I remember the first time I saw Dalowrell’s Hu Tao banner recreation. It stopped me mid-scroll. Even now, in 2026, flipping through old cosplay highlights feels like walking into a time capsule — and that image still burns bright. Some fan creations simply refuse to fade, and this one remains a gold standard for how a character can leap from screen to reality.

Back in November 2021, Genshin Impact version 2.2 brought the 77th Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor back into the spotlight. Hu Tao’s first-ever rerun had players frantically stacking Primogems, hoping to pull the pyro polearm queen alongside new faces like Thoma. After debuting way back in February 2021 for version 1.3, her return felt overdue. The hype was real — and so was the creative explosion that followed. From fan art to cosplay, the community went all-in.

Amid the tide of tributes, Russian cosplayer and photographer Dalowrell delivered something extraordinary: a mirror-like recreation of Hu Tao’s event banner. It wasn’t just a costume. It was the whole atmosphere — the playful smirk, the floating ghost companion, the fire-licked butterflies, and those crimson eyes that seem to whisper "trick or treat" year-round. I’ve seen a lot of cosplay over the years, but this one makes you do a double take every single time.

What blows my mind is the sheer technical precision. Dalowrell isn’t new to nailing Genshin characters — her previous Sucrose and Ganyu transformations were already stunning. But the Hu Tao banner set an entirely new bar. Every detail of the outfit matches: the dark, textured fabric of her coat, the golden embroidery, the distinctive hat, and even the yellow flower pin. The color grading in the photo mimics the game’s UI so perfectly that you’d swear miHoYo dropped a live action teaser.

Let me break down just a few of the elements that make this cosplay pop:

🎭 Makeup Mastery

Dalowrell uses East Asian makeup techniques to replicate the bright-eyed, anime-cel-shaded look of Genshin characters. The sharp eyeliner, soft gradient lips, and strategic contouring morph her features into Hu Tao’s signature expression. It’s more than accurate — it’s an optical illusion.

📸 Photography Skills

As a photographer, she understands lighting and composition deeply. The flame-butterfly effects and the ghost’s translucency aren’t just pasted in; they blend with the scene naturally. The pose is exactly the one from the 2.2 banner art, frozen in a moment of mischievous energy.

👻 Props and Partners

The adorable white ghost companion, often overlooked, is present and accounted for. It’s a small detail that anchors the whole recreation. Without it, the shot would feel incomplete.

And the creativity didn’t stop there. Dalowrell later shared a Halloween-themed Hu Tao variant — a vampire-inspired twist that merged the character’s spooky lore with seasonal flair. It was clever, fresh, and proof that she understands Hu Tao’s character beyond the surface.

Looking back from 2026, the Genshin Impact landscape has evolved dramatically. We’ve seen multiple Hu Tao reruns, new regions, and a growing wave of cosplayers pushing boundaries. Yet Dalowrell’s work still circulates in community showcases and inspiration boards. New players who pulled Hu Tao in later banners often stumble upon this recreation and react with the same awe I felt four years ago. In a sense, it’s become a timeless tribute — one that captures the moment the Liyue pyro star truly ignited the fanbase.

From a player’s perspective, moments like this remind me why I love the Genshin community so much. It’s not just about wishing for 5-stars; it’s about the stories we craft, the art we share, and the passion that fuels everything between updates. Dalowrell gave us something tangible to celebrate, and in 2026, that still deserves a standing ovation.

If today’s cosplayers want a masterclass in character embodiment, this is it. And if you want to dive into more of her work, her portfolio still stands tall — you can explore her imaginative shoots and photography on her Instagram or Gumroad page. Meanwhile, Genshin Impact continues to run strong on PC, PlayStation, and mobile devices, with a Nintendo Switch version now a reality that finally arrived to the delight of on-the-go Travelers. Every time I log in and see Hu Tao’s banner pop up during a rerun, I can’t help but think of Dalowrell’s flames — and smile.