Weapon

In the vibrant world of Teyvat, your weapon is more than just a tool—it's your primary partner in combat. Whether you're slashing through hilichurl camps or challenging a mighty Archon, the weapon you choose fundamentally shapes your character's role and your team's strategy. This guide will break down the core aspects of Genshin Impact's weapon system, helping you understand the different types available and how to power them up effectively.

The Five Weapon Types: Finding Your Style

Every character in Genshin Impact is intrinsically tied to one of the five weapon types. You cannot change a character's weapon type, so understanding the strengths and behaviors of each is crucial for building balanced teams. Each type offers a distinct combat feel and tactical advantage.

Swords are the versatile all-rounders of melee combat. They offer a balanced mix of attack speed and damage, with a moderate reach. Think of them as the dependable standard—reliable in most situations without excelling in one extreme.

Claymores are the heavy-hitters. They swing slower than Swords or Polearms, but each blow lands with significant force. Beyond their raw damage, Claymore attacks are classified as "Blunt Attacks," which makes them exceptionally effective against Geo constructs and enemy shields. If you need to break a Stonehide Lawachurl's armor or mine ore quickly, a Claymore user is your best bet.

Polearms emphasize speed and reach. They deliver fast, consecutive hits with excellent forward momentum, allowing users to close gaps and maintain pressure on enemies. Their moderate damage per hit is compensated by the sheer number of strikes they can land in a short time.

Catalysts are magical implements. This is where Genshin's elemental system becomes visually direct: every Normal and Charged Attack with a Catalyst deals elemental damage. The element is determined by the wielder's Vision (e.g., Lisa deals Electro damage, Barbara deals Hydro). This makes Catalyst users unparalleled for applying their element consistently to trigger reactions.

Bows are the masters of range. They excel at attacking from a safe distance, and their Charged Attacks can hit enemies from across the battlefield with careful aim. A fully-charged shot infuses the arrow with the wielder's element, making them perfect for targeting weak points (like a Ruin Guard's eye) or applying elemental effects from afar.

Weapon Quality and Star Ratings: The Cost of Power

All weapons in Genshin Impact are classified by a star rating from 1-star to 5-stars, indicating their overall quality and potential. This system directly impacts a weapon's performance and the investment required to maximize it.

Higher Stars Mean Higher Potential: A 5-star weapon will inherently have better base stats and scaling attributes compared to a 4-star or 3-star weapon of the same level. For example, a Lv.20 5-star Claymore like Wolf's Gravestone will have a substantially higher Base ATK than a Lv.20 3-star Debate Club.

The Investment Trade-off: This power comes at a cost. Higher-rarity weapons require significantly more Weapon EXP materials to level up. Furthermore, the most powerful 5-star weapons are exclusively obtained through the limited-time "Weapon Event Wish" banner, making them the most difficult and resource-intensive items to acquire. 3-star and 4-star weapons are more accessible, often found through standard Wishes, exploration, and quests, providing excellent early-to-mid game performance.

Leveling Up Your Arsenal: Weapon EXP

A weapon's strength isn't static. You can increase its level by feeding it Weapon EXP, which in turn boosts its Base ATK and the value of its secondary attribute (like ATK%, Crit Rate, or Energy Recharge).

You gain Weapon EXP by:

1. Using Enhancement Ore: Crafted materials like Mystic Enhancement Ore are the most efficient and common source.
2. Using Unwanted Weapons: Sacrificing other weapons you don't need provides a small amount of EXP.

Investing in a weapon's level is one of the most reliable ways to increase your character's overall damage output, making it a priority alongside character levels and talents.

Summary & Key Takeaways

Choosing and developing your weapons is a foundational aspect of mastering Genshin Impact's combat. Keep these points in mind:

• Character-Locked Types: Each character is permanently equipped with one of five weapon types: Sword, Claymore, Polearm, Catalyst, or Bow. Your team composition should include a variety to handle different challenges.
• Playstyle Defines Type: Swords are balanced, Claymores break shields and hit hard, Polearms are fast, Catalysts are elemental applicators, and Bows are long-range specialists.
• Stars Indicate Scalability: Higher-star weapons have greater stats but are rarer and require more resources to level up. 3-star and 4-star weapons are highly viable, especially early in your journey.
• Leveling is Crucial: Use Weapon EXP materials (Enhancement Ore and unwanted weapons) to increase your weapon's level, directly boosting its Base ATK and secondary stat.

Understand your characters' roles, match them with a weapon type that complements their kit, and don't neglect to level up your chosen gear. A well-chosen, well-leveled weapon turns a good character into a great one.