Is the Polar Star Bow in Genshin Impact a Must-Have for Your Characters?

Gazing Upon the Polar Star: Is This Genshin Impact Bow Your Guiding Light?

The Polar Star is not just a shiny object in the night. It is a 5-star bow in Genshin Impact. If you’re unsure if it’s worth it, stay with me. We will analyze the Polar Star and see who it suits best. Let’s explore this bow together.

We will dissect it and compare it with other bows. This is your guide to optimizing DPS, focusing on what matters most in the game. Ready? Let’s dive in!

I. Polar Star Deconstructed: An Overview

What Exactly IS the Polar Star Bow?

Polar Star is a 5-star bow. But it stands out from others. It is made for Tartaglia, known as Childe. He loves chaos and has good cooking skills. The Polar Star matches his combat style perfectly.

This bow has a strong base attack. Its passive ability works well with Childe’s skills. It increases damage, especially during Elemental Skills and Bursts.

• Key Features:
  • 5-Star Bow
  • Signature weapon for Tartaglia (Childe)
  • High Base Attack
  • CRIT Rate Sub-stat
  • Passive that boosts ATK from using Elemental Skills and Bursts

Statistically Speaking: CRIT Rate and Ascension

Let’s discuss numbers. In Genshin, numbers are a happiness measure. The Polar Star’s secondary stat is CRIT Rate. This is essential as CRIT Rate leads to more critical hits. Who doesn’t love seeing those huge damage numbers?

Here is the CRIT Rate gain by ascension:

(For the full ascension table, check the Genshin Impact Wiki. Let’s be real, no one memorizes this info.)

The Polar Star gives a significant CRIT Rate chunk. This is valuable. It eases artifact pressure. You can focus more on CRIT DMG and ATK, knowing CRIT Rate is already sufficient from the bow.

The Good Stuff: Why Polar Star Shines

What makes the Polar Star worth using? It’s not just the cool name or Childe’s support. It has practical combat benefits.

• CRIT Rate is King: The CRIT Rate substat is a huge advantage. It makes artifact farming easier. Less time praying for CRIT Rate rolls means more time playing and enjoying the game.
• Easy Passive Proccing: The weapon passive is where Polar Star shines. It triggers effortlessly for characters using Elemental Skills and Bursts often (hint: Childe). Stacking “Ashen Nightstar” occurs by hitting enemies with skills and normal attacks after using a skill. Each stack increases ATK%. Maximum stacks provide a great ATK boost.
• DPS Delight: This passive fits damage dealers reliant on skills. Characters like Childe, Yelan, and Tighnari can benefit significantly from this ATK boost.

The Polar Star is a strong offensive bow. It offers consistent CRIT hits and substantial ATK boosts, making it powerful with the right player.

II. Polar Star in the Weapon Arena: How It Compares

Now, let’s compare weapons. Genshin has many bows with unique traits. How does the Polar Star match up? Let’s find out.

Polar Star vs. Thundering Pulse: The DPS Duel

Now to Thundering Pulse. Yoimiya’s bow also competes for “best DPS bow.” Is Polar Star superior to Thundering Pulse?

Thundering Pulse is impressive statistically. It shares a strong base attack with the Staff of Homa. It also gives ATK, CRIT DMG, and Normal Attack DMG bonuses.

This bow greatly boosts Yoimiya’s Normal Attack playstyle. If you want to enhance her fireworks, Thundering Pulse is your choice.

However, which bow is “better” depends on character and playstyle. Thundering Pulse excels for Normal Attack-focused archers like Yoimiya while Polar Star offers versatility through its passive. For skill-heavy characters, Polar Star can surpass Thundering Pulse.

Verdict: Thundering Pulse rules Normal DPS bows. Polar Star gives broader DPS boosts through skills and bursts. For Childe, Polar Star is usually preferred; for Yoimiya, Thundering Pulse takes the win.

Amos’ Bow: Ganyu’s Old Reliable

Amos’ Bow remains a noteworthy 5-star bow mainly for Ganyu. Is it better than Polar Star for her? The answer has nuance.

Amos’ Bow fits Ganyu’s Charged Attack style perfectly. Its passive boosts Normal and Charged Attack DMG based on arrow flight time, ideal for her frostflake arrows.

