Genshin Impact continues to grow with new regions, quests, and weapons, keeping players hooked with every update. One of the latest additions is the Prospector’s Shovel, a 4-star craftable polearm that’s quickly becoming a must-have weapon for certain characters. If you’ve heard about it and are wondering how to obtain it, this guide will walk you through every step — from unlocking the required region to gathering the materials needed to forge it.
Whether you’re a new player or a veteran looking to expand your arsenal, this comprehensive guide will explain everything about the Prospector’s Shovel: what it is, how strong it can be, how to craft it, and the best strategies for using it effectively in combat.
What Is the Prospector’s Shovel in Genshin Impact?
The Prospector’s Shovel is a new 4-star polearm weapon introduced in the Nod-Krai update of Genshin Impact. Unlike limited-time banner-exclusive weapons, this one is forgable, which means you don’t have to spend Primogems to get it. Instead, you’ll gather resources and craft it at the blacksmith’s forge.
Key Features of the Prospector’s Shovel:
- Weapon Type: Polearm
- Rarity: 4-Star
- Secondary Stat: ATK% (Attack Boost)
- Passive Ability: Increases damage of Electro-Charged and the new Lunar-Charged elemental reactions.
- Special Bonus: Gains extra buffs when paired with Nod-Krai characters in your party.
This weapon is particularly powerful for supportive DPS characters or those who excel at reaction-based damage. If you enjoy building teams around elemental synergy, the Prospector’s Shovel can significantly boost your combat potential.
Why Is the Prospector’s Shovel Important?
In Genshin Impact, the right weapon can completely change how a character performs. The Prospector’s Shovel isn’t just another 4-star polearm — it’s unique because:
- Reaction Damage Boost: It focuses on increasing Electro-Charged and Lunar-Charged damage, making it perfect for elemental teams.
- High ATK% Scaling: The secondary stat gives a large boost to Attack Power, ideal for characters who benefit from raw DPS.
- Free-to-Play Friendly: Since it’s a forgeable weapon, no gacha pulls are needed. With effort and resource farming, anyone can craft it.
- Synergy with New Region: Nod-Krai characters get an extra damage bonus when using this weapon, ensuring synergy with future team compositions.
Simply put, if you want a powerful, cost-free weapon option, the Prospector’s Shovel is worth your time.
Step-by-Step: How to Get the Prospector’s Shovel in Genshin Impact
Let’s now dive into the exact steps required to unlock, craft, and use this weapon.
1. Unlock the Nod-Krai Region
The Prospector’s Shovel can only be forged after accessing Nod-Krai, a newly introduced region in Teyvat. To do this:
- Complete the Archon Quest: Prologue – Act III “Song of the Dragon and Freedom.”
- Once finished, the Nod-Krai region becomes accessible, opening up new quests, materials, and forging opportunities.
📌 Tip: If you haven’t progressed far enough in the main story, prioritize completing Archon Quests first.
2. Obtain the Forging Blueprint
Before crafting, you’ll need the weapon’s blueprint. This is usually tied to a World Quest or exploration objective within Nod-Krai.
- Keep an eye on NPC dialogue and exploration tasks.
- Some quests may reward the Prospector’s Shovel Forging Diagram directly upon completion.
- Once you obtain it, the recipe is permanently added to your forge menu.
📌 Tip: Always explore chests, complete side quests, and interact with locals in Nod-Krai — Genshin often hides blueprints in such activities.
3. Visit a Blacksmith
Once you’ve unlocked the blueprint, head to any Blacksmith NPC in Teyvat. Common ones include:
- Wagner in Mondstadt
- Master Zhang in Liyue Harbor
- Hajime in Inazuma
At the forge menu, you’ll find the Prospector’s Shovel listed under craftable weapons.
4. Gather Required Materials
To forge the shovel, you’ll need specific resources from the Nod-Krai region. While exact materials may vary depending on updates, here’s a general idea:
- Northlander Polearm Billet (rare crafting material)
- Nod-Krai Ore/Crystals (specific to the new region)
- Common Regional Drops (from enemies or exploration)
- Mora (crafting cost)
📌 Farming Tip: Focus on mining crystal ores in Nod-Krai and defeating enemies that drop region-specific materials.
5. Forge the Weapon
Finally, once you’ve gathered all materials:
- Open the forge menu.
- Select the Prospector’s Shovel recipe.
- Click “Forge.”
After a short wait (or instantly if you use a blacksmith’s speed boost), your new 4-star polearm will be ready to equip.
Best Characters for the Prospector’s Shovel
The Prospector’s Shovel is particularly suited for characters who benefit from reaction damage and ATK% scaling. Some good candidates include:
- Flins (Nod-Krai character) – Direct synergy with weapon’s bonus.
- Xiangling – Strong DPS scaling with reactions.
- Raiden Shogun (as sub-DPS) – Amplifies Electro-based reactions.
- Rosaria – Can benefit from reaction setups.
- Any upcoming Nod-Krai polearm users – Designed to match their kit.
Tips to Maximize the Prospector’s Shovel
- Pair with Reaction Teams – Build teams that focus on Electro-Charged or Lunar-Charged reactions for maximum damage.
- Upgrade Weapon Early – Invest in ascension materials to enhance its stats.
- Refinement Levels – Collect duplicate blueprints (if available) to refine and boost passive abilities.
- Synergize with New Characters – The shovel is tailored for Nod-Krai units, so future updates will likely introduce stronger synergies.
FAQs About the Prospector’s Shovel in Genshin
Q1. Is the Prospector’s Shovel limited-time?
No, it’s a craftable weapon, so once you unlock the blueprint, you can forge it anytime.
Q2. Can Free-to-Play players get it easily?
Yes! Unlike 5-star gacha weapons, this one requires only exploration, resource farming, and forging.
Q3. Is it worth building compared to gacha weapons?
While not as strong as top-tier 5-stars, it’s one of the best 4-star craftable polearms, making it very valuable for F2P players.
Q4. How do I get more billets if I run out?
Polearm billets can be earned from weekly bosses, events, and limited-time quests.
Final Thoughts
The Prospector’s Shovel is an excellent addition to Genshin Impact’s weapon lineup, especially for players looking for a reliable, forgeable 4-star polearm. Its ATK% scaling, elemental reaction boost, and synergy with Nod-Krai characters make it a must-have for polearm users.
By unlocking Nod-Krai, completing quests for the blueprint, and gathering materials, you can craft this weapon without relying on gacha pulls. Whether you’re free-to-play or a heavy spender, the Prospector’s Shovel offers a powerful, cost-effective option to strengthen your team.
So, if you haven’t already, start your journey in Nod-Krai, gather the resources, and craft your very own Prospector’s Shovel. It might just become one of your most reliable weapons in the game.
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