How Rare is it to Get a 5-Star Weapon in Genshin Impact?
Getting a 5-star weapon in Genshin Impact is notoriously challenging, a testament to the game’s gacha mechanics. In essence, the base probability of pulling a 5-star weapon from any wish banner is just 0.3%. This is significantly lower than the 0.6% chance for a 5-star item overall, which includes both characters and weapons. This means that for every 1,000 wishes you make, you might statistically only obtain about 3 five-star weapons. These odds make securing that coveted five-star weapon a genuine test of patience, strategy, and perhaps a bit of luck. However, the game does employ a pity system, which helps to increase your odds over time, particularly after a certain number of attempts without success. Understanding the intricacies of this system is crucial for any player hoping to arm their characters with the best gear.
The Gacha System and Probability
Understanding Wish Banners
Genshin Impact operates on a gacha system, where players use Primogems (the game’s premium currency) to make wishes on various banners. These banners are categorized, typically featuring either specific characters or weapons. The probability of obtaining certain items varies between these banners. There are character event banners, weapon event banners, and the standard banner (Wanderlust Invocation), each with slightly different rules. For 5-star weapons, it’s primarily the weapon event banner where players try their luck.
Base Probability for 5-Star Weapons
The base probability for a 5-star item on any wish banner is 0.6%. However, within that, the split is 0.3% for a 5-star weapon and 0.3% for a 5-star character on the standard banner. This means, by chance alone, getting a 5-star weapon is quite rare and accounts for half of the rate for 5-star drops. These rates are important to keep in mind as you plan your pulls.
Pity System
To mitigate the sting of bad luck, Genshin Impact includes a pity system. This system guarantees a 5-star item (character or weapon, depending on the banner) after a set number of wishes. There are two levels of pity – soft pity and hard pity.
- Soft Pity: After around 70-75 wishes on a weapon banner without a 5-star pull, the odds of pulling a 5-star item start to increase exponentially.
- Hard Pity: The hard pity on a weapon banner is 80 wishes. This means that if you reach 80 wishes without pulling a 5-star, your 80th wish will absolutely give you one.
The Epitomized Path
The Epitomized Path is a specific system exclusive to the weapon event banner. This system allows you to choose one of the two featured 5-star weapons on the banner. Each time you pull a 5-star weapon that isn’t your chosen weapon, you gain one Fate Point. Once you have two Fate Points, the next 5-star weapon you get is guaranteed to be your chosen weapon. In the worst-case scenario, you would need to perform 240 pulls to guarantee your desired 5-star weapon on the weapon banner.
Weapon Banner Specifics
75% Chance on Featured Weapon
When you do manage to pull a 5-star weapon on a weapon banner, there’s a 75% chance that it will be one of the two featured weapons. If you fail to pull a featured weapon, the next 5-star weapon pull will be a guaranteed featured weapon. This increases the chances of getting specific weapons, but still involves a lot of luck.
Pity Reset
Whenever you pull a 5-star weapon, regardless of whether it’s a featured weapon or not, your pity counter resets. This means the count towards your guaranteed 5-star starts over. Thus, even with the pity system, it can be a costly endeavor to obtain multiple 5-star weapons.
50/50 and Weapon Banners
Unlike character banners which feature a 50/50 mechanic, weapon banners use the 75/25 split. If the player does not win the 75% for a featured weapon, it will be one of the standard 5* weapons. The next 5 star weapon is guaranteed to be a featured one.
The Value of 5-Star Weapons
Superior Stats
5-star weapons generally offer superior base stats compared to their 4-star and 3-star counterparts. This translates to higher attack and secondary stat bonuses, allowing your characters to deal more damage and perform more effectively.
Unique Buffs
In addition to better base stats, 5-star weapons often have unique buffs and passives that enhance specific character builds or playstyles. These bonuses can be extremely valuable, significantly impacting a character’s performance.
Investment Worthy
While getting them is challenging, many players agree that investing in 5-star weapons is worth it, especially for main DPS characters, particularly for harder content like the Spiral Abyss. The increase in performance makes them a worthy addition for serious players.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many pulls for a guaranteed 5-star weapon?
You’re guaranteed a 5-star weapon after a maximum of 80 pulls on a weapon event banner. With the Epitomized Path, you might need up to 240 pulls to guarantee your specific desired 5-star weapon.
What is the difference between soft pity and hard pity?
Soft pity increases your chances of pulling a 5-star item after about 70-75 wishes without success. Hard pity is a guarantee of a 5-star item at 80 wishes.
Can you lose the 50/50 on a weapon banner?
The “50/50” term used for the character banner is not directly applicable to the weapon banner. Instead, there’s a 75% chance of getting a featured weapon when you pull a 5-star. If you don’t get a featured weapon it will be a standard 5*.
Does the pity carry over between banners?
Yes, your pity count carries over between weapon banners. If you pulled 70 times on one banner without a 5-star, your next 10 wishes on the following weapon banner could result in a 5-star item.
Can you destroy 5-star weapons in Genshin?
No, you cannot destroy 4-star or 5-star weapons in Genshin Impact. You can refine them with duplicates, but they cannot be discarded.
Is the Dark Iron Sword the rarest weapon in Genshin Impact?
Yes, the Dark Iron Sword, a 3-star sword with only one guaranteed occurrence, is currently the rarest weapon in the game, but it is not a 5-star weapon.
What is the Epitomized Path?
The Epitomized Path is a system on the weapon banner that lets you choose a featured 5-star weapon. If you pull a non-selected 5-star weapon twice, your next 5-star weapon will be the one you chose.
Does pity reset after pulling a 5-star weapon?
Yes, pity resets on the respective banner when you successfully pull a 5-star item, be it a character or a weapon.
Are 5-star weapons worth pulling for?
While costly, 5-star weapons often offer significant performance boosts, making them worth pulling for, particularly for players who want to maximize their character’s potential.
What are the best 5-star weapons in Genshin Impact?
The best 5-star weapons are situational and depend on the character they are being used with. Popular options include Mistsplitter Reforged (Sword), Staff of Homa (Polearm), Aqua Simulacra (Bow), Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds (Catalyst), and Wolf’s Gravestone (Claymore).
How much does the featured weapon rate increase when close to pity?
The rate at which the featured weapon increases is not publicly known, but it does increase significantly after about 70+ pulls, but is guaranteed at 80 pulls for a 5-star item.
What does the 50/50 mean for character banners?
On character event banners, pulling a 5-star has a 50% chance of being the featured character. If it’s not the featured character, your next 5-star is guaranteed to be the featured character.
Can I get a 5 star weapon on the standard banner?
Yes, it is possible to get a 5-star weapon on the standard banner, however the odds are the same 0.3% as on the featured banner.
Do 5-star weapons ruin your pity?
The pity counter for 5-star items resets when you pull one. Pulling a 5 star weapon on a character banner does not reset the weapon banner pity, and vice versa.
Should I pull for weapon banners over character banners?
Whether you should pull on the weapon banner over the character banner depends on your specific needs and preferences. It’s often recommended that players prioritize getting good characters before investing in 5-star weapons. However, if you have a strong team and want to boost damage significantly, it could be worth the investment.