Having the strongest Honkai Star Rail characters on your roster in the game will give you a significant edge against your opponents during battles. For a comprehensive guide on the top characters, refer to our Honkai Star Rail tier list to find out more.
To successfully navigate the toughest challenges in HoYoverse’s Honkai Star Rail, you must have the most powerful characters on your team.
Although all fighters in the game are valuable on the battlefield, there are certain ones that are essential choices for the game’s most difficult challenges.
Our current Honkai Star Rail tier list includes all playable characters currently available in the game.
Best Honkai Star Rail Characters Tier List
The best Honkai Star Rail characters are incredibly useful.
Currently, there are 49 characters available in Honkai Star Rail, with more set to be introduced in upcoming updates. Familiarizing yourself with the top Honkai Star Rail characters will greatly enhance your journey through the stars.
We advise reviewing our Honkai Star Rail tier list prior to pulling on the current banner to potentially save Star Rail Passes and Star Rail Special Passes. It’s crucial to keep in mind that these rankings are subject to change with future updates and character additions, so be sure to bookmark this page and check back frequently.
Our tier list ranks every character available in Honkai Star Rail so you can assemble the strongest team.
| Rank | Characters |
|---|---|
| S | Bronya, Luocha, Kafka, Gepard, Tingyun, Fu Xuan, Imbibitor Lunae, Jingliu, Huohuo, Ruan Mei, Sparkle, Acheron, Firefly, Robin, Aventurine, Boothill |
| A | Jade, Blade, Topaz, Jing Yuan, Clara, Welt, Yukong, March 7th, Luka, Bailu, Himeko, Yanqing, Lynx, Dr. Ratio, Argenti, Black Swan, Gallagher |
| B | Serval, Qingque, Sushang, Hook, Pela, Asta, Natasha, Sampo, Arlan, Guinaifen, Misha, Xueyi, Hanya |
| C | And Heng, Herta, Trailblazer |
S-tier Honkai Star Rail characters
Sparkle
Sparkle is an upgrade over Bronya in Honkai Star Rail
Sparkle is renowned as one of the top support units in Honkai Star Rail. She excels at boosting the damage output of all units in the game and also has the ability to increase the total number of skill points available for the party. Normally, parties have access to five skill points, but Sparkle’s presence raises that number to seven. This makes her a valuable addition to parties that include units such as Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae, Bronya, Jingliu, and others.
Bronya may be good, but she doesn’t compare to the upgrade that she is. This character is a total game-changer, so whenever you have the opportunity, make sure to pull for her.
Bronya
Bronya is a great support option in any team comp.
Thanks to her impactful Wind attacks and abilities that bolster her teammates, Bronya is an excellent support player in any team composition. Her Skill Attack also grants her allies an extra turn in battle, making her a perfect pairing with swift fighters such as Seele.
Loucha
Loucha can provide great debuffs in battle.
Loucha, a 5-star character, has been recently added to the Honkai Star Rail’s roster as one of the Abundance characters. As an Imaginary user, he possesses a range of abilities that not only allow him to debuff enemies but also heal his allies. This makes him a highly versatile fighter and a valuable support option in any team composition.
Kafka
Kafka can stack a lot of damage in battle.
Kafka is a highly rated character in Lightning category, known for her ability to inflict massive damage on enemies during battles. Her exceptional Damage over Time allows her to unleash powerful attack combinations, making her a valuable option for either a main or secondary DPS role on any team.
Soul
Seele is the strongest DPS currently available in the game.
Honkai Star Rail is Seele, known for being one of the most powerful DPS units. This Quantum wielder excels in dealing single-target DMG and is highly efficient in clearing non-boss encounters due to her speed buffs. When combined with suitable support characters, she becomes an unstoppable force on the battlefield.
Silver Wolf
Silver Wolf has some great debuff abilities.
Silver Wolf was recently added to the roster of Honkai Star Rail during the 1.1 Version update. She is a part of the Stellaron Hunters and an exceptional hacker who has honed the ability of ‘Aether Editing’, allowing her to manipulate reality’s data.
