weapon db 2026-05-13 · 2,033 words

Best F2P Weapons for DPS in Genshin Impact: Top Picks & Guide

Building a powerful team in Genshin Impact does not require a massive stash of Primogems or a lucky streak on the Epitomized Path. While 5-star signature weapons offer the highest stat ceilings, many 4-star craftable and 3-star chest-exclusive options provide competitive damage for the game’s toughest challenges, including the Spiral Abyss.

📝 Editorial Note: This guide is AI-assisted and game data evolves rapidly. Please cross-reference with in-game information. Updated: 2026-05-13.

In Genshin Impact, a “Free-to-Play” (F2P) weapon is defined as any gear obtainable without using Intertwined Fates or Genesis Crystals. This includes weapons from the forging system, fishing associations, world quests, and those found within Liyue’s precious chests. Selecting the right weapon involves balancing raw Base ATK with substats that complement a character’s specific scaling, whether they rely on Critical hits, Elemental Mastery, or Attack percentages.

Stats

The effectiveness of a DPS weapon begins with its stat budget. In Genshin Impact, weapons follow specific scaling tiers. For example, a 4-star weapon with a high Base ATK (565 at Level 90) will typically have a lower secondary substat (27.6%), whereas a weapon with a lower Base ATK (454 at Level 90) offers a significantly higher substat value (55.1%).

For characters like Bennett or those who benefit from high flat ATK buffs, the Base ATK is the priority. For main carries who have access to external ATK buffs (like Noblesse Oblige or Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers), a weapon with a CRIT or Elemental Mastery substat often results in higher total damage output.

Top 10 F2P DPS Weapons (Level 90)

Weapon Name	Type	Base ATK	Substat Value	Primary Substat
Finale of the Deep	Sword	565	27.6%	ATK%
Flowing Purity	Catalyst	565	27.6%	ATK%
“The Catch”	Polearm	510	45.9%	Energy Recharge
Tidal Shadow	Claymore	510	41.3%	ATK%
Song of Stillness	Bow	510	41.3%	ATK%
Prototype Archaic	Claymore	565	27.6%	ATK%
Iron Sting	Sword	510	165	Elemental Mastery
Amenoma Kageuchi	Sword	454	55.1%	ATK%
Harbinger of Dawn	Sword	401	46.9%	CRIT DMG
White Tassel	Polearm	401	23.4%	CRIT Rate

Top Sword Stats

Sword users have access to some of the most diverse F2P options. The Finale of the Deep stands out with a 565 Base ATK, making it a “stat stick” for ATK-scaling carries. Conversely, the Amenoma Kageuchi trades Base ATK for a massive 55.1% ATK substat, which is ideal for characters who do not have access to high-quality artifacts with ATK rolls. For those focusing on reactions, the Iron Sting provides a consistent 165 Elemental Mastery.

Top Polearm Stats

“The Catch” remains the gold standard for F2P polearms due to its Energy Recharge substat, which is vital for Burst-reliant DPS units. However, the White Tassel, despite being a 3-star weapon, offers a CRIT Rate substat that is otherwise rare in the F2P pool. Its low Base ATK (401) is often mitigated by characters who scale with stats other than ATK or those who receive massive flat damage bonuses.

Top Claymore Stats

Claymore DPS units typically rely on high ATK values. The Prototype Archaic was the early-game favorite with its 565 Base ATK, but Fontaine’s Tidal Shadow has largely superseded it for many builds. Tidal Shadow offers a slightly lower Base ATK (510) but compensates with a much higher ATK% substat and a more reliable passive for teams utilizing a healer.

Top Bow & Catalyst Stats

For Catalysts, Flowing Purity offers the high 565 Base ATK tier, which is excellent for characters like Ningguang or Yanfei. In the Bow category, Song of Stillness provides a balanced 510 Base ATK and 41.3% ATK substat, making it a versatile option for any archer whose kit scales with offensive stats.

Effect

A weapon’s passive effect often determines its viability more than its raw stats. F2P weapons are particularly valuable because they can be “Refined” to Level 5 (R5) using materials gathered through gameplay, often outperforming R1 gacha 4-stars.

The Catch: The F2P King

Obtainable through the Inazuma Fishing Association, “The Catch” is widely considered the best F2P weapon in the game.

