Is the Royal Longsword Good for Anyone? A Deep Dive
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In the vast world of Genshin Impact, weapons are crucial to character builds and combat effectiveness. The Royal Longsword is often a point of contention among players. Is it a hidden gem or a trap for the unwary? The direct answer: The Royal Longsword is generally not considered a top-tier choice for most characters, especially when compared to other readily available options or weapons obtained through wishes. However, in very specific, early-game scenarios, or for players with extremely limited weapon options and dire need of Crit Rate, it can serve as a temporary placeholder. The Royal Longsword offers an easy road to critical hits for players having a hard time obtaining critical rates on their artifacts. Its ATK sub-stat is useful since ATK is a universal stat that can be utilized by various characters.
The Royal Longsword: A Closer Look
The Royal Longsword is obtained through Paimon’s Bargains, a shop where you exchange Starglitter, earned from wishing, for various items, including these weapons. Its primary appeal lies in its ATK% substat and its passive ability, “Focus.” Focus increases the user’s Crit Rate by 8% upon hitting an enemy, stacking up to 5 times. This translates to a potential 40% Crit Rate increase.
The Pros and Cons
Let’s break down the strengths and weaknesses of this weapon:
Pros:
- Easy to Obtain: Readily available through Paimon’s Bargains.
- ATK% Substat: Benefits almost all damage-dealing sword users.
- Potential Crit Rate Boost: Passive can theoretically solve Crit Rate issues.
Cons:
- Situational Passive: Requires stacking hits, making it unreliable in short bursts.
- Low Base Attack: Compared to other 4-star and 5-star weapons, its base ATK is underwhelming.
- Starglitter Cost: Starglitter is better spent on characters, constellations, or other valuable resources.
- Better Alternatives Exist: Many craftable, gacha, and event weapons outperform it.
- Inefficient Crit Rate: The stacking nature of the Crit Rate passive means you aren’t getting that Crit Rate increase when you need it most: at the start of the fight.
- Diminishing Returns: Stacking Crit Rate beyond optimal levels (around 70-80% depending on Crit DMG) yields less significant damage increases.
Why It’s Not Widely Recommended
The core problem with the Royal Longsword is its inconsistency and the opportunity cost. In Genshin Impact, combat often revolves around quickly dispatching enemies, especially in the Spiral Abyss. Relying on a passive that requires multiple hits to reach its full potential is not ideal. By the time you’ve stacked the Crit Rate, the fight might already be decided, or your character might have switched off-field.
Furthermore, the Starglitter you spend on the Royal Longsword could be used to acquire characters or constellations, which generally offer a more substantial power boost. Craftable weapons like the Amenoma Kageuchi (for energy recharge) or event weapons with useful passives often provide more consistent and valuable benefits. Finally, there are gacha weapons that would offer even better stats like The Black Sword.
Royal Longsword and Keqing: A False Friend?
The text states that the Royal Longsword is recommended only for Keqing. This advice is outdated and generally not recommended by the current Genshin Impact community. While Keqing can benefit from the ATK% substat, her kit relies more on consistent Crit Rate and Crit Damage, as well as Electro Damage Bonus. There are far superior weapon options for her, such as the Lion’s Roar, which increases damage against enemies affected by Electro, or craftable options like the Amenoma Kageuchi, which helps with Energy Recharge and allows her to burst more frequently. In short, Keqing doesn’t synergize well with the Royal Longsword and is better off using more reliable weapons.
The Bottom Line
The Royal Longsword is a weapon of last resort. If you’re a new player struggling with Crit Rate and have no other options, it can serve as a temporary band-aid. However, focus on acquiring better weapons through crafting, events, or the gacha system. Don’t invest heavily in the Royal Longsword, and don’t rely on it as a long-term solution.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about the Royal Longsword, to further help players understand its value and alternatives:
1. Is the Royal Longsword better than a 3-star weapon?
In most cases, yes. The Royal Longsword’s higher base ATK and ATK% substat generally outperform 3-star weapons, especially as you level it up. The situational passive, while unreliable, can still provide a damage boost when stacked.
