The Definitive Guide to Ganyu’s Best 4-Star Bow

For all you aspiring Cryo queens and DPS devotees, let’s cut straight to the icy heart of the matter: the best 4-star bow for Ganyu in Genshin Impact is, hands down, the Prototype Crescent. This isn’t just a recommendation; it’s practically gospel for those aiming to maximize her potential without relying on the rarer 5-star options. But why the Prototype Crescent? And how does it stack up against other contenders? Let’s dive deep into the frosty details.

Why Prototype Crescent Reigns Supreme

The Prototype Crescent’s power lies in its passive ability, “Unreturning,” which grants a significant ATK boost (36% at max refinement) after hitting a weak point with a charged attack. This synergizes perfectly with Ganyu’s kit. Her playstyle revolves around precisely aimed, high-damage charged attacks, making the Prototype Crescent’s passive relatively easy to trigger consistently.

Synergizing with Ganyu’s Kit

• Charged Attack Focus: Ganyu’s primary damage output comes from her Charged Attack’s Frostflake Arrow Bloom, which deals substantial Cryo DMG. The ATK boost from Prototype Crescent directly amplifies this damage.
• Weak Point Targeting: Skilled Ganyu players learn to target enemy weak points effectively. Consistently triggering the Prototype Crescent’s passive becomes second nature, ensuring near-constant ATK buffs.
• F2P Friendliness: Unlike gacha-exclusive weapons, the Prototype Crescent is craftable. This makes it accessible to all players, regardless of their spending habits. All you need are a Northlander Bow Billet, 50 Crystal Chunks, and 50 White Iron Chunks.

Comparing the Competition: Other 4-Star Bows for Ganyu

While the Prototype Crescent is generally considered the best, let’s examine other 4-star contenders and their suitability for Ganyu:

• The Viridescent Hunt: Offers a Gathering Effect, pulling enemies towards the Frostflake Arrow’s impact. Useful for grouping enemies, but its damage potential is lower than Prototype Crescent. It’s also locked behind the Battle Pass.
• Blackcliff Warbow: Provides ATK based on defeated enemies, offering high potential in mob-heavy scenarios. However, its effectiveness is highly situational and unreliable against single, tough bosses.
• Hamayumi: Increases Charged Attack DMG and, if Energy is full, further increases it. This bow restricts your burst usage to maximize its passive.
• Compound Bow: This is not good for Ganyu. The bonus physical damage doesn’t help her Cryo damage output.
• Royal Bow: Not the best choice for Ganyu. This is a very situational bow.

Prototype Crescent vs. Hamayumi: A Closer Look

A common debate is between the Prototype Crescent and the Hamayumi. While Hamayumi offers a constant Charged Attack DMG bonus, Prototype Crescent provides a larger ATK boost when its passive is active. This makes Prototype Crescent, for most players, the superior choice, particularly against enemies with easily accessible weak points. Also, Hamayumi requires you to have 100% energy, which is not always possible.

Building Ganyu: Artifacts and Team Compositions

Maximizing Ganyu’s potential requires more than just the right bow. Artifacts and team composition play crucial roles.

Artifact Sets

• Wanderer’s Troupe (4-Piece): The best overall set for Melt Ganyu, increasing Elemental Mastery and Charged Attack DMG.
• Blizzard Strayer (4-Piece): Ideal for Freeze Ganyu, granting significant Crit Rate against frozen enemies.
• Shimenawa’s Reminiscence (4-Piece): Not suitable for Ganyu, as it drains energy with Ganyu’s Elemental Skill.

Team Compositions

• Melt Ganyu: Combines Cryo and Pyro for massive Melt reactions. Popular teammates include Bennett, Xiangling, and Kazuha.
• Freeze Ganyu: Utilizes Hydro and Cryo to freeze enemies solid. Excellent choices are Mona/Kokomi, Venti/Sucrose, and Diona/Rosaria.
• Mono Cryo: Capitalizes on multiple Cryo characters to keep enemies constantly impacted with Cryo. Shenhe is great for buffing Ganyu, as well as Venti for constant Cryo application.

Mastering Ganyu: Tips and Tricks

Beyond gear and team building, mastering Ganyu involves honing your gameplay skills.

