The Definitive Guide to 4-Star Swords for Kamisato Ayato

The best 4-star sword for Kamisato Ayato depends heavily on your team composition, artifact stats, and playstyle. However, the Black Sword from the Battle Pass is often considered a top contender due to its Critical Rate substat and passive, which boosts Normal Attack damage and provides healing. Other excellent options include the Blackcliff Longsword for its high damage potential and the forgeable Amenoma Kageuchi for energy regeneration, but let’s delve into the specifics to find the perfect fit for your Ayato!

Breaking Down the Best 4-Star Options

Choosing a weapon for Ayato isn’t just about raw attack power. You need to consider how the weapon’s substat and passive synergize with his kit. Ayato’s damage primarily comes from his Elemental Skill, Kamisato Art: Kyouka, which converts his Normal Attacks into Hydro damage. Therefore, weapons that enhance Normal Attacks, Critical stats, or Energy Recharge are generally the most effective.

The Black Sword: A Consistent Performer

As mentioned earlier, the Black Sword is a popular choice, especially for those who invest in the Battle Pass. Its Critical Rate substat significantly improves your chances of landing critical hits, which are crucial for maximizing Ayato’s damage output. The passive effect, which increases Normal Attack damage by 20% and heals Ayato based on a percentage of his Attack, adds both damage and survivability. This makes it a well-rounded option for general use.

Blackcliff Longsword: High Risk, High Reward

The Blackcliff Longsword, obtainable through the Starglitter Exchange, boasts a Critical Damage substat. While Critical Damage is fantastic, the weapon’s passive requires defeating enemies to stack its Attack buff. This makes it less consistent in boss battles or situations where you can’t reliably defeat weaker enemies. However, in content like the Spiral Abyss where you’re facing multiple waves of enemies, the Blackcliff Longsword’s potential for huge damage spikes is undeniable.

Amenoma Kageuchi: The Energy Recharge Savior

The Amenoma Kageuchi is a forgeable weapon, making it accessible to all players. Its Attack substat is standard, but its passive is what makes it shine. After using an Elemental Skill, Ayato gains Succession Seeds. When his Elemental Burst is used, these Seeds are consumed to restore Elemental Energy. This significantly helps with energy regeneration, allowing you to use Ayato’s Burst more frequently, which provides a valuable Attack Speed buff for your team. If you’re struggling to keep Ayato’s Burst up consistently, the Amenoma Kageuchi is an excellent choice.

The F2P Friendly Iron Sting

While its Elemental Mastery substat might seem unusual for Ayato, the Iron Sting, also a forgeable weapon, can be surprisingly effective, especially in Vaporize or Electro-Charged team compositions. Its passive increases all damage after using an Elemental Skill. The bonus damage makes it a solid and accessible F2P option.

Other Considerations

Other 4-star swords exist, but they are generally less optimal for Ayato. For example, the Favonius Sword prioritizes energy generation for the entire team, which can be useful, but Ayato himself doesn’t directly benefit as much. Similarly, weapons focused on Physical Damage are not suitable for Ayato, as his damage is primarily Hydro-based during his Skill activation.

Making the Right Choice for Your Ayato

Ultimately, the best 4-star sword for Ayato depends on several factors:

• Your Artifact Stats: If you have a high Critical Rate from your artifacts, you might prefer the Blackcliff Longsword’s Critical Damage substat to maximize damage output. If your Energy Recharge is low, the Amenoma Kageuchi becomes invaluable.
• Your Team Composition: If you’re running a team that relies on consistent Vaporize or Electro-Charged reactions, the Iron Sting could be a viable option. If you have a team that has a strong battery to provide energy, you may prefer the Black Sword.
• Your Playstyle: If you prefer a consistent and reliable source of damage, the Black Sword is a safe bet. If you enjoy the thrill of dealing massive burst damage, the Blackcliff Longsword might be more appealing.
• Availability: Consider the accessibility of the weapon. The Amenoma Kageuchi and Iron Sting are forgeable and therefore easier to obtain and refine.

Conclusion

Choosing the right 4-star sword for Ayato requires careful consideration of your individual circumstances. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each weapon, you can optimize your Ayato’s performance and create a powerful and effective team. Remember to experiment and find what works best for you! Understanding how games create these experiences can be better understood with academic discussions at the Games Learning Society. To find out more, check out GamesLearningSociety.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is the Black Sword really the best 4-star sword for Ayato?

