How Many Wishes for a 5-Star in Genshin Impact? A Comprehensive Guide
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The burning question on every Genshin Impact player’s mind: How many wishes does it really take to get that coveted 5-star character or weapon? The answer, while seemingly simple, involves a layered system of pity, rates, and a little bit of luck. The short answer is that you are guaranteed a 5-star character or weapon within 90 wishes on character banners and 80 wishes on weapon banners. However, the nuances of Genshin’s gacha system extend far beyond this simple guarantee.
Understanding the Gacha Mechanics
Genshin Impact utilizes a gacha system, meaning players spend in-game currency (Primogems) to perform “wishes” on various banners. These banners offer different pools of characters and weapons with varying degrees of rarity. The cornerstone of the gacha system in Genshin Impact is the pity system, which ensures that you will eventually obtain a 5-star character or weapon, even if luck isn’t on your side.
The Soft and Hard Pity System
The pity system is not simply a flat guarantee at 90 (or 80) wishes. It also involves a “soft pity” mechanic. While the base rate for pulling a 5-star is a meager 0.6%, this rate drastically increases after a certain number of wishes, typically around 75 wishes on character banners. This means that while it is possible to get a 5-star before 75 pulls, the odds are heavily stacked against you. After approximately 75 pulls, the probability of pulling a 5-star increases significantly with each subsequent pull, leading to a high likelihood of obtaining one before hitting the hard pity mark of 90 wishes.
The 50/50 System on Character Banners
Character banners introduce another layer of complexity: the “50/50” system. When you finally pull a 5-star character on a limited-time character banner, there’s a 50% chance it will be the featured character. If you lose the 50/50 and receive a standard 5-star character (like Diluc, Jean, Qiqi, Mona, or Keqing), your next 5-star pull on that banner is guaranteed to be the featured character. This effectively means that to guarantee the featured character, you may need up to 180 wishes (90 wishes to trigger the first 5-star, which could be a standard character, and another 90 wishes to guarantee the featured character).
Weapon Banner Differences: Epitomized Path
The weapon banner operates slightly differently. It has a lower hard pity of 80 wishes, but instead of a 50/50 system, it uses the Epitomized Path. When you wish on the weapon banner, you have a 75% chance of pulling one of the two featured 5-star weapons. If you pull a 5-star weapon that isn’t one of the featured weapons, or even the wrong one, you gain an Epitomized Point. You can gain a maximum of two Epitomized Points. After gaining two Epitomized Points, your next 5-star pull is guaranteed to be the weapon you selected on the Epitomized Path. This means to guarantee the weapon you want on the weapon banner, you may need up to 240 wishes (80 wishes x 3).
Pity Carries Over!
Critically, pity carries over between banners of the same type. This means if you pull 70 times on a character banner and it expires, those 70 pulls will count towards your pity on the next character banner. This is an important consideration when deciding whether to pull on a banner, especially if you’re close to pity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the base pull rate for a 5-star character?
The base pull rate for a 5-star character on any banner is 0.6%. This rate applies to each individual wish before soft pity kicks in.
2. How does the pity system work in Genshin Impact?
The pity system guarantees a 5-star character within 90 wishes on character banners and a 5-star weapon within 80 wishes on weapon banners. There’s also a “soft pity” that increases the chances of pulling a 5-star after approximately 75 wishes on character banners.
3. Does pity carry over to the next banner?
Yes! Pity carries over between banners of the same type. So, character banner pity will carry over to other character banners, and weapon banner pity will carry over to other weapon banners. Standard banner pity will only carry over to other standard banners.
4. What is the 50/50 system on character banners?
When you pull a 5-star character on a limited character banner, there is a 50% chance it will be the featured character. If you lose the 50/50 and get a standard 5-star, your next 5-star pull is guaranteed to be the featured character.
5. How many wishes do I need to guarantee a specific character on a banner?
To guarantee a specific character, you need a maximum of 180 wishes. This accounts for potentially losing the 50/50 and needing to reach pity twice.
6. What is the Epitomized Path on the weapon banner?
The Epitomized Path allows you to select one of the two featured weapons on the weapon banner. If you don’t get your selected weapon, you gain an Epitomized Point. After obtaining two Epitomized Points, your next 5-star pull is guaranteed to be your selected weapon.
7. How many wishes do I need to guarantee a specific weapon on the weapon banner?
To guarantee a specific weapon on the weapon banner, you may need up to 240 wishes. This is because you might need to reach hard pity three times to accumulate the two Epitomized Points required.
8. Is it possible to get a 5-star character on my first wish?
Yes, it is possible, but extremely unlikely, due to the 0.6% base pull rate.
9. What is the soft pity system?
Soft pity refers to the increased likelihood of pulling a 5-star character after approximately 75 wishes on a character banner. The pull rate increases significantly with each subsequent wish until you obtain a 5-star.
10. Does getting a 4-star reset my pity?
No. Only obtaining a 5-star character or weapon will reset your pity counter for that particular banner.
11. What is the best way to farm Primogems?
The best ways to farm Primogems include completing daily commissions, participating in events, clearing floors in the Spiral Abyss, opening chests throughout the world, and redeeming promo codes.
12. How much does it cost to get 90 wishes?
90 wishes require 14,400 Primogems. Since 160 Primogems are needed for one wish, you will need a total of 14,400 Primogems.
13. What happens if I don’t get a 5-star after 90 wishes?
This is not possible. The pity system guarantees a 5-star within 90 wishes on character banners and within 80 wishes on weapon banners. If you have reached 90 wishes on a character banner and haven’t received a 5-star, contact Genshin Impact customer support.
14. Is Albedo the rarest 5-star character?
There is no official confirmation from miHoYo regarding the rarest 5-star character. Character rarity is subjective and depends on individual player experiences and banner availability.
15. What factors should I consider before wishing on a banner?
Consider the following factors before wishing:
- Do you like the featured character or weapon?
- Are you close to pity?
- Do you need the 4-star characters on the banner?
- Do you have enough Primogems to reach pity (or guarantee the character)?
Strategic Wishing: Maximizing Your Primogems
Understanding the gacha mechanics and pity system allows for strategic wishing. If you’re targeting a specific character, it’s best to save enough Primogems to guarantee them (180 wishes). If you’re just looking for any 5-star, knowing that soft pity exists around 75 wishes can help you decide when to start wishing on a banner. Also, take note of which banners have the characters that are in alignment with your team.
Ultimately, the gacha system in Genshin Impact involves a blend of chance and strategy. While there is no guaranteed way to get a specific 5-star with a limited number of wishes, understanding the pity system, soft pity, and 50/50 mechanics empowers you to make informed decisions and maximize your chances of obtaining your desired characters and weapons.
To further understand the educational aspects of games like Genshin Impact, consider exploring the resources available at the Games Learning Society and GamesLearningSociety.org.