10 Best DPS Characters In Honkai: Star Rail Going Into 3.0, Ranked

As someone who has been playing Honkai: Star Rail since its inception and seen the evolution of characters from updates 1.0 to the latest 2.5, I must say that this list is a testament to the game’s balance and design. Each character on this list offers unique abilities, team synergies, and versatility that cater to different playstyles.

Honkai: Star Rail has been preparing for the rollout of its 3.0 update, leaving players wondering about the performance of key Damage Per Second (DPS) units since their debut. The upcoming 3.0 update promises to be the most significant one yet, introducing a multitude of new mechanics and enhancements to user experience. Moreover, this update marks the introduction of Honkai: Star Rail’s first fresh Path, named Remembrance Path. This path focuses on summoning helpers for damage output, although it may incorporate some hybrid characters to broaden its applications. Despite being primarily a DPS class, the presence of these hybrid units could make it versatile.

Despite numerous changes in the game’s meta since its debut, the main team composition of Star Rail has remained relatively stable. Typically, a team consists of one Damage Per Second (DPS) character, two support characters to provide assistance, and one unit that maintains health for everyone. However, there are exceptions: DOT (Damage Over Time) teams have not been widely utilized since the introduction of Black Swan, while Pure Fiction often employs two DPS units to swiftly eliminate enemy waves.

10. Jade & Kafka Both Have Future Potential

5-Star Quantum Erudition/5-Star Lightning Nihility

Jade and Kafka occupy a common space because of their specialized current applications, yet they both hold significant future promise. For teams specializing in Pure Fiction, Jade could prove indispensable, with possibilities such as The Herta on the table. It’s also possible that future Remembrance or Erudition units might maximize her potential. However, due to the specialized nature of her kit, it seems she will primarily function as a Pure Fiction specialist, and it’s unlikely she would ever transcend this role.

In a nutshell, Kafka excels as a key player for DOT teams, yet struggles with companions. If the gameplay style of Star Rail reverts to this format, Kafka will be a preferred choice for stacking teams frequently. However, there’s a concern that a fresh unit might emerge, capable of performing its role more effectively or introducing a new element to the mix.

9. Imbibitor Lunae Works But Is Clunkier

5-Star Imaginary Destruction

In the beginning, Lunae was a formidable asset to our team upon release. However, despite his ability to deal damage, he’s not typically the first pick nowadays. This shift is partly due to the game meta no longer favoring him and partly because of his somewhat awkward design. Since his strongest attack requires three skill points, it puts a significant demand on the rest of the team to be skill point (SP) abundant. The only other viable option is when he uses his ultimate to gain free skill points.

In essence, it’s advantageous to pair Lunae with premium teammates who specialize in utilizing Sparkle, one of Star Rail’s top Harmony units, for additional skill points. However, if Sparkle is unavailable, managing Lunae’s teams becomes slightly more challenging, though he remains usable, just not as versatile and reliable as the top-tier options.

8. Rappa The Weakest Of Break DPS

5-Star Imaginary Erudition

Despite the robustness of Break teams, Rappa often falls short of expectations. Her abilities might appear enjoyable and captivating, but they don’t measure up to those of her Break counterparts. While she can serve as a powerful choice for Pure Fiction, this alone does not justify a high evaluation.

Despite utilizing identical teams, Rappa faces a challenge due to being the sole Break DPS character without a weakness implant. This disadvantage makes it difficult to deploy her effectively in battles that don’t involve a large number of enemies vulnerable to Imaginary. While the introduction of Tingyun Fugue may offer some resistance bypass for Rappa, she still lags behind Boothill and Firefly in terms of overall performance.

7. Dr. Ratio Is Still Amazing For A Free Unit

5-Star Imaginary Hunt

Dr. Ratio is almost at the top tier as a Damage Per Second (DPS) character, with many players finding him freely available. If it weren’t for Feixiao, he would be the best choice for follow-up attacks among DPS characters. He is convenient to develop and can handle more than sufficient damage to clear most content in the game.

If there’s a drawback to Ratio, it might be that his top teams aren’t particularly suitable for casual play. His strongest team includes Topaz, Robin, and Aventurine, who work together exceptionally well, forming an impressive powerhouse. However, while he does offer some effective 4-Star alternatives for those on a budget, the difference in strength compared to his best teammate is quite noticeable.

6. Boothill Is Strong If You Play Around Him

5-Star Physical Hunt

Initially, Boothill was the initial Break DPS introduced in HSR, however, now he ranks second best. In terms of comparison, he employs the same Break team units and boasts a high scaling damage overall. His predicament, much like Rappas, lies in the necessity of having physical weak opponents to perform optimally. He has some flexibility since his ultimate ability can induce physical weakness, but nonetheless, he operates at a slower pace than Firefly.

