Home > Content Creation > Articles > Guides for a Popular Gacha Game

Guides for a Popular Gacha Game

posted September 7, 2024 / No Comments

8 Best Free-to-Play Weapons Ranked: Unlocking Power Without Spending in Genshin Impact

In Genshin Impact, weapons are crucial to unlocking the full potential of your characters. While 5-star weapons are flashy and powerful, many free-to-play (F2P) players may not want to rely on gacha rolls or spend real money. Fortunately, there are plenty of strong, accessible weapons you can obtain without spending Primogems. In this guide, I’ll rank the best free-to-play weapons for each type—sword, polearm, bow, claymore, and catalyst—so you can equip your team with powerful gear on a budget.

1. The Catch (4-star Polearm)

  • How to Obtain: Fished from various locations in Inazuma (requires participation in fishing minigame).
  • Base ATK: 510 (Level 90)
  • Substat: Energy Recharge (45.9%)
  • Passive: Increases Elemental Burst DMG by 16% and Elemental Burst CRIT Rate by 6%.

Why It’s Great:
For characters who rely heavily on their Elemental Bursts (like Raiden Shogun, Xiangling, or Shenhe), The Catch is one of the best polearms in the game. The high Energy Recharge substat allows for quick burst regeneration and the passive boosts Elemental Burst damage and CRIT rate, making it perfect for high-burst damage builds. Considering it’s entirely free through fishing, The Catch is a must-have for any F2P player.  My only complaint is that you can only craft one. This weapon is so good, that I want it on multiple characters, but I have mine on Raiden.

2. Prototype Archaic (4-star Claymore)

  • How to Obtain: Crafted through the Blacksmith (requires Northlander Claymore Prototype).
  • Base ATK: 565 (Level 90)
  • Substat: ATK (27.6%)
  • Passive: Normal or Charged Attacks have a 50% chance to deal an additional 240% ATK as DMG to enemies in a small AoE. This can occur once every 15 seconds.

Why It’s Great:
This claymore is ideal for characters like Diluc, Razor, or Beidou. The passive adds substantial burst damage to your normal attacks, allowing for an extra boost during combat. It’s an all-around reliable weapon for claymore users and works great in almost any team comp. Since it’s craftable, you can refine it for even more power, making it one of the best F2P claymores available. This is great for players starting who happen to get Diluc, or Razor early on in the game.

3. Amenoma Kageuchi (4-star Sword)

  • How to Obtain: Forged after completing the quest “The Farmer’s Treasure” in Inazuma.
  • Base ATK: 454 (Level 90)
  • Substat: ATK (55.1%)
  • Passive: After using an Elemental Skill, gain 1 Succession Seed. After casting an Elemental Burst, the Succession Seeds are consumed and restore 6 Energy per seed.

Why It’s Great:
This sword shines on Energy-hungry sword users like Ayaka or Jean. It provides a solid Energy Recharge mechanic via its passive, helping to sustain high Elemental Burst uptime. The high ATK substat makes it a versatile weapon for sword users, allowing for powerful bursts and fast rotations. Plus, it’s forgeable, so refining it for additional energy returns is easy for F2P players.

4. Mappa Mare (4-star Catalyst)

  • How to Obtain: Crafted at the Blacksmith.
  • Base ATK: 565 (Level 90)
  • Substat: Elemental Mastery (110)
  • Passive: Triggering an Elemental Reaction grants an 8% Elemental DMG Bonus for 10s. Max 2 stacks.

Why It’s Great:
This is a fantastic catalyst for Elemental Reaction-heavy characters like Sucrose or Yanfei. The Elemental Mastery substat boosts reaction damage, while the passive rewards players for triggering reactions, offering even more elemental DMG. This makes Mappa Mare one of the best catalysts for reaction-focused teams like Vaporize, Overloaded, or Melt compositions. Being craftable, it’s easily accessible and can be refined to increase its power. I use this for Nahidaon my Arlecchino Vape team.

