Introduction to Thunderbolt Guide
Wuthering Waves Thunderbolt Guide: The Thunderbolt is a distinguished 4-star pistol in Wuthering Waves, known for its rich history, elegant design, and strong performance in combat. Originally used in the inauguration ceremony of Huanglong’s Jinzhou Magistrate, this weapon carries deep symbolic meaning, featuring a golden ginkgo leaf pattern that represents resilience and growth. While it does not provide CRIT-based stats, the Thunderbolt makes up for it with high attack power and an easily triggered passive ability. Its well-balanced attributes make it one of the most effective 4-star weapons for gun-wielding Resonators, offering both style and substance in battle.
Thunderbolt Stats and Passive Ability
Base Stats (at Level 90)
The Thunderbolt, a 4-star pistol in Wuthering Waves, boasts a Base ATK of 387 at Level 90. Its secondary stat provides a 36.4% ATK boost, making it a strong choice for Resonators who benefit from high attack scaling. Like all weapons, it also has a flat attack stat as part of its base attributes.
Passive Ability: Unstoppable
The Thunderbolt’s passive ability, Unstoppable, enhances Resonance Skill DMG when the wielder lands Basic or Heavy Attacks. Each successful hit increases Resonance Skill DMG by 7%, stacking up to three times. Each stack lasts for 10 seconds, and the effect can be triggered once per second, ensuring a consistent damage boost.
Ease of Activation
The passive ability is easy to activate, as most pistol users frequently use Basic Attacks. This ensures a steady buildup of the Resonance Skill DMG bonus, making the weapon highly effective in sustained combat.
Syntony Levels (Weapon Ranks) and Ascension Effects
At Syntony Rank 1, the Thunderbolt grants a 7% Resonance Skill DMG boost per stack, up to three times. With higher Syntony Ranks, this effect increases significantly:
Rank 2: 11% per stack
Rank 3: 15% per stack
Rank 4: 19% per stack
Rank 5: 23% per stack
Upgrading the weapon to Syntony Rank 5 maximizes its damage potential, making it even more powerful in combat.
Thunderbolt Stats at Different Levels
The Thunderbolt’s attack stats scale progressively as it levels up:
Lv. 1: 31 ATK, 8.1% Bonus ATK
Lv. 20: 80 ATK, 14.3% Bonus ATK
Lv. 40: 153 ATK, 20.6% Bonus ATK
Lv. 50: 200 ATK, 23.8% Bonus ATK
Lv. 60: 247 ATK, 26.9% Bonus ATK
Lv. 70: 293 ATK, 30.1% Bonus ATK
Lv. 80: 340 ATK, 33.2% Bonus ATK
Lv. 90: 387 ATK, 36.4% Bonus ATK
With its high ATK scaling and an easily triggered passive ability, the Thunderbolt stands out as a reliable 4-star weapon for Resonators who rely on their Resonance Skills for damage.
Best Characters for Thunderbolt
The Thunderbolt is a powerful 4-star pistol in Wuthering Waves that enhances damage output for any pistol-wielding DPS or sub-DPS character. With a high Base ATK and a passive ability that increases Resonance Skill DMG, it is a solid choice for characters who rely heavily on their skills. Currently, the pistol-wielding Resonators in the game include:
Chixia (4-star, Fusion) – A pure DPS character who relies heavily on her Resonance Skills.
Mortefi (4-star, Fusion) – A sub-DPS with strong off-field capabilities.
Aalto (4-star, Aero) – A flexible sub-DPS who excels in crowd control and utility.
Best Character for Thunderbolt: Chixia
Among these characters, Chixia is the ideal user for the Thunderbolt. As a dedicated DPS, her playstyle revolves around consistently dealing high damage through her Resonance Skills. The Thunderbolt’s passive ability, Unstoppable, increases Resonance Skill DMG whenever the wielder lands Basic or Heavy Attacks, stacking up to three times. Since Chixia frequently uses her Basic Attacks to trigger her skills, she can efficiently maintain full stacks of the passive, maximizing her damage output. The weapon’s high ATK stats further complement her playstyle, making it one of her best 4-star options.
Viability for Mortefi and Aalto
Both Mortefi and Aalto can also benefit from the Thunderbolt’s effects, but their suitability depends on playstyle and team composition.
Mortefi functions primarily as a sub-DPS, providing additional off-field damage. While the Thunderbolt increases his Resonance Skill DMG, Energy Recharge is often a higher priority for sub-DPS characters to ensure they can use their skills and ultimates more frequently. If his Energy Recharge needs are covered by team synergies or other equipment, the Thunderbolt remains a good secondary option to boost his damage.
