# How does the gacha system work?

> In gacha games you spend currency on random pulls for characters or items, with rare rewards at low odds and a pity system that guarantees one eventually.

A gacha system lets you spend in-game currency, earned by playing or bought with real money, on **random "pulls"** that award characters, weapons or items. Common rewards drop often, while top-rarity ones have low odds (often below 1% per pull). Most modern gacha games add a **pity system** that guarantees a rare reward after a set number of pulls without one.

## How a typical pull works

1. **Currency:** you earn or buy premium currency, then convert it into pulls (in *Genshin Impact*, 160 Primogems buy one wish).
2. **Banners:** limited-time banners boost the odds of specific featured characters.
3. **Rarity tiers:** each pull rolls against published odds for each rarity.
4. **Pity:** a counter tracks pulls since your last top-rarity reward; when it hits the limit, you get one.

## Genshin Impact as an example

- **Base 5-star rate:** 0.6% per wish on character banners.
- **Soft pity:** odds rise sharply from around wish 74.
- **Hard pity:** a 5-star is guaranteed by wish 90.
- **50/50:** your first 5-star on a character banner has a 50% chance of being the featured character; if you lose, the next 5-star is guaranteed to be featured. Since version 5.0 (2024), a "Capturing Radiance" mechanic can also turn a lost 50/50 into the featured character, so the real odds are slightly better.

## Gacha vs. loot boxes

They work similarly: both sell random rewards. Gacha usually refers to games built around collecting characters, while loot boxes are often extra purchases in other games. Some countries regulate them; Belgium, for example, treats paid loot boxes as gambling, and many platforms require games to disclose drop rates.

## Spending wisely

Set a budget, check the published rates, and remember that pity can still mean dozens of pulls. Parents can use console, phone and app-store spending limits.

## FAQ

**How many Primogems do 90 wishes cost?**
14,400 Primogems (90 × 160), or 28,800 for 180 wishes.

**At what pity is a 5-star guaranteed?**
In Genshin Impact, at 90 wishes on the character banner and 80 on the weapon banner.

**Are gacha pulls truly random?**
Each pull is random within the published odds, but pity counters change the odds over time.

**What does "gacha" mean in Japanese?**
It comes from gachapon, the Japanese capsule-toy vending machines that dispense a random toy.

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https://gamevoyages.com/how-does-the-gacha-system-work/ · Game Voyage · Checked 2026-11-01