Wuthering Waves Pioneer Podcast Weapon Chest: Are These Battle Pass Weapons Worth It?

As is common in gacha RPGs, Wuthering Waves features a wide array of characters and weapons, often introduced with banners that encourage players to spend in-game currency. Alongside these, Wuthering Waves also offers a Battle Pass, known as ‘Pioneer Podcast,’ which includes exclusive weapons accessible only to players who purchase it.

However, not all Battle Pass weapons are created equal. With five distinct options available in the ‘Pioneer Podcast’ weapon chest, understanding their strengths and weaknesses is crucial to determine which are truly valuable and worth the investment. This guide will rank each Battle Pass weapon from the least to most recommended, detailing their advantages, disadvantages, and the best characters to equip them to maximize their potential.

The Wuthering Waves’ Pioneer Podcast Battle Pass is scheduled to conclude on June 27, 2024.

5 Thunderbolt

Little Use Among The Current Roster

Wuthering Waves Thunderbolt Pistol: A 4-star weapon from the Pioneer Podcast Battle Pass, focusing on Resonance Skill DMG Bonus.

4-Star Pistol
Increases Resonance Skill DMG Bonus
Stacks up to three times and lasts for ten seconds
Limited character synergy in the current game version

Currently ranked as the least desirable option from the Wuthering Waves Battle Pass, Thunderbolt is a 4-star Pistol designed to amplify Resonance Skill DMG Bonus. This effect triggers upon hitting a target with Basic or Heavy Attacks, stacking up to three times and maintaining the buff for ten seconds.

While the effect itself is reasonably potent, Thunderbolt’s primary drawback is the scarcity of characters in the current Wuthering Waves roster who can effectively utilize it. Mortefi could be considered a potential candidate, but his gameplay style, which involves frequent character switching, diminishes the sustained benefit from Thunderbolt’s buffs over extended combat scenarios. Consequently, Thunderbolt is not a highly recommended choice at this time. However, its utility may improve as more Resonators are introduced to the game.

4 Lumingloss

Better Than Nothing, But Quickly Outclassed

4-Star Sword
Enhances Basic and Heavy ATK after each Resonance Skill use
ATK% Substat

Lumingloss serves as a serviceable weapon, particularly in the early stages of Wuthering Waves. This 4-star Sword enhances the user’s ATK by significantly boosting Basic and Heavy Attack damage each time the Resonator employs their Resonance Skill. It also features an ATK% substat, further contributing to damage output. Lumingloss presents a mix of advantages and disadvantages, with the latter becoming more pronounced as players progress deeper into the game. For example, while many early-game characters are sword users, superior weapon alternatives become available later, diminishing Lumingloss’s long-term value for these characters.

Furthermore, while Lumingloss is a significant upgrade from 3-star weapons, it is not optimal for damage-per-second (DPS) characters who typically benefit more from builds focused on CRIT stats rather than raw ATK. Compounding this, players are rewarded with a free 5-star weapon upon reaching Level 45, which generally surpasses Lumingloss in performance. Therefore, while Lumingloss can effectively support players through the initial game content, it is not a strategic choice for sustained, end-game progression.

3 Stonard

Not The Strongest, But Great In Specific Cases

4-Star Gauntlet
Crit-focused, including Crit Rate
Resonance Liberation DMG Bonus, lasting 15 seconds
Well-suited for Lingyang and Jianxin

Stonard represents a respectable selection from the Wuthering Waves‘ Pioneer Podcast Battle Pass. This 4-star Gauntlet weapon is designed with a CRIT focus, making it a viable option for DPS characters who utilize gauntlets. Upon using a Resonance Skill, the wielder’s Resonance Liberation DMG Bonus is increased for a duration of 15 seconds.

Stonard marks the point where the Pioneer Podcast Battle Pass weapons transition into more compelling choices. However, its primary limitation is the current scarcity of gauntlet-wielding characters in Wuthering Waves. Despite this, the existing gauntlet characters are notably strong, allowing Stonard to be highly effective for specific team compositions. Resonators who can leverage Stonard effectively include the 5-star DPS Lingyang, who heavily relies on Resonance Liberation for damage and benefits significantly from the weapon’s damage boost. Jianxin is also a reasonable choice if built as a DPS, although she is generally considered less damage-oriented than Lingyang.

2 Augment

Versatile And Powerful

4-Star Rectifier
Crit Rate Substat
ATK% Boost Passive
Effective for Yinlin and Encore

Augment stands out as a highly valuable and versatile weapon within the Battle Pass. Its strength lies in its broad applicability across characters who utilize Rectifiers. This 4-star Rectifier features a Crit Rate substat and an ATK% boost passive. Activating Resonance Liberation with Augment equipped increases the caster’s ATK for 15 seconds.

The Resonance Liberation-triggered ATK boost makes Augment exceptionally beneficial for any Resonator whose primary damage source is their ultimate ability. This includes Yinlin, who possesses substantial Burst DMG potential and greatly benefits from CRIT and ATK% buffs due to her DPS role. Encore also synergizes well with Augment, as she heavily depends on Resonance Liberation for damage output. Given the number of characters who use Rectifiers, Augment’s widespread utility makes it an excellent and generally recommended choice from the Pioneer Podcast Weapon Chest.

1 Autumntrace

Perfect For DPS Characters

4-Star Broadblade
Crit Rate Substat
Stackable ATK% Passive
Optimal for Jiyan and Calcharo

Autumntrace, a 4-star Broadblade, is the premier weapon choice from the Pioneer Podcast, especially for players who have characters capable of wielding it effectively. It boasts a Crit Rate substat and a stackable passive that increases ATK% when dealing Basic Attack and Heavy Attack DMG. This passive effect stacks up to five times, can be triggered once per second, and lasts for seven seconds, resulting in a significant damage amplification for the wielder.

The CRIT focus of Autumntrace makes it ideally suited for DPS characters. Consequently, Autumntrace is a superb weapon for Jiyan, a DPS character who benefits from extended on-field time due to his Qingloong Mode secondary attack. For players without Jiyan seeking to utilize Autumntrace, Calcharo is an excellent alternative and is available as a free 5-star character selection option for new players. Autumntrace is a top-tier weapon choice that is currently impactful and is expected to remain highly relevant as the Wuthering Waves character roster expands.

Wuthering Waves Tag Page Cover Art showcasing key elements of the Action RPG Open-World game.