Silver Wolf’s greatest asset is her Weakness Implant, which can strategically exploit an enemy’s vulnerabilities based on the composition of your team. Additionally, she possesses the ability to disrupt the enemy’s abilities by inflicting debuffs that decrease their speed, attack, or defense. With a wide range of effective debuff skills, this skilled hacker is an invaluable support member for any team.
Cheetah
Gepard is an excellent defensive unit in any team composition, as he excels at safeguarding his allies. His Ultimate ability, ‘Enduring Bulwark’, is especially useful as it can shield the entire team from harm and even has the potential to freeze enemies. Similar to Bailu, Gepard also has a revive skill, but it can only be utilized on himself. For those looking to enhance their team’s durability, Gepard is the ideal choice.
Tingyun
Tingyun is the best support option currently in Honkai Star Rail.
At present, Tingyun is considered the top support choice in Honkai Star Rail. Her Skill Attack ‘Soothing Melody’ not only grants a remarkable Benediction Buff to a single ally, but also increases their Lightning DMG output. This combination becomes even more formidable when used on a Lightning user like Serval.
Fu Xuan
Fu Xuan is a fantastic choice for defense and buffing other characters.
Fu Xuan, a recent addition to the game, offers a strong defensive choice for your team in Honkai Star Rail. With her ability to lower damage, heal, and provide valuable damage buffs, she is firmly placed in the S-tier for her versatility.
To fully maximize her build, refer to our top-rated Fu Xuan build guide.
Drinker of the moon
Imbibitor Lunae is an extremely powerful damage character.
Undoubtedly one of the top damage dealers in Honkai Star Rail, Imbibitor Lunae boasts incredible DPS potential. With a well-crafted build, he can effortlessly defeat foes with efficiency. Furthermore, he is a free-to-play character, making him an excellent addition to any player’s team.
Check out our comprehensive manual on crafting the perfect Imbibitor Lunae in Honkai Star Rail.
Jingliu
Jingliu, a formidable 5-star Ice unit in the Path of Destruction, possesses the ability to unleash powerful AoE attacks that trigger a unique state. This state enables her to drain her allies’ HP without expending any Skill Points. When teamed up with Bronya, Jingliu can take advantage of additional turns, allowing her to enter the Spectral Transmigration State sooner.
Huohuo
Huohuo, a Wind Abundance character, brings incredible healing abilities to your team. Moreover, her Ultimate has the power to replenish allies’ Energy and boost their ATK, making her a versatile unit that embodies both Abundance and Harmony.
Ruan Mei
Ruan Mei is a flawless support unit capable of enhancing the entire party’s DMG, SPD, and Break Efficiency. Furthermore, she possesses the ability to delay an enemy’s actions by inflicting Weakness Break. To effectively utilize Ruan Mei, it is important to heavily invest in her Break Effect, but also make sure to equip an Energy Regeneration rope instead.
Acheron
Acheron, a formidable 5-star Lightning character on the Path of Nihility, possesses immense power. Unlike any other character, her Ultimate has no energy cost. By debuffing enemies, she accumulates stacks of Slashed Dream, unleashing the full might of her Ultimate, which disregards all weaknesses.
Firefly
Firefly is a powerful 5-star character who follows the Path of Destruction. She excels in combat by inflicting significant Break DMG, but at the cost of a portion of her HP. Fortunately, she can regain this health while attacking in her Complete Combustion state. Additionally, Firefly has the ability to decrease enemy Toughness and exploit their weakness to Fire.
Robin
In her role as a Support character, Robin has the ability to boost DMG and provide a CRIT DMG buff to all party members. Furthermore, her Ultimate can prompt allies to take immediate action, which can be charged by her teammates’ attacks on enemies. As a result, Robin is most effective when paired with a team that can attack multiple times per turn.
Aventurine
Aventurine’s abilities extend beyond defensive measures, as he not only offers protection to the entire party but also delivers a substantial amount of damage. The effectiveness of these abilities is directly influenced by Aventurine’s DEF stat and the frequency at which he can activate his follow-up attack.
