Quick Take: For Childe mains in 2025, Polar Star pulls ahead as the top pick, delivering 15-20% more DPS in Vaporize setups thanks to its 608 Base ATK, 33.1% CRIT Rate, and those juicy 48% ATK stacks that amp up melee combos and AoE Riptide blasts. Aqua Simulacra shines with 88.2% CRIT DMG and a 20% proximity damage boost for laser-focused single-target damage, landing at #3 overall. Go for Polar on standard banners; snag Aqua during its September 30-October 21, 2025 event run. Pair Polar with Nymph's Dream or Aqua with Heart of Depth to hit that sweet 50/200 CRIT ratio.
Breaking Down Polar Star vs. Aqua Simulacra for Childe Fans in 2025
Look, if you're deep into Childe – that hydro-slinging Harbinger who thrives on chaos – Polar Star is your go-to BiS bow this year. Its 608 Base ATK scales beautifully into melee Normal Attacks (93.1%) and those sweeping Riptide Slashes (60-144% AoE). Aqua Simulacra? Solid at 542 Base ATK with 88.2% CRIT DMG for crit-heavy builds, no doubt. But crunch the numbers in simulations, and Polar clocks 250k-300k melee damage over 9-second rotations, while Aqua's at 220k-260k (that's C0 Childe at 50/200 CRIT and 200% ER).
In Vaporize teams, Polar's 48% ATK stacks (at R1) pump Riptide by 30-40%, outpacing Aqua's 20% damage bonus in Abyss rooms packed with mobs. Single-target bosses? Aqua edges it by 5-10% when you crank CRIT DMG to 250%.
Here's how to make it happen:
Already got Thundering Pulse? Skip these two and chase Polar for AoE dominance.
Fire up Genshin Optimizer: Pit Polar's 608 ATK and stacks against Aqua's 88.2% CRIT DMG.
Hunt Polar on the Version 5.3 banner (January 21-February 11, 2025) – use that Epitomized Path wisely.
TL;DR Picks by Your Playstyle
F2P or Newbies: Grab Aqua on its event banner; craft a R5 Hamayumi to hit 80% of Polar's DPS without breaking the bank.
Whales or Die-Hard Childe Mains: Polar R1 gives you 15% more DPS than Aqua – refine to R5 once you've got C1.
Roster Jugglers: Polar's your versatile beast for Yoimiya or Ganyu; Aqua locks in for Yelan or Lyney vibes.
Where Polar Star Steals the Show: Real Scenarios and Team Ideas
Polar really flexes in AoE-heavy Spiral Abyss floors, where enemies clump up. You build four stacks (from NA, CA, Skill, and Burst) in 9-11 seconds of melee, netting that 48% ATK boost. Drop it into an International comp – Childe, Xiangling, Bennett, Kazuha – and those stacks crank team DPS by 10-15% through 1.5x Vaporize Hydro apps. (As an editor who's farmed way too many Abyss clears, this setup feels like butter – smooth and devastating.)
Aqua's Sweet Spots: When It Outshines the Rest
Aqua clicks perfectly in single-target Taser teams (think Childe, Fischl, Beidou, Kazuha), where that 20% damage within 5 meters amps your output, and off-field Riptide tacks on 8% team-wide. Quick-swap with Furina in mono-Hydro? The 88.2% CRIT DMG means no fussing with stacks – just pure, reliable pops.
Getting to Know These 5-Star Bows: Stats, Lore, and Why They Matter
Polar Star dropped back in Version 2.2 (2021), packing 608 Base ATK at 90/90 and 33.1% CRIT Rate – ideal for stacking via Childe's multi-hit melee frenzy. Aqua Simulacra hit in Version 3.0 (2022 event) with 542 Base ATK and 88.2% CRIT DMG, juicing damage when foes are close for those stance crits.
Polar's progression? Starts at 46 ATK/7.2% CRIT Rate (1/20) and climbs to 608/33.1% (90/90), striking a nice 1:2 CRIT balance. Aqua holds steady at 542/88.2% (90/90), great for 10-15 second rotations but dipping 5-10% in damage without heavy CRIT artifact investment.
