Quick Answer: Elemental Damage Bonus Goblets have only a 5% drop rate per specific element, while ATK%/HP%/DEF% stats dominate at 19-20% each. Combined with domain RNG, getting an on-set elemental goblet averages 1,280 Resin per piece, making off-piece strategies essential for efficient building.
Look, we've all been there. You've burned through 40 Condensed Resin runs and still haven't seen a single Pyro DMG goblet. Meanwhile, your inventory is overflowing with DEF% pieces that nobody asked for.
Here's the thing—this isn't just bad luck. Genshin's weighted RNG system is deliberately designed to make certain stats significantly rarer than others. And once you understand the math behind it, everything starts making sense.
Understanding Genshin Impact's Artifact Main Stat System
Main Stat Basics and Slot Types
The good news? Flowers and feathers are straightforward. They'll always give you flat HP (4,780) and flat ATK (311) respectively at max level for 5-star pieces. No RNG headaches there.
The other three slots—Sands, Goblet, and Circlet—are where things get spicy. Each one pulls from predetermined probability pools that heavily favor certain stats over others.
When an artifact drops, the game runs through multiple layers of RNG. First, it picks which set (50/50 in dual-set domains). Then it chooses the piece type (20% for each slot). Finally—and this is where most of us get burned—it rolls for the main stat using those weighted probabilities.
No pity system exists here, by the way. Each domain run is completely independent. That's why you can go 50 runs without seeing what you need, then get three in a row. (Though let's be honest, it's usually the former.)
How to top up Genshin Impact becomes particularly relevant when you're planning marathon farming sessions—BitTopup offers competitive rates and instant delivery, which beats waiting around when you're on a roll.
How Main Stats Are Actually Determined
The system uses weighted random number generation, and it's not subtle about playing favorites. Defensive stats (HP%, DEF%) and basic offensive stats (ATK%) get massive preference over specialized options like Elemental Damage Bonus or crit stats.
They did rebalance things slightly in Version 3.0 when Dendro dropped—had to make room for Dendro DMG Bonus somehow. But they kept all elemental bonuses at that brutal 5% rate.
Complete Main Stat Probability Breakdown by Artifact Slot
Sands of Eon Main Stat Rates
Here's where the rubber meets the road:
HP%: 26.68% - Most common, great for HP scalers like Zhongli
ATK%: 26.66% - Virtually tied with HP%, your bread and butter for most DPS
DEF%: 26.66% - Common as dirt, useful for maybe three characters total
Energy Recharge%: 10.00% - Critical for burst-dependent supports
Elemental Mastery: 10.00% - Essential for reaction teams
That 2.6:1 ratio between common and specialized stats? It means you'll spend 2-3 times longer farming ER% or EM Sands compared to ATK% pieces. Plan accordingly.
Goblet of Eonothem Probabilities
Goblets are where dreams go to die. Twelve possible outcomes, and the one you need always seems to be hiding.
The Common Stats:
HP%: 19.25%
ATK%: 19.25%
DEF%: 19.00%
Elemental/Physical Damage (5.00% each):
Pyro/Electro/Cryo/Hydro/Dendro/Anemo/Geo/Physical DMG Bonus%
The Unicorn:
Elemental Mastery: 2.50%
Let's do some quick math on that Pyro DMG goblet you've been chasing. You need the right set (50%), the right piece type (20%), AND the right main stat (5%). That's 0.5% per 20-Resin run.
Translation? You're looking at an average of 4,000 Resin—that's 200 domain runs—for a single on-set elemental goblet. Ouch.
Circlet of Logos Drop Chances
HP%/ATK%/DEF%: 22.00% each - The usual suspects
CRIT Rate%/CRIT DMG%/Healing Bonus%: 10.00% each - What you actually want
Elemental Mastery: 4.00% - Rarest of the rare
At least crit circlets are more reasonable than elemental goblets. That 2.2:1 ratio means you'll still wait a while, but it's not completely hopeless.
Why Elemental Goblets Feel Impossibly Rare: The Mathematics
The Pool Size Problem
Here's what really stings—while there's a collective 40% chance of getting some damage bonus goblet (8 × 5%), your specific element is still just 5%. Meanwhile, ATK% goblets clock in at 19.25%. Nearly four times more likely.
The real kicker? HP%, ATK%, and DEF% combine for 57.5% of all goblet drops. More than half. So 6 out of every 10 goblets you see will have these basic stats.
Expected Runs for Elemental Cups
Based on that brutal 0.5% probability for on-set pieces:
50% chance: You'll get one within 139 runs (2,780 Resin)
90% chance: Within 460 runs (9,200 Resin)
99% chance: Within 919 runs (18,380 Resin)
Those numbers hurt to look at, don't they? This is why the Genshin top up tutorial guide exists—when you're planning farming sessions this extensive, BitTopup's efficient process and competitive pricing become genuinely valuable.
