Genshin Impact divides its weapons into five different categories: bows, catalysts, claymores, polearms, and swords. Within each of those denominations, there are 1-star to 5-star weapons for players to make use of. Especially for players that are just starting out, it can be difficult to wrap one's head around all the different options, but prioritizing where to spend resources on weapons is actually very important for players wanting to excel in late game content. There's no definitive list of the best weapons in the game since each one caters to a specific playstyle or character, but there are certain things to consider when picking which weapons to invest in.
Unlike typical tier lists, Genshin Impact's weapons provide an interesting challenge. A particular weapon may be extremely powerful or deadly in the hands of the right character or player, but seemingly useless by comparison if used incorrectly. For that reason, weapons will be ranked as though they are being used to their fullest capacity. As a general rule, the higher the star value on a weapon, the better it will be, but this isn't always the case. 3-star weapons are a lot easier to ascend, so there may be some cases when these weapons will outshine 4-star or even 5-star weapons.
Genshin Impact S Tier Weapons
- All 5-star weapons
Unsurprisingly, the best weapons in Genshin Impact are relegated to the Gacha mechanics. These weapons are few in number, but boast the impressive 5-star claim to fame. Typically, there are two 5-star weapons for each weapon class, though there are actually three 5-star polearms. These weapons are incredibly powerful for a number of reasons. Their base stats are much higher than weapons of lower star ratings, but what really sets them apart are the incredible abilities that come along with them.
Some examples of powerful 5-star weapons include the Skyward Harp, which increases critical damage and imbues arrows with massive AoE damage. The Primordial Jade Winged Spear is also very potent, providing players the opportunity to net a 22.4% increase to their attack stat alongside a flat 20% increase to all damage when unascended. The biggest drawback of five-star weapons is that players will find it nearly impossible to ascend them. Getting 5-star weapons and characters is hard enough in Genshin Impact, but getting two or more is downright improbable. Because of this these weapons will often be capped out at the base level of ascension.
Genshin Impact A Tier Weapons
- The Viridescent Hunt
- Whiteblind
- Deathmatch
- The Flute
- Solar Pearl
Genshin Impact's A Tier weapons consist of the best 4-star weapons the game has to offer. It's important to note that some of the more mediocre 4-star weapons don't make the list here for very important reasons. For bows, one of the best 4-star offering players can get is The Viridescent Hunt, as it provides all bow users incredible crowd control and works especially well with one of the best bow users in the game, Venti.
Whiteblind is a 5-star claymore that, when used properly, can give the wielder a consistent 24% boost to both damage and defense, complimenting the often tanky claymore playstyle. Deathmatch provides a static 16% boost to attack and damage for polearm users, and this number increases to 24% when facing a single enemy. This is ideal for Genshin Impact's tough bosses. Sword characters with the Flute will have a method to deal with groups of enemies, as every fifth hit or so produces a powerful AoE that damages enemies nearby. Finally, Solar Pearl is a catalyst that causes elemental skills to increase basic attack damage and vice versa, allowing mage characters to switch tactics with ease.
B Tier
- Messenger
- Fillet Blade
- White Tassel
- Ferrous Shadow
- Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers
The B Tier of weapons is unique as on paper they may not seem like they should be be so highly ranked. These are all 3-star weapons that can be incredibly powerful when ascended, and due to how often players will get 3-star weapons from wishes or even just exploring Genshin Impact's open world, fully ascending these weapons is entirely possible. Messenger is a 3-star bow that can triple the player's damage when striking a weak spot if fully ascended. Likewise, Fillet Blade makes standard attacks deal an impressive 400% additional damage every 11 seconds.
The White Tassel is a straightforward polearm providing a flat 48% boost to all damage dealt, making it particularly ideal for players that want to charge in without too much extra thought. Claymore users that hate being interrupted should consider leveling a Ferrous Shadow, as it will increase their charged attack damage by 50% and provide a good deal of super armor. Finally, Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers is an incredibly unique catalyst, as it confers a 48% attack boost when switching into a different character. This can stack with other effects, making it incredibly powerful, especially when used on support characters like Barbara.
Genshin Impact C Tier Weapons
- 3 and 4-star weapons with unimpressive passive abilities
C tier is reserved for weapons that will generally do fine in most cases but simply aren't anything special. This includes things like the Ebony Bow, a situational weapon that increases damage dealt to Ruin Guards. The 4-star Favonius weapons also fall into this category, as they make critical hits generate elemental orbs. This happens fairly infrequently and isn't a bit deal unless players are building specifically for Elemental Bursts. This tier is likely the most inclusive of them all.
Genshin Impact D Tier Weapons
- All 1 and 2-star weapons
It should come as no surprise to players that the bottom of the barrel in terms of Genshin Impact weapons are one 1 and 2-star weapons. There is absolutely no reason players should ever equip these weapons, as the free wishes granted to players at the beginning of Genshin Impact should provide enough 3-star or better weapons to equip characters with instead. These weapons are solely used as experience for better weapons. This tier list is subjective, and players will likely find certain weapons that suit them well despite ranking low on this list, but it's a safe bet that won't happen with 1 and 2-star weapons.
Genshin Impact is available now on Mobile, PC, and PS4, and later on Switch.