Here's the thing about weapon banners that trips up most players: your pity carries over, but Epitomized Path doesn't. Understanding this split is what separates smart spenders from those who burn through primogems with nothing to show for it.
Understanding Genshin Impact's Weapon Banner System
Weapon Event Wish Basics
Let's start with the fundamentals. Epitome Invocation runs for 3 weeks, showcasing two 5-star weapons alongside five 4-star options. You'll burn through Intertwined Fates at 160 Primogems each—ouch, I know.
The odds? 75% chance for featured weapons versus 25% for the standard pool (that's your Aquila Favonia, Amos' Bow, Lost Prayer, Jade Spear, Wolf's Gravestone, and the entire Skyward series). Hard pity hits at 80 wishes compared to the character banner's 90. Soft pity kicks in around wish 63-65, much earlier than the character banner's 75.
Honestly? That earlier pity is one of the few mercies miHoYo gives weapon pullers.
Banner Rotation Schedule
Banners flip every 3 weeks, perfectly aligned with character phases. The featured weapons always complement whatever characters are running—no accidents there. You'll get announcements about a week before rotation, and transitions happen during those 2-5 hour maintenance windows when carryover rules actually matter.
Epitomized Path Mechanics Explained
What is Epitomized Path
Version 5.0 brought us a genuine quality-of-life improvement (rare, I know). The system now requires only 1 Fate Point for weapon guarantee—down from the brutal 2 Fate Points we used to endure. Maximum cost dropped from 240 wishes to 160 wishes.
This prevents the nightmare scenario of repeatedly getting the wrong featured weapon. Trust me, getting three Kokomi donuts when you wanted Homa was... an experience.
How to Set Your Epitomized Path
Navigate to the weapon banner, hit that Epitomized Path button in the bottom-left, then select your target before wishing. No automatic activation here—you've got to manually set it.
And here's where people mess up: changing your selection resets Fate Points to zero immediately. No warnings, no grace period.
Fate Points System Breakdown
Earn 1 Fate Point when you receive any 5-star except your chosen target. That single Fate Point guarantees your next 5-star is your selection. The system resets when the banner ends, you get your chosen weapon, you change selection, or you cancel the path entirely.
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Weapon Banner Pity System Deep Dive
Hard Pity at 80 Pulls
Absolute guarantee at 80 consecutive wishes without a 5-star. Resets immediately upon any 5-star drop. This operates independently of Epitomized Path—it only influences when you get a weapon, not which one.
Soft Pity Starting at 65
The rate increases substantially from that base 0.7% starting around wish 63-65. Most 5-stars show up during this soft pity window, which is why you'll rarely hit that hard 80. Each 5-star pull has its own independent soft pity progression.
Guaranteed vs 50/50 Mechanics
Here's where it gets interesting. The 75/25 system means losing gets you a standard weapon, but your next 5-star is guaranteed featured. You'll still face a 50/50 between the two featured weapons unless you've got that precious Fate Point.
The guarantee status? That carries over between banners.
What Actually Carries Over Between Banners
Pity Counter Carryover
Your progress toward that 80-wish guarantee carries over completely. The 75/25 guarantee status persists to the next banner. This allows for strategic pity building across banners—one of the few ways to optimize this system.
Epitomized Path Reset Rules
Complete reset when banners change. You must set a new path on each banner, even if the same weapons are featured consecutively (which rarely happens, but still).
Fate Points Persistence
Zero carryover between banners. Permanently lost when the banner ends. This creates genuine pressure to complete your pulls within the banner period—exactly what miHoYo intended.
Strategic Planning for Weapon Pulls
When to Start Epitomized Path
Begin only with 25,600 Primogems (160 wishes) available within the current banner period. Start early in that 3-week window to give yourself decision-making time.
Most importantly: ensure you're satisfied with either featured weapon. Getting the wrong one shouldn't feel like a complete loss.
Banner Value Assessment
Examine both 5-star weapons and the complete 4-star lineup. Strong 4-stars like Favonius and Sacrificial series add real value to your account. Compare featured weapons against 4-star alternatives that often provide 80-90% of the performance at zero cost.
