Are 4-Star Artifacts Worth Using in Genshin Impact? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, absolutely! In the early to mid-game of Genshin Impact, 4-star artifacts are not only worth using, but they are often essential. They provide significant stat boosts that can dramatically improve your characters’ performance. While 5-star artifacts are the ultimate goal, relying solely on them early on is impractical and can severely hinder your progress. Think of 4-star artifacts as stepping stones – valuable tools that pave the way for your future success.
The Power of the Underdog: Why 4-Star Artifacts Shine
Many players fall into the trap of hoarding resources, waiting for the “perfect” 5-star artifacts before investing. This is a mistake. Here’s why:
- Accessibility: 4-star artifacts are much more common than 5-star artifacts, especially in the early Adventure Ranks (AR). You’ll have a far easier time acquiring them from chests, bosses, and Domains.
- Upgrading Affordability: Leveling up 4-star artifacts is considerably cheaper than leveling up 5-star artifacts. This means you can reach higher levels, and thus, higher stats, with less resource investment.
- Substat Synergy: A well-rolled 4-star artifact with synergistic substats can outperform a poorly rolled 5-star artifact with suboptimal substats. Focusing on the right stats for your character is key, regardless of the artifact’s rarity.
- Transfer Efficiency: When you eventually obtain better 5-star artifacts, you can use your leveled-up 4-star artifacts as fodder. While you lose 20% of the experience invested, the significant power boost you gained in the meantime more than compensates for this.
- Early Game Progression: Using leveled 4-star artifacts allows you to clear content more easily, enabling you to unlock more resources and progress through the game faster. Waiting for 5-star artifacts will slow you down considerably.
Which 4-Star Artifact Sets Should You Prioritize?
Certain 4-star artifact sets are particularly valuable and worth investing in. Here are some of the top contenders:
- Instructor: This set provides a valuable Elemental Mastery boost, benefiting characters who trigger elemental reactions. The 2-piece bonus grants +80 Elemental Mastery. It is a very good choice for support characters early on, to help the team deal more damage.
- Berserker: A classic choice for damage dealers, the Berserker set increases CRIT Rate. The 2-piece bonus grants +12% CRIT Rate, a substantial boost at lower levels.
- The Exile: This set focuses on Energy Recharge, making it ideal for support characters who rely on their Elemental Bursts. The 2-piece bonus grants +20% Energy Recharge.
- Brave Heart: A simple but effective set that increases ATK. The 2-piece bonus grants +18% ATK, providing a straightforward damage increase.
- Resolution of Sojourner: Similar to Brave Heart, it provides a direct attack bonus.
- Martial Artist: The 2-piece bonus provides Normal and Charged Attack DMG.
Transitioning to 5-Star Artifacts
As you reach higher Adventure Ranks (AR 45+), you’ll start consistently farming 5-star artifacts. At this point, it’s time to gradually replace your 4-star artifacts with better 5-star alternatives. However, don’t be afraid to hold onto a well-rolled 4-star piece if it offers better substats than your newly acquired 5-star.
Remember to consider the overall set bonus and substat synergy when making your decision. A 5-star artifact with poor substats might not be an upgrade over a well-optimized 4-star piece.
Pro Tip: Leveling Efficiently
To maximize your resource efficiency, focus on leveling up a few key 4-star artifacts to a decent level (e.g., +12 or +16) rather than spreading your resources thinly across multiple artifacts. This will give you a more noticeable power boost in the short term.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about 4-Star Artifacts
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to provide additional valuable information for the readers:
1. Are 4-star artifacts completely useless in the late game?
No, not necessarily. While 5-star artifacts are generally superior, a god-rolled 4-star artifact with perfect substats can sometimes be better than a poorly rolled 5-star artifact, especially if you’re lacking specific stats like CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG. It is very important to know how each stat impacts your character’s performance.
2. When should I start farming for 5-star artifacts?
You should start farming consistently for 5-star artifacts around Adventure Rank 45 (AR 45). At this point, you’re guaranteed to receive at least one 5-star artifact per Domain run.
3. What happens to the experience when I use a leveled 4-star artifact as fodder?
You’ll receive 80% of the experience back when you use a leveled-up 4-star artifact as fodder for a 5-star artifact.
4. Which stats should I prioritize on my artifacts?
The optimal stats depend on the character’s role and build. Generally, you should prioritize CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, ATK%, Energy Recharge, Elemental Mastery, and HP% (for certain characters).
5. Is it worth leveling up every 4-star artifact I find?
No. Focus on artifacts with good main stats and substats. Discard artifacts with undesirable main stats (e.g., DEF%) or irrelevant substats (e.g., Flat ATK).
6. Can I get 5-star artifacts before AR 45?
Yes, it’s possible to get 5-star artifacts from Weekly Bosses (like Stormterror and Boreas) starting around AR 30, but the drop rate is very low.
7. How do I know if an artifact has good substats?
Good substats are those that complement the character’s build. For example, a DPS character would benefit from substats like CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, ATK%, and Elemental DMG Bonus.
8. Are there any 4-star artifact sets that are viable even in the late game?
Some specific builds can still benefit from certain 4-star artifact sets. For example, the Instructor set can be useful for support characters who need to maximize Elemental Mastery.
9. Does character level affect artifact drops?
No, character level does not directly affect artifact drops. Artifact drop rates are primarily determined by your Adventure Rank and the Domain or boss you’re fighting.
10. What is the best way to farm artifacts?
The best way to farm artifacts is to repeatedly clear Domains that drop the artifact sets you need. Make sure to use Condensed Resin to maximize your efficiency.
11. Do 4 stars ruin pity in Genshin?
Yes, all 4-star pity resets when a 4-star is pulled, in the same way 5-star pity is reset when a 5-star is pulled, regardless of type.
12. Are DEF artifacts good in Genshin?
DEF or Defense is one of the most common stat rolls for artifacts, meaning you’ll see it every single day of your existence in Teyvat. It’s also one of the least desirable, since Genshin Impact is a game where dealing the most damage is the most favored aspect of gameplay.
13. Who needs HP in Genshin?
However, despite the general mechanics of the game, Genshin Impact utilizes HP values to scale some characters’ kits more significantly than just for survivability. Numerous main-DPS-focused characters, such as Ayato or Hu Tao, require a higher HP value than the ATK value to reach their peak potential.
14. Are 4 stars good in Genshin impact?
These four-star characters are definitely good enough to blast through content. Genshin Impact is all about maximizing your resources. It’s important to play for fun, but it wouldn’t hurt to be efficient about who you’d want to build.
15. What is the difference between 5 star and 4 star artifact Genshin?
A 4* with a few constellations unlocked can be quite the powerhouse as well and pass by a no constellation 5*. 5-Star characters usually start out stronger and end up stronger than 4-Star characters but 4-Star characters are easier to get, which is important since characters get bonuses if you get copies of them.
Conclusion: Embrace the 4-Star Power
Don’t underestimate the value of 4-star artifacts in Genshin Impact. They are powerful tools that can significantly enhance your characters’ abilities and help you progress through the game. By understanding their strengths and weaknesses, and by prioritizing the right stats and sets, you can effectively utilize 4-star artifacts to create strong and versatile teams. Remember that this game, much like the insights found within the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org, has intricacies that become easier to understand with time, patience, and collaboration. As you advance and acquire better 5-star artifacts, you’ll be well-equipped to dominate Teyvat.