Decoding Genshin Impact’s Weapon Banner: Is It Worth Your Primos?
Are you eyeing that shiny new weapon in Genshin Impact? The Weapon Banner shines like a beacon. It can lead to power or disappointment. Gacha systems can be confusing. But don’t worry! We’ll break down the Weapon Banner, explain its mechanics, and help you see if pulling is worth the effort.
1. Weapon Banner Basics: To Pull or Not to Pull?
Is the Weapon Banner worth your Primogems? The quick answer? It depends. Consider this golden rule: Only approach the Weapon Banner if two conditions are satisfied.
- God-Tier Weapons: Are both featured weapons great? If only one is good, be cautious.
- Primogem Stockpile: Do you have about 240 pulls in Primogems saved up? You need protection against the Weapon Banner’s randomness.
If you answered “yes” to both questions, then consider venturing into the Weapon Banner. Otherwise, stick to character banners or save for future content. It’s just honesty.
Weapon Banner Pity System: The 80-Pull Grind
Unlike Character Event Wishes, the Weapon Banner has a different pity: hard pity for a 5-star weapon is 80 pulls. Still, that is a lot of wishes, but a bit kinder.
But there’s more! Like character banners, Weapon Banners also offer “soft pity”. This increases your chances of pulling a 5-star weapon starting from pull 65, climbing steadily up to hard pity at 80 pulls.
Rate-Ups and Odds: The 75/25 Reality Check
The Weapon Banner runs on a 75/25 system. Why this difference? There are TWO rate-up 5-star weapons. This means double the temptation, which can hurt your wallet.
Here’s what you need to remember:
- 75% Chance: You have a 75% chance of pulling one of the two featured 5-stars. Better odds than expected.
- 25% Chance: A 25% chance exists for a random off-banner 5-star weapon. No one wants a random item.
And remember: if you “lose” the 75/25, you earn a Fate Point. More on that later; they act as a safety net.
4-Star Weapon Guarantee: A Little Less Painful
The Weapon Banner has a featured 4-star weapon guarantee. When you pull a 4-star item, there is a 75% chance it is featured.
If you pull a non-featured 4-star weapon, do not worry! The next 4-star item is guaranteed to be featured. Small wins, folks, small wins.
2. Pity System Deeper Dive: Decoding the Details
Understanding the Weapon Banner’s pity system is essential for avoiding heartbreak over lost Primogems.
Not 50/50, But 75/25: Weapon Banner Uniqueness
The Weapon Banner follows a 75/25 system, not the 50/50 found in character banners. You chase after two rate-up weapons, which slightly changes your odds but may increase the reward.
Losing the 75/25: Pity Persists!
Good news! Losing the 75/25 does NOT reset your pity. Just like character banners, the next 5-star is guaranteed to be a rate-up weapon. No reset. Your pity carries over!
Pity Reset: The Inevitable Zero
Sadly, the pity counter resets to zero after you pull a 5-star weapon, whether it’s rate-up or off-banner. This is how gacha works. The grind is relentless.
Soft Pity: Your Best Bet Window
Soft pity is crucial. On the Weapon Banner, soft pity begins at pull 65 and runs to 80. Statistically, those pulls are your best chance for a 5-star weapon. Be ready for that.
Hard Pity: The 80-Pull Guarantee
Hard pity is set at 80 pulls. That is the max wishes required for a guaranteed 5-star weapon. If you reach 80 pulls without one, a weapon is yours on the 80th pull.
Primogem Cost: The Price of Power
If you want to guarantee a specific rate-up weapon via Fate Points, expect to pay 38,400 Primogems. That equals about 240 pulls. Weapons in this banner are luxury items. Spend wisely!
3. Banner Comparisons & Mechanics: Fate Points to the Rescue?
Let’s compare the Weapon Banner to character banners and check out the Fate Point system.
Character Event Banner Pity: The 90-Pull Standard
The Character Event Banner features a 90-wish hard pity for a 5-star character. The 80 pulls in the Weapon Banner might seem easier, but keep in mind the unique odds and potential costs.
Weapon Banner Pity: The 80-Pull Alternative
The Weapon Banner hard pity is set at 80 wishes. While this is shorter than character banners, the total cost could be higher due to Fate Points.
Pity Carryover: Banner Blessings
Pity carries over between Weapon Banners. If you pull 70 times on one banner and it ends, your pity continues to the next one. This is helpful and prevents wasted pulls.
However, pity does NOT carry over among different banner types. Keep those counters divided!
Fate Points: Charting Your Course (and Spending More Primos)
The Weapon Banner includes a Fate Point system. Before wishing, you can “chart a course” by selecting one of the two rate-up 5-stars as your desired weapon. Tell the game what you want!
If you pull a 5-star that isn’t your chosen weapon, you earn 1 Fate Point. Essentially, it’s a consolation prize after losing that round.
If you collect 2 Fate Points, your next 5-star weapon will BE your chosen weapon. This strategy guarantees your preferred item but may take many pulls and Primogems.
4. Weapon Banner Examples: Worth It or Not?
Let’s explore examples to decide if certain Weapon Banners are worth your Primogems.
4.5 Weapon Banner: A Potentially Powerful Pairing
The 4.5 Weapon Banner has Chiori’s sword and Itto’s claymore, forming a powerful pairing. Why? Both weapons excel with a shared substat (Crit DMG at 88.2%). They work perfectly across different characters.
A player noted, “I want Itto’s claymore but if I got Chiori’s it won’t be bad either.” This shows thatbanner value increases when both rate-up weapons are highly usable.
Yoimiya’s Weapon: Thundering Pulse – A Top-Tier Choice
If you main Yoimiya, Thundering Pulse is her best weapon. It boosts Attack significantly, working great with her kit. Pulling for it is wise when it’s on rate-up along with another valuable weapon.
If Thundering Pulse eludes you, Skyward Harp, which might appear off-banner, remains a solid alternative due to its Crit Rate substat. However, relying on off-banner items can lead to unpredictability.
The Weapon Banner is risky yet offers great rewards. Step in wisely with your Primogems ready and good luck on your side. May fortune favor your pulls!