Sometimes that performance gap just isn't worth 25,600 primogems.
Primogem Budget Planning
Maintain a separate weapon budget from your character funds—this is crucial. Keep 14,400 primogems (90 wishes) as a character emergency reserve. Daily commissions provide 60 primogems, monthly events typically offer 2,000-5,000 primogems.
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Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
Epitomized Path Timing Errors
Forgetting to set the path before wishing means no Fate Point protection—I've seen this happen more times than I can count. Changing your path mid-banner resets all progress. Starting without sufficient resources creates either wasted progress or pressure spending.
Pity Counter Misunderstandings
Here's what confuses people: Epitomized Path progress does NOT carry over, only basic pity does. The 4-star and 5-star systems operate independently. Soft pity increases rates but doesn't guarantee immediate results.
Banner Transition Confusion
Epitomized Path progress is permanently lost at maintenance. You cannot exploit transition timing—believe me, people have tried. Only the pity counter and 75/25 status carry forward.
F2P vs Spender Optimization Strategies
F2P Weapon Banner Approach
My honest advice? Generally avoid weapon banners entirely. Focus on character acquisition instead.
If you're absolutely determined to invest: secure all desired characters first, have the full 25,600 primogems ready, and target banners where both weapons provide genuine value to your account.
Light Spender Tactics
Occasional investment when the value is exceptional makes sense. Calculate the real-money cost versus character constellations—sometimes C1 for your favorite character beats any weapon. Set strict budgets before beginning, and resist that Fate Point psychological pressure.
Whale Investment Strategies
Treat weapon pulls as routine character completion. Build pity on strong 4-star banners while waiting for optimal targets. Prioritize weapon breadth over refinement depth—R1 across multiple weapon types beats R5 on one.
Calculation Tools and Tracking Methods
Pity Counter Tracking
Manual method: Banner History button, then count wishes since your last 5-star. Third-party option: Paimon.moe with automated import functionality.
Remember, wish history expires after 6 months.
Primogem Calculators
Include current resources plus projected income over the banner period. Factor in daily commissions (60), events (2,000-5,000 monthly), and competing priorities. Account for that 160 primogems per wish conversion rate—it adds up fast.
Real Player Case Studies and Examples
Successful Strategies
Built 65 pity on the previous banner, invested 95 more for the target (160 total across banners). Targeted a dual-value banner featuring Homa and Elegy, received both in 145 wishes. Saved exactly 25,600 primogems over 3 months, obtained the target weapon on wish 142.
Costly Mistakes
No Epitomized Path set required double investment for the target weapon. Changed path mid-banner, reset Fate Point, exceeded 200 wishes total. Started with only 15,000 primogems, faced losing progress or unplanned spending.
These mistakes hurt. Learn from others' pain.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does weapon banner pity carry over to the next banner? Yes, the basic pity counter and 75/25 guarantee status carry over completely. Epitomized Path selection and Fate Points reset to zero when banners change.
How much does it cost to guarantee a specific weapon? Maximum 160 wishes (25,600 Primogems) under the current system. Worst case scenario: lose the 75/25 (80 wishes), get the wrong featured weapon gaining 1 Fate Point (80 wishes), then get your chosen weapon (guaranteed).
What happens to Fate Points when banners change? Complete reset to zero automatically during banner transitions. They cannot be saved or carried forward under any circumstances.
Is the weapon banner worth it for F2P players? Generally no. Those 25,600 Primogems represent months of F2P income and could guarantee 1-2 characters instead. Only consider it after securing your desired characters with substantial reserves remaining.
How does weapon banner pity differ from character banner? 80-wish hard pity versus 90, soft pity at 65 versus 75, 75/25 rate-up versus 50/50, and the Epitomized Path system exclusive to weapons.
When should I start using Epitomized Path? Only with the full 25,600 primogems available within the current banner period. Set your path before any wishes, ensure you're satisfied with either featured weapon, and start early for strategic flexibility.