While the Black Sword is often considered the best, it’s highly subjective. Its consistent damage and healing are valuable, but the Blackcliff Longsword can surpass it in situations where you can reliably stack its passive. The Amenoma Kageuchi is also a strong contender if you need help with Energy Recharge.

2. Can the Iron Sting work on Ayato, even with its Elemental Mastery substat?

Yes, the Iron Sting can work, especially in Vaporize or Electro-Charged teams. The Elemental Mastery will boost the damage of those reactions, and the weapon’s passive provides a universal damage increase.

3. Is it worth spending Starglitter on the Blackcliff Longsword for Ayato?

It depends on your Starglitter reserves and your team composition. If you consistently struggle with Critical Damage and face content with multiple enemies, the Blackcliff Longsword can be a worthwhile investment. However, if you need the Starglitter for other characters or constellations, it might be better to consider other options.

4. How important is Energy Recharge for Ayato?

Energy Recharge is quite important. Ayato’s Elemental Burst provides an Attack Speed buff that significantly increases his damage output. Having enough Energy Recharge to consistently use his Burst is crucial.

5. Can I use a Physical Damage sword on Ayato?

No, Physical Damage swords are not recommended for Ayato. His damage during his Skill activation is Hydro-based, so Physical Damage bonuses will not affect his damage output.

6. What artifacts should I use with the Black Sword?

With the Black Sword, you can focus on building Critical Damage and Attack on your artifacts. A good set would be Heart of Depth (2-piece) and Gladiator’s Finale/Shimenawa’s Reminiscence (2-piece). A full Heart of Depth set is also viable.

7. What are some good team compositions for Ayato?

Ayato works well in various team compositions, including:

• Vaporize teams with Xiangling and Bennett
• Freeze teams with Ayaka or Ganyu
• Electro-Charged teams with Fischl and Beidou
• Hyperbloom teams with Nahida and Kuki Shinobu

8. How does the Amenoma Kageuchi’s passive work exactly?

After using an Elemental Skill, the character gains a Succession Seed. When they use their Elemental Burst, these Seeds are consumed, and each Seed restores a certain amount of Elemental Energy. The amount of Energy restored depends on the weapon’s refinement level.

9. Is it better to refine the Black Sword or get a new one for another character?

Refining the Black Sword is generally better, as it increases the Normal Attack damage bonus and healing. However, if you have another character who would significantly benefit from a Black Sword, it might be worth getting another one.

10. Can I use the Royal Longsword on Ayato?

The Royal Longsword is generally not recommended for Ayato. While it provides an Attack substat, its passive, which grants Critical Rate after dealing damage, is unreliable and doesn’t synergize well with Ayato’s playstyle.

11. Does Ayato benefit from Elemental Mastery?

Yes, Ayato benefits from Elemental Mastery if he’s triggering elemental reactions like Vaporize or Electro-Charged. However, it’s generally not his primary stat focus. Aim for Critical Rate, Critical Damage, Attack, and Energy Recharge first.

12. How does Ayato’s damage scaling work?

Ayato’s damage scales primarily with Attack, Critical Rate, and Critical Damage. His Elemental Skill converts his Normal Attacks into Hydro damage, which scales with these stats. His HP scaling only applies to his Elemental Burst and a passive talent, so it’s generally not as important to prioritize HP.

13. What stats should I prioritize on Ayato’s artifacts?

Prioritize the following stats on Ayato’s artifacts:

• Sands: Attack% or Energy Recharge (if needed)
• Goblet: Hydro Damage Bonus
• Circlet: Critical Rate or Critical Damage (depending on your needs)
• Substats: Critical Rate, Critical Damage, Attack%, Energy Recharge

14. Is Haran Geppaku Futsu, Ayato’s signature weapon, significantly better than 4-star options?

Yes, Ayato’s signature weapon, Haran Geppaku Futsu, is significantly better than most 4-star options. Its high base Attack, Critical Rate substat, and passive that increases Elemental Damage and Normal Attack damage make it a top-tier choice. However, 4-star options can still be viable, especially for F2P players or those who don’t want to pull for the weapon.

15. What if I have a 5-star sword, which should I use?

If you have a 5-star sword like the Mistsplitter Reforged or Primordial Jade Cutter, they will generally be better than any 4-star option due to their higher base stats and powerful passives. Equip whichever 5-star sword you have that provides the best combination of Attack, Critical Rate, Critical Damage, and Energy Recharge.