The Recurve Bow is a classic and accessible 3-star bow weapon in Genshin Impact, uniquely valued for its HP-boosting substat and self-healing effects. Its combative utility and accessibility make it a solid choice for travelers seeking reliable support for HP-scaling bow characters from early game to specialized team builds.
Recurve Bow: Type, Quality, and Stats
The Recurve Bow belongs to the Bow weapon class and is rated at 3-star rarity. While higher-tier weapons often steal the spotlight, the Recurve Bow carves out a distinct niche by offering unique stats that aren’t otherwise widely available in free or easily acquired weapons, especially for certain team compositions.
Core Statistics
- Base Attack at Level 90: 354
- Secondary Stat (at Level 90): HP +46.9%
- Rarity: 3-Star
- Weapon Skill (Cull the Weak): Defeating an opponent restores 8% HP (Refinement Rank 1), scaling up to 16% HP (Refinement Rank 5).
This HP substat is the selling point for certain supports that benefit more from survivability and healing boosts than flat attack increases.
How to Obtain the Recurve Bow
The Recurve Bow is one of the most accessible weapons in Genshin Impact. Unlike many other weapons locked behind gacha pulls, it is attainable through multiple free-to-play avenues:
- Chest Rewards: Random drop from exquisite or higher rarity chests in Mondstadt.
- Dialogue Rewards: Obtained by talking to Nakano at Ritou or Shirin at Gandharva Ville.
- Quest Rewards: Occasionally awarded during world quests or NPC interactions.
Because the bow is available through these consistent world exploration means, you can refine it to the maximum level (R5) much more easily than most other weapons.
Performance Analysis: Where the Recurve Bow Shines
On the surface, the Recurve Bow’s modest base attack and low rarity can seem limiting. However, for supports and characters that scale off HP, this weapon can outperform even many higher-rarity bows under specific circumstances. When fully refined, its self-healing property is especially notable in extended or mob-heavy encounters.
Recommended Characters
- Sigewinne: One of the two available bows with an HP substat, making it a budget-friendly fit for her healing and HP-reliant kit (see build guide).
- Yelan: Early-game or F2P players can use Recurve Bow’s HP substat to boost Yelan’s skill and burst, as she scales remarkably with HP (character details).
- Diona: Her shields and healing, built on HP, directly benefit from both the weapon’s stat and passive.
While these characters are optimal choices, any bow user reliant on HP scaling for their abilities, healing, or shields can benefit from the Recurve Bow, especially in the absence of premium 4-star or 5-star bows.
Refinement Benefits
Refinement increases the HP restoration from 8% to 16% upon defeating an opponent. Since copies are easy to obtain, maximizing refinement is straightforward and increases the bow’s long-term utility and in-battle survivability for its wielder.
Best Builds and Usage Scenarios
The Recurve Bow is best slotted into a healer or shield-support build, focusing artifacts on HP% or Energy Recharge as needed for further optimization. For Sigewinne and Diona, combining the Recurve Bow with artifact sets like Tenacity of the Millelith or Maiden Beloved can maximize their team-wide sustain and resilience. Yelan can use it as a backup option to buff her abilities with more HP until a dedicated 5-star weapon is acquired.
Its main drawback is the low base attack, which can result in lower overall DPS for characters heavily reliant on personal damage. As such, avoid using the Recurve Bow on main DPS units unless no better alternatives are available.
Comparing the Recurve Bow to Other Weapons
Most 3-star bows focus on attack or elemental mastery, leaving Recurve Bow as the go-to for early-game HP builds. While its power is eventually eclipsed by weapons like the Aqua Simulacra (for Yelan), the unique stat spread of the Recurve Bow keeps it relevant as a backup or secondary option well into the late game for those who prioritize HP over raw attack stats.
Its omnipresence and direct accessibility surpass most low-tier weapons, making it a cornerstone for certain builds and free-to-play strategists.
Frequently Asked Questions about Recurve Bow in Genshin Impact
What kind of weapon is the Recurve Bow?
The Recurve Bow is a 3-star bow in Genshin Impact, notable for its HP percentage secondary stat and self-healing capability.
How can I get the Recurve Bow for free?
You can obtain the Recurve Bow from exquisite and higher rarity chests in Mondstadt, by completing certain quests, or as a dialogue reward from Nakano in Ritou and Shirin in Gandharva Ville.
Which characters benefit most from the Recurve Bow?
HP-scaling bow users like Sigewinne, Yelan, and Diona gain the most from this weapon due to its HP% stat and the healing passive.
Is the Recurve Bow a good choice for DPS builds?
Because it has a low base attack, the Recurve Bow is generally not viable for main DPS builds unless you lack other options. It excels in supportive, survivability-focused roles instead.
What is the max HP bonus of the Recurve Bow?
At level 90, the Recurve Bow grants a 46.9% HP increase as its secondary stat, one of the highest for any bow in its rarity.
How does the weapon skill “Cull the Weak” work?
Defeating an opponent restores a percentage of the wielder’s HP (starting at 8%, up to 16% at maximum refinement). This healing effect is instantaneous and highly beneficial in mob-content.
Can you refine the Recurve Bow easily?
Yes. Due to its availability from chests and world exploration, acquiring enough copies for refinement (up to rank 5) is much easier compared to most 3-star weapons.
How does the Recurve Bow compare to rare 4-star or 5-star bows for HP-scaling builds?
While premium weapons like Aqua Simulacra outperform it statistically, the Recurve Bow remains the best easily obtainable HP% bow for free-to-play players and early team building.
Does the Recurve Bow work in late game or the Spiral Abyss?
It can be effective for niche support roles or survivability builds, but damage may begin to lag in the highest-end content. Still, if used on HP-scaling characters who do not depend on high base attack, it remains an excellent backup option.
What artifacts work best with the Recurve Bow?
Artifact sets that boost HP% (like Tenacity of the Millelith or Maiden Beloved) synergize best, further amplifying the bow’s benefits for healing or shield supports such as Diona and Sigewinne. For builds focused on healing, prioritize HP and Energy Recharge main stats.
Want further insights or ideas for team compositions with the Recurve Bow? Be sure to explore curated character and weapon reviews at GameWith or build discussions on Genshin Builds.
