Decoding Genshin Impact Wishes: A Traveler’s Guide to Gacha Glory (and Occasional Grief)
You’ve jumped into Teyvat. You’ve battled hilichurls and maybe burnt some dishes. Genshin Impact pulls you in with its diverse and powerful characters. How do you obtain these heroes? Let’s dive into the Genshin Impact wish system for new characters and weapons.
The Wish System: Gacha Games 101, Genshin Style
Genshin Impact runs on a “gacha” system. It’s like digital fortune cookies. Instead of vague advice, you chance upon powerful characters and weapons. These “fortune cookies” are called Wishes or just pulls. With each wish, you roll dice for something great. Let’s discuss the odds.
The base chance of snagging a top 5-star character is low: just 0.6%. Yes, that’s correct. Each wish gives under a 1% chance for that shining gold star. But don’t let that small number drag down your hopes. The “consolidated rate” gives a better view. The average consolidated rate raises chances to around 1.6%. That’s about one 5-star item per 62.5 wishes. So, while individual odds look grim, statistically, a 5-star is more reachable than the initial 0.6% suggests. It’s like opening a number of fortune cookies to find the big prize.
Demystifying Pity: Your Safety Net in the Gacha Game
Picture wishing endlessly only to end up with just Amber and Lisa (no offense, they’re great!). That’s where the Pity System comes in as your hero. The pity system tells you, “Okay, we see RNGesus hasn’t favored you. Here’s a guaranteed win.”
How does Pity work? It tracks the number of wishes since your last 5-star pull on a banner. Each wish without a 5-star moves you closer to a guaranteed drop. Once you receive that 5-star, the pity counter resets to zero, and it starts anew. Think of it as a loyalty program for wishes – more spending means closer guarantees.
Hard Pity: The Unbreakable Guarantee
Let’s discuss Hard Pity. This is your sure-fire guarantee. If luck is absent and you reach a specific number of wishes without a 5-star, the game rewards you generously. On Character Event Banners and Standard Banners, hard pity starts at 90 wishes. If you hit 89 without a golden star, your 90th wish guarantees a 5-star character. No exceptions. For Weapon Banners, hard pity is at 80 wishes. So, if you’ve wished 79 times without a 5-star weapon, your next wish will grant you one.
Soft Pity: The Gentle Nudge of Increased Odds
Before you accept hard pity as fate, let’s cover Soft Pity. This quietly increases your chances *before* hitting hard pity. Soft pity begins with odds climbing after your 75th wish on character banners and around the 65th wish on weapon banners. The exact percentage increase isn’t shared by Hoyoverse, but community data suggests odds rise from around the 74th or 75th pull onward. Estimates suggest about a 6% increase per wish during this range. It’s not a guarantee, but it adds excitement to your wishes as you approach it. Think of soft pity as the game hinting, “You’ve waited, maybe good luck is coming…”
Pity Counter: Banner Specific and Carried Over (Thankfully!)
Pity is banner-specific. Your count for the Character Event Banner is separate from Weapon Banners and Standard Banners. Wishes on one type don’t add to another. However, pity carries over within the same banner type. Let’s say you make 50 wishes on a Character Event Banner but don’t get lucky before it ends. When the next Character Event Banner appears, your pity count of 50 is there, waiting for you to continue wishing. That’s a big relief since your “unlucky” wishes count when banners rotate. Just remember, this carry-over works only for the same type. Character Event pity is tied to Character Events, Weapon pity stays with Weapons, and Standard pity stays with Standards.
The 50/50 System: A Coin Flip with High Stakes
The 50/50 system brings thrills and possible heartbreaks in character banners. When pulling a 5-star character on a Character Event Banner, there’s a 50% chance it’s the featured character on that banner. The other 50% chance? A standard 5-star like Diluc or Mona from the general pool. It’s a gamble – will you snag that wished-for character, or will a “standard” 5-star show up instead?