Resin Investment Calculator: Cost of Perfect Main Stats
Expected Resin per Desired Main Stat
Let me break this down in terms that'll make your wallet cry:
Sands (ATK%/HP%/DEF% - ~27% each):
Average cost: 148 Resin (7.4 runs)
Sands (ER%/EM - 10% each):
Average cost: 400 Resin (20 runs)
Goblet (Specific Elemental - 5%):
Average cost: 800 Resin (40 runs)
Circlet (CRIT Rate/DMG - 10% each):
Average cost: 400 Resin (20 runs)
Time Investment Reality Check
A complete 5-piece on-set build with optimal main stats? You're looking at 2,000-3,000 Resin conservatively. That's 15-20 days of dedicated farming if you're being realistic about it.
Put it this way—the 4,000+ Resin you'd spend chasing that perfect on-set elemental goblet could fund 200 talent book domains instead. Or 80 weekly boss fights. The opportunity cost is real.
Optimization Strategies Based on Probability Data
When to Use Off-Set Pieces (Spoiler: Almost Always)
My recommended off-piece priority:
Goblet (Primary) - That 5% rate is just brutal
Circlet (Secondary) - 10% for crit stats is manageable but still rough
Sands (Situational) - Only when you absolutely need ER% or EM
Using an off-piece goblet increases your effective farming pool by 10×. Suddenly that 4,000 Resin investment becomes a much more reasonable 400 Resin goal.
Priority Farming Order That Actually Works
Phase 1: Knock out the easy stuff first. Flower, feather, and any ATK%/HP%/DEF% Sands (26.66% rate means you'll get these quickly).
Phase 2: Farm any elemental goblet as an off-piece. Don't care about the set—just get that 5% main stat from wherever it drops.
Phase 3: Circle back for crit circlets (10% rate) and specialized Sands when you actually need them.
Alternative Build Considerations
Sometimes it's smarter to work around the RNG instead of fighting it. Instead of farming ER% Sands at that 10% rate, consider ER weapons or building ER through substats across multiple pieces.
Same logic applies to EM builds. Rather than chasing those ultra-rare EM main stats (2.5-10% rates), focus on EM weapons and substats while using more common main stats. Your sanity will thank you.
Advanced Tips: Working Around Bad RNG
Flexible Team Building Approaches
Here's a pro tip that'll save you months of farming: build multiple characters of the same element. That single Pyro DMG goblet can serve Diluc, Hu Tao, or Xiangling depending on your team needs.
Characters with flexible scaling are your friends here. Zhongli performs well with HP% or ATK% builds, so you're not locked into one specific main stat.
Substat Compensation Strategies
Energy Recharge requirements can often be met through substats and weapons rather than hunting for ER% main stats. Same with Elemental Mastery—reaction-based characters can hit their EM targets through substats and weapons while avoiding those extremely rare EM main stats.
It's all about working smarter, not harder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a pity system for artifact main stats like there is for character pulls?
Nope. Pure RNG, no safety net. Each domain run is completely independent, which is why you can have those soul-crushing dry streaks followed by sudden windfalls.
Why do I keep getting HP% and DEF% artifacts instead of the stats I need?
Because the game wants you to. HP%, ATK%, and DEF% combine for 57.5% of goblet drops versus just 5% for any specific elemental bonus. On circlets, they represent 66% of drops compared to 10% for crit stats. The system is working exactly as intended.
How much Resin should I realistically budget for a specific elemental damage goblet?
For on-set? Expect around 4,000 Resin on average (200 domain runs). That's why I always recommend the off-piece strategy—it drops that to roughly 400 Resin since you can accept any set.
Are 4-star artifacts worth using if they have the right main stat?
Generally no. The stat difference is substantial—34.8% elemental damage versus 46.6% on 5-star pieces, 23.2% crit rate versus 31.1%. That 25-35% difference adds up fast in actual gameplay.
Should I level artifacts to +20 before I know if they're good?
Stop at +12 or +16 first to see how the substats develop. The cost from +16 to +20 (147,800 EXP) actually exceeds the cost from +0 to +16 (122,675 EXP). Those final levels are expensive.
Do different artifact domains have different main stat probabilities?
Nope, all domains use identical probability tables regardless of which sets they contain. That Pyro DMG goblet has the same 5% chance whether it drops from the Crimson Witch domain or anywhere else.
The key takeaway? Understanding these probabilities helps you farm smarter, not harder. Work with the system instead of against it, and you'll save yourself months of frustration.