Quick Answer: Favonius Greatsword takes the crown for general support builds, while Flame-Forged Insight absolutely dominates reaction-heavy teams. The craftable Master Key? Surprisingly solid value with its dual ER and EM scaling. Your pick really depends on what your team needs: Favonius when you're starved for energy, Flame-Forged for reaction damage, and Master Key when you're keeping things budget-friendly.
Aino just dropped in Version 6.0 as Nod-Krai's newest 4-star Hydro Claymore user, and honestly? She's shaking up the off-field support meta in ways I didn't expect. Her kit revolves around consistent Hydro application and Elemental Mastery scaling—which means picking the right weapon isn't just important, it's absolutely critical. Forget raw attack power; we're talking Energy Recharge and EM priorities here.
Looking to gear up without emptying your wallet? Genesis Crystals recharge promo code deals from BitTopup offer solid value with competitive pricing and lightning-fast delivery. Trust me, you'll want those materials.
Aino Character Overview and Weapon Requirements
Aino's Kit Analysis
Here's where things get interesting. Aino's Elemental Burst, Precision Hydronic Cooler, deploys this adorable Cool Your Jets Ducky device that creates a Focused Hydronic Cooling Zone. For 14 seconds, this little guy fires water balls dealing AoE Hydro damage. With just 50 energy cost and a 13.5-second cooldown, the uptime is frankly ridiculous when you build her right.
Her A4 passive, Structured Power Booster, cranks up Elemental Burst damage by 50% of her Elemental Mastery. Yeah, you read that correctly—EM directly translates to more damage.
The Moonsign mechanic? That's where optimization gets spicy. Aino bumps party Moonsign level by 1 just by existing, and pairing her with another Nod-Krai character hits Ascendant Gleam status. This enhancement makes her ducky fire faster with bigger AoE coverage—basically turning her into a Hydro application machine.
Weapon Stat Priorities
Energy Recharge isn't just priority number one—it's everything. We're talking 150-180% for solo Hydro teams, dropping to 110-130% with double Hydro setups. Miss these thresholds and your burst uptime tanks, which defeats the entire purpose of playing Aino.
Elemental Mastery comes second. You want 700-800+ for maximum effectiveness (and yes, that's a lot, but it's worth it). CRIT Rate only matters if you're running Favonius Greatsword—then you need 50-70% to reliably proc that energy generation.
Complete 4-Star Weapon Tier List for Aino
S-Tier Weapons
Favonius Greatsword absolutely dominates general support scenarios. With 454 base ATK and 61.3% Energy Recharge, it's already solid. But that passive? Chef's kiss. CRIT hits have a 60% chance to generate particles that restore 6 energy—not just for Aino, but for everyone. Every 12 seconds. It's team battery heaven.
Flame-Forged Insight claims the second S-tier spot, though it's event-exclusive (more on that pain later). This beast packs 510 base ATK and 165 Elemental Mastery. The passive restores 12 energy and boosts EM by 60 for 15 seconds when you trigger Electro-Charged, Lunar-Charged, or Bloom reactions. At R5? We're talking 285 total EM and 24 flat energy per rotation. Insane.
A-Tier Weapons
Master Key is the craftable champion—and honestly, it punches way above its weight class. Same 454 base ATK and 61.3% Energy Recharge as Favonius, but the passive increases EM by 60 for 12 seconds after causing Elemental Reactions. With Moonsign: Ascendant Gleam, that bonus doubles to 120 EM. For a craftable weapon, that's borderline broken.
Makhaira Aquamarine brings something unique to the table: team buffing through EM conversion. With 510 base ATK and 165 EM, its passive grants 24% of the wielder's EM as bonus ATK for 12 seconds. Nearby party members get 30% of this buff. Niche? Absolutely. Powerful in the right comp? You bet.
B-Tier Weapons
Sacrificial Greatsword does what it says on the tin—61.3% ER and skill reset potential. Solid but unspectacular. Forest Regalia offers accessibility with 565 base ATK and 30.6% Energy Recharge, plus a Dendro reaction passive that grants 60 EM for 12 seconds. Not bad for Bloom teams.
Need to fuel your weapon upgrades? Genshin Impact recharge trusted seller services from BitTopup provide secure transactions with stellar customer support—no sketchy account risks here.
Best Craftable 4-Star Weapons
Master Key isn't just the best craftable option for Aino—it's legitimately one of her top weapons, period. This Nod-Krai weapon feels like it was designed specifically for her kit. That 61.3% Energy Recharge handles her energy needs while the conditional EM buff synergizes beautifully with her team mechanics.
The passive triggers off-field (perfect for her support role), and the Moonsign enhancement literally doubles the EM bonus when you pair her with another Nod-Krai character. At R5, we're talking substantial EM increases that directly boost both burst damage and reaction support.
Forest Regalia serves as your backup plan for Dendro-heavy compositions. With 565 base ATK and 30.6% Energy Recharge, it's adequate ER support while contributing to Bloom teams through its Leaf of Consciousness mechanic.
Here's the catch: Northlander Claymore Billets. You get them from weekly bosses, Souvenir Shops in Mondstadt and Liyue, periodic events, and the Sakura Tree in Inazuma. They're the bottleneck, so plan accordingly.
Top Event and Limited 4-Star Weapons
Flame-Forged Insight remains Aino's premier event weapon—and if you missed the Version 5.8 Sunspray Summer Resort event, well, that stings. This weapon's 510 base ATK and 165 EM create perfect stat distribution, while the passive offers both energy restoration and EM buffing.
