For Furina, Festering Desire generally outperforms Fleuve Cendre Ferryman (often referred to as "Pipe"), especially when specific Critical Rate conditions are met. However, Fleuve Cendre Ferryman remains an excellent and accessible alternative.
Furina's damage scales primarily with her Max HP, and her personal damage output relies heavily on her Elemental Skill. Therefore, weapons that provide Energy Recharge (ER), Crit Rate, and Crit Damage are highly beneficial.
Festering Desire: The Optimal Choice (Under Conditions)
Festering Desire is a 4-star sword that was available during an event. It offers Energy Recharge as its substat, which is crucial for Furina's Elemental Burst uptime. Its passive ability increases both Elemental Skill Damage and Elemental Skill Critical Rate.
- Key Advantage: If your Furina can achieve a high Critical Rate without her weapon equipped (specifically, over 70%), Festering Desire becomes the superior option. This is because Furina gains Critical Rate as her Ascension stat, making it easier to reach high Crit Rate values through artifacts. When her Crit Rate is already high from other sources, Festering Desire's passive provides a significant boost to her Elemental Skill's damage and consistency, allowing for more optimal crit distribution across her build.
- Benefits:
- Provides necessary Energy Recharge.
- Directly buffs her primary damage source (Elemental Skill).
- Enhances Crit Rate for her Skill, leading to more consistent critical hits.
- Availability: Event-exclusive, meaning it's not obtainable if you missed the event.
Fleuve Cendre Ferryman ("Pipe"): The Excellent F2P Alternative
Fleuve Cendre Ferryman, commonly known as the "Pipe" sword, is a 4-star craftable Fontaine weapon. It also provides Energy Recharge as its substat. Its passive increases Elemental Skill Crit Rate and Energy Recharge after using an Elemental Skill.
- Key Advantage: This weapon is entirely free-to-play friendly and accessible to all players via crafting. It offers a well-rounded stat distribution suitable for Furina, providing both ER and Crit Rate for her Elemental Skill.
- Benefits:
- Easily obtainable through crafting.
- Provides essential Energy Recharge.
- Increases Elemental Skill Crit Rate.
- Availability: Craftable at the Fontaine blacksmith.
Side-by-Side Comparison
To help you decide, here's a direct comparison:
| Feature | Festering Desire | Fleuve Cendre Ferryman ("Pipe") |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon Type | 4-star Sword | 4-star Sword |
| Main Stat | Energy Recharge (ER) | Energy Recharge (ER) |
| Passive Ability | Increases Elemental Skill DMG and Crit Rate | Increases Elemental Skill Crit Rate and ER after using Skill |
| Availability | Event-exclusive (Limited) | Craftable (F2P friendly) |
| Optimal Use | When Furina's Crit Rate is high (>70% without weapon) | Excellent general-purpose F2P option; good for balancing stats |
| Performance | Generally provides higher personal damage output in optimal builds | Strong, reliable choice; may require slightly more Crit Rate from artifacts if Festering is unavailable |
When to Choose Which
-
Choose Festering Desire if:
- You possess it from the event.
- Your Furina's artifact substats, along with her ascension stat, allow her to comfortably reach over 70% Critical Rate without a weapon. This allows Festering Desire's passive to push her Crit stats even further, maximizing her damage.
- You are aiming for the absolute best personal damage output for Furina from a 4-star weapon.
-
Choose Fleuve Cendre Ferryman if:
- You do not have Festering Desire.
- You need a reliable and easily obtainable weapon for Furina.
- Your artifact rolls are not high enough to get her Crit Rate very high without a weapon, and you benefit from the Crit Rate provided by the Pipe's passive to balance her stats.
In summary, while Festering Desire holds a slight edge under specific high-investment conditions due to its potent Elemental Skill buffs, Fleuve Cendre Ferryman is an incredibly strong and accessible alternative that will serve your Furina very well.
