Bottom Line: Thundering Pulse reigns supreme with its beefy 608 base ATK and 66.2% CRIT DMG. But here's the kicker—Rust at R5 can actually outgun some 5-star weapons with its insane 80% Normal Attack boost. Hamayumi? It's solid for F2P players, though it fights against her best artifact set.
Look, I've been testing Yoimiya builds for months now, and weapon choice absolutely makes or breaks her performance. The gap between her signature 5-star and budget options isn't as dramatic as you'd think—especially when refinements come into play.
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The Weapon Hierarchy (And Why It's Complicated)
Breaking Down the Tiers
Here's where things get interesting. The standard ranking goes: Thundering Pulse (obviously), Aqua Simulacra, then Rust—but that R5 Rust can absolutely demolish some R1 five-stars. I've seen R5 Rust users outdamage Skyward Harp owners more times than I can count.
The sleeper hit? Slingshot. Yeah, that 3-star bow sitting in your inventory. With Bennett and Yun Jin backing her up, it punches way above its weight class. The low base attack hurts, sure, but those buffers can compensate beautifully.
Testing Reality Check
My calculations use Level 90 weapons across consistent team comps—no cherry-picking scenarios here. The KQM community's done extensive testing, and weapon performance shifts dramatically based on your artifact choices and team buffers.
What really matters: base ATK scaling, passive consistency, and how well the weapon plays with Yoimiya's Normal Attack-heavy kit. She doesn't care about your fancy Charged Attack bonuses.
Hamayumi: The F2P Workhorse (With Strings Attached)
Raw Numbers
454 base ATK, 55.1% ATK at max level. Not spectacular, but it's guaranteed—no gacha gambling required. You can craft this bad boy once you complete Takashi's quest in Inazuma and gather enough Northlander Bow Prototypes.
The stat spread forces you into CRIT hunting mode on artifacts. Without that CRIT Rate/DMG from substats, you're looking at some pretty sad damage numbers.
The Energy Management Headache
Here's where Hamayumi gets tricky. The passive doubles when you're sitting at 100% Energy—sounds great until you realize this means never using Yoimiya's Burst. Ever.
That 64% Normal Attack bonus at R5 looks juicy, but maintaining it requires perfect energy management. One stray hit that drains energy? There goes your damage bonus. It's like playing with a loaded gun pointed at your DPS.
The real kicker? This directly conflicts with Shimenawa's Reminiscence, which is arguably her best artifact set. Talk about working against yourself.
Rust: The Underrated Champion
Why Everyone Sleeps on This Weapon
510 base ATK and 41.3% ATK—solid, reliable stats without the headaches. But the real magic happens with refinements. That passive scales from 40% to 80% Normal Attack damage, and it's unconditional. No energy management, no rotation gymnastics.
The 10% Charged Attack penalty? Who cares. Yoimiya's all about those Normal Attacks during her Pyro infusion window.
Refinement Reality
R5 Rust is where this weapon transforms from decent 4-star to 5-star killer. I've run the numbers—it can outperform Polar Star and Skyward Harp in the right scenarios. The problem? Getting those refinements without breaking the bank.
Standard banner drops make this a long-term investment, but weapon banner rate-ups can speed things up if you're willing to risk the pity system.
Thundering Pulse: The Gold Standard
Premium Performance
608 base ATK and 66.2% CRIT DMG—these are the stats that make artifact farming actually enjoyable. You can focus on CRIT Rate and ATK% without pulling your hair out over CRIT DMG substats.
The weapon banner exclusive status means you're looking at potentially 240 wishes for a guarantee. Ouch.
Stack Management Made Simple
The Thunder Emblem system sounds complicated but works beautifully with Yoimiya's kit. Normal Attack hits, Elemental Skill usage, and being below 100% Energy all grant stacks. With Shimenawa's energy consumption, you'll maintain maximum stacks effortlessly.
That 40% Normal Attack bonus at three stacks, combined with the 20% ATK increase? Chef's kiss
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The Numbers Game: DPS Breakdown
Real-World Performance
After extensive testing across multiple team compositions, the performance gaps aren't as massive as you'd expect. R1 Thundering Pulse leads by roughly 11% over R5 Slingshot in optimal conditions. R5 Rust? It's sitting pretty at about 97% of Thundering Pulse's performance.
Sample rotation I use for testing: Yelan EQ → Bennett Q → Kazuha hold E → Yoimiya E combo → Kazuha tap E → Bennett E. This maximizes double swirl while keeping weapon passives active.
