Ranking covers top picks like Serpent Spine for DPS with +6% DMG per 4 seconds up to 5 stacks for +30% DMG, The Catch for Sub-DPS with +16-32% Burst DMG and +6-12% Burst CRIT Rate, and Favonius series for Supports generating 6 energy particles on CRIT hits with 60-100% chance.
Introduction to 4-Star Weapons in Genshin Impact
What Are 4-Star Weapons?
Look, if you've been grinding Genshin Impact for a while, you know 4-star weapons are that sweet spot—solid power without the gacha heartbreak of chasing 5-stars. They come with base ATK ranging from 454 to 620 at level 90, and sub-stats that can really amp things up, like Energy Recharge (ER) up to 61.3%, CRIT Rate up to 36.8%, or Elemental Mastery (EM) hitting 221. Take the Favonius Sword, for example: it's got 454 base ATK and 61.3% ER, plus it spits out 6 energy particles on CRIT hits with a 60% chance at refinement rank 1 (R1), scaling all the way to 100% at R5. Handy for keeping your team's bursts firing on all cylinders.
Why Rank Them by Role?
Here's the thing—ranking weapons by role just makes sense in a game as team-focused as Genshin. DPS weapons crank up normal and charged attack damage for your main damage dealers. Sub-DPS ones pump skill and burst output for those off-field heroes. And supports? They're all about ER, healing, or team buffs to keep everyone alive and kicking. I base these rankings on damage boosts, energy utility, versatility, and how well they fit popular characters—stuff like the SS-tier Serpent Spine, which stacks +6% DMG every 4 seconds up to 5 times for +30% DMG. Oh, and don't forget refining duplicates to R5; that can turn something like the Sacrificial Sword into a beast with an 80% chance to reset skill cooldowns.
Ranking Criteria Explained
Stats and Sub-Stats Importance
Stats are the backbone of any weapon build—base ATK can hit 620 on something like The Alley Flash, and sub-stats like 55.1% CRIT DMG on The Widsith make a huge difference. But let's talk Serpent Spine: with 510 base ATK and 27.6% CRIT Rate, plus those +6-10% DMG stacks, it edges out the Blackcliff Slasher in long fights, especially if you've got a shielder to keep stacks alive. Ascend these using materials like Crystal Chunks to unlock level 90 stats, and pair them with artifact sets like Emblem of Severed Fate for that sweet ER synergy. (As an editor who's theorycrafted way too many builds—pairing ER with burst-focused sets is a game-changer for consistency.)
If you're looking to enhance your Genshin Impact experience with quick resources, consider platforms like BitTopup for efficient top-ups. For instance, you can recharge Genesis Crystals at competitive prices with instant delivery, ensuring secure transactions and excellent customer support for global users.
Role-Specific Evaluations
Ever wonder why The Catch is SS-tier for Sub-DPS? It's packing +16-32% Burst DMG and +6-12% Burst CRIT Rate, straight-up outclassing Dragon's Bane in teams without reactions. But flip it—Dragon's Bane gets an A for reaction damage with 221 EM and +20-36% DMG against Hydro or Pyro-affected enemies. Simple steps: Match the passive to your character, like slapping The Catch on Raiden Shogun, then test in the Abyss to shave off those clear times. It's all about that real-world performance.
Top 4-Star Weapons for DPS
Tier S Picks
Serpent Spine? Absolute SS-tier for claymores. 510 base ATK, 27.6% CRIT Rate, and those +6-10% DMG stacks that max out at 5— they even stick around off-field but drop if you take a hit. It's a monster for Arataki Itto or Diluc, pushing +30-50% DMG especially with shields. Pair it with Zhongli to hold those stacks steady; refine to R5 and it cuts taken DMG from +3% to +1.8%. Ascend with weekly boss materials. Yeah, it's that good.
Tier A Alternatives
Whiteblind lands in A-tier for claymores—510 base ATK, 51.7% DEF, and +6-12% ATK/DEF per hit, stacking up to 4 in just 6 seconds. It stacks fast for Noelle or Eula in physical builds, outperforming Prototype Archaic in sustained damage. Craft it at the blacksmith after AR 10 with 1 Northlander Billet, 50 Crystal Chunks, and 50 White Iron Chunks. Refine duplicates to double effects; slap on DEF sands. Solid choice if you're building tanky DPS.
