Zibai Best Weapon: Moonshard vs Misugiri Comparison 2026

Quick Verdict: Performance Gap and Pull Recommendations

Testing shows Lightbearing Moonshard achieving 100% relative damage, while Uraku Misugiri reaches 95%—a 5% difference translating to 2,000-3,000 damage per rotation in optimal conditions.

Both weapons share identical Level 90 stats: 542 Base ATK and 88.2% CRIT DMG. Performance difference stems from passive abilities and Zibai's DEF-scaling Lunar-Crystallize mechanics.

Lightbearing Moonshard R1:

• 20% DEF bonus (permanent)
• 64% Lunar-Crystallize DMG boost (5s after Elemental Skill)
• Perfect uptime with Zibai's 10s Elemental Skill cooldown

Uraku Misugiri R1:

• 16% Normal Attack DMG, 24% Elemental Skill DMG
• 20% DEF bonus (doubles to 40% for 15s after Geo DMG)
• Broader applicability across sword characters

The 5% gap materializes during burst windows when Lunar-Crystallize reactions occur, adding 4,500-5,200 damage per 20s rotation at 2000 DEF.

Pull Recommendations by Account Status

Skip Lightbearing Moonshard if:

• You own Uraku Misugiri R1+ (5% gain doesn't justify 12,800-38,400 Primogem cost)
• Primogem reserves below 20,000 with upcoming character wants
• F2P/low-spender prioritizing roster expansion
• Using 4pc Night of the Sky's Unveiling with external buffs

Consider pulling if:

• You lack any 5-star sword and main Zibai as primary DPS
• 30,000+ Primogems with no immediate character priorities
• Collector targeting signature completionism
• Planning long-term weapon refinements (though value diminishes)

Primogem Investment Efficiency

Weapon banner: 0.7% base 5-star rate, soft pity at 65, hard pity at 80. Epitomized Path requires 2 Fate Points for guarantee (240 pulls worst-case).

Investment breakdown:

• Best case: 80 pulls (12,800 Primos) = 256 Primos per 1% DPS
• Average: 148 pulls (23,680 Primos) = 474 Primos per 1% DPS
• Worst case: 240 pulls (38,400 Primos) = 768 Primos per 1% DPS

Comparison: Zibai C1 grants 18-22% damage increase for similar investment—3.6-8.2× better efficiency.

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Lightbearing Moonshard Analysis: Stats and Mechanics

Signature weapon for Zibai, designed around Lunar-Crystallize mechanics and DEF-scaling. Banner runs February 3-24, 2026 (Version 6.3 Phase 2).

Level 90 Stats

• Base ATK: 542
• Substat: 88.2% CRIT DMG
• R1 Passive: 20% DEF + 64% Lunar-Crystallize DMG (5s after Elemental Skill)
• R5 Passive: 40% DEF + 128% Lunar-Crystallize DMG

The 88.2% CRIT DMG requires 60-70% CRIT Rate through artifacts. Zibai's optimal stats: 150-200% DEF, 60-70% CRIT Rate, 120-150% CRIT DMG, 130-160% ER.

Passive Mechanics and Uptime

Activates after Elemental Skill:

1. Permanent 20% DEF (always active)
2. 64% Lunar-Crystallize buff (5s window)

Zibai's 10s Elemental Skill cooldown creates perfect synergy:

• Cast Elemental Skill (activates 5s buff)
• Execute 4-5 Normal Attacks
• Trigger Spirit Steed's Stride at 70 Phase Shift Radiance
• Activate Moonsign passive on 4th Normal Attack (29.46% DEF as Geo DMG)
• Repeat when cooldown refreshes

This ensures 50% uptime on Lunar-Crystallize buff during combat, with permanent 20% DEF continuously enhancing DEF-scaling abilities.

Zibai Kit Synergy

At 2000 DEF with 4pc Night of the Sky's Unveiling, Lightbearing Moonshard enables 22,000-26,000 damage per Spirit Steed's Stride, versus 21,000-24,500 with Uraku Misugiri.

Amplification through:

• DEF scaling: 20% DEF directly increases Moonsign damage
• Burst optimization: 64% buff aligns with Spirit Steed's Stride timing
• Consistent uptime: 10s cooldown matches 5s buff duration

Universal Value

Narrow compatibility—only works optimally on characters who:

• Scale damage with DEF
• Trigger Lunar-Crystallize frequently
• Use Elemental Skills on short cooldowns

Currently, only Zibai meets all criteria. No confirmed future characters share this profile, significantly reducing long-term account value.

Uraku Misugiri Analysis: Stats and Versatility

Launched in previous banners as versatile 5-star sword with broader character compatibility.

