Ah, Genshin Impact. You have bravely entered Teyvat, a land full of mysteries, monsters, and a confusing wish system. Do not worry, traveler! You are likely lost with terms like “pity,” “50/50,” and “banners.” You do not need a Ph.D. in Gacha Gaming to grasp it. This is your survival guide for Genshin’s wish-making mechanics.
Beginner’s Wish Banner: To Wish or Not to Wish?
Let’s start with the Beginner’s Wish banner. It’s the game’s way of saying, “Welcome! Here’s a simpler way to gamble for characters.” The big question is, should you use it? Let’s break it down like a Ruin Guard’s weak point.
Should You Throw Your Fates at the Beginner Banner?
The quick answer? Maybe. The Beginner’s Wish banner isn’t awful, but it’s not showering you with primogem rainbows either. It offers two 10-pulls for the price of eight Acquaint Fates each. That’s a 20% discount. In gacha games, this is like finding a Mora chest filled with more than 200 Mora.
This banner guarantees you Noelle in your first 10 wishes. Yes, everyone’s favorite maid knight is eager to join your team. Think of it as a participation trophy, but in character form. That’s the only perk of this banner. Seriously, that’s it.
Can You Actually Get a 5-Star Character From This Thing?
Now, let’s face the elephant in the room, or rather, the 5-star character in the banner. Yes, you *can* get a 5-star character from the Beginner’s Wish banner. Don’t get too excited though. It’s statistically the same as pulling from the Standard Banner. The drop rates are the same. This banner isn’t a magical shortcut to a team full of Archons. It’s just the Standard Banner wearing a slightly cheaper coat and promising a Noelle.
The Guaranteed Noelle: Is She Worth It?
Speaking of Noelle, let’s discuss the guaranteed maid knight herself. Within your first ten wishes on this banner, you’re guaranteed to pull Noelle. Is this a good thing? Yes, she is surprisingly versatile. She’s like the Swiss Army knife of Genshin characters. Need healing? Noelle has you covered. Need a shield? Noelle provides that too. Need some Geo damage? Believe it or not, she can handle that.
She’s a dependable character, especially for new players. She excels as a support unit, offering both healing and shielding, which is great against hordes of hilichurls or surviving the Spiral Abyss with a weak team. To unlock her full potential, especially as a damage dealer, invest in her constellations, particularly Constellation 6. But for a guaranteed character, especially for newcomers, Noelle isn’t the worst option. Think of her as an early-game companion who helps you progress.
The Alluring 20% Discount: A Real Bargain?
Let’s revisit that 20% discount. It looks good on paper, right? Saving some Acquaint Fates is nice. However, in Genshin wishing, this discount is… well, present. It’s not insignificant but also not game-changing. It’s like receiving a slightly smaller bill at the Adventurers’ Guild tavern. Nice, but not revolutionary.
The Beginner’s Wish banner offers two 10-pulls for 8 Acquaint Fates each, totaling 16 Fates for 20 wishes. Typically, 20 wishes on the Standard Banner would cost 20 Acquaint Fates. So, you save 4 Fates. Again, not bad, but not mind-blowing either. The genuine benefit is the guaranteed Noelle, especially for players needing a steadier character to build their initial team.
The Banner’s Short Lifespan: Blink and You’ll Miss It
Here’s the catch about the Beginner’s Wish banner: it has an expiration date. It isn’t long. This banner disappears after you’ve made a total of 20 wishes. Yes, that’s right, 20 wishes. That’s it. Poof. Gone. Like a dandelion in the wind.
It’s a one-time offer, a limited-time deal to get you started. After reaching that 20-wish mark, the banner vanishes permanently. No exceeding the limit, no squeezing in extra wishes at the last moment. If you plan to use this banner, do it early in your Genshin journey. Do not hoard your Acquaint Fates forever waiting for the best moment because this banner will eventually say, “Bye Felicia,” and disappear into the digital ether.
Limited Selection: Don’t Expect the Whole Roster
Finally, and perhaps unsurprisingly, the Beginner’s Wish banner features a limited selection of characters and weapons. It’s not the full buffet of Genshin goodies. You draw from a smaller pool of non-promotional items. Therefore, you won’t find the latest and greatest limited 5-star characters or weapons here. Think of it as the “greatest hits” of the Standard Banner without some of the newer tracks.
