Unlocking the Secrets of the Genshin Impact Gacha

Embark on a journey through the vibrant world of Teyvat, and you'll soon discover that a core element of your adventure in Genshin Impact is its intricate gacha system. This system, also known as the "Wish" system, is the primary method for obtaining new characters and powerful weapons. For both new and veteran players, understanding the nuances of the Genshin Impact gacha is crucial for building a formidable team and maximizing your in-game resources. This comprehensive guide will break down everything you need to know, from the basic mechanics to advanced strategies, helping you navigate the exciting world of Wishes.

The Genshin Impact gacha is a game of chance, but it's not without its rules. By understanding the underlying systems of pity, banner types, and probabilities, you can make informed decisions and increase your chances of obtaining your most desired characters and armaments. This article will serve as your roadmap to mastering the Genshin Impact gacha, ensuring that every Primogem you spend is an investment in your future success.

The Foundation: How the Genshin Impact Gacha Works

At its heart, the Genshin Impact gacha is a system where you spend a form of in-game currency to receive a random item, which can be either a character or a weapon of varying rarity. The two primary currencies you'll use for Wishes are:

Intertwined Fate: Used exclusively for the limited-time Character Event Wish and Weapon Event Wish banners.
Acquaint Fate: Used for the permanent Standard Wish banner and the Beginner's Wish.

These Fates can be obtained through various in-game activities, such as completing quests, opening chests, participating in events, and leveling up your Adventure Rank. You can also purchase them with Primogems, the premium currency of Genshin Impact. One Wish costs 160 Primogems.

The items you can receive from a Wish are categorized by their rarity, indicated by a star rating:

5-star (Legendary): The rarest and most powerful characters and weapons. These are the ultimate prizes of the Genshin Impact gacha.
4-star (Epic): Solid characters and weapons that form the backbone of many successful teams.
3-star (Rare): Common weapons that are primarily used as enhancement materials for more powerful gear.

The Pity System: Your Safety Net in the Genshin Impact Gacha

Perhaps the most important aspect of the Genshin Impact gacha to understand is the "pity" system. This mechanic acts as a safety net, guaranteeing that you will eventually receive high-rarity items after a certain number of Wishes. The pity system works differently for 4-star and 5-star items and varies between banner types.

4-Star Pity

For all banners, you are guaranteed to receive at least one 4-star or higher item within every 10 Wishes. This means that if you perform nine Wishes without getting a 4-star item, your tenth Wish is guaranteed to be a 4-star character or weapon. This pity resets as soon as you receive a 4-star item.

5-Star Pity: The Road to Legendary Loot

The 5-star pity is where the Genshin Impact gacha becomes truly interesting. This system ensures that even the unluckiest of players will eventually be rewarded with a coveted 5-star item.

Character Event Wish and Standard Wish: For these banners, there is a "soft pity" and a "hard pity" for 5-star items.
- Soft Pity: While the base probability of pulling a 5-star character is a mere 0.6%, this chance significantly increases after you've made 74 Wishes without receiving one. This is known as soft pity. Many players find they receive their 5-star item between the 75th and 89th Wish.
- Hard Pity: If you are exceptionally unlucky and reach your 89th Wish without a 5-star, your 90th Wish is a guaranteed 5-star character. This is the hard pity, and it ensures no player goes more than 90 Wishes without a legendary pull.
Weapon Event Wish: The weapon banner, known as "Epitome Invocation," has a slightly different pity system.
- Soft Pity: Soft pity on the weapon banner begins earlier, around the 63rd Wish.
- Hard Pity: The hard pity for a 5-star weapon is at 80 Wishes.

It's crucial to remember that pity is tracked separately for each banner type. Your Wish count on the Character Event Wish does not affect your pity on the Weapon Event Wish or the Standard Wish. However, pity on the Character Event Wish carries over between different limited-time character banners. So, if you make 50 Wishes on one character's banner without getting a 5-star, your pity on the next character's banner will start at 51.

Understanding the Banners: Where to Spend Your Fates

The Genshin Impact gacha offers several types of banners, each with a unique pool of characters and weapons. Knowing the differences between them is key to a successful wishing strategy.

Beginner's Wish

As a new player, you'll have access to the Beginner's Wish. This banner offers a 20% discount on 10-pulls, costing only 8 Acquaint Fates instead of 10. You are guaranteed to receive the 4-star character Noelle in your first 10-pull and another guaranteed 4-star character in your second. This banner disappears after 20 Wishes, and it's a great way to kickstart your character roster.

Character Event Wish

This is the most popular banner in the Genshin Impact gacha. It features a limited-time 5-star character who is not available on the Standard Wish, along with three featured 4-star characters who have a significantly increased drop rate. This is the banner you'll want to save your Intertwined Fates for if you have your heart set on a specific limited character.

