Honkai Star Rail Tier List: Best Characters in HSR 1.4

All 5 star and 4 star characters ranked

Image credit: Honkai Star Rail Facebook

Guide by Dion Dassanayake Contributing Guides Writer

Updated on Oct. 11, 2023

Our Honkai: Star Rail tier list is here to help you make the perfect party. The new game from Genshin Impact makers HoYoverse features loads of lovable and memorable anime characters that can join you on your space trotting adventures aboard the Astral Express.

Like Genshin, new characters are obtained via the free-to-play RPG's gacha system. Instead of Banners, in Honkai Star Rail this is known as the Warp system, and you'll use Star Rail Passes and the in-game Stellar Jade currency to pull for new characters. To make sure you don't waste any Warps, we've put together a Honkai Star Rail tier list which ranks all the best 5 star and 4 star characters so you know who to save up for.

Honkai Star Rail Tier List

Here's our rankings of all characters in Honkai Star Rail 1.4 from best to worst:

Tier	Character
S-tier	Bronya, Seele, Tingyun, Gepard, Luocha, Blade, Kafka, Silver Wolf, Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae, Jingliu
A-tier	Himeko, March 7th, Yanqing, Clara, Sushang, Natasha, Welt, Bailu, Pela, Yukong, Jing Yuan
B-tier	Asta, Trailblazer (Fire), Dan Heng, Sampo, Serval, Qingque, Luka
C-tier	Trailblazer (Physical), Hook, Arlan
D-tier	Herta

The rankings in this tier list come from our own time playing Honkai Star Rail as well as considering the opinions of creators who have made their own lists like Volkin, Moon, Braxophone, and Iyo. Our tier list has placed all the 5 star and 4 star characters available in version 1.4 into one list to help make things simpler. We're expecting more characters to be added to HSR in the future and will update this tier list when they drop.

Honkai Star Rail S-tier characters

Bronya

The commander of the Silvermane Guards, Bronya is the heir to the Supreme Guardian of Belobog. She's a Wind character whose Ultimate increases all allies attack damage and critical damage. Since childhood she has had it instilled in her that to continue Belobog's civilisation the Underworld must be sacrificed. But Bronya has always been sceptical.

Path: The Harmony
Element: Wind
Affiliation: Belobog
Ultimate: The Belobog March - Increases attack and critical of all allies
Technique: Banner of Command - Increases attack of all allies

Bailu

Bailu is a healer from the Alchemy Commission and part of the Vidyadhara race. She carries around sweets to help with the bitter taste of medicine for her patients, but to also lift herself up when spirits are low. Bailu's Skill and Ultimate abilities heal members of her party.

Path: The Abundance
Element: Lightning
Affiliation: The Xianzhou Luofu
Ultimate: Leap of Marsh Drakon - Heal all allies
Technique: Saunter in the Rain - Invigorate all allies for one turn

Seele

Seele is a key member of Wildfire who grew up in the harsh Underworld of Belobog. A Quantum character, she can deal high amounts of damage to a single target within a short space of time. Her Ultimate allows for multiple attacks if you get the timing right. She may seem straightforward and direct but that's just her outer shell trying to protect her. Those who earn Seele's trust will find she's a sensitive and delicate soul.

Path: The Hunt
Element: Quantum
Affiliation: Belobog
Ultimate: Butterfly Flurry - Deals huge damage to single enemy
Technique: Phantom Illusion - Temporarily undetected to enemies

Tingyun

The persuasive head of the Whistling Flames merchant guild has a way with words which regularly leaves her audiences captivated. She is a Foxian, one of three races you'll find in Xianzhou. Thanks to Tingyun, the planet's trade fairs are known across the galaxy.

