Unveiling the Rarity of 5-Star Weapons in Genshin Impact: A Comprehensive Guide
The burning question on every Genshin Impact player’s mind, especially for our Free-to-Play (F2P) comrades, is: How rare is a 5-star weapon? Simply put, obtaining a 5-star weapon in Genshin Impact is challenging, but achievable with patience and strategic resource management. The base pull rate for a 5-star weapon is 0.7% per wish. While this percentage appears discouragingly low, the game employs a pity system that significantly alters your odds over time. Let’s delve into the details.
Understanding the Weapon Banner and Pity System
The key to understanding 5-star weapon rarity lies in the Epitome Invocation, Genshin Impact’s weapon banner. Unlike character banners, the weapon banner has its own unique mechanics:
- Base Rate: As mentioned, the base rate for pulling a 5-star weapon is 0.7%.
- Soft Pity: Starting around the 65th wish, your chances of pulling a 5-star weapon gradually increase until you are virtually guaranteed to get one before the 80th wish. This is commonly known as soft pity.
- Hard Pity: You are guaranteed a 5-star weapon within 80 wishes. This is the hard pity and acts as a safety net.
- Epitomized Path: This system allows you to choose one of the two featured 5-star weapons on the banner. If you don’t get your chosen weapon on your first 5-star pull, you gain one Fate Point. If you don’t get it on the second 5-star pull, you are guaranteed your chosen weapon on the third. This system effectively makes a specific 5-star weapon guaranteed within 240 wishes, if necessary.
- 75/25 Rule: Unlike the 50/50 on character banners, the weapon banner offers a 75% chance of pulling one of the featured 5-star weapons. If you fail to get a featured weapon, you’re guaranteed one on your next 5-star pull.
The Primogem Investment
Pulling on the weapon banner requires Intertwined Fates, which cost 160 Primogems each. Therefore, hitting hard pity (80 wishes) requires 12,800 Primogems. Guaranteeing a specific weapon via the Epitomized Path (240 wishes) demands a substantial 38,400 Primogems. This is a significant investment, especially for F2P players. It is wise to plan ahead, research the weapons on upcoming banners, and prioritize accordingly.
Strategic Considerations for F2P Players
For F2P players, obtaining a 5-star weapon requires careful planning and resource allocation. Consider these strategies:
- Prioritize Characters: Generally, it’s more beneficial for F2P players to focus on character banners. A strong character roster can significantly improve your account’s overall strength, even with 4-star weapons.
- Target Powerful Weapons: If you decide to pull on the weapon banner, research the featured weapons thoroughly. Prioritize weapons that provide significant benefits to your main DPS characters. A well-suited 5-star weapon can be a game-changer.
- Save Primogems: Patience is key. Save your Primogems diligently for banners featuring weapons you truly desire. Resist the temptation to spend them on every banner.
- Utilize Free Resources: Take advantage of every opportunity to earn free Primogems. Complete daily commissions, participate in events, and clear Spiral Abyss floors.
- Consider Refinements: Refinements (duplicates) of 5-star weapons can significantly enhance their effectiveness. However, for F2P players, acquiring even a single copy of a desired weapon is often the primary goal.
Is It Worth the Investment?
The decision to pull on the weapon banner is ultimately a personal one. If you have a well-developed character roster and are struggling to clear challenging content like the Spiral Abyss, a 5-star weapon can provide a significant power boost. However, if you’re still building your character roster, it’s generally more prudent to prioritize character banners. Always consider your account’s specific needs and your available resources before investing in the weapon banner.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many Primogems do I need to guarantee a 5-star weapon?
You need a maximum of 12,800 Primogems (80 wishes) to guarantee a 5-star weapon. To guarantee a specific 5-star weapon using the Epitomized Path system, you need up to 38,400 Primogems (240 wishes).
Does the weapon banner pity carry over?
Yes, the pity counter on the weapon banner carries over to subsequent weapon banners. This means that if you don’t get a 5-star weapon on one banner, your pity count will remain and increase on the next weapon banner.
What happens if I get a 5-star weapon before hitting pity?
If you pull a 5-star weapon before reaching the hard pity (80 wishes), your pity counter resets to zero.
Is it better to pull on the character banner or the weapon banner?
For F2P players, it’s often better to prioritize character banners, especially if you’re still building your character roster. A diverse and powerful character roster provides more overall benefit than a single 5-star weapon.
Can I get the same weapon twice in a row?
Yes, it is possible to get the same weapon multiple times in a row. However, the odds of this occurring are relatively low.
What are the best 5-star weapons in Genshin Impact?
The “best” weapons depend on the characters you use and your playstyle. Popular choices include weapons like Staff of Homa, Engulfing Lightning, Haran Geppaku Futsu, Aqua Simulacra, and Freedom-Sworn.
Is there a free 5-star weapon in Genshin Impact?
Unfortunately, there are no freely obtainable 5-star weapons in Genshin Impact. All 5-star weapons must be obtained through the gacha system.
What is the rarest item in Genshin Impact?
While 5-star weapons are difficult to obtain, the rarest item in Genshin Impact is considered to be the Dark Iron Sword, a 3-star weapon with a limited single occurrence in the game.
What is the weakest 5-star weapon in Genshin Impact?
The usefulness of a weapon is highly character-dependent. What may be useless to one character may prove to be useful for another.
How can I farm Primogems as a F2P player?
Complete daily commissions, participate in events, clear Spiral Abyss floors, open chests, and redeem promotional codes to earn free Primogems.
What is the 75/25 rule on the weapon banner?
The 75/25 rule means you have a 75% chance of pulling one of the featured 5-star weapons on the banner, and a 25% chance of pulling a non-featured 5-star weapon.
Do 4-star weapons have a pity system?
Yes, you are guaranteed a 4-star weapon or character within 10 wishes.
How often do weapon banners change?
Weapon banners typically change every 2-3 weeks, coinciding with the release of new character banners and updates.
Can you lose the 50/50 on the weapon banner?
The weapon banner uses a 75/25 rule, not the 50/50 seen in character banners. You have a 75% chance of getting one of the featured weapons. If you don’t, the next 5-star weapon you pull is guaranteed to be one of the featured ones.
Is the Genshin Impact gacha system considered gambling?
The ethics of gacha game mechanics like those in Genshin Impact are debated, with some researchers pointing out the potential for links to problematic gambling behaviors. For more information, you can explore resources from organizations like the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/, which often addresses educational aspects of gaming and related issues.
Conclusion
Obtaining a 5-star weapon in Genshin Impact is a challenging but rewarding endeavor. Understanding the mechanics of the weapon banner, the pity system, and strategic Primogem management is crucial, especially for F2P players. By planning ahead, saving resources, and prioritizing your account’s needs, you can increase your chances of acquiring those coveted 5-star weapons and enhancing your Genshin Impact experience. Good luck, Traveler!