Event Overview: Currency Systems and Shop Mechanics
Lantern Rite uses dual-currency requiring strategic planning across 25 days.
Mingxiao Lanterns: Primary Event Currency
Earn Mingxiao Lanterns through minigames and sub-events. Collection methods:
- Hit Auspicious Treasure Trees for Fortune Coins
- Collect Jades while avoiding floating lanterns
- Deal damage for Charm Coins by defeating opponents or lighting Xiao Lanterns
Early opportunities: Shutterflash Memory Hunt (January 16-26) and May Fortune Find You (January 16 - February 3).
For major banner pulls, Genshin Genesis Crystals top up through BitTopup provides competitive pricing and instant delivery.
Festive Fever Points and Milestone Rewards
1200 Festive Fever points unlocks free 4-star Liyue selector (requires AR20 + Archon Quest Prologue Act 3). Eleven options: Beidou, Chongyun, Gaming, Lan Yan, Ningguang, Xiangling, Xingqiu, Xinyan, Yanfei, Yaoyao, Yun Jin.
Exclusive cosmetics (no currency cost): Yaoyao's Rainlit Bamboo Reverie skin, Neuvillette's Melusent Gift skin, Traveler's As Heaven and Earth Are Made Anew outfit (requires True Moon Archon quest).
Total Farmable Currency
- 1600 Primogems via mail (claim through Paimon Menu > Mail > Claim All)
- 10 Intertwined Fates from daily logins = 1600 Primogem value
- Combined: 20 free premium pulls
- Total Version 6.3 F2P earnings: 14,540 Primogems (~107 pulls)
Ley Line Overflow (February 16-23): Double rewards for Blossoms of Revelation/Wealth. Each Fragile Resin = 60 Original Resin—optimal time for Mora and EXP farming.
Shop Deadline
Shop closes permanently February 23, 2026 at server reset. No currency carryover. Moonlit Patrol Exercise (February 9-23) provides final currency opportunities.
Priority System: Must-Buy, Consider, Skip
Tier 1: Must-Buy
Crown of Insight: Absolute priority. Only 2-3 Crowns per version, zero farmable alternatives. Essential for long-term account development.
Intertwined Fates: Direct banner currency at discounted rates vs Primogem conversion.
Talent books for banner targets: Version 6.4 Phase 1 features Varka and Flins. Buy their specific talent types if pulling.
Tier 2: Conditional
Weapon ascension materials: Purple-rarity offers better resin efficiency than gold when stock is limited. Calculate domain farming vs shop purchase based on deficits.
Character ascension gems: Buy for immediate needs only. Stable rosters skip in favor of talent materials.
Constellation materials: If selecting owned character. Xingqiu/Xiangling constellations provide substantial power increases.
Tier 3: Skip-Safe
Mora and Hero's Wit: Lowest priority. Ley Line Overflow (February 16-23) provides double rewards—use Fragile Resin instead.
Weapon Enhancement Ore: Daily crystal farming and expeditions provide sufficient materials.
Furnishing blueprints and namecards: Zero combat value. Skip for banner savings.
Purchase Sequence
- Crown of Insight
- Intertwined Fates (limited stock)
- Talent books for confirmed targets
- Weapon materials for equipped weapons
- Character gems for immediate needs
- Remaining talent books for depth
- Skip: Mora, Hero's Wit, ore, cosmetics
Crown of Insight Deep Dive
Scarcity Analysis
8-12 Crowns per year through events and exploration. With 3 talents per character across 80+ playable characters, Crowns are the tightest endgame bottleneck. Cannot farm or purchase with Primogems. Every skipped Crown creates permanent deficit.
Talent Priority
DPS damage talents show clearest returns: Hu Tao's Skill, Ayaka's Burst, Neuvillette's Normal Attack gain significant damage from level 9→10.
Support exceptions: Bennett's Burst ATK buff, Kazuha's EM sharing, Zhongli's shield strength benefit from max level.
Why Always Buy
Opportunity cost favors Crown purchases. Talent books, weapon materials, and EXP are farmable with resin. Crowns aren't. Trading irreplaceable resources for days of resin savings rarely makes sense.
Upcoming Characters
Version 6.4's Varka and Flins (February 25, 2026) are potential Crown targets. 5-star DPS historically gain 5-8% damage from level 9→10 on primary talents.