Boothill
Boothill is an excellent 5-star choice for those looking to easily inflict Weakness Break on their enemies. As a member of the Path of The Hunt, Boothill specializes in dealing Break DMG to single targets and, similar to Firefly, is capable of inducing a Physical weakness on opponents who do not possess it.
A-tier Honkai Star Rail characters
Exit
As a top-tier Erudition character, Jade is highly skilled at dealing powerful area-of-effect Quantum damage in boss battles, particularly in Pure Fiction. However, she falls short in terms of dealing single-target damage and relies on a secondary DPS to be effective in combat.
Blade
Blade is a great DPS unit.
Blade is a formidable Wind user known for his ability to inflict significant AoE damage, making him an excellent choice for DPS in Honkai Star Rail. As a 5-star Destruction path worker, he wields great power on the battlefield and becomes even more lethal when accompanied by a skilled healer.
Topaz
Topaz and Numby is quite worth in the game
Topaz is a Fire sub-DPS character in the Path of The Hunt who excels in dealing damage to individual targets and boosting the strength of allies’ subsequent attacks. Clara serves as an excellent complement to Topaz, as she is capable of executing numerous follow-up attacks.
Jing Yuan
Jing Yuan is an impressive damage dealer in Honkai Star Rail.
Although not quite as mighty as Imbibitor Lunae, Jing Yuan is still a formidable force on the battlefield. His lightning punch is highly effective against individual foes, and his arsenal of Lightning abilities gives him the ability to dominate in combat with impressive damage potential.
World
Welt can effectively delay enemy turns in combat.
The ability to decrease the speed of enemies and delay their turns in combat justifies their position in the S-tier. This can significantly sway the outcome of a battle and result in more turns for your characters, allowing for more damage, healing, or support. Utilizing this skill enables you to make the most of all the other formidable characters on your team.
Yukong
Yukong is an extremely strong character in Honkai Star Rail.
Yukong is a remarkable support character in Honkai Star Rail, as she has the capability to boost the attack stat of all her teammates. She excels in providing buffs to other allies and is also adept at dealing damage herself.
Discover the top build for Yukong in Honkai Star Rail at this location.
Clara’s Favorite Foods
Thanks to her counter-attacking ability, Clara proves to be an efficient Sub-DPS. She consistently retaliates when taking damage, showcasing her fiery fighting skills. Additionally, her trusty robot guardian, Svarog, aids her in marking enemies, causing them to suffer extra damage from her Skill Attack.
March 7th Updates
March 7th is a solid free-to-play character.
This Ice user can effectively defend in battle by slowing and freezing enemies, while also inflicting significant damage through counterattacks. While not the top sub-DPS choice, March 7th is still a valuable fighter to have on your team, especially as she is one of the earliest characters you acquire in the game.
Wound
Luka can inflict Bleed on enemies.
In Honkai Star Rail, Luka is a 4-star Physical unit known for his ability to inflict the Bleed status on enemies with his attacks. This makes him a valuable character for gradually reducing an opponent’s health during battles. While Luka is a formidable fighter on his own, his true potential is unlocked when he is paired with Kafka. For players who have both characters, it is highly recommended to use them together in the same team composition.
Our comprehensive guide for the ultimate Luka build in the game is available here.
Bailu
Bailu is your stereotypical healer character.
Bailu is the top choice for a healer in Honkai Star Rail. Not only does she offer essential healing during battles, but she also possesses the unique ability to fully revive teammates. Despite her lower damage output, Bailu more than compensates with her exceptional healing skills, greatly improving the chances of survival for any team she joins.
Himeko
Himeko can take down multiple enemies at once.
Himeko has the potential to be a lethal DPS with the appropriate build. Her fiery abilities are highly effective in defeating multiple opponents on the battlefield, and she has the ability to execute frequent follow-up attacks that can be crucial in shifting the momentum of a battle. Additionally, Himeko’s energy is replenished by five when she defeats an enemy.
Yanqing
Yanqing can greatly increase his Crit Rate during battle.
