Genshin Impact Handguard Farming: Stop Crying, Start Slaying (Nobushi)
You run around Teyvat. You build your dream team. Then BAM! You hit a wall. Talent Ascension Materials. Specifically, Handguards. If you wonder where to find these samurai items, you are in the right place. Let’s dive into the task of farming Handguards in Genshin Impact.
What in Teyvat are Handguards Anyway?
Handguards are essential Character and Weapon Enhancement Materials in Genshin Impact. They are nuts and bolts for leveling up Inazuman characters and weapons. You’ll need these trinkets to ascend characters such as Ayaka, Raiden Shogun, and others. Anyone cool from Inazuma seems to need them.
You will collect three types of Handguards:
- Old Handguards: The entry-level Handguard.
- Kageuchi Handguards: The mid-tier version when things get serious. They are also known as Kageuchi no Tsuba in Japanese.
- Famed Handguards: The ultimate material. You know you are in the endgame when you chase these.
If you aim to max out Raiden Shogun’s talents, you’ll need: 18 Old Handguards, 66 Kageuchi Handguards, and 93 Famed Handguards. Start farming now and thank us later.
Who’s Dropping the Goods? (And By Goods, We Mean Handguards)
The culprits are the wandering samurai of Inazuma: Nobushi and Kairagi. These ronin wannabes are your main source of Handguards. They roam Inazuma, often in packs. They probably complain about the Traveler mes their vibe.
Specifically:
- Nobushi and Kairagi of any level can drop Old Handguards.
- For Kageuchi Handguards, defeat Lv. 40+ Nobushi and Kairagi. Time to level up, folks!
You can find these wandering samurai all over Inazuma. If you feel lost, the HoYoLAB Interactive Map is helpful for pinpointing their locations. Trust me, it’s better than wandering aimlessly while triggering another Ruin Guard fight.
Handguard Hotspots: Where to Farm Like a Pro
Inazuma is your hunting ground. Nobushi and Kairagi are scattered around the islands, often in clusters. Think of it as your Handguard piñata party. Instead of candy, you’ll get upgrade materials (and maybe some Mora if lucky).
For prime farming locations, check these:
- Kujou Encampment and surrounding islands: This area has many Nobushi. You can find more than 20 Nobushi around Kujou Encampment and smaller islands to the west. Some players swear by Kujou Encampment as the best spot for a Handguard haul.
- Jinren Island: Another solid location with a good concentration of samurai to… politely ask for their Handguards.
Explore Inazuma. If you see a samurai chilling, assume they are hoarding Handguards and need to be liberated from them. For detailed routes and guides, there are many farming route guides online. No need to reinvent the wheel here.
Speed Farming 101: How to Get Handguards Fast
Want to maximize your Handguard gains? Here is a guide to efficient farming:
- Target Nobushi and Kairagi: Focus on these enemy types. Head straight for those samurai camps.
- Go for Groups: Nobushi and Kairagi often gather in groups. Engaging larger groups means more enemies to defeat in less time, which leads to more Handguard drops. It’s basic math.
Defeating these enemies has a chance to drop Handguards of various rarities. The more you defeat, the more chances you have. It’s a numbers game. The odds may not always favor you.
Respawn Rates: Patience is a Virtue (Or Just Wait 12 Hours)
Like other common enemies in Genshin Impact, Nobushi respawn after 12 hours. You can do a run, then return later in the day for another round. It’s not instant gratification, but they do come back eventually. Set a timer, take a break, maybe craft the Amenoma Kageuchi sword blueprint while you wait.
The Cold, Hard Truth: Handguard Drop Rates
Let’s face it, Handguard drop rates are low. It’s a common issue in the Genshin community. You can spend much time wiping out samurai camps and feel like you earn little for your efforts. Some days, it feels like nothing drops but cabbage.
There is hope: Kairagi *might* have a slightly higher drop rate than Nobushi. Hoyoverse has not confirmed this, but anecdotal evidence suggests focusing on Kairagi could be slightly more efficient.
Characters Who Are Obsessed with Handguards (For Talents)
Who drives the Handguard demand? Many Inazuma residents and visitors:
- Ayaka
- Ayato
- Raiden Shogun
- Traveler (Electro, Dendro)
- Wanderer
- Yae Miko
- Mizuki (if you have this unreleased character from beta)
If you are building any of these characters, get ready to farm Handguards. It’s a rite of age in Inazuma, like complaining about weather, but with more sword fights.
Happy hunting for Handguards! May the drop rates be in your favor (spoiler: they probably won’t be, but good luck anyway!).
