Genshin Impact 2.6 leaks: New Ayato changes reveal removal of his taunt mechanic

sportskeeda.com:

Recent Genshin Impact 2.6 leaks reveal that Ayato's Elemental Skill no longer taunts nearby enemies.

This change isn't just something reflected in the game's text; recent gameplay leaks show that there is no taunt mechanic associated with the ability anymore. Now, the watery illusion created by his Elemental Skill only deals damage to nearby foes.

This change means that Ayato has lost a small amount of utility. At the very least, it doesn't need to be attacked anymore to explode, making it deal damage quicker than before. The rest of the Elemental Skill remains unchanged for now as far as effects go.

It's important to note that everything shown in Genshin Impact 2.6 leaks is still subject to change. This old mechanic is an excellent example of that.

This Genshin Impact 2.6 leak merely states what the new text for Ayato's Elemental Skill looks like in the game. For reference, the old text read:

His new Elemental Skill reads as:

Soukai Kanka has been renamed as Tamimgeguri Kanka in the new version. Aside from that, there is no taunt mechanic, and the watery illusion can explode sooner without having to be attacked beforehand.

This gameplay leak is only seven seconds long. However, it's long enough for players to see his Elemental Skill in Genshin Impact 2.6. He leaves behind a watery illusion shortly before the Ruin Guard begins its attack animation.

The Ruin Guard immediately turns to face the player, ignoring the watery illusion, and then jumps towards them.

For reference's sake, Mona's Elemental Skill would cause the Ruin Guard to be aggressive towards its location and not the player's. Thus, it's pretty clear that Ayato's Elemental Skill cannot provoke nearby enemies anymore. That means he won't join the following characters