Passive (Shanty): Increases Elemental Burst DMG by 16% and Elemental Burst CRIT Rate by 6%.
At R5: Increases Elemental Burst DMG by 32% and Elemental Burst CRIT Rate by 12%. This passive specifically targets the two most important stats for off-field DPS characters like Xiangling, effectively turning her into a 5-star level threat.

Amenoma Kageuchi: Energy Management

Forged in Inazuma, this sword solves the high Energy Cost issues of many DPS characters.

Passive (Iwakura Inheritance): After casting an Elemental Skill, gain 1 Succession Seed (max 3). After casting an Elemental Burst, all seeds are consumed to regenerate 6 Energy per seed.
At R5: Each seed regenerates 12 Energy. With three seeds, an R5 Amenoma restores 36 Energy, nearly halving the requirement for an 80-cost Burst.

Harbinger of Dawn: The 3-Star Crit Powerhouse

Do not let the 3-star rarity fool you. The Harbinger of Dawn is a statistical anomaly.

Passive (Vigorous): When HP is above 90%, increases CRIT Rate by 14%.
At R5: Increases CRIT Rate by 28%. Combined with its 46.9% CRIT DMG substat, this weapon provides over 100 “Crit Value” (CV), rivaling 5-star signature weapons. The only caveat is the requirement to stay above 90% HP, which necessitates a strong shielder like Zhongli or a consistent healer.

Fontaine Craftables: The Bond of Life Meta

The Fontaine forging series introduces the “Bond of Life” mechanic. When the character uses an Elemental Skill, they receive a Bond of Life that prevents healing until a certain amount of HP is restored.

Finale of the Deep Passive: Using a Skill increases ATK by 12% (R1) / 24% (R5). When the Bond of Life is cleared, the character gains a flat ATK buff based on the amount of healing absorbed.
Flowing Purity Passive: Using a Skill increases All Elemental DMG by 8% (R1) / 16% (R5). Clearing the Bond of Life provides an additional Elemental DMG bonus. These weapons are designed for the “healer meta” and provide some of the highest raw damage buffs in the F2P category.

Best On (Characters)

Matching a weapon to a character’s kit is essential for maximizing DPS. Some F2P weapons are so effective they are considered “Best-in-Slot” (BiS) among all 4-star options.

Best F2P Weapons for Sword DPS

Ayaka: Amenoma Kageuchi is her premier F2P option. It matches her aesthetic and solves her energy needs, allowing you to focus entirely on CRIT DMG and ATK in your artifact sub-stats.
Alhaitham: Harbinger of Dawn is surprisingly powerful here. Since Alhaitham scales heavily with Elemental Mastery and CRIT, the low Base ATK of this 3-star weapon doesn’t hurt him as much as it would an ATK-scaler. Iron Sting is the alternative for more consistent reaction damage.
Kaeya: Finale of the Deep works exceptionally well for a Freeze-build Kaeya, providing the high ATK he craves.

Best F2P Weapons for Polearm DPS

Xiangling: “The Catch” is her definitive weapon. There is almost no reason to use any other 4-star polearm on her.
Raiden Shogun: If you do not have her signature Engulfing Lightning, “The Catch” is her second-best option, providing the Energy Recharge she needs to convert into Electro DMG.
Arlecchino: White Tassel (R5) is a legitimate competitive choice. Because Arlecchino gains massive ATK from her own kit and external buffs, the 48% Normal Attack DMG bonus from the White Tassel passive is highly effective.
Cyno: Like Arlecchino, Cyno benefits greatly from the CRIT Rate and Normal Attack DMG of the White Tassel.

Best F2P Weapons for Claymore DPS

Navia: Tidal Shadow is an excellent fit. Navia is often paired with a healer (like Bennett or Furina), ensuring the ATK% passive is always active.
Diluc/Gaming: Prototype Archaic or Tidal Shadow provide the necessary ATK for these Pyro carries to land heavy hits.
Noelle: Whiteblind (Craftable) is her best F2P option, as she scales primarily with DEF rather than ATK.

Best F2P Weapons for Bow & Catalyst DPS

Lyney/Ganyu: Song of Stillness is the top craftable choice. It rewards the “charged shot” playstyle, especially when a healer is present to trigger the passive.
Neuvillette: Prototype Amber (Craftable). While it is technically a HP/Support weapon, Neuvillette scales entirely off HP, making the substat and the energy refund passive incredibly strong for his personal damage.
Yanfei/Ningguang: Flowing Purity or Mappa Mare. Flowing Purity offers higher raw damage, while Mappa Mare is better for Yanfei in Vaporize teams.

