Does Pity Reset If You Don’t Wish? The Ultimate Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail Guide

No, pity does not reset if you don’t wish. In both Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, the pity system is designed to guarantee players a high-rarity character or weapon after a certain number of pulls. This counter only resets when you successfully pull a 5-star (or 4-star depending on the context) from the banner. Time, inactivity, or switching banners do not affect your existing pity count.

Understanding the Pity System

The pity system is a mechanic in gacha games like Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, designed to mitigate the inherent randomness of wishing (pulling) for characters and weapons. It serves as a guaranteed safety net, ensuring players receive a high-rarity item after a specific number of attempts. There are typically two types of pity:

• Soft Pity: Starting around 70-80 pulls for a 5-star character (or earlier, depending on the game), your chances of getting a 5-star incrementally increase with each subsequent pull.
• Hard Pity: Reaching 90 pulls (typically) guarantees a 5-star character or weapon.

Importantly, pity is banner-specific. Your pity count on the Character Event Wish banner is separate from the Weapon Event Wish banner, and both are different from the Standard Wish banner.

Detailed Explanation: Pity Persistence

The core concept to grasp is that pity is persistent over time. Let’s break down what this means in practical terms:

1. Inactivity Doesn’t Matter: Whether you take a week-long break, a month-long hiatus, or even a year-long break from Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail, your pity count on each banner will remain exactly where you left it. The game tracks this data, and it doesn’t simply vanish.

2. Banner Switching (Within the Same Type): Your pity does carry over from one Character Event Wish banner to the next Character Event Wish banner. So, if you performed 50 wishes on the Raiden Shogun banner and then the banner ended, your pity count of 50 will transfer to the next Character Event Wish banner, let’s say, for Nahida. The same applies to Weapon Event Wish banners; pity carries over between them. Note that this is only valid for the same type of banner.

3. Pity Resets Upon Success: The only event that resets your pity count to zero is successfully obtaining a 5-star character or weapon (depending on the banner). Once you get that coveted character, the counter starts anew.

Maximizing Your Wishing Strategy

Understanding the nuances of the pity system is crucial for efficient resource management. Here are a few strategic tips:

• Track Your Wishes: Manually keep track of the number of wishes you’ve made on each banner, or utilize online wish trackers. Knowing your current pity count helps you plan your Primogem/Stellar Jade spending effectively.

• Plan Based on Pity: If you’re close to soft or hard pity, it might be worthwhile to continue wishing on a banner, even if you’re not particularly interested in the current character/weapon. Securing a 5-star can be advantageous in the long run.

• Save Wisely: If you’re saving for a specific character, avoid wishing on banners unless you’re comfortable potentially getting a different 5-star. Accidental wishes can reset your pity and delay your desired character.

• Be Aware of the 50/50: On Character Event Wish banners, there’s a 50% chance of getting the featured character and a 50% chance of getting a standard 5-star character. If you lose the 50/50, your next 5-star is guaranteed to be the featured character.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some commonly asked questions related to the pity system in Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail:

1. Does Pity Carry Over Between Different Banner Types?

No, pity does not carry over between different types of banners. Your pity count for the Standard Wish banner is separate from the Character Event Wish banner and the Weapon Event Wish banner. Focus your wishes on the banner that aligns with your goals.

2. Does Your Pity Reset After Losing the 50/50?

No, losing the 50/50 does not reset your pity. Losing the 50/50 only means that your next 5-star character on that specific Character Event Wish banner is guaranteed to be the featured character. Pity is only reset upon obtaining a 5-star.

3. Does Pity Reset if You Get a 5-Star Before 90 Pulls?

Yes, pity resets whenever you pull a 5-star character or weapon, regardless of how many pulls it takes. Whether it’s your first pull or your 89th, getting a 5-star will reset the counter to zero.

4. How Many Primogems Does it Take to Guarantee a 5-Star Character?

It takes a maximum of 14,400 Primogems (160 Primogems per wish x 90 wishes) to guarantee a 5-star character on the Character Event Wish banner, assuming you reach hard pity.

5. What is the Expected Value of the Cost of a 5-Star Character?

While hard pity guarantees a 5-star at 90 wishes, the average cost is lower due to soft pity. However, estimating an exact “expected value” is difficult due to the variability of soft pity.

6. Does the Starglitter/Stardust Exchange Affect Pity?

No, exchanging Starglitter or Stardust in the Paimon’s Bargains shop does not affect your pity. These currencies are separate from the pity system and allow you to purchase Intertwined Fates/Acquaint Fates without impacting your wish counters.

7. Can You Lose the 50/50 to a Weapon on the Character Event Wish Banner?

No, you cannot lose the 50/50 to a weapon on the Character Event Wish banner. Losing the 50/50 means you’ll get a standard 5-star character. Weapons are only obtainable through the Weapon Event Wish banner.

8. What is Soft Pity in Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail?

Soft pity refers to the point where the probability of pulling a 5-star begins to increase significantly, typically starting around 70-80 pulls. While not guaranteed, the likelihood of getting a 5-star becomes noticeably higher.

9. How Does the Weapon Event Wish Pity System Work?

The Weapon Event Wish banner has a slightly different pity system. It typically guarantees one of the two featured weapons at 80 pulls (hard pity).

10. If I Switch Banners After Losing the 50/50, Does the Guarantee Carry Over?

Yes, the guarantee carries over. If you lose the 50/50 on a Character Event Wish banner and then switch to the next Character Event Wish banner, your next 5-star is still guaranteed to be the featured character.

11. What Happens If I Get the Featured Character Before Reaching Pity?

If you get the featured character before reaching pity (e.g., on your first pull), your pity resets, and the 50/50 chance is also reset for the next 5-star.

12. Is There a Pity System on the Standard Wish Banner?

Yes, the Standard Wish banner also has a pity system. It guarantees a 5-star character or weapon at 90 pulls (hard pity).

13. Can You Get Multiple 5-Star Characters in One Multi-Pull (10 Wishes)?

Yes, it is possible to get multiple 5-star characters or weapons in a single 10-pull, although it is very rare. Each wish is independent, so the pity system applies to each individual wish within the multi-pull.

14. How Does the Four-Star Pity System Work?

In addition to the 5-star pity, there’s also a 4-star pity system that guarantees a 4-star character or weapon every 10 pulls. This pity count also resets each time you pull a 4-star.

15. Where Can I Learn More About Game Mechanics and Learning?

To dive deeper into the educational aspects of gaming and how game mechanics can be used for learning, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. The Games Learning Society is dedicated to exploring the intersection of games and education.

Conclusion

The pity system in Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail is a crucial aspect of the gacha experience. Understanding how it works allows players to strategize their wishes, maximize their resources, and ultimately obtain the characters and weapons they desire. Remember, pity doesn’t reset if you don’t wish – it’s a persistent mechanic designed to provide a safety net and make the wishing process more predictable and rewarding.