Ranking the Playable Characters in Honkai Star Rail: Who Reigns Supreme?

There are currently a total of 22 characters, including Jing Yuan, available for collection in Honkai: Star Rail (24 if both versions of the Trailblazer are included). Each character possesses unique specialization in terms of Aeon Path and Elemental Affinity, and they are all meticulously crafted. However, it is apparent that certain characters surpass others in terms of performance. In this article, we will be ranking all of the characters currently available in Honkai: Star Rail from least to most effective.

24 Herta: Erudition

It's important to note that 4-star characters are typically not as powerful as 5-star characters within the game's design. However, it's essential to keep in mind that with enough resources invested into a character's abilities, every character in HSR can be amazing.

Despite being the namesake of the Herta Space Station and drawing the gaze of the Aeon of Erudition, Nous, Herta unfortunately falls short in terms of mechanical prowess. Although an interesting character, she is not very effective in gameplay and is available to everyone for free as the last character on the list.

Her lack of damage is a significant drawback, especially considering her Erudition character type. While it may be expected for her to have lower total damage than other paths, her AoE damage is notably weaker than any other Erudition options. Furthermore, Ice Weakness is not as common compared to other elements in the current game content (as of June 2023), especially when dealing with groups of enemies, which further diminishes her usefulness.

23 Sampo: Nihility

Sampo stands out as one of the most visually striking figures in the Underworld of Belobog, yet his disingenuous and overly friendly persona couldn't be further from his appearance. Despite his flashy style and charming ways of speaking, his gameplay is a stark contrast to his image.

Sampo, being a Nihility character, possesses an underwhelming DoT and/or Debuff ability that merely inflicts a slightly enhanced Wind Shear, even with the most optimal Light Cone setup. Although he's not entirely incompetent, players seeking Wind Damage would find it more convenient to rely on Dan Heng.

22 Physical-Element Trailblazer: Destruction

The irony lies in the fact that the Trailblazer, who happens to be the protagonist of the game, appears to be quite weak. However, it should be noted that the Physical Element version of Trailblazer has limited abilities and can only rely on hitting objects with a bat, while other characters possess the power to summon ice swords or even call down orbital strikes.

Again, not a bad option if a player is in desperate need of Physical damage, but as soon as players unlock the Fire Aspect Trailblazer they'll likely never switch back.

21 Qingque: Erudition

Qinque is undeniably one of the most well-crafted characters, thanks to her unique personality traits. Her carefree approach to life, love for games that involve tiles, and absence of any career-oriented aspirations, all contribute to her being an incredibly relatable character.

With the right team setup, Light Cone, and Trace Levels, Qingque can become a solid and powerful DPS character. However, compared to her only competitor for Quantum damage, Seele, she requires a significant amount of resource investment and effort to truly excel. Despite this, Qingque has the potential to be a reliable and even amazing addition to any team that invests in her development.

20 Arlan: Destruction

Despite the presence of 5 Lightning Element characters in the game, it's unfortunate that two of them are not considered top-tier. Arlan, in particular, requires a specific team composition and constant supervision to reach his full potential.

Using HP instead of Skill Points for his Skill provides a significant advantage in team compositions that struggle to maintain enough Skill Points. However, utilizing his Skill also puts Arlan at a high risk. Despite being an exceptional secondary DPS in a team, the current game meta in versions 1.0 and 1.1 primarily revolves around a single DPS, a healer, a tank, and a support. Substituting Arlan into such a team composition may not always be the best choice.

19 Serval: Erudition

Serval holds a crucial position in a player's lineup if they haven't obtained any other Erudition characters. However, if a player manages to pull characters like Himeko, Arlan, Jing Yuan, Bailu, Tingyun, or even Qingque, then Serval will likely have to take a backseat.

With proper investment in her Relics, Traces, level, and Eidolon Level, Serval proves to be an exceptional character, especially when facing enemies weak to Lightning. Although not inherently a bad character, her true potential will shine when DoT damage becomes more viable, which is likely to happen with Kafka's eventual release.

Sushang's prowess as a pure Physical damage dealer sets her apart in the Physical Element, making her deserving of a higher rank. While Clara may technically deal more damage, it's not her primary role as a Physical damage dealer.

Sushang's Ultimate can unleash a significant amount of Physical Damage in a single turn. However, compared to other Hunt characters, she falls slightly short. It may not be worth investing in her if players only have one Sushang. Nonetheless, once they unlock her first Eidolon Resonance, Cut With Ease, Sushang becomes a more viable option, especially in teams with a heavy focus on Skill Points.

17 Hook: Destruction

Meet Hook, the charming and mischievous leader of the Moles Adventure Squad in Belobog's underground world. With his unique abilities, Hook joins the ranks of rare Destruction Characters like Arlan, Clara, and the Physical Trailblazer.

Hook is a highly specialized character in dealing Burns and delivering massive single-target damage. However, her effectiveness is limited against enemies that are not Weak to Fire. Additionally, she requires a significant investment to truly shine, which can be a drawback for some players.

16 Himeko: Erudition

Similar to Herta, Himeko possesses all the necessary mechanical attributes. As an Erudition character, she has follow-up mechanics that allow her to attack multiple times. This is due to the initial area of effect of her Molten Detonation Skill and the activation of her Victory Rush Talent.

Sadly, Himeko's damage output is relatively low compared to the Fire Trailblazer and Asta, both of which excel in their respective roles. If Mihoyo could boost her damage output slightly or reduce the number of Weakness Breaks required for her Victory Rush, Himeko would undoubtedly climb up the rankings.

15 Dan Heng: The Hunt

Dan Heng is a formidable Hunt character known for his serious demeanor and enigmatic history with Xianzhou Luofu. As the default character for beginners, he is one of the three Wind Element characters that players can choose from.

