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Honkai Star Rail has over 80 characters, but not every one performs well, especially in end-game content. Some work in almost any team composition, while others only work in very specific lineups. With the arrival of 4.0 penalizing outdated comps, knowing the current meta gives you a reliable base for team building.
How Honkai: Star Rail Characters are Ranked
Characters are ranked at Eidolon 0 with their best 4-star Light Cone. There are three main factors: Endgame mode clear times (Pure Fiction, Memory of Chaos, Apocalyptic Shadow), team flexibility, and skill-point economy. Characters that fare well in only one area generally rank low.
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Characters Tier List
| Tier | Character | Path |
|---|---|---|
| S | Firefly | DPS (Destruction) |
| Acheron | DPS (Nihility) | |
| Feixiao | DPS (Hunt) | |
| Ruan Mei | Support (Harmony) | |
| Robin | Support (Harmony) | |
| Sunday | Support (Harmony) | |
| Huohuo | Sustain | |
| Lingsha | Sustain (Abundance) | |
| A | Mydei | Damage Dealer |
| Aglaea | Damage Dealer | |
| Sparkle | Support (Harmony) | |
| Boothill | DPS (Hunt) | |
| Aventurine | Sustain (Preservation) | |
| Kafka | DPS (Nihility) | |
| Jade | Sub-DPS (Erudition) | |
| Bronya | Support (Harmony) | |
| Black Swan | Sub-DPS (Nihility) | |
| Himeko | DPS (Erudition) | |
| B | Jingliu | DPS (Destruction) |
| Blade | Damage Dealer | |
| Topaz | Sub-DPS (Hunt) | |
| C | Anaxa | Damage Dealer |
| Evernight | Damage Dealer | |
| Hyacine | Sustain | |
| D | March 7th | Sustain |
Meta Overview
This tier list reflects a meta defined by elite break compositions, high-impact DPS units, and indispensable support characters. Firefly, Acheron, and Feixiao headline the damage-dealing roster, while Ruan Mei, Robin, Sunday, Huohuo, and Lingsha provide the sustain and amplification needed to push endgame content to its limits.
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S Tier
These S-tier characters represent the absolute pinnacle of power in Honkai Star Rail, defining the current meta and excelling across every endgame mode. Building a team around any of these units is a safe and rewarding investment.
- Firefly dominates as a break-focused DPS with exceptional scaling and near self-sufficiency in Super Break compositions, making her one of the strongest carries in the game.
- Acheron delivers devastating Nihility-synergized ultimate damage capable of wiping entire waves, cementing her place as a premier damage dealer.
- Feixiao excels as a Hunt DPS with relentless follow-up attacks and outstanding single-target damage output, thriving in dedicated follow-up compositions.
- Ruan Mei provides unmatched break amplification and team-wide buffs, making her an essential support in virtually every competitive lineup.
- Robin supercharges follow-up and action-forward teams with powerful ATK buffs and extra turns, elevating any composition she joins.
- Sunday brings flexible harmony support with potent skill point generation and ultimate-focused buffing that pairs well with a wide range of carries.
- Huohuo offers top-tier healing alongside team-wide energy restoration, making her the gold standard for sustain supports.
- Lingsha rounds out the tier as a versatile sustain unit who synergizes seamlessly with break-oriented teams while keeping allies healthy.
A Tier
A-tier characters are powerful and highly viable across endgame content, often serving as the backbone of strong team compositions. While they may not universally define the meta, each brings a distinct and valuable toolkit.
- Mydei and Aglaea stand out as formidable damage dealers with unique mechanics that reward dedicated team building.
- Sparkle and Bronya provide reliable harmony support with skill point management and action advance, enabling consistent DPS uptime.
- Boothill and Kafka deliver strong single-target and DoT damage respectively, excelling in their specialized compositions.
- Aventurine offers durable shielding and follow-up synergy, making him a top preservation pick.
- Jade, Black Swan, and Himeko round out the tier with solid damage contributions and niche team synergies that remain competitive in the right setups.
B Tier
B-tier characters remain functional and can perform well in the right team compositions, but face stiffer competition from higher-tier alternatives and often require more investment to shine.
- Jingliu is a powerful ice DPS with strong self-buffing mechanics, though she demands team HP sacrifices that can complicate team building.
- Blade offers a durable HP-scaling carry playstyle with follow-up potential, but his ceiling falls short compared to top-tier damage dealers.
- Topaz provides solid follow-up support and single-target pressure, remaining a respectable pick in dedicated follow-up compositions.
C Tier
C-tier characters have notable limitations that hold them back in the current meta, though they can still contribute in specific or casual contexts.
- Anaxa and Evernight offer niche utility that struggles to compete with stronger alternatives at higher difficulty content.
- Hyacine provides some supportive value but lacks the consistency and impact needed to secure a spot in optimized lineups.
D Tier
D-tier characters are significantly outclassed in the current meta and are generally not recommended for endgame investment.
- March 7th fills a preservation role but lacks the power and synergy of stronger sustain options, making her difficult to justify in competitive team compositions.
Making the most of 4.0 and the Future
With huge changes in the HSR meta from new characters in 4.0, it shouldn't come as a surprise if 4.1 shakes things up just as much. If you're looking to invest in meta safe characters, look toward versatile support units such as Robin and Sunday, which are beneficial to almost any DPS character.
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Changelog
- Refreshed tier list for July 2026.
- Refreshed tier list for July 2026.
- Refreshed tier list for June 2026.
- Refreshed tier list for 4.2.
- Refreshed tier list for 4.2.