At Boothill, rather than Rappa, might experience the most significant advantage from Tingyun Fugue in HSR. She would equip him with an additional capability to bypass certain toughness levels on his already potent attack that enhances breaks. This will allow him to accumulate his stacks and ultimate quicker, thereby making his stop-and-go playstyle more agile.

5. Jing Yuan Keeps Getting “Buffs”

5-Star Lightning Erudition

Since Jing Yuan’s debut, he was initially portrayed as a character with a cool demeanor but lacking in strength. His individual damage output was limited, and his Lightning Lord ability showed inconsistency. However, with the introduction of characters like Sparkle, Robin, and Sunday, particularly when optimally built, Jing Yuan has been subtly boosted by indirect buffs, thereby enhancing his standing in the game.

One reason to keep an eye on Jing Yuan is that he might have support characters in the future for summoning in Rememberance. Since his Lightning Lord status qualifies, any units that enhance the damage, skills, or speed of summons could potentially benefit him as well. Although it’s not likely he will become a top-tier choice due to his age and lower initial ranking, he is still expected to play a significant role given these factors.

4. Yunli Is Extremely Strong While Being Underrated

5-Star Physical Destruction

Yunli, though overshadowed slightly due to being launched just before Feixiao, boasts a power that should not be underestimated. This character specializes in counterattacks and is relatively easy to assemble, dealing massive damage thanks to her escalating stats. Moreover, she offers more cost-effective teams than many top picks, making her an advantageous unit for handling Physical feeble opponents.

The challenge lies in maintaining consistency with Yunli, especially since much of her damage comes from countering attacks. Her signature move, Light Cone, becomes almost indispensable to make the most out of attacks against her. While Lynx can serve as a temporary fix without the Light Cone, it’s not ideal for long-term use compared to other options that are more sustainable. Despite these limitations, Yunli remains a significant force, demonstrating her full potential when she has her optimal setup.

3. Acheron Is Holding Strong

5-Star Lightning Nihility

Despite no longer being the number one choice, Acheron remains a leading option for DPS. When skillfully constructed and teamed up with appropriate allies, her damage potential is enormous, and her ultimate ability can be obtained swiftly. Her Light Cone is beneficial, but there are alternative strategies that work equally well. In any case, she’s capable of dishing out some of the highest damage in the game.

Acheron’s largest detractors are the parts of her kit that limit her teammates. Without her second Eidolon she needs two other Nhility characters to maximize her ultimate damage, so to fit a Harmony support, Sparkle being her best option, some of this needs to be sacrificed. Her best Nihility support is Jiaoqiu who, while useful, was so niche and came out among highly anticipated characters that he was skipped by many. This leaves Pela as a good substitute, but not the best in slot anymore.

2. Feixiao Has Earned Her Top Spot

5-Star Wind Hunt

In the highly anticipated 2.0 updates, Feixiao truly delivered on the hype. This character excels at dishing out impressive damage with her rapid follow-ups and adaptable ultimate ability. Every aspect of Feixio’s toolkit makes her a fantastic choice for any type of content, irrespective of intricate mechanics or enemy vulnerabilities.

Feixiao comes with minimal drawbacks, if any at all. She is straightforward to construct, offers a range of Light Cone choices, and boasts cost-effective teams. Her top team consisting of Topaz, Robin, and Aventurine really shine, but her other options aren’t far behind. To sum it up, anyone who has Feixiao will likely have a unit that can conquer most of HSR’s challenging content in the near future.

1. Firefly Is The Queen Of Honkai: Star Rail

5-Star Fire Destruction

Although other top choices are impressive in their own right, they simply can’t match the adaptability and might of Firefly. Even before her debut, she had already won over fans, but her abilities demonstrated that she truly deserved the spotlight. This versatile DPS is capable of inflicting Fire Weakness on enemies, and among all three options, her formidable kit deals the highest amount of Super Break damage.

Another key factor contributing to Firefly’s success is her compatibility with Break support units, such as Lingsha, Gallagher, and Tingyun Fugue. While Lingsha and Gallagher significantly enhance Firefly’s Super Break damage, Tingyun Fugue functions as a mini DPS unit to swiftly break enemy units. This synergy enables Firefly to inflict maximum Super Break damage for an extended period. Although another Path may eventually overshadow Firefly, she is the most likely character on this list to maintain her relevance in HSR’s future.

To summarize, HSR’s charm lies in its adaptability as metas and playstyles evolve. Few Damage Per Second (DPS) units become completely obsolete, remaining usable to some extent. The main concerns have been Blade and Seele, who due to their specialized nature, are no longer consistently viable. However, the rest of the DPS characters remain solid choices that occasionally receive indirect boosts from fresh additions. Looking forward to version 3.0, these are the top ten Damage Per Second characters in Honkai: Star Rail.

2024-12-17 05:37