8 Reasons Why Honkai Star Rail Outshines Genshin Impact's Traveler

Genshin Impact quickly became a household name due to its captivating world of Teyvat, Archon storyline, exploration, combat, and diverse cast of Vision users. Despite its original fanbase still playing to this day, Honkai: Star Rail, the newest game from Mihoyo (now HoYoverse), has taken the spotlight with its turn-based combat gameplay. Both games feature a magical self-insert protagonist, with Genshin's Traveler and Honkai's Trailblazer, but the Trailblazer stands out as a vastly different and superior character.

8 Diverse & Visually Stunning Weaponry

The Traveler's weapon may be versatile in terms of its Elemental properties, but it lacks visual interest with its generic shortsword design. Fan theories abound as to why it looks so mundane, but the fact remains that it's an unremarkable weapon compared to what other protagonists wield. On the other hand, the Trailblazer has two distinctive weapons to choose from, each with their own unique aesthetic. The Physical Element Destruction Path Trailblazer wields a baseball bat adorned with constellation or space-themed particle effects, while the Fire Element Preservation Path Trailblazer wields a molten lance that constantly radiates intense heat. The baseball bat's humorously unconventional choice for a space-faring protagonist, and its association with past Honkai characters with stoic personalities and grey hair, make it all the more memorable.

7 One's A Trash Gremlin & The Other Is Pretty Normal

When comparing the personalities of the Traveler and Trailblazer, it's clear that both follow the standard format of a silent and stoic MC in party-driven action games. However, the Trailblazer stands out as a total oddball with a quirky personality. Even without exploring their secret fascination with trashcans or flirty texts, players will encounter many moments where dialogue choices for the Trailblazer are chaotic and unpredictable.

6 Confidence & Contrived Manner Of Speaking

In contrast to Genshin Impact's medieval-like setting, Honkai: Star Rail's 'texting' feature allows players to connect with the game's characters on a more relatable level. The inclusion of phones in the game means that characters like the Trailblazer frequently send messages to check on friends or flirt with Himiko during missions. What's interesting is that even when players choose the more 'unrestrained' response options, the Trailblazer still exudes confidence and keeps the conversation moving forward. This is a refreshing change from the Traveler in Genshin Impact, who rarely speaks and often leaves Paimon as the only one to respond to any of their eccentric comments.

5 Raw In-Universe Power Levels

When it comes to comparing anime-inspired characters, power levels are a crucial factor to consider. While fans of Mihoyo have had ample opportunities to witness the Traveler's capabilities through various content updates, boss battles, and story arcs, Honkai: Star Rail has only featured two significant boss fights at the time of writing. Despite this, Aether and Lumine's lore in Teyvat and their encounters with Caelus and Stella make it evident that the Trailblazer is a more formidable entity. The Trailblazer's true nature remains a mystery, but with a Stellaron implanted in their chest by Nanook, the God of Destruction, it's a device with the potential to bring about world-ending consequences. On the other hand, the Traveler is a god or deity from a different universe who has been slowly regaining their abilities, albeit at a sluggish pace.

4 No Jumping Vs Limited Stamina

In terms of mechanics, the biggest difference between Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail is the stamina and jump systems. Genshin Impact heavily relies on traversal, with players encouraged to climb everything in search of collectibles. On the other hand, Honkai: Star Rail does not have a jump button and players are limited to running, attacking, using their character's Technique, or interacting with objects/people. However, this means that HSR players don't have to worry about running out of stamina, a common issue in Genshin Impact. While this is not necessarily a direct comparison between Trailblazer and Traveler, it does highlight the Trailblazer's superior endurance compared to the Traveler.

3 Switching Elements On The Trailblazer Is A Breeze

In a mobile game like this, daily tasks are abundant, and efficiency as well as convenience are crucial. If an otherwise simple task takes an excessive amount of time, players are bound to become frustrated, especially if they need to do it frequently. For instance, in Genshin Impact, players have to visit a nearby Statue of the Seven to switch elements, which requires a loading screen and an additional menu. On the other hand, in Honkai: Star Rail, players can easily switch between elements and paths by visiting the Trailblazer in the Character Menu, making it much faster and more convenient than the Traveler's method.

2 Aeons Are So Much Cooler Than Archons

Both Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail boast incredibly detailed and captivating universes for mobile games, with the added bonus of being connected canonically. While GI's world of Teyvat, Visions, and Archons offer a fascinating lore, HSR's setting is already more intriguing. The concept of Aeons, which represent entire concepts and are incredibly diverse, is far more interesting than Archons. Aha, the Aeon of Erudition, is a mass of sentient masks with different expressions, making him more visually striking than Venti, the Archon of Freedom. Moreover, the idea of receiving an Aeon's gaze from across the cosmos to enter their Path is simply cooler than an Archon granting a Vision to a specific person. With more than 20 characters in the works for HSR (if the leaks are true), there is a wealth of potential for uncovering even more Aeon lore.

1 No Paimon, Just March 7th

The Trailblazer proves to be a better option than the Traveler, due to the fact that it doesn't come bundled with Paimon, a character that has divided opinions among players. Paimon's tendency to interrupt the MC or reply to dialogue intended for someone else can make interactions with NPCs feel less meaningful.

The Trailblazer's comparison to 'Paimon' on March 7th is spot on, as she is not only a lovable character but also an exceptional addition to any team composition. Much like Paimon, she has her own set of strengths and weaknesses, but the Trailblazer and March 7th share a certain bond that is evident in some of the NPC quests, resulting in some amusing moments that make it seem like they share the same thought process. Honkai: Star Rail is now accessible on PC and mobile devices, with PS4 and PS5 versions in the works.