Though Amos’ Bow excels for Ganyu, other 5-star bows have emerged, sometimes better for specific team compositions. While Polar Star isn’t made for Ganyu, it can still be a strong option due to its high base attack and CRIT Rate.The ATK% boosts from its passive benefit everyone.

Verdict: Amos’ Bow suits Ganyu well for Charged Attack builds. Polar Star offers general DPS usefulness and can outperform Amos’ Bow when Ganyu frequently uses her skills in freeze compositions.

Skyward Harp: The Jack-of-All-Trades

Skyward Harp is known as a “universal” 5-star bow. It’s reliable for any DPS archer. What about its comparison with Polar Star?

This bow provides straightforward bonuses for CRIT Rate and CRIT DMG. No complex conditions to trigger exist, making it a dependable choice for archers.

Polar Star requires more active play to maximize potential yet can reach a higher damage ceiling than Skyward Harp when stacked fully, especially for characters using their skills frequently.

Verdict: Skyward Harp delivers consistency and versatility. Polar Star holds a higher potential damage ceiling for skill-oriented DPS but needs active play to utilize its passive fully.

Other 5-Star Bows: The Wider Arsenal

Genshin has many 5-star bows to offer. While Amos’ Bow, Thundering Pulse, and Skyward Harp are widely discussed, other bows might also be viable based on character and team composition.

If you lack Amos’ Bow for Ganyu, other 5-star bows can still work well.

Weapons like Elegy for the End can support Ganyu. Aqua Simulacra offers raw damage. Hunter’s Path fits well with Tighnari’s team. These options vary by the archer’s build and team situation.

For Yelan, Polar Star works. Other 5-star bows like Aqua Simulacra or Elegy for the End can fit too. The choice depends on maximizing personal damage or team buffs.

F2P Options: Fading Twilight and More

Let’s discuss free-to-play bows. Many players do not want to empty their Primogem stock on 5-star weapons. Good F2P bow options exist in Genshin.

Fading Twilight stands out. This event bow works well for support or sub-DPS. Its passive grants a fluctuating DMG Bonus, making it adaptable.

For Ganyu, Prototype Crescent and Hamayumi are good F2P picks if you lack Amos’ Bow. Prototype Crescent rewards weak point hits and is effective against certain foes. Hamayumi boosts Normal and Charged Attack DMG, adding value as a generalist option.

Verdict: 5-star bows excel, but well-chosen F2P options shine too. Fading Twilight, Prototype Crescent, and Hamayumi are effective, budget-friendly alternatives.

III. Character Compatibility: Who Wields the Polar Star Best?

Who best suits Polar Star? It’s a solid bow, but shines on certain characters that can utilize its passive and stats.

Tartaglia (Childe): The Obvious Choice

Childe fits Polar Star perfectly. It’s his signature weapon. He can maximize its potential.

Childe switches between his ranged bow stance and melee stance. His Elemental Burst delivers Hydro damage. This constant cycling lets him build the Ashen Nightstar passive, gaining ATK% and DMG bonuses.

For Childe, Polar Star is often seen as his best weapon, particularly in “International” teams where he handles on-field DPS.

Yelan: A Strong Sub-DPS Contender

Is Polar Star good for Yelan? Yes! Yelan is a Hydro sub-DPS, dealing damage via her Elemental Skill and Burst. The Polar Star passive suits her skills.

However, like Thundering Pulse, Yelan won’t fully benefit from all Polar Star bonuses. The Normal and Charged Attack DMG boost is less impactful since she focuses on off-field and burst damage.

Even with this minor issue, Polar Star’s base attack and substat remain valuable for Yelan, especially if you focus on her sub-DPS or burst DPS builds.

Tighnari: A Surprisingly Good Fit

Tighnari may seem like an odd candidate for Polar Star. Luckily, he can use it effectively.

Tighnari excels at Charged Attacks but also creates a Vijnana-Khanda Field with his Elemental Skill. He taunts foes and reduces Charged Attack time. He uses his Elemental Burst for AoE Dendro damage. This way, he can stack Polar Star’s passive.

While Hunter’s Path is his top choice, Polar Star offers a strong second option, providing good CRIT Rate and ATK% bonuses.

Fischl: Oz’s Arsenal Expansion

Fischl can utilize Polar Star well, especially in off-field DPS or burst DPS roles.

Fischl primarily deals damage through Oz, summoned by her Elemental Skill. Her Elemental Burst inflicts Electro damage and moves Oz. These actions allow her to stack Polar Star’s passive and increase Oz’s damage output.

