Your options include:

Permission setting What it does My highly scientific opinion
Approve direct join requests Lets people join directly, if you allow it Great for close friends, dangerous during naps
Require guests to request permission Guests must ask before entering My default, because my Serenitea Pot is a crime scene
Ban entry for that session Blocks everyone for now Perfect for solo boss attempts that you want to keep secret

When someone requests to join, you have about 10 seconds to approve. Ten seconds. That is enough time to panic, check your party, and decide whether you are emotionally ready for a friend to see your artifact rolls. If you miss it, they may wander off to another world. Their loss. Or your loss. It depends on how good your snacks are.

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Matching: When You Want Strangers to Witness Your Domain Fails

Domain challenges are where co-op matching shines. If a domain is kicking your teeth in, hit the 'Match' button when you enter. Wait for other players to appear. Once matched players arrive, you can invite them for a co-op mission. It is teamwork, timing, and a little bit of luck. Sometimes you get a squad that melts the boss in seconds. Sometimes you get three people who all brought level 1 characters because they thought it would be funny. Either way, you get a story.

Friends, UIDs, and the Four-Player Limit

Only four players can join a co-op session at once. Each player controls one character. If only three people join, the host can select up to two characters. That means the host can be the main character and the backup dancer. Also, you cannot join a world with a higher World Level than your own, so plan accordingly. Do not try to sneak into your friend's World Level 9 domain with your World Level 4 squad. It will not end well.

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To add friends:

  1. Click the 'Friends' button on the Paimon Menu.

  2. Select the 'Add Friends' tab.

  3. Enter your friend's UID and send the request.

Once your friend accepts, they appear in your friends list when online. You can also send requests from their profile. In 2026, this remains one of the least complicated things in Teyvat. Enjoy it while it lasts.

2026 Reality Check: What Has Changed and What Has Not

We have more characters, more regions, and more ways to argue about who should play support. But the core co-op rules are still refreshingly simple: AR16 to unlock, four players max, World Level restrictions, and domain matching for quick teams. Whether I am farming artifacts, showing off a new five-star, or dragging a friend to a chest they already opened, co-op makes the grind feel less like a chore and more like a hangout.

My advice? Unlock co-op, add your friends, set your permissions, and embrace the chaos. Teyvat is big. It is bigger with company. And if someone joins your world and immediately asks to fish, you have my permission to judge them silently. 🎮