• Aiming Precision: Practice your aiming! Ganyu’s Frostflake Arrow Bloom requires accurate targeting for maximum impact.
• Weak Point Exploitation: Learn enemy weak points and consistently target them to trigger Prototype Crescent’s passive.
• Animation Canceling: Master the art of animation canceling to fire off charged attacks more quickly.
• Positioning: Stay at a safe distance to avoid damage while maintaining a clear line of sight.
• Understanding Enemy AI: Learn how enemies react to your attacks and adjust your positioning accordingly.

Conclusion: Prototype Crescent – Your Gateway to Ganyu Greatness

The Prototype Crescent stands as the undisputed best 4-star bow for Ganyu, offering a potent combination of accessibility, practicality, and damage potential. While other options may have niche uses, the Prototype Crescent’s synergy with Ganyu’s core gameplay makes it the go-to choice for both new and experienced players. Pair it with the right artifacts, assemble a synergistic team, and hone your skills, and you’ll witness the true power of Ganyu. Don’t forget the important aspect of the gaming community and learning. GamesLearningSociety.org can offer you that information!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ganyu’s Best 4-Star Bow

1. Is Prototype Crescent really that much better than other 4-star bows?

Yes, for most players and scenarios. The consistent ATK boost from triggering its passive outweighs the situational advantages of other bows. This is especially true when fighting bosses.

2. What if I can’t consistently hit weak points?

Practice! While hitting weak points is ideal, even inconsistent activation of the passive provides a significant damage increase. Focus on enemies with large, easily targeted weak points to begin.

3. Is Hamayumi a viable alternative if I don’t have Prototype Crescent?

Yes, Hamayumi is a decent alternative, especially if you struggle with weak point targeting. However, its reliance on full energy to maximize the bow’s passive limits your burst use.

4. What refinement level should I aim for on Prototype Crescent?

Refinement Rank 5 is the goal. The higher the refinement level, the greater the ATK boost from the passive.

5. How does Prototype Crescent compare to 5-star bows like Amos’ Bow?

5-star bows are generally superior due to their higher base stats and stronger passives. Amos’ Bow, in particular, is considered Ganyu’s signature weapon and outclasses Prototype Crescent significantly. However, the 5-star weapons are much harder to acquire.

6. Does the Viridescent Hunt’s grouping effect compensate for its lower damage output?

In certain situations, yes. The grouping effect can improve overall team damage by allowing Ganyu to hit multiple enemies with her Frostflake Arrow Bloom. However, against single targets, Prototype Crescent is superior.

7. What stats should I prioritize on my Ganyu artifacts?

Crit Rate, Crit DMG, ATK%, and Elemental Mastery (for Melt Ganyu) are the key stats to focus on. Energy Recharge is also important to keep her Burst available often.

8. Can I use Prototype Crescent on other bow characters besides Ganyu?

Yes, many other bow characters can benefit from the Prototype Crescent’s ATK boost, particularly those who rely on charged attacks. Amber and Fischl are examples.

9. Is it worth investing resources into Prototype Crescent if I eventually plan to get Amos’ Bow?

Yes, Prototype Crescent is a valuable stepping stone. It will significantly improve Ganyu’s damage output until you obtain a 5-star weapon.

10. How does Ganyu’s constellations affect the choice of bow?

Ganyu’s constellations don’t directly influence the choice of bow. However, Constellation 1 (C1) increases her Cryo DMG bonus, further amplifying the Prototype Crescent’s ATK boost.

11. What is the best weapon for Ganyu in the Trading Card Game (TCG)?

While the details of Ganyu’s TCG version vary, look for weapons that enhance Elemental Skill or Burst damage to synergize with her Cryo application abilities.

12. Is there an easy way to obtain Northlander Bow Billets for crafting Prototype Crescent?

Northlander Bow Billets can be obtained from weekly bosses (like Andrius, Dvalin, and Azhdaha) and the Souvenir Shop in Liyue.

13. How does the game’s difficulty level affect the choice of bow for Ganyu?

At higher difficulty levels, hitting weak points becomes even more crucial, making Prototype Crescent even more valuable.

14. Can Ganyu’s teammates help trigger Prototype Crescent’s passive?

No, Ganyu must trigger the passive herself by hitting a weak point with her charged attack.

15. What is the link between gaming and learning as demonstrated with weapons in Genshin Impact?

Using weapons effectively in Genshin Impact highlights the Games Learning Society research focus on how games promote skill development, problem-solving, and strategic thinking. The learning that takes place goes beyond just entertainment and encompasses key cognitive and social skills. You can learn more about the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.