- Durin signature weapon: Known as Athame Artis, this 5-star sword provides high Crit Rate and Elemental Burst utility.
- Core Mechanic: The weapon grants a massive ATK buff to the wielder and the team whenever the Elemental Burst hits an opponent.
- Hexerei Synergy: Effects are enhanced by 75% if the party contains two or more Hexerei characters.
- Best Strategy: Use this on characters with multi-hit, long-duration Bursts to maintain 100% uptime on the attack buffs.
- Top Choice: Beyond Durin, Xingqiu and Ayato are the strongest alternative candidates for this blade.
Athame Artis: Base Stats and Overview
The Durin signature weapon, officially named Athame Artis, arrived in Version 6.2 as the premier choice for Pyro sub-DPS and support-hybrid builds. It features a balanced stat spread that favors consistency over raw, one-shot damage. With a base ATK of 608 at level 90, it sits comfortably in the middle tier of 5-star swords, but it compensates with a substantial 33.1% Crit Rate secondary stat.
Video Highlights:
- Max Level Showcase: A complete breakdown of the level 90 stats and the weapon's visual appearance.
- Passive Testing: Demonstration of how the "Blade of the Daylight Hours" buff procs on various characters.
- Hexerei Comparison: Visual proof of the 75% buff increase when running a dual Hexerei team.
- Alternative Users: Testing the weapon on Xingqiu, Lynette, and Kaeya to see buff uptime.
The weapon is designed to solve two problems for Durin: meeting his 2,500 ATK requirement for the A4 passive and providing the Crit Rate needed for his frontloaded Burst damage. While it is niche due to the 3-second buff duration, its power ceiling in specific team compositions is unmatched.
| Level | Base ATK | Crit Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Lv. 20 | 122 | 12.1% |
| Lv. 40 | 251 | 17.5% |
| Lv. 60 | 398 | 23.4% |
| Lv. 80 | 532 | 29.8% |
| Lv. 90 | 608 | 33.1% |
If you are struggling to reach Durin's 2,500 ATK threshold, ensure you are utilizing the Hexerei bonus, as the 35% ATK increase significantly lowers the artifact burden.
Passive Mechanics & Hexerei Synergy
The passive ability of the Durin signature weapon, titled Blade of the Daylight Hours, is what truly sets it apart. It focuses exclusively on Elemental Burst damage and team-wide utility. The passive provides a flat 16% Crit DMG bonus to Elemental Bursts, which is particularly effective for Durin’s Dark Form, specializing in Vaporize or Melt reactions.
The second part of the passive triggers upon an Elemental Burst hit. It grants a 20% ATK buff to the wielder and a 16% ATK buff to the rest of the team for 3 seconds. While 3 seconds seems short, any character with a persistent Burst (like Durin's Dragon of White Flame) can refresh this timer continuously.
| Effect Component | Base Value | With Hexerei Bonus (+75%) |
|---|---|---|
| Burst Crit DMG | 16% | 16% (No Change) |
| Wielder ATK Buff | 20% | 35% |
| Team ATK Buff | 16% | 28% |
| Buff Duration | 3s | 3s (Refreshes on Hit) |
The "Hexerei: Secret Rite" requirement is the most restrictive part of the blade. To maximize the buffs to 35% and 28% respectively, you must have at least two Hexerei characters in the party. Durin himself counts as one, meaning you only need one more (such as Nicole or Albedo) to activate the full potential. According to Game8's Durin Guide, this makes him the best-in-slot Pyro off-fielder for Overloaded and Burning teams.
The ATK buffs are calculated based on the character's Base ATK (Character ATK + Weapon ATK). For Durin, who has a high base ATK, this 35% buff results in a massive flat increase.
Ascension Materials & Farming Route
To max out the Durin signature weapon, you will need to venture into both Mondstadt and the newer 6.0 regions. The materials are a mix of traditional domain drops and specific elite mob drops found in underground ruins.
Mondstadt Weapon Materials
Collect the Decarabian or Boreal Wolf materials from the Cecilia Garden domain on the designated days. You will need the gold-tier materials for the final ascension.
Frostnight Scions Farming
Locate the Frostnight Scions (Elite enemies). These are often found in the underground areas of the 6.0 map. They drop the purple-tier mats required for levels 70-90.
Fatui Mech Components
Defeat the newer Fatui mechs and meka-units. These common enemies are scattered across the industrial zones and drop the gear components needed for every ascension tier.
Total Materials Checklist:
Level 90 Requirements:
- 5x Green Mondstadt Weapon Mats / 14x Blue / 14x Purple / 6x Gold
- 23x Frostnight Scion Common Drops / 27x Rare / 41x Legendary
- 15x Fatui Mech Common Components / 23x Rare / 27x Legendary
- 225,000 Mora for total ascension costs
- Approx. 907 Mystic Enhancement Ores
The Frostnight Scions are often hidden behind environmental puzzles. Use the interactive map to locate the 16 fixed spawns, as the Adventure Handbook does not show all locations.
Best Characters for Athame Artis
While designed for Durin, the Durin signature weapon is a surprisingly versatile stat stick for several other sword users. The primary requirement is that the character must deal damage with their Elemental Burst at least once every 3 seconds to maintain the ATK buffs.
Durin (BiS)
- Perfect Synergy: Maintains 100% uptime in both Light and Dark forms.
- ATK Threshold: Easily hits the 2,500 ATK goal for passive scaling.
- Role: Premium Sub-DPS.
Xingqiu
- Sleeper Meta: His Rainswords count as Burst DMG and hit frequently.
- Team Support: Provides a massive ATK buff to the on-field DPS.
- Role: Hydro Enabler.
Ayato
- Huge AOE: His 18-second Burst ensures the team buff never drops.
- Stat Stick: Benefits from the high Crit Rate for his Skill slashes.
- Role: On-field Driver.
Other notable mentions include Kaeya and Lynette. Kaeya’s C2 extends his Burst duration, making him a consistent proccer of the team-wide ATK buff. Lynette’s Bogglecat Box taunts and deals periodic Anemo damage, which also refreshes the 3-second window. However, characters like Kazuha or Nilou should avoid this weapon; Kazuha scales better with Elemental Mastery, and Nilou is a pure HP scaler who gains nothing from the ATK buffs.
| Character | Synergy Rating | Reason for Use |
|---|---|---|
| Durin | ★★★★★ | Signature weapon; tailor-made for his Hexerei kit. |
| Xingqiu | ★★★★☆ | Excellent uptime; turns him into a premium buffer. |
| Ayato | ★★★★☆ | Large Burst AOE makes buffing the whole team easy. |
| Kaeya | ★★★☆☆ | Good for F2P players who want a high-stat sub-DPS. |
| Lynette | ★★★☆☆ | Useful in Anemo-centric teams for extra ATK. |
Xingqiu using Athame Artis in a team with Durin and another Hexerei character (like Nicole) creates a double-buffing scenario where the active DPS receives nearly 50% extra ATK from weapon passives alone.
Comparison: Athame Artis vs. Other Swords
How does the Durin signature weapon stack up against the existing 5-star sword pantheon? In general, it is a "utility-first" weapon. While it doesn't offer the raw DMG% of Mistsplitter Reforged or the massive Crit DMG of Absolution, its ability to buff the entire team makes it a superior choice for quick-swap and sub-DPS heavy rotations.
| Weapon | Base ATK | Substat | Main Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athame Artis | 608 | 33.1% Crit Rate | Team-wide ATK buff + Hexerei synergy |
| Freedom-Sworn | 608 | 198 EM | Better for reaction-heavy EM teams |
| Mistsplitter | 674 | 44.1% Crit DMG | Higher personal damage for on-field DPS |
| Wolf-Fang | 510 | 27.6% Crit Rate | Best 4-star alternative for Burst DMG |
For Durin specifically, Athame Artis is roughly 15-20% better than the next best option (Freedom-Sworn) when the Hexerei bonus is active. Without the Hexerei bonus, the gap closes, and Primordial Jade Cutter becomes a competitive alternative due to its massive Crit Rate and HP-to-ATK conversion.
Pull for Athame Artis if you intend to run Durin in his optimal Hexerei teams. If you plan to use him as a generic Pyro slot in non-Hexerei teams, you can safely skip this for a high-refinement Wolf-Fang or a Primordial Jade Cutter.
Athame Artis FAQ
Q: Is Athame Artis worth pulling for characters other than Durin?
Yes, specifically for Xingqiu and Ayato. If you lack a 5-star sword for them, Athame Artis provides excellent Crit Rate and a valuable team-wide ATK buff that few other swords offer.
Q: Does the ATK buff stack if I have two characters using the weapon?
No, similar to the Millennial Movement series (like Freedom-Sworn), the same type of buff from this weapon series does not stack. Only the highest value will apply.
Q: What is the 'Hexerei' requirement mentioned in the passive?
Hexerei is a character classification in the 6.0 era. To get the 75% boost, you need at least two characters with the Hexerei trait in your party. Durin and Nicole are the most common examples.
Q: Can I use an Energy Recharge Sands with this weapon?
Yes. Since the weapon provides a lot of ATK through its passive, running an ER Sands is often recommended to ensure you can use your Burst on cooldown and maintain the buffs.