Does Honkai Impact Have a Wishing System? A Deep Dive into Gacha Mechanics
Yes, Honkai Impact 3rd absolutely has a wishing system, although it’s more commonly referred to as a gacha system within the community. This system is the primary method for players to acquire new characters, known as Valkyries, and their accompanying gear, such as weapons and stigmata. Just like many other free-to-play titles, Honkai Impact 3rd utilizes a randomized loot box mechanic where you use in-game currency to “wish” or “pull” for a chance at receiving powerful items and characters. This system is central to the progression and enjoyment of the game, offering a thrill of chance and reward for dedicated players.
Understanding the Wishing Mechanics
The core of Honkai Impact 3rd’s gacha system revolves around different supply banners. These banners are essentially limited-time events that feature specific Valkyries and gear with an increased drop rate. There are several types of supply banners, each with its own unique characteristics:
Expansion Supply
The Expansion Supply banner is often regarded as the most crucial for players, as it features limited-time Valkyries. This is the main way to obtain powerful characters not available in the standard pool. Because of its importance, it is generally recommended that new players prioritize pulls on this banner.
Focused Supply
The Focused Supply banner is dedicated to specific weapons and stigmata, the gear that greatly enhances a Valkyrie’s abilities. Players looking to enhance their already-obtained characters will often target this supply.
Dorm Supply
The Dorm Supply is a permanent banner that features a rotating pool of Valkyries and gear, providing another avenue for players to acquire resources. This is often more accessible for new players compared to the limited-time banners.
Other Supply Banners
There are also other, more specialized, banners like the ELF Supply for obtaining powerful support units and other event-based banners that occur periodically. These different banners keep the game fresh and exciting, providing regular opportunities for players to enhance their team.
Currency and Wishing Stones
To participate in the gacha system, players use in-game currency which is often obtained through gameplay, completing missions, or real-world money purchases. A common currency used for wishing is Crystals. These crystals are used to purchase Wishing Stones, which are then used for wishing or pulling on the different supply banners. In fact, each Wishing Stone is priced at 60 Crystals, demonstrating the integral link between currencies and the gacha system. The number of Wishing Stones a Captain (player) can purchase varies by season, usually capped at 100 Wishing Stones in Season 1 and 80 in Season 2. This cap adds a tactical dimension to how players spend their resources.
The Pity System
Like many modern gacha games, Honkai Impact 3rd includes a pity system. The pity system is designed to guarantee players receive a valuable reward after a certain number of pulls, even if they experience unlucky streaks. This system helps alleviate frustration and adds an element of predictability. There are generally two types of pity in Honkai Impact 3rd.
Hard Pity
The hard pity system guarantees a 5-star character after a specified number of pulls. Though this number can differ by banner, it’s a guarantee that players will obtain a valuable character/weapon. This ensures no player can have prolonged periods of terrible luck.
Soft Pity
The soft pity system, on the other hand, means that as you approach the hard pity, the chances of receiving a 5-star character/weapon increase significantly. While not a guarantee, it makes it more likely to obtain the desired character sooner. This makes the overall experience feel fairer for players, and also creates more excitement when pulling.
Importantly, pity carries over from one banner to another, meaning if you are close to pity on a current banner, it will still apply to future banners of the same type. This allows players to pull more strategically, waiting for the banners which offer the characters or weapons they desire the most.
Strategic Wishing
Engaging with the wishing system in Honkai Impact 3rd requires some strategic planning. Players should not simply pull haphazardly, and instead consider their current team, available resources, and upcoming banners.
Prioritize Expansion Supply
It’s generally recommended that players prioritize pulling on the Expansion Supply banner to get their hands on the powerful, limited-time Valkyries. These characters often become the foundation of powerful team builds, and they often have unique and impactful combat styles.
Manage Resources
Players should manage their resources carefully, avoiding the temptation to pull whenever they have a few spare crystals. Waiting for the right banner and using the pity system wisely can lead to a more satisfying experience overall.
Understanding “Whale Territory”
It’s also worth noting that many banners outside of the Expansion Supply can be expensive and are, as some would say, “Whale territory,” meaning they often require large sums of in-game currency and by extension real money, to acquire the desired items. Understanding this is critical to prevent overspending.
In summary, Honkai Impact 3rd’s wishing (or gacha) system is the central driving force behind character acquisition and progression. By understanding the mechanics, different supply banners, pity system, and how to strategically use resources, players can enhance their gameplay experience and build a powerful team of Valkyries to protect the world.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are Wishing Stones and how are they used?
Wishing Stones are in-game items used to “pull” on supply banners in Honkai Impact 3rd’s gacha system. Each wish costs one Wishing Stone, which can be purchased for 60 Crystals each.
2. Is the gacha system the only way to get new Valkyries?
While the gacha system is the primary way, some Valkyries and resources are obtainable through in-game events, missions, and the story. However, the most powerful and highly sought-after characters are almost exclusively available via gacha.
3. Does Honkai Impact 3rd have a pity system?
Yes, Honkai Impact 3rd has both a hard pity and a soft pity system to ensure that players receive at least a 5-star character/weapon after a certain number of pulls.
4. What is a “soft pity” and a “hard pity”?
Soft pity means that the odds of getting a 5-star character or weapon increase as you approach the hard pity mark. Hard pity guarantees a 5-star item at a specific number of pulls if you haven’t received one already.
5. Does pity carry over between banners?
Yes, the pity count typically carries over between different banners of the same type, allowing players to strategically plan their pulls.
6. Should I pull on all supply banners?
No, it’s generally recommended to prioritize the Expansion Supply banner for limited-time Valkyries and carefully consider the focus of other banners based on your needs.
7. What is the “50/50” in gacha systems?
The “50/50” refers to the chance that, when you get a 5-star drop on a limited banner, it will be the banner’s featured item, with a 50% chance that you will get a non-featured item instead. If you get a non-featured item, your next 5-star is guaranteed to be a featured item.
8. What makes the gacha system in Honkai Impact 3rd “expensive”?
The gacha system can be considered expensive due to the low base drop rates for 5-star items and the high price of wishing currency (Crystals), especially when chasing the top-tier characters and gear.
9. What does “whale territory” mean in the context of Honkai Impact 3rd?
“Whale territory” refers to banners that require significant real-money investment to obtain the desired items due to their low drop rates and high-cost currency.
10. How many wishing stones can I buy in one season?
Captains (players) can generally buy 100 Wishing Stones in Season 1 and 80 in Season 2.
11. Is there any advantage to pulling in batches?
While some believe pulling in batches can bring better luck, there is no concrete evidence that it does. The pity system works whether you pull one at a time or multiple pulls at once.
12. Is Honkai Impact 3rd a “waifu” game?
Yes, Honkai Impact 3rd features an entirely female cast of playable characters, making it a typical “waifu” game for players that enjoy collecting female characters.
13. What is the difference between Expansion Supply and Focused Supply?
The Expansion Supply banner focuses on new and limited-time Valkyries, while the Focused Supply focuses on specific weapons and stigmata for already owned Valkyries.
14. What should new players prioritize when pulling?
New players should prioritize pulling on the Expansion Supply banner to obtain strong and unique Valkyries to form a strong foundation for their team.
15. Is it possible to get all Valkyries without spending real money?
While it’s possible to obtain many Valkyries with careful resource management and strategic pulling, getting every character without spending real money can be very difficult. Especially the most limited, powerful, and high-rarity Valkyries.