You *can* get lucky and pull a 5-star, but don’t expect to snag the newest Archon or a signature weapon from the Beginner’s Wish. It’s intended to give you a decent starting boost, not to instantly equip you with an endgame-ready team. It’s like a starter set of adventuring gear—useful now, but you’ll want something flashier later.
The Pity System: Your Gacha Safety Net
Now, let’s explore the heart of Genshin’s wish system: the pity system. This mechanic prevents you from wishing endlessly and ending up with only duplicates and disappointment. Think of it as the game’s way of saying, “We know gacha can be cruel. Here’s a safety net to soften your losses.”
How Pity Works: The Nitty-Gritty Details
The pity system in Genshin Impact is quite straightforward once you understand. It guarantees that you’ll get at least a 4-star item every 10 wishes and a 5-star item every 90 wishes on *any* banner. Yes, you heard right. Guaranteed. No more endless wishing into the void with only duplicates to show for it.
The base rate for pulling a 5-star in Genshin is a mere 0.6%. Yes, that’s point six percent. That’s about as likely as finding a four-leaf clover in a field of three-leaf clovers while blindfolded. However, because of the pity system, you are guaranteed a 5-star within 90 pulls. This system is designed to ensure you eventually earn something good, even if the RNG gods work against you. It’s a safety net, a promise that with persistence (and enough primogems) you’ll ultimately get that desired 5-star character or weapon.
4-Star Guarantee: A Little Something Every Now and Then
Let’s start with the minor guarantee: the 4-star pity. Each 10 wishes you make on any banner guarantees at least one 4-star item. This can be a character or a weapon. Think of it as a consolation prize to uplift your spirits. It’s like receiving a slightly better fortune cookie after ordering a mountain of takeout—a small boost to brighten your wishing session.
This 4-star guarantee is uniform across all banners. Whether wishing on Character Event Wish, Weapon Event Wish, or Standard Banner, you’ll receive a 4-star or higher item at least once every ten pulls. It’s a helpful perk, especially for building up your roster of 4-star characters and weapons crucial for compositions and content clearance during early to mid-game.
5-Star Guarantee (Hard Pity): The Big One
Now for the main event: the 5-star guarantee, often called “hard pity.” This is the big promise that keeps many players wishing even with dwindling primogems. After a maximum of 90 wishes on any banner, you are guaranteed to receive a 5-star character or weapon. This is the hard limit, the absolute most number of.
wishes you need to make to get a 5-star. No exceptions. Genshin promises and eventually delivers.
To achieve this 90-wish hard pity, you’ll require 14,400 Primogems. That’s quite a number. Consider it as the price for a fancy dinner in Sumeru, but instead of food, you obtain a virtual character or weapon. The guarantee of 90 pulls serves as a safety net, ensuring that if luck is bad, persistence will pay off. It shines brightly at the end of the gacha tunnel.
Soft Pity: A Helping Hand
But hold on! Beyond the hard pity lies “soft pity.” This concept is a little less formal, leaning more towards stats. Genshin Impact does not explicitly state soft pity, yet players attest to its existence. Soft pity means an increased chance of pulling a 5-star character or weapon after 70 to 80 wishes.
As you near the 90-wish mark, the odds of getting a 5-star rise sharply. The game seems to nudge you, suggesting, “You’re close, let me assist a bit.” Players frequently report obtaining their 5-stars between pulls 75 and 80. This soft pity feature makes it unlikely that you’ll need all 90 pulls for hard pity. It’s a hidden boost, making gacha less harsh and statistically rewarding.
For weapon banners, soft and hard pity values are lower. The hard pity is at 80 wishes, with soft pity beginning around 64 to 70 wishes. If you’re wishing on the Weapon Event Wish banner, expect those 5-stars to appear sooner on average.
Does Pity Carry Over? The Key Question
Now, the question on your mind: does pity carry over? The answer is a big YES! Pity follows you between banner changes and time itself. Your pity count does not reset after a banner ends or when time passes. If you make 80 wishes on a banner without getting a 5-star, that count carries over to the next same type banner.
This matters for strategy. If you’re saving for a character rumored to appear soon, wishing now builds your pity count. When the desired banner arrives, you’re closer to the guaranteed 5-star. It’s similar to pre-ordering a dish at Wanmin Restaurant – setting yourself up for a future treat.