2. Can the Royal Longsword be good on a support character?
Generally, no. Support characters often prioritize Energy Recharge, Elemental Mastery, or HP. The Royal Longsword’s ATK% and situational Crit Rate are usually less valuable than other substats.
3. How does the Royal Longsword compare to the Blackcliff Longsword?
The Blackcliff Longsword offers a Crit DMG substat and a passive that increases ATK after defeating an enemy. While the Blackcliff Longsword requires defeating enemies to activate its passive, the guaranteed Crit DMG is usually more valuable than the Royal Longsword’s inconsistent Crit Rate.
4. Is it worth refining the Royal Longsword?
Refining the Royal Longsword increases the Crit Rate gain per stack of its passive. However, because the passive itself is not reliable, the benefits of refinement are limited. It’s generally better to save your Starglitter for other purposes.
5. What are some better alternatives to the Royal Longsword?
Numerous weapons outperform the Royal Longsword, including:
- The Black Sword (Battle Pass weapon)
- Lion’s Roar (Gacha weapon)
- Amenoma Kageuchi (Craftable weapon)
- Favonius Sword (Gacha weapon, excellent for energy recharge on supports)
- Festering Desire (Event weapon)
6. Is the Royal Longsword good for Ayato?
While the Royal Longsword can provide some ATK for Ayato, his damage output relies heavily on Hydro Damage Bonus and consistent Crit stats. Weapons like the Harbinger of Dawn (early game), The Black Sword, or the Amenoma Kageuchi are generally better choices.
7. Does the Royal Longsword’s passive work off-field?
No, the Royal Longsword’s passive only stacks when the character wielding it is actively on the field and hitting enemies.
8. How long does the Crit Rate bonus from the Royal Longsword last?
The article doesn’t specify the exact duration of the Crit Rate bonus per stack. The Crit Rate increase is lost if you switch to another character.
9. Is the Royal weapon set worth getting?
Generally, no. While they are easy to obtain, most of the Royal weapons suffer from the same issues as the Royal Longsword: low base stats and an unreliable passive.
10. What is the best way to increase Crit Rate in Genshin Impact?
The most consistent ways to increase Crit Rate are through:
- Artifacts: Focus on obtaining artifacts with Crit Rate as the main stat (on the Circlet) or substat.
- Weapons: Choose weapons with Crit Rate as the substat.
- Character Ascension: Some characters gain Crit Rate upon ascension.
11. How important is Crit Rate in Genshin Impact?
Crit Rate is crucial for maximizing damage output. A good rule of thumb is to aim for a Crit Rate of around 50-70%, depending on your Crit Damage.
12. Can the Royal Longsword be used in the Spiral Abyss?
While possible, it’s not recommended. The Spiral Abyss demands efficient and consistent damage. The Royal Longsword’s unreliable passive makes it a suboptimal choice for this challenging content.
13. Where can I get the Royal Longsword?
The Royal Longsword is purchased from Paimon’s Bargains in the in-game shop, using Starglitter obtained from wishing on banners.
14. Are there any characters for whom the Royal Longsword is a “best-in-slot” option?
No. There are currently no characters for whom the Royal Longsword is considered the “best-in-slot” weapon.
15. How can I learn more about Genshin Impact character building and weapon choices?
There are many resources available to improve your understanding of Genshin Impact character building and weapon choices. Some excellent choices are:
- Genshin Impact Communities: Engage with other players on forums, Discord servers, and social media groups.
- Genshin Impact Wiki: Access comprehensive information about characters, weapons, artifacts, and more.
- Content Creators: Watch guides and gameplay videos from experienced Genshin Impact players.
- Learn from Educational Games: Understand the underlying learning principles behind the game from the Games Learning Society, or visit GamesLearningSociety.org.
By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the Royal Longsword and exploring alternative weapon options, you can make informed decisions that optimize your character’s performance and enhance your overall Genshin Impact experience.