Gacha games rely heavily on pity systems to improve player experience by guaranteeing rare rewards after a number of unsuccessful pulls. However, these systems often come with issues that frustrate players and affect game balance. This list covers common problems with gacha pity systems and practical solutions, designed for game developers, designers, and dedicated players seeking a fairer, more transparent experience.
1. Lack of Transparency in Pity Counters
Many gacha games do not show players their current pity count, leaving them uncertain about how close they are to a guaranteed rare pull. This opacity leads to frustration, as players cannot plan or decide when to spend their resources effectively. A visible pity counter, like in “Genshin Impact” or “Fate/Grand Order,” helps players feel more in control and reduces the feeling of randomness or unfairness.
2. Excessively High Pity Thresholds
Some games set pity thresholds so high that players must perform dozens or even hundreds of pulls before the guarantee activates. For example, “Arknights” has a pity system capped at 100 pulls, which can be discouraging for casual players. Lowering the threshold or adding intermediate rewards can keep players engaged without feeling punished by bad luck.
3. Pity Resets on Minor Events or Banner Changes
In certain titles, pity progress resets when a new banner launches or a minor event occurs, forcing players to start over. This practice, seen in some gacha like “Epic Seven,” can feel exploitative and disincentivizes saving for specific banners. Ensuring pity progress carries over between banners or events respects player investment and encourages strategic planning.
4. Single-Item Pity Instead of Category-Based Pity
Some pity systems guarantee only a specific featured character or item, ignoring the broader category of rare or high-tier rewards. This can lead to frustration when players want a rare but non-featured item. Implementing category-based pity, as seen in “Fire Emblem Heroes,” which guarantees any 5-star unit after a threshold, provides flexibility and reduces disappointment.
5. No Soft Pity or Gradual Probability Increase
Many gacha systems jump directly from low chance rates to a hard pity without intermediate probability increases, creating sharp disappointment spikes. Games like “Genshin Impact” use soft pity by gradually increasing the chance of a 5-star drop after a certain number of pulls, smoothing player experience and reducing frustration during unlucky streaks.
6. Pity Systems That Are Too Punishing on Failure
Some systems penalize players harshly for not getting rare items by increasing the threshold or resetting counters unnecessarily. For instance, in “Azur Lane,” pity counts reset on any 6-star drop, not just the featured one, which can extend grinding. Designing pity to reward persistence without punitive resets encourages continued play without player burnout.
7. Limited Pity Benefits for Currency Efficiency
If pity systems do not significantly reduce the average cost per rare pull, players may feel forced to spend excessively. Some games offer pity but maintain low drop rates that still require large investments, like “Dragalia Lost.” Enhancing pity benefits to balance currency spent versus guaranteed rewards ensures players feel their investment is worthwhile.
8. Ignoring Player Behavior in Pity Design
Many pity systems overlook how different players engage with gacha, such as casual versus whale players. Without adaptive pity mechanics, casuals may never reach pity thresholds, while whales can exploit them easily. Adaptive pity systems that scale thresholds or rewards based on player spending or activity levels, like in “Epic Seven’s” seasonal pity, create a more equitable environment.
9. Poor Communication About Pity Mechanics
Players often misunderstand or are unaware of how pity systems work due to insufficient explanation from developers. This lack of communication leads to mistrust and speculation. Clear, in-game tutorials and accessible documentation, as exemplified by “Fate/Grand Order,” empower players to make informed decisions and reduce negative sentiment.
10. Over-Reliance on Pity Leading to Reduced Excitement
While pity systems aim to mitigate frustration, overly generous pity can make pulls feel less thrilling, reducing the sense of achievement. For example, if a game guarantees a 5-star every 10 pulls, the rarity and excitement diminish. Balancing pity thresholds to maintain excitement without excessive grind is crucial for sustaining long-term player engagement.
How to Choose
When selecting or designing a pity system, prioritize transparency and fairness first—players should always know their progress toward pity and feel the system is equitable. Next, consider the pity threshold: it should be achievable for dedicated players without being discouragingly high. Incorporate soft pity mechanics to smooth probability increases and avoid harsh resets that punish players. Finally, tailor the system to your player base by understanding their spending and playing habits, and communicate the mechanics clearly. Balancing excitement with reliability ensures the system enhances rather than detracts from the gacha experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pity system in gacha games?
It’s a mechanic that guarantees a rare or high-tier item after a certain number of unsuccessful pulls, reducing frustration from bad luck.
Do all gacha games have pity systems?
No, some games rely purely on random chance without guarantees, but most popular titles include some form of pity to retain players.
Why do some pity systems reset when banners change?
Developers may do this to encourage spending on new content, but it often causes player backlash due to perceived unfairness.
Can pity systems be exploited by players?
Yes, some players save pulls to guarantee rewards, but well-designed systems try to balance this with thresholds and soft pity to maintain fairness.
How does soft pity differ from hard pity?
Soft pity gradually increases the chance of a rare pull as you approach the threshold, while hard pity guarantees a rare item exactly at a set pull count.
Does pity affect the overall odds of pulling rare items?
Yes, pity systems effectively increase the average drop rate over time, making rare items more accessible than pure RNG would allow.
Final Thoughts
Pity systems are essential for balancing randomness and player satisfaction in gacha games, but they come with challenges that can undermine their purpose if not carefully implemented. Transparency, reasonable thresholds, and player-centric design are key to fixing common problems. By adopting clear communication, adaptive mechanics, and balanced probability increases, developers can create pity systems that enhance engagement and fairness, delivering a better experience for all players.
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