Man, I still remember the absolute hype train when Version 3.4 dropped! That Lantern Rite event was fire 🔥, but what really had everyone buzzing? Those weapon banners, baby! Hoyoverse went all out with Alhaitham’s debut alongside Xiao’s rerun in Phase 1, then hit us with the legendary Hu Tao and Yelan combo in Phase 2. And let’s be real – their signature weapons were the real endgame goals for us meta-slaves. I spent way too much time theorycrafting which banner to pull on… sound familiar? 😂

✨ Light of Foliar Incision: Alhaitham’s Green Glory

Okay, let’s talk about the star of the show – Alhaitham’s Light of Foliar Incision. This sword wasn’t just pretty; it was cracked! Check these stats:

• 88.2% Crit DMG at max level (hello, big numbers!)

• 16% Crit Rate boost (free crits? Yes please!)

• 200% DMG spike when Normal Attacks deal Elemental DMG

Why was this PERFECT for Alhaitham? His skill literally turns his Physical slashes into Dendro explosions 💥! Paired with this sword? Absolute carnage. But here’s the kicker – it wasn’t just for him. My Ayato mains were drooling over this thing too! That elemental synergy made it versatile for other Hydro/Electro comps.

⚔️ Phase 1 Weapon Banner: Double Trouble

Phase 1’s weapon banner felt like winning the lottery if you got either 5★:

1. Light of Foliar Incision (Alhaitham’s sword) – as above

2. Primordial Jade Winged-Spear (Xiao’s signature)

That PJWS wasn’t just Xiao’s toy though. With 22.1% Crit Rate and stacking ATK buffs? My Cyno, Raiden, and even Rosaria mains were itching to pull! It’s still one of the most universal polearms even today. Remember grinding for perfect artifacts to match that crit stat? Pain.

🔥 Phase 2 Weapon Banner: The Meta-Definers

Then Phase 2 dropped the real weapons of mass destruction:

Weapon	Character	Key Stats	Secret Sauce
Staff of Homa	Hu Tao	66.2% Crit DMG	HP → ATK conversion
Aqua Simulacra	Yelan	88.2% Crit DMG	40% universal DMG boost

Staff of Homa was (and still is!) the holy grail for polearm DPS. That HP scaling meant even Zhongli could bonk harder! And Aqua Simulacra? Don’t get me started. That bow turned Yelan into a machine gun 🏹, but it also made Ganyu melts and Yoimiya vapes absolutely nuclear. The 32% HP boost even made it viable for support Diona!

💎 Should You Have Pulled? The Eternal Dilemma

Let’s keep it 100: weapon banners are primo traps. I learned this the hard way chasing Homa back then! But if you did score one? Game-changing. Remember:

• F2P alternatives exist (like Deathmatch for polearms or Favonius Warbow)

• Only pull if BOTH weapons benefit you (or you’re a whale 🐋)

• Characters > Weapons (unless you’re min-maxing Abyss)

Even Yelan slays with 4★ options like Stringless or Recurve Bow. But c’mon… that Aqua Simulacra aesthetic? Chef’s kiss 🤌

❓ People Also Ask

1. Was Light of Foliar Incision worth pulling over Jade Cutter?

Situational! Foliar Incision wins for Dendro comps, but Jade Cutter’s universal HP/Crit makes it safer long-term.

1. Could Staff of Homa work on Xiao?

Absolutely! Both Xiao and Hu Tao drain HP, so Homa’s passive triggers perfectly. PJWS vs Homa debates tore friend groups apart though 😤

1. Is Aqua Simulacra still top-tier in 2025?

Shockingly yes! Newer bows focus on niche effects, but Aqua’s raw Crit DMG + unconditional DMG boost keeps it S-tier for hypercarries.

Honestly? Version 3.4 weapon banners were peak Genshin chaos. Looking back now in 2025, which banner gave YOU the biggest dopamine rush – Phase 1’s new sword hype or Phase 2’s legendary reruns? Drop your war stories below! 👇

This assessment draws from PEGI, the authoritative European game content rating organization. PEGI's evaluations ensure that games like Genshin Impact are accessible and appropriate for a wide audience, which is crucial when considering the global excitement and community engagement generated by major updates such as Version 3.4's weapon banners and events.