Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers Genshin Impact Weapon Guide: Best Builds, Characters, and Why It’s a Must-Have

Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers is one of Genshin Impact’s most iconic and widely-used weapons, beloved by players for its exceptional support capability despite being a humble 3-star catalyst. Its accessibility and team-wide ATK boost have given it a legendary reputation across every phase of the game.

Why Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers Stands Out

Few weapons in Genshin Impact can claim as much impact on team composition as Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers. While many expect power to scale with rarity, this catalyst repeatedly proves otherwise thanks to an unparalleled group support passive that lets any account boost their main damage dealers.

Weapon Type, Rarity, and Essential Stats

• Type: Catalyst
• Rarity: 3-Star
• Obtainable From: All standard banners including Wanderlust Invocation, Character Event Wishes, Weapon Event Wishes, and Beginner’s Wish
• Base Attack (Level 1/90): 39/401
• Secondary Stat: HP% (7.7% at Level 1, 35.2% at Level 90)

Weapon Effect: What Makes Thrilling Tales So Powerful?

The passive ability, Legacy, is the cornerstone of the weapon’s power:

• After switching characters, the new on-field character gains 24% ATK for 10 seconds (at Refinement Rank 1; up to 48% ATK at Refinement Rank 5).
• Has a 20-second cooldown, meaning timing your switches is key for consistent buffs.

Because of its simple mechanic, Thrilling Tales becomes a must-have in teams that rely on support characters to maximize damage output for primary DPS units.

How to Obtain Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers

Unlike many elite weapons, Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers is easily accessible, making it an ideal weapon for both new and veteran players. It can be acquired as a random drop from all standard Genshin Impact banners, without any event or limited-time constraints. Duplicates are common, allowing for quick refinement to its maximum potential.

Best Characters to Use Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers

Because its passive only triggers when the wielder switches out, Thrilling Tales is optimal for characters who:

• Play a support or off-field role
• Benefit from HP% substats (for healing and survivability)

Top choices include:

• Barbara: The weapon’s HP% substat boosts her healing, and her rotation naturally fits the swap-in-and-out playstyle required.
• Sangonomiya Kokomi: Great synergy with HP scaling and healing role, especially in teams where she is a healer/buffer rather than the main DPS.
• Lisa: For low-investment teams, she can quickly trigger Thrilling Tales and then swap to DPS.
• Mona (support build): Not reliant on weapon ATK, can provide burst hydro and buff, then swap for the bonus.
• Support Nahida, Layla, Yanfei (support build): Useful for boosts during elemental skill rotations.

Optimal Builds and Artifact Synergy

• Healer Build: Pair the HP% substat with artifact sets like Maiden Beloved or Ocean-Hued Clam for Barbara and Kokomi.
• Support Quick-Swap: Combine with artifact sets that benefit your main DPS, letting your buffer pass Thrilling Tales’ effect when entering/exiting combat.
• HP% Synergy: Even outside of pure healing, survivability bonuses can be relevant for fragile supports—especially in Spiral Abyss or high-level content.

See practical build examples and guides at Genshin.gg Builds.

The Value of Refinement Ranks

Thrilling Tales shines even at R1, but if you collect more copies, its ATK boost scales dramatically:

• R1: 24% ATK Buff
• R5: 48% ATK Buff

Because refinements are easily obtainable through regular wishing, most players can max its effect quickly, making team ATK spikes highly reliable and potent.

Team Compositions and Advanced Strategies

• Use on a buffer or healer who rotates into the field to heal, apply quick buffs, then immediately switch out to the primary DPS.
• Coordinate cooldowns: Plan your rotations so the weapon’s 20-second cooldown doesn’t overlap with your most crucial team damage windows.
• Works especially well in “Quick-Swap” teams, such as National Team or various Freeze, Taser, and Hyperbloom compositions where support buffs are maximized just before main DPS enters the field.

How It Compares to 4-Star and 5-Star Catalysts

The game offers many high-rarity catalysts with impressive stats and effects. However, few can replicate the unconditional, team-wide ATK buff that Thrilling Tales provides. Many top players prefer an R5 Thrilling Tales on their support over 4-star or even 5-star options, keeping it as a staple even in endgame content like Spiral Abyss or high-level domains.

Want to see more weapon comparisons? Check out Korometa’s comparison list for stats, rankings, and side-by-side breakdowns.

Frequently Asked Questions about Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers in Genshin Impact

What type of weapon is Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers?

It’s a 3-star catalyst usable by all catalyst-wielding characters in Genshin Impact.

How do you obtain Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers?

You can obtain the weapon as a random drop from any standard or event wish (gacha banner) in the game. It’s not event-exclusive and can be acquired throughout your journey.

Which characters benefit most from this weapon?

Support catalyst users such as Barbara, Kokomi, Lisa, Mona (for pure support), and sometimes Nahida or Yanfei (support build) are top users, especially in team compositions focused on buffing DPS characters.

How does the passive skill “Legacy” work?

When the wielder of Thrilling Tales is switched out, the character that replaces them gains a significant ATK boost for 10 seconds. This effect has a 20-second cooldown.

Does the ATK buff from the weapon stack if multiple teammates use it?

Only one instance of the ATK buff can be active on a character at a time. Multiple buffs do not stack together, so staggering uses or strategic swapping is recommended for multi-support teams.

Is it worth refining Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers to R5?

Yes. Refinement increases the ATK buff from 24% up to 48%, which is a huge boost for any team’s main damage dealer. Because it’s a common 3-star, achieving R5 is very accessible.

How important is the HP% substat on this weapon?

It is less important for buffing, but increases healing and survivability for characters like Barbara or Kokomi whose abilities scale with HP. The main value is the passive ATK buff.

Does Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers ever become outdated?

No. Despite being a 3-star weapon, it remains highly relevant even in late-game and Spiral Abyss thanks to its unique, powerful passive. It cannot be replaced for team-ATK buffing.

Is it better than 4-star or 5-star catalysts in support roles?

For pure team support, especially where primary DPS damage is priority, an R5 Thrilling Tales often outperforms many higher-rarity weapons due to its large unconditional ATK boost.

Can Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers support multiple DPS in one team?

While the buff only affects the character who enters the field after the catalyst user switches out, you can use careful swapping to pass the buff to multiple characters on a rotation, provided the cooldown allows it.

Where can I find up-to-date guides or video content about Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers?

For current guides and community builds, visit sites like Genshin.gg Thrilling Tales and GameWith. There are also many helpful YouTube tutorials available by searching “Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers Guide.”

Unlocking Legendary Power on a Budget

Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers is proof that you do not need the rarest weapons in Genshin Impact to create some of the strongest team synergies and maximize your team’s potential. Whether you’re a free-to-play Traveler or an AR60 veteran, this modest 3-star catalyst remains a perpetual favorite in the meta for supercharging your main DPS. Add a few refinements, put it on your favorite support, and experience the lasting impact of this timeless classic!