The Ultimate Guide to Base Attack Swords in Genshin Impact
The question on every Genshin Impact player’s mind: What sword boasts the highest base attack? Currently, the Aquila Favonia and Mistsplitter Reforged share the crown, both possessing a base attack of 48 at level 1. This high base attack, combined with their potent passive abilities, makes them highly sought-after weapons for maximizing damage output.
Understanding Base Attack and its Importance
Before we dive deeper, let’s clarify what base attack actually means. In Genshin Impact, base attack is a fundamental stat of a weapon that directly contributes to a character’s overall attack. The higher the base attack, the more damage the character will inflict with their normal attacks, charged attacks, elemental skills, and elemental bursts. While other stats like Crit Rate, Crit Damage, and Elemental Mastery are crucial for optimizing damage, base attack forms the foundation upon which these multipliers are built. A weapon with a high base attack provides a significant advantage, especially when paired with characters who scale well with attack.
Aquila Favonia: The Anemo Archon’s Blessing
Aquila Favonia is a 5-star sword imbued with the power of the Anemo Archon, Barbatos. Beyond its impressive base attack of 48 at level 1, scaling to an impressive 674 at level 90, its passive ability, Falcon’s Defiance, is a game-changer. This passive constantly grants the wielder a 20% attack bonus, further amplifying their damage output. Furthermore, upon taking damage, the sword triggers a powerful AoE attack that regenerates HP, providing both offensive and defensive capabilities. This makes Aquila Favonia a versatile choice for characters who benefit from both raw attack power and self-healing. Characters like Bennett, who scales his buffs with his base attack, greatly benefit from it.
Mistsplitter Reforged: A Blade Forged in Lightning
Mistsplitter Reforged is another top-tier 5-star sword renowned for its exceptional base attack of 48 at level 1, scaling to 674 at level 90. This weapon is particularly favored by characters who heavily rely on elemental damage. Its passive ability grants a 12% elemental damage bonus and, through accumulating Mistsplitter’s Emblems, it can significantly increase the wielder’s elemental damage based on their normal attack elemental damage. This makes it a perfect weapon for characters like Ayaka, whose playstyle revolves around infusing her attacks with Cryo. Mistsplitter Reforged synergizes perfectly with characters who frequently use their elemental skills and bursts.
Comparing the Titans: Aquila Favonia vs. Mistsplitter Reforged
While both swords share the same base attack, their suitability depends on the character wielding them. Aquila Favonia excels on characters who can effectively use the constant attack bonus and benefit from the occasional HP regeneration. Mistsplitter Reforged is the superior choice for characters who heavily rely on elemental damage and can consistently trigger its passive ability. It’s also worth considering their secondary stats. Aquila Favonia features Physical DMG Bonus while Mistsplitter Reforged uses Crit DMG. Ultimately, the “best” sword depends on your team composition and playstyle.
Beyond the 5-Stars: Honorable Mentions
While Aquila Favonia and Mistsplitter Reforged stand at the pinnacle, several other swords offer respectable base attack values and unique benefits:
- Freedom-Sworn: A 5-star sword with a lower base attack, this is Kazuha’s best in slot sword.
- Skyward Blade: This 5-star sword boasts a high base attack and Energy Recharge, making it ideal for support characters who need to frequently use their bursts.
- The Alley Flash: This 4-star sword is unique for having a high base attack among the 4-star options.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the benefits of having a high base attack on a sword?
A high base attack directly increases a character’s damage output with their normal attacks, charged attacks, elemental skills, and bursts. It’s a fundamental stat that amplifies the effectiveness of other damage-boosting stats like Crit Rate, Crit Damage, and Elemental Mastery.
Is base attack the only important stat on a weapon?
No, while base attack is crucial, other stats and passive abilities are equally important. Crit Rate, Crit Damage, Energy Recharge, and Elemental Mastery can significantly enhance a character’s overall performance. The best weapon depends on the specific character’s needs and playstyle.
Which characters benefit the most from Aquila Favonia?
Characters who scale well with attack and can utilize the healing from the passive benefit the most from Aquila Favonia. This includes characters like Bennett, Jean and Physical DPS characters like Physical build Keaya and Traveler.
Which characters benefit the most from Mistsplitter Reforged?
Characters who heavily rely on elemental damage and can consistently trigger the sword’s passive ability benefit the most from Mistsplitter Reforged. Ayaka is the prime example, but other elemental damage dealers like Keqing can also benefit.
Can a 4-star sword ever be better than a 5-star sword?
In certain situations, a well-suited 4-star sword can outperform a 5-star sword if its passive ability and secondary stat synergize exceptionally well with a character’s kit. This is especially true for support characters who prioritize Energy Recharge or Elemental Mastery.
How does weapon refinement affect base attack?
Weapon refinement does not affect base attack. Refinement only enhances the weapon’s passive ability, making it more potent. The base attack remains the same regardless of the refinement level.
Is it worth pulling for a weapon banner to get a high base attack sword?
Whether or not it’s worth pulling on a weapon banner depends on your priorities and resources. Weapon banners can be costly, so it’s essential to consider your current character roster, available weapons, and budget before investing.
What is the difference between base attack and total attack?
Base attack is the attack stat provided by the character and the equipped weapon. Total attack is the final attack stat after all other bonuses and modifiers have been applied, including artifact bonuses, team buffs, and resonance effects.
How can I increase my character’s base attack without changing their weapon?
You can increase a character’s base attack by leveling them up and increasing their talent levels. Each level increases the character’s base stats, including attack. You can also increase the character’s weapon level to increase their base attack as well.
What are some good alternative swords for characters who need high base attack?
If you don’t have Aquila Favonia or Mistsplitter Reforged, consider using weapons like the Skyward Blade, or the Black Sword. These swords provide a respectable base attack and offer unique passive abilities that can enhance your character’s performance.
Does the Traveler benefit from a high base attack sword?
Yes, the Traveler can benefit from a high base attack sword, especially when built as a DPS character. The Traveler’s versatility allows them to adapt to different roles, and a high base attack sword can significantly improve their damage output, regardless of their element.
How does Elemental Mastery affect damage with high base attack swords?
Elemental Mastery increases the damage of elemental reactions. While high base attack increases the initial damage of skills and bursts, Elemental Mastery amplifies the damage caused by reactions like Vaporize, Melt, Electro-Charged, and Swirl.
Are there any characters who don’t benefit from high base attack swords?
Characters who primarily focus on healing or shielding and scale with HP or DEF, such as Kokomi or Albedo, don’t benefit as much from high base attack swords. For these characters, weapons that provide HP, DEF, or Energy Recharge are generally more beneficial.
Where can I find more information about Genshin Impact weapons and character builds?
There are numerous online resources available, including Genshin Impact wikis, community forums, and content creator channels. These resources offer detailed information about weapons, character builds, and team compositions. You can also contribute to discussions and share your own strategies with other players.
Is there a Genshin Impact learning community?
Yes! Learn more about how games are shaping the future of education at the Games Learning Society by visiting GamesLearningSociety.org.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, choosing the right sword depends on your specific needs and goals. Aquila Favonia and Mistsplitter Reforged reign supreme in terms of base attack, but understanding their unique strengths and weaknesses is crucial for maximizing their potential. Experiment with different weapons, explore various character builds, and discover the perfect combination for your team. Good luck, Travelers!