Version 6.3's Columbina (5-star Hydro Catalyst) and Zibai (5-star Geo Sword) similarly benefit. Neuvillette rerun makes his Normal Attack prime Crown candidate.
4-Star Selector Strategy
Constellation vs New Character
New players: Prioritize roster expansion. Acquire Xingqiu, Xiangling, or Bennett for universal support enabling multiple team comps.
Mid-game players: Target constellations. Xingqiu C2 extends Hydro duration, Xiangling C6 boosts Pyro damage, Beidou C2 transforms off-field DPS.
Top 3 Picks for F2P
Xingqiu: Safest choice if missing. Hydro application enables Vaporize, Freeze, Bloom across dozens of teams. Unmatched elemental uptime + damage reduction.
Xiangling: Universal Pyro value. Burst snapshots ATK buffs, persists off-field. Irreplaceable in National variants and Vaporize comps.
Gaming: Newer option for players with classic supports. Pyro Claymore with strong personal damage, different niche than Xiangling.
Avoid Regret
Xinyan and Yanfei appear on banners frequently—lower priority. Beidou and Ningguang see less features, making selector more reliable.
Coordinate with 5-Star Plans
If pulling Varka (Version 6.4 Phase 1), consider synergizing 4-stars. Cryo supports like Chongyun may gain value with Physical/Cryo comps.
Wait until late event period for informed decisions based on Version 6.4 previews.
For additional resources, buy Genshin Genesis Crystals online through BitTopup for fast, secure transactions.
Talent Books and Weapon Materials: Efficiency
Resin-to-Currency Conversion
Compare resin cost of farming vs event currency cost. Purple talent books (Teachings/Guides) offer worse shop value than gold (Philosophies). Domains guarantee purples; golds require RNG. Shop purchases saving gold-tier farming provide better efficiency.
Predict Material Needs
Version 6.4 launches February 25, immediately after Lantern Rite. Successful Varka/Flins pulls need immediate talent materials. Purchasing specific books during event prevents 2-3 day farming delay.
Version 6.3 banners (Columbina, Zibai, Illuga, Neuvillette) create similar needs. Phase 1 (January 14 - February 3) or Phase 2 (February 3-24) pullers should prioritize relevant books.
Purple vs Gold Priority
Always prioritize gold when stock is limited. Philosophies require 3 purple books to craft—direct gold purchase more efficient.
Weapon materials follow same logic. Gold crystals and boss materials beat purple equivalents when currency constrained.
When to Farm Domains
Farm for Mora, character EXP, weapon ore. Ley Line Overflow (February 16-23) doubles Blossom rewards—optimal Fragile Resin conversion time.
Talent domains beat shop when building multiple characters with different book types. Farming respective domains with condensed resin provides better overall value.
What to Skip
Namecards and Furnishings
Zero gameplay benefit. Don't increase damage, improve teams, or accelerate progression. Skip all namecards for banner savings.
Furnishing blueprints offer only Serenitea Pot cosmetics. Currency could buy talent books for permanent damage increases.
Mora and Hero's Wit
Mora appears everywhere: daily commissions, enemy drops, expeditions, Ley Lines. Ley Line Overflow (February 16-23) doubles Mora—worst time for shop purchases.
Hero's Wit identical logic. Overflow doubles EXP drops. Use Fragile Resin during overflow vs spending event currency.
Weapon Enhancement Ore
Daily crystal chunk routes provide 30-40 ore. Expeditions add 10-15 daily. Passive income supplies sufficient materials without farming or purchases.
Exception: Multiple new 5-star weapons needing immediate leveling. Even then, poor long-term value vs talent books.
Collectible vs Optimization
Completionists face tough choices. Math favors optimization: cosmetics provide zero combat value while talent materials and Fates directly increase account power and character acquisition.
Every 100 Lanterns on furniture = talent books that could increase DPS damage 3-5% through talent levels.
Banner Coordination: Spending Timeline
Phase 1 vs Phase 2 Timing
Version 6.3 Phase 1 (January 14 - February 3): Columbina and Zibai. Phase 2 (February 3-24): Neuvillette rerun. Lantern Rite begins January 30, overlapping both phases.
