Best Honkai Star Rail Characters: Hero Tier List

In Honkai: Star Rail, the characters differ significantly from each other, with some of them being able to perform their main tasks more efficiently. For this reason, we decided to compile a tier list of heroes that should help you choose the best fighters for your teams and save star jades.

Criteria for choosing the best characters in Honkai: Star Rail

At this point in time, the rating below is based on the experience of the players and the statistics obtained as part of the final testing of the game. The information in it will be regularly updated as new heroes and updates are released. You should be aware that many characters can both move up in rank over time and drop in the ranking, as happened in Genshin Impact at one time.

You also need to remember that in Honkai: Star Rail, a lot depends on team building. Although we have tried to include optimal builds in our tier list, however, many low-ranking characters can demonstrate excellent results in certain units if they are pumped correctly, investing your time and effort into them. You can easily complete most of the content using only the Pathfinder and 4-star characters (problems may arise only with the Forgotten Hall, an analogue of the Void Spiral from Genshin Impact).

It is also necessary to take into account the goals entrusted to the characters. For example, if you take battles with bosses and elite enemies, then Himeko will show himself average in them. If we are talking about battles with a large number of monsters in auto mode, then it can be called the best fighter.

In general, the rating of the best characters was built according to the following rules:

• The manual control of the characters was taken into account.
• Using characters in optimal teams for them.
• On average, characters were level 60 and Footprints unlocked, and also equipped with a level 60 light cone with a rarity of 4 stars and upgraded legendary equipment.
• 5-star characters have no Eidolons unlocked, while 4-star characters have them unlocked up to level 2.

Tier list of characters in Honkai: Star Rail

It was decided to prepare three ratings of characters at once, depending on the purposes for which they will be used:

• General (default) - how the heroes behave when completing story and secondary tasks, as well as exploring the open world, passing through the Virtual Universe, and so on (that is, we are talking about all modes in which you have to fight against mixed types of enemies).
• Single targets - how the heroes behave when fighting strong opponents (bosses) in separate tasks and modes (Forgotten Hall).
• Multiple targets - how heroes behave when fighting large groups of enemies on autopilot when farming materials (for example, in dungeons).

We also conditionally divided all the characters into several ranks, reflecting their overall effectiveness on the battlefield:

• SS rank: ideal fighters who 100% fulfill the role assigned to them.
• S rank: extremely powerful guys who have practically no flaws.
• A rank: excellent characters that will perfectly complement any team.
• B rank: good characters that should not be discounted, especially if you do not want to spend real money on the game.
• C rank: ordinary characters that can also be useful to the squad with the right leveling and competent combination with stronger fighters.

Note: Heroes of SS rank are certainly good, but it should not be considered that they are several times stronger than characters of a lower rank. Therefore, you should not constantly chase after them, considering all the rest useless. You can make a great team with only one S-ranked hero or a couple of A-ranked fighters.

Overall rating

Rating for single targets

Rating for multiple purposes

Next, we will list all the characters in the game, briefly talking about their features and abilities. The overall rating will be taken as the basis.

SS rank characters

Zele

• Rarity: 5 stars
• Path: Hunting
• Element: Quantum

An excellent damage dealer capable of dealing massive damage to single enemies, so it is ideal for killing bosses. Zele can boost her speed, allowing her to move first in combat, and buff herself to deal even more damage. Plus, she is able to reduce the interest of enemies in her person, which increases her survivability. Even without the Eidolons, she does a great job as a main DD.

Armor

• Rarity: 5 stars
• Path: Harmony
• Element: windmill

An excellent support capable of increasing the attack power, defense and damage of his allies, greatly increasing the overall combat power of the team. If necessary, the Armor itself can inflict good wind damage to enemies. Plus, it can be used to remove debuffs from squad members. She does not require Eidolons to perform her main function.

Tingyun

• Rarity: 4 stars
• Path: Harmony
• Element: Electric

An excellent support character that can increase the attack power and damage of allies, as well as fill them with a lot of energy, making it possible to use superpowers more often. Due to her high base speed, Tingyun will often go first in combat. Plus, she is capable of inflicting good electric damage to enemies. Eidolons can make her even stronger, but she plays her role well without them.

Bailu

• Rarity: 5 stars
• Path: Abundance
• Element: Electric

An excellent healer with high base health, as well as average speed and defense. She can heal both individual allies and the entire squad as a whole. Plus, her talent allows her to heal teammates outside of the battlefield and resurrect them if they receive a finishing blow. In general, if you need a good healer, we recommend that you take Baila.

