Can You Get a 5-Star at 1 Pity?

Yes, you absolutely can get a 5-star character or weapon at 1 pity! While extremely rare, it’s entirely possible to pull a 5-star on your very first wish, or any wish before reaching the soft or hard pity. Gacha game mechanics like Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, and others of their kind operate using pseudo-random number generation (PRNG). This means that every wish has an independent chance of granting you a top-tier reward, irrespective of your previous attempts. It’s a matter of luck and probability, and sometimes, the RNG gods smile upon you early.

Understanding Gacha Mechanics: Pity and Probability

Before diving deeper, it’s crucial to understand the core mechanics of gacha systems, particularly the “pity” system and the associated probabilities. Gacha games use a system of wishing or pulling to acquire characters, weapons, or other valuable items. These wishes are typically purchased with in-game currency or real money. The odds of obtaining specific items are statistically weighted, meaning that some items are much rarer than others.

• Base Probability: This is the default chance of pulling a 5-star item on any given wish. For instance, in Genshin Impact, the base probability of pulling a 5-star character or weapon is typically 0.6%.

• Soft Pity: This is the point where the game subtly increases your chances of pulling a 5-star. While the exact mechanics are usually kept secret, it’s generally believed that soft pity begins around 70-75 wishes. After this point, the probability of pulling a 5-star increases with each subsequent wish.

• Hard Pity: This is the guaranteed number of wishes you need to make to obtain a 5-star item. In Genshin Impact, the hard pity for character banners is 90 wishes, and for weapon banners, it’s 80 wishes. Once you hit hard pity, your next wish will award you a 5-star.

• Pity Counter: This tracks the number of wishes you’ve made on a specific banner since your last 5-star pull. This counter is crucial for understanding when you’re approaching soft or hard pity.

The Role of Randomness

Despite the presence of pity systems, the core of gacha mechanics lies in randomness. Each wish is essentially an independent event. This means that even if you’ve made 89 wishes without a 5-star, your 90th wish isn’t caused by the previous 89. It’s simply that the probability of getting a 5-star on your 90th wish is guaranteed.

Therefore, pulling a 5-star at 1 pity is a testament to the inherent randomness of these systems. While the odds are stacked against you (0.6% or similar), it’s not impossible. Some players get incredibly lucky and defy the statistical averages.

Is it More Likely to Get 5-Star at 1 Pity?

No, statistically, getting a 5-star at 1 pity is very unlikely. The base probability of pulling a 5-star on any given wish is generally low (around 0.6% in many gacha games). The pity system is designed to provide a guaranteed 5-star after a certain number of wishes, which makes pulling a 5-star at such an early stage more of a lucky event than a likely occurrence. So, while it’s possible, it’s not the norm.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How Can I Track My Pity Count?

Most gacha games offer an in-game history of your wish activity. You can usually find this feature within the wish interface. By reviewing your wish history, you can manually count the number of wishes you’ve made since your last 5-star pull. Many third-party tools and websites also exist to help you track your pity count automatically.

2. Does Pity Carry Over Between Banners?

This depends on the specific banner type. Character banners typically have a shared pity count. If you don’t get a 5-star on one character banner, your pity count will carry over to the next character banner. Weapon banners, however, often have their own separate pity count. Be sure to check the in-game rules and details of each banner to confirm.

3. What is the Difference Between Soft Pity and Hard Pity?

Soft pity is a point where the game subtly increases your chances of pulling a 5-star item, usually around 70-75 wishes. Hard pity is the guaranteed number of wishes you need to make to obtain a 5-star item, usually 90 wishes for character banners and 80 wishes for weapon banners.

4. Is it Better to Pull on Character or Weapon Banners?

This depends on your priorities. Character banners provide access to new playable characters, which can significantly expand your team-building options and gameplay style. Weapon banners offer powerful weapons that can greatly enhance your existing characters’ performance. Consider your current roster and gear, and choose the banner that best addresses your needs. Also, weapon banners can be riskier since you are not guaranteed to get the specific featured weapon.

5. What Factors Influence the Gacha Rates?

The gacha rates are primarily influenced by the base probability set by the game developers and the pity system. External factors, such as your device or internet connection, do not affect the gacha rates. It’s all based on the game’s internal algorithms.

6. Are There Any Strategies to Improve My Chances of Getting a 5-Star?

While there’s no guaranteed way to manipulate the gacha system, you can optimize your approach. Save your resources diligently to ensure you have enough wishes to reach soft or hard pity if necessary. Research the banners to understand the featured characters and weapons, and make informed decisions about where to spend your wishes.

7. What Happens if I Get a 5-Star Character I Already Have?

In most gacha games, getting a duplicate 5-star character will grant you a special item that can be used to unlock character constellations (or similar systems). Constellations provide powerful buffs and enhancements to the character’s abilities. Alternatively, you might receive a currency that can be exchanged for other valuable items in the game’s shop.

8. How Does the 50/50 System Work?

Many gacha games, like Genshin Impact, have a “50/50” system on character banners. This means that when you pull your first 5-star character on a banner, there’s a 50% chance it will be the featured character and a 50% chance it will be a standard character. If you lose the 50/50 (meaning you get a standard character), your next 5-star character on that banner is guaranteed to be the featured character.

9. Should I Spend Real Money on Wishes?

This is a personal decision. Spending real money can accelerate your progress and allow you to acquire characters and weapons faster. However, it’s essential to set a budget and stick to it. Gacha games can be addictive, and it’s easy to overspend. Consider the value you place on the in-game items and the potential cost before making any purchases.

10. How Often Do New Banners Get Released?

The frequency of new banner releases varies from game to game. Popular gacha games typically release new banners every few weeks, often coinciding with special events or updates. Keep an eye on the game’s official announcements and social media channels for upcoming banner information.

11. Can I Get Banned for Using Third-Party Pity Trackers?

It depends on the game’s policy and the tool you use. Some games explicitly prohibit the use of third-party tools, while others are more lenient. Make sure that the pity tracker doesn’t violate the game’s terms of service or access your account credentials. Always prioritize your account security and avoid using tools that seem suspicious.

12. What Should I Do if I Don’t Get the Character I Want?

If you don’t get the character you want, don’t be discouraged. Focus on building and improving the characters you do have. Many characters can be surprisingly effective with the right team composition and gear. You can also save up your resources and try again on a future banner.

13. Is it Worth Pulling on the Standard Banner?

The standard banner (also known as the permanent banner) usually features a selection of standard 5-star characters and weapons. While it’s tempting to pull on the standard banner, it’s generally not recommended to prioritize it unless you have a surplus of wishes or are specifically targeting a character or weapon available only on that banner. Event banners usually offer better value.

14. How Does the Weapon Banner’s Epitomized Path Work?

The Epitomized Path is a feature on weapon banners that guarantees you will eventually get one of the featured weapons. You set a course for one of the featured weapons, and if you don’t get that weapon after pulling a 5-star weapon twice, the next 5-star weapon you pull is guaranteed to be the weapon you chose. This system helps mitigate the randomness of weapon banners.

15. Is it Possible to Get Two 5-Stars in One 10-Pull?

Yes, this is also possible, though extremely rare. Just as you can get a 5-star on a single pull at 1 pity, the random number generator (RNG) allows for the possibility of getting multiple 5-stars within a single 10-pull. This is considered incredibly lucky and a significant statistical outlier.