Who Should Wield the Skyward Blade? A Genshin Impact Weapon Guide

The Skyward Blade – a five-star sword obtainable through wishes in Genshin Impact – presents a unique dilemma for players. Its high Base Attack and substantial Energy Recharge secondary stat make it appealing, but understanding its optimal use requires careful consideration of the character’s kit and role within a team. Simply put, the Skyward Blade excels on characters who benefit significantly from both ATK and Energy Recharge, especially those who frequently use their Elemental Burst. It’s a versatile weapon, but not necessarily the best in slot for every sword user.

Essentially, the Skyward Blade is most effective on characters who need to consistently burst, scale off of ATK for their healing or damage, and/or benefit from increased movement speed and attack speed. This leans towards support, sub-DPS, and some main DPS characters that rely on their Elemental Burst for team utility.

Skyward Blade: Character Candidates

Here’s a breakdown of characters who can effectively wield the Skyward Blade, categorized by their role:

• Jean: As a healer scaling off ATK, Jean benefits immensely from the Skyward Blade. The weapon’s high Base ATK directly boosts her healing output, and the Energy Recharge allows her to use her Elemental Burst more frequently, providing continuous healing and Anemo application. This is arguably her best in slot weapon for pure healing builds.

• Xingqiu: While he can only truly utilize the weapon’s Primary and Secondary stats, the high Base ATK and massive Energy Recharge the Skyward Blade provides are undeniably beneficial. This helps ensure that his Rain Swords are always available, maximizing his sub-DPS capabilities. It’s a viable option, especially if you lack other Energy Recharge-focused weapons.

• Kaeya: The Energy Recharge boost is the main appeal of the Skyward Blade for Kaeya. It allows him to act as a consistent Cryo applicator and battery for the team, particularly in Melt compositions. While not his highest damage-dealing option, it greatly enhances his utility.

• Kamisato Ayaka: Skyward Blade is a great option for both main and sub-DPS Ayaka. The Energy Recharge sub-stat allows Ayaka to cast her Elemental Burst more often. Meanwhile, for the main DPS, Skyward Blade increases Ayaka’s attack speed by 10% after she casts her ultimate.

• Kamisato Ayato: Similar to Ayaka, Ayato benefits from both the high Base ATK and Energy Recharge provided by the Skyward Blade. It helps him maintain consistent uptime on his Elemental Burst, which is crucial for his Hydro application and damage output.

• Anemo Traveler: Skyward Blade significantly improves the Anemo Traveler’s combat abilities. After their Burst is activated, their movement and attack speeds get a 10% increase, along with their normal and charged attack damage on a sliding scale of 20-40% based on the weapon’s level, for 12 seconds.

• Kazuha: While not his absolute best weapon (that title belongs to Freedom-Sworn), the Skyward Blade provides valuable Energy Recharge, allowing Kazuha to frequently use his Elemental Burst, especially if you’re prioritizing support over raw damage. The Games Learning Society explores similar strategic choices in game design.

• Lynette: Offers increased damage, energy recharge, and critical hit bonuses. Sacrificial Sword also helps Lynette trigger her Elemental Burst more often and play her Supportive role with ease.

Understanding the Skyward Blade’s Limitations

While versatile, the Skyward Blade isn’t universally optimal. Characters who primarily scale with stats other than ATK (like Elemental Mastery for Swirl reactions) will find less value in it. Similarly, characters whose Elemental Burst has a low energy cost or who are already easily able to battery themselves may not need the extra Energy Recharge.

For example, characters like Bennett, who primarily buffs based on his Base ATK from the weapon and character level, might prioritize a weapon with a higher Base ATK, even if it lacks Energy Recharge.

Weighing the Alternatives

Before committing the Skyward Blade to a specific character, consider other available options. Four-star weapons like the Favonius Sword or the Sacrificial Sword can often provide comparable or even superior utility in terms of Energy Recharge, albeit with lower Base ATK. The Amenoma Kageuchi can be a strong alternative for characters needing consistent energy generation. The Black Sword obtained from the Battle Pass is a solid Crit weapon for the Cryo Princess.