The dirty secret? Yoimiya carries 60-80% of your team's damage output depending on composition. Her personal DPS matters more than most characters.
Team Synergy Impact
Bennett's ATK buffs help lower base ATK weapons more than premium options—basic math, but worth remembering. Yun Jin's Normal Attack bonuses stack multiplicatively with weapon passives, creating some surprising combinations.
Here's something I learned the hard way: Zhongli's shield isn't just comfort for Hamayumi users—it's practically mandatory. Energy loss from interruptions kills that weapon's performance.
Artifact Synergy: Where Things Get Spicy
The Shimenawa Situation
4-piece Shimenawa's Reminiscence is Yoimiya's best friend—18% ATK plus 50% Normal Attack damage for consuming 15 Energy. Perfect 10-second duration matching her infusion window.
But here's the problem: it directly sabotages Hamayumi's energy requirement. You literally cannot optimize both simultaneously.
Alternative Builds
4-piece Crimson Witch works better for Hamayumi users who want to actually use their Burst. The reaction bonuses help in Vaporize teams, though you're sacrificing some raw damage.
4-piece Marechaussee Hunter with Furina? That's the new hotness. Up to 36% CRIT Rate from HP fluctuations makes weapon choice more flexible.
Cost-Benefit Reality Check
F2P Strategy
Craft Hamayumi, pray for Rust copies on standard banner. Slingshot makes an excellent placeholder—seriously, don't sleep on this 3-star option in buffed teams.
The guaranteed nature of Hamayumi makes it your most reliable F2P choice, energy management headaches aside.
Spending Priorities
Low spenders should target Rust refinements over chasing 5-star weapons. R3-R5 Rust provides incredible value that rivals much more expensive options.
High spenders? R1 Thundering Pulse is worth it for the artifact flexibility alone. Additional refinements offer diminishing returns—invest elsewhere.
Common Pitfalls (I've Made These Mistakes)
The Shimenawa + Hamayumi Trap
Don't do it. Just don't. I see this combination constantly in co-op, and it physically hurts to watch. You're actively working against both the weapon and artifact set.
Refinement Blindness
Stop assuming all 5-star weapons automatically beat 4-star options. R5 Rust can embarrass R1 Skyward Harp in the right hands. Refinement levels matter more than rarity sometimes.
Energy Recharge Obsession
Yoimiya doesn't need Energy Recharge. Her Burst is nice to have, not essential. Focus on damage stats instead of trying to make her a Burst support.
The Final Word
My Honest Rankings
Thundering Pulse sits at the top—no surprises there. R4-R5 Rust claims the 4-star crown and can compete with 5-star options. R5 Slingshot punches above its weight in buffed teams. Hamayumi provides solid craftable access with management requirements.
For F2P players: craft Hamayumi, collect Rust copies passively. Low spenders: target Rust refinements strategically. High spenders: go for R1 Thundering Pulse and call it a day.
Future-Proofing Thoughts
Weapon investments age better than character constellations. Thundering Pulse works on multiple bow users, Rust benefits any Normal Attack-focused character. New artifact sets might shift the meta, but these fundamental weapon strengths remain stable.
The weapon choice ultimately comes down to your resources and patience. All three options can clear current content—it's about optimization levels and personal preference.
Quick Answers to Common Questions
Best F2P bow for Yoimiya? Hamayumi through crafting, but R5 Slingshot can outperform it in teams with Bennett and Yun Jin. The 60% damage bonus and 31.2% CRIT Rate make it surprisingly competitive.
Is Thundering Pulse worth the investment? About 11% team DPS increase over budget options. Whether that's worth 240 wishes depends on your account priorities and spending comfort level.
Rust vs Hamayumi performance? Rust wins in most scenarios due to unconditional damage bonus and Shimenawa compatibility. R3 Rust typically matches Hamayumi, R4-R5 clearly surpasses it.
Does Yoimiya need a 5-star weapon? Absolutely not. R5 Rust provides 97% of Thundering Pulse's performance. 5-star weapons are luxury upgrades, not requirements.
Best bow for constellation Yoimiya? Thundering Pulse scales best with constellations, especially C6's extra arrows. Hamayumi becomes harder to manage with constellations that encourage Burst usage.
Refinement breakpoints for Rust? R3 matches Hamayumi in most scenarios, R4-R5 provides clear superiority. The 60-80% unconditional bonus outweighs Hamayumi's conditional advantages.