Genshin Impact Sharpshooter’s Oath

Introduction: Understanding the Genshin Impact Sharpshooter’s Oath

The Sharpshooter’s Oath is a 3-star Bow weapon in Genshin Impact. Described as a superior bow that once belonged to a master archer, it notably gives off a strong scent, making it unsuitable for hunting. This weapon is categorized within the game’s bow types and is obtainable through the Wish function, meaning you can pull it from weapon banners or normal banners for a chance to acquire it. However, it is important to note that it is not typically featured as a rate-up weapon on any banners.

Deep Dive into Sharpshooter’s Oath Stats and Skill

At its core, the Sharpshooter’s Oath is designed to enhance critical damage and reward precise aiming. When fully leveled to 90, its base attack reaches 401, and its additional stat is CRIT DMG, which can go up to 46.9%. Even at lower levels, it provides a decent CRIT DMG bonus, starting at 10.2% at Level 1 and increasing steadily.

The signature skill of the Sharpshooter’s Oath is called “Precise”. This passive effect significantly increases damage against weak spots. The damage increase scales with refinement rank:

• At Rank 1 (R1), it increases DMG against weak spots by 24%.
• At Rank 5 (R5), this bonus dramatically increases to 48%.

This percentage-based damage multiplier on weak spots is what sets it apart, often leading to a substantial increase in overall damage per shot when the passive is active.

Who Should Wield the Sharpshooter’s Oath? Recommended Characters

The Sharpshooter’s Oath shines brightest on characters who can consistently hit enemy weak spots, making it particularly good for Charged Attack/Aimed Shot Bow Characters. The CRIT DMG sub-stat is also beneficial for achieving a decent CRIT stat ratio.

Here are some characters who can effectively utilize the Sharpshooter’s Oath, especially in the early game:

Character	Role	Why It Works Well
Amber	Main DPS / Support	C1 enables double arrows on Aimed Shot; benefits greatly from weak spot bonus & CRIT DMG.
Ganyu	Main DPS	Charged Aimed Shots synergize perfectly with the passive; CRIT DMG boosts damage.
Tighnari	Main DPS	Relies on Charged Aimed Shots; easily procs weak spot bonus; CRIT DMG fits his kit.
Lyney	Main DPS	Early-game bow choice; makes use of aimed shot bonuses and CRIT scaling.
Venti	Sub-DPS / Support	Can utilize Aimed Shots against big enemies; good damage alternative in early game.

Maximizing Damage: Gameplay Tips and Considerations

The core strength of the Sharpshooter’s Oath lies in its “Precise” skill, which grants a significant damage bonus against weak spots. This means that to get the most out of this bow, players must actively aim for and hit these weak points.

This playstyle is often more viable and easier to execute on PC due to the precision offered by mouse aim. Players using controllers might find it more challenging to consistently land headshots or other weak spot hits, which could diminish the bow’s effectiveness for their playstyle.

It’s also crucial to understand that not all enemies have discernible weak spots. For instance, enemies like Slimes and Specters, or certain bosses like the Electro Hypostasis, might not have weak points that can be consistently hit or exploited by the bow’s passive. In such scenarios, the Sharpshooter’s Oath’s main passive becomes less impactful, and bows with a higher base attack or more general damage bonuses might perform better. For example, against Hypostasises, bows with a higher base damage are generally preferred.

However, for enemies that do have weak spots, such as Ruin Guards (which have a large weak spot) or certain elemental bosses like the Pyro Regisvine and Cryo Regisvine (often referred to as “vines”), the Sharpshooter’s Oath can be incredibly effective, allowing players to shred their HP quickly. Even against elemental hypostasises, hitting weak spots can lead to more damage.

While some might argue that in higher-level content, archer players don’t typically rely on charged shots or weak point targeting for their main damage, some dedicated players find it perfectly viable, especially on PC. It’s acknowledged that consistently landing headshots and maintaining positioning without interruption can be difficult.

Sharpshooter’s Oath in the Early to Mid Game: Comparisons and Viability

As a 3-star weapon, the Sharpshooter’s Oath is quite common and easy to obtain multiple copies of through Wishes, making it relatively simple to refine it to R5. This ease of refinement contributes significantly to its early and mid-game viability. Many players consider it a strong option that can carry an account quite far, even outperforming some unrefined 4-star weapons in specific scenarios, particularly when weak spots are consistently hit.

Let’s look at how it stacks up against other popular 3-star bows:

• Vs. Slingshot: For characters like Amber, Sharpshooter’s Oath is often considered definitively better than Slingshot, especially with Melt reactions, as it can enable one-shotting opponents at low Adventure Ranks. However, for Yoimiya, Slingshot is generally preferred because its passive buffs normal attack damage, and Yoimiya rarely hits enemy weak points with her normal attacks. Slingshot also offers a higher Crit Value and a 60% damage bonus that is consistently applicable, often only being beaten by 5-star signature weapons or high refinement Rust for Yoimiya.
• Vs. Raven Bow: Raven Bow increases DMG against opponents affected by Hydro or Pyro. While it can provide a consistent damage bonus if enemies are constantly affected by Pyro (like with Amber’s own application), Sharpshooter’s Oath is often considered superior for characters that can reliably hit weak spots due to its higher potential damage increase and CRIT DMG sub-stat. Raven Bow’s aesthetic appeal, especially when ascended with Amber, is sometimes noted, but in terms of pure damage, it often falls short for a primary damage dealer when weak spots can be hit. A community member noted that for a solo Amber playstyle, Raven Bow was rarely worth considering.

While some 4-star bows like Prototype Crescent have a significantly higher base attack, their passive effects might not translate to as much damage as Sharpshooter’s Oath’s 48% weak spot multiplier if that passive only increases attack stats. The main takeaway is that for a free-to-play player who can consistently land weak spot hits, Sharpshooter’s Oath is a solid, long-lasting option that provides significant damage for a 3-star weapon. However, it’s generally not considered an endgame bow, as higher-tier weapons with more versatile passives or higher base stats will eventually outperform it.

Ascending Your Sharpshooter’s Oath: Materials Required

To fully level and ascend your Sharpshooter’s Oath to Level 90, you will need a variety of materials:

Weapon Ascension Materials: