Introduction: The Return of the Corrupted Dragon
So here's the thing about Durin – this isn't just another 5-star character drop. When Luna III launches on December 3rd, we're getting what might be the most mechanically interesting Pyro Sword user since... well, ever.
Durin's dual-form kit (Light/Dark transformations) breaks the traditional sub-DPS mold. Light Form shreds AoE resistance like nobody's business, while Dark Form cranks out that sweet +40% damage bonus for single targets. And honestly? After testing the beta builds, I'm convinced this character's going to reshape how we think about Melt and Vaporize teams.
But here's where it gets expensive. Fast.
We're talking 7+ million Mora, region-locked Nod-Krai materials, and a farming schedule that'll make your resin weep. For players planning to secure Durin and need Primogems for the December 3rd banner, Durin banner Genshin Impact Primogem top up through BitTopup offers solid rates with instant delivery – because nobody wants to miss that first banner window.
Durin Ascension Materials Checklist
Gemstones and Boss Drops
Let's start with the basics. Agnidus Agate farming – you know the drill by now.
What you'll need:
- 1 Sliver, 9 Fragments, 9 Chunks, 6 Gemstones
- Hit up Pyro Regisvine or Pyro Hypostasis (40 resin per run)
- Budget 420,000 Mora just for ascension costs
Here's the kicker: Cyclic Military Kuuvahki Cores. 46 of them. These drop exclusively from the Super-Heavy Landrover boss (that massive Mechanized Fortress thing), and you can't pre-farm them until December 3rd. Each attempt costs 40 resin and yields maybe 2-3 cores if you're lucky. Do the math – that's 15-20 boss fights minimum.
Local Specialty: Frostlamp Flower Routes
Frostlamp Flowers are your new best friend. 168 total needed, and they're scattered across Nod-Krai like breadcrumbs.
The breakdown gets steep fast:
- Level 20: 3 flowers (manageable)
- Level 40: 10 flowers (still fine)
- Level 50: 20 flowers (okay...)
- Level 60: 30 flowers (getting serious)
- Level 70: 45 flowers (commitment time)
- Level 80: 60 flowers (full send mode)
Your best hunting grounds? Final Night Cemetery and Frostmoon Enclave, especially near water sources. They respawn every 48 hours, and yes, you can cultivate them in your Serenitea Pot – though that's more of a long-term strategy.
Mob Drops: Those Pesky Warrants
Combined requirements for ascension AND talents:
- 36 Tattered Warrants
- 96 Immaculate Warrants
- 129 Frost-Etched Warrants
The good news? These are craftable upwards. The bad news? You'll be farming Fatui agents for weeks. Stock up now while you can.
Talent Level-Up Requirements
Talent Books Schedule
Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday. Mark your calendar for Forsaken Rift Domain runs.
For all talents to Level 10:
- 9 Teachings of Ballad
- 63 Guide to Ballad
- 114 Philosophies of Ballad
- Nearly 5 million Mora (4,957,500 to be exact)
My recommendation? Prioritize Elemental Burst first, then Skill, then Normal Attack. Unless you're planning some weird physical DPS build – in which case, we need to talk.
Don't forget Eroded Sunfire materials. 18 total from the Lord of Eroded Primal Fire domain. Weekly lockout means you get three discounted runs per week, so plan accordingly.
Preparing Durin's Arsenal: Weapons & Artifacts
Signature Weapon: Athame Artis
This sword is genuinely impressive. 608 base ATK with 33.1% CRIT Rate at Level 90? That's already competitive. But the passive is where things get spicy.
Burst CRIT DMG increases by 16-32%, plus ATK buffs of 20-40% for Durin and 16-32% for the team. With 2+ Hexerei characters, these effects get a 75% boost. Yeah, you read that right.
Ascension materials you can farm now:
- Decarabian set from Cecilia Garden (5 Tiles, 14 Debris, 14 Fragments, 6 Scattered Pieces)
- Drive Shaft materials from Ruin Guards and Hunters (15 Broken, 23 Reinforced, 27 Precision)
Need Primogems for weapon banner pulls? Luna III Genshin Impact pre-farm recharge via BitTopup's platform offers competitive pricing with instant delivery.
Alternative Weapons
If you're not pulling for Athame Artis:
- Mistsplitter Reforged R5 (still king for raw damage)
- Primordial Jade Cutter (that 44.1% CRIT Rate is beautiful)
- Freedom-Sworn (team support focus)
4-star options that don't suck:
- Wolf-Fang R4 (CRIT Rate stacking mechanics)
- Favonius Sword (energy problems? solved)
- The Black Sword (reliable CRIT Rate stat stick)
Artifact Set Optimization
Emblem of Severed Fate. Four pieces. End of discussion.
The 2-piece gives +20% Energy Recharge, but the 4-piece effect converts ER into up to 75% Elemental Burst DMG bonus. For a character whose kit revolves around burst cycling? It's perfect.
Main stats: ATK% or ER Sands, Pyro DMG Goblet, CRIT Rate or DMG Circlet Substat targets: 60-70% CRIT Rate, 150%+ CRIT DMG, 140-180% ER
Building the Perfect Team: Melt vs. Vape
Understanding Durin's Forms
Light Form specializes in AoE Pyro RES shred. White Flame debuff reduces Pyro and reaction resistance by 20% for 6 seconds – that's team-wide damage amplification.
Dark Form is your single-target destroyer. +40% Melt and Vaporize damage bonus, jumping to +70% with Hexerei synergy. The numbers get ridiculous fast.
Team Compositions That Actually Work
Premium Melt setup: Kinich + Durin + Emilie + Bennett/Iansan
Focus on Dark Form for maximum single-target deletion. Kinich provides consistent Dendro, Emilie amplifies burning reactions.
F2P Melt alternative: Kaeya + Durin + Rosaria + Barbara Cryo Resonance gives +15% CRIT Rate, and Barbara keeps everyone alive while enabling some Vaporize procs.
High-investment Vape: Arlecchino + Durin + Fischl + Chevreuse That 40% RES shred synergy between Durin and Chevreuse is chef's kiss. Arlecchino handles main DPS duties while Durin amplifies everything.
F2P National variant: Xiangling + Durin + Xingqiu + Bennett Classic National core with Durin replacing Chongyun. Expect 50-60% damage efficiency compared to premium setups, but it's accessible.
Energy Management Reality Check
Here's what nobody tells you about Durin's energy requirements:
Dark Form: 140-160% ER minimum Light Form: 160-180% ER minimum
With Bennett battery support, you can reduce these by 20-40%. Durin's skill generates 33 energy per 6-second duration, and the burst costs 70 energy with an 18-second cooldown. The math works, but barely.
Resin Efficient Schedule: 3 Weeks to Launch
Week 1: Foundation Building
Daily 160 resin split: 80 on Pyro bosses, 80 on Warrant farming domains Manual collection: Start your Frostlamp Flower routes. 168 is your target.
Week 2: Talent and Weapon Focus
Domain schedule: Forsaken Rift on Wed/Sat/Sun, Cecilia Garden other days Goals: 38+ Philosophies of Ballad, complete Decarabian material set, stockpile 2+ million Mora
Week 3: Final Sprint
Priority targets: Emblem domain farming, Hero's Wit accumulation (419 books total), 7+ million Mora Pro tip: Save your Fragile Resin for post-launch boss farming. You'll thank me later.
Common Pre-Farming Mistakes (Don't Be That Player)
Material errors I see constantly:
- Trying to farm Kuuvahki Cores before December 3rd (impossible)
- Underestimating Warrant material requirements
- Forgetting about weapon ascension materials
Resin management fails:
- Burning Fragile Resin on pre-farmable materials
- Insufficient Hero's Wit preparation
- Not budgeting for artifact farming
Build oversights:
- Ignoring ER requirements (140-180% isn't optional)
- Underestimating talent costs (1.6M Mora per talent to Level 10)
FAQ
When exactly does Durin release? December 3, 2025, with Luna III (Version 6.2) Phase 1 banners. Pre-installation starts December 1st.
What can I actually pre-farm right now? Agnidus Agate, Warrant materials, Ballad talent books, Frostlamp Flowers, and Decarabian materials for Athame Artis. Everything except the new boss materials.
How much Mora am I looking at for a complete build? 7,050,100 Mora minimum. That's 420,000 for ascension, 4,957,500 for talents to Level 10, plus weapon and artifact costs on top.
Melt or Vaporize – which performs better? Both are viable, honestly. Dark Form provides +40% damage to both reaction types. Melt excels in single-target scenarios, while Vaporize offers more consistent Hydro application for sustained DPS.
What are the actual Energy Recharge requirements? 140-160% ER for Dark Form, 160-180% for Light Form. Bennett battery support can reduce these requirements by 20-40%.
Can I farm Athame Artis materials before Luna III? Partially. Decarabian materials are available from Cecilia Garden, and Drive Shaft materials drop from Ruin enemies. Frostnight's Glimmer might require Luna III access – we're still confirming this.