Ultimately, the best weapon choice depends on your team composition, playstyle, and available resources.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Skyward Blade

1. Is the Skyward Blade good for DPS characters?

The Skyward Blade can be used on DPS characters, but it’s generally not the best choice. While the high Base ATK is beneficial, the Energy Recharge substat is less valuable on characters focused solely on dealing damage. Other weapons with Crit Rate, Crit Damage, or ATK% substats will usually provide a greater DPS increase.

2. Does the Skyward Blade’s passive affect all characters?

The Skyward Blade’s passive effect – increasing Movement Speed, Attack Speed, and Normal and Charged Attack Damage after using an Elemental Burst – only affects the character wielding the weapon. It does not apply to the entire team.

3. How important is Energy Recharge on support characters?

Energy Recharge is crucial for many support characters, as it ensures they can consistently use their Elemental Burst to provide buffs, healing, or utility to the team. The Skyward Blade is an excellent choice for support characters who need a significant boost to their Energy Recharge.

4. Can I refine the Skyward Blade?

Yes, like all five-star weapons, the Skyward Blade can be refined using duplicates of the weapon. Refining increases the effectiveness of the weapon’s passive ability.

5. Is the Skyward Blade better than a four-star weapon with a better passive?

This depends on the specific four-star weapon and the character you’re equipping it on. A four-star weapon with a powerful passive that synergizes well with the character’s kit can often outperform the Skyward Blade, even with its lower Base ATK.

6. How does the Skyward Blade compare to the Freedom-Sworn for Kazuha?

Freedom-Sworn is generally considered Kazuha’s best weapon, as it provides Elemental Mastery (which boosts his Swirl damage) and buffs the team’s damage after he triggers Swirl reactions. The Skyward Blade offers Energy Recharge, which is useful, but less impactful than the benefits provided by Freedom-Sworn.

7. Can I use the Skyward Blade on Bennett?

While the Skyward Blade provides high Base ATK for Bennett’s buff, the Energy Recharge substat is often less valuable on him, especially if he’s well-supported with energy particles. Weapons with higher Base ATK, like the Aquila Favonia, are generally preferred.

8. Does the Skyward Blade increase healing on characters like Jean?

Yes, the Skyward Blade’s high Base ATK directly increases the healing output of characters like Jean, whose healing scales off of ATK.

9. Is the Skyward Blade good for characters who don’t rely on their Elemental Burst?

No, the Skyward Blade is not recommended for characters who don’t frequently use their Elemental Burst, as the Energy Recharge substat will be largely wasted.

10. What artifacts should I use with the Skyward Blade?

The optimal artifacts for a character using the Skyward Blade will depend on their specific kit and role within the team. However, generally, you’ll want to prioritize artifacts that provide ATK%, Crit Rate, Crit Damage, and Energy Recharge.

11. Is the Skyward Blade worth pulling for?

Whether the Skyward Blade is worth pulling for depends on your specific needs and available resources. If you lack weapons that provide Energy Recharge and have characters who would greatly benefit from it, then it may be a worthwhile investment.

12. How does the Skyward Blade compare to the Sacrificial Sword?

The Sacrificial Sword provides a chance to reset the user’s Elemental Skill cooldown, which can be useful for generating energy or applying elemental effects more frequently. The Skyward Blade offers higher Base ATK and a consistent boost to Energy Recharge. The better choice depends on the specific character and your playstyle.

13. Can the Skyward Blade be used on physical DPS characters?

While technically possible, the Skyward Blade is not optimal for physical DPS characters. Weapons with physical damage bonus or Crit substats will generally provide a significantly greater damage increase.

14. What is the best way to obtain the Skyward Blade?

The Skyward Blade is obtained through wishes on the standard or weapon banners. It is a five-star weapon, so the drop rate is relatively low.

15. Where can I learn more about Genshin Impact strategy and game mechanics?

There are numerous online resources available for learning more about Genshin Impact, including wikis, guides, and community forums. You can also explore the principles of game design and player engagement at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Final Thoughts

The Skyward Blade is a powerful and versatile weapon that can be a valuable addition to any Genshin Impact player’s arsenal. However, it’s important to carefully consider its strengths and limitations before equipping it on a specific character. By understanding which characters benefit most from its high Base ATK and Energy Recharge, you can maximize its effectiveness and create a stronger, more well-rounded team.