Genshin Impact, the free-to-play action RPG from miHoYo, launched a month ago to a warm critical reception. Fans and critics alike have praised the title’s exploration, character progression, and satisfying gameplay loop.Genshin Impact’s Gacha elements, which drew some controversy before release, were also applauded for their unobtrusiveness.
Gacha games, a term which originated in Japan, are titles that use a variant of the loot-box system to drive monetization. This means players often receive random loot, whether its characters, equipment, or weaponry. The quality ofweapons inGenshin Impactis denoted by a star system, with 5-stars being the best and 1-star being the worst. While players may want to outfit their team with all 5-star weapons, it’s just not practical. Fortunately, there are a handful of great weapons in the 3-star category that can last the entire game.
Getting in Close
There are five differentweapon-types inGenshin Impact: bows, catalysts, swords, polearms, and claymores. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, but characters can only use one type. This combines with their elemental powers to create a unique playstyle. While some characters prefer to hit from range, others like getting into the thick of the action. Here are three great 3-star weapons to use in close-quarters:
Cool Steel
Theperfect 3-star weaponfor Hydro or Cryo users, at level 20 Cool Steel gives a 24% damage bonus to those elements. It also rocks a cool 113 base attack damage at that level, along with a 13.5% attack bonus. Cool Steel can only be acquired through the Gacha mechanic.
White Tassel
White Tassel can be found inChests acrossGenshin Impact’s world, and is a powerful Polearm for DPS characters. Along with a 113 base damage at level 20, it also boasts a 9% Crit rate. To top it all off, the White Tassel has a special bonus that increases Normal Attack Damage by 24%.
Debate Club
Thebest 3-star Claymore, the Debate Club is a surprisingly effective combo-booster. After using an Elemental Skill, the Debate Club gains a special effect that deals 60% AoE damage on Normal and Charged attacks. This lasts for 15 seconds, and can absolutely devastate closely-packed enemies.
Blasting at Range
There are two types ofranged weapon inGenshin Impact; Bows focus on precise, single-target damage, while Catalysts are all about blasting enemies with Elemental AoEs. 5-star ranged weapons are tough to acquire, but there are some real stand-outs in the 3-star tier to keep players going:
Amber Catalyst
The Amber Catalyst is a fantastic weapon for Elemental-focused characters, particularly those looking to deal big damage, like Pyros. AtPassive Rank 5, the Amber Catalystwill cause each Normal Attack to boost Elemental Damage by 12%. This effect can stack twice for a 24% boost, a powerful increase for characters who prefer to blast their enemies with skills.
Sharpshooter’s Oath
Like mostBows inGenshin Impact, the Sharpshooter’s Oath is all about precision. What makes this 3-star boss-killer special though is that it leans into the strengths of Bow-type weapons. Boasting a whopping 18% Crit DMG bonus at level 20, the Sharpshooter’s Oath also deals 24% extra damage when targeting Weak Spots. This combination allows it to rip throughGenshin Impact’s toughest enemies in no time at all.
Genshin Impactis available now on the App Store, Google Play, and PS4.
