Does the Weapon Banner 50/50 Carry Over? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, the 50/50 mechanic on the Weapon Event Wish banner in Genshin Impact does carry over, but with a crucial caveat: Fate Points do not carry over. Let’s break down what this means and how it affects your weapon-pulling strategy. In Honkai: Star Rail, pity carries over between banners of the same type, but not between different types.
Understanding the Pity System
Before diving into the specifics of the weapon banner, it’s essential to understand the pity system in games like Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail. The pity system is designed to guarantee players a specific reward (typically a 5-star character or weapon) after a certain number of pulls. It consists of two types: hard pity and soft pity. Hard pity is the maximum number of pulls required to guarantee a 5-star, while soft pity refers to an increased probability of obtaining a 5-star before hitting the hard pity.
In Genshin Impact, there are separate pity systems for the character event wish banner, the weapon event wish banner, and the standard banner. Honkai: Star Rail also employs a similar, but not identical, system.
Weapon Banner Mechanics in Genshin Impact
The Weapon Event Wish banner in Genshin Impact operates differently from the character banner. Here’s a breakdown:
- Base Probability: The base probability of pulling a 5-star weapon is relatively low, around 0.7%.
- Hard Pity: You are guaranteed a 5-star weapon within 80 pulls on the Weapon Event Wish banner.
- Featured Weapons: Each Weapon Event Wish banner features two rate-up 5-star weapons.
- Epitomized Path (Fate Points): This unique mechanic allows you to choose one of the featured weapons. If you don’t get your desired weapon on your first 5-star pull, you gain 1 Fate Point. If you still don’t get it on your second 5-star pull, you gain another Fate Point. With 2 Fate Points, your next 5-star weapon is guaranteed to be the one you chose on the Epitomized Path.
- The 75/25 Rule: This rule dictates the likelihood of pulling one of the rate-up weapons or a standard banner weapon. There is a 75% chance to get a rate-up weapon, and a 25% chance to get a standard banner weapon. If you get a standard banner weapon, the next 5-star pull is guaranteed to be a rate-up weapon. This turns the situation to a 50/50 chance.
The Carry-Over Explained
The 50/50 on the weapon banner does carry over. This means that if you pull a 5-star weapon that isn’t one of the rate-up weapons (losing the 75/25), your next 5-star weapon is guaranteed to be a featured weapon. This guarantee remains even if the banner changes.
However, the Epitomized Path, represented by Fate Points, does not carry over between banners. This is a critical distinction. If you have 1 or even 2 Fate Points on a banner and the banner expires, those Fate Points are lost.
Why Fate Points Reset is Important
The reset of Fate Points makes strategizing your weapon pulls essential. If you’re close to guaranteeing a specific weapon on the Epitomized Path (meaning you have 1 Fate Point), it might be worth spending your Primogems to secure the desired weapon before the banner ends. Otherwise, you’ll lose your progress, and the next time the weapon you want appears, you’ll start with 0 Fate Points again.
How It Differs from Character Banners
In character banners, the 50/50 also carries over. If you fail to get the featured character, your next 5-star character pull is guaranteed to be the featured character on the current banner. The difference is that there’s no equivalent to the Epitomized Path on character banners. You either get the character or you don’t, and your next pull will be the guaranteed one if you lost the previous 50/50.
Honkai: Star Rail Weapon Banner
In the case of Honkai: Star Rail, the equivalent to the weapon banner is often referred to as the Light Cone banner. This banner also uses a pity system that guarantees a 5-star Light Cone within a set number of pulls. The pity does carry over between Light Cone banners.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does pity count carry over in Genshin Impact?
Yes, pity count carries over between banners of the same type. For instance, the pity built up on a Character Event Wish banner carries over to the next Character Event Wish banner. Similarly, pity on the Weapon Event Wish banner carries over to the next Weapon Event Wish banner. The Games Learning Society offers insights into these game mechanics.
2. What happens if I lose the 50/50 on the weapon banner?
If you lose the 50/50 on the weapon banner and pull a 5-star weapon that isn’t a featured rate-up weapon, the next 5-star weapon you pull is guaranteed to be one of the featured weapons on that banner.
3. Does soft pity exist on the weapon banner?
Yes, soft pity is believed to exist on the weapon banner. While the exact numbers are unconfirmed, it’s generally accepted that the probability of pulling a 5-star weapon increases significantly as you approach hard pity (around 65-75 pulls).
4. What is the pull rate for 5-star weapons in Genshin Impact?
The base pull rate for a 5-star weapon is approximately 0.7%. This is significantly lower than the pull rate for 4-star items.
5. How does the Epitomized Path work in Genshin Impact?
The Epitomized Path allows you to select one of the two featured weapons on the Weapon Event Wish banner. If you don’t pull that weapon on your first 5-star pull, you gain 1 Fate Point. On your second, another Fate Point. With 2 Fate Points, your next 5-star pull will be the weapon you selected. GamesLearningSociety.org studies player strategies, and the Epitomized Path is a critical element.
6. Do Fate Points carry over between weapon banners?
No, Fate Points do not carry over between weapon banners. They reset whenever the banner changes.
7. What happens if I get my desired weapon before reaching 2 Fate Points?
If you pull your desired weapon before reaching 2 Fate Points, your Fate Points reset to 0. The Epitomized Path then starts over for the next banner.
8. What is the guaranteed pity for 4-star items in Genshin Impact?
You are guaranteed a 4-star item (character or weapon) within every 10 pulls on any banner.
9. How does the pity system work in Honkai: Star Rail’s Light Cone banner?
In Honkai: Star Rail, the pity system on the Light Cone banner guarantees a 5-star Light Cone within a certain number of pulls. The pity counter does carry over to subsequent Light Cone banners.
10. Is it worth pulling on the weapon banner?
Whether or not it’s worth pulling on the weapon banner depends on your priorities and resource availability. If you have a character who greatly benefits from one of the featured weapons, and you’re willing to risk Primogems, it can be worthwhile. However, it’s generally recommended to prioritize character banners unless you have a significant surplus of resources.
11. Does the 50/50 system apply to the Standard Banner in Genshin Impact?
The Standard Banner has a pity system that guarantees a 5-star character or weapon within 90 pulls, however, it does not have the 50/50 rule.
12. What is the 75/25 rule on the weapon banner?
The 75/25 rule in Genshin Impact dictates that when you pull a 5-star weapon on the weapon banner, there’s a 75% chance it will be one of the featured weapons and a 25% chance it will be a standard banner weapon.
13. How is the Honkai: Star Rail pity system different from Genshin Impact?
While both games have pity systems, the specifics differ. Honkai: Star Rail generally has lower pity counts (e.g., 80 for character banners) and a simpler weapon banner equivalent.
14. Can I lose pity on the weapon banner if a banner changes?
No, you cannot lose your pity count (the number of wishes since your last 5-star). This always carries over to the next banner of the same type. You only lose Fate Points.
15. Should I save my Primogems or pull on the weapon banner?
This depends on your needs and the current banner. If you are content with your characters and have a good supply of Primogems, pulling on the weapon banner for a substantial upgrade to a character you enjoy can be beneficial. Otherwise, saving for new characters is generally recommended.
Understanding the nuances of the pity system, particularly the carry-over rules for the 50/50 and the Epitomized Path, is crucial for maximizing your resources in gacha games like Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail. Always plan your pulls carefully and consider whether the potential rewards are worth the investment.