Such variety, however, is difficult to sustain, especially in a gacha game like Genshin Impact, which necessitates the release of new playable characters. As more of them are released, so grows the roster of characters that use the same set of weapons. And while each character usually gets unique attack animations and special skills, their general patterns are the same based on the weapon they wield. So, to curb this potential issue, HoYoverse could introduce new weapon types to Genshin Impact.
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The Potential for New Weapon Types in Genshin Impact
Currently, there are five weapon types in Genshin Impact – Swords, Claymores, Polearms, Catalysts, and Bows. The first three are melee weapons with varying levels of attack speed. Meanwhile, the last two are ranged weapons, with Bows generally being quicker than Catalysts. However, Catalysts are unique in that each of their attacks deals Elemental Damage rather than just Physical Damage.
So, if HoYoverse were to introduce a new weapon to Genshin Impact, it might be another ranged weapon to even out the list of weapon types. One potential weapon would be guns as they’re already present in the world of Teyvat, particularly by the Fatui Pyroslingers. Another option would be a wand or staff-type weapon to allow for another Elemental Damage-based playstyle. However, it would need to be distinct from Catalysts.
That said, there are even more possibilities if HoYoverse were to introduce a new melee weapon. Daggers similar to that of the Fatui Pyro Agent would allow for a playstyle even quicker than that of the Polearm. Short, dual-wielded blades like that of Childe’s in Genshin Impact would also lend themselves well to a similar playstyle. Lastly, axes similar to tomahawks could open up a whole new playstyle because they work both as melee weapons and as throwing weapons.
Changing Up Genshin Impact’s Combat
All these potential weapon types are no doubt exciting, especially since they would add more variety to the combat of Genshin Impact. However, it should be said that adding a new weapon type spells plenty of more work for HoYoverse. First and foremost, it would entail designing new sets of 1-Star to 5-Star items for the new weapon. It would also demand the creation of completely new attack patterns for the new characters. After that, the developer would need to plan for new Domains and Artifact Sets that buff the new weapon. Overall, it’s a laborious process.
Given this, it seems like HoYoverse is taking a different approach to sprucing up the game’s combat, and this is seen in Genshin Impact Shikanoin Heizou’s playstyle. Heizou makes use of an old weapon type – the Catalyst – but with an entirely new attack pattern. Instead of the slow, ranged attacks of other Catalyst-users, he attacks with quick punches and kicks. This hints that HoYoverse could be planning new combat styles for the different weapon types already in the game.
For instance, the Polearm weapon type in Genshin Impact could be altered for both melee and ranged combat, with its user hurling the weapon at enemies like a spear. Meanwhile, specific characters could be made to dual wield Swords. In fact, any upcoming playable character could be designed with a playstyle that differs from past characters. This effectively makes combat more interesting without HoYoverse having to add new weapon types to the game.
Still, this doesn’t guarantee that Genshin Impact won’t unveil a new weapon type. It just means that there’s plenty of potential to make the combat even more varied and interesting. Until HoYoverse makes an official announcement either confirming or denying the possibility, everything’s on the table.
Genshin Impact is now available on mobile, PC, PS4, and PS5. A Switch version is in development with no confirmed release date.
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