Pros and Cons
SS-tier standouts like The Widsith bring 510 base ATK and 55.1% CRIT DMG, plus random buffs—+60-120% ATK, +48-96% Elem DMG, or +240-480 EM for 10 seconds every 30s. Perfect for Klee or Yae Miko. But watch out for cons: Rust boosts +40-80% Normal DMG but tanks Charged DMG by -10-20%, which hurts hybrids like Ganyu. Refine to R5 to max normals; it shines in multi-enemy fights compared to Blackcliff Warbow's +12-24% ATK per defeat, max 3 stacks. (Personal observation: In crowded domains, Blackcliff feels like cheating.)
Best 4-Star Weapons for Sub-DPS
High Burst Damage Options
The Catch is SS for polearms—510 base ATK, 45.9% ER, +16-32% Burst DMG, and +6-12% Burst CRIT Rate. At R5, it rivals 5-stars for Raiden Shogun or Xiangling, beating Favonius Lance in pure burst setups. Grab it from the Inazuma Fishing Association; refine with specific fish; pair with Emblem artifacts for that +20% ER-to-Burst DMG conversion.
Energy Management Focus
Dragon's Bane? A solid A-tier for polearms. 454 base ATK, 221 EM, and +20-36% DMG against Hydro/Pyro-affected foes—it's a Vaporize/Melt king for Hu Tao or Cyno, outclassing Lithic Spear outside Liyue teams. Get it from wishes; refine for bigger DMG bonuses; build EM sands to crush in Dendro comps.
To keep your adventure going without interruptions, reliable resource platforms are key. On BitTopup, you can buy Genesis Crystals online with fast, secure processing, broad payment support, and high user satisfaction ratings for seamless top-ups.
Character Synergies
The Stringless hits SS for bows: 510 base ATK, 165 EM, +24-48% Skill/Burst DMG. Better than Viridescent Hunt in reaction teams for Fischl or Venti. It synergizes great on off-field chars; refine to R5 for doubled boosts; pair with Viridescent Venerer for +15% Swirl DMG. Seamless.
Optimal 4-Star Weapons for Support
Healing and Buffing Weapons
Hakushin Ring gets an A for catalysts—565 base ATK, 30.6% ER, and +10-20% Elem DMG to involved elements after Electro reactions, lasting 6s party-wide. Suits Sucrose in Taser teams, outperforming Mappa Mare in Electro comps. Refine for doubled buffs; pair with ER sands; trigger via consistent reactions.
Shield and Utility Picks
Favonius Sword is SS for swords. 454 base ATK, 61.3% ER, and a 60-100% chance to generate 6 energy particles on CRIT hits with a 12-6s cooldown. Beats Sacrificial for non-skill spammers like Gorou, outshining other ER swords for burst uptime. Snag via wishes; refine duplicates for reliable procs; equip a Crit Rate circlet.
Team Composition Tips
Xiphos' Moonlight? SS for swords. 510 base ATK, 165 EM, and +0.036-0.072% ER per EM every 10s for 12s, up to 30% party-wide. Tops Favonius in EM builds for Wanderer or Heizou. Use in reaction teams; refine to R5; team up with high-EM chars to stack those ER buffs. Pure utility gold.
Weapon Comparisons and Alternatives
DPS vs Sub-DPS Overlaps
Serpent Spine overlaps nicely with its persistent stacks, better than Blackcliff Slasher for sustained fights: +30% DMG with a shielder versus Blackcliff's +36% ATK on defeats. The Widsith's random buffs suit DPS, while The Stringless offers consistent Skill/Burst for Sub-DPS. Run sims in Genshin Optimizer—prioritize versatility for quick-swap teams, based on community data.
