Best F2P Weapon for Kamisato Ayaka: A Comprehensive Guide

Choosing the right weapon for Kamisato Ayaka, the revered “Cryo Princess” of Genshin Impact, is crucial for maximizing her damage output, especially for free-to-play (F2P) players. While 5-star weapons boast superior base stats, there are excellent, accessible options that can significantly enhance Ayaka’s performance without breaking the bank. So, what is the best F2P weapon for Ayaka?

The clear winner for the best F2P weapon for Ayaka is the Amenoma Kageuchi. While it might not have the highest base attack, its passive ability, coupled with its easily achievable refinement levels, makes it exceptionally powerful for Ayaka. This weapon provides an excellent blend of damage and energy recharge, addressing some key concerns of Ayaka players.

The Power of Amenoma Kageuchi

The Amenoma Kageuchi is a craftable sword obtainable through the Inazuma blacksmith. Its passive ability reads: “After using an Elemental Skill, gain 1 Succession Seed. This effect can be triggered once every 5 seconds. Succession Seed lasts for 30 seconds, and max 3 exist. After using an Elemental Burst, all Succession Seeds are consumed, and after 2 seconds, the character regenerates 6 Energy for each seed consumed.”

Why Amenoma Kageuchi Shines on Ayaka:

• Energy Recharge: Ayaka’s Elemental Burst is a cornerstone of her damage output. The Amenoma Kageuchi’s passive effectively tackles her energy recharge issues, ensuring her burst is available more frequently. This is vital because her burst is very expensive and usually requires a lot of energy recharge.
• Consistent Damage: Although the base attack is not the highest, the attack sub-stat provides a decent boost, and with the consistent use of her burst, Ayaka’s damage is significantly amplified.
• Accessibility: As a craftable weapon, the Amenoma Kageuchi is easily obtainable. Free-to-play players can quickly obtain and refine it to maximize its potential, which provides a very powerful weapon for Ayaka with little investment.
• Synergy: The passive ability directly synergizes with Ayaka’s playstyle. Her Elemental Skill is used frequently, and the Succession Seeds feed directly into powering her burst.

How to Maximize Amenoma Kageuchi on Ayaka

To get the most out of the Amenoma Kageuchi on Ayaka:

• Refinement: Aim to refine the weapon to rank 5. Each refinement increases the energy restoration and significantly boosts the weapon’s efficiency.
• Energy Recharge: Pair this weapon with an artifact set that will also boost energy recharge or a support character that has energy recharge abilities. With proper management, you can have near constant burst uptime.
• Talent Usage: Ensure you are utilizing Ayaka’s Elemental Skill frequently to gather the Succession Seeds before using her Burst. Proper talent usage is extremely important for her damage.

While other F2P options exist, the consistent energy regeneration provided by Amenoma Kageuchi makes it the most reliable and effective choice for maximizing Ayaka’s damage as a free-to-play player.

Additional F2P Weapon Options for Ayaka

Although Amenoma Kageuchi is generally considered the best F2P option, some alternatives can also be effective depending on your specific team composition and playstyle.

Blackcliff Longsword

• Acquisition: Available through the Paimon’s Bargains shop using Masterless Starglitter.
• Pros: Offers Crit Damage sub-stat, which synergizes well with the Blizzard Strayer artifact set and Ayaka’s innate critical rate increases.
• Cons: The passive is conditional, and relies on defeating enemies. If you’re going against bosses or very few enemies, the passive won’t be of much use.

Prototype Rancour

• Acquisition: Craftable at the blacksmith.
• Pros: High base attack and a passive that increases attack and defense when dealing damage.
• Cons: The passive is more suited for a physical-damage build and does not provide energy recharge. Its overall effectiveness is also considerably lower than Amenoma Kageuchi.

While these options can be viable, they generally do not provide the consistency and energy recharge benefits that the Amenoma Kageuchi offers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Ayaka good for F2P players?

