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Is Prototype Archaic a Good Weapon for Razor in Genshin Impact? A Comprehensive Guide

In short, the Prototype Archaic is a decent, readily accessible weapon for Razor, especially in the early to mid-game. While it might not be his absolute best-in-slot option, its accessibility through crafting and the respectable ATK stat boost it provides makes it a viable choice for many players. However, its effectiveness hinges on your playstyle, artifact substats, and team composition. Let’s dive deeper into why this is the case and explore its alternatives.

Prototype Archaic: Pros and Cons for Razor

The Prototype Archaic is a craftable 4-star Claymore that’s easy to obtain, making it a popular choice for F2P players. Its primary stat boosts ATK, a crucial stat for Razor, who relies heavily on his Normal Attacks for damage. The weapon’s passive, “Crush,” offers a chance to deal significant AoE damage based on a percentage of ATK every 15 seconds.

However, the weapon’s strength is also its weakness. While the ATK boost is beneficial, the passive is somewhat inconsistent. It relies on a percentage chance to trigger, meaning you won’t always see its effect, and its cooldown makes it less reliable than consistent damage buffs.

Pros:

Easy to Obtain: Craftable and requires readily available materials.
High Base ATK: Provides a substantial ATK boost, directly increasing Razor’s Normal Attack damage.
Passive AoE Damage: The “Crush” passive can deal significant damage to surrounding enemies when triggered.

Cons:

Inconsistent Passive: The passive’s percentage-based trigger and cooldown make it unreliable for consistent damage output.
Competition with Better Options: Several other 4-star and even 3-star weapons can outperform Prototype Archaic in specific scenarios.
Less Effective in Late Game: As you acquire better weapons and artifacts, the Prototype Archaic’s benefits diminish.

Understanding Razor’s Playstyle

To determine the best weapon for Razor, it’s crucial to understand his playstyle. Razor is a Main DPS character who excels at dealing Physical damage with his Normal Attacks and Elemental Burst. His Burst enhances his Normal Attacks with Electro damage and increases his attack speed, making him a formidable force on the battlefield. Therefore, weapons that boost ATK, Physical DMG Bonus, or Crit Rate/Crit DMG are generally ideal for him.

Alternatives to Prototype Archaic

Several weapons can rival or even surpass the Prototype Archaic for Razor, depending on your priorities and available resources.

Snow-Tombed Starsilver: Another craftable 4-star option, the Snow-Tombed Starsilver, provides a Physical DMG Bonus as its secondary stat. Its passive creates an icicle that deals AoE damage, similar to Prototype Archaic, but offers a different type of damage output. This weapon can be better than Prototype Archaic if you are focusing on Physical damage.
Blackcliff Slasher: Obtainable from the Starglitter Exchange, the Blackcliff Slasher offers a Crit DMG secondary stat, making it a strong contender for increasing Razor’s overall damage output. Its passive grants an ATK boost upon defeating enemies, which can be very effective in content with multiple targets.
Serpent Spine (Battle Pass): This weapon provides a Crit Rate secondary stat and a passive that increases damage dealt while on the field, but also increases damage taken. It’s a powerful option, but requires careful play to mitigate the damage vulnerability. For many, the increase in DPS is worth the risk.
Wolf’s Gravestone (5-star): If you’re lucky enough to obtain a 5-star weapon, the Wolf’s Gravestone is a top-tier choice for Razor. It provides a massive ATK boost and a team-wide ATK buff upon defeating enemies.
Whiteblind: Craftable weapon with DEF as the secondary stat, and its passive increases ATK and DEF with Normal or Charged Attacks. Better for characters like Noelle.
Rainslasher: This claymore is effective against Hydro and Electro enemies.

How to Decide: Prototype Archaic vs. Alternatives

The best weapon for Razor depends on your specific circumstances.

New Players: The Prototype Archaic is a good starting point due to its accessibility and decent ATK boost.
Focus on Physical Damage: The Snow-Tombed Starsilver may be a better option due to its Physical DMG Bonus.
Prioritizing Crit Stats: The Blackcliff Slasher or Serpent Spine are excellent choices if you need to improve Razor’s Crit Rate or Crit DMG.
Lucky Pulls: If you have a Wolf’s Gravestone, it’s undoubtedly the best option.

Artifacts and Team Composition Synergies

Weapon choice is just one piece of the puzzle. Artifacts and team composition also play a significant role in Razor’s overall effectiveness.

