The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Honkai: Unlock the True Potential of Star Rail's Blade

Highlights

Blade in Honkai: Star Rail deals more damage as his HP drops, but players don't need to keep him near death. He can be paired with a healer, but not a shielder.

It is essential to level up Blade's skill and normal attack, but all other aspects should also be leveled eventually. For players with limited resources, it is recommended to alternate between the two.

When forming a team composition for Blade, it is common to include him as the DPS, along with an abundance unit, a harmony unit, and a free spot. Fu Xuan and Lynx have a special synergy with Blade, as they provide healing and max HP buffs that perfectly complement his abilities.

In Honkai: Star Rail, the introduction of Blade brings a unique mechanic where his damage increases as his HP drops. He is the first character in the game to possess this trait. However, there is no need to deliberately keep Blade at low health, as that is not necessary for him to function effectively. While it is possible to pair him with a healer, it is preferable to avoid using a shielder.

Blade's skills and normal attacks become more powerful as he takes damage, but not when his HP is already low. This sets him apart from Hu Tao in Genshin Impact, and it is crucial to highlight this distinction since many Honkai: Star Rail players are familiar with Genshin Impact. Blade keeps track of the health he loses, but there are no disadvantages to healing him, unlike Hu Tao.

Honkai: Star Rail's Blade's Kit

When it comes to Blade's abilities, his skill and normal attack are the most crucial to prioritize leveling up. As a DPS character, it's important to eventually level up all aspects of his kit as much as possible. However, for players with limited resources who need to prioritize, it is recommended to alternate between leveling up his skill and normal attack since they work together synergistically.

Blade came with new relic sets that greatly enhance his abilities. The Longevous Disciple 2pc set increases his maximum HP, while its 4pc bonus provides a critical rate boost when Blade's HP decreases, making it a perfect fit for his kit. Regarding Planar sets, both Rutilant Arena and Fleet of the Ageless cater to Blade's needs, so it ultimately depends on what the player requires. If players have already obtained sufficient critical rate through sub-stats, they should consider opting for the additional HP boost provided by Fleet of the Ageless. On the other hand, Rutilant Arena is a much-needed DPS boost that compensates for any critical rate deficiencies that Blade may have.

Blade's reliance on draining his own HP means that having a healer is essential. While his passive ability can heal him and his burst can bring him back to half HP (which is helpful if players are low on health), there are situations where having a healer is absolutely necessary. Blade's team compositions can cater to various needs, but they generally follow a similar pattern: Blade as the main damage dealer, a unit with abundance, a harmony unit, and one spot that can be filled freely.

The recent addition of Fu Xuan and Lynx has brought a unique team setup for Blade. Players who have acquired the master diviner will discover a surprising synergy between her and Blade. Typically, preservation units are not beneficial for Blade since he doesn't take damage with their shields. This is particularly problematic for him, considering his playstyle revolves around taking damage. However, Fu Xuan stands out as the first preservation unit who doesn't provide a shield. Instead, she distributes damage evenly among the team.

Lynx greatly enhances Blade's effectiveness, particularly when it comes to increasing his maximum HP. This is especially significant as, prior to Lynx's introduction, there was no support character that could be deemed ideal for Blade's specific abilities. Although Bronya was a decent option, she did not specifically cater to units with HP scaling. With Lynx's ability to both heal and buff max HP, this has changed. Players can now look forward to discovering new heights for Blade, as they have the opportunity to experiment with these new characters.

Blade is a damage-dealing character whose abilities are all important, but his skill and normal attack take precedence. Being a destruction unit, enemies are naturally drawn to targeting him. Thus, pairing Blade with a supportive character will ensure his safety. Ultimately, Blade is not concerned with his current HP level, as his main focus is the overall damage inflicted upon him.

Honkai: Star Rail is available now on PC and mobile devices, and launches on PS5 starting October 11.