Pity carries over between banners of the same type. This means pity from Character Event Wish banners applies to other Character Event Wish banners. Likewise, pity from Weapon Event Wish banners carries over to those same banners. Pity from the Standard Banner remains within it. However, pity does not transfer between different banner types. For instance, pity from Character Event Wish does not apply to Weapon Event Wish, and vice versa. Keep this in mind when planning how to wish.
Also, if you “lose the 50/50” on a limited character banner (the 50/50 system will be discussed soon), your next 5-star character is guaranteed to be the featured character, as long as you keep wishing on that same or subsequent banners of the same type. This guarantee spans limited banners. For example, losing 50/50 on Albedo’s banner means your next 5-star on Eula’s banner will be Eula (or the featured character). It’s a protective measure within another safeguard, ensuring you eventually acquire the character you’re targeting.
Standard Banner: The Evergreen Wish
Let’s briefly mention the Standard Banner, known as “Wanderlust Invocation.” This banner is always available in Genshin Impact. Think of it as the reliable friend you can count on. But how does it relate to the pity system, and should you engage with it?
Does Wishing on the Standard Banner Affect Other Pity Counts?
The quick answer is yes and no. Wishing on the Standard Banner does affect pity, but only within that banner. Pity built up there is specific to it. It won’t influence pity on Character Event Wish or Weapon Event Wish banners, and vice versa. Wishing on the Standard Banner builds pity towards a guaranteed 4-star within 10 pulls and a guaranteed 5-star within 90 pulls on that same banner.
The pity counters are different for each banner type. Wishing on one type resets or affects another’s count. So, your Beginner Banner pity does not carry to the Standard Banner, nor does Character Event Wish pity apply there. Each banner has its own pity system.
Standard Banner Pity: Similar Mechanics
With respect to pity mechanics, the Standard Banner functions like other banners. It guarantees a 4-star within 10 pulls and a 5-star within 90 pulls. Each 10-wish set will yield at least one 4-star or higher item (character or weapon). If you reach 90 wishes without receiving a 5-star, your 90th wish guarantees a 5-star.
The Standard Banner features non-limited characters and weapons. It includes standard 5-star characters like Diluc, Jean, Mona, Qiqi, and Keqing alongside certain 5-star weapons. It’s a solid option for expanding your roster but lacks the focused allure of limited-time Character and Weapon Event Wish banners featuring specific characters and weapons.
Primogems and Wishes: The Currency of Hope
Next up is Primogems, the lifeblood of wishing. These sparkling gems are your ticket to wishes in Genshin Impact. Knowing their cost and how to obtain them is vital for any potential wish-maker.
The Cost of Wishing: Primogem Analysis
The standard cost per wish in Genshin Impact is 160 Primogems. Wishing on any type of banner costs you this amount per wish. Think of it as buying into the gacha lottery.
A 10-pull costs 1600 Primogems (10 wishes * 160 Primogems/wish = 1600 Primogems). Ten-pulls are usually recommended due to their efficiency and excitement. Buying wishes in bulk brings more spontaneity than pulling one at a time.
To ensure a 5-star through the 90-wish hard pity, you will need 14,400 Primogems total (90 wishes * 160 Primogems/wish = 14,400 Primogems). This number emphasizes saving Primogems strategically if aiming for specific 5-star characters or weapons.
Ways to Obtain Primogems: Building Your Stash
So, how do you acquire these valuable Primogems? Genshin Impact offers numerous ways for both free-to-play and paying players. Here are some top sources:
- Daily Commissions: Completing daily commissions provides consistent Primogems. Each day allows you to earn a set amount by finishing simple tasks. Think of it as your daily allowance of gacha currency.
- Blessing of the Welkin Moon: This paid option gives a daily influx of Primogems over 30 days. It’s a budget-friendly means of accumulating Primogems if you don’t mind spending slightly.
- Battle Pass: The Battle Pass offers Primogems as completion rewards for challenges and pass levels, in both free and paid versions. It’s another method to earn while progressing in-game.
- Stardust Exchange: When making wishes, you receive Stardust and Starglitter as secondary currencies. Stardust can be exchanged
- There are limited Acquaint Fates and Intertwined Fates each month. This leads to more wishes and more Primogems over time.
