Genshin Impact Starglitter Shop 2026: Best Characters Guide

Understanding the Starglitter Exchange Shop System

Paimon's Bargains unlocks at AR 35, resetting monthly on the 1st after 4AM UTC+8. Unlike gacha, it guarantees specific 4-star characters and weapons using Masterless Starglitter.

Starglitter sources:

• 4-star character duplicates: 2 Starglitter (5 at C6)
• 5-star character duplicates: 10 Starglitter (25 at C6)
• 4-star weapons: 2 Starglitter
• 5-star weapons: 10 Starglitter

For consistent pull rates and Starglitter accumulation, buy Genesis Crystals safe through buffget with secure transactions and competitive pricing.

Shop Structure

Monthly rotation:

• Two 4-star characters: 34 Starglitter each
• Blackcliff weapons (odd months): 24 Starglitter
• Royal weapons (even months): 24 Starglitter

Permanent items:

• Intertwined/Acquaint Fate: 5 Starglitter (unlimited)
• Crown of Insight: 50 Starglitter (limit 1)

The 6-month cycle repeats twice yearly, enabling months-ahead planning.

Complete 2026 Rotation Calendar

January-June:

• January: Fischl/Xiangling + Blackcliff
• February: Beidou/Noelle + Royal
• March: Ningguang/Xingqiu + Blackcliff
• April: Razor/Amber + Royal
• May: Bennett/Lisa + Blackcliff
• June: Barbara/Kaeya + Royal

July-December: Identical repeat of January-June pattern.

This biannual structure gives two annual chances for each character/constellation.

Best 4-Star Characters Priority Tier List

S-Tier Must-Buys

Bennett (May/November)

• Provides massive ATK buffs + healing
• C1 removes 70% HP restriction—transforms him from excellent to irreplacable
• Foundation of countless team comps
• Top priority for accounts without him

Xingqiu (March/September)

• Unmatched Hydro application for Vaporize/Freeze
• Damage reduction + minor healing
• Cornerstone support delivering immediate value
• Base character more important than constellations

Fischl (January/July)

• Exceptional off-field Electro via Oz
• C6 extends Oz to 12s, adds coordinated attacks (30% ATK as Electro)
• Premium sub-DPS at C6
• Aligns with post-holiday Starglitter accumulation

A-Tier Situational

Xiangling (January/July)

• Free from Abyss 3-3, but C4 worth buying
• C4 extends Pyronado duration 40% (14s→19.6s)
• Dramatically improves energy economy
• Essential for National team variants

Beidou (February/August)

• Strong AoE damage for Electro-Charged/Taser teams
• Perfect parry mechanics reward skill
• Team-dependent effectiveness

Ningguang (March/September)

• Capable Geo DPS, low investment
• Strong single-target damage
• Valuable without 5-star DPS options

B-Tier Niche Only

Razor (April/October)

• Selfish physical DPS
• Late-game viability drops vs reaction dealers
• Only if lacking any DPS

Noelle (February/August)

• Requires C6 for main DPS role
• Poor Starglitter investment unless at C5

Kaeya (June/December)

• Cryo application for Freeze teams
• Free availability makes purchases hard to justify

Avoid

Barbara, Lisa, Amber: Lowest priority. Barbara redundant with Bennett, Lisa has clunky mechanics, Amber highly specialized. All appear frequently in standard banner—don't waste Starglitter.

Character vs Constellation Investment

When New Characters Win

Account diversity beats constellation advancement except for high-impact cases. Fill roster gaps with S-tier characters before chasing constellations. Exception: Don't buy B-tier characters when you could get S-tier constellations.

Game-Changing Constellation Breakpoints

Worth buying:

• Bennett C1: Removes HP restriction, doubles support potential
• Fischl C6: Transforms to premium sub-DPS with coordinated attacks
• Xiangling C4: Extended Pyronado solves energy issues

These justify 34 Starglitter even when other characters appear simultaneously.

Long-Term Value Calculation

34 Starglitter = 6.8 Intertwined Fates = ~1,088 Primogems equivalent. But guaranteed acquisition eliminates gacha variance.

F2P income: 10-20 Starglitter monthly from duplicates. Every purchase decision critical. Maintain minimum reserve for high-value rotations, spend surplus on proven priorities.

Blackcliff Weapon Series Review

Stats and Passive

All Blackcliff weapons:

• CRIT DMG substat: 36.8-55.1% at level 90
• Base ATK: 510-565 at level 90
• Passive Press the Advantage: 12% ATK per enemy kill (30s), stacks 3x = 36% max at R1, 72% at R5

Excels in multi-enemy content, zero value vs single bosses.

Specific stats:

• Warbow: 565 ATK, 36.8% CRIT DMG
• Pole/Agate: 510 ATK, 55.1% CRIT DMG

Individual Weapon Analysis

Blackcliff Longsword: Viable for sword DPS lacking alternatives, but Sacrificial Sword (Xingqiu) or Amenoma Kageuchi (craftable) often superior. Low priority.

Blackcliff Warbow: Lowest CRIT DMG (36.8%) reduces competitiveness. Prototype Crescent/Hamayumi offer better unconditional performance. Bottom-tier Blackcliff.

Blackcliff Pole: Strongest Blackcliff due to limited F2P polearm options. 55.1% CRIT DMG benefits Xiangling, Rosaria, Hu Tao. However, The Catch (free fishing) outperforms for burst characters. Niche for normal/charged attack users in AoE.

Blackcliff Slasher: Competes with Prototype Archaic and Serpent Spine (BP). Crowded category makes it low priority.

Blackcliff Agate: 55.1% CRIT DMG for catalyst DPS, but most catalyst users prioritize EM/ER/ATK%. Last-resort option only.