While bows like The Stringless or Elegy for the End specialize in certain builds, Polar Star is a general DPS boost for Fischl, helping her inflict more direct damage.

Yoimiya: Decent, But Not Optimal

Yoimiya can use Polar Star but it’s not optimal. Thundering Pulse suits her better.

Yoimiya focuses on Normal Attacks infused with Pyro. Though she uses her skills, they’re secondary to her DPS rotation. She may only activate two stacks of the Polar Star passive, leading to a 30% ATK boost. This is good but not remarkable.

Verdict: Polar Star works for Yoimiya, but Thundering Pulse excels in her Normal Attack-focused playstyle. Polar Star serves as a stat item for Yoimiya but should not be prioritized if she is your main focus.

Ganyu: Surprisingly Viable in Certain Builds

Ganyu can utilize Polar Star in freeze compositions or builds using more Elemental Skill and Burst skills.

While Charged Attacks are crucial for Ganyu, she also uses an effective Elemental Skill and Burst. In freeze teams, enemies freeze often. Ganyu can frequently weave in skills without disturbing her Charged Attacks. In these situations, Polar Star’s ATK% and CRIT Rate help boost overall damage.

Even if Ganyu doesn’t benefit from the Normal Attack DMG bonus of other bows, Polar Star still serves as a strong stat stick with important CRIT Rate and ATK boosts. It’s not her top choice in all scenarios but remains a viable option in freeze teams.

IV. Character Builds and Stats: CRIT Happens

Let’s discuss character builds and the importance of CRIT Rate in Polar Star’s context.

The All-Important CRIT Rate

The CRIT Rate substat on Polar Star is vital. It simplifies artifact optimization while allowing focus on other stats like CRIT DMG and ATK.

The “soft crit cap” in Genshin needs clarification. High CRIT Rate over 100% is pointless as you can’t crit more than 100% of the time. There is no cap making CRIT Rate useless. More CRIT Rate translates to consistent damage increases.

The ideal CRIT Rate target varies with team composition and artifact sets. For instance, in freeze teams with Blizzard Strayer sets, you can run lower CRIT Rate since its bonus against frozen enemies allows room for more CRIT DMG and even larger crits.

Bottom line: Aim for a strong CRIT Rate to CRIT DMG ratio (around 1:2 is a good start). Polar Star’s CRIT Rate substat aids in achieving this balance easily.

V. Other Weapons Mentioned in Passing

Various other weapons were mentioned casually throughout this analysis. Let’s acknowledge them:

• Staff of Homa: A polearm known for high base attack, CRIT DMG, and HP-scaling passive.
• The Stringless: A 4-star bow excelling at Elemental Skill and Burst DMG bonuses, ideal for off-field DPS roles.
• Aqua Simulacra: A 5-star bow with high CRIT DMG and HP-scaling passive, noted for raw damage.
• Hunter’s Path: Tighnari’s dedicated 5-star bow for Charged Attack enhancements.
• Elegy for the End:A noteworthy 5-star bow focused on team synergies.
• team support. It provides Energy Recharge and buffs for ATK and Elemental Mastery.
• Prototype Crescent: A craftable 4-star bow. It rewards hitting weak points with increased ATK and Movement Speed.
• Hamayumi: A craftable 4-star bow. It grants an ATK Bonus and boosts Normal and Charged Attack DMG.

VI. Genshin Characters and Team Compositions: A Quick Tour

We’ve discussed character compatibility. Now, let’s highlight some characters and team compositions relevant to the Genshin meta. They may not directly relate to Polar Star, but they’re important.