Pioneer (fiery)

• Rarity: 5 stars
• Path: Save
• Element: Fire

An excellent tank that can boost his defense, cast shields and deal fire damage to multiple targets in the background, making him a good secondary damage dealer too. Eidolons are easier to open for him than for other characters, so you can easily realize his maximum potential. The only downside is the average speed.

Jing Yuan

• Rarity: 5 stars
• Path: Erudite
• Element: Electric

An excellent damage dealer specializing in dealing massive damage to multiple targets. Not only can he personally inflict significant damage to enemies with his abilities, but also summon the Lord of Lightning, which also attacks opponents, however, is somewhat weaker than Jing Yuan.

With the help of Traces, the character can increase his critical hit chance, which significantly increases his overall DPS. His base stats are very balanced, so you don't have to constantly think about his survivability.

S rank characters

Clara

• Rarity: 5 stars
• Path: Destruction
• Element: Physical

A good damage dealer that has balanced health, attack power and defense, but has a relatively low speed value, which is why it will often go one of the last in battle. Can deal significant physical damage to both single and multiple targets.

However, her skills often make her the number one target for opponents. Her defense is certainly strong, but we still advise you to additionally strengthen her with tank shields or keep a healer at the ready.

Sushan

• Rarity: 4 stars
• Path: Hunting
• Element: Physical

A good damage dealer, which, although inferior in terms of attack power and speed to Zele, is still capable of inflicting huge physical damage on single targets. In addition, Sushan can increase his speed with the help of a talent and deal considerable damage even to large groups of enemies. Eidolons are easier for her to open than legendary heroes, however, the first two levels do not give a significant increase in strength.

Sang

• Rarity: 4 stars
• Path: Nothingness
• Element: Icy

In a team, he can play the role of a sub-DD and a debuffer support, dealing ice damage to enemies from his pocket and weakening them, reducing their defense. Plus, she is able to flood allies with some energy and increase their chance to hit effects. In general, this is a very versatile fighter that will be useful to many units.

A relatively high base speed will allow her to be one of the first to move in battle. However, low health and not very high defense will force you to constantly monitor her condition.

Himeko

• Rarity: 5 stars
• Path: Erudite
• Element: Fire

It has one of the highest base attack power in the game, which makes it an excellent damage dealer when it comes to taking out large groups of enemies. The fact is that all of her abilities are aimed specifically at dealing damage to multiple targets, so Himeko is not very suitable for destroying powerful single enemies. Its disadvantages include a relatively low speed, which is partially offset by the 1st Eidolon.

The heroine's plus is also her ability to independently restore her energies when defeating enemies, so in mass battles she can very often use her superpower. We add that she can show herself well in battles with bosses, in which you need to destroy several limbs at the same time.

Welt

• Rarity: 5 stars
• Path: Nothingness
• Element: Imaginary

An excellent debuffer and sub / DD, which can not only deal imaginary damage to multiple targets with its abilities, but also reduce their speed and even delay their actions. As a result, your characters will be able to move ahead of their opponents, applying shields in time, healing wounded allies, or finishing off enemies. In the later stages, such a hero will be useful to almost any team.

We add that Velt has balanced basic parameters of health, attack power, defense and speed, which greatly simplifies the construction of his build.

Cheetah

• Rarity: 5 stars
• Path: Save
• Element: Icy

He has high levels of health, defense and taunt, so he can easily serve as a tank in the squad, taking on enemy blows. If he receives a finishing blow, he will not die, but will restore part of his health and go into battle again. Plus, Cheetah can shield all of his allies with his superpower.

His skill allows him to deal ice damage to a single target and freeze him, and the attack power thanks to Traces increases along with the defense, so he can even partially play the role of a sub-DD. Even without Eidolons, this hero is an excellent Defender for the squad, with which you can even not take a healer into the group.

March 7

• Rarity: 4 stars
• Path: Save
• Element: Icy

It is inferior to the Cheetah in terms of health and protection, therefore it plays the role of a tank worse, but surpasses it in speed and ease of installation of the shield. The fact is that she can put up good barriers with the help of a skill, and not an ult, which must first be charged.

March 7 can also be used as a sub-DD, because with her super ability she can deal massive ice damage and freeze enemies, as well as counterattack from the pocket of two enemies who attacked an ally with her shield.

A rank characters

Dan Heng

• Rarity: 4 stars
• Path: Hunting
• Element: windmill

One of the best epic damage dealers aimed at destroying single targets. He has relatively low health and defense values, so he needs a good defender or healer. Its main advantage is the ability to slow down the enemy when dealing critical damage to him. In addition, he deals more damage with his ultimate against slowed enemies, so he pairs well with Welt.