Path: The Harmony
Element: Lightning
Affiliation: The Xianzhou Luofu
Ultimate: Ritual of the Auspicious Cloud - Regenerates ally's energy and increases damage rate
Technique: Gentle Breeze - Regenerates Tingyun's energy

Jing Yuan

Jing Yuan is one of six generals of the Xianzhou Alliance and leads the Cloud Knights of the Xianzhou Luofu. A Lightning character, his Ultimate attack summons his partner in battle Lightning Lord and deals damage to all enemies. Nicknamed the 'Dozing General', he is a Xianzhou native - and Xianzhou people have long life spans after their ancestors searched for the key to immortality.

Path: The Erudition
Element: Lightning
Affiliation: The Xianzhou Luofu
Ultimate: Lightbringer - Damage to all enemies
Technique: Command Talisman - Increases Lightning Lord's attack count

Gepard

The captain of the Silvermane Guards, Gepard helps protect the peace of everyday life in Belobog. In battle he is able to shield allies from attacks, and is also capable of recovering from a killing blow once per battle, all of which are great defensive and recovery tools.

Path: The Preservation
Element: Ice
Affiliation: Belobog
Ultimate: Enduring Bulwark - Shield for all allies (three turns, absorbs more damage than Comradery)
Technique: Comradery - Shield for all allies (two turns)

Trailblazer (Fire)

The Fire Trailblazer unlocks as you progress through the main Honkai Star Rail story. This version is far superior to the Physical variant which is unlocked first.

Path: The Preservation
Element: Fire
Affiliation: Astral Express
Ultimate: War-Flaming Lance - Damage to all enemies
Technique: Call of the Guardian - Gains shield for one turn

Luocha

A foreign trader who arrived in Xianzhou Luofu carrying a large coffin. Luocha is a healer character, and he's capable of automatically healing a party member when they fall to 50 percent of their HP and below. This incredibly useful ability doesn't use up Skill Points and automatically kicks in.

Path: Abundance
Element: Imaginary
Affiliation: Xianzhou Luofu
Ultimate: Death Wish - Removes 1 buff from all enemies and deals huge damage
Technique: Mercy of a Fool - Immediately heals the ally with lowest HP percentage

Blade

Blade is a huge damage dealer who consumes HP to increase his attacking power. His Talent allows him to restore his HP as well, which creates an effective loop of consuming HP to deal damage and then recovering it.

Path: Destruction
Element: Wind
Affiliation: Stellaron Hunters
Ultimate: Death Sentence - Deals massive wind damage to single enemy, damages adjacent targets also
Technique: Karma Wind - Deals wind damage to all enemies after entering combat

Kafka

Kafka is a Stellaron Hunter, and the first character you play as in Honkai Star Rail - getting a taste for her stylish Ultimate during the tutorial section. She is a powerful damage dealer who debuffs her enemies and hands out lightning damage.

Path: Nihility
Element: Lightning
Affiliation: Stellaron Hunters
Ultimate: Twilight Trill - Deals lightning damage to all enemies
Technique: Mercy Is Not Forgiveness - Attacks enemy immediately

Silver Wolf

Silver Wolf is a genius hacker and member of the Stellaron Hunters. She's mastered a skill known as aether editing which allows her to tamper with reality. Her Ultimate attack draws enemies into her game world and inflicts damage on them. Like Bronya and Tingyun, Silver Wolf is a great support character whose buffs help you deal massive damage to an enemy.

Path: The Nihility
Element: Quantum
Affiliation: Stellaron Hunters
Ultimate: User Banned - Decrease target enemy's defense and deal huge damage
Technique: Force Quit Program - Attacks enemy immediately

Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae

Imbibitor Lunae is an incredibly powerful damage dealer. His Skill lets him enhance his basic attack up to three times by consuming Skill Points on a turn. His Ultimate deals massive damage to a single enemy, as well as adjacent targets, and also gives two stacks of Squama Sacrosancta. This can be consumed instead of Skill Points to buff basic attacks.

Path: Destruction
Element: Imaginary
Affiliation: Xianzhou Luofu
Ultimate: Azure's Aqua Ablutes All - Deals massive imaginary damage to single enemy, damages adjacent targets also
Technique: Heaven-Quelling Prismadrakon - Enters combat in Leaping Dragon state

Honkai Star Rail A-tier characters

Himeko

Himeko is a scientist with a taste for adventure. She first came across the Astral Express as a child when it got stranded on her home planet, and then years later helped repair it.