Phase 1 pullers can immediately buy talent materials. Phase 2/Version 6.4 waiters should delay purchases until confirming banner results.
Hold Currency Until Final Days
Shop open until February 23; Version 6.4 launches February 25. Two-day gap provides decision window with full Version 6.4 banner info.
Wait until February 20-22 for final purchases. Maximum information on Version 6.4 kits, banner 4-stars, theorycrafting conclusions.
Emergency Primogems
1600 Primogems from mail + 10 Fates from logins = 20 pulls. Spiral Abyss resets 1st and 16th monthly, offering 600 Primogems per full clear.
Version 6.3 F2P total: 14,540 Primogems (~107 pulls). Completing all content reaches soft pity (75 pulls) at least once per version.
Shop Purchases Affect Pity
Intertwined Fates from shop contribute to banner pity. If shop offers limited-stock Fates at discount, prioritize for players within 10-20 pulls of guarantee. Each Fate = 160 Primogem value.
Calculate exact pity before decisions. Players at 65+ pity planning pulls should buy all Fates first, then allocate remaining currency after confirming results.
Common Spending Mistakes
The Furniture Trap
New players buy blueprints and namecards due to novelty and limited-time urgency. Every furniture piece = talent books that could increase damage by measurable percentages. Cosmetics never impact progression; talent materials provide permanent combat improvements.
Buying for Unowned Characters
Purchasing materials for hoped-for pulls is speculative with significant risk. Banner outcomes uncertain even at high pity due to 50/50 and early 5-stars.
Only buy for owned characters or guaranteed through saved pity. 75+ pity with 180 pulls saved = safe material purchase. Fewer pulls = wait for confirmation.
Ignoring Opportunity Cost
Every Lantern spent on low-value items = permanent loss of high-value purchasing power. Event currency has fixed maximum; Primogems earn continuously.
Calculate total available currency before purchases. 2000 Lanterns max, Crown costs 200 = 1800 remaining. Prioritize descending value order.
Real Regret Scenarios
- Buying Mora before Ley Line Overflow's doubled rewards
- Purchasing furniture never placed in Serenitea Pot
- Selecting 4-stars appearing on next banner as featured rate-ups
- Buying materials for characters lost on 50/50
Most frequent: Varka talent books purchased during Lantern Rite but losing 50/50 wastes currency that could've improved existing roster.
Genesis Crystal Top-Up Strategy
First-Time Bonus Reset
First-time bonuses reset annually during major updates (timing varies by region). Verify current bonus availability before large purchases.
Optimal timing: After exhausting free Primogems but before banner expiration. Complete Lantern Rite activities, claim mail, finish Abyss before purchasing.
Calculate Exact Needs
Each limited 5-star requires 180 pulls max (90 to first 5-star, 90 more if losing 50/50) = 28,800 Primogems. Subtract current count and expected event earnings.
Version 6.3 F2P: 14,540 Primogems (107 pulls). Lantern Rite adds 1600 Primogems + 10 Fates (20 pulls) = ~127 total pulls. Requires 53 additional pulls (8480 Primogems) for guaranteed 5-star.
Why BitTopup
BitTopup provides competitive pricing with instant delivery and secure processing. High ratings and excellent service make it trusted for reliable top-ups without delays.
Better exchange rates and regional pricing optimization vs in-game purchases. Verify current promotions for maximum Crystals per dollar.
Combine Event Primogems with Top-Ups
Calculate total pulls: current Primogems + expected event rewards + planned Crystal purchases. Example: 40 pity + 5000 saved + 3200 from Lantern Rite = 91 pulls—one soft pity attempt, not guarantee.
Decide: Purchase 89 additional pulls (14,240 Primogems in Crystals) for guarantee or accept 50/50 risk. Risk-averse prioritize guarantees; budget-conscious accept uncertainty.
Account Progression Stage
Early Game (AR 20-35)
Prioritize free 4-star selector: Choose Xingqiu or Xiangling for maximum impact. Meta-relevant through all content, enable core team comps.
Second: Talent books for main DPS. Early progression depends on single-character damage. Focus shop on primary damage dealer improvements.
Third: Weapon materials for best 4/5-star weapon. Immediate combat power from reaching next ascension breakpoint and higher base ATK.
Mid Game (AR 35-50)
Buy talent books for multiple characters building complete teams. Two functional teams needed for Spiral Abyss = 6-8 character investment.
