In his latest livestream, Genshin Impact analyst Zajef delivered a no-filter deep dive into the five-star weapon meta, evaluating their overall value, not just as stat sticks, but also based on how well they serve their intended characters.

From Skirk’s signature polearm to long-time standards like Engulfing Lightning or Jade Cutter, this updated tier list reflects the latest 5.7-5.8 era meta, including newer releases like Fork and Vivid Notion.

📺 Source: Zajef Daily on YouTube

How This Tier List Works

Zajef isn’t ranking weapons purely based on stats. Instead, he evaluates:

  • Synergy with their intended characters
  • Generic stat stick value
  • Impact on meta teams
  • Crit rate/crit damage balance
  • F2P considerations like Favonius overlap

The idea? A weapon that looks great on paper may still fall behind if it overcaps stats or competes poorly against four-star options.

Sword Tier Highlights

  • Top Tier (S):
    • Mistsplitter Reforged, Key of Khaj-Nisut, Chiori’s Signature
    • Great synergy with key carries like Ayaka, Furina, and Chiori.
  • High A Tier:
    • Freedom-Sworn, Absolution, Haran Geppaku Futsu
    • Freedom-Sworn’s value is reduced on Kazuha specifically, but still strong elsewhere.
  • Overrated?
    • Jade Cutter lands lower than most would expect. Why? Many sword users overcap on crit rate due to passives or artifact sets, making the weapon inefficient on them.

Claymore Tier Highlights

  • Top Picks:
    • Verdict, Redhorn Stonethresher, Beacon of the Reed Sea, Moa’s Signature (Crimson Moon’s Semblance)
    • The value of these is often tied to Bennett buffs and how well the claymore unit can make use of flat attack and crit stats.
  • Mid Picks:
    • Wolf’s Gravestone, Skyward Pride, The Unforged
    • These weapons are fine stat sticks but outclassed by newer options or lack synergy with current meta carries.

Bow Tier Insights

  • Top Tier:
    • Aqua Simulacra, The First Great Magic, The Viridescent Hunt (in context)
    • Aqua is near-universally strong on Yelan, Tartaglia, and Yoimiya.
  • Elegy for the End:
    • Despite strong effects, it competes directly with Favonius Warbow, which is simply more efficient for energy-focused teams.
  • Cautions:
    • Hunter’s Path and Thundering Pulse sit lower due to crit rate overcapping or limited synergy.

Polearm Tier Analysis

  • Best of the Best:
    • Fork (newly released) is arguably the best 5-star weapon in the game, rivaling top-tier sigs while being viable on supports and carries alike, especially with Escoffier teams.
  • Also Excellent:
    • Engulfing Lightning, Arlecchino’s Signature, Staff of the Scarlet Sands
    • Engulfing remains versatile thanks to ER-to-ATK conversion and team-wide applicability.
  • Overrated Stat Sticks?
    • Staff of Homa and Calamity Queller were called out as mediocre stat sticks outside their niche.

Catalyst Weapon Highlights

  • Best Catalyst Sigs:
    • Rain’s Echoing Call (for Shenhe)
    • Crimson Moon’s Semblance (for Mualani—though recently bumped down a tier)
    • First Great Magic and Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds still remain solid for DPS catalysts.
  • Worst Offenders:
    • Everlasting Moonglow, Memory of Dust, and Skyward Atlas—either too niche or outclassed.
  • Citlali’s Signature:
    • After reconsideration, Zajef placed Citlali’s weapon in C tier, acknowledging that its cooldown synergy makes it more viable in the new triple team endgame mode.

New Weapons: Fork and Vivid Notion

  • Fork:
    • An S+ tier weapon. Great on Escoffier, supports, and even some DPS units. Its universal team DPS increase and synergy make it a must-have for high-end team builders.
  • Vivid Notion:
    • Surprisingly powerful. Its passive gives more attack than Homa on Hu Tao in most teams due to her high HP scaling and full uptime on the buff. Lands solidly in A tier.

Skirk’s Signature Weapon

  • Skirk’s Polearm:
    • Not quite universal, but powerful enough to earn an A or B tier spot, depending on usage. Its crit rate stat makes it less appealing for non-Skirk units with high innate crit bonuses.

Final Thoughts

Zajef’s five-star weapon tier list doesn’t just reflect raw stat output—it’s a practical guide for players looking to maximize real-world impact on their teams. Whether you’re a min-maxing speedrunner or just wondering which weapon is worth your pity, his tier breakdown offers invaluable clarity.

For more detailed Genshin analysis and updated tier discussions, visit ExploreGenshin.gg.

Frequently Asked Questions about Genshin Weapon Tier List

Which sword has the best universal value?

Freedom-Sworn is one of the best universal support swords, though it’s less impactful on Kazuha now due to internal synergy changes.

Why is Jade Cutter ranked lower?

Many sword users already have high crit rate through passives and sets, making Jade Cutter’s crit rate inefficient.

Is Fork really that strong?

Yes. Fork is considered the best five-star polearm for overall team DPS, and is versatile across both supports and carries.

What’s the best claymore in Genshin right now?

Crimson Moon’s Semblance and Redhorn Stonethresher are top tier, especially for Bennett-boosted teams.

Are crit rate weapons bad?

Not inherently—but characters who already have high crit rate from kits or artifacts get more out of crit damage weapons.

Should I pull for Skirk’s weapon?

Only if you’re using Skirk. Its scaling and passive make it less effective as a general stat stick.