Should You Use Standard Wish? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer is: generally no, the Standard Banner is not the most efficient way to spend your resources in games like Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail. While it offers a chance at coveted characters and weapons, the lack of a rate-up system and the broader pool of potential outcomes make it a less strategic choice than limited-time character or weapon banners. Let’s dive into why, and when it might be okay to consider it.
Understanding the Standard Banner
The Standard Banner, often called the “Wanderlust Invocation” in Genshin Impact and “Stellar Warp” in Honkai: Star Rail, is a permanent fixture in the game’s gacha system. It’s a tempting option because it’s always available, but that accessibility comes at a cost. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know:
The Lure of Permanence
Unlike limited-time banners focusing on specific characters or weapons, the Standard Banner never goes away. This constant availability creates the illusion of endless opportunity. However, this is a double-edged sword. The permanent availability leads to a vastly diluted pool of potential rewards.
A Wider, Less Focused Pool
The Standard Banner houses a diverse collection of 5-star characters and weapons, as well as a plethora of 4-star items. While this variety might seem appealing, it dramatically lowers your chances of acquiring a specific character or weapon that you truly desire. You are essentially rolling the dice with a greater number of possible outcomes, most of which might not be what you’re looking for.
The Lack of Rate-Up
This is the crucial point. Limited-time character and weapon banners feature a “rate-up” system, significantly increasing your odds of obtaining the featured character or weapon. The Standard Banner lacks this crucial feature. This means your chances of getting any specific 5-star character from the Standard Banner are substantially lower compared to obtaining a featured 5-star from a limited-time banner.
Pity System and Its Implications
Both Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail employ a pity system, guaranteeing a 5-star item after a certain number of pulls (typically 90). This system, however, is not as beneficial on the Standard Banner because the 5-star you receive could be either a character or a weapon. You might hit pity and receive a weapon you don’t need or can’t use, rather than a character that strengthens your team. Moreover, while pity carries over between banners of the same type, the standard banner pity does not carry over to the limited-time banners. So, pulls on the standard banner will not help you towards a desired character on a limited banner.
When is it Okay to Pull on the Standard Banner?
While generally discouraged, there are a few specific scenarios where pulling on the Standard Banner might be acceptable:
Using Free Acquaint Fates/Star Rail Passes
The primary instance is when you have a surplus of Acquaint Fates (Genshin Impact) or Star Rail Passes (Honkai: Star Rail) – the specific currency used for the Standard Banner. These are often obtained through gameplay, events, or battle pass rewards. Since you’re not spending precious Primogems (Genshin Impact) or Stellar Jade (Honkai: Star Rail) – the premium currency used for limited-time banners – using these free resources on the Standard Banner is a reasonable way to test your luck without impacting your ability to pull on more desirable banners.
Early Game Considerations
In the very early stages of the game, before you have a solid roster of characters, a few pulls on the Standard Banner could be justifiable. The reasoning is that any new character, even a standard banner character, will likely improve your team’s capabilities. However, even then, it’s generally better to focus on the Beginner Banner (if available, like in Genshin Impact) which offers discounted pulls and a guaranteed character.
Late Game “Whaling” for Constellations/Eidilons
This applies only to players who are willing to spend significant amounts of money on the game. If you already have most of the limited-time characters and are specifically targeting constellations (Genshin Impact) or Eidolons (Honkai: Star Rail) for a specific Standard Banner character, then pulling on the Standard Banner becomes a highly niche option. However, even in this case, it’s often more efficient to wait for a limited-time banner featuring that character, if one ever appears (though standard banner characters rarely, if ever, get limited-time banners).
You’re Okay With Anything
If you genuinely don’t care what you get from the banner and are simply looking for a bit of gacha excitement, then go ahead and pull! Just be aware that you’re likely to be disappointed with the results.
Prioritizing Limited-Time Banners
The key takeaway is that limited-time character and weapon banners offer significantly better value than the Standard Banner. The rate-up system drastically increases your chances of obtaining the specific character or weapon you desire, making your Primogem or Stellar Jade expenditure much more efficient.
