If you’re diving into Genshin Impact’s gacha system, understanding the pity system is essential for maximizing your chances of getting 5-star characters and weapons. This guide breaks down the key components of the pity system, how it operates across different banners, and why it’s a game-changer for players aiming to optimize their pulls. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned Traveler, knowing these details helps you plan your resin and primogem spending smarter.
1. What Is the Pity System in Genshin Impact?
The pity system is a guaranteed mechanic that ensures players receive a 5-star item or character after a certain number of unsuccessful wishes (pulls). In Genshin Impact, this means if you don’t get a 5-star within a set number of wishes, the game will guarantee one on your next pull. This system prevents infinite streaks of bad luck and is crucial for managing expectations and planning your wishes.
2. Soft Pity vs. Hard Pity
Hard pity is the maximum number of wishes before a guaranteed 5-star. For character event banners, hard pity is 90 wishes; for weapon banners, it’s 80. Soft pity refers to the increased chance of pulling a 5-star as you approach hard pity, typically starting around 75 wishes on character banners. This means your odds gradually improve, making pulls near pity more exciting and less random.
3. Character Event Banner Pity Details
The character event banner guarantees a 5-star character within 90 wishes. If you get a 5-star that isn’t the featured character, the next 5-star is guaranteed to be the featured one. This “50/50” system resets only after you get the featured character, which encourages continued pulls if you want a specific hero like Hu Tao or Raiden Shogun.
4. Weapon Banner Pity Mechanics
The weapon banner features a pity system with a hard pity at 80 wishes. Like characters, weapons have a 50/50 chance for the featured 5-star weapon. If you lose the 50/50, your next 5-star weapon is guaranteed to be featured. This system is vital for targeting weapons like Skyward Harp or Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds.
5. Standard Banner Pity Rules
The standard banner, called “Wanderlust Invocation,” has a pity count of 90 wishes for 5-star characters or weapons. However, unlike event banners, there is no featured 5-star guarantee, so you can get any 5-star from the standard pool. The pity system here helps guarantee you eventually get a 5-star, but it’s less targeted than event banners.
6. How the 50/50 System Works
When you hit pity and receive a 5-star, there is a 50% chance it will be the featured item (character or weapon). If you lose this 50/50, the next 5-star is guaranteed to be the featured one. This mechanic balances luck and fairness, preventing long streaks without the featured item, which is especially important for players chasing limited-time characters.
7. What Counts Toward Pity?
Only 4-star and 5-star pulls count toward increasing your pity count. Pulling 3-star items does not affect the pity counter. This means that your pity progress is based on how many wishes you make that don’t result in 4-star or higher items, ensuring that players are rewarded after a set amount of unsuccessful high-tier pulls.
8. Resets and Carryovers
Your pity count resets after you obtain a 5-star item. However, if you switch banners, your pity progress for the previous banner does not carry over to the new one. This means starting a new banner begins your pity count from zero, which is important to consider before switching banners mid-event.
9. How Primogems and Fates Relate to Pity
Each wish costs 160 Primogems or a specific Fate item (Intertwined Fate for event and weapon banners, Acquaint Fate for the standard banner). Since pity guarantees a 5-star within a set number of wishes, you can calculate the maximum Primogem cost to get a 5-star. This helps players budget their resources effectively and decide when to save or spend.
10. Impact of Pity on Pull Strategies
Understanding pity helps you plan when to pull, especially if you’re targeting a specific character or weapon. Waiting until you near soft pity (around 75 pulls on character banners) increases your chances of a 5-star, making your pulls more efficient. Also, knowing the 50/50 system lets you decide whether to keep pulling after losing a featured 5-star to guarantee the next is the one you want.
How to Choose
Choosing when and where to pull depends on your goals and available resources. If you want a specific limited-time character, focus on the character event banner to take advantage of the 90-pity and 50/50 guarantee. For weapons, the weapon banner offers a similar system but with a lower pity threshold. If you’re a casual player or saving for future events, the standard banner offers a broad pool but less targeted pity benefits. Consider your current pity count, how many Primogems or Fates you have, and your priority characters or weapons before making pulls.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I get a 5-star before reaching pity?
Your pity counter resets to zero, and the process starts over for the next 5-star. This means you can get lucky and pull a 5-star early, but pity ensures you won’t go too long without one.
Can I lose my pity progress if I stop playing?
No, your pity progress is saved on your account and does not reset due to inactivity. You can pick up where you left off whenever you return.
Does the pity system apply to 4-star items?
No, pity only guarantees 5-star items. However, the game has a separate system to ensure 4-star items appear within every 10 wishes, known as 4-star pity.
Is it better to save Primogems for a banner with a lower pity count?
Not necessarily. The pity counts are fixed per banner type. It’s better to save for banners featuring characters or weapons you want, rather than chasing lower pity counts.
Can I see my current pity count in-game?
Genshin Impact does not display your pity count explicitly. However, third-party tools and wish history can help estimate where you are toward pity.
Does the pity system guarantee the exact featured weapon or character?
Yes, after losing the 50/50, your next 5-star is guaranteed to be the featured character or weapon on that banner, ensuring you eventually get what you want.
Final Thoughts
The pity system in Genshin Impact is a fundamental mechanic that balances randomness with fairness, ensuring players receive high-rarity items within a reasonable number of pulls. Understanding the differences between character, weapon, and standard banners, as well as the 50/50 system and soft pity mechanics, empowers you to plan your wishes more strategically. Whether you’re chasing a coveted 5-star hero or aiming for a powerful weapon, mastering the pity system helps you make informed decisions and get the most value from your Primogems and Fates.
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