To get 'em leveled:
Ascend to 90 using 225,000 Mora, 5x Mask of the Wicked Lieutenant (for Polar) or Luminous Sands (Aqua) from Guyun Stone, plus 41x Concealed Talon or Deathly Statuette.
Hit weekly bosses on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays for shards; raid Inazuma domains for the rest.
Test mN2C strings on a training dummy – expect 30-40% Riptide uplift.
Polar Star: Crit Rate King with a Stellar Backstory
Its passive bumps Skill and Burst DMG by 12% (R1) and layers on 48% ATK from four stacks across attack types – perfect for Foul Legacy: Raging Tide's 30-second melee window (38.9-93.1% Normals). That silver-blue star theme? It screams Fatui elegance, matching Childe's whole vibe.
Aqua Simulacra: Crit DMG Beast with Hydro Flair
Passive throws in 16% HP (kinda meh for ATK-focused Childe) and 20% DMG near enemies, which sticks off-field to Riptide. The blue design echoes his Hydro Skill's cross-slash (60.2% + 72%) – sleek and thematic.
Why These Bows Rule Childe Chats in 2025
Polar sits at #1, Aqua at #3 in the rankings, especially post-Furina meta. They crush 4-Stars by 20-30% in melee DPS – no contest.
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Stats Under the Hood: ATK, Crit Rate, and Crit DMG Breakdown
Polar's 608 Base ATK and 33.1% CRIT Rate give it flex for Normal Attacks and Burst (464% melee scaling). Aqua's 542 ATK and 88.2% CRIT DMG lean into high-crit setups, but overall output lags a bit.
At level 90, Polar lets you hit 50-60% CRIT Rate from substats alone, pumping Riptide Slash (60%) by 30% through ATK. Aqua demands 60% Rate from artifacts, adding 20% to melee but falling 5-10% behind in sims.
Steps to optimize:
Aim for 2500+ ATK with Polar (weapon + sands + buffs); 2200+ for Aqua's CRIT emphasis.
Balance it: 50% Rate/200% DMG for Polar; 60%/180% for Aqua.
Refine smart: R1 Polar unlocks 48% stacks; test in 28-second rotations.
Level 90 Showdown
Base ATK: Polar's 608 vs. Aqua's 542 – that's a 10-15% edge in melee scaling.
Substat: 33.1% CRIT Rate on Polar vs. 88.2% CRIT DMG on Aqua – Polar helps nail 1:2 ratios; Aqua fuels raw crits.
Leveling Curve: Polar at 122 ATK/12.7% (20/20); Aqua 110/33.9% – early game tilts to Polar.
How Substats Hit Childe's Damage Math
Polar's Rate substat eases artifact grinds, adding +20% DPS in 4pc Nymph's Dream (15% Hydro +25% ATK on stacks). Aqua's DMG spikes post-Skill Normals by 30% with Heart of Depth.
Nailing Crit Ratios for Each
Stack CRIT DMG > ATK% > ER first; Polar's 33.1% Rate frees you up for a 200% DMG circlet.
Passive Deep Dive: How They Mesh with Childe's Moveset
Polar builds stacks for 12% Skill/Burst DMG + 10-48% ATK per type (max four), triggered by melee like mN3C for NA/CA. Aqua's 20% DMG (nearby) and 16% HP work off-field on Riptide.
Full Polar stacks in 9 seconds (mN2C + Skill) mean +20-30% DPS in scraps; Aqua's 20% uptime covers 90% of fights, matching in some Vaporize via crits. Ever wonder why Childe feels so fluid with the right passive? It's these mechanics syncing up.
Steps to master:
For Polar: Skill into melee, mN3C for three stacks, Burst for the fourth.
Aqua: Hang in that 5-meter zone during 10-15 second stance; swap out for off-field Riptide.
Track it: UI shows Polar stacks; Aqua's got no ICD.
Polar's Ashen Nightstar: Unpacking the 4-Stack System
Stacks refresh independently every 12 seconds; R5 hits 96% ATK +24% Skill/Burst, with R1 alone boosting DPS by +10-15% over baseline.
