What is the Best 4-Star Polearm in Genshin Impact?
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The simple answer: it depends! There isn’t a single “best” 4-star polearm in Genshin Impact. The ideal weapon varies drastically depending on the character wielding it, their role in your team, and your overall team composition. However, if forced to pick one consistently strong and versatile option, the Catch stands out. Its energy recharge substat and passive significantly boost burst damage, making it valuable on many characters. However, understanding the nuances of each weapon is critical to maximizing your team’s potential.
Understanding the Polearm Landscape
Genshin Impact boasts a diverse range of polearms, each offering unique stats and passives designed to cater to different playstyles. Before diving into specific recommendations, let’s explore the key attributes that make a polearm effective:
- Base Attack: Determines the raw damage output, especially important for main DPS characters.
- Substat: Provides secondary bonuses like Crit Rate, Crit DMG, Energy Recharge, Elemental Mastery, or ATK%.
- Passive Ability: Grants additional effects that can range from increasing damage output to providing utility and support.
Top Contenders for the Best 4-Star Polearm
While the Catch often tops many lists, several other 4-star polearms deserve recognition. Here’s a look at some of the top contenders:
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The Catch: Obtained through the Inazuma Fishing Association, the Catch is highly sought after for its Energy Recharge substat and its passive, which increases Elemental Burst DMG and Elemental Burst CRIT Rate. It’s an excellent choice for Sub-DPS characters who rely heavily on their bursts, such as Raiden Shogun (although she benefits more from 5-star options), Xiangling, and Thoma.
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Favonius Lance: A great support weapon, the Favonius Lance provides Energy Recharge and has a passive that generates Elemental Particles on CRIT hits. This helps to fuel the entire team’s energy needs, making it perfect for battery roles on characters like Shenhe, Yun Jin, and sometimes even Rosaria. It can also solve energy issues on characters that you have to force into an off-field support role to make a team work.
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Lithic Spear: A niche but powerful option, the Lithic Spear’s effectiveness is directly tied to the number of Liyue characters in your team. It grants ATK% and CRIT Rate based on the number of Liyue characters, making it incredibly strong in mono-Liyue teams. Characters like Xiao and Rosaria (if using with Liyue party members) can benefit greatly from this.
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Blackcliff Pole: Available through the Starglitter Exchange, the Blackcliff Pole offers a high CRIT DMG substat. Its passive increases ATK after defeating an enemy, making it suitable for characters dealing with waves of enemies. It’s a decent option for DPS characters, especially in content like the Spiral Abyss. Consider using this weapon on characters like Xiao or Rosaria.
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Dragon’s Bane: Primarily for characters who trigger frequent Elemental Reactions, Dragon’s Bane is an excellent choice. Its Elemental Mastery substat and passive that increases DMG against enemies affected by Hydro or Pyro make it ideal for characters like Xiangling in Vaporize or Melt teams.
Choosing the Right Polearm for Your Character
To determine the best 4-star polearm for your needs, consider the following factors:
- Character’s Role: Are they a Main DPS, Sub-DPS, or Support?
- Character’s Scaling: Do they scale primarily with ATK, HP, DEF, or Elemental Mastery?
- Team Composition: Does your team rely on Elemental Reactions or specific character synergies?
- Energy Requirements: Does your character (and team) need help with energy generation?
Beyond Damage: Utility and Team Support
While maximizing damage is often the primary goal, don’t overlook the importance of utility and team support. Weapons like the Favonius Lance can significantly improve your team’s overall energy economy, allowing you to use bursts more frequently and maintain consistent rotations. This can be just as, if not more, valuable than a slight increase in individual character damage.
Weapon Refinement and Investment
Remember that refining a 4-star weapon can significantly enhance its effectiveness. Refining increases the power of the passive ability, making a noticeable difference in damage output or utility. Prioritize refining weapons that you use frequently and that have impactful passives, such as The Catch or Dragon’s Bane.
FAQs About 4-Star Polearms
1. Is the Catch truly the best all-around 4-star polearm?
While not universally the best, the Catch is incredibly versatile. Its Energy Recharge substat and burst damage-boosting passive benefit many Sub-DPS characters, making it a safe and reliable choice.
2. When is the Lithic Spear a good option?
The Lithic Spear shines in teams with multiple Liyue characters. The more Liyue characters, the greater the ATK and CRIT Rate bonus, making it incredibly powerful in mono-Liyue compositions.
3. How does Dragon’s Bane compare to other polearms for Xiangling?
Dragon’s Bane is often Xiangling’s best 4-star option in Vaporize or Melt teams due to its Elemental Mastery substat and damage bonus against enemies affected by Hydro or Pyro.
4. Is the Favonius Lance only good for Energy Recharge?
No, the Favonius Lance‘s passive ability to generate Elemental Particles on CRIT hits is incredibly valuable. It helps to fuel the entire team’s energy needs, making it a fantastic support weapon.
5. How do I obtain The Catch?
The Catch is obtained through the Inazuma Fishing Association by exchanging specific fish.
6. Is it worth refining 4-star weapons?
Yes! Refining a 4-star weapon significantly enhances its passive ability, leading to a noticeable increase in effectiveness. Focus on refining weapons you use frequently.
7. What characters benefit most from the Blackcliff Pole?
DPS characters who benefit from CRIT DMG and whose teams often fight multiple enemies at once, such as Xiao or Rosaria.
8. Are there any 4-star polearms that are generally considered “bad”?
While every weapon can find a niche, some are less universally useful. Polearms with less desirable substats or passives might be less optimal than others. It’s important to consider your specific needs and character builds.
9. Can a 4-star polearm ever be better than a 5-star polearm?
In some very specific scenarios, yes. For example, a highly refined Dragon’s Bane can outperform certain 5-star polearms on Xiangling in Vaporize teams. This is because the substat and passive match her needs better than some of the 5-star alternatives.
10. Should I focus on ATK% or Crit stats on my polearm?
It depends on your character’s needs and your overall stat distribution. Generally, prioritizing Crit Rate/Crit DMG is better when your ATK is already sufficient. Use a damage calculator to determine the optimal balance.
11. How important is weapon level compared to weapon refinement?
Weapon level provides a guaranteed increase to base stats, making it generally more important to max out first. Refinements provide passive boosts, which can be significant but are secondary to base stat gains.
12. Which 4-star polearm is best for a beginner player?
The Favonius Lance is often a good starting point due to its Energy Recharge and team support capabilities. It can help alleviate energy issues while you’re still building your characters and teams.
13. Does weapon choice matter more than artifact stats?
Both weapon choice and artifact stats are crucial. However, a properly leveled and refined weapon provides a significant boost that is hard to replicate with artifacts alone. Focus on getting a good weapon first, then optimize your artifacts.
14. Where can I find guides on specific character builds and recommended weapons?
Numerous online resources, including Genshin Impact wikis, community forums (such as Reddit), and YouTube channels, offer detailed character build guides and weapon recommendations.
15. How often does the Blackcliff Pole appear in the Starglitter Exchange?
The Blackcliff Pole typically rotates into the Starglitter Exchange on a monthly basis. Keep an eye on the shop to grab it when it’s available.
Choosing the best 4-star polearm is a dynamic process that depends on your specific circumstances. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each weapon and considering your character’s role and team composition, you can make informed decisions that will significantly enhance your Genshin Impact experience.