How to Get

Acquiring these weapons requires a mix of exploration, questing, and resource management.

Forging and Billet Farming

Forging is the primary way to get 4-star F2P weapons. You need “Billets,” which are rare drops from Weekly Bosses (Trounce Domains).

Northlander Billets: Used for Mondstadt, Liyue, and Inazuma weapons.
Midlander Billets: Used for Sumeru and Fontaine weapons. You can convert Northlander Billets into Midlander Billets (and vice versa) at a crafting bench using Dream Solvent.

Blueprint Locations:

Amenoma Kageuchi: Complete the “The Farmer’s Treasure” world quest in Inazuma.
Iron Sting / Prototype Archaic: Available by default at any blacksmith.
Sumeru Weapons (e.g., Sapwood Blade): Exchange “Stories of You and the Aranara” with Aravinay near the Tree of Dreams.
Fontaine Weapons (e.g., Finale of the Deep): Purchase blueprints from Estelle in the Court of Fontaine using local specialties like Bulle Fruit and Tidalga.

The Fishing Grind

Two of the best F2P weapons are locked behind the fishing system.

“The Catch” (Inazuma): Requires 6 Raimei Angelfish, 20 Golden Koi, and 20 Rusty Koi. You must also catch additional fish for the “Ako’s Sake Vessel” refinement materials.
Fleuve Cendre Ferryman (Fontaine): This pipe-shaped sword is excellent for Furina or Bennett. It requires Maintenance Assistant MK II and various Bass species.

Hidden Quest Weapons

Some weapons are one-time rewards from specific storylines:

Kagotsurube Isshin: A sword obtained by completing Kaedehara Kazuha’s Story Quest, “Acer Palmatum Chapter: Act I.”
Sword of Narzissenkreuz: Obtained through the extensive Narzissenkreuz Ordo questline in Fontaine. It can switch between Pneuma and Ousia alignments.

Chest-Exclusive 3-Stars

The White Tassel is only found in Exquisite, Precious, or Luxurious chests within Liyue and Chenyu Vale. Because these chests do not respawn, it is vital to lock at least five copies of this weapon to reach R5. Many players accidentally use them as weapon XP fodder and lose the ability to obtain them later.

Comparison

The question for many players is whether to settle for an F2P option or pull for a 5-star weapon.

R5 F2P vs. R1 Gacha 4-Stars

In many cases, an R5 craftable weapon outperforms an R1 gacha weapon. For example, an R5 Tidal Shadow provides a 48% ATK buff that is more consistent and powerful than an R1 Serpent Spine (from the Battle Pass) if you cannot maintain the stacks. Similarly, “The Catch” at R5 is generally superior to an R1 Favonius Lance for personal damage.

When to Upgrade to 5-Star Weapons

A 5-star weapon is worth the investment if:

It provides a CRIT substat that allows you to fix a poor artifact ratio.
The character is your “main” and you intend to use them for several months.
The weapon provides a unique mechanic (like the HP-to-ATK conversion on Staff of Homa). However, for 90% of the game’s content, including 36-starring the Spiral Abyss, R5 F2P weapons are more than sufficient.

The Value of Starglitter Shop Weapons

The Blackcliff series (Sword, Polearm, etc.) can be purchased from Paimon’s Bargains for Masterless Starglitter. They offer a CRIT DMG substat, which is tempting. However, their passives require defeating enemies to gain ATK stacks, making them useless in boss fights. Generally, it is better to spend Starglitter on character constellations (like Xingqiu or Xiangling) rather than Blackcliff weapons, as the craftable Fontaine weapons often provide similar or better results for free.

By focusing on high-value F2P options like “The Catch,” Amenoma Kageuchi, and the Fontaine “Bond of Life” series, you can ensure your characters are endgame-ready without ever touching the weapon banner.

Sources

Genshin Impact Fandom: Weapons — https://genshin-impact.fandom.com/wiki/Weapon
Game8: Best F2P Weapons Guide — https://game8.co/games/Genshin-Impact/archives/305244
Game8: The Catch Stats and How to Get — https://game8.co/games/Genshin-Impact/archives/342171
Genshin Impact Fandom: Finale of the Deep — https://genshin-impact.fandom.com/wiki/Finale_of_the_Deep
Paimon.moe: Weapon Database — https://paimon.moe/weapons
HoYoLAB: Fontaine Forging Weapons Guide — https://www.hoyolab.com/article/20955938

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