Yanqing’s greatest asset lies in his capacity to enhance his CRIT rate. His ‘Amidst the Rain’ Ultimate provides significant increases in damage and crit rate, and while his Soulsteel Sync state is active, he has a 50% chance of unleashing follow-up attacks with the potential to freeze enemies. If you are in need of an Ice DPS or Sub-DPS for your team composition, Yaqing would be an excellent option.
Lynx
Lynx is a valuable 4-star healer among the limited roster of available options in Honkai Star Rail. Serving as a Quantum support unit, she has the ability to boost the maximum HP of allies and her Ultimate can remove debuffs from the entire party. Additionally, Lynx has the capability to draw aggro for both Preservation and Destruction characters.
Dr. Ratio
Not long ago, Honkai Star Rail kindly bestowed players with a complimentary copy of Dr. Ratio, who can be a valuable asset to any team. As a member of The Hunt, Dr. Ratio specializes in inflicting damage to a single target, while also having the ability to unleash additional attacks based on the number of debuffs on enemies.
If you are interested in creating your free Dr.
Silver
Argenti is a Physical character on the Path of The Erudition known for his expertise in unleashing AoE damage. With his powerful Ultimate and skill in hitting multiple targets, he proves to be a valuable asset. However, to fully utilize his next-level Ultimate, he relies on someone like Tingyun who can regenerate Energy at a faster rate.
If you are interested, we have a build guide for Argenti available.
The Black Swan
It can be argued that Black Swan is one of the strongest DoT units in Honkai Star Rail. When teamed up with Kafka, their synergy is virtually unbeatable. Black Swan has the ability to inflict Arcana stacks on foes, which amplifies the potency of her DoT.
Gallagher
Another viable healer choice in Honkai Star Rail is Gallagher. His unique ability to inflict the Besotted debuff on enemies enables him to heal his teammates. However, it is only after obtaining his second Eidolon that Gallagher truly becomes valuable, as this allows him to also cleanse his allies.
B-tier Characters in Honkai Star Rail
On the edge
Serval is extremely effective against enemies who are weak to Lightning.
Serval’s strength lies in applying the Shock debuff to multiple enemies during battle, but she truly shines when facing enemies who are susceptible to Lightning damage. When pitted against other types of enemies, her damage output may be limited, making her less effective compared to other multi-target options. Nevertheless, as a free-to-play character, it wouldn’t hurt to give her a chance and see how she fares in combat.
If you’re curious about the top Serval build in the game, our guide has got you covered.
Qingque
Qingque needs plenty of skill points to be effective in battle.
One of Qingque’s most distinguishing features is her ability to upgrade her Basic Attack into a more powerful move that can harm multiple opponents. However, mastering this Quantum user on the battlefield requires a significant investment of skill points, therefore players must strategize carefully when selecting her for their team.
Sushang
Sushang makes a good Sub-DPS.
Sunshang is a highly skilled fighter with a focus on single-target damage dealing. Her abilities allow her to increase her speed after weakening enemies, making her a valuable asset in battle. Her Ultimate, ‘Dawn Herald’, is especially formidable as it provides her with an extra turn and a boost in attack power. She serves as an excellent sub-DPS option for those who do not have access to more elusive characters like Seele.
Our exclusive build guide for Sushang can be located here.
Hook
Hook is most effective when teamed up with other Fire users.
In theory, Hook would be a perfect partner for other Fire users as she is able to deal extra damage to enemies who are already affected by the Burn status. However, depending on your preferred playstyle, having a team composed mostly of Fire wielders may not be the most effective strategy. If you are determined to have a team of fire starters, Hook is a reliable fighter to have on your team.
Pela
Pela can effectively reduce the enemies battle power in combat.
Pela is an exceptional support character with the capability to debuff enemies and eliminate buffs. In addition to her offensive capabilities, her Ultimate ability, ‘Zone Suppression’, significantly decreases enemies’ defenses. Furthermore, her Skill Attack inflicts Ice damage and eliminates one buff from the targeted enemy, making her a valuable asset in boss battles.