Level 90 Stats

• Base ATK: 542 (identical)
• Substat: 88.2% CRIT DMG (identical)
• R1 Passive: Normal Attack +16%, Elemental Skill +24%, DEF +20% (doubles for 15s after Geo DMG)
• R5 Passive: Normal Attack +32%, Elemental Skill +48%, DEF +40%

Passive Mechanics

Base effects (always active):

• 16% Normal Attack DMG
• 24% Elemental Skill DMG
• 20% DEF

Enhanced (15s after Geo DMG):

• 32% Normal Attack DMG
• 48% Elemental Skill DMG
• 40% DEF

For Zibai, near-100% uptime on enhanced state during combat. The 15s duration exceeds typical 10-12s rotation cycles.

Zibai C0 Performance

Testing places Uraku Misugiri R1 at 95% relative damage. The 5% gap manifests as:

Advantages:

• 48% Elemental Skill bonus provides strong burst
• 32% Normal Attack bonus strengthens chains
• 40% DEF (enhanced) matches Lightbearing Moonshard R5 temporarily

Disadvantages:

• Generic bonuses don't amplify Lunar-Crystallize as effectively
• Lacks specialized 64% Lunar-Crystallize multiplier
• Requires Geo trigger (minimal issue for Zibai)

Spiral Abyss Floor 12: Uraku Misugiri clears chambers 5-8s slower than Lightbearing Moonshard. Both provide sufficient damage for 36-star clears.

Alternative Character Compatibility

Strong universal value across 6-8 sword characters:

• Geo sword DPS (benefits from trigger)
• Normal Attack-focused users (32% bonus)
• Elemental Skill-reliant characters (48% bonus)
• DEF-scaling characters (40% DEF enhanced)

This versatility significantly impacts long-term weapon value versus Lightbearing Moonshard's single-character optimization.

Direct DPS Comparison: Controlled Testing

Standardized conditions eliminate artifact variance and team differences.

Testing Parameters

• Character: Zibai C0, Level 90, Talents 9/9/9
• Artifacts: 4pc Night of the Sky's Unveiling, Ascendant Gleam active
• Stats: 2000 DEF, 65% CRIT Rate, 130% CRIT DMG, 140% ER
• Team: Zibai + Zhongli + Gorou + Flex
• Enemy: Perpetual Mechanical Array
• Rotation: Elemental Skill → 4 Normal Attacks → Spirit Steed's Stride

Single-Target Damage (20s Rotation)

Lightbearing Moonshard R1:

• Elemental Skill: 18,500
• Normal Attack chain: 32,000
• Moonsign passive: 24,000
• Spirit Steed's Stride: 26,000
• Lunar-Crystallize: 15,500 (64% buff)
• Total: 116,000

Uraku Misugiri R1:

• Elemental Skill: 19,200 (48% bonus)
• Normal Attack chain: 33,500 (32% bonus)
• Moonsign passive: 23,500
• Spirit Steed's Stride: 25,000
• Lunar-Crystallize: 13,000
• Total: 114,200

1,800 damage difference (1.6% of total). Lightbearing Moonshard's advantage concentrates in Lunar-Crystallize reactions.

AoE Damage (3-Target)

Lightbearing Moonshard R1:

• Elemental Skill AoE: 55,500
• Normal Attacks: 96,000
• Lunar-Crystallize: 46,500
• Total: 198,000

Uraku Misugiri R1:

• Elemental Skill AoE: 57,600
• Normal Attacks: 100,500
• Lunar-Crystallize: 39,000
• Total: 197,100

Gap narrows to 900 damage (0.5%) in AoE. Uraku Misugiri's bonuses apply equally to all targets.

Peak Damage Comparison

Highest single-hit:

• Lightbearing Moonshard: 26,000 (Spirit Steed's Stride)
• Uraku Misugiri: 25,000
• Difference: 1,000 (4%)

Highest reaction:

• Lightbearing Moonshard: 8,200 (Lunar-Crystallize with 64% buff)
• Uraku Misugiri: 5,000
• Difference: 3,200 (64%)

Dramatic reaction damage difference creates perception of superiority, though reactions constitute only 13-15% of total damage.

Statistical Significance

5% difference falls within variance from:

• CRIT Rate RNG (65% rate = 35% non-crits)
• Enemy resistance fluctuations
• Rotation timing imperfections
• Team buff alignment

Practical Spiral Abyss: 5% translates to 3-5s faster clears on 90s chambers. For 36-star clears, difference rarely determines success.

