Iron Sting stands out in Genshin Impact as a versatile four-star sword designed for players who value elemental mastery and reaction-based builds. As a craftable weapon obtainable through forging, Iron Sting provides a free-to-play option that enhances elemental damage and solidifies its status as a go-to choice for characters that thrive on elemental reactions. Whether you are a newcomer exploring Teyvat or a veteran optimizing your team, this sword offers a balanced mix of accessibility and utility.
Weapon Overview and Specifications
Iron Sting is a four-star sword with a focus on elemental mastery. It is ideal for characters that trigger elemental reactions frequently. The sword offers a unique passive ability called “Infusion Stinger” which increases overall damage when elemental damage is dealt, making it especially powerful for reaction-based and sub-DPS roles.
Key Weapon Attributes
- Type: Sword
- Rarity: 4-Star
- Base Attack: 42 at Level 1, scaling up to 510 at Level 90
- Substat: Elemental Mastery (36 at Level 1 up to 165 at Level 90)
Passive Ability – Infusion Stinger
The passive ability of Iron Sting boosts all damage by 6% (Refinement 1) for a duration of 6 seconds with a maximum of 2 stacks. At higher refinements, the bonus increases to 7.5%, 9%, 10.5%, and 12% respectively. This effect triggers with every instance of elemental damage, making it favorable for builds centered around elemental reactions.
Crafting and Ascension Details
How to Obtain Iron Sting
Players can obtain Iron Sting without spending on gacha pulls because it is available through forging at any blacksmith in Teyvat. The required materials are:
- 1 Northlander Sword Billet
- 50 Crystal Chunks
- 50 White Iron Chunks
- 500 Mora
Ascension Path
Iron Sting follows the standard six-phase ascension process for four-star weapons. With each phase, the weapon’s base attack and elemental mastery grow steadily, ensuring its effectiveness scales well with your character’s progress.
Synergizing Iron Sting with Characters and Builds
Recommended Characters
The sword especially shines when paired with characters that rely on elemental reactions. It is a strong fit for:
- Kazuha: His high elemental mastery and reaction-focused kit make him a top pick for exploiting Iron Sting’s passive boost.
- Alhaitham and Keqing: Both benefit from the increased elemental reaction damage and serve well in sub-DPS roles.
- Traveler (Anemo/Electro): Versatility in elemental application is further enhanced by this weapon.
- Other sword users built around reaction or elemental mastery strategies
Build Synergies and Artifact Priorities
For those using Iron Sting, it is recommended to focus on stacking elemental mastery. While ATK% and crit stats also play a role, maximizing elemental reaction potential remains the key priority. Ideal teams include characters who can generate consistent elemental damage through skills or bursts, enabling the frequent stacking of the passive effect.
Strengths and Considerations
- Strengths: Free-to-play accessible, excellent enhancement for elemental mastery, flexible across various elemental reaction setups.
- Drawbacks: Lower base attack compared to other high-rarity swords; may not suit pure ATK-scaling DPS builds that ignore elemental reactions.
Weapon Summary Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Weapon Type | Sword |
| Rarity | 4-Star |
| Base ATK (Level 90) | 510 |
| Substat | Elemental Mastery (165 at Lvl 90) |
| Passive | All Damage up by 6-12% (Infusion Stinger, max 2 stacks, 6s duration) |
| How to Obtain | Craftable via Blacksmith Forging |
| Key Characters | Kazuha, Alhaitham, Keqing, Traveler, among others |
| Best For | Reaction-based/sub-DPS and elemental mastery builds |
Frequently Asked Questions about Iron Sting in Genshin Impact
What makes Iron Sting unique among Genshin Impact swords?
Iron Sting is distinguished by its elemental mastery scaling and its passive ability that boosts all damage upon dealing elemental damage. It offers a free crafting option that is highly beneficial for reaction-based builds.
How do I obtain Iron Sting?
You can obtain Iron Sting by forging it at any blacksmith in Teyvat. The required materials include 1 Northlander Sword Billet, 50 Crystal Chunks, 50 White Iron Chunks, and 500 Mora.
What is the base attack of Iron Sting at level 90?
At level 90, Iron Sting has a base attack of 510, making it competitive for a four-star weapon with good scaling.
How does the passive ability Infusion Stinger work?
The passive ability increases all damage by 6% at Refinement 1 (up to 12% at higher refinements) for 6 seconds with a maximum of 2 stacks. It triggers every time the character deals elemental damage.
Which characters benefit the most from Iron Sting?
Characters like Kazuha, Alhaitham, Keqing, and Traveler, who rely on elemental reactions and have skills that generate continuous elemental damage, are among the best candidates for using Iron Sting.
Is Iron Sting suitable for pure ATK builds?
While Iron Sting offers balanced stats, its strengths lie in elemental mastery and reaction synergy rather than raw ATK. Pure ATK builds may find more suitable options among higher rarity swords.
What crafting materials are needed to forge Iron Sting?
The required materials are 1 Northlander Sword Billet, 50 Crystal Chunks, 50 White Iron Chunks, and 500 Mora, making it a very accessible weapon for free-to-play players.
How does Iron Sting scale with ascension?
The sword follows the standard six-phase ascension path for four-star weapons, steadily increasing both the base attack and elemental mastery as you ascend.
Can Iron Sting be used on characters other than sword users?
Iron Sting is exclusively a sword weapon. It is best used by characters who can equip swords and benefit from the elemental mastery boost for reaction-based damage.
What artifact stats should I prioritize when using Iron Sting?
When using Iron Sting, focus on building elemental mastery, followed by ATK%, crit rate, and crit damage. This enhances the weapon’s strengths and maximizes the benefits of its passive ability.