5. Favonius Warbow (4-star Bow)

  • How to Obtain: Wish or can be purchased from Paimon’s Bargains shop.
  • Base ATK: 454 (Level 90)
  • Substat: Energy Recharge (61.3%)
  • Passive: CRIT hits have a 60% chance to generate 6 Energy for the character. Can only occur once every 12 seconds.

Why It’s Great:
The Favonius Warbow is a top-tier support weapon, especially for characters like Diona, Venti, or Gorou. The massive Energy Recharge substat ensures frequent Elemental Bursts and the passive allows you to regenerate energy quickly. This bow is ideal for supporting your team by keeping abilities charged, making it one of the best F2P bows for utility-based characters.

6. Whiteblind (4-star Claymore)

  • How to Obtain: Forged at the Blacksmith.
  • Base ATK: 510 (Level 90)
  • Substat: DEF (51.7%)
  • Passive: Normal or Charged Attacks increase ATK and DEF by 6% for 6s. Max 4 stacks (24% max).

Why It’s Great:
Whiteblind is a powerhouse for DEF-scaling characters like Noelle or Itto. It increases both ATK and DEF, enhancing their overall performance in combat. Since it’s forgeable, you can refine it easily to maximize its potential. Whiteblindhelps tanky characters deal more damage while also making them sturdier, making it an excellent weapon for F2P players who focus on defense-scaling builds. Great for new players to craft for Noelle.

7. Sacrificial Sword (4-star Sword)

  • How to Obtain: Wishes (also appears in Paimon’s Bargains occasionally).
  • Base ATK: 454 (Level 90)
  • Substat: Energy Recharge (61.3%)
  • Passive: After damaging an opponent with an Elemental Skill, there’s a 40% chance to end its CD. Can only occur once every 30 seconds.

Why It’s Great:
Perfect for support sword users like Xingqiu or Kaedehara Kazuha, the Sacrificial Sword allows characters to use their Elemental Skill twice in quick succession, greatly increasing energy generation. The high Energy Recharge stat helps ensure constant bursts, making this sword a staple for support characters. While it’s not easily craftable, it frequently appears in the standard banner and is well worth pulling for.

8. Blackcliff Pole (4-star Polearm)

  • How to Obtain: Purchased from Paimon’s Bargains (24 Masterless Starglitter).
  • Base ATK: 510 (Level 90)
  • Substat: CRIT DMG (55.1%)
  • Passive: After defeating an enemy, ATK is increased by 12% for 30s. This effect can stack up to 3 times.

Why It’s Great:
The Blackcliff Pole is a strong choice for DPS polearm users like Xiangling or Hu Tao. With its high CRIT DMG substat, it pairs well with characters that focus on burst damage. The passive, while conditional on defeating enemies, can result in massive ATK boosts during mob-heavy content, making it ideal for domains, Spiral Abyss, or fighting crowds of enemies. Accessible through Starglitter, it’s a strong option for players who consistently roll on banners.

For F2P players, Genshin Impact offers a wide array of powerful weapons that can enhance your character’s performance without the need to spend money. The Catch and Prototype Archaic stand out as top picks for polearm and claymore users, while the Favonius Warbow and Sacrificial Sword shine for support roles. With these free weapons, you’ll be able to equip your team for success in both early and late-game content.

Get fighting, Travelers!

How to Build Your Dendro Characters for Maximum Elemental Reactions in Genshin Impact

Dendro, introduced with the Sumeru region, revolutionized Genshin Impact’s combat system by adding a new element and a variety of reactions that synergize with Hydro, Pyro, and Electro. Dendro’s reactions—Bloom, Burning, Hyperbloom, Burgeon, and Quicken (which leads to Aggravate and Spread)—are key to dealing massive damage in combat.

If you’re looking to maximize the potential of your Dendro characters like Nahida, Tighnari, Baizhu, Alhaitham, and now Emilie (which I won’t be covering here), this guide will explain how to build them for the best elemental reactions, gear choices, and team compositions.

