Yes, Arknights features a pity system that significantly increases your chances of obtaining a 6-star operator within a certain number of pulls. This system is designed to provide a predictable safety net for players engaging in headhunting (gacha) activities.
Understanding Arknights' Pity System
The pity system in Arknights is a crucial mechanic that prevents prolonged unlucky streaks. While the base rate for a 6-star operator is 2%, the pity system ensures that this rate progressively increases if you don't pull a 6-star within a set number of attempts.
How Pity Works
- Pity Activation: The pity counter begins to accumulate after you've made 50 headhunting pulls without receiving a 6-star operator.
- Progressive Rate Increase: For every pull after the 50th unsuccessful one, the chance of pulling a 6-star operator increases by 2%. This means:
- On the 51st pull, the 6-star rate becomes 4%.
- On the 52nd pull, the 6-star rate becomes 6%.
- This progressive increase continues until you are guaranteed to pull a 6-star operator by the 99th pull if you haven't received one yet.
- Pity Reset: Once you successfully pull a 6-star operator, your pity counter resets to zero, and the base 2% rate for 6-stars is restored for subsequent pulls.
Pity Carry-Over Explained
A significant advantage of Arknights' pity system is its flexibility across different banners. The pity you accumulate is carried over across various headhunting banners, with the primary exception being limited banners.
Specifically, the following banner types share the same pity counter:
- Standard Pool Banners: These are the rotating banners featuring existing operators.
- Special Banners: Any unique, non-limited banners that might appear.
- Joint Operation Banners: These banners feature a specific selection of operators.
- The Front That Was Banners: Event-specific banners that are not classified as limited.
This means if you pull 50 times on a Standard banner without a 6-star, and then switch to a Joint Operation banner, your accumulated pity will still apply, and your next pulls will benefit from the increased 6-star rate.
Important Distinction:
- Limited Headhunting Banners (e.g., those featuring annual/seasonal limited operators) have their own separate pity counters. Pity accumulated on a standard or shared-pity banner will not transfer to a limited banner, and vice-versa. This ensures that the dedicated pity for exclusive operators on limited banners is distinct.
Maximizing Your Headhunting Chances
Understanding the pity system can help you strategize your pulls:
- Track Your Pulls: While the game doesn't explicitly show your pity counter, you can keep track of how many pulls you've made since your last 6-star operator. This helps you estimate when your pity rate is increasing.
- Prioritize Shared-Pity Banners: If you are close to hitting pity, continuing to pull on any of the shared-pity banners (Standard, Joint Operation, etc.) can be an efficient way to secure a 6-star, as your progress carries over.
- Distinguish Banner Types: Always be aware of whether a banner is a "Limited" one or a "Standard/Shared-Pity" one to manage your expectations regarding pity carry-over.
By leveraging the pity system, players can approach headhunting with more confidence, knowing that a 6-star operator is always within a guaranteed reach.
