Talking Stick is a 4-star Claymore weapon in Genshin Impact, introduced as part of the Gnostic Hymn Battle Pass rotation starting from Version 4.0. With its unique passive ability and versatile elemental scaling, this weapon offers an interesting alternative to the more widely-used Serpent Spine, particularly appealing to players focused on Pyro-oriented or reaction-based team compositions.
Weapon Overview and Stats
- Weapon Type: Claymore
- Rarity: 4-star
- Base ATK (Lv. 90): 565
- Secondary Stat: CRIT Rate 18.4%
Talking Stick provides one of the highest base attack values among 4-star claymores, enhanced further by a CRIT Rate sub-stat. This makes it particularly suitable for characters looking to increase their critical performance without sacrificing attack power.
How to Obtain Talking Stick
Talking Stick is exclusively available via the Gnostic Hymn Battle Pass. To acquire it, players need to unlock the Gnostic Hymn tier of the Battle Pass with a purchase and reach the milestone level that grants a Battle Pass weapon. Once accessible, Talking Stick can be chosen from the second series of Battle Pass weapons alongside other options like The Black Sword and Solar Pearl.
Weapon Skill: The Silver Tongue
The strength of Talking Stick lies in its conditional passive ability, “The Silver Tongue”, which rewards specific elemental interactions:
- If affected by Pyro: Increases ATK by 16% for 15s. Can trigger every 12s.
- If affected by Hydro, Cryo, Electro, or Dendro: Increases Elemental DMG Bonus by 12% for 15s. Can trigger every 12s.
At Refinement Rank 5, these effects scale to:
- ATK increase: 32%
- Elemental DMG Bonus: 24%
This unique scaling makes Talking Stick ideal for characters who are often affected by elemental status, either through enemy attacks or party synergy.
Best Characters for Talking Stick
Thanks to its stat spread and passive bonuses, Talking Stick is best suited for characters who thrive in reaction-heavy teams or benefit from increased elemental damage and attack boost:
Top-Recommended Users:
- Dehya – A Pyro claymore user who can consistently trigger the ATK bonus
- Gaming – Also a Pyro character who benefits from both ATK and CRIT Rate
- Freminet – As a Cryo user, he can activate the Elemental DMG bonus effectively
- Kinich – Can benefit from elemental interaction if properly built
Secondary Candidates:
- Diluc
- Xinyan
- Dori
- Razor
- Navia
- Chongyun
- Mavuika
Pairing Talking Stick with these characters enhances their versatility in elemental-focused teams, especially compositions designed around consistent elemental application.
Ideal Team Compositions
To maximize Talking Stick’s passive, consider building teams that fulfill one or both of the following requirements:
- Pyro Support or Pyro Enemies: Ensures consistent activation of the ATK bonus
- Elemental Applicators: Include Hydro (e.g., Barbara), Cryo (e.g., Kaeya), or Dendro (e.g., Collei) characters for wider activation opportunities
These compositions boost your main DPS character’s versatility and damage ceiling, especially in multi-wave enemy encounters or Abyss-style content where elemental uptime is constant.
Strengths and Drawbacks of Talking Stick
Advantages
- High base ATK allows great offensive foundation
- CRIT Rate substat is always valuable for DPS optimization
- Elemental flexibility in its passive makes it viable in various comps
- Guaranteed acquisition via Battle Pass
Drawbacks
- Passive requires conditions that may need team planning
- Loses out to Serpent Spine in raw output under ideal conditions
- Less effective in mono-element teams with low application variety
Comparison: Talking Stick vs Serpent Spine
Both available through Battle Pass, Talking Stick and Serpent Spine cater to different playstyles. Serpent Spine offers higher consistent damage through passive stacks but has a drawback where the user takes increased damage.
Meanwhile, Talking Stick is safer and requires elemental interaction for damage bonuses, making it preferable in teams where those conditions are reliably met. However, due to its passive complexity, it tends to be overlooked in favor of the simplicity and high ceiling of Serpent Spine.
External Resources and Guides
These guides feature deeper statistics, tier list analysis, and community feedback on the weapon’s long-term value across multiple patch versions.
Frequently Asked Questions about Talking Stick in Genshin Impact
What type of weapon is Talking Stick?
Talking Stick is a 4-star Claymore weapon in Genshin Impact, designed primarily for DPS-focused characters who benefit from CRIT Rate and elemental buffs.
How can I get the Talking Stick weapon?
You can obtain Talking Stick from the Gnostic Hymn Battle Pass, starting in Version 4.0. Choose it from the available Battle Pass weapons upon reaching the required tier.
What are the key stats of Talking Stick?
At level 90, Talking Stick provides a base ATK of 565 and a CRIT Rate stat of 18.4%, making it a potent offensive weapon for many Claymore users.
How does the weapon’s passive skill work?
Its passive, The Silver Tongue, triggers buffs when the character is affected by specific elements: Pyro grants ATK%, while other elements grant Elemental DMG Bonus. Each effect lasts 15 seconds and can be triggered every 12 seconds.
Is Talking Stick better than Serpent Spine?
Not necessarily. While Talking Stick is strong in reaction-heavy teams, Serpent Spine generally offers superior consistent DPS for characters who can maintain uptime and avoid damage. It depends on playstyle and team setup.
Can Talking Stick be used on Diluc?
Yes, though it isn’t his best-in-slot weapon. Diluc’s Pyro infusion allows consistent activation of the ATK bonus passive, making Talking Stick a serviceable budget option.
Which characters are best with Talking Stick?
Top users include Dehya, Gaming, Freminet, and Kinich. The weapon works best on characters frequently affected by elemental statuses or battling in reaction-based teams.
Does Talking Stick boost Elemental Mastery?
No, Talking Stick does not increase Elemental Mastery. It boosts ATK and Elemental DMG Bonus based on elemental effects on the wielder.
Is Talking Stick a good free-to-play option?
It’s technically not free-to-play as it requires purchasing the Gnostic Hymn Battle Pass. However, it provides guaranteed availability at a low cost compared to gacha pulls.
Can Talking Stick be refined?
Yes, but only through additional Battle Pass claims across multiple versions or through codes from rerun Battle Passes. Each refinement substantially boosts its passive effects.
