Claymore Conundrums: Whiteblind vs. Prototype Archaic & Beyond in Genshin Impact
So, you are swinging a massive Claymore in Genshin Impact. You may wonder if you are using the right weapon. Selecting the best Claymore can feel tricky, especially if you want to avoid spending money on gacha pulls. Do not worry, adventurer! Let’s explore free-to-play Claymore options, focusing on Whiteblind and Prototype Archaic.
Whiteblind: Your Defense-Stacking Dream
First, we have Whiteblind. This weapon emphasizes defense. If your Claymore user enjoys absorbing damage effortlessly, Whiteblind is the perfect fit.
Who is Whiteblind For?
Whiteblind suits characters that prioritize DEF. Think of Noelle and Arataki Itto. Noelle benefits immensely from Whiteblind, making her a formidable defense and attack combo when she is built as a tank.
Whiteblind Stats and Passive
At its max level, Whiteblind has a Base ATK of 510. While respectable, it is not groundbreaking. Its secondary stat shines with a massive 51.7% DEF boost at max level, wrapping your character in resilience.
The passive ability boosts Normal and Charged Attack damage by 6% for 6 seconds upon hit, stacking up to 4 times. While the boost may seem minor, it helps characters benefiting from DEF scaling.
Crafting Whiteblind
Whiteblind is crafted at the blacksmith. You will need a Northlander Claymore Billet, Crystal Chunks, and White Iron Chunks. Refining it is easy, allowing you to enhance its performance with minimal grinding.
Prototype Archaic: The All-Rounder Champion
Now, let’s discuss the Prototype Archaic. This Claymore acts as a reliable workhorse, perfect for many damage-dealing roles. While not flashy, it gets the job done effectively.
Who is Prototype Archaic For?
Prototype Archaic is ideal for most DPS Claymore characters not fixated on DEF. Characters like Gaming, Razor, Dehya, and Chongyun wield this weapon efficiently. Even Eula can utilize it, though there are possibly stronger options based on resources.
Prototype Archaic Stats and Passive
This Claymore has a Base ATK of 565 at level 90, surpassing Whiteblind. It features an ATK% sub-stat of 27.6% at its max. This combination makes it much more suitable for damage-focused characters.
The passive ability could be called interesting. After hitting an enemy with Normal or Charged Attacks, it may deal an AoE damage explosion based on ATK%. This makes it significantly more impactful for DPS characters than Whiteblind’s passive.
Obtaining and Crafting Prototype Archaic
Like Whiteblind, Prototype Archaic is crafted at any forge in Mondstadt or Liyue. The crafting materials are the same: a Northlander Claymore Billet, Crystal Chunks, and White Iron Chunks. It is straightforward.
Prototype Archaic in Action: Character Spotlights
- Gaming: A solid F2P choice giving reliable ATK stats and damage.
- Razor: This weapon enhances Razor’s physical damage output immensely.
- Eula: Prototype Archaic serves Eula reasonably well, especially as a craftable option.
- Beidou: While Beidou has various options, this weapon remains dependable and accessible.
- Dehya: This Claymore shines for Dehya if maximizing her damage potential is the goal.
- Chongyun: Whether acted as DPS or support, Prototype Archaic is versatile and effective.
Beyond Whiteblind and Prototype: Other Claymore Contenders
The world of Genshin Claymores is extensive! Here are some other noteworthy alternatives:
Tidal Shadow
Consider the Tidal Shadow, especially if you explore Fontaine’s depths. It is a craftable Claymore with an ATK% sub-stat and boosts ATK% after healing. While Prototype Archaic often wins for damage, Tidal Shadow is very close to being equal.
Skyward Pride
If Energy Recharge (ER) matters, Skyward Pride merits consideration. Great for Noelle needing energy to maintain Burst uptime consistently (ideally 140% ER). At lower ER needs, Whiteblind performs comparably, but Skyward Pride shines in high-ER situations.