Aalto, like Mortefi, serves as a sub-DPS or utility support, offering crowd control and extra damage. While he can take advantage of the Thunderbolt’s attack boost and passive, he may benefit more from weapons that enhance his Energy Recharge or utility effects. However, if played as an offensive sub-DPS, the Thunderbolt can still be a viable pick.
Conclusion
The Thunderbolt excels as a weapon for any pistol-wielding Resonator, providing a consistent ATK boost and a strong damage-enhancing passive. Chixia is the best user of this weapon due to her heavy reliance on Resonance Skills, allowing her to fully utilize the passive’s stacking effect. While Mortefi and Aalto can also wield the Thunderbolt, their effectiveness depends on how well their Energy Recharge needs are managed within their team compositions. For players looking to maximize their DPS output with a pistol-user, Chixia is the strongest candidate to wield the Thunderbolt effectively.
How to Obtain Thunderbolt
The Thunderbolt pistol in Wuthering Waves can be obtained through multiple methods, making it accessible to players who engage in different aspects of the game.
One of the primary ways to acquire the Thunderbolt is by purchasing the Battle Pass. Upon reaching level 30 in the Battle Pass and making the required purchase, players gain access to a weapon selector, allowing them to choose the Thunderbolt among other available options.
Another method to obtain the weapon is through the Convene system, the game’s gacha-based weapon draw. Players can use Astrites or Tides (the in-game currencies for summoning) to perform draws, with a chance of obtaining the Thunderbolt. Since Convene is the main method for acquiring weapons in Wuthering Waves, this remains a viable option for players who prefer to rely on summons.
Additionally, the Pioneer Podcast Weapon Chest, accessible through the Insider Channel of the Pioneer Podcast, also offers the Thunderbolt as a potential selection. This provides another opportunity to obtain the weapon for players who participate in this feature.
These multiple acquisition methods give players flexibility in obtaining the Thunderbolt, whether through progression-based rewards, gacha pulls, or special in-game events.
Leveling and Ascension Materials
To fully enhance the Thunderbolt in Wuthering Waves, players must gather specific materials to level up and ascend the weapon. Leveling up increases its stats, while ascension unlocks higher level caps and enhances the weapon’s passive ability.
Leveling and Ascension Materials
The Thunderbolt requires different Rings and Phlogiston materials at each stage of its progression. As players level it up from Level 1 to Level 90, the following materials are needed:
Level 20 → 40: Crude Ring ×5
Level 40 → 50: Basic Ring ×5, Impure Phlogiston ×5
Level 50 → 60: Improved Ring ×4, Extracted Phlogiston ×7
Level 60 → 70: Improved Ring ×5, Refined Phlogiston ×5
Level 70 → 80: Tailored Ring ×4, Flawless Phlogiston ×7
Level 80 → 90: Tailored Ring ×7, Flawless Phlogiston ×10
Total Materials to Max Level (Level 1 → 90)
To fully level the Thunderbolt, players must collect the following:
Crude Ring ×5
Basic Ring ×5
Improved Ring ×9
Tailored Ring ×11
Impure Phlogiston ×5
Extracted Phlogiston ×7
Refined Phlogiston ×5
Flawless Phlogiston ×17
Ascension Costs and Requirements
Each ascension stage requires a set amount of Shell Credits and specific upgrade materials:
Ascension 0 → 1 (Level 20): Shell Credit ×8,000, Crude Ring ×5
Ascension 1 → 2 (Level 40): Shell Credit ×16,000, Impure Phlogiston ×5, Basic Ring ×5
Ascension 2 → 3 (Level 50): Shell Credit ×32,000, Extracted Phlogiston ×7, Improved Ring ×4
Ascension 3 → 4 (Level 60): Shell Credit ×48,000, Refined Phlogiston ×5, Improved Ring ×5
Ascension 4 → 5 (Level 70): Shell Credit ×64,000, Flawless Phlogiston ×7, Tailored Ring ×4
Ascension 5 → 6 (Level 80): Shell Credit ×96,000, Flawless Phlogiston ×10, Tailored Ring ×7
Conclusion
The Thunderbolt is a powerful 4-star pistol in Wuthering Waves, ideal for Resonators who rely on Resonance Skill damage. While it lacks CRIT stats, its high ATK and easy-to-trigger passive make it a reliable choice. Chixia benefits the most from its Resonance Skill DMG boost, while Mortefi and Aalto can use it effectively but may prefer weapons with Energy Recharge. Available through the Battle Pass, Convene system, and Pioneer Podcast, fully upgrading it requires specific materials and Shell Credits. Overall, the Thunderbolt is a solid weapon for enhancing skill-based damage, making it a strong choice for DPS-focused pistol users.
