Genshin Impact Weapons: 4-Star vs 5-Star and the Banner

A weapon in Genshin Impact does more than add attack. It brings a base attack value, a secondary stat and a passive effect, and the right combination for your character can matter more than rarity. Many players chase 5-star weapons on the banner and end up with something that doesn't suit their team, while a free or 4-star weapon would have worked better. This guide helps you choose.

What a weapon gives

Every weapon has three parts:

• Base attack: added to your character's attack. Higher-rarity weapons usually have more.
• Secondary stat: such as crit rate, crit damage, energy recharge, elemental mastery or attack percentage. This often matters as much as base attack.
• Passive: a special effect, which may boost damage, help the team, or work only under certain conditions.

When you compare weapons, compare all three, not just the number on top.

Why a fitting 4-star can beat the wrong 5-star

A 5-star weapon built for a different kind of character can do less than a 4-star made for yours:

• A secondary stat your character doesn't need is wasted, however high it is.
• A passive that never triggers in how you play adds nothing.
• A 4-star with the right stat and a passive that fits can be very strong, especially when refined.

Think about how your character deals damage: through normal attacks, skills, bursts or reactions. Then pick the weapon that boosts that.

Refinement

Refinement raises a weapon's passive by combining it with copies of the same weapon or with special refinement items for some weapons. Each refinement makes the passive stronger. Many 4-star weapons become excellent at higher refinements, and you often get extra copies of 4-star weapons naturally from wishes.

Free and craftable weapons

Some strong weapons come without wishing:

• Craftable weapons made at the blacksmith from materials you collect.
• Event weapons given in limited-time events.
• Shop weapons bought with currency earned in the game.

These are often refinable fully without spending, which makes them good long-term choices.

The weapon banner: a risk

The weapon banner offers featured 5-star weapons, but it is a riskier use of Primogems than the character banner:

• There are usually two featured weapons, so a 5-star from it may not be the one you want.
• The game has systems to help you aim for a specific weapon, but they can still take many wishes.
• A new character often adds more to your account than a weapon.

Before wishing on the weapon banner, decide whether a 4-star or free weapon could do the job. For most players, characters are a better use of Primogems. See our Primogems guide for planning wishes.

An example: a reaction-based character

Say your character deals most of their damage through elemental reactions. You have two options: a 5-star weapon with a crit damage secondary stat and a passive that boosts normal attacks, and a 4-star weapon with elemental mastery and a passive that helps reactions.

The 5-star looks better at first. But your character rarely uses normal attacks, so its passive does little, and crit damage helps less than elemental mastery for reactions. The 4-star, especially refined, fits the way your character actually plays. That's the kind of comparison to make every time.

How to choose, step by step

1. Know your character's main damage source and the stats it needs.
2. List the weapons you own of the right type.
3. Compare secondary stats and passives to what your character needs.
4. Consider refinement: a fully refined 4-star may beat a low-refinement alternative.
5. Level the chosen weapon fully before switching to another.

Common mistakes

• Choosing by rarity alone.
• Ignoring the secondary stat.
• Spending Primogems on the weapon banner before your team has key characters.
• Leaving a good 4-star weapon unlevelled.

Frequent questions

Is a 5-star weapon always better than a 4-star?

No. A 4-star with the right stat and passive can be better for a specific character.

What does refinement do?

It strengthens the weapon's passive effect.

Is the weapon banner worth it?

It is a riskier use of Primogems. Most players benefit more from characters first.

Where can I get good weapons for free?

From crafting, events and the shops that sell weapons for in-game currency.

Genesis Crystals on Mas4Games

Good weapon choices don't need wishes. When you want to top up, you can get Genshin Impact Genesis Crystals on Mas4Games, loaded by UID and server. The store asks only for your UID and server, never a password, and the help center has live support.