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What Pity is Guaranteed 5-Star? A Comprehensive Guide

The burning question on every gacha gamer’s mind: “What pity is guaranteed 5-star?” The answer, while seemingly straightforward, depends on the specific game and banner type. However, in the context of popular gacha games like Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, the most common answer is around 80-90 pulls. Reaching this range almost always guarantees you’ll receive the highest rarity character or weapon on the featured banner. But let’s dive into the nuances.

Understanding Pity Systems in Gacha Games

Pity systems are a fundamental part of modern gacha games, acting as a safety net for players who haven’t had luck pulling the desired characters or weapons. They ensure that players will eventually receive a high-rarity reward after a certain number of pulls. Without a pity system, the chances of acquiring a specific 5-star character could be astronomically low, leading to player frustration and potentially impacting the game’s long-term success.

Pity systems come in two main flavors: soft pity and hard pity.

Soft Pity: The Subtle Boost

Soft pity is a mechanic that gradually increases the probability of pulling a 5-star character as you approach the hard pity count. This means that after a certain number of pulls (often around 60-70), the odds of getting a 5-star start to subtly climb with each subsequent pull. While not guaranteed, soft pity significantly improves your chances.

Hard Pity: The Guaranteed Reward

Hard pity is the definitive guarantee. It is the maximum number of pulls you can make on a banner without receiving a 5-star character. Once you reach this pull count, the very next pull will, without a doubt, grant you a 5-star character or weapon. As mentioned earlier, this number is usually between 80-90 pulls for most gacha games, specifically those adhering to the Genshin Impact model.

Pity Systems in Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail

Let’s delve into the specific pity mechanics of two giants in the gacha world: Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail.

Genshin Impact: On character event banners and weapon banners, the hard pity is set at 90 pulls. Soft pity typically starts around 75 pulls, where your chances of obtaining a 5-star begin to increase. There’s also a “50/50” system. If your first 5-star on the event banner isn’t the featured character, your next 5-star is guaranteed to be the featured character. This guarantee carries over to the next event banner. The standard banner also has a 90-pull hard pity, but it lacks the “50/50” mechanic.
Honkai: Star Rail: Similarly, Honkai: Star Rail also features a pity system. The hard pity for character event banners and weapon (Light Cone) banners is also set at 90 pulls. Soft pity is often observed to start around 75 pulls. Star Rail also utilizes a 50/50 system for character event banners, similar to Genshin Impact. If you pull a non-featured character, the next 5-star is guaranteed to be the featured character.

Maximizing Your Pity: Strategic Pulling

Understanding the pity system isn’t just about knowing when you’re guaranteed a 5-star; it’s about using that knowledge to maximize your resources and pull strategically.

Track Your Pulls: Keep track of how many pulls you’ve made on each banner. Many gacha games have built-in pull history systems that allow you to easily monitor your progress towards pity. Alternatively, you can use external tools or spreadsheets.
Save Primogems/Stellar Jades: Resist the urge to pull impulsively! Save up enough premium currency to reach at least the soft pity range (60-70 pulls) before attempting to pull on a banner. Ideally, save enough for the hard pity (90 pulls) to guarantee the character or weapon you want.
Consider the 50/50: If you don’t want the featured character, it might be wise to skip the banner entirely or only pull a few times. Winning the 50/50 on a character you don’t want can set you back significantly in your pursuit of a character you truly desire.
Weapon Banner Considerations: Weapon banners in both Genshin and Star Rail are notoriously more demanding. They often have different pity mechanics and require more pulls to guarantee the desired weapon. Consider whether the weapon is truly essential for your characters before investing heavily in these banners.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about pity systems and gacha mechanics:

1. What is a gacha game?

A gacha game is a type of video game that uses a gambling-like mechanic (often referred to as “pulling” or “rolling”) to acquire virtual items or characters. Players spend in-game currency (often purchased with real money) for a chance to obtain random rewards of varying rarity.

2. What does “pity” mean in gacha games?

“Pity” refers to a system in gacha games that guarantees players will receive a high-rarity reward after a certain number of unsuccessful pulls. It prevents players from spending excessive amounts of money without receiving anything valuable.

3. How do I track my pity count?

Most gacha games have a built-in pull history feature that allows you to track your previous pulls. Look for a button or menu option labeled “History,” “Wish History,” or something similar.

4. Does pity carry over between banners?

Yes, in most cases, pity carries over between banners of the same type (e.g., character event banners). This means that if you reach 70 pulls on one character event banner and then the banner ends, your pity count will remain at 70 for the next character event banner. However, pity usually doesn’t carry over between different banner types (e.g., character event banner and standard banner).

5. What is the difference between soft pity and hard pity?

Soft pity gradually increases your chances of pulling a 5-star character as you approach the hard pity. Hard pity guarantees a 5-star character on your next pull after reaching a specific pull count.

6. Is it possible to get a 5-star before reaching soft pity?

Yes, it’s entirely possible to get a 5-star character or weapon before reaching soft pity. Gacha games still have a base chance of pulling high-rarity rewards on every pull, even early on.

7. What happens if I get a 5-star before reaching hard pity?

If you get a 5-star before reaching hard pity, your pity count resets to zero.

8. What is the “50/50” system in Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail?

The “50/50” system refers to the fact that on event banners, your first 5-star character has a 50% chance of being the featured character and a 50% chance of being a standard character. If you lose the 50/50, your next 5-star is guaranteed to be the featured character.

9. Does the “50/50” guarantee carry over to the next banner?

Yes, if you lose the 50/50 on one banner, your guarantee of receiving the featured character on the next 5-star pull will carry over to the next banner.

10. Are weapon banners worth pulling on?

Weapon banners are generally considered more expensive than character banners due to their unique pity mechanics and lower odds of pulling the specific weapon you want. They are only worth pulling on if you believe the weapon is essential for your characters and you are prepared to invest a significant number of pulls.

11. Can I see my pull history on the Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail website?

No, pull history is only accessible through the in-game interface.

12. What is the standard banner in Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail?

The standard banner is a permanent banner that features a pool of characters and weapons that are always available. It doesn’t have limited-time featured characters.

13. Does pity transfer between character event banners and weapon banners?

No, pity does not transfer between character event banners and weapon banners. They have separate pity counters.

14. How can I get more Primogems/Stellar Jades?

You can earn Primogems/Stellar Jades by completing daily commissions, participating in events, clearing Spiral Abyss/Forgotten Hall floors, opening chests, and purchasing them with real money.

15. Is it possible to get two 5-stars in a single 10-pull?

Yes, it is possible, although extremely rare, to get multiple 5-star characters or weapons within a single 10-pull. This is considered very lucky!

Understanding the intricacies of pity systems is crucial for navigating the world of gacha games. By tracking your pulls, saving your resources, and making informed decisions, you can significantly increase your chances of obtaining the characters and weapons you desire without breaking the bank. Happy pulling!