Genshin Impact Skyrider Greatsword

Understanding the Genshin Impact Skyrider Greatsword

The Genshin Impact Skyrider Greatsword is a 3-star claymore that, at first glance, might seem like fodder for enhancing other weapons. However, it distinguishes itself with a valuable secondary stat: Physical Damage Bonus. This makes it a fantastic introductory weapon, particularly for characters who primarily deal physical damage. Its unique effect, “Courage,” further boosts its damage potential by increasing Attack on hit, stacking up to four times for a significant bonus. This ramp-up effect means that with one less refinement, a max-level Skyrider Greatsword has been observed to pull ahead of a Whiteblind (a crafted 4-star weapon) by about 10% more damage, though it sacrifices Whiteblind’s defensive secondary stat.

Locating the Skyrider Greatsword

Unlike many weapons obtained through Wishes, the Skyrider Greatsword can be found directly within the game world. The first guaranteed copy of this claymore is located in the Guyun Stone Forest, specifically on the largest island of the archipelago, near its peak. To reach it, you’ll need to climb the path to the mountain in the center.

On your way to the top, you’ll encounter and need to defeat three Abyss Mages (Pyro, Hydro, and Cryo) blocking the path. It’s recommended to focus on defeating the Hydro Mage first to avoid its homing bubble traps and the Hydro effect, which can lead to freezing by the Cryo Mage. Once these formidable foes are vanquished, a precious chest will appear, leading you to the Skyrider Greatsword placed on a pedestal.

Beyond this initial guaranteed copy, you can find duplicates of the Skyrider Greatsword in exquisite or higher rarity chests throughout the Liyue region. These duplicates are crucial for refining the weapon and maximizing its passive ability.

Deep Dive into Stats and Passive

The Skyrider Greatsword, as a 3-star claymore, offers a Base Attack ranging from 39 at Level 1 to 401 at Level 90. Its additional stat, a Physical Damage Bonus, scales from 9.6% at Level 1 to 43.9% at Level 90. This high Physical Damage Bonus is one of its most appealing features, being the highest physical damage substat available on a claymore.

The weapon’s passive skill, Courage, activates upon hitting an enemy with a Normal or Charged Attack. This effect increases the wielder’s Attack by 6% at Rank 1, going up to 10% at Rank 5 for 6 seconds. It can stack up to 4 times and occurs once every 0.5 seconds. This means that a fully refined Skyrider Greatsword can grant a constant 40% Attack bonus if you maintain hits, making it highly effective for characters who spend significant time on the field performing normal attacks.

To fully upgrade this sword, you’ll need a substantial amount of Mora and enhancement ores, along with specific weapon ascension materials such as Aerosiderite, Bone Shards, and Treasure Hoarder Insignias. Awakening the weapon to Refinement Level 5 requires 4 duplicates of the sword itself.

Who Best Wields the Skyrider Greatsword?

The Skyrider Greatsword is ideally suited for characters who serve as the main Damage Dealer (DD) and rely heavily on their normal and charged attacks to inflict physical damage. It excels when paired with characters who can maintain prolonged presence on the battlefield, enabling them to fully activate and benefit from its stacking passive effect.

Here are some characters who can effectively utilize the Skyrider Greatsword:

Character	Role	Why It Works
Razor	Main Physical DPS	High attack speed from Burst allows full passive stacks; weapon’s Physical DMG bonus greatly boosts DPS.
Eula	Burst Physical DPS	Benefits from Physical DMG bonus and ATK buff, enhancing both normal attacks and Lightfall Sword damage.
Xinyan	Physical DPS	Her Burst deals Physical DMG; weapon synergizes well in early builds for sustained physical output.
Freminet	Physical DPS	Good early-game weapon for Physical-based Freminet builds; effective before upgrading to 4★ options.
Beidou	Early Physical DPS	Useful early game if built for Physical damage; passive ATK stacking helps maintain consistent output.

When using the Skyrider Greatsword, it’s recommended to utilize all available support skills, including shields to prevent interruptions, before switching to the character wielding this sword to maximize their normal attack damage.

Skyrider Greatsword vs. Other Claymores

The true value of the Skyrider Greatsword often comes into question when compared to 4-star weapons. While it might be tempting to immediately swap to a higher-rarity weapon, the Skyrider Greatsword, especially at max refinement, can sometimes contend with or even outperform unrefined 4-star options.

Let’s look at some comparisons:

Investment and Longevity in Your Journey

As a 3-star weapon, the Skyrider Greatsword requires fewer resources to level up compared to 4-star and 5-star weapons. This makes it an incredibly beginner-friendly option, allowing you to quickly enhance your main damage dealer’s capabilities without a massive resource investment. Many players initially “fodder” (use as enhancement material) all their 3-star weapons, a mistake that a proper guide seeks to prevent.

While the Skyrider Greatsword can carry you far into the game, especially at max refinement, it is generally recommended to consider replacing it with rarer options as they become available. Craftable 4-star weapons like Prototype Archaic or Snow-Tombed Starsilver, or gacha 4-star and 5-star weapons like Skyward Pride or Song of Broken Pines, will eventually outscale it due to higher base stats and potentially more impactful passive abilities, especially once they are also refined.

Regarding when to stop investing in a 3-star weapon like the Skyrider Greatsword, some advice suggests leveling it to around Level 40 and then focusing on crafting a 4-star alternative like the Prototype Crescent. However, others argue that investing in max-refined 3-star weapons is worthwhile, as you only lose around 15% of the experience spent if you later use them to enhance a higher-star weapon. It can take up to half a year to reliably max refine a 4-star weapon, making a max-refined 3-star a strong interim solution.

The Lore Behind the Blade: A Tale of Ambition

Beyond its in-game utility, the Skyrider Greatsword carries a poignant and humorous piece of lore that adds to Genshin Impact’s rich world-building. The sword is tied to the legend of the “Skyrider,” an individual who, in their ambition, attempted to fly using swords.

The Chinese name for the sword is a direct play on “flying by controlling the sword,” a common trope in wuxia and xianxia (Chinese martial arts fantasy) novels where practitioners fly on swords like skateboards or surfboards. The legend states that the Skyrider tried to ride the sword as a “flying sword” not just once, but twice. Unfortunately, their attempts ended in failure, leading to broken bones or even death.

This tragicomic backstory is subtly referenced by the weapon’s placement in Guyun Stone Forest, a high and rocky area. The community often finds humor in the Skyrider’s lack of foresight, noting that courage alone wasn’t enough to achieve flight, and perhaps an Anemo Vision (which grants control over wind) or even a simple glider (which Amber gives for free) would have been more practical. This kind of whimsical yet tragic lore is a charming detail found in many 3-star weapons, adding depth to the game’s world beyond just combat mechanics.