Polar Star stands as a beacon of unrivaled power in Genshin Impact, captivating players with its unique blend of CRIT rate enhancements and explosive attack boosts. This 5-star bow is celebrated for its synergy with DPS archers, especially Tartaglia, and plays a pivotal role in maximizing burst damage through its intricate stacking mechanism.
Weapon Profile: Unraveling Polar Star’s Excellence
Polar Star is a high-tier 5-star bow that boasts a base attack of 608 and an impressive secondary stat of 33.1% CRIT Rate. Reserved for the most skilled players, it is tailored for characters with dynamic rotations that incorporate Normal Attacks, Charged Attacks, Elemental Skills, and Elemental Bursts. Its signature association with Tartaglia (Childe) amplifies its prestige, while other archers like Tighnari, Fischl, Yoimiya, Yelan, and Ganyu can also leverage its benefits in specialized builds.
Daylight’s Augury: Explosive Stacking Mechanics
The true ingenuity of Polar Star lies in its weapon skill, Daylight’s Augury, which boosts Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst damage by 12%. Each successful hit with any attack type grants a stack of Ashen Nightstar, with each distinct attack type having its own independent timer. This stacking mechanism confers a cumulative ATK% increase of up to 48% when all four possible stacks are active, making it a formidable tool in the hands of characters who can weave together a variety of attacks.
Securing the Icon: How to Obtain Polar Star
Polar Star is exclusively obtainable from the limited Epitome Invocation Weapon Banner. It does not appear on the standard banner and is typically featured during select event banners, often coinciding with Tartaglia reruns. This limited availability underscores its elite status in the Genshin Impact arsenal.
Ascension Materials: The Road to Maximum Potential
To fully ascend Polar Star from Level 1 to 90, players need to farm a variety of specialized ascension materials. Key items include Mask of the Wicked Lieutenant, Mask of the Tiger’s Bite, Mask of the One-Horned, Mask of the Kijin, Concealed Claw, Concealed Unguis, Concealed Talon, Spectral Husk, Spectral Heart, Spectral Nucleus, and a hefty sum of Mora. These materials reflect the weapon’s high-tier quality and the effort required to unlock its full potential.
Mastering Builds: Best Characters and Strategies
Polar Star shines brightest in the hands of Tartaglia, whose fast-paced melee and ranged rotation can fully exploit its stacking mechanics. Beyond Tartaglia, archers such as Tighnari and Fischl benefit greatly from its CRIT rate bonus, while alternative builds for characters like Yoimiya, Yelan, and Ganyu may also integrate the bow depending on playstyle. Artifact sets that boost CRIT DMG and ATK%, such as Heart of Depth, Noblesse, Shimenawa’s Reminiscence, Wanderer’s Troupe, or Emblem of Severed Fate, are excellent complements to maximize Polar Star's damage potential.
Comparative Edge: How Polar Star Stacks Against Peers
When pitted against other elite 5-star bows, Polar Star distinguishes itself with a unique trait line focusing on CRIT Rate and multifunctional damage boosts. While weapons like Thundering Pulse and Aqua Simulacra offer their own advantages in CRIT DMG and HP scaling respectively, Polar Star's balanced enhancements to ATK% and elemental damage make it a top contender for DPS archers seeking a versatile and powerful option.
Polar Star’s Strengths and Considerations
One of the key strengths of Polar Star is its ability to provide a steadfast CRIT rate bonus paired with significant ATK scaling. This synergy is especially potent for characters with well-rounded attack rotations that can capitalize on all four types of damage. However, achieving the full potential of its stacking mechanic can be challenging for characters that cannot consistently utilize Normal Attacks, Charged Attacks, Elemental Skills, and Elemental Bursts in a single rotation. Additionally, as a limited banner weapon, its availability may require patience and strategic planning at the right time.
Frequently Asked Questions about Polar Star in Genshin Impact
What type of weapon is Polar Star?
Polar Star is a 5-star bow that belongs to the elite category of ranged weapons in Genshin Impact, designed for DPS characters who can benefit from its high CRIT rate and ATK bonuses.
Which character is considered the signature user of Polar Star?
Tartaglia (Childe) is widely recognized as the signature user for Polar Star, as his dynamic combat style aligns perfectly with the weapon's stacking mechanism.
How does the stacking mechanic of Polar Star work?
Each time the wielder lands a hit with a Normal Attack, Charged Attack, Elemental Skill, or Elemental Burst, they receive a stack of Ashen Nightstar. These stacks increase ATK% by 10% per stack (1 stack), 20% (2 stacks), 30% (3 stacks), up to 48% for a full complement of 4 stacks, with each stack having a 12-second duration.
When can I obtain Polar Star in the game?
Polar Star is featured exclusively on the limited Epitome Invocation Weapon Banner, and it appears only during select event banners, which are often aligned with Tartaglia rerun events.
What are the key stat values for Polar Star at Level 90?
At Level 90, Polar Star has a base attack of 608 and a secondary stat of 33.1% CRIT Rate, making it one of the premier bows in the game.
Which ascension materials are needed for Polar Star?
Players need several materials including various Masks (Wicked Lieutenant, Tiger’s Bite, One-Horned, Kijin), Concealed Claw, Concealed Unguis, Concealed Talon, Spectral Husk, Spectral Heart, Spectral Nucleus, along with Mora, to fully ascend Polar Star.
Are there optimal artifact sets to pair with Polar Star?
Yes, for Tartaglia and other DPS archers, artifact sets that boost CRIT DMG and ATK% such as 4-piece Heart of Depth or Noblesse are highly recommended. Other sets like Shimenawa’s Reminiscence, Wanderer’s Troupe, or Emblem of Severed Fate also work well depending on the character’s build.
Can other characters besides Tartaglia use Polar Star effectively?
While Tartaglia is the most optimized user, characters like Tighnari, Fischl, Yoimiya, Yelan, and even Ganyu can also utilize Polar Star. However, its full potential is best realized on characters who can consistently cycle through all four attack types.
How does Polar Star compare to other 5-star bows?
Compared to bows like Thundering Pulse, Aqua Simulacra, and Skyward Harp, Polar Star uniquely offers CRIT Rate, ATK%, and elemental damage bonuses that are ideal for maximizing the performance of versatile DPS archers.
What playstyle best maximizes the benefits of Polar Star?
Polar Star is best paired with characters that have a fast and varied attack rotation, allowing them to collect all four types of attack stacks quickly. This playstyle ensures that the weapon's ATK% boosts and elemental damage bonuses are consistently active during combat.
