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Kafka is a Lightning and Nihility character in Honkai: Star Rail. Check out this guide for Kafka's best builds, her buffs in Version 3.4, team comps, relics, light cones, ratings, and how to play them here!
| Kafka Character Guides | ||
|---|---|---|
Build Guide |
Materials |
Warp Banner |
List of Contents
| Kafka Basic Information | ||
|---|---|---|
Kafka |
Rarity | |
| Element | ||
| Path | ||
| General Rating | Endgame Rating | |
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General Ratings are based on E0.
Endgame Ratings are based on enemies and buffs for the current patch.
| Stat | Base Value |
|---|---|
| HP (18th) | 147 |
| ATK (6th) | 92 |
| DEF (15th) | 66 |
| SPD (13th) | 100 |
| Stat | Base Value |
|---|---|
| HP (18th) | 1086 |
| ATK (6th) | 679 |
| DEF (15th) | 485 |
| SPD (13th) | 100 |
| The stats indicated above are Kafka's base values. These numbers do not include the character's equipped