Understanding Pity: A Core Mechanic
The pity system in these games is essential to understand, as it directly affects your chances of getting a 5-star item. Here’s a breakdown:
- Soft Pity: Around 70-75 pulls, the odds of getting a 5-star item gradually increase with each subsequent pull.
- Hard Pity: At 90 pulls, you are guaranteed a 5-star item.
- Pity Carryover: Pity carries over between banners of the same type. This means if you pulled 80 times on a character event banner and it ends, the next character event banner will only require 10 more pulls to guarantee a 5-star. Importantly, pity does NOT carry over between the Standard Banner and limited-time banners.
Strategizing Your Wishes
The most effective strategy for maximizing your resources in Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail is to:
- Save your Primogems/Stellar Jade: Resist the urge to pull impulsively. Accumulate enough resources to reach pity on the banners you truly care about.
- Prioritize Limited-Time Banners: Focus on character and weapon banners featuring characters or weapons that align with your team composition and gameplay style.
- Use Free Fates/Passes Wisely: Utilize Acquaint Fates/Star Rail Passes on the Standard Banner, but don’t spend premium currency on it.
- Research and Plan: Watch gameplay videos, read character guides, and understand the strengths and weaknesses of different characters and weapons before committing your resources.
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By following these guidelines, you can make informed decisions about your wishes and significantly improve your chances of building a powerful and satisfying team.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is it OK to pull on the Standard Banner?
Generally, no. The Standard Banner lacks a rate-up, making it less efficient for obtaining specific characters or weapons compared to limited-time banners. It is best to prioritize limited time banners and save up in order to increase your chances of pulling the characters and weapons you desire.
2. Does Standard Wish share pity with other banners?
No. Character Event, Weapon Event, and Standard Banners all have their own independent pity counters. Pity carries over between banners of the same type (e.g., one Character Event banner to another).
3. Is Wanderlust Invocation (Standard Banner) worth it?
Usually not. Only pull if you have a surplus of Acquaint Fates/Star Rail Passes acquired through gameplay, events, or battle pass rewards.
4. What’s the chance of getting a 5-star on the Standard Banner?
There is a 0.6% chance of pulling a 5-star character or weapon on each individual pull. You are guaranteed a 5-star within 90 pulls (hard pity).
5. What happens after 75 pity on the Standard Banner?
Around 70-75 pulls (soft pity), the chance of pulling a 5-star item gradually increases with each subsequent pull, up until the 90th pull (hard pity).
6. Can you lose your pity on the Standard Banner?
No, you cannot “lose” your pity. Once you reach a certain number of pulls without getting a 5-star, your chances of getting one increase (soft pity), and you are guaranteed one at 90 pulls (hard pity). Getting a 5-star item resets the pity counter back to zero.
7. Is it better to do single or 10 pulls on the Standard Banner?
There’s no difference in the odds. Doing 10 pulls simply saves you time and the effort of pressing the button 10 times.
8. Which character from the Standard Banner is the best?
This depends on your existing team and needs. Diluc (Genshin Impact) and Bronya (Honkai: Star Rail) are often cited as strong options for damage dealing.
9. Is the Beginner Banner better than the Standard Banner?
Yes, if a Beginner Banner is available, like in Genshin Impact, it is almost always a better choice. It offers discounted pulls and guarantees a character early on, giving you a better start to the game.
10. Does Honkai: Star Rail pity carry over to Genshin Impact?
No. Pity is specific to each game and does not transfer between them.
11. Is it better to do single or 10 pulls in Honkai: Star Rail?
The rates are the same. Ten pulls are just more efficient for your time.
12. Why didn’t I get a 5-star at 90 wishes?
Ensure you made all 90 wishes on the same banner. Pity is tracked separately for each banner type (Character Event, Weapon Event, Standard).
13. Does pity reset after 6 months?
No. Pity only resets when you successfully pull a 5-star item. Time is not a factor.
14. Does getting a 5-star weapon on the Standard Banner reset pity?
Yes. Getting any 5-star item (character or weapon) on the Standard Banner resets the pity counter back to zero for that banner.
15. Can you lose your 50/50 to a weapon?
The 50/50 mechanic applies only to character event banners in Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail. There is no 50/50 to lose on Standard Banner as anything can be pulled and still reset your pity.