Support Weapon Swaps
Sacrificial Sword is SS with a 40-80% chance to reset Skill CD on a 30-16s cooldown, over Favonius for skill spammers like Xingqiu. Alternatives? Iron Sting's 510 base ATK, 165 EM, and +6-12% all DMG stacks on elemental hits rank A for Swirl supports. Swap based on energy needs: Go Sacrificial for double skills; refine both to R5.
F2P Friendly Choices
Iron Sting is craftable with a Northlander Billet and provides EM plus DMG stacks for Kazuha—outperforms paid options like Serpent Spine in accessibility. The Catch? Fish it for free and it rivals 5-stars at R5. Craft using 50 Crystal Chunks; prioritize refining craftables over gacha pulls. F2P heaven.
How to Obtain and Refine These Weapons
Gacha and Event Sources
Favonius series drop from wishes—boosted rates make them F2P essentials for Bennett. Blackcliff stuff, like the Warbow (510 base ATK, 36.8% CRIT DMG, +12-24% ATK per defeat), costs 24 Starglitter in Paimon's Bargains monthly. Save wishes for rate-ups; exchange Starglitter for gems like Blackcliff Longsword.
Forging Methods
Forge Prototype Crescent after AR 10 with 1 Northlander Billet, 50 Crystal Chunks, and 50 White Iron Chunks—510 base ATK, 41.3% ATK, +36-72% ATK on weak point hits. Snow-Tombed Starsilver unlocks via Dragonspine quest, boasting 565 base ATK and Physical DMG bonuses. Forge multiples for refinements; ascend with domain mats.
Refinement Strategies
Push to R5 for max effects, like the Sacrificial series' 80% CD reset on a 16s limit, using wish duplicates. Prioritize versatile ones like Favonius; level to max before ascending; check character fits. Smart refining pays off big.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
Overlooking Sub-Stats
Dragon's Bane offers 221 EM for killer Dendro value, but folks often skip pairing it with EM artifacts, leading to weak reactions. Fix it: Calculate total EM; test in chains. Don't sleep on sub-stats—they're half the battle.
Ignoring Patch Changes
Version 6.1 dropped Sacrificer's Staff, SS for polearms with 9.2% CRIT Rate and +8% ATK +6% ER per Skill hit, max 3 stacks off-field—rivals Engulfing Lightning at high refinements for Emilie. Review patch notes; re-evaluate niches; weave in new ones like Dawning Frost (510 base ATK, 55.1% CRIT DMG, +72-144 EM on Charged hits) for DPS. Patches keep things fresh—stay on top.
Refinement Pitfalls
R5 4-stars like The Catch beat low-refine 5-stars. Refine duplicates first; fodder only after R5; focus role-specific boosts. It's tempting to rush, but patience wins.
Case Studies: Meta Builds with 4-Star Weapons
Example DPS Build
Diluc with Serpent Spine gets +30% DMG stacks, paired with Zhongli's shield to mitigate +15% taken DMG—higher output than Prototype Archaic. Build: ATK sands, Pyro goblet, CRIT circlet. Maintain stacks via shielding; refine to R5. Tried and true meta.
Sub-DPS Team Example
Xiangling rocks The Catch for +32% Burst DMG and 45.9% ER, synergizing with Bennett for energy in 200% ER Vaporize builds. Team with Sucrose for VV shred; fish to R5; nail those burst rotations. Efficiency at its finest.
Support Role Showcase
Kazuha with Iron Sting leverages 165 EM and +12% DMG stacks to boost Swirl, outshining Xiphos' Moonlight in pure damage. Group enemies; trigger elemental hits; refine for versatility. Support done right.
Conclusion and Final Tips
Updating Your Arsenal
Keep versatile 4-stars like Favonius and Sacrificial at R5 before foddering—base it on multi-use and power. Reassess quarterly with updates like Version 6.1's new weapons; forge for F2P wins. Your arsenal evolves; so should you.
Community Resources
Iron Sting shines in accessibility over Battle Pass picks. Lean into synergies like The Widsith for quick-swap random buffs; skip Serpent Spine without shields; prioritize ER for supports. Dive into forums—community insights are gold. (Editor’s view: Nothing beats a well-synergized team for those satisfying Abyss clears.)