Main Character of Black Clover
Asta is a good support character in Honkai Star Rail.
Asta, a Fire user who follows The Harmony path, is the lead astronomer at the Herta Space Station. In combat, she is able to offer a range of buffs to her teammates, making her a valuable option as a support character.
Additionally, she is available for free in the game upon completion of the gacha mechanics tutorial, making her a valuable support character for new players.
Our guide on the best Asta build provides a comprehensive breakdown for those in search of it.
Natasha
Natasha can heal her teammates in Honkai Star Rail.
Natasha is a member of The Abundance path and a Physical fighter in Honkai Star Rail. She plays a supportive role in battles, providing buffs and healing for her allies.
Currently, she is one of the three healers available in the game, and players have the opportunity to obtain her at no cost. This makes her an excellent choice to add to your team if you have not been able to acquire Bailu or Loucha through banners.
Changed
Sampo uses various debuffs to impair his enemies on the battlefield.
Sampo is a skilled AoE wind user who excels in accumulating skill points during battles and excels as a Sub-DPS when paired with other multi-target units like Himeko. His innate talent also grants him a 65% probability of inflicting Wind Sheer – a damaging effect that continuously strikes enemies for 3 turns.
Arlan
Arlan
Arlan
Despite being a powerful fighter, Arlan is not a popular choice in the current meta as there are other DPS characters that are more valuable. In Honkai Star Rail, it is crucial to prioritize keeping your entire team alive, which may make Arlan, with his lightning abilities, a risky choice.
Arlan’s skill attack requires the use of HP and without a healer or support to assist him, there are more effective DPS choices in the current meta.
Guinaifen
Although she is only a 4-star character, Guinaifen excels at inflicting Burn on multiple enemies and boosting the damage they take from it. When it comes to damage over time, Kafka is the most suitable companion for Guinaifen.
Misha
Misha, who is a 4-star character, will be released on Black Swan’s banner. His unique kit centers around his Ultimate, which increases in strength as the party uses more Skill Points. As a result, we strongly advise pairing Misha with Hanya to replenish Skill Points.
Student Profile: Xueyi
Xueyi stands out from other characters in Honkai Star Rail because her damage is based on her Break Effect. Her strength lies in her ability to weaken enemies and unleash powerful follow-up attacks through Karma stacks. We suggest utilizing her as a sub-DPS alongside characters who can inflict Weakness Break on enemies, thus triggering Xueyi’s follow-up attacks.
Only
Hanya is an excellent addition to any party seeking to enhance their SPD and ATK stats. Furthermore, her skill to inflict Burden on foes can replenish the team’s Skill Points, making her a valuable asset for characters who tend to deplete this resource quickly, such as Imbibitor Lunae.
C-tier characters in Honkai Star Rail
And Heng
Dan Heng excels at single-target attacks.
One of the initial characters encountered by Trailblazers in the game is Dan Heng, who is introduced alongside March 7th. Similar to March, he can be highly effective with the appropriate build. His strengths lie in his ability to inflict damage on a single target and hinder enemies with his Skill Attack. However, he may not be as dominant as other DPS units in the current meta.
If you’re unsure about which build is the best for Dan Heng in the game, our guide has you covered.
Hertha
Herta struggles in boss and elite battles.
Despite being capable in basic encounters, Herta faces challenges in boss battles as her follow-up attacks and other skills can only be activated when the enemy’s HP is below 50%. This limitation makes her less suitable for tougher battles and endgame content, making her difficult to recommend in those situations.
TrailBlazer
Honkai Star Rail’s main protagonist is more powerful than you might think.
The TrailBlazer, the main protagonist in Honkai Star Rail, possesses three forms in-game: Physical, Imaginary, and Fire, with the Fire form being the most advantageous. After unlocking the Fire Trailblazer, this customizable character can deliver significant damage and provide a shield for the entire team on the battlefield. While they may not be the first choice once more characters are obtained, their effectiveness should not be underestimated.
To learn more about Honkai Star Rail, refer to these guides on banners, redeem codes, and the height of each character.
Leave a Reply