Luxurious Sea-Lord
If you obtained the giant tuna Claymore from the Moonlight Merriment event, that’s the Luxurious Sea-Lord. While exclusive, it is a solid option for “nuke” builds on characters like Chongyun aiming for massive burst damage.
The Bell
The Bell. It has a reputation. Its HP% sub-stat and shield passive are not generally favored for DPS Claymores. Usable? Yes. But much better options exist.
Favonius Greatsword
If your team needs energy, the Favonius Greatsword will assist. Its ER sub-stat and passive generating energy particles on crit hits make it perfect for support Claymore users or to balance out team rotations.
Wolf’s Gravestone
The 5-star Wolf’s Gravestone is excellent for ATK-scaling characters. Great for Dehya, Diluc, Kinich, and Chongyun. It provides a massive ATK boost. Lore hints connect it to Grand Master Varka or Razor.
Snow-Tombed Starsilver
The Snow-Tombed Starsilver, the premier Dragonspine option. If you leveled this for Eula earlier, it’s still usable. Although statistically not superior to Prototype Archaic, the gap in performance is small, so no rush to switch gear if you have invested in it.
Fruitful Hook
If you favor plunging attacks, Fruitful Hook offers high ATK and CRIT along with Plunging Attack DMG Bonus. It makes for an interesting pick for very specific playstyles.
Eula’s Arsenal: A Quick Recap
Eula’s top weapon options include:
- The Unforged (if maintaining 100% shield uptime)
- Wolf’s Gravestone
- Song of Broken Pines
- Skyward Pride
- Serpent Spine (potentially better than Skyward Pride with full stacks)
- Blackcliff Slasher
- Snow-Tombed Starsilver
- Prototype Archaic
Beyond Claymores: A Weaponry Whirlwind
A few other weapon types also mention notable weapons:
Iron Sting (Sword)
The Iron Sting, praised as a fantastic early-game sword. Its Elemental Mastery sub-stat and DMG buff passive make it effective even later for elemental reaction-focused characters.
Prototype Starglitter (Polearm)
The Prototype Starglitter, a craftable Polearm that outperforms Crescent Pike for Zhongli. However, it generally falls short compared to “The Catch” for characters like Raiden Shogun when assessing raw damage.
Favonius Sword
If using Electro Traveler as a battery, Favonius Sword serves as the best option due to energy generation potential.
Prototype Amber (Catalyst)
The Prototype Amber, a forgeable Catalyst offering team healing and energy regeneration after an Elemental Burst usage. Ideal support for some Catalyst users.
Sapwood Blade (Sword)
The Sapwood Blade, a strong support sword, especially beneficial for Bennett. Its high Base ATK for a 4-star and Energy Recharge sub-stat optimize Bennett’s ATK buff while allowing consistent Burst use.
Song of Stillness (Bow)
The Song of Stillness, Fontaine’s craftable bow, brands itself as the best F2P option for Chasca.
Amber’s Bows
If we talk about Amber, her best option is generally Skyward Harp, especially for Physical DPS builds, while The Stringless serves well as a Sub-DPS or Pyro alternative.
Xiangling’s Spears: Top Tier
Xiangling possesses many excellent Polearm choices, including:
- Engulfing Lightning
- Staff of the Scarlet Sands
- Staff of Homa
- The Catch
- Primordial Jade Winged-Spear
- Skyward Spine
- Calamity Queller
- Wavebreaker’s Fin
A Note on Rarity: The Mysterious Dark Iron Sword
A quirky piece of Genshin trivia is the Dark Iron Sword. It is a unique 3-star weapon with only ONE existing in-game. You receive it by speaking to Chen the Sharp in Liyue. A fun fact: many players might have used it as fodder without realizing its rarity. If you find one, consider locking it away!
This concludes our exploration of Genshin Claymores and other weapon alternatives! I hope this helps equip your characters with the ideal gear without exhausting your wallet or sanity.