14 March 7th: Preservation

Despite his lackluster gameplay, Dan Heng's damage output is quite noticeable, making him a valuable asset against tough enemies weak to Wind. While Sampo falls short in comparison and Bronya is a rare 5-star pull, many players will rely on investing in Dan Heng to fill the much-needed Wind DPS slot. This is why he ranks high among other characters.

Although March 7th's affable nature may not appeal to everyone, her amnesia gimmick coupled with her passion for photography undoubtedly leaves a lasting impression. Moreover, when it comes to gameplay, she excels as one of the top support characters.

Essentially, March 7th's Skill allows her to taunt enemies towards her target ally, while also granting them a shield. Additionally, when the shielded ally is attacked, March 7th will automatically retaliate, making her Ultimate ability readily available. However, while March 7th can effectively support a team when paired with Fire Trailblazer, Gepard, or Clara, this playstyle can be quite slow. Unfortunately, her impact outside of the Simulated Universe is limited, even with optimal leveling and builds.

13 Pela: Nihility

Currently, Pela stands as the sole character with expertise in inflicting the Exposed status effect, which significantly lowers the defense of enemies. Although her performance in terms of damage, durability, and overall gameplay may not be exceptional, her ability to debuff opponents is noteworthy.

With her ability to boost the team's damage output by almost 20 percent consistently, she remains a valuable member of any team composition. While her individual impact may be limited, her contribution becomes essential when paired with the right teammates.

12 Bronya: Harmony

Bronya is a formidable character in her own right, rivaling Dan Heng for the title of 'always serious straight-laced person'. Her commitment to her duties as a soldier is unwavering, and she possesses a remarkable level of integrity and determination. Instead of wielding a sword, Bronya's weapon of choice is her trusty firearm, which she wields with deadly precision.

Bronya's Wind Element damage may not be impressive, but her ability to dispel debuffs and allow allies to take two turns in one rotation make her one of the top-tier characters. Her role is not to deal damage, but rather to support the main DPS character in eliminating enemies quickly and efficiently.

11 Welt: Nihility

Welt is a highly ranked Imaginary-type damage dealer in the game due to his unique abilities. While Luocha is expected to arrive soon, he is a mix of a healer and damage dealer. Welt, on the other hand, covers all fields with his impressive damage dealing skills, debuffing abilities, and even AoE damage. He slows down and imprisons his enemies while dealing good damage, making him a valuable asset in any battle.

So, Welt fills a very specific role that no one else can fill. But besides that, he's just perfectly balanced in terms of design, gameplay, and story.

10 Yanqing: The Hunt

Despite Yanqing's scarce appearances in the Honkai: Star Rail story, he remains as one of the top 'hyper-carry' damage dealers in the game. Even with Jing Yuan making more appearances than him, Yanqing's unquestionable prowess in dealing damage is something that players should not overlook.

9 Tingyun: Harmony

While the Ice element may have fewer weaknesses in the endgame, Yanqing's Critting Machine is still a valuable asset with proper investment in Trace and Light Cone. This allows him to effortlessly melt through enemy health bars, even when they are resistant to Ice Damage.

If Clara is the complete package as a tank and DPS, Tingyun is the complete package in every aspect except healing. This Sky-Faring Commission Amicassador has it all.

She has the ability to enhance the attack of two allies simultaneously, allowing her allies to use their Ultimates more frequently, and she also deals significant damage on her own. However, her only weakness is her fragility, which is typical for any support hero.

8 Gepard: Preservation

Gepard, the captain of the Silvermane Guards, is one of the most renowned warriors of Belobog. His unique weapon of choice is his sister's guitar case, which he manages to wield skillfully. In Honkai, Gepard plays the role of a 'pure tank', solely responsible for providing the entire squad with massive shields through his powerful Enduring Bulwark Ultimate.

Gepard and Bailu are the top choices for ensuring the survival of the entire team. While Gepard is the best option, Bailu comes in at a close second. Bailu's strength lies in his ability to act as a sturdy barrier, shielding his allies from enemy attacks.

7 Asta: Harmony

Despite her poor spending habits and wealth, Asta remains a beloved character. As a support-type character, Asta doesn't demand much investment to showcase her value.

Her Astrometry Talent and Astral Blessing Ultimate enable her to consistently enhance her allies' attack power and speed, respectively. This makes it effortless for a hyper-carry DPS to further amplify their already impressive carry potential.

6 Fire-Element Trailblazer: Preservation

Unfortunately, unlocking the Preservation version of the Trailblazer requires players to complete all of Herta Space Station and most of Belobog. However, once players are properly equipped and have unlocked the ship, they will become an essential member of the team.

This Trailblazer possesses exceptional Taunting ability, effectively drawing the attention of every enemy on the battlefield. Additionally, they consistently provide shields not only for themselves but also for their teammates with each action they take. This character is a necessity for players who didn't obtain Gepard or Clara, and in certain scenarios, the Trailblazer outperforms them both.

5 Clara: Destruction

Out of the three potential 'tank' characters in Star Rail, Clara's method of tanking stands out as the most unique. Once an opponent hits Clara, her robo-dad Svarog immediately Marks them. When she uses her Ultimate, Svarog Counters any attacks against Clara or her allies for the next 2 turns while dealing more damage than usual.

Her abilities and skills make her an excellent choice for players who prefer a balanced approach to gameplay, as she can withstand heavy damage while dealing out significant damage to her opponents. Clara's versatility and adaptability make her a valuable asset to any team, and her presence in the game is a testament to the importance of survivability and damage in Honkai: Star Rail's current meta.