Which Character is Prototype Crescent Good For?
The Prototype Crescent is a craftable 4-star bow in Genshin Impact known for its straightforward but potent ATK-focused passive. It’s particularly good for characters who benefit significantly from increased ATK and can consistently trigger its passive by hitting enemy weak points. While it’s not universally the best option for every bow user, it shines on characters who rely heavily on charged attacks and benefit from higher base ATK. Specifically, the Prototype Crescent is generally considered a very strong F2P (free-to-play) option for several characters, notably: Ganyu, Tighnari, Faruzan, Collei, and even Fischl as a support character. Let’s explore why these characters make the most out of this versatile weapon.
The Mechanics of Prototype Crescent
Before diving into specific characters, understanding the Prototype Crescent’s stats and passive is crucial. At its base, it provides a high base ATK compared to other 4-star bows, which is a fundamental advantage for any damage-dealing archer. Its secondary stat is ATK%, further enhancing damage output. The weapon’s passive ability is where it truly stands out: upon hitting a weak point with a charged attack, the user’s Movement Speed is increased by 10% and ATK is increased by 36% for 10 seconds. This substantial ATK boost, combined with increased mobility, makes it a powerful weapon for characters who frequently use charged attacks and can reliably hit weak points.
Top Characters for Prototype Crescent
Ganyu
Ganyu is undoubtedly one of the best beneficiaries of the Prototype Crescent. Her playstyle is heavily centered around charged attacks, making it incredibly easy to trigger the weapon’s passive. Ganyu’s charged attacks deal substantial damage, and the ATK% boost from the Prototype Crescent, alongside its high base ATK, significantly enhances her damage ceiling. The mobility boost from the passive is also a welcome addition, helping her reposition more effectively during combat. While Amos’ Bow is her best-in-slot weapon, Prototype Crescent remains a very competitive and easily obtainable F2P alternative. Its effectiveness is particularly evident in freeze compositions and against bosses with easily targetable weak points.
Tighnari
Tighnari, another charged-attack-focused DPS character, finds great utility with the Prototype Crescent. His kit emphasizes dealing damage through his charged attacks, and the weapon’s passive aligns perfectly with this. The increase in ATK boosts the damage of his special charged attacks, making him a force to be reckoned with in Dendro-based team compositions. While other weapons might suit specific scenarios better, Prototype Crescent is often cited as one of the best F2P choices for Tighnari, especially when facing enemies with accessible weak spots.
Faruzan
Faruzan, while primarily a support character, benefits from the Prototype Crescent’s high base ATK and ATK% sub-stat. Her A4 talent scales off her ATK, making the added ATK from this weapon valuable. Her role involves providing buffs through her abilities, and having a higher ATK can somewhat contribute to her team-wide damage. While she may not actively use charged attacks to trigger the passive, the weapon’s stats are generally beneficial for her support role, making it a viable F2P option until better alternatives become available.
Collei
Collei, much like Faruzan, benefits from the ATK% bonus from the Prototype Crescent, which in turn enhances her talent damage. Although hitting weak points with charged attacks isn’t a core part of her gameplay, the ATK% stat is generally useful for improving her overall effectiveness as a support or sub-DPS. While not her absolute best choice, the Prototype Crescent is a decent and easily obtainable option for Collei, especially at the start of your account’s progress.
Fischl (Support)
While Fischl’s best-in-slot weapon is often The Stringless, the Prototype Crescent offers a strong F2P alternative for her support role. As a support character, Fischl’s damage scales with ATK, so the higher base ATK and ATK% stat from the Prototype Crescent are a direct benefit. Though she doesn’t actively use charged attacks, the weapon’s ATK bonuses still make a significant impact. This makes it a practical option if you don’t have The Stringless or other preferred alternatives readily available.
When Prototype Crescent Isn’t the Best Choice
Despite its strengths, the Prototype Crescent isn’t ideal for every character. Characters who rely more on Elemental Mastery (EM) or Elemental Burst damage, rather than charged attacks, typically benefit more from other bow options. For instance, Childe (Tartaglia), while he does use ranged attacks, primarily relies on his Elemental Skill and Burst, making EM focused weapons or bows that boost normal attack damage more appealing than a charged-attack focused weapon. Similarly, Lyney can benefit from the Prototype Crescent’s ATK bonus, but the passive may not trigger consistently against opponents without weak spots making the weapon less effective than alternatives like the Blackcliff Warbow which provides both Crit Rate and high ATK when using his abilities.
