Genshin Impact event wishes explained: character vs weapon banners (Updated 5.0)

Genshin Impact features a series of special event banners that rotate on a three-week basis. They each work a little differently, so it’s important to know your odds to avoid disappointment. Here’s an overview of all event banner types in Genshin Impact and their rules.

In addition to event banners, Genshin Impact also has a permanent standard banner. This doesn’t rotate, but it occasionally receives additions to its prize pool. If you’re new to Genshin Impact’s gacha system, you might want to start by learning about the standard banner.

Genshin Impact pull currencies

All event banners use pink/blue Intertwined Fates as their pull currency. One Intertwined Fate equals one pull on any of the event banners. You can also use Primogems to pull on event banners, either by converting them to Fates in the Paimon shop or consuming them directly from the wishing screen. If you have Masterless Starglitter from pulling duplicate items, you can also exchange that in the Paimon Shop for more Fates.

Genshin Impact character event banners

Genshin Impact rotates through character event banners on a three-week basis. There are two character banners available at any given time, each featuring a different 5-star character accompanied by three 4-star characters. For example, the two character banners for the first half of Version 4.8 were for the 5-stars Nilou and Navia, together with the 4-stars Ningguang, Kaveh, and Kirara.

You cannot obtain Nilou on Navia’s banner, and vice versa. Since the 4-star characters are shared, though, you can obtain them on either banner. You can see the exact prize pool and probabilities by viewing each banner’s details in-game.

From your last 5-star pull, you’ll need to do 74 pulls to reach the soft pity range. From here, your probability of pulling a 5-star character increases with each subsequent pull. At 90 pulls, you are guaranteed a 5-star character. Once you see that golden light indicating a 5-star character, there are two possibilities:

1. 55% chance for the featured rate-up 5-star character.
2. 45% chance for one of the seven standard 5-star characters.

If you lose the 55/45 and end up with a standard 5-star character, your next 5-star pull on the character banners is guaranteed to be the featured rate-up character. Guarantees transfer between character banners, so if you have a standard character on one banner, you’re guaranteed the featured character on the next banner you pull on. Your pity count won’t reset either, so any pulls you made towards soft/hard pity aren’t wasted.

From your last 4-star pull, the 9th pull has increased odds of being a 4-star. If you don’t get a 4-star on the 9th pull, you’re guaranteed one on your 10th pull. When you see a purple light indicating a 4-star pull, there are two possibilities:

1. 50% chance for one of the three featured rate-up 4-star characters.
2. 50% chance for any other 4-star character or weapon from the standard pool.

If you end up with a 4-star from the standard pool, your next 4-star is guaranteed to be one of the featured characters.

Genshin Impact Capturing Radiance explained

Capturing Radiance is a new mechanic added in Genshin Impact Version 5.0 that makes it more likely for you to pull the featured rate-up character instead of a standard five-star character. If your golden light turns purple and extra sparkly, that means you triggered Capturing Radiance.

Genshin Impact weapon event banners

In addition to the two character banners, Genshin Impact has a rotating weapon banner on the same three-week schedule. This weapon banner features both signature weapons for the current rate-up characters, as well as five 4-star weapons – one of each type. The weapon banner has a more generous pity system to offset the bigger prize pool.

Before you make any pulls on the weapon banner, make sure you chart a course for your desired weapon. This Fate Point mechanic is unique to the weapon banner, and once you pull a 5-star, there are three possibilities:

1. 37.5% chance for your desired rate-up 5-star weapon. You will not earn a Fate Point.
2. 37.5% chance for the other rate-up 5-star weapon. You will earn a Fate Point.
3. 25% chance for a standard 5-star weapon. You will earn a Fate Point.

If you end up with a 5-star weapon you didn’t want, you will earn a Fate Point. This Fate Point guarantees that your next 5-star pull on the same banner will be the weapon you charted a course for. Fate Points don’t carry over to the next weapon banner, so unlike the character banner, your guarantee isn’t preserved.

4-stars on the weapon banner also have different rates compared to the character banner. When you pull a 4-star on the weapon banner, there are two possibilities:

1. 75% chance for one of the featured rate-up 4-star weapons.
2. 25% chance for any other 4-star character or weapon from the standard pool.

If you pull an off-banner 4-star, your next 4-star pull is guaranteed to be one of the featured weapons. This particular guarantee does carry over between weapon banners.

What is the Chronicled Wish banner in Genshin Impact?

The Chronicled Wish banner is a special type that infrequently runs alongside the other banners. Chronicled Wish features older 5-star characters and weapons, giving players a chance to snag someone they might have missed a while ago.