Unleashing Ganyu’s F2P Potential: Crafting Cryo Supremacy Without Breaking the Bank
Congrats on getting the Cryo queen, Ganyu, in Genshin Impact! She is a powerhouse that can vanquish foes with precision. What weapon should you choose if you want to avoid spending money? Don’t worry! Ganyu offers great options for free-to-play users. Let’s explore weapons that cost nothing.
Best F2P Weapon Options for Ganyu: Budget Bows That Bite
Let’s get right into it. While top players might grab Amos’ Bow, we have some fantastic craftable options. Two bows are key for F2P Ganyu: Prototype Crescent and Hamayumi. Which bow is superior? Are there more choices?
Prototype Crescent: Aim for the Weak Spot, Aim for Victory
The Prototype Crescent stands out as Ganyu’s best F2P weapon. This craftable four-star bow has an ATK% substat. This feature benefits Ganyu. Her damage scales well with attack. But its passive ability is the real game-changer. Hitting a weak spot with a charged attack boosts movement speed by 10% and ATK by 36% at refinement rank 5. This bow suits Ganyu perfectly.
However, you must hit weak spots consistently. It shines against large enemies and bosses with visible weak points. But against numerous small foes, you may need to aim more carefully. Still, practice makes perfect. A bow that rewards precision is a real gem.
Hamayumi: Simplicity and Solid Damage
Next, we present Hamayumi, another craftable four-star bow. Its approach is simpler than Prototype Crescent’s. It has an ATK% substat too, meeting Ganyu’s needs. Its passive increases Normal Attack DMG by 32% and Charged Attack DMG by 24% at max refinement. The bonus doubles if the wielder’s Energy sits at 100%.
To use Hamayumi effectively, keep Ganyu’s Elemental Burst off cooldown. This may seem odd for a character with a strong burst. Yet, in specific team setups, especially Melt Ganyu builds that favor charged attacks, Hamayumi proves a reliable choice. It’s easier to use in chaotic battles compared to Prototype Crescent.
Song of Stillness: The New Kid on the Block
The Song of Stillness emerged with the Fontaine patches. This craftable bow offers an appealing ATK% substat for Ganyu mains. Its passive grants a damage bonus after healing the wielder. This bonus applies to Charged Attacks and Elemental Burst, making it versatile. While it’s not as powerful in perfect scenarios as Prototype Crescent, it is consistent damage and easier to optimize.
Sharpshooter’s Oath: A Blast from the Past (but maybe leave it there)
Now, let’s touch on Sharpshooter’s Oath, a three-star bow. Its passive boosts damage against weak spots, but its base stats fall short compared to four-star options. Although some might have used it early on, higher stats and better-quality craftable bows make it less viable for Ganyu.
Ganyu’s Signature Weapon: The Apex Predator
Let’s address the best bow: Amos’ Bow. Simply put, Amos’ Bow is Ganyu’s best weapon. It boosts Normal and Charged Attack DMG and enhances damage based on arrow flight time. For a character that focuses on precise long-range attacks, this is pure synergy.
Other five-star options like Thundering Pulse can compete in specific scenarios but not overall damage output. Amos’ Bow consistently delivers power. If you want the best for Ganyu, reach for Amos’ Bow. However, Ganyu can still perform well using F2P bows.
4-Star Weapon Choices: Bridging the Gap
Beyond craftables, other four-star bows are available to strengthen Ganyu, especially from banners. We have discussed Hamayumi and Prototype Crescent. Let’s look at two more options:
Blackcliff Warbow: Slay Enemies, Stack Power
The Blackcliff Warbow is from the Starglitter Exchange. It comes with a Crit DMG substat that complements Ganyu’s Ascension stat well. Its passive increases ATK after defeating enemies, stacking three times. It can significantly boost Ganyu’s damage when facing waves of weaker foes.
Favonius Warbow: Energy for Everyone! (Except maybe Ganyu’s personal damage)
The Favonius Warbow has Energy Recharge as its substat and provides Elemental Particles on Crit hits. Though not what Ganyu needs, it helps teams keep burst uptime. It’s a utility bow focused more on team support than on boosting Ganyu’s personal damage output.
Ganyu’s Scaling and Stats: The Numbers Game
Understanding Ganyu’s scaling is vital for maximizing her potential. As stated in IGN’s guide, her damage relies on ATK, especially for charged shots and Elemental Burst. Her Ascension stat is Crit DMG%, which molds her need for a strong Crit ratio.
A target of around 1800 ATK is ideal for Freeze Ganyu and Burst Support Ganyu. For Melt Ganyu, which relies on Bennett’s ATK buffs, lower base ATK of 1300-1500 works well. Crit Rate and Crit DMG ratios matter too. For Freeze teams, stack more Crit DMG due to Cryo Resonance and Blizzard Strayer artifacts enhancing Crit Rate.
Ganyu’s Playstyle and Team Compositions: Freeze or Melt?
Your weapon choice should align with Ganyu’s playstyle and team composition based on two methods: Freeze and Melt.
Freeze teams utilize permafrost reactions to immobilize foes. This allows Ganyu to safely execute charged shots while using weapons like Prototype Crescent or Hamayumi effectively.
Melt teams, however, operate on high-risk strategies, needing precise rotations for Pyro application to increase damage significantly. Melt demands shielding or interruption resistance while charging shots. Consistent ATK buffs from Hamayumi or Song of Stillness work here well. Key team members usually include Bennett, Xiangling, and a shielder like Diona.
Ganyu’s Constellations: Already a Star at C0
Ganyu shines brightly even at Constellation 0 (C0). Her constellations offer improvements but are unnecessary to activate her full potential. C1, C4, and C6 provide useful upgrades but do not define her effectiveness.
Investing in constellations may feel important. But do not feel rushed to chase them. Ganyu excels without gear upgrades. She is easy to utilize, especially for F2P players.
Ganyu: A True F2P Asset
Ganyu exemplifies F2P-friendly characters in Genshin Impact. She is strong with craftable weapons. She fits well in many team setups. No constellations are needed for her power. Choose Prototype Crescent, Hamayumi, or Song of Stillness. You can develop a strong Ganyu without using Primogems on weapons. Take your F2P bow and reveal the Cryo queen’s icy might!
Other Weapons for Reference
For completeness, here are more weapons that may be relevant:
- Crane’s Echoing Call
- Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers (Not ideal for Ganyu!)
- Oathsworn Eye
- Hakushin Ring
- Skyward Atlas
- Memory of Dust
- Eye of Perception
- Predator Bow (PlayStation Exclusive)
Artifacts: Wanderer’s Troupe Reigns Supreme
Now, a note on artifacts. To enhance Ganyu’s charged attack damage, use the Wanderer’s Troupe set. A 2-piece bonus raises Elemental Mastery for Melt. The 4-piece bonus boosts Charged Attack DMG greatly. Blizzard Strayer suits Freeze teams best. But for general Charged Shot setups, Wanderer’s Troupe outperforms other choices.