Yes, Ayaka is extremely F2P friendly. Despite being a 5-star character, she doesn’t require a lot of investment to become an incredible main DPS. Her reliance on the Blizzard Strayer artifact set, which is freely farmable, and her best F2P weapon being a craftable option makes her very accessible.

2. What is the best artifact set for Ayaka?

The best artifact set for Ayaka is the Blizzard Strayer set. The 2-piece bonus provides a Cryo DMG Bonus, and the 4-piece bonus provides an additional Crit Rate bonus when attacking opponents affected by Cryo, or Frozen. This greatly increases her damage.

3. What are Ayaka’s talent priorities?

For Ayaka, you should focus on leveling her Elemental Burst first, as it is her primary source of damage, followed by her Elemental Skill, and finally her Normal Attack.

4. Is it worth pulling for Ayaka in Genshin Impact?

Yes, Ayaka is one of the best characters in Genshin Impact and is worth pulling for if you are looking for a powerful and simple DPS. She can carry your team through difficult content such as the Spiral Abyss.

5. What are the best team compositions for Ayaka?

Ayaka excels in freeze teams. A common composition is Ayaka, Kazuha (or Venti), a Hydro applicator like Xingqiu or Kokomi, and a Cryo support such as Diona or Shenhe.

6. How much Crit Rate should Ayaka have?

With the Blizzard Strayer set and Cryo resonance, Ayaka can achieve a decent amount of crit rate. With the 4-piece set of blizzard strayer, a recommended crit rate is between 30-40% when using Ayaka against bosses or enemies that can’t be frozen. Otherwise it should be lower.

7. Is C1 Ayaka worth it?

Generally, Ayaka’s Constellations beyond C0 are not necessary, and her best constellations are her fourth and sixth ones. Therefore it is not worth pulling for C1 and C2 if you are a free-to-play player or a low-spending player.

8. Is Ayaka better than Raiden?

Ayaka and Raiden excel in different team compositions and roles. Ayaka is great in freeze teams, while Raiden is better in hyperbloom or national teams. The choice depends on your team needs.

9. Is Ayaka better than Xiao?

While both are good DPS characters, Ayaka’s damage output and her place in the meta make her a better option than Xiao, especially when considering team compositions.

10. Is the Black Sword good for Ayaka?

The Black Sword is a solid Crit weapon for Ayaka. However, it’s not a F2P option since it is obtained from the paid Battle Pass. Therefore, it is not recommended for free-to-play players.

11. Who is the best healer for Ayaka?

Diona is an excellent healer for Ayaka as she enables the Cryo resonance, provides shielding, and heals, making her a perfect support. Kokomi is also great as she provides excellent Hydro application and healing in a wide AOE.

12. Should I build Ayaka or Eula?

Ayaka and Eula have different elemental focuses. Ayaka’s Cryo application is more thorough and versatile for elemental reactions, while Eula focuses on physical damage. So Ayaka is usually better for free-to-play players due to her versatility in team comps.

13. Is Ayaka good for beginners?

Yes, Ayaka is good for beginners because her kit is simple to use, and her damage potential is very high. The Cool Steel is a good early game weapon for Ayaka, but the Amenoma Kageuchi should be your goal as soon as you can craft it.

14. Is Ayaka worth getting at C0?

Yes, Ayaka is powerful at C0. While constellations do provide power increases, she performs exceptionally well without them.

15. Who is the best Hydro character to pair with Ayaka?

Xingqiu is a great early-game option, while Kokomi is the premier Hydro applicator, providing a more constant application of hydro. Yelan is also a very powerful Hydro applicator, but she synergizes more with vape comps, than freeze comps.

In conclusion, while various F2P options exist for Ayaka, the Amenoma Kageuchi stands out as the best choice due to its effective passive, accessibility, and the energy recharge it provides. Pairing this weapon with the Blizzard Strayer set and the right team compositions can make Ayaka a formidable DPS character without spending any money.