Relevant primarily for:

• Speedrun communities
• Showcase creators
• Theorycrafters
• Collectors

Primogem Economics: Cost-Benefit Analysis

Weapon banner requires careful budget analysis due to Epitomized Path variance.

Average Cost with Epitomized Path

Three probability tiers:

• 0.7% base rate (1 in 143 average)
• Soft pity (65-79): increasing rates
• Hard pity (80): guaranteed 5-star

Cost scenarios:

• Best (80 pulls / 12,800 Primos): 37.5% probability
• Average (148 pulls / 23,680 Primos): 50% probability
• Worst (240 pulls / 38,400 Primos): 12.5% probability

F2P accumulate ~14,540 Primogems per version (107 pulls). Worst-case guarantee requires 2.6 versions (4 months).

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DPS Gain Per 1000 Primogems

Lightbearing Moonshard (vs Uraku Misugiri R1):

• Average cost: 23,680 Primos
• DPS gain: 5%
• Efficiency: 0.21% DPS per 1000 Primos

Zibai C1 (vs C0):

• Average cost: 12,800-28,800 Primos
• DPS gain: 18-22%
• Efficiency: 0.76-1.72% DPS per 1000 Primos

C1 delivers 3.6-8.2× better efficiency than weapon when owning Uraku Misugiri.

Opportunity Cost

Version 6.3 Phase 2 (Feb 3-24, 2026) precedes Version 6.4 releases. Spending 23,680 Primos reduces character pulling power by 148 pulls—enough for one guaranteed 5-star.

Weapon banner justifiable when:

• Own all desired characters through 6.5
• Primogem reserves exceed 50,000
• Main Zibai as primary DPS exclusively
• Value optimization over variety

Spending Tier Analysis

F2P (0 monthly):

• Income: ~14,540 per version
• Recommendation: Skip unless lacking any 5-star sword
• Priority: Character roster expansion

Low spenders (Welkin, $5/month):

• Income: ~23,840 per version
• Recommendation: Consider with 40,000+ reserves
• Priority: Balance characters and weapons

Medium spenders (Welkin + BP, $15/month):

• Income: ~26,540 per version
• Recommendation: Reasonable if Zibai is main DPS
• Priority: Optimize main DPS

High spenders ($50+/month):

• Income: Variable
• Recommendation: Pull for signatures
• Priority: Complete builds

5% difference makes pulling difficult to justify at any tier when owning Uraku Misugiri.

Alternative Weapons: Complete Tier List

5-Star Sword Rankings

S-Tier (95-100%):

1. Lightbearing Moonshard R1: 100%
2. Uraku Misugiri R1: 95%

A-Tier (85-90%): 3. Primordial Jade Cutter R1: 88% 4. Mistsplitter Reforged R1: 86%

B-Tier (75-85%): 5. Haran Geppaku Futsu R1: 78% 6. Freedom-Sworn R1: 76%

Most 5-star swords underperform due to ATK% scaling providing minimal value for DEF-scaling.

Best 4-Star Options

A-Tier (80-85%):

1. Cinnabar Spindle R5: 82% (DEF substat, limited availability)
2. Flute of Ezpitzal R5: 80% (DEF substat, craftable)

B-Tier (70-75%): 3. Harbinger of Dawn R5: 74% (CRIT Rate + CRIT DMG, 3-star) 4. Favonius Sword R5: 68% (ER, team energy)

C-Tier (60-65%): 5. Sacrificial Sword R5: 62% (ER, Skill reset) 6. The Flute R5: 60% (ATK%, generic)

Cinnabar Spindle strongest 4-star at 82%, but limited to Version 2.3 event. Flute of Ezpitzal best craftable alternative.

Refinement Value: R5 4-Star vs R1 5-Star

18% gap between Cinnabar Spindle R5 (82%) and Lightbearing Moonshard R1 (100%).

Lightbearing Moonshard refinements:

• R1→R2: 10% gain (80-240 pulls)
• R2→R3: 7% gain (80-240 pulls)
• R3→R4: 5% gain (80-240 pulls)
• R4→R5: 4% gain (80-240 pulls)

R5 requires 400-1,200 pulls (64,000-192,000 Primos) beyond R1 for cumulative 26% gain. Cost: 2,462-7,385 Primos per 1% DPS—catastrophically poor value.

Recommendation: Never refine limited 5-stars unless whale collector with unlimited budget.

Battle Pass and Craftables

The Black Sword (Battle Pass): 65% relative damage—underperforms due to ATK% scaling.

Craftable recommendation: Flute of Ezpitzal (Natlan) best F2P option for players who missed Cinnabar Spindle. Prioritize R5 using weekly boss materials.