Understanding Dendro Reactions

Before diving into builds, it’s essential to understand the Dendro reactions:

  • Bloom (Dendro + Hydro): Creates Dendro Cores on the field. These cores explode after a short duration, dealing AoE Dendro DMG.
  • Hyperbloom (Dendro Core + Electro): Causes Dendro Cores to transform into homing projectiles that deal single-target Dendro DMG.
  • Burgeon (Dendro Core + Pyro): Dendro Cores explode immediately, dealing increased AoE Dendro DMG.
  • Burning (Dendro + Pyro): Deals DoT Pyro DMG over time in an AoE.
  • Quicken (Dendro + Electro): Applies Quicken status, enhancing subsequent Electro damage (Aggravate) or Dendro damage (Spread).

With this knowledge in mind, let’s look at how to build your Dendro characters to trigger and maximize these reactions.

Key Stats for Dendro Builds

Dendro builds thrive on a combination of Elemental Mastery (EM), Energy Recharge, and Crit stats. Here’s what to prioritize based on the type of reaction you’re focusing on:

  • Elemental Mastery: Increases the damage of Bloom, Hyperbloom, Burgeon, and reaction-based damage (like Aggravate and Spread).
  • Energy Recharge: Ensures that your characters can consistently trigger Elemental Bursts, which are essential for maintaining reaction uptime.
  • Crit Rate & Crit Damage: Important for maximizing personal damage, particularly for Dendro DPS characters focusing on Spread or Aggravate.

Best Builds for Each Dendro Character

1. Nahida (5-star Catalyst)

As the Dendro Archon, Nahida excels at applying Dendro through her Elemental Skill and Burst, making her ideal for reactions like Bloom, Hyperbloom, and Quicken.

Best Stats:

  • Elemental Mastery: Focus on Elemental Mastery to boost Nahida’s reaction damage, especially for Bloom and Hyperbloom comps.
  • Energy Recharge: Aim for at least 150% Energy Recharge to ensure consistent burst uptime.
  • Crit Rate & Crit Damage: Build Crit stats for a balanced DPS and reaction build, particularly if running Spread teams.

Recommended Weapons:

  • A Thousand Floating Dreams (5-star, Best-in-Slot): Increases Elemental Mastery and boosts party synergy, perfect for a reaction-heavy team.
  • Sacrificial Fragments (4-star): High Elemental Mastery and the ability to reset her Elemental Skill cooldown, letting her reapply Dendro even faster.
  • Magic Guide (3-star): Surprisingly powerful for reaction builds, thanks to the Elemental Mastery boost and easy accessibility.

Recommended Artifacts:

  • Deepwood Memories (4-piece): Increases Dendro DMG Bonus and reduces enemy Dendro RES, perfect for both applying and amplifying reactions.
  • Gilded Dreams (4-piece): Great for Elemental Mastery and attack boosts based on team composition, ideal for maximizing reaction damage.

Best Team Comps:

  • Hyperbloom Team: Nahida + Electro (Yae Miko or Fischl) + Hydro (Xingqiu or Kokomi) + Flex (Anemo support like Kazuha for additional EM boost). This my personal favorite!
  • Quicken/Aggravate Team: Nahida + Electro DPS (Keqing) + Anemo (Sucrose/Kazuha) + Flex.

2. Alhaitham (5-star Sword)

Alhaitham, the strongest Dendro DPS in the game, with a unique mechanic that generates Dendro Mirrors to deal additional Dendro damage, making him perfect for Spread and Quicken reactions. Soon we will have Kinich from Natlan, we’ll see how he fairs.

Best Stats:

  • ATK: As a DPS character, raw attack stats help him scale his damage.
  • Crit Rate & Crit Damage: Maximizing Spread DMG output requires high Crit stats.
  • Elemental Mastery: Boosts Spread damage from his Dendro-infused attacks.