Crown gains value approaching talent 8-9 on main DPS. Mid-game accumulates weekly boss materials and Mora for Crown usage.
Character gems for new supports round out teams. Accelerates making new acquisitions combat-ready vs slow resin farming.
Late Game (AR 50+)
Consider constellation materials for key 4-stars. C6 Xiangling, C6 Xingqiu, C2 Beidou provide substantial power justifying selector duplication.
Talent books for secondary DPS and supports optimize damage across both Abyss teams. Support talents 6→8 provide smaller increases but contribute to overall team damage.
Weapon materials for multiple types support roster flexibility. Multiple 5-star weapons and built characters per element require diverse materials.
Endgame: When Cosmetics Are Acceptable
Complete rosters, multiple C6 4-stars, surplus currency justify cosmetics without harming progression. After Crown, talent books, weapon materials with currency remaining, furniture and namecards become acceptable luxury.
Rarely occurs for F2P/low-spenders actively pulling. Constant new character material needs consume all event currency, leaving cosmetics as permanent skips.
Complete Shopping Checklist
Day-by-Day Timeline
January 30 - February 3: Complete early sub-events, accumulate initial currency. Avoid major purchases until confirming Phase 1 banner results.
February 3-9: Evaluate Phase 1 pulls, purchase talent materials for acquired characters. Begin Moonlit Patrol Exercise (February 9-23). Hold remaining currency for Phase 2.
February 9-16: Complete Moonlit Patrol, accumulate maximum currency. Wait for Version 6.4 preview before final purchases.
February 16-23: Ley Line Overflow begins—use Fragile Resin for Mora/EXP vs shop. Final shop decisions February 20-22 after Version 6.4 details confirmed. Purchase Crown, Fates, character materials before February 23 closure.
Currency Tracking
Track Mingxiao Lantern earnings daily projecting total available. Spreadsheet columns: date, activity, currency earned, running total. Compare actual to expected, identify missed activities.
Calculate required currency for must-buys (Crown, Fates, priority books), subtract from projected total. Remaining determines conditional-buy affordability.
Final Week Framework
One week before closure (February 16): Confirm total earnings and remaining farmable amounts. List desired purchases in priority order with costs. Draw line where total currency runs out—items below = skip.
Re-evaluate based on banner results and Version 6.4 info. Unexpected Phase 2 pull may jump talent materials to higher priority. Must-pull Version 6.4 characters may mean skipping conditionals to save Primogems.
Final purchases February 22 for one-day buffer preventing server issues or forgotten items.
FAQ
What should I buy first in Lantern Rite 2026 shop? Crown of Insight first, then limited-stock Intertwined Fates if available. Crown provides irreplaceable value, Fates give direct banner currency. Talent books and weapon materials third, only after confirming owned characters.
Is the Crown of Insight worth buying? Yes, always. Cannot farm, appears only in limited events. Essential for future talent investments. Even without immediate use, permanent scarcity justifies purchase over farmable materials.
Should I buy talent books or weapon materials? Prioritize talent books for active characters, especially gold-tier Philosophies requiring significant resin. Weapon materials lower priority unless needing specific ascension for new 5-star weapons. Talent levels provide permanent damage improvements.
Which 4-star character should I choose? Xingqiu if you don't own him—enables most team comps. Xiangling second for universal Pyro application. Players owning both: select based on upcoming banners or choose Gaming for different playstyle.
Should F2P players buy everything? No. Insufficient currency for all items. Skip Mora, Hero's Wit, weapon ore, furniture, namecards. Focus on Crown, Intertwined Fates, talent books for mains, free 4-star selector. Ley Line Overflow (February 16-23) better for common materials.
When should I top up during Lantern Rite? After exhausting free Primogems (1600 from mail, 10 Fates from logins) and completing Spiral Abyss. Calculate exact pull requirements, subtract free resources, purchase necessary Genesis Crystals only. Time for late February maximizing free collection before Version 6.4 (February 25, 2026).
Ready to secure your next 5-star? Top up Genesis Crystals at BitTopup for competitive rates, instant delivery, and secure transactions trusted by millions of Travelers. Maximize your Lantern Rite pulls with efficient, reliable service complementing your event Primogem earnings.