Common Misconceptions

Myth: Signatures Always Provide 30%+ DPS

Reality: Performance varies dramatically. The 30% benchmark originated from early weapons (Staff of Homa, Mistsplitter) vs 3-stars—not realistic 4-star comparisons.

Lightbearing Moonshard vs Uraku Misugiri shows signatures can provide as little as 5% when comparing strong alternatives.

Historical ranges:

• High value (25-35% over best 4-star): Staff of Homa, Mistsplitter, Engulfing Lightning
• Medium (15-25%): Redhorn Stonethresher, Aqua Simulacra
• Low (5-15%): Lightbearing Moonshard, Key of Khaj-Nisut

Myth: Need Signature for Viability

Reality: All 5-stars achieve 36-star Spiral Abyss with 4-star weapons when properly built.

Zibai C0 with Flute of Ezpitzal R5 (80%) clears Floor 12 in 75-80s. Lightbearing Moonshard (100%) reduces to 70-75s—5-10s improvement not affecting star acquisition.

Viability threshold requires:

• Correct artifact main stats
• 50%+ CRIT Rate, 100%+ CRIT DMG minimum
• Synergistic team compositions
• Talents 8/8/8+
• Understanding rotations

Weapon choice ranks below all these factors.

Myth: Weapon Banner Never Worth for F2P

Reality: Poor value for marginal upgrades, but strong value when upgrading 4-star to first 5-star on main DPS.

Positive F2P scenarios:

• Main DPS using 4-star, signature provides 20%+ gain
• Both featured weapons benefit account
• Own all desired characters through next 3 versions with 50,000+ reserves

Key distinction: justifiable when upgrading 4-star→5-star (15-25% gains), not 5-star→5-star sidegrades (5-10%).

For Lightbearing Moonshard: F2P using Flute of Ezpitzal R5 gain 20%—borderline worthwhile. Using Uraku Misugiri gain 5%—not worthwhile.

Reality: When Weapons Matter

Three scenarios:

1. Speedrunning: Every percentage matters for records
2. Low-investment accounts: Weapons compensate for weak artifacts
3. Comfort: Higher damage provides error margins

For most players seeking 36-star clears, weapon optimization ranks low-priority after character acquisition, talents, and artifacts.

Practical Pulling Strategy

Scenario 1: Own Uraku Misugiri R1

Verdict: Skip entirely.

5% improvement fails to justify 12,800-38,400 Primos under any framework.

Better investments:

• Zibai C1: 18-22% gain for 12,800-28,800 Primos
• New 5-star: roster expansion, elemental coverage
• Artifact refreshes: 50 Primos = 3 domain runs

Exception: Completionist collector (cosmetic goal, not optimization).

Scenario 2: Own Uraku Misugiri R3+

Verdict: Still skip.

R3 provides 98% relative damage vs Lightbearing Moonshard's 100%—only 2% difference within CRIT RNG variance.

Consider only if:

• Whale who refined Uraku and want absolute optimization
• Need second 5-star sword for different character
• Value specialized Lunar-Crystallize for reaction teams

Skip because:

• 2% provides zero practical advantage
• Better spent on characters/constellations
• Uraku's universal value more flexible

Scenario 3: Have Other 5-Star Swords

Depends on current weapon and Zibai priority.

Primordial Jade Cutter (88%):

• Gap: 12% increase
• Recommendation: Consider if main DPS with 30,000+ reserves
• Assessment: Moderate upgrade, borderline worthwhile

Mistsplitter Reforged (86%):

• Gap: 14% increase
• Recommendation: Consider if main DPS with 30,000+ reserves
• Assessment: Similar to Jade Cutter

Haran Geppaku Futsu (78%):

• Gap: 22% increase
• Recommendation: Pull if main DPS with 25,000+ reserves
• Assessment: Strong upgrade justifying investment

Freedom-Sworn (76%):

• Gap: 24% increase
• Recommendation: Pull if main DPS with 25,000+ reserves
• Assessment: Strong upgrade (though Freedom provides team utility)

Decision threshold: 15%+ improvement justifies consideration for Zibai mains. Below 15%, prioritize characters and constellations.

Scenario 4: Only Have 4-Stars

Verdict: High-priority investment.

Cinnabar Spindle R5 (82%):

• Gap: 18% increase
• Recommendation: Pull if main DPS with 25,000+ reserves
• Assessment: Strong upgrade (rare scenario due to limited availability)

Flute of Ezpitzal R5 (80%):

• Gap: 20% increase
• Recommendation: Pull if main DPS with 25,000+ reserves
• Assessment: Strong upgrade justifying investment

Harbinger of Dawn R5 (74%):

• Gap: 26% increase
• Recommendation: High-priority if main DPS
• Assessment: Significant improvement, noticeable performance

For 4-star users, Lightbearing Moonshard represents one of few positive F2P weapon banner scenarios. 20-26% gain translates to 10-15s faster clears and smoother gameplay.