• Chasca (likely referring to Childe/Tartaglia): Polar Star shines on Childe. His top teams are often Bennett, Xiangling, and Kazuha, known as the “International” team, or their variations.
• Eula: She is a Physical DMG-focused Cryo 5-star DPS. Eula is known for her tremendous burst damage potential. She often pairs with Electro characters for Superconduct and Physical RES shred.
• Ganyu: A Cryo 5-star DPS, versatile in melt and freeze compositions. Amos’ Bow is regarded as her signature, but other 5-star bows are also strong choices.
• Ayaka: Another Cryo 5-star DPS, focusing on freeze teams. She excels in consistent Cryo application and delivers high burst damage.
• Kaeya and Mika: Both are Cryo characters. Kaeya is a solid 4-star Cryo character. He is often used in freeze teams. Mika supports Physical DMG and ATK SPD buffs.
• Kaedehara Kazuha: An Anemo 5-star support. He is among the best supports in the game due to crowd control, Elemental DMG Bonus buffs, and RES shred.
• Clorinde, Keqing, Cyno, and Raiden Shogun: These are Electro DPS characters. Clorinde is a more recent addition, while Keqing, Cyno, and Raiden Shogun are established Electro options with differing playstyles.
• Ororon (likely Orochi or another Electro character): This could refer to an Electro character. However, the name is unclear and may be a typo.
• Hu Tao: A Pyro 5-star DPS known for her HP-scaling damage. She focuses on charged attacks. Her Constellation 1 is valuable for enhancing charged attack gameplay.
• Xiangling: A Pyro 4-star character. She acts as an off-field Pyro applicator and sub-DPS, especially in “National” compositions. Her Constellation 4 greatly increases her Pyronado duration.
• Collei: A Dendro 4-star character. Often utilized for Dendro application in Dendro reaction teams. Deepwood Memories and Noblesse Oblige are common artifact choices for her.
• Venti: An Anemo 5-star support known for powerful crowd control via his Elemental Burst. His Constellation 2 lowers enemy Anemo and Physical RES.
• Zhongli: A Geo 5-star support. Noted for his strong shield and universal RES shred. He is viewed as one of the most potent utility characters.
• The Tsaritsa: The Cryo Archon from Snezhnaya. An important figure in Genshin lore, though currently not playable.

VII. General Genshin Musings

A few extra Genshin-related tidbits emerged from the information provided:

• Zhongli’s Lore Power: Zhongli is viewed as incredibly powerful in Genshin lore, being the Geo Archon. He is also very strong in gameplay due to his effective shield.
• The Tsaritsa: She is the Cryo Archon, a crucial figure in the overarching Genshin story. We await news from Snezhnaya and what the Tsaritsa will reveal.
• Tartaglia Pronunciation: For clarity, it’s “Tar-TAG-lee-uh.” You’re welcome!
• Fading Twilight for Yelan: Remember, Fading Twilight is a great F2P bow choice for Yelan if you lack access to 5-star bows.

VIII. Real-World Polar Star (Polaris): A Celestial Detour

As we discuss the Polar Star bow, let’s take a brief detour into the real-world Polar Star, or Polaris, the North Star.

Location, Location, Location

Polaris sits in the Ursa Minor constellation, also known as the Little Bear or Little Dipper. It aligns with Earth’s rotational axis and serves as a navigational star in the Northern Hemisphere. Imagine navigating without Google Maps or Polaris! Yikes.

Finding Polaris: Starry Starry Night Navigation

Want to impress friends with your navigation skills? Here’s how to find Polaris: Locate the Big Dipper. Draw a line extending from the two outer stars of its bowl. Follow that line about five times the distance between those stars. Boom! You’ll reach Polaris, at the tip of the Little Dipper’s handle.

Why Polaris Matters: Historical Significance

The Pole Star’s stable position has been a key navigational aid throughout history. Sailors and explorers relied on it to know which way was North. It’s basically the original GPS, but cooler since it’s a star.

Polaris helped navigators establish latitude and north-south direction in the Northern Hemisphere. Pretty interesting, right?

Polaris in Motion (or Lack Thereof)

Polaris seems stationary compared to other stars that move across the night sky due to Earth’s rotation. It acts as an anchor in the celestial sphere. Technically, it traces a tiny circle over 24 hours but shows almost no movement in practicality.

Fun Facts About the Real Polar Star

• Not the Brightest Star: While famous, Polaris is not the brightest star in the sky. Yet it remains visible from light-polluted cities. Fame doesn’t always equate to brightness.
• Earth’s Pole Stars: Earth has two pole stars currently: Polaris in the Northern Hemisphere and Polaris Australis in the Southern Hemisphere. The latter is much dimmer. Polaris takes all the credit!
• Small Circle Movement: As noted, Polaris traces a tiny circle over 24 hours because it’s close to the celestial pole. It’s nearly stationary, making it fundamental for navigation.

This concludes our exploration of the Polar Star bow in Genshin Impact along with real-world astronomy insights. This guide hopefully helps you decide if the Polar Star is your bow for Genshin adventures. Wish wisely and may your CRIT Rate be ever in your favor!