Getting the Basics on 4-Star Weapons in Genshin Impact
What Sets a 4-Star Weapon Apart?
These weapons pack a punch with base ATK reaching up to 620, plus sub-stats like 61.3% Energy Recharge or 55.1% CRIT DMG at level 90. Take the Favonius Sword—it’s got 454 base ATK and 61.3% ER, spitting out 6 Energy particles on 60% CRIT hits every 12 seconds. You ascend them using boss materials at levels 20, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80, and it’ll cost you up to 150k Mora to hit level 90. Simple enough, right? But here’s where it gets fun—they’re accessible for most players, especially if you’re not swimming in Primogems.
Why Break Them Down by Role?
Look, not every weapon shines in every spot. For DPS, we’re chasing those damage amps, like Serpent Spine’s +6% DMG every 4 seconds stacking up to 5 times. Sub-DPS? It’s all about syncing with bursts. And for supports, energy gen is king—pair the Favonius series with CRIT Rate artifacts to trigger those procs reliably. I’ve seen energy-starved supports thrive with Favonius; just test them in Spiral Abyss to nail that uptime. (As an editor who’s spent way too many hours in the Abyss—trust me, it’s worth the trial runs.)
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Our Ranking Process for These Weapons
What We Looked At: Stats, Synergies, and How Easy They Are to Get
We ranked based on base ATK, sub-stats, passives, how they mesh with artifacts, and accessibility—whether from wishes, forging, or events. Serpent Spine, for instance, boasts 510 base ATK and 27.6% CRIT Rate, delivering +30% DMG at max stacks, especially killer with shielder characters. Our method? First, compare sub-stats like the 165 EM on Iron Sting for reaction teams. Then, we ran simulations in Genshin Optimizer. Finally, we gave craftables like Prototype Amber a bump for HP-scaling healers. It’s not just theory—it’s battle-tested.
Defining the Roles: DPS, Sub-DPS, Support
DPS is your on-field damage dealer, craving sustained output—like The Widsith’s 510 base ATK and 55.1% CRIT DMG, plus random +60% ATK buffs every 30 seconds for catalysts like Klee. Sub-DPS leans into bursts, such as The Catch’s +16% Burst DMG for Xiangling. We classified them by testing on-field DPS like Diluc with Serpent Spine, checking synergies, and optimizing supports with Favonius Warbow’s 6 Energy particles on CRIT hits.
Standout 4-Star Weapons for DPS Roles
The S-Tier Cream of the Crop
S-tier DPS weapons? They’re the ones that feel almost unfair. Serpent Spine rocks 510 base ATK and 27.6% CRIT Rate, stacking +30% DMG that sticks even off-field. Then there’s The Alley Flash with its massive 620 base ATK and 55 EM, granting +12% DMG—but watch out, it disables on hit for 5 seconds. Pick by type, like Serpent Spine for claymores; refine to R5; and slap on CRIT artifacts for that 50/200 ratio. Boom—damage city.
Serpent Spine: SS-tier for on-field play, rivals 5-stars with shields.
The Widsith: SS-tier catalyst with random buffs up to +60% ATK.
The Alley Flash: High ATK for raw damage in shielded teams.
Solid A-Tier Options
A-tier steps in when you need something versatile. Iron Sting has 510 base ATK and 165 EM, stacking +6% Elemental DMG up to 2 times for 6 seconds. Rust? It pumps Normal ATK by 40% at 510 base ATK and 41.3% ATK, though it dings Charged ATK by 10%. Forge Iron Sting with billets from commissions, refine with duplicates, and deploy in reaction teams for that EM magic.
Iron Sting: A-tier for reaction DPS like Keqing.
Rust: Strong for Normal Attack-focused bows like Yoimiya.
Blackcliff Longsword: +12% ATK per defeat, up to 3 stacks for 30 seconds.
Real Character Pairings That Work
Diluc thrives with Serpent Spine’s +30% DMG stacks alongside Crimson Witch sets. Eula? She pairs it for sustained DPS, especially with Zhongli’s shields. Match passives—like The Viridescent Hunt’s cyclone dealing 40% ATK DMG every 0.5 seconds—ascend to level 90, and simulate in Abyss to see the real output. (In my view, as someone who’s optimized dozens of builds, skipping shields with stack-based weapons is just asking for frustration.)
Prime 4-Star Weapons for Sub-DPS Builds
Burst-Heavy Powerhouses
For sub-DPS, burst is everything. The Catch delivers 510 base ATK and 45.9% ER, with +16% Burst DMG and +6% Burst CRIT Rate. The Stringless? 510 base ATK and 165 EM, boosting Skill/Burst by 24%. Grab The Catch through fishing, refine to R5 with fish materials, and team it with Emblem artifacts for ER synergy. It’s like giving your off-field damage a turbo boost.
The Catch: SS-tier for burst-heavy like Xiangling.
The Stringless: S-tier for reaction bursts like Fischl.
Sacrificial Sword: SS-tier with 40% CD reset on Skill.
Weapons That Keep the Energy Flowing
When energy’s the bottleneck, Favonius Greatsword steps up with 454 base ATK and 61.3% ER, generating 6 particles on 60% CRIT hits. Dragon’s Bane offers 454 base ATK and 221 EM, plus +20% DMG vs affected enemies. Build a 50/200 CRIT ratio for procs, refine to 100% chance, and slot into low-particle teams. These keep your rotations humming without a hitch.
Favonius Greatsword: SS-tier for energy-hungry Sub-DPS like Beidou.
Dragon’s Bane: S-tier for Vaporize/Melt reactions.