Blackcliff vs Gacha 4-Star Alternatives

Damage comparison: At 3 stacks (multi-enemy), Blackcliff competes with mid-tier gacha 4-stars. Single-target bosses eliminate passive, reducing to CRIT DMG stat stick.

Gacha weapons (Sacrificial, Favonius, Wavebreaker's Fin) provide unconditional passives functioning across all content. Reliability typically beats Blackcliff's conditional peak.

Refinement cost: R1→R5 costs 120 Starglitter (24×5), enough for 3-4 characters. Impractical for most players. Gacha weapons refine passively through duplicates over time.

Best-in-slot status: Rarely BiS for F2P due to excellent craftables and event weapons. Starglitter better spent on characters. Serve as stopgap solutions only.

Starglitter Spending Strategy

Priority Framework by Account Stage

Early game (AR 20-45):

1. Acquire Bennett and Xingqiu above all else
2. Then Fischl for Electro application
3. Xiangling (though free from Abyss 3-3)
4. Avoid weapons and Fates until roster solidifies

Mid game (AR 45-55):

1. Game-changing constellations (Bennett C1, Fischl C6)
2. Convert excess to Intertwined Fates during low-value months
3. Transition from building to optimizing

Endgame (AR 55+):

1. Primarily convert to Intertwined Fates
2. Occasional constellation purchases for meta shifts
3. Maintain reserves for unexpected synergies

When to Buy Fates Instead

• Approaching pity (70+ pulls): Convert to secure guaranteed 5-star
• Saving for specific limited 5-star: Accumulate Fates during low-priority shop months
• Value of guaranteed 5-star exceeds any 4-star shop purchase

F2P Budget Management

Maintain minimum 34 Starglitter reserve for unexpected high-value rotations. Track 6-month rotation to plan accumulation around specific targets. Example: Budget January-April for May Bennett C1, convert excess to Fates while preserving 34 needed.

Advanced Starglitter Economy

Monthly Income

F2P: 10-20 Starglitter from ~20-30 pulls monthly (standard Acquaint Fates + limited banner 4-star duplicates)

Welkin Moon: 15-30 Starglitter from increased pulling power

Battle Pass: Further increases via additional Fates

Strategic Wishing

Concentrate wishes on banners featuring 4-stars you own at high constellations. C6 duplicates yield 5 Starglitter vs 2 for lower constellations—150% increase. Works best when featured 5-star also provides value.

Advanced technique for endgame optimization, not roster expansion.

Saving Cycles

Hoard during: Low-priority months (Amber, Lisa, Barbara, Noelle unless specific needs)

Spend during: High-value months (May for Bennett) or when approaching limited banner pity

Flexibility between hoarding and spending based on current needs separates optimal management from rigid plans.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Impulse purchases: Buying Razor in April when Bennett appears in May wastes resources. Research full 6-month rotation before purchasing.

Weapon priority errors: Buying weapons before securing Bennett/Xingqiu/Fischl delays foundational roster improvements.

Availability misconceptions: Shop characters DO appear on limited banners as featured 4-stars. Balance opportunistic pulling with strategic shop purchases.

Timing errors:

• Purchasing on month's final day without checking next rotation
• Buying immediately at reset without considering current banner pity
• Wait until month's end for maximum information

Account-Specific Recommendations

Early Game (AR 20-45)

Focus exclusively on Bennett and Xingqiu. These enable National team and countless comps, accelerating progression. If both owned, add Fischl, then Xiangling. Zero weapon purchases or Fate conversions.

Mid Game (AR 45-55)

Evaluate constellation breakpoints vs new acquisitions. Bennett C1 takes absolute priority if at C0. Begin converting excess to Fates during low-value months. Purchases become selective and strategic.

Endgame (AR 55+)

Primarily convert to Intertwined Fates. Occasional constellations for meta shifts or favorites. Maintain reserves for unexpected developments. Systematic character buying unnecessary.

Smart Resource Management

Optimize beyond Starglitter through reliable Primogem sources at the Genshin Impact top up center via buffget—competitive pricing, secure transactions. Consistent wishing enables steady Starglitter accumulation while pursuing limited characters, creating sustainable resource cycles.

Combining smart top-ups with disciplined Starglitter spending creates compounding advantages: consistent pulling power → faster duplicate accumulation → more Starglitter for strategic purchases while advancing limited banner pity.

FAQ

What's the 2026 rotation schedule? 6-month cycle repeating twice: Jan (Fischl/Xiangling), Feb (Beidou/Noelle), Mar (Ningguang/Xingqiu), Apr (Razor/Amber), May (Bennett/Lisa), Jun (Barbara/Kaeya), then July-Dec repeats. Blackcliff odd months, Royal even months.

Which characters worth buying? Bennett, Xingqiu, Fischl provide universal value. Bennett C1 and Fischl C6 constellations justify investment even if owned. Xiangling C4 strong for National teams.

Are Blackcliff weapons better than gacha 4-stars? Competitive in multi-enemy content with full passive stacks, underperform vs single-target bosses. Gacha 4-stars with unconditional passives more consistent across all content. Blackcliff = situational alternatives, not superior.

Characters or constellations? Acquire S-tier characters (Bennett/Xingqiu/Fischl) first. Then game-changing constellations (Bennett C1, Fischl C6) outvalue most new characters. Diversity beats advancement except at high-impact breakpoints.

Starglitter for Fates or characters? Without Bennett/Xingqiu/Fischl: prioritize characters. Once essential roster complete: convert to Fates during low-value months or approaching pity. Depends on account needs and banner timing.

How much Starglitter do F2P earn monthly? 10-20 from ~20-30 pulls (standard banner + limited duplicates). Saturated rosters see higher rates. Welkin purchasers gain 15-30 through increased pulling power.