Artifact Sets: The Gladiator’s Finale set or a combination of Bloodstained Chivalry and Pale Flame sets are recommended for maximizing Razor’s Physical damage.
Team Composition: Pairing Razor with characters who can apply Superconduct (Cryo + Electro) is crucial for reducing enemy Physical RES and significantly boosting his damage output. Common choices include Kaeya, Rosaria, and Diona. Also, characters like Bennett can greatly increase Razor’s ATK.

Final Verdict

The Prototype Archaic is a serviceable weapon for Razor, particularly in the early to mid-game. Its accessibility and ATK boost make it a decent choice for players who don’t have access to better alternatives. However, as you progress through the game and acquire better weapons and artifacts, you should consider switching to a more specialized weapon that better complements Razor’s playstyle and maximizes his damage output. The final decision depends on your available resources, team composition, and personal preferences.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Prototype Archaic better than Skyrider Greatsword for Razor?

Yes, generally speaking, the Prototype Archaic is better than the Skyrider Greatsword for Razor. Although Skyrider Greatsword has energy recharge as a stat, Prototype Archaic offers a higher base ATK and the potential for additional AoE damage through its passive. Razor’s damage scales better with ATK.

2. Which is better for Razor: Prototype Archaic or Whiteblind?

The Prototype Archaic is generally better for Razor than Whiteblind if your priority is dealing damage. While Whiteblind increases DEF and provides a small ATK buff, Razor benefits more from the higher ATK offered by Prototype Archaic.

3. Is Snow-Tombed Starsilver a good weapon for Razor?

Yes, the Snow-Tombed Starsilver is a good weapon for Razor, and in many cases, it’s better than Prototype Archaic. Its Physical DMG Bonus substat directly boosts Razor’s primary damage output.

4. What is Razor’s best F2P weapon?

Depending on your playstyle and artifact substats, Snow-Tombed Starsilver is often considered Razor’s best F2P (free-to-play) weapon due to its Physical DMG Bonus. The Prototype Archaic is a close second, particularly if you need more raw ATK.

5. What are the best artifacts for a DPS Razor build?

The best artifact sets for a DPS Razor build are:

4-piece Gladiator’s Finale: Provides a significant ATK boost and increases Normal Attack damage.
2-piece Bloodstained Chivalry + 2-piece Pale Flame: This combination offers a substantial Physical DMG Bonus.

6. What talent should I prioritize leveling up for Razor?

You should prioritize leveling up Razor’s Normal Attack (Steel Fang) and Elemental Burst (Lightning Fang). His Elemental Skill (Claw and Thunder) is less of a priority, but still useful.

7. Is Prototype Archaic worth refining?

Yes, refining the Prototype Archaic is generally worth it. Refining increases the passive’s damage multiplier, making the AoE damage more impactful.

8. Is Prototype Archaic good for other Claymore users besides Razor?

Yes, Prototype Archaic is a versatile weapon that can be used effectively on other Claymore users, particularly those who rely on ATK. It’s good for characters like Diluc, Eula, and Beidou.

9. Is Prototype Archaic better than Rainslasher?

It depends on the situation. Prototype Archaic is generally better for overall damage due to its higher ATK. However, if you’re fighting enemies affected by Hydro or Electro, Rainslasher’s passive can make it a better option.

10. Is Prototype Archaic good for Noelle?

While Prototype Archaic can be used on Noelle, it’s not her best choice. Whiteblind, which provides DEF and increases ATK/DEF with Normal Attacks, is generally a better option for Noelle as her damage scales with DEF.

11. What is the best team composition for Razor?

A strong team composition for Razor includes:

Razor (Main DPS)
Cryo character (e.g., Kaeya, Rosaria, Diona) for Superconduct
Electro character (e.g., Fischl, Beidou) for Energy Recharge
Flex slot (e.g., Bennett for ATK buff, Zhongli for shield)

12. Is Razor a better DPS than Beidou?

Generally, Razor is considered a stronger Main DPS character than Beidou, particularly at higher levels. Razor’s consistent Physical damage and self-sufficiency make him easier to build and play.

13. Is Razor worth building?

Yes, Razor is definitely worth building, especially if you need a strong Physical DPS character. He’s relatively easy to obtain, build, and play, making him a great choice for both new and experienced players.

14. What stats should I focus on when building Razor?

When building Razor, focus on the following stats:

ATK
Crit Rate/Crit DMG
Physical DMG Bonus
Energy Recharge (to ensure Burst uptime)

15. Can I use Prototype Archaic on Eula?

The Prototype Archaic is useable on Eula, and can even be a strong choice, but it is not her best option. It is often better than nothing, but there are many better weapon options for her.

Is Prototype Archaic good for Razor?