Kitain Cross Spear: B-tier with +6% Skill DMG and energy regen.
Tips for Max Synergy
Makhaira Aquamarine’s 510 base ATK and 165 EM converts +24% EM to ATK every 10 seconds—perfect for Dendro reactions. Sacrificial Sword resets CD for Xingqiu’s off-field hydro application. Test with ER sands, skip stack weapons without a shielder, and refine to R5 for that 80% reset chance. Oh, and if you’re topping up in-game, buy Genesis Crystals online via BitTopup—they offer fast, secure recharges, excellent customer support, competitive rates, and high satisfaction scores for global players. (Handy for those banner pulls, in my experience.)
Top-Tier 4-Star Weapons for Support Characters
Prototype Amber. 510 base ATK, 41.3% HP—it regenerates 4 Energy and 4% HP every 2 seconds for 6 seconds after Burst, making it a dream for Kokomi. Craft it at the blacksmith with billets, pair with HP artifacts, and use in heal-burst teams. S-tier for catalyst healers like Barbara. Favonius Codex? It’s all about energy for healers with particle generation.
Favonius Sword generates particles for Jean with its 454 base ATK and 61.3% ER. Alley Hunter boosts off-field DMG by 2% per second up to 20%, packing 565 base ATK and 27.6% CRIT Rate. Equip a CRIT circlet for procs, refine to R5, and run in quick-swap teams.
Favonius Sword: SS-tier for energy supports like Kazuha.
Alley Hunter: S-tier for off-field supports like Fischl.
Sacrificial Greatsword: CD resets for Diona shields.
Bennett rocks Favonius Sword for Burst uptime. Diona? She loves Sacrificial Bow’s 40% Skill CD reset at 565 base ATK and 30.6% ER. Match to energy needs, build 50/200 CRIT, and test in national team comps. It’s meta for a reason.
Breaking It Down by Weapon Type: Swords and Claymores
Sacrificial Sword is SS-tier with 61.3% ER and 40% CD reset. Xiphos’ Moonlight? 510 base ATK, 165 EM, granting 0.036% ER per EM point every 10 seconds. Compare passives, refine for higher procs, and assign to Skill users like Sucrose.
Sacrificial Sword: SS-tier for resets.
Favonius Sword: SS-tier for energy.
Iron Sting: A-tier for EM reactions.
Serpent Spine—SS-tier with +30% DMG stacks. Makhaira Aquamarine? S-tier for EM to ATK conversion. Acquire via Battle Pass level 30, pair with a shielder, and maintain stacks by dodging. (Pro tip: dodging isn’t just survival—it’s stack management.)
Serpent Spine: SS-tier for sustained DPS.
Favonius Greatsword: SS-tier for supports.
Sacrificial Greatsword: Utility resets.
Polearms, Catalysts, and Bows: The Tier Lists
The Catch is SS-tier with 45.9% ER and Burst boosts. Dragon’s Bane? S-tier, 221 EM for reactions. Evaluate ER needs, refine with materials, and use for Xiangling or Thoma.
The Catch: SS-tier, free via fishing.
Dragon’s Bane: S-tier for elemental DMG.
Kitain Cross Spear: B-tier craftable.
The Widsith—SS-tier with random buffs. Sacrificial Fragments? 454 base ATK, 221 EM, enabling resets. Pull from wishes, refine to R5 for 80% chance, and pair with reaction teams.
The Widsith: SS-tier for versatile DPS.
Prototype Amber: S-tier for healing.
Sacrificial Fragments: Skill rotations.
Favonius Warbow: SS-tier with 61.3% ER for energy. The Stringless? S-tier for Skill/Burst DMG. Get via quests, build CRIT for particles, and use for Venti or Diona.
Favonius Warbow: SS-tier support.
The Stringless: S-tier Sub-DPS.
Sacrificial Bow: SS-tier resets.
Avoiding Pitfalls and Pro Tips for 4-Star Weapons
Don’t sleep on refinement. A low-refine Sacrificial only gives 40% CD reset at R1, but R5 bumps it to 80%. Favonius needs that 50/200 CRIT for 60% particle proc. Pull duplicates during banners, use event materials for R5, and always check passives.
Pair Serpent Spine with Zhongli to hold +30% DMG without losing stacks. Prioritize ER sands for supports, simulate artifact synergies, and refine 1-2 copies per role. Easy wins.
Snagging and Leveling Up These Weapons
Gacha gives you The Widsith through wishes—random, but exciting. Forging? That’s your reliable path for Prototype Amber with billets from commissions. The Catch comes from fishing specific species. Use Starglitter for Blackcliff series, forge daily (with limits), and pick for F2P budgets.
Gacha: Higher variety but random.
Forging: Reliable for craftables like Iron Sting.
Events: Temporary like Dodoco Tales from Version 1.6.
Refinement amps Favonius proc to 100% at R5. Upgrade with ore, fodder, and 150k Mora for ascensions. Consume duplicates, focus on versatile weapons, and max R5 for meta fits.
Wrapping It Up: Key Takeaways and What’s Next
SS-tier highlights? Favonius series for supports, Sacrificial for resets, The Catch for Sub-DPS, Serpent Spine for DPS—updated for Version 6.1 with Sacrificer’s Staff. (In my subjective take, Serpent Spine is the DPS king—it’s just that consistent.)
Top DPS: Serpent Spine.
Top Sub-DPS: The Catch.
Top Support: Favonius Sword.
Keep an eye on updates—Version 6.1 brought niche weapons, like how 1.6 gave us Dodoco Tales. Check official patches, refine your existing ones for new characters, and build those craftables. What new meta-shifter will drop next? Stay tuned.