A crucial mechanic of the Character Event Wish is the "50/50" system. When you pull a 5-star character, there is a 50% chance it will be the featured limited character. If you "lose" the 50/50, you will instead receive one of the permanent 5-star characters from the Standard Wish pool (Diluc, Jean, Keqing, Mona, Qiqi, Dehya, or Tighnari).

However, losing the 50/50 isn't all bad news. If you do not get the featured character, your next 5-star pull on a Character Event Wish is guaranteed to be the featured character of that banner. This guarantee also carries over to subsequent Character Event Wish banners. This makes the Genshin Impact gacha more predictable for dedicated players.

Weapon Event Wish: Epitome Invocation

The Weapon Event Wish features two limited-time 5-star weapons, along with five featured 4-star weapons with increased drop rates. This banner is generally recommended for more established players or those who want to maximize the potential of a specific character by equipping them with their signature weapon.

The pity system here is more complex due to the presence of two featured 5-star weapons. This is where the "Epitomized Path" comes into play. At the beginning of a new weapon banner, you can choose one of the two featured 5-star weapons as your "Epitomized Path."

When you pull a 5-star weapon, there's a 75% chance it will be one of the two featured weapons.
If the 5-star weapon you receive is not the one you chose for your Epitomized Path, you will gain one "Fate Point."
Once you have accumulated two Fate Points, your next 5-star weapon pull is guaranteed to be the weapon you selected for your Epitomized Path.

Fate Points do not carry over to the next weapon banner, so it's a significant investment to guarantee a specific weapon. This makes the weapon banner a higher-risk, higher-reward aspect of the Genshin Impact gacha.

Standard Wish: Wanderlust Invocation

The Standard Wish is a permanent banner that features a set pool of 5-star characters and weapons. You can use the Acquaint Fates you earn through gameplay on this banner. The 5-star characters available are Diluc, Jean, Keqing, Mona, Qiqi, Dehya, and Tighnari. A variety of 5-star weapons are also in the pool.

While it's tempting to spend your Primogems on Acquaint Fates for this banner, it's generally advised to save your Primogems for Intertwined Fates to use on the limited-time banners. This is because the characters and weapons on the Standard Wish are always available, and you have a chance of getting them when you lose a 50/50 on the Character Event Wish. The Genshin Impact gacha rewards patience and strategic use of resources.

Strategies for a Successful Genshin Impact Gacha Experience

Now that you understand the mechanics, let's delve into some strategies to make the most of the Genshin Impact gacha:

Plan Ahead and Save Your Primogems: Information about upcoming banners is often available in advance through official announcements and community discussions. If there's a character you truly desire, it's wise to start saving your Primogems and Intertwined Fates well in advance. Resisting the urge to spend on every new banner will pay off in the long run.
Understand Your Pity: Keep track of your Wish history. The in-game history tab shows your recent pulls, allowing you to estimate how close you are to pity. Knowing your pity count helps you decide whether it's worth making a few more Wishes on a banner that's about to end or saving your resources for the next one.
Focus on Character Event Banners: For most players, especially those who are free-to-play or light spenders, the Character Event Wish offers the best value. New characters often introduce unique gameplay mechanics and can significantly enhance your team's power. The guaranteed 5-star mechanic after losing a 50/50 also provides a safety net that the other banners lack in the same way.
The Value of 4-Star Characters: Don't underestimate the power of 4-star characters. Many of them, especially with a few constellations (duplicates), are incredibly strong and can be the core of a top-tier team. The Genshin Impact gacha is not just about the 5-stars.
Weapon Banner Considerations: Before wishing on the weapon banner, carefully consider if the investment is worth it for your account. The Epitomized Path system can be costly, and often, a good 4-star weapon can be more than sufficient. This banner is typically for players who have already built a solid roster of characters and want to push their damage to the next level.
Don't Convert Primogems to Acquaint Fates: As mentioned earlier, it's generally not recommended to use your precious Primogems to buy Acquaint Fates for the Standard Wish. You will naturally accumulate these through gameplay, and your Primogems are better spent on the limited-time banners that feature exclusive characters.

Conclusion: Mastering the Wish

The Genshin Impact gacha is a deeply integrated and thrilling part of the game. While it relies on chance, the pity system and the strategic depth of the different banners provide players with a significant degree of control over their destiny in Teyvat. By understanding the mechanics of pity, the nuances of each banner, and by planning your wishes carefully, you can navigate the Genshin Impact gacha with confidence. Remember to set your goals, be patient, and most importantly, enjoy the excitement of every wish as you build your dream team of adventurers. May your pulls be ever in your favor!