Just wrapped up a marathon testing session with the new weapons in Genshin Impact 5.1, and I've got to say - these additions are game-changers! As someone who's been grinding this game since launch, I'm always excited when HoYoverse drops new gear that shakes up our build meta. The 5.1 update hit servers earlier this month, continuing our Natlan adventure and introducing Xilonen as both an NPC and playable character. But today, I want to focus on these four new weapons that might completely transform how you build certain characters.

The New Arsenal: What We're Getting

Version 5.1 brings us four fresh weapons to play with - one 5-star and three 4-stars. I've spent countless hours testing each one across different team comps, and I'm ready to break down what makes them special.

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The 5-star Peak Patrol Song is Xilonen's signature sword, while the other three 4-stars cover different weapon types - a sword, a claymore, and a polearm. Only the Peak Patrol Song is exclusive to the weapons banner, while the 4-stars will eventually join the standard pool (though they have rate-ups now).

Peak Patrol Song: DEF Scaling Heaven

Let me start with the crown jewel - Xilonen's signature 5-star sword. This beauty has a decent base ATK of 542 at level 90, but what blew me away was that massive 82.69% DEF sub-stat!

For characters who scale with DEF, this is absolutely bonkers. I immediately tested it on Xilonen (obviously), Chiori, and Albedo. The results were... well, kinda insane.

Its passive, "Halcyon Years Undending," triggers after landing Normal or Plunging Attacks, giving you the "Ode To Flowers" buff. This increases DEF by 8% and adds a 10% Elemental DMG Bonus for 6 seconds, stacking twice.

But here's where it gets crazy - at two stacks, all nearby party members get an Elemental DMG Bonus based on the wielder's DEF (8% per 1,000 DEF, up to 25.6%). In practical terms, my Xilonen with 2,800 DEF was giving my entire team a 22.4% Elemental DMG Bonus! That's team-wide value that's hard to beat.

Sturdy Bone: Sprint Lovers Rejoice

The 4-star Sturdy Bone sword surprised me with its versatility. With 564.7 base ATK and 27.5% ATK sub-stat at level 90, it's already solid for DPS units. But its "Trapper's Pride" skill is where things get interesting.

It reduces Sprint Stamina consumption by 15%, which is nice but not game-changing. However, after sprinting, your Normal Attack DMG gets boosted by 16% of your ATK for 7 seconds or up to 18 hits.

I tested this extensively on Ayato, Ayaka, and Clorinde - characters who naturally weave sprints into their combat rotation. The damage increase was noticeable, especially for Ayaka who can quickly dash in and out of combat. For a 4-star weapon, I was genuinely impressed by how it performed compared to some of my 5-star options.

Fruitful Hook: Plunging Attack Meta Incoming

Now THIS is the weapon I've been most excited about! The Fruitful Hook claymore has strong stats (565 base ATK, 27.5% ATK sub-stat), but its "The Weight of Falling Branches" passive is what makes it special.

It increases Plunging Attack CRIT Rate by 16%, and after landing a plunge, boosts Normal, Charged, and Plunging Attack DMG by 16% for 10 seconds.

I immediately put this on Gaming, and wow - it transformed his gameplay. His typical rotation of plunging then following up with normal attacks gets a massive boost from this weapon. I was hitting consistent crits on plunges and seeing noticeably higher damage numbers across his entire kit.

What's even more interesting is how this works with Xianyun team comps. I tried it on Chongyun, Eula, Freminet, and Razor with Xianyun support, and the results were fantastic. Turning these traditional ground fighters into plunging specialists with this weapon creates some really fun and surprisingly effective team comps.

Mountain-Bracing Bolt: The Skill Specialist

The final new weapon is the Mountain-Bracing Bolt polearm. With 565 base ATK and 30% Energy Recharge, it's already decent, but its "Hope Beyond the Peaks" passive makes it shine for specific characters.

It reduces climbing stamina by 15% (whatever, not important in combat) but increases Elemental Skill DMG by 12%. The kicker? When another party member uses their Skill, the wielder gets another 12% Skill DMG boost for 8 seconds.

I've been running this on Kachina, and it's perfect for her off-field Turbo Twirly damage. Similarly, Emilie's off-field Skill damage gets a significant boost. This is definitely a weapon designed for sub-DPS characters who contribute primarily through their Skills while off-field.

How These Weapons Change the Meta

What fascinates me about these new weapons is how they're targeting specific playstyles rather than just being general stat sticks. The Peak Patrol Song rewards DEF scaling and team support. Sturdy Bone benefits sprint-heavy gameplay. Fruitful Hook creates a new plunging attack meta for claymore users. And Mountain-Bracing Bolt empowers skill-focused sub-DPS characters.

In 2025's meta, we're seeing HoYoverse create more specialized tools rather than just power-creeping stats. I think this approach is healthier for the game long-term, creating niches where different weapons can shine in different situations.

These weapons aren't just stronger versions of what we already have - they're encouraging new playstyles and team compositions. And that's what keeps Genshin fresh after all these years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is it worth pulling specifically for Peak Patrol Song if I have Xilonen?

A: If you're running Xilonen as a support in reaction-heavy teams, absolutely. The team-wide Elemental DMG bonus is unique and powerful. If you're using her solo or just for her personal damage, you could make do with alternatives.

Q: Which characters benefit most from Sturdy Bone?

A: Ayaka is probably the #1 candidate since her alternate sprint is core to her gameplay. Ayato and Clorinde also use it very effectively. Any sword character who naturally weaves sprints into combat will see good results.

Q: Is Fruitful Hook better than Wolf's Gravestone for Gaming?

A: It depends on your artifacts and team comp. In pure plunge-focused builds, especially with good CRIT DMG artifacts, Fruitful Hook can outperform Wolf's Gravestone. For general use and team buffing, Wolf's still has the edge.

Q: Can the Mountain-Bracing Bolt work well on main DPS characters?

A: It's not optimal. The ER substat and Skill DMG focus make it better for characters who swap in, use their Skill, and swap out. Main DPS characters usually want ATK%, CRIT, or specialized stats.

Q: Do you think these weapons will be powercrept soon?

A: Their specialized nature should give them longevity. Even if we get weapons with higher raw numbers, the unique passives targeting specific playstyles should keep these relevant for specific characters for quite some time.