Hook

• Rarity: 4 stars
• Path: Destruction
• Element: Fire

She boasts high health and attack power, but her defense and speed leave much to be desired, which is why you will often have to monitor her condition and take relics to increase her speed. The hook is capable of dealing significant fire damage to a single target and projecting pocket fire, causing Burn. She is not very suitable for fighting large groups of enemies, so she cannot become a replacement for Himeko.

Its advantages include the ability to independently restore health and energy with the help of talent.

Sampo

• Rarity: 4 stars
• Path: Nothingness
• Element: windmill

A good secondary damage dealer that can deal a lot of wind damage from the pocket to multiple targets. He can weaken opponents only with the help of techniques used before the start of the battle. He shows himself well in protracted battles with a large number of enemies, where he is able to inflict tons of damage on ordinary opponents.

Its advantages include the ability to independently restore energy when using the ult and a relatively high speed. However, Sampo's defense and health are quite low, which means you'll have to constantly monitor his condition.

Serval

• Rarity: 4 stars
• Path: Erudite
• Element: Electric

Able to deal good direct and periodic electrical damage due to abilities and the Shock effect. When fighting large groups of enemies, Serval can be used as a main damage dealer, and in other cases, put on the role of a secondary damage dealer.

In the later stages, her damage may no longer be enough. In addition, she is inferior to Jing Yuan in almost everything, especially in terms of protection and health, because of which the Serval may need support from a healer or protector.

Yanqing

• Rarity: 5 stars
• Path: Hunting
• Element: Icy

A rather highly specialized character who can deal massive damage to a single target, increasing his own critical damage and critical hit chance. Therefore, Yanqing is ideal for taking down powerful elite opponents with ice vulnerability.

In other battles, the benefit from it is reduced. The disadvantages can also include a lower speed than Zele. But he has more protection, so he is a little more alive.

Asta

• Rarity: 4 stars
• Path: Harmony
• Element: Fire

A very good support that can increase the speed of all allies, allowing them to perform their moves before enemies, and increase their attack power. Such abilities will be useful in almost any squad, especially if your damage dealer lacks speed. Plus, she can buff other fire characters, so it pairs well with Himeko or Pathfinder (fire).

Her disadvantages include the relatively high cost of her superpower, as well as the low damage from her normal attacks and abilities.

Natasha

• Rarity: 4 stars
• Path: Abundance
• Element: Physical

A good healer, able to heal allies, both in active and in the background, and if her skill heals only one character, then her superpower allows you to immediately heal the entire group. Plus, she can remove debuffs from teammates, which is quite useful in long fights.

However, its effectiveness depends on the maximum health indicator, which is lower than that of the same Bailu, so you will have to spend more effort to achieve the same healing abilities. Plus, she can't resurrect fallen heroes.

Characters In rank

Arlan

• Rarity: 4 stars
• Path: Destruction
• Element: Electric

He mainly specializes in dealing significant damage to single targets, however, his ult can hit several opponents at once, which makes him a fairly versatile fighter. That's just his skill, when used, eats up 15% of the character's HP, which is both a plus and a minus. The advantage is that the lower Arlan's health, the higher his damage.

Although Arlan can restore his health on his own and avoid taking some damage, however, this may not be enough to survive in battle. Plus, it has a very low defense. For this reason, he definitely needs support in the person of a protector or healer (the first option is preferable).

Qingque

• Rarity: 4 stars
• Path: Erudite
• Element: Quantum

It has a rather interesting bone pulling mechanic that can be tricky for beginners to master, and is able to self-buff itself, increasing attack power and damage dealt. But the bones often depend on randomness, and only a superpower that costs 140 units can cause significant damage to multiple targets. Thus, it is often much more convenient to use another epic heroine, Serval, instead of Qing Que.

Trailblazer (physical)

• Rarity: 5 stars
• Path: Destruction
• Element: Physical

A balanced character that can deal damage to both single and multiple targets, as well as heal allies with techniques and slightly increase his attack power. With the help of Pathfinder, you can close all the initial content without any problems. However, he lacks any flair, and his end-game damage may already be lacking. Therefore, we advise you to quickly transfer it to the fire element.

Characters From Rank

Hertha

• Rarity: 4 stars
• Path: Erudite
• Element: Icy

A good replacement for Himeko in the early stages of the game, however, then her damage starts to be missed. In addition, although she deals increased damage to enemies with Freeze, she is not able to call it, although she belongs to the ice type, which is why the team has to keep another hero of the same element.

In terms of attack power, she is inferior to other epic Erudite heroes, so we still advise you to use Serval or Qingque instead of Herta if you do not have legendary heroes of the same class.