Alternative Bow Options
Characters who don’t effectively utilize the Prototype Crescent’s passive are better served with alternatives, such as The Stringless which is excellent for characters who rely on Elemental Reactions, or Hamayumi, which offers a consistent passive damage increase that doesn’t rely on hitting weak spots. Rust is another option for characters who focus on Normal attacks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Prototype Crescent good for DPS characters?
Yes, especially for charged attack DPS characters like Ganyu and Tighnari, the Prototype Crescent is excellent. The high base ATK and ATK% passive, when triggered, significantly boost their damage.
2. Can Prototype Crescent be used on support characters?
Yes, while not always optimal, the Prototype Crescent’s high base ATK and ATK% sub-stat make it a decent option for support characters like Faruzan and Collei, whose kits benefit from higher ATK.
3. How do you trigger the Prototype Crescent’s passive?
The passive is triggered by hitting an enemy’s weak point with a charged attack. This requires some precision in aiming but provides a significant ATK and movement speed boost.
4. Is Prototype Crescent better than The Stringless for Fischl?
Generally, The Stringless is considered better for Fischl due to its boost to Elemental Skill and Burst damage, and its EM stat makes it ideal for Elemental Reactions. However, Prototype Crescent is a viable F2P alternative particularly if you do not have The Stringless.
5. Is Prototype Crescent good for Ganyu if you have Amos’ Bow?
No, Amos’ Bow is Ganyu’s best-in-slot weapon. Prototype Crescent is more of a very strong F2P alternative, not ideal if you have her signature weapon.
6. How does Prototype Crescent compare to Hamayumi?
Prototype Crescent has a higher damage ceiling when its passive is consistently triggered, while Hamayumi provides a more consistent damage boost with a simpler passive. Hamayumi’s passive also encourages full Energy, potentially limiting the use of Burst abilities for maximum effectiveness.
7. Can Prototype Crescent work on Childe?
While the ATK stat is helpful, Childe does not synergize well with the Prototype Crescent’s passive since he does not rely heavily on charged attacks. Other bow options like Rust or the Stringless are better suited for him.
8. Is Prototype Crescent easy to obtain?
Yes, Prototype Crescent is a craftable weapon, making it relatively easy to obtain and refine compared to gacha-only bows.
9. Is Prototype Crescent better than the Compound Bow for Fischl?
Prototype Crescent is generally a better option for Fischl as a support character. The Compound Bow, with its Physical DMG bonus, is not ideal for most Fischl builds.
10. Does the Prototype Crescent have a high base ATK?
Yes, the Prototype Crescent has a relatively high base ATK compared to other 4-star bows, which is beneficial for damage-oriented characters.
11. Is Prototype Crescent good for Lyney?
Prototype Crescent can be good for Lyney, but it’s not ideal since its passive relies on hitting weak spots, which can be unreliable, especially against enemies without easily accessible weak points.
12. How do the ATK bonuses from Prototype Crescent affect a character?
The ATK% bonus increases the character’s overall ATK stat, boosting the damage output of their abilities and attacks, making it a fundamental stat for damage dealers.
13. Is Ibis Piercer better than Prototype Crescent?
For specific characters, like Ganyu and Tighnari, the Prototype Crescent is generally considered a better F2P option than the Ibis Piercer because of the ATK bonuses it provides and the ease of triggering the passive compared to Ibis Piercer.
14. Is Prototype Crescent good for Tighnari if you have other options?
Prototype Crescent is one of the best F2P options for Tighnari, but other weapons like Hunter’s Path or even The Stringless can potentially provide higher damage based on team comps.
15. Is Prototype Crescent a good weapon for new players?
Yes, Prototype Crescent is an excellent starting weapon for new players due to its high base ATK, ATK% stat, and ease of access through crafting. It’s a solid choice for many DPS archers early on.
In conclusion, the Prototype Crescent is a powerful and versatile 4-star bow, particularly valuable for F2P players. Its benefits are most pronounced when utilized by characters who depend on charged attacks and can easily hit enemy weak points. While it’s not the best choice for every archer, it certainly holds a respectable place among the available options, especially for those early in their Genshin Impact journey.