Before Genshin Impact happened, Paimon was some sort of a demon or evil spirit in most religious literature. However, the developers of Genshin Impact, miHoYo, had a different idea for that sort of malevolent being. They decided to turn what was once a feared figure into the current poster-girl of kawaii-ness in video games. The result is that Paimon quickly stole the show.
That’s a good thing because if anything, Paimon can soften the blow of the said RPG’s brutal gacha system. Now players are making memes about Paimon instead of raging when they missed their chance to get Venti or something about the Resin recharge. Still, these memes will surely cure the players’ woes, as laughter is the best medicine and Paimon always serves it well.
10 Ai Chan 2.0, But More Delish
Honkai Impact fans will understand this one best. That game is also made by the same developers but it has a sci-fi setting. Turns out there’s also a character in Honkai Impact who talks like Paimon and has pretty much the same level of energy as the beloved NPC from Genshin Impact.
That’s why that meme above perfectly illustrates how fans of both games feel about the characters. The correct moment from The Office encapsulates the comparison even better with miHoYo fittingly being a corporation as well.
9 Precious Precious Emergency Food
Speaking of memes from comedy shows, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is also a good one as it has a certain moment that best describes how plenty of players feel about Paimon.
At the very start of the game, Paimon is the first friendly face that players see. She always lends a helping hand, even if she seems more like an annoyance most of the time. It’s Paimon’s personality that makes her a likable companion, utility be damned.
8 For The Last Time…
Of course, there’s also that other “purpose” Paimon has which has been a running joke ever since Genshin Impact blew up in popularity. There’s that one dialogue with an NPC near the start of the game where she asks what Paimon is to the Traveler (players).
The players then have an option to answer that Paimon is but a mere emergency food because finding a twin sister can be a painstaking process. Since then, it stuck, and Paimon is now an honorary subsistence recourse no matter how much she disagrees.
7 Looks Accurate
So now there are tons of memes and jokes about Paimon being nothing more than food. It was a rather weird dialogue option when considering Paimon as an emergency supply and one might even question the developers’ decision or humor.
However, that humor is perfectly represented by this meme. In this case, Netflix’s weird penchant to misrepresent remakes or botch them has become an ironic way to speak for how the players or the developers who wrote the dialogue now see Paimon. She’d make an awesome snack for Netflix binge sessions.
6 More Excuses To Eat & Be Eaten
Despite being arguably the cutest companion in free-to-play games, Paimon can sometimes come across as rude or just nonsensical. A case in point is the in-game dialogue above that’s so absurd, it can become its own meme without much effort at all.
Apparently, Paimon gets exhausted from floating or levitating. What’s even funnier is how she’s always floating in the air and seldom lets her feet touch the ground, but Paimon then complains about being tired just one time in the game. Her magic nor her logic doesn’t really make sense but hey, flying food is already an amazing thing on its own.
5 Urrgh, Paimon & Her Ideas, Amirite?
For additional proof that Paimon is more food than sentient creature, her ideas and suggestions almost always never work or shouldn’t be taken seriously. At times, it even seems that she’s just latching on to the Traveler for some free food or adventures.
There’s also the fact that the Traveler is a bit of a mute so Paimon has to be his/her spokesperson. When it does come to actually make decisions though, it’s best to ignore anything Paimon says. She’s usually only out to make her belly full.
4 Ehe Te Nandayo?!
Still, despite Paimon’s annoying qualities, she can and has proven to be a good “friend.” She often just takes all the Traveler’s insults and crass remarks, including this meme’s abrasive dialogue option.
It’s all in-game and is likely one of the funniest responses to Paimon ever. What’s even more hilarious is how it’s the only reply available when the game usually gives options that tend to be clever or serious. Even the development team has a bone to pick with Paimon.
3 5-Star Emergency Food > Diluc
She might be infinitesimally annoying and even constantly rude to Venti (a.k.a. tone-deaf bard), but most players just can’t get themselves to stay displeased with Paimon. After all, she’s the only one there to grieve with the players when they waste 12,800 Primogem trying to pull Venti or Diluc only to fail and end up with a ton of 3-star weapons.
Most other games’ NPCs would have laughed at the players’ misfortune but Paimon will stay silent or just rave on about food. Pretty soon, players will forget just how big they lost at gambling once they make fun of Paimon’s edibility again.
2 Uh-oh…
Now comes the part that might actually break the players’ hearts. There were some people who also thought that miHoYo choosing the name “Paimon” for such a nice and lovable character is a little suspicious.
Naming her after a great demon king is a little worrying as well. After all, players don’t know Paimon’s origins and why she’s actually accompanying the Travelers. There’s a fairly good chance that Paimon might be the final villain in the story.
1 Be Careful Who You Call “Emergency Food”
For added heartbreaks, courtesy of fan theories, take a good look at the first shown villain of Genshin Impact and how she has the same ornaments as Paimon. For all the players know, Paimon could be playing them all along.
Perhaps the reason she’s always stalling the players for food is to impede their journey? Seeing as she has barely been of any help to the plot and mostly hates Venti, Paimon being the final villain in the game might not be too far-fetched. When that happens, get ready to cook her alive.
NEXT: Persona 3: What Does FES Stand For (& 9 Other Things You Need To Know About The Classic JRPG)