Aqua's Myriad: HP and Proximity Perks Explained
DMG layers with Riptide (1.5s on marks); R5 doubles to 40% DMG +32% HP, adding 15-20% in single-target.
Uptime in Real Rotations
Polar: 9-11 seconds melee, dodging the 36-second CD. Aqua: Basically always-on in close-quarters brawls.
How They Snapshot with Childe's Burst
Both lock in during Havoc: Obliteration (60 Energy, 464% +120% Riptide); Polar nukes +30%, Aqua +20%.
Crunching the DPS: Hard Numbers from Prime Rotations
In a 28-second Vaporize run with Nymph's Dream, Polar R1 outpaces Aqua by 15-20% personal DPS – melee hitting 250k-300k vs. 220k-260k (50/200 CRIT, Bennett buffed).
Over 9 seconds melee, Polar's 48% ATK juices Riptide Slash (60%) by 30-40%; Aqua's +20% to Charged (72%) nets +10% in 250% CRIT single-target.
To replicate:
C0 Childe, talents at 90 (Skill 93.1%, Burst 464%), ER at 110-130%.
Rotation: Supports drop Kazuha Q, Childe E into mN2C + Burst.
Plug into Optimizer: Factor Vaporize (Hydro doubles).
How We Tested (Artifacts, Talents, Buffs)
Assumed 200% ER, C0, Nymph's set; max Skill before Burst.
Melee Combo Breakdown
Polar's mN3C at 1.5x base; Aqua's +20% gets undercut by lower ATK in AoE.
Burst Damage: Ranged vs. Melee Nuances
Melee Polar +48% ATK for 30% bigger nukes; ranged refunds 20 particles.
Full Rotation DPS Over 20 Seconds
Polar ~250k Vaporize; Aqua ~220k, with 5% swings in Taser.
What Affects Variance and Reliability
Polar +15-20% in AoE; Aqua +5% single-target; C1 shaves 20% CD for both.
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Team Fit: How Each Bow Slots into Meta Comps
Polar amps Vaporize squads (Childe + Xiangling + Bennett + Kazuha) with melee ATK stacks, lifting team DPS 10-15% via Hydro apps. Aqua bolsters Taser (Childe + Fischl + Beidou + Kazuha) with off-field CRIT DMG for Riptide (+8%).
In International, Polar adds +12% to Xiangling's Vaporize; Aqua keeps Electro-Charged steady in mono-Hydro with Furina. (Pro tip from the editing desk: These synergies make Childe feel indispensable – not just a hydro battery.)
Build it out:
Supports: Kazuha E/Q for grouping, Bennett Q for ATK.
Childe: E into 9-second melee (Polar stacks) or 10-15 seconds (Aqua DMG).
Cycle: Off-field Riptide; repeat every 24 seconds.
Classic International (Bennett, Kazuha, Xiangling)
Polar owns AoE; stacks multiply Xiangling's 1.5x Vaporize.
Vaporize with Hydro Resonance
Polar's ATK scales with resonance; Aqua's +25% HP? Neutral at best.
Electro-Charged Setups (Fischl, Beidou)
Aqua +8% reactions; Heart of Depth +30% after Skill.
Mono-Hydro and Yelan Pairings
Aqua's off-field shines for Yelan's Riptide bursts.
Artifact Tweaks and Builds Tailored to Each
For Polar: 4pc Nymph's Dream (15% Hydro +25% ATK on hits), ATK% sands, Hydro Goblet, CRIT DMG circlet; prioritize CRIT DMG > ATK% > ER (110-130%). Aqua: 4pc Heart of Depth (15% Hydro +30% Normal/Charged post-Skill), same sands and Goblet, but CRIT Rate circlet; CRIT Rate > DMG > ATK%.
Polar hits 50-60% Rate thanks to the weapon's 33.1%; Aqua needs 60% Rate to leverage 88.2% DMG in 10-15 second stints.
Dial it in:
Farm Nymph's for Polar's stack synergy; Heart for Aqua's melee.
At level 20: ER sands if under 120%; push 2500 ATK.
Mix 2pc for non-Vaporize teams.