Pulling priority:

1. Guarantee Zibai C0
2. Upgrade talents to 9/9/9
3. Farm 4pc Night of the Sky's Unveiling
4. Pull Lightbearing Moonshard if using 4-star
5. Consider C1 for additional damage

Primogem Budget Planning

Version 6.3 income:

• F2P: 7,560 Primos (47 pulls)
• Welkin: 11,340 Primos (71 pulls)
• Welkin + BP: 12,700 Primos (79 pulls)

F2P reaching 38,400 Primos (worst-case) requires 5.1 versions (7.5 months). Welkin: 3.4 versions (5 months). Welkin + BP: 3.0 versions (4.5 months).

Substantial timelines requiring careful long-term planning.

Future-Proofing: Long-Term Value

Upcoming Sword Characters (6.4+ Leaks)

Version 6.4:

• New 5-star Anemo sword (unconfirmed, ATK-scaling)
• Rerun banners

Version 6.5:

• Anniversary celebration
• No confirmed sword users

Version 6.6+:

• Continued Natlan releases
• Potential Geo DEF-scaler (would benefit from Lightbearing Moonshard)

Currently, no confirmed characters share Zibai's DEF-scaling Lunar-Crystallize focus. Specialized passive limits universal application—character-specific investment, not account-wide asset.

Uraku Misugiri's broader effects provide superior future-proofing, benefiting any sword character regardless of scaling.

Universal Weapon Rankings

S-Tier (8+ characters):

• Primordial Jade Cutter
• Mistsplitter Reforged

A-Tier (5-7 characters):

• Haran Geppaku Futsu
• Freedom-Sworn

B-Tier (3-4 characters):

• Uraku Misugiri
• Key of Khaj-Nisut

C-Tier (1-2 characters):

• Lightbearing Moonshard
• Cinnabar Spindle

For diverse rosters, universal weapons provide superior long-term value. Specialized weapons optimize single characters at cost of flexibility.

Consideration: Main Zibai for 6+ months? Specialized optimization worthwhile. Rotate main DPS every 1-2 versions? Universal weapons better.

Refinement Planning

Never intentionally refine limited 5-stars.

R5 requires 64,000-192,000 Primos beyond R1 for 26% cumulative gain—2,462-7,385 Primos per 1% DPS. Catastrophically poor value.

Exception: Whales with R5 across entire roster and no remaining priorities (affects <0.1% of players).

FAQ

Is Lightbearing Moonshard better than Uraku Misugiri for Zibai?

Yes, by 5% (100% vs 95% relative damage). Translates to 1,800 damage per 20s rotation or 3-5s faster Spiral Abyss clears. Marginal improvement doesn't justify 12,800-38,400 Primos if you own Uraku Misugiri R1. Poor value-per-DPS versus constellations or new characters.

Should I pull if I have Uraku Misugiri?

No, skip entirely. 5% difference provides no meaningful progression, doesn't unlock content, offers minimal screenshot improvement. Invest in Zibai C1 (18-22% gain), upcoming characters, or save for future releases. Exception: completionist collectors.

How much DPS increase over Uraku Misugiri?

5% higher (100% vs 95%) at 2000 DEF. Manifests as 1,800 damage per rotation (single-target), 900 (AoE). Gap concentrates in Lunar-Crystallize reactions (64% amplification vs none). Uraku performs slightly better on direct Skill/Normal hits.

Best F2P alternatives?

Flute of Ezpitzal R5 (craftable, Natlan): 80% relative damage—best F2P option. Cinnabar Spindle R5: 82% but unavailable (Version 2.3 event). Harbinger of Dawn R5 (3-star): 74% with HP management. All enable 36-star clears with proper investment.

Which has better universal value?

Uraku Misugiri—works on 5-7 sword characters through generic bonuses. Lightbearing Moonshard's Lunar-Crystallize specialization limits to Zibai exclusively. No confirmed future characters share her mechanics. For account flexibility and long-term value, Uraku stronger despite slightly lower Zibai performance.

Worth refining to R2+?

No, never intentionally refine limited 5-stars. Refinements provide 10% (R1→R2), 7%, 5%, 4% gains, requiring 80-240 pulls each. R5 costs 64,000-192,000 Primos beyond R1 for 26% cumulative gain—2,462-7,385 Primos per 1% DPS. Character constellations deliver 3-8× better efficiency.