The weapon triggers on Electro-Charged, Lunar-Charged, or Bloom reactions, restoring 12 energy and increasing EM by 60 for 15 seconds. It's tailor-made for reaction teams.
Event weapons follow zero predictable rerun schedule. Most stay permanently unavailable after their debut. Lesson learned? When you see a good event weapon, grab it immediately.
Gacha 4-Star Weapons Worth Pulling
Favonius Greatsword represents your most universally valuable gacha investment for Aino. Available on both limited and standard banners, this weapon provides that crucial 61.3% Energy Recharge plus team-wide energy generation. The particle generation requires maintaining 50-70% CRIT Rate, but the payoff is massive.
Makhaira Aquamarine shines in specific ATK-scaling team compositions. With 165 EM and a passive that converts EM to ATK buffs for the entire team, it transforms Aino's support capabilities in the right scenarios.
Word of caution: pulling weapon banners for 4-stars is gambling without guarantees. Only do it when multiple featured weapons benefit your account.
F2P and Budget-Friendly Options
Master Key stands as the undisputed F2P champion. Requiring only craftable materials and a Northlander Claymore Billet, its synergy with Aino's kit and permanent availability make it the most reliable choice for budget builds.
Paimon's Bargains shop rotates 4-star weapons monthly—occasionally featuring useful options. Blackcliff Slasher shows up with CRIT DMG substat, though its enemy-defeat passive provides limited value for support builds. That 24 Masterless Starglitter cost represents serious opportunity cost though.
Pro tip: focus enhancement materials on one weapon at a time. Spreading resources across multiple weapons yields worse immediate performance than maxing one optimal choice. Crystal Chunk mining routes provide the most efficient material acquisition—daily routes yield substantial ore quantities.
Weapon Enhancement and Refinement Guide
Level your weapon to 90 first. Always. This provides the largest stat increases per resource invested, maximizing Aino's Energy Recharge or Elemental Mastery contributions.
Favonius Greatsword refinement is genuinely game-changing. R1's 60% particle generation chance jumps to 100% at R5, while the cooldown drops from 12 seconds to 6. That's consistent energy generation for your entire team.
Master Key refinement improves both EM bonus magnitude and effect duration. Flame-Forged Insight doubles the energy restoration and EM bonus at R5—if you managed to snag multiple copies during its event.
Common Mistakes and Optimization Tips
Don't chase ATK% weapons. I see this mistake constantly—players grabbing Prototype Archaic for its impressive ATK stats while completely missing Aino's actual role. She's not your DPS; she's your enabler.
Ignoring Energy Recharge requirements kills team performance faster than anything else. That 150-180% ER threshold isn't a suggestion—it's mandatory for consistent burst uptime.
Over-investing in multiple weapons spreads your resources too thin. Enhancement materials become scarce at higher levels, making partial investment in several weapons less efficient than completely developing one optimal choice.
Team Synergy and Artifact Considerations
Lunar-Charged teams with characters like Flins create optimal conditions for Aino's Moonsign mechanics. Master Key's EM bonus doubles in these compositions—it's beautiful synergy.
Bloom compositions with Nilou and Lauma maximize Aino's reaction enabling capabilities, making Flame-Forged Insight particularly valuable. Vaporize teams with characters like Arlecchino require careful Hydro application timing, where Makhaira Aquamarine's ATK buffing shines.
Silken Moon's Serenade represents Aino's optimal artifact set—20% Energy Recharge plus team-wide EM buffs that scale with Moonsign status. Noblesse Oblige offers alternative team buffing through ATK% increases, working beautifully with EM-scaling weapons like Makhaira Aquamarine.
FAQ
What's the absolute best 4-star weapon for Aino? For general use? Favonius Greatsword wins with its 61.3% Energy Recharge and team energy generation. Reaction teams should prioritize Flame-Forged Insight for its 165 EM and energy restoration. F2P players can't go wrong with Master Key—it's surprisingly competitive.
Are craftable weapons actually good for Aino? Master Key isn't just good—it's legitimately one of her strongest options despite being craftable. That 61.3% Energy Recharge plus EM buff that doubles with Moonsign: Ascendant Gleam? The off-field passive activation aligns perfectly with her support role.
Which event weapons work with Aino? Flame-Forged Insight from Version 5.8 is her premier event weapon. With 165 EM and 12 energy restoration plus 60 EM buff for 15 seconds, it's tailor-made for her kit. At R5, you're looking at 285 total EM and 24 flat energy per rotation.
Should I refine 4-star weapons for Aino? Favonius Greatsword refinement is absolutely worth it—particle generation jumps from 60% to 100% while cooldown drops from 12 to 6 seconds at R5. Master Key refinement improves EM bonus magnitude and duration. Focus refinement on weapons with strong scaling effects.
What weapon stats does Aino prioritize? Energy Recharge comes first: 150-180% for solo Hydro teams, 110-130% for double Hydro. Elemental Mastery targets 700-800+. CRIT Rate only matters for Favonius Greatsword users—then you need 50-70% for reliable procs.
How do I optimize weapons for different team compositions? Lunar-Charged teams favor Master Key for Moonsign synergy. Bloom compositions benefit from Flame-Forged Insight's reaction-based effects. Vaporize teams work well with Makhaira Aquamarine's ATK conversion. Energy-starved compositions absolutely require Favonius Greatsword for consistent performance.