If you lose the 50/50, it’s not a total loss. It’s also your path to guaranteed success. If you “lose” and receive a standard 5-star character, the next time you pull on that banner, your next 5-star character is assured to be the featured one. This known as “guaranteed pity” or being “on guarantee.” Thus, while losing the 50/50 can hurt at that moment, it paves your way for certain success at your next chance. Think of it as two steps in securing the limited-time character.
Players mention a “Capturing Radiance” mechanic too, suggesting multiple losses could lead to guaranteed featured 5-stars eventually. While not confirmed by Hoyoverse, tales from the community indicate losing repeatedly may lead to frequent featured characters. Yet, stick with the known 50/50 guarantee after a loss for safer measure instead of unconfirmed theories.
For visuals, you can find detailed videos that explain the 50/50 system on platforms like HoYoLAB. These resources illuminate these mechanics well.
Primogems: Fueling Your Wishful Thinking
So how do you *make* wishes? You need Primogems, Genshin Impact’s premium currency. Primogems are vital to the wish process; they fuel your gacha aspirations. Each wish costs 160 Primogems. One wish is 160; a 10-pull (10 wishes at once) costs 1600 Primogems. To hit hard pity on a character banner (90 wishes), you’ll need a hefty 14,400 Primogems. If accounting for potential loss of the 50/50 (180 wishes), you’re looking at a total of 28,800 Primogems.
Primogem Procurement: Free and Paid Pathways
The big question: how do you obtain Primogems? Thankfully, Genshin Impact offers ways to earn Primogems, both free-to-play and through purchases.
Free Primogem Sources:
- Daily Commissions: Daily tasks remain consistent sources of Primogems.
- Exploration:Teyvat unveils many opportunities to earn more.
- Brimming with chests and puzzles. Unlock chests, complete quests, and explore new areas. All rewards include Primogems.
- Quests: Main story, character story, and world quests are great sources of Primogems.
- Events: Genshin Impact hosts in-game events. Primogems are key rewards here.
- Adventure Rank: New Adventure Ranks unlock rewards, including Primogems.
- Spiral Abyss: Conquering it offers substantial Primogem rewards for clearing floors.
Paid Primogem Sources:
- Genesis Crystals: Purchased with real money, they convert 1:1 into Primogems.
- Blessing of the Welkin Moon: A cost-effective option. Pay a small monthly fee. Get Genesis Crystals and a daily drip of Primogems for 30 days, totaling around 2,700 Primogems with a $5 blessing.
- Top-Up Bundles: Purchasing Genesis Crystals in larger bundles is available. It’s generally less efficient than the blessing. A $50 purchase yields about 6,500 Genesis Crystals. A $100 purchase gets around 12,960 Primogems.
Primogems from Genesis Crystals work on any platform you play Genshin Impact on.
Primogem Prioritization: Wishes vs. Other Uses
Primogems serve various uses in Genshin Impact. Their main use is for wishes. You *can* refill Original Resin or buy Acquaint Fate and Intertwined Fate. However, most players suggest saving for wishes. This is especially important for new characters or weapons.
Banner Types: Character, Weapon, and Standard – Oh My!
Genshin Impact features three banner types, each with their own characteristics:
- Character Event Banner (Limited Banner): Features rate-up for specific limited-time 5-star and 4-star characters. Target these if you want powerful characters that are only temporarily available. They have a 90-wish hard pity for 5-stars with a 50/50 system.
- Weapon Banner (Epitome Invocation): Focuses on rate-up for 5-star weapons. These optimize character builds with strong signature weapons. They have a lower hard pity at 80 wishes for 5-stars and guarantee a 4-star item every 10 wishes.
- Standard Banner (Wanderlust Invocation): Permanent banner with standard 5-star characters and weapons. Uses Acquaint Fate, not Intertwined Fate. It has a 90-wish hard pity for 5-stars. However, no 50/50 system exists here.
Pity is tracked separately for each banner type. Wishes on one banner do not affect others’ pity counts.