- Spiral Abyss: It is a tough dungeon that rewards Primogems for clearing floors. Players can continuously earn Primogems here.
- Exploration and Events: Explore new areas, open chests, complete quests, and join events for Primogems. MiHoYo offers generous rewards during events, so engage actively.
- Achievements: Completing achievements grants Primogems. Monitor your achievement list and try to finish them.
By actively engaging with sources of Primogems like daily commissions and events, you can gather a good number over time. This fuels your wish-making efforts.
The 50/50 System: The Coin Flip of Fate
Now, let’s discuss the 50/50 system. This is known for bringing excitement and heartbreak to Genshin Impact players. It applies to limited-time Character Event Wish banners. It decides whether your first pull is the featured character or a standard one.
Winning and Losing the 50/50: The Stakes
When you pull a 5-star on a Character Event banner, the game flips a coin. You have a 50% chance to “win” and get the featured character. There’s also a 50% chance to “lose” and get a standard 5-star character (like Diluc, Jean, Mona, Qiqi, or Keqing).
This is a gamble, a test of fate. Winning the 50/50 is thrilling. It makes you happy when you get the character you wanted. Losing can be disappointing, especially if you get another Qiqi constellation.
Picture this: you wish on a banner for Raiden Shogun. You hit pity and get a 5-star. If you win, it’s Raiden Shogun. If you lose, it can be Jean. Both are 5-stars, but one is the character you want.
Guarantee After Losing: The Silver Lining
Here’s the good part: losing the 50/50 isn’t the end. It sets you up for a guaranteed win on your next 5-star pull on a Character Event Wish banner. If you lose on your first pull, your next 5-star from the same or another banner is guaranteed to be the featured character.
This is the “guarantee after losing” mechanic. You can’t lose 50/50 twice in a row. If you lose once, the game compensates by giving you the featured character next time. It’s as if the game says, “We messed up; here’s the character you want.”
If you lose on a banner, stay hopeful. Your pity counter doesn’t reset, and your next 5-star is guaranteed to be the limited character. It may take more wishes, but you will get there. This system aims to be player-friendly so that unlucky players can still get desired characters with enough persistence and Primogems.
Does the 50/50 System Reset Pity?
No, the 50/50 system does not reset your pity counter. Pity and 50/50 are different mechanics. Your pity counter tracks your wishes since the last 5-star pull, regardless of winning or losing the 50/50. The counter resets only when you get a 5-star on that banner.
Winning or losing the 50/50 only decides which 5-star character you get when hitting pity. It does not influence the pity counter itself. Even if you lose the 50/50 and receive a standard character, your pity count resets to zero. You start working towards your next 5-star, which is guaranteed if you lost before.
General Wish-Making: Superstitions and Luck
Let’s now explore the lighter side of wishing. We will touch on superstitions related to general wish-making. These have nothing to do with Genshin Impact’s mechanics but are fun cultural tidbits about the concept of wishes.
Times to Make a Wish: When Does Luck Strike?
- Birthday Cake Candles: Making a wish before blowing out birthday cake candles is a classic tradition. Blowing out all candles in one breath connects to making the wish come true.
- First Star at Night: Wishing upon the first star at night is another popular superstition. Spotting that star is special; making a wish then increases chances of it being granted.
- Coin in a Fountain: Throwing a coin into a fountain while making a wish is a common custom. It symbolizes offering something for the wish.
- New Pair of Shoes: Some say to make a wish on new shoes before wearing them. This belief is less common but happens in certain cultures.
- Shooting Star: Wishing on a shooting star is widely believed. Shooting stars are rare, making them ideal for wish-making.
Rules for Wishes: Dos and Don’ts of Wish-Making
There are common “rules” or conditions for making wishes:
- Don’t Share Your Wishes: A belief exists that sharing your wish prevents it from coming true. The secrecy keeps personal intent and focus.
- 11:11 Wishes (Coincidental Timing): The time 11:11 is considered magical for wishes. Some superstitions state that these wishes only count if you find that time by chance.
These are merely superstitions and beliefs. Your belief in them is up to you. In Genshin Impact, the true wish-making rules revolve around understanding the pity system and managing Primogems wisely. Perhaps say a small prayer to RNG gods before wishing. Good luck, traveler, and may your wishes favor you (especially in the gacha sense)!