Path: The Erudition
Element: Fire
Affiliation: The Astral Express
Ultimate: Heavenly Flare - Damage to all enemies
Technique: Incomplete Combustion - Temporarily increases fire damage

March 7th

This Ice character is called March 7th to commemorate the date she woke up on the Astral Express. She woke on the ship with no memory of her name, who she is, or her past. Despite this tragic back story, she has a cheerful, whimsical and lively personality that brings great joy to the characters in Honkai Star Rail.

Path: The Preservation
Element: Ice
Affiliation: The Astral Express
Ultimate: Glacial Cascade - Damage to all enemies
Technique: Freezing Beauty - Attacks enemy immediately

Yanqing

Yanqing is the strongest swordsman on the Xianzhou Luofu. This Ice character is obsessed with swordplay, and his Skill allows him to remotely control his sword. His Ultimate increases his critical rate.

Path: The Hunt
Element: Ice
Affiliation: The Xianzhou Luofu
Ultimate: Swallow's Pluvious Pursuit - Increases critical rate
Technique: Master Fencer - Temporarily increases damage against enemies with equal or higher HP

Clara

A shy young girl that has no home, Clara longs to have a family. She's accompanied by a huge robot called Svarog who she accidentally reactivated. Her Ultimate attack ensures Svarog, who usually shields Clara from attacks in battle, counter-attacks when allies are hit by enemies.

Path: The Destruction
Element: Physical
Affiliation: Belobog
Ultimate: Promise, Not Command - Damage to Clara reduced, Svarog counter guaranteed when allies attacked
Technique: Small Price For Victory - Attacks enemy immediately

Sushang

A newcomer to the Cloud Knights who wields a Greatsword, Sushang spends her days helping out other people.

Path: The Hunt
Element: Physical
Affiliation: The Xianzhou Luofu
Ultimate: Shape of Taixu: Dawn Herald - Deals huge damage to single enemy
Technique: Knight Sword Art: Rush - Attacks enemy immediately

Natasha

Natasha is a kind-hearted doctor who works in the Belobog Underworld, where medical resources are scarce. She's the only free-to-play healer in Honkai Star Rail.

Path: The Abundance
Element: Physical
Affiliation: Belobog
Ultimate: Gift of Rebirth - Heals all allies
Technique: Hypnosis Research - Attacks enemy immediately

Welt

Welt is a former Anti-Entropy Sovereign who has saved the world from annihilation many times. His Ultimate attack deals damage to all enemies and causes Imprisonment. This helps slow down the enemy so you can gain the upper hand in battle.

Path: The Nihility
Element: Imaginary
Affiliation: The Astral Express
Ultimate: Synthetic Black Hole - Damage to all enemies
Technique: Gravitational Imprisonment - Enemy movement slowed

Pela

Pela is an Intelligence Officer with the Silvermane Guards. She also plays the drums.

Path: The Nihility
Element: Ice
Affiliation: Belobog
Ultimate: Zone Suppression - Damage to all enemies
Technique: Preemptive Strike - Attacks enemy immediately

Yukong

Yukong is the Helm Master of the Sky-Faring Commission on Xianzhou Luofu. She's a support character who can buff the attack level of all allies. Her technique also offers increased movement speed which helps her sprint around the map.

Path: Harmony
Element: Imaginary
Affiliation: Xianzhou Luofu
Ultimate: Diving Kestrel - Deals huge damage to single enemy, also increases allies critical and damage rate
Technique: Chasing the Wind - Increases movement speed

Honkai Star Rail B-tier characters

Asta

Asta is the lead researcher of the Herta Space Station. She manages it under assignment from Herta.

Path: The Harmony
Element: Fire
Affiliation: Herta Space Station
Ultimate: Astral Bleeding - Temporarily increases speed of all allies
Technique: Miracle Flesh - Attacks enemy immediately

Arlan

Arlan is the head of Herta Space Station's Security Department. He's willing to lay down his life to protect the station's staff. Arlan rarely lets down his guard, apart from when holding his beloved pup Peppy.