Wish Strategies and Savvy Spending
How do you maximize the wish system? Here are strategic tips:
Single Wishes vs. 10-Pulls: Does it Matter?
Is it better to make single wishes or do 10-pulls? The short answer: it doesn’t matter. The game’s RNG is the same whether you wish one or ten times. It comes down to personal preference. Some prefer suspense while others favor efficiency in pulls.
Weapon Banner Wisdom: When to Wish (and When to Resist)
Be cautious with Primogems on the Weapon Banner. It’s less Primogem-efficient than Character Event Banners for most players, especially free-to-play. Wish only if both featured weapons are desirable for your account. If not, save for better banners. Check guides online like Mobalytics.
Saving for Success: How Many Wishes to Hoard?
Patience is key in Genshin Impact’s wish system. Save enough Primogems to ensure you can get characters you want. A good amount to save is 119 to 161 wishes. This covers hard pity and even losing your 50/50 once, letting you secure featured characters easily. More reserve gives flexibility and reduces pressure.
Addressing Common Wish Woes: Troubleshooting and Truths
Let’s tackle frequently asked questions about the Genshin wish system:
“Why didn’t I get a 5-star at 90 wishes?”
Double-check your wish history! It’s easy to miscount. Go to history in-game. Remember, hard pity is at 90 on character and standard banners, and 80 on weapon banners. Pay attention to the correct banner type as pity counts separately.
“Is 70 wishes enough for a 5-star?”
You can get a 5-star before hard pity with 70 wishes. However, it’s not guaranteed. Hard pity is at 90 for character and standard banners and 80 for weapons. Your odds increase at 70, but it’s still a risk.
“Has anyone ever reached 90 pity?”
Yes, it happens. Some players pull 5-stars before hitting hard pity, but reaching 90 pity does occur. The system ensures that even with average luck you will eventually get a 5-star.
“Is it possible to get a 5-star with 1 wish?”
Yes! It’s rare due to a base chance of 0.6%, but a player can pull a 5-star on their first wish. Such cases bring celebration in the community. Remember, it’s not reliable – rely on the pity system for consistent results.
“Does pity reset if you get a 5-star character?”
Yes, it resets! Each time you get a 5-star item on a banner type, your pity counter resets to zero. This is the sole trigger for a reset. It starts fresh no matter when you pull it.
“Is it possible to lose every 50/50 in Genshin?”
Statistically, yes, consecutive losses can occur. Bad luck can happen in streaks. But remember, even if you lose the 50/50, the next pull is guaranteed to be the featured character.
“Is Genshin Impact fun if
you don’t spend money?”
Yes! Genshin Impact is fun for free-to-play players. You can spend money to collect characters faster, but it’s not required. The world, story, combat, and exploration offer enjoyment. Many players thrive on a completely free-to-play experience.
“Is Genshin Pity 80 or 90?”
This varies by banner! Character Event Banners and Standard Banners have a hard pity of 90 wishes for 5-star items. Weapon Banners contain a lower hard pity of 80 wishes for 5-star weapons. So, pity is 80 for weapons, 90 for characters.
Wishful Thinking: Miscellaneous Tidbits
One last fact about the Genshin wish system:
- The odds of reaching exactly 90 pity for a 5-star are quite low. Reports say it’s about 1 in 13 million. Hard pity exists to guarantee, yet reaching it is rare.
- Genshin Impact hosts anniversary events! During the fourth anniversary, players chose a free standard 5-star character. Future anniversaries may offer this chance again. Keep watch for updates!
- Don’t worry about leveling characters from 80/90 to 90/90 all at once. The increase in stats for the last 10 levels is often small and may not be efficient compared with leveling talents.
Understanding the Genshin Impact wish system is vital for resource management and enjoying the game. By knowing pity systems, 50/50 mechanics, and banners, you can make better choices and enhance your chances in Teyvat. Happy wishing, Traveler!