Ideal Crit Targets for Polar
50/200; the weapon's Rate lets substats chase DMG.
Pushing Crit DMG Max with Aqua
60/180; artifact Rate keeps you from capping.
Heart of Depth vs. Nymph's Dream: How They Play
Nymph's supercharges Polar stacks; Heart adds +30% to Aqua's post-Skill hits.
Substat Shifts Between the Two
CRIT > ATK > ER/EM (100-200 for Vaporize); Polar needs less Rate farming.
Beyond Childe: Versatility and Bang for Your Primogem Buck
Polar's a multitasker for Yoimiya or Ganyu (CRIT Rate + ATK stacks); Aqua niches into Yelan or Lyney (off-field DMG + CRIT). Polar's #1 for longevity; Aqua's #3-4, but event-limited.
Polar thrives on Bennett/Kazuha buffs into 2025; Aqua's DMG bonus dips without Furina/EM focus. Which one's the smarter account investment? Polar, hands down – broader appeal.
Test and pull:
Try Polar on Ganyu's Burst; Aqua on Yelan's snapshots.
Pull Polar for 20-30% gains over 4-Stars.
R1 Polar beats Aqua for pure ROI.
Polar on the Side Characters (Fischl, Tighnari, Lyney)
Boosts mixed attacks; it's Childe's #1 but viable bow DPS elsewhere.
Aqua's Broader Draw (Yelan, Ganyu)
Off-field gold for quick-swaps; strong in Hydro pockets.
ROI Over Time
Polar's standard banner keeps it accessible; Aqua's event lock limits Hydro plays.
Which Covers More of Your Roster?
Polar edges Aqua for expansion – no question.
Refining Worth It? R1 vs. R5 Breakdown
Polar R1 starts at 48% ATK; R5 ramps to +96% ATK/+24% Skill/Burst for 20% DPS, +5% per rank after R1. Aqua R1 at 20% DMG; R5 to 40% for 15-20% single-target lift.
Refining Polar nets +10-15% for Childe; chase C1 (-20% CD) before R5. Aqua's R5 helps off-field but skimps on AoE. (Editor's take: For most, R1 is plenty – save those shards.)
Invest smart:
14k-28k Primogems for pity; Epitome for guarantees.
Refine Polar if C0's your main; skip Aqua without other Hydro bows.
R1 on both hits 90% performance; C1 trumps R5 for QoL.
Polar Refinement Boosts
R2-R5: +12.5-96% ATK; not F2P-friendly.
Aqua's Scaling
+5% DMG per rank; keeps CRIT viable.
Primogem Math
50/50 gamble; Polar's chronicled path safer.
When Refines Kick In
After C1, for 2025 Abyss pushes.
Busting Myths and Fixing Common Slip-Ups
Aqua's HP bonus? Neutral for ATK Childe. Polar stacks? They build in 9-second mN3C. Ditch over-Charged attacks that drain Stamina – stick to combos.
Polar stacks persist on swaps if built pre-fight; Aqua's 5m uptime crushes AoE weakness myths for 2025. Limit melee to 9 seconds for 15 total (Burst CD 6s). Alternate NA/CA/Skill/Burst; jump cancels save Stamina. Dummy test for 20% DPS from bad balances.
Myth: Aqua Wins 'Cause of That Huge Crit DMG
Truth: It trails Polar's ATK by 5-15%; ratios decide it all.
Polar Stack Fables
Full uptime in 9-11 seconds; independent – no bleed.
Passive Hype vs. Steady Stats
Stacks beat 20% bonuses; Aqua's simpler for newbies.
Rotation Goofs That Ruin Tests
Over-melee hits 36s CD; factor C1's -20%.
How They Stack Up Against Alternatives
Polar #1, Thundering Pulse #2 (66.2% CRIT DMG +40% Normal stacks), Aqua #3 ahead of Skyward Harp. 4-Stars: Hamayumi R5 (454 ATK, 55.1% ATK +32% Normal) at 80% DPS; Viridescent Hunt (510 ATK, 27.6% CRIT Rate) for AoE cyclones.
Thundering stacks quicker, skipping Riptide; Hamayumi's F2P melee king but 20-30% under 5-Stars.