Path: The Destruction
Element: Lightning
Affiliation: Herta Space Station
Ultimate: Frenzied Punishment - Deals huge to single enemy
Technique: Swift Harvest - Attacks enemy immediately

Dan Heng

He may not talk much, but that's because he's calmly observing what's happening around him, constantly thinking of strategies and plans. He also helps keep March 7th grounded and is a reliable friend to her. If you run into any troubles, it may be a good idea to ask Dan Heng for his advice.

Path: The Hunt
Element: Wind
Affiliation: The Astral Express
Ultimate: Ethereal Dream - Deals huge damage to single enemy
Technique: Splitting Spearhead - Temporarily increases attack

Sampo

A charmer who loves money, Sampo says he's a businessman, chaperon, and problem-solving conversationalist all rolled into one.

Path: The Nihility
Element: Wind
Affiliation: Belobog
Ultimate: Surprise Present - Damage to all enemies
Technique: Shining Bright - Temporarily blinds enemy so they can't detect team

Serval

A mechanic in Belobog, Serval is also a member of a band with other Honkai Star Rail characters.

Path: The Erudition
Element: Lightning
Affiliation: Belobog
Ultimate: Here Comes the Mechanical Fever - Damage to all enemies
Technique: Good Night, Belobog - Attacks enemy immediately

Hook

Hook is the boss of The Moles adventure squad. If you manage to impress this feisty character with your adventures maybe she'll invite you to join The Moles.

Path: The Destruction
Element: Fire
Affiliation: Belobog
Ultimate: Boom! Here Comes the Fire! - Deals huge damage to single enemy
Technique: Ack! Look at This Mess! - Attacks enemy immediately

Qingque

Qingque is a Quantum character that follows the path of Erudition. She's an endearing character who loves gambling, which ends up being central to how she operates in battle. Qingque draws a random mahjong-style tile on an ally's turn. When she gets four matching tiles her attack power increases dramatically.

Path: The Erudition
Element: Quantum
Affiliation: The Xianzhou Luofu
Ultimate: Four Concealed Fish? Win! - Damage to all enemies
Technique: To Challenge Myself - Draws two jade tiles

Luka

Luka is a physical character, who can deal huge damage with his basic attack when fighting will is stacked up. The Belobog boxing champ also has a high chance of causing bleed on an enemy, thanks to his skill.

Path: Nihility
Element: Physical
Affiliation: Belobog
Ultimate: Coupe de Grâce - Damage huge physical damage to enemy
Technique: Anticipator - Immediately attacks enemy

Honkai Star Rail C-tier characters

The Physical Trailblazer in Honkai Star Rail performing an Ultimate attack. — Image credit: HoYoverse

Trailblazer (Physical)

The Trailblazer is the main character in Honkai Star Rail, who players control after the opening section with Kafka. You can choose a male or female Trailblazer. The Physical variant is unlocked first.

Path: The Erudition
Element: Physical
Affiliation: Astral Express
Ultimate: Stardust Ace - Damage to single enemy or all enemies
Technique: Immortal Third Strike - Heal all allies

Honkai Star Rail D-tier characters

Herta

Herta is the real master of Herta Space Station. She's the human with the highest IQ in The Blue and only does what she's interested in.

Path: The Erudition
Element: Ice
Affiliation: Herta Space Station
Ultimate: It's Magic, I Added Some Magic - Damage to all enemies
Technique: It Can Still Be Optimized - Temporarily increases attack

Still need more help with Honkai Star Rail? Head on over to our Honkai Star Rail codes page to get freebies for HoYoverse's latest game. Or, if you need help setting up your party visit our guide on the best healers in Honkai Star Rail and our tier list of the best Light Cones so you know which weapons to equip. Checkout also our Honkai Star Rail walkthrough, which offers easy access to all of our tips and guides pages.