Prototype Archaic is a craftable weapon that was introduced along with the release of the game. Part of the Prototype series, this weapon shares the category alongside Prototype Rancour, Prototype Amber, Prototype Starglitter and Prototype Crescent. With an ATK secondary stat, this weapon focuses on dealing massive damage. With its passive, you can deal extra damage while using this weapon every 15 seconds.
Although underestimated by many due to its glittery appearance in the past, many people were amazed by the sheer strength of this weapon. This heavy weapon produces heavy blinding lights when swung. It even cleared out an entire bamboo once after someone took a swing with it.
About Prototype Archaic
| Rarity | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Weapon Type | Greatsword |
| Secondary Stat | ATK |
| Refinement Passive | Crush |
| Region | Liyue |
| Series | Prototype Series |
How to get Prototype Archaic in Genshin Impact?
Prototype Archaic is only obtainable through forging. This weapon’s recipe is already unlocked when you start playing the game. To forge this weapon, talk to a Blacksmith – Wagner in Mondstat, Master Zhang in Liyue or Hajime in Liyue. You can also go to your forging station in the Serenitea Pot and craft it yourself. Upon entering the forge menu, click on Prototype Archaic and submit 50 Crystal Chunks, 50 White Iron and 500 Mora alongside a Northlander Claymore Billet.
You can purchase a Northlander Claymore Billet once from the Mingxing Jewellery, obtain it by reaching level 4 of the Sacred Sakura Tree, after completing the quest ‘Breaking the Sword Cemetery Seal’ or using genesis crystals to purchase a Northlander Billet trove from the shop. Alternatively, there is also a small chance of weekly bosses dropping this item.
Upgrades
Ascension and Stats
| Ascension Phase | Level | Base ATK | Secondary Stat (ATK) |
| 0 | 1/20 | 44 | 6.00% |
| 20/20 | 119 | 10.60% | |
| 1 | 20/40 | 144 | 10.60% |
| 40/40 | 226 | 15.50% | |
| 2 | 40/50 | 252 | 15.50% |
| 50/50 | 293 | 17.90% | |
| 3 | 50/60 | 319 | 17.90% |
| 60/60 | 361 | 20.30% | |
| 4 | 60/70 | 387 | 20.30% |
| 70/70 | 429 | 22.70% | |
| 5 | 70/80 | 455 | 22.70% |
| 80/80 | 497 | 25.10% | |
| 6 | 80/90 | 523 | 25.10% |
| 90/90 | 565 | 27.60% |
Ascension Materials
| Items Required | Amount |
| Weapon Ascension Materials | |
| Grain of Aerosiderite | 3 |
| Piece of Aerosiderite | 9 |
| Bit of Aerosiderite | 9 |
| Chunk of Aerosiderite | 4 |
| Common Ascension Materials | |
| Fragile Bone Shard | 15 |
| Sturdy Bone Shard | 18 |
| Fossilized Bone Shard | 27 |
| Damaged Mask | 10 |
| Stained Mask | 15 |
| Ominous Mask | 18 |
| Total Mora | 150,000 |
Refinements
| Refinement | Effects |
| 1 | On hit, Normal or Charged Attacks have a 50% chance to deal an additional 240% ATK DMG to opponents within a small AoE. Can only occur once every 15s. |
| 2 | On hit, Normal or Charged Attacks have a 50% chance to deal an additional 300% ATK DMG to opponents within a small AoE. Can only occur once every 15s. |
| 3 | On hit, Normal or Charged Attacks have a 50% chance to deal an additional 360% ATK DMG to opponents within a small AoE. Can only occur once every 15s. |
| 4 | On hit, Normal or Charged Attacks have a 50% chance to deal an additional 420% ATK DMG to opponents within a small AoE. Can only occur once every 15s. |
| 5 | On hit, Normal or Charged Attacks have a 50% chance to deal an additional 480% ATK DMG to opponents within a small AoE. Can only occur once every 15s. |
Availability
| Method | Obtainability |
| Paimon’s Bargains | No |
| Crafting | Yes |
| Overworld | No |
| Events | No |
| Epitome Invocation | No |
| Wanderlust Invocation | No |
| Character Event Wish | No |
Story
An ancient prototype greatsword from Liyue's arsenal. The batch number has faded and no records exist to confirm the date of production.
Weighing in at close to forty pounds, this weapon's hilt is made from a rare ore, while the blade is forged from the finest steel. All you will see when it is swung are blinding flashes of light, powerful enough to devour the clouds and blot out the moon.
After the great disaster, the Yun family forge joined forces with the master craftsman Han Wu to find a way to push past the constraints of contemporary blade design and revolutionize their craft.
Thus was born a new series of weapon models, simply named "the prototypes." The first greatsword built using the new design was unusually understated in its final appearance. The underwhelming sight of dull, blotchy gold masked the weapon's true strength. While not much to look at, any who cared to try it would discover that it was weighty but not unwieldy.
Han Wu, the master craftsman who forged the weapon, traveled north through the night to hand the sword over to a martial artist who followed the chivalric code.
The martial artist inspected the blade closely before trialing it. The blade howled like the wind and in an instant decimated the entire bamboo forest. It was a rare sight to behold.
The martial artist said to Han Wu, "This blade is endowed with the elegance of antiquity. It is of equal value both as a weapon and an ornament."
"Such a fine creation possessed of both scale and subtlety is worthy of a name like no other. May it be known as Archaic."
Due to its unparalleled strength, this sword subsequently became the model for thousands of greatswords in Liyue.
Trivia
- Prototype Archaic was known as Prototype Aminus upon release. This was later changed in version 1.2.
- The story mentioned ‘Aminus of Guhua’ before it was changed to Archaic.
- It is speculated that the person who tested the sword in the lore was Guhua.
FAQs
What is Prototype Archaic?
Prototype Archaic is a Greatsword that can be crafted in Genshin Impact. Focusing on ATK, this weapon is equally good on both Physical and Elemental Damage dealers, making it one of the most consistently usable weapons in the game.
What is better: Whiteblind or Prototype Archaic?
Prototype is Archaic is definitely better than Whileblind for DPS characters which scale on ATK. However, for every case, there is always an exception. For DEF scaling characters like Noelle and Itto, Whiteblind is much better when it comes to Burst DPS builds. While both weapons are good, unless you are building a character that requires DEF, it is almost always better to create a Prototype Archaic.
Is Prototype Aminus and Archaic the same?
Prototype Aminus and Archaic are the exact same weapon. Upon release of version 1.2, this weapon went through a name change which caused the weapon to be named Prototype Archaic. This did not change the effects or appearance of the weapon, but rather just the name.
Final Thoughts
Prototype Archaic is a really good weapon that can be crafted early in the game if you have a DPS claymore character. However, you can always obtain character specific weapons from the banners, making it pointless to build this weapon late game. So if you really want to build the perfect weapon for your character, do some research before spending precious resources on Prototype Archaic.