Go-to moves:
Craft Hamayumi R5 with billets; compare in optimizer vs. Polar.
Pull order: Polar > Thundering > Aqua if missing #2.
4-Stars hit 80% C0 viability pre-5-Stars.
Thundering Pulse Face-Off
Close contender; Polar wins on multi-hits.
Refined Rust? (Bow Edition)
N/A for bows; Hamayumi buffs Normals instead.
F2P Lifesavers: Hamayumi, Viridescent Hunt, Prototype Crescent
Hamayumi R5 for melee; Viridescent for CRIT/AoE.
The Solid Enough Line for Childe
80% DPS from 4-Stars until you pull big.
Pull Plan: Timing Banners and Dodging Risks
Polar on Epitome/Chronicled in Version 5.3 (January 21-February 11, 2025); Aqua in Version 6.0 Phase 2 (September 30-October 21, 2025). Epitomized Path locks your third 5-Star.
Bank 14k Primogems for 50/50; Polar's shared with catalysts but versatile.
Plan ahead:
Eye in-game notices for schedules.
Polar first for Childe reruns; Aqua only if CRIT-starved.
Post-event, Aqua's gone – no re-runs easy.
Past Banners and Trends
Polar standard since 2021; Aqua limited 2022, rerun 2025.
Epitomized Path Pros
Locks the weapon; Childe-centric.
Co-Banner Worth
Polar's signature; Aqua's event gamble.
Skip or Pull for Growth?
Skip with Thundering; Polar for mains.
My Final Call: Pick Your Poison
Polar's BiS for 2025 Childe in Vaporize or Taser (5-15% over Aqua); Aqua for CRIT builds or limited grabs. Both smoke 4-Stars; Polar's the long-haul winner.
C0 Polar clears Abyss AoE faster; Aqua's budget off-field friendly. AoE? Polar. Single? Aqua. Pull Polar in Version 5.3; Aqua September 2025. Level Skill to 93.1%, ER 110-130%.
Your Account's Guide
F2P: Hamayumi. Mid-roll: Polar R1. Endgame: Refine post-C1.
Polar Priority Plays
Vaporize/AoE; all-around versatile.
Aqua's Best Bets
Taser/single; event window.
Bottom Line: You Can't Really Screw This Up
Polar's the meta king; both S-tier for Childe.
FAQ
Which bow rules for Childe: Polar Star or Aqua Simulacra?
Polar Star takes the crown in 2025, with 15-20% higher DPS from 48% ATK stacks and 33.1% CRIT Rate for melee and Riptide AoE. Aqua's 88.2% CRIT DMG +20% proximity nails single-target Taser – a strong runner-up that lags in multi-target Vaporize.
Is Polar Star still Childe's top weapon in 2025?
Absolutely, #1 bow with 608 ATK fueling 93.1% melee Normals and stacks adding +10-15% team DPS in International. It tops Thundering Pulse in AoE and holds strong with Furina, no nerfs in sight.
Does Aqua Simulacra vibe with Childe?
Yep, pumps 220k-260k in 9-second melee with 20% DMG near enemies for off-field Riptide and Heart of Depth synergy. Ranks #3, hitting 80-90% of Polar in CRIT single-target.
Damage gap between Polar Star and Aqua Simulacra on Childe?
Polar leads 15-20% in 28-second Vaporize (250k-300k vs. 220k-260k melee) via 48% stacks and ATK. Aqua pulls +5-10% in single-target at 250% CRIT, but Polar owns AoE Riptide.
Worth pulling Polar Star for Childe?
Totally – R1 delivers +20-30% over R5 Hamayumi, plus versatility for Yoimiya/Ganyu stacks. Aim for Version 5.3 (January 21-February 11, 2025) with 14k Primogems; prioritize over R5 unless you've got C1.
Can Aqua Simulacra sub for Polar Star on Childe?
Sure, in CRIT DMG setups with 88.2% substat +20% DMG for Taser/mono-Hydro – just 5-15% shy in AoE from 542 ATK. Pull September 30-October 21, 2025 if CRIT's your gap; otherwise, hoard for Polar.