Genshin Impact's Broken Pity System: A Disappointing Reality
Genshin Impact's gacha system has been a point of contention for many players With promises of rare characters and weapons, the pity system has left some feeling frustrated and disappointed
HoYoVerse, formerly known as MiHoYo, has become a household name with its action-packed RPG live-service game, Genshin Impact. The game follows the journey of a pair of twins who are separated in the vast and magical world of Teyvat and are aided by Paimon, a mysterious being who serves as the players' guide throughout the game. Along with its immersive world, Genshin Impact is also renowned for its diverse and extensive range of playable characters.
With a roster of 68 playable characters, fans have plenty of options to choose from to build their dream teams to take on challenging story quests and daily commissions. However, there's a catch - Genshin Impact uses a gacha system that has been met with controversy and criticism over the years. But what some players may not know is that the gacha mechanics come with a "pity" system that benefits unlucky players. Nevertheless, this system has its own flaws.
How Genshin Impact's Pity System Works
Players can make wishes in Genshin Impact by spending Primogems to pull from a pool of four-star or three-star items and weapons, as well as five-star or four-star characters. The drop rate for items is the highest, at around 95%, while the chance of pulling a character is approximately 5%, although this rate can vary depending on the banner. However, if a player makes a total of 90 pulls across any character banner, they are guaranteed to receive a five-star character, including limited rate-up ones. Additionally, if a player manages to obtain a five-star character at the 0.6% drop rate, they have a 50-50 chance of getting either the limited character or a standard character like Diluc. If they do not get the limited character, the next five-star character they pull will be guaranteed to be the limited one. The weapons banners also have a similar pity system, requiring players to lose two 50-50 chances before receiving the rate-up weapon.
Genshin Impact's Lofty Promises and Their Problems
Gamers may understand why Genshin fans and loyalists continuously strive to pull for characters or gather free Primogems without much thought, due to the pity system and guarantees in place. While it may seem easy to save up for a limited character like Yoimiya, with the idea that it only takes 90 pulls, this can still be detrimental to fans, similar to other free-to-play gacha games. The phrase "there is always a chance" is often associated with gambling addictions, and although Genshin Impact has a 90-pull guarantee, players may still continue pulling until they reach the guaranteed thresholds. This poses a significant problem as Primogems are scarce in-game, and acquiring 90 pulls worth can cost over a hundred dollars if purchased with real-world money.
Furthermore, it's worth noting that the guarantees for characters are only applicable to five-star characters. While these characters are highly sought after for good reason, the same cannot be said for their four-star counterparts. Despite the 50-50 chance of obtaining limited and standard four-stars, players have reported instances where they've received duplicates of a limited five-star character but not a single four-star character from the banner. In light of these shortcomings, it would be beneficial for HoYoVerse to reevaluate the pity system and strive for balance, so that players can enjoy a more rewarding experience. Genshin Impact is currently available on various platforms including Mobile, PC, PS4, and PS5.
