A max-refined 5-star weapon can provide 20-40% more stats than its base version. But refinement costs are steep — knowing which weapons to refine and which to skip is essential skill for every traveler.
Refinement Level Mechanics
What is weapon refinement?
Refinement upgrades a weapon's passive skill by duplicating it.
| Refinement Level | Symbol | Passive Skill Change |
| R0 | ×1 | Base level |
| R1 | ×2 | +1 level |
| R2 | ×3 | +2 levels |
| R3 | ×4 | +3 levels |
| R4 | ×5 | +4 levels |
| R5 | ×6 | +5 levels |
Refinement cost (duplicate weapon conversion):
- Convert duplicate weapons into refinement materials
- Material requirements increase per refinement level
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Refinement Costs by Star Tier
5-Star Weapon Refinement Costs
| Target Level | Materials Needed | Approximate Cost |
| R1 (×2) | 1 duplicate | 1 five-star weapon |
| R2 (×3) | 2 duplicates | 2 five-star weapons |
| R3 (×4) | 3 duplicates | 3 five-star weapons |
| R4 (×5) | 4 duplicates | 4 five-star weapons |
| R5 (×6) | 5 duplicates | 5 five-star weapons |
> Note: From R3, some weapons have 'qualitative changes' (e.g., Engulfing Lightning R3 provides team-wide ER boost). At this point, refinement value increases significantly.
4-Star Weapon Refinement Costs
| Target Level | Materials Needed |
| R1 (×2) | 1 duplicate |
| R2 (×3) | 2 duplicates |
| R3 (×4) | 3 duplicates |
| R4 (×5) | 4 duplicates |
| R5 (×6) | 5 duplicates |
> 4-star weapon refinement costs are relatively affordable, especially forged weapons (free to max).
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Refinement Priority Recommendations
S-Tier: Must Refine
| Weapon | Target Level | Reason |
| Engulfing Lightning (Raiden signature) | R1-R3 | R3 is qualitative, massive team ER boost |
| Wolf-Song Gungnir (Xiao signature) | R1 | High base ATK, passive boosts normal attacks |
| Wolf-Fang Greatsword (Diluc/Noelle) | R1 | Core physical team weapon, shield-break DMG |
| Freedom-Sworn (Universal sword) | R1 | Extremely versatile, works on multiple characters |
A-Tier: Worth Refining
| Weapon | Target Level | Reason |
| Mistsplitter Reforged (Scaramouche signature) | R1 | Elemental skill/burst DMG boost |
| Redhorn Stonethresher (Chongyun/Noelle) | R1 | Physical DPS core |
| Tidehunter's Will (Xingqiu) | R1 | Off-field hydro DMG boost |
| Favonius Sword / Favonius Greatsword | R2 | Elemental skill CD reduction |
B-Tier: Refine if Conditions Met
| Weapon | Target Level | Reason |
| Jade Strike (Itto signature) | R1 | HP-to-ATK, pairs with HP goblet |
| Blackcliff Longsword (Zhongli) | R1 | Sustained DPS passive |
| Skyward Harp (Jean/Ningguang) | R1 | High base ATK, universal support |
C-Tier: Do Not Refine
- Most 4-star weapons (except Favonius series at R2)
- Signature weapons already at R1 for other characters
- Event-limited weapons (unless reissued)
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Refinement Material Sources
1. Weapon Banner (Most Direct)
- Hard pity at 90 pulls
- Soft pity starts around 74 pulls
- 50-50 mechanic: If you lose the 50-50, next guaranteed
2. Forging (Free)
- 4-star forged weapons: Free with ore materials
- 5-star forged weapons (e.g., Mistsplitter): Requires world quest unlock
- Advantage: Never expires, can forge anytime
3. Battle Pass
- 1680 primogems for BP access
- BP weapons (e.g., Favonius Codex) available via weapon banner
4. Event Rewards
- Holiday events, version events sometimes give free 5-star weapons
- Watch official announcements for free weapon opportunities
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Refinement Decision Framework
Ask yourself three questions:
1. Is this weapon the character's signature?
- - Yes → Prioritize refining to R1
- - No → Consider universal weapons
2. Does R1 bring qualitative change?
- - Yes (e.g., Engulfing Lightning R3) → Worth investing
- - No (e.g., normal DMG bonus) → R1 is sufficient
3. Do I have stable income sources?
- - Monthly card + BP → Can consider R2-R3
- - Pure F2P → Cap at R1, don't over-invest
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Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Consequence | Fix |
| Refining all 5-star weapons | Scattered resources, no core | Only refine 1-2 core weapons |
| Refining weapons before talents | Waste resin | Talents > Weapons > Artifacts |
| Refining 4-star to R5 | Low ROI | 4-star weapons at R1-R2 is enough |
| Refining new weapons immediately | Miss better weapons later | Wait for stable income before refining |
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One-Sentence Summary
> Refine signature weapons to R1; only invest further at qualitative levels (R3). Talents first, weapons second, artifacts third.
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Internal Links
| Guide | Link |
| [Best F2P Weapons](best-f2p-weapons.html) | F2P-friendly weapon picks |
| [Character Building Guide](character-building-guide.html) | Overall build priority |
| [Constellation Guide](constellation-guide.html) | Constellation vs weapon decisions |
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FAQ
Q: How many primogems to refine a 5-star weapon to R1?
A: About 90 pulls (14,400 primogems), realistically 70-90 pulls with soft pity.
Q: Do refinement materials expire?
A: No. Refinement materials are permanent and always usable.
Q: Is it worth refining 4-star weapons?
A: Festering Desire series (sword/greatsword/bow) worth R2; other 4-stars at R1 is enough.
Q: Should I refine weapons or level talents first?
A: Talents first. Talents are direct multipliers in the damage formula with more stable returns.