Recommended Weapons:

  • Light of Foliar Incision (5-star, Best-in-Slot): Provides Crit DMG and further boosts his Spread damage.
  • Iron Sting (4-star, F2P-friendly): Offers Elemental Mastery and increases all damage after triggering an Elemental Reaction.
  • Black Sword (4-star, Battle Pass): Provides a strong balance of Crit Rate and offensive stats.

Recommended Artifacts:

  • Deepwood Memories (4-piece): Reduces enemy Dendro RES and boosts Dendro DMG, maximizing his Spread damage.
  • Gilded Dreams (4-piece): Ideal for maximizing Alhaitham’s Elemental Mastery and Spread reactions.

Best Team Comps:

  • Spread Team: Alhaitham + Electro (Fischl or Raiden Shogun) + Anemo (Kazuha or Sucrose) + Flex (such as Zhongli for shields).
  • Quicken Team: Alhaitham + Electro (Keqing or Lisa) + Dendro Support (Nahida or Collei).

3. Tighnari (5-star Bow)

Tighnari is a Dendro bow user who excels in Spread and Quicken teams thanks to his charged attacks and burst abilities. And, the character you most likely want to lose your 50/50 to.

Best Stats:

  • Crit Rate & Crit Damage: His Spread reactions benefit greatly from high Crit stats.
  • Elemental Mastery: Boosts the damage of Spread reactions triggered by his charged shots.

Recommended Weapons:

  • Hunter’s Path (5-star, Best-in-Slot): Increases Crit Rate and provides an Elemental Mastery bonus, making it perfect for reaction-based DPS.
  • Prototype Crescent (4-star, F2P): A solid choice for boosting charged attack damage with a Crit Rate bonus.
  • Slingshot (3-star, F2P): Despite its rarity, Slingshot provides a Crit Rate boost and can work well for budget builds.

Recommended Artifacts:

  • Wanderer’s Troupe (4-piece): Increases charged attack damage and Elemental Mastery, making it perfect for a reaction-focused playstyle.
  • Deepwood Memories (4-piece): Reduces Dendro resistance and boosts Dendro DMG.

Best Team Comps:

  • Spread Team: Tighnari + Electro (Fischl or Beidou) + Dendro Support (Nahida or Collei) + Flex.
  • Quicken/Aggravate Team: Tighnari + Electro DPS (Keqing) + Anemo (Venti or Sucrose).

4. Collei (4-star Bow)

Collei is a 4-star Dendro support who applies Dendro through her Elemental Skill and Burst, making her a great enabler for Bloom and Quicken reactions.

Best Stats:

  • Elemental Mastery: Focus on EM to increase the damage of reactions like Bloom and Hyperbloom.
  • Energy Recharge: Since she’s a support, it’s essential to keep her burst ready to trigger reactions consistently.

Recommended Weapons:

  • Favonius Warbow (4-star): Generates energy for the team and helps Collei use her Elemental Burst frequently.
  • Sacrificial Bow (4-star): Allows for quick reapplication of Dendro by resetting her Elemental Skill cooldown.

Recommended Artifacts:

  • Instructor (4-piece): A great early-game set to boost the team’s Elemental Mastery.
  • Gilded Dreams (4-piece): Increases Collei’s Elemental Mastery, further boosting her reaction damage.

Best Team Comps:

  • Hyperbloom Team: Collei + Electro (Fischl or Yae Miko) + Hydro (Barbara or Xingqiu) + Flex.
  • Quicken/Aggravate Team: Collei + Electro (Raiden Shogun) + Anemo (Sucrose or Kazuha).

Dendro characters in Genshin Impact are all about synergizing with other elements to trigger powerful reactions. By focusing on Elemental Mastery for reaction-based teams, along with appropriate weapon and artifact choices, you can maximize the potential of your Dendro characters. Whether you’re unleashing devastating Burgeon explosions or maximizing Spread damage, these builds will help you get the most out of Dendro’s exciting new possibilities.

With the right strategies, your Dendro team will bloom into one of the strongest forces in Teyvat putting up some big damage numbers.