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Saving for Stardom: How Many Wishes Should You Hoard for a 5-Star in Genshin Impact?

The burning question on every Genshin Impact player’s mind: how many wishes do I need to secure that coveted 5-star character or weapon? The short answer is you should save at least 14,400 Primogems, which translates to 90 wishes. This is because of Genshin Impact’s pity system, which guarantees a 5-star pull within 90 wishes on character and standard banners. However, this is the worst case scenario. Understanding the nuances of the pity system, the 50/50 mechanic, and the difference between character and weapon banners is crucial for efficient Primogem management. Let’s dive deep into the world of Genshin Impact gacha and optimize your saving strategy!

Understanding the Pity System: Your Safety Net

The cornerstone of Genshin Impact’s wish system is the pity system, which exists on two levels: hard pity and soft pity.

Hard Pity: The Guaranteed 5-Star

Hard pity is your guarantee. As mentioned, the game guarantees a 5-star character or weapon within 90 wishes on character and standard banners. So, if you’ve pulled 89 times without a 5-star, your 90th pull will be a 5-star. For the weapon banner, hard pity is at 80 wishes. This is why saving at least 14,400 Primogems (90 wishes * 160 Primogems/wish) is the safest strategy.

Soft Pity: Lady Luck Smiles

While hard pity is a guarantee, most players experience what’s called soft pity. This means the chances of pulling a 5-star character increase significantly before you reach the 90-wish mark. While miHoYo (now HoYoverse) hasn’t officially disclosed the exact numbers, community data suggests that soft pity typically starts around wish 75 or 76. From this point, your chances of getting a 5-star drastically increase with each subsequent pull.

The Dreaded 50/50: A Game of Chance

On limited character banners, after receiving a 5-star character, you encounter the 50/50 mechanic. This means there’s a 50% chance you’ll get the featured character on the banner and a 50% chance you’ll get a random 5-star character from the standard banner pool.

Winning and Losing the 50/50

If you win the 50/50, congratulations! You got the character you wanted. If you lose the 50/50, don’t despair. The next 5-star character you pull on that same banner is guaranteed to be the featured character. This is why strategic saving is essential. If you really want a character, you need enough Primogems to hit pity twice, just in case you lose the first 50/50.

Weapon Banners: A Different Beast

The weapon banner operates differently. While the hard pity is lower at 80 wishes, and the odds of pulling a featured weapon is higher at 75%, there is still a chance you will pull a non-featured 5 star weapon. In this case, Genshin has the Epitomized Path. This means you can choose one of the two weapons to get it guaranteed after getting a 5 star weapon you don’t want.

FAQs: Delving Deeper into Wishing

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the Genshin Impact wishing system and optimize your Primogem savings:

What happens if I lose the 50/50 on a character banner?
If you lose the 50/50, the next 5-star character you pull on that same banner is guaranteed to be the featured character. Your pity counter resets.
Does pity carry over from banner to banner?
Yes! Pity carries over from one limited character banner to the next. So, if you pull 70 times on one banner and don’t get a 5-star, those 70 pulls will count towards the pity on the next character banner. Remember that character and standard banners have separate pity counters.
Is there a difference between doing single pulls and 10-pulls?
No. The gacha mechanics are the same whether you do single pulls or 10-pulls. Ten-pulls are just a convenience to save time.
How many Primogems do I need to guarantee a specific character if I lose the 50/50?
To guarantee a character after losing the 50/50, you need to be able to reach hard pity, which is an additional 90 wishes (14,400 Primogems). In other words, 28,800 Primogems total.
Is it better to save my Primogems or spend them on Resin refills?
This depends on your priorities. If you’re focused on obtaining specific characters, saving Primogems for wishes is generally the better strategy. Resin refills can speed up progression, but characters significantly impact gameplay.
How long does it take to save enough Primogems for a 5-star character?
On average, it takes about 5-6 months to save 14,400 Primogems (90 wishes) through daily commissions, events, and other in-game activities.
What is the 4-star pity system?
Genshin Impact guarantees a 4-star character or weapon within every 10 wishes. This pity system is separate from the 5-star pity and resets each time you receive a 4-star item.
Does the 4-star pity carry over between banners?
Yes, the 4-star pity carries over between banners, similar to the 5-star pity.
Should I wish on the Standard Banner?
Generally, it’s more efficient to focus your Primogems on limited character banners if you’re targeting specific characters. The Standard Banner has a wider pool of characters and weapons, making it harder to get what you want.
What is soft pity in Genshin Impact and when does it start?
Soft pity refers to the increased chance of pulling a 5-star character before reaching the hard pity of 90 wishes. While the exact numbers are unconfirmed by miHoYo, community data suggests soft pity starts around the 75th or 76th wish.
How does the Epitomized Path work on the Weapon Banner?
The Epitomized Path allows you to select one of the two featured weapons. If you pull a 5-star weapon that isn’t the one you selected, your Epitomized Path accumulates a Fate Point. After two Fate Points (meaning you got two unwanted 5 star weapons), your next 5-star weapon is guaranteed to be the selected weapon.
Does Pity reset after 6 months?
No, your pity will stay the same regardless of how long it’s been. Only getting a 5* will reset it.
Are there any tricks to get 5-star characters in Genshin Impact?
While there are no guaranteed tricks, it’s wise to strategize your wish spending, build pity for banners, and take advantage of Paimon’s Bargains and other in-game features to maximize your chances of obtaining desired 5-Star characters.
Can you lose your 50 50 twice in a row?
Theoretically no, but this can happen due to a bug.
Is it better to wish 1 or 10 in Genshin Impact?
Ten pull and single pull doesn’t affect your luck, it’s really just personal preference.

Strategic Saving: A Path to Victory

Ultimately, the number of wishes you should save for a 5-star character depends on your goals and risk tolerance.

Conservative Approach: Save at least 28,800 Primogems (180 wishes) to guarantee a character, even if you lose the 50/50.
Moderate Approach: Save at least 14,400 Primogems (90 wishes) to reach hard pity and hope you win the 50/50.
High-Risk Approach: Wish with whatever Primogems you have, hoping for early luck, but be prepared to miss out if you’re unlucky.

Remember, Genshin Impact is a marathon, not a sprint. Patience, planning, and strategic Primogem management are key to building the team of your dreams. Understanding the core mechanics, like soft pity and hard pity, and keeping an eye on your wish count, will help you make informed decisions about when to wish and when to save. Also, consider doing research on your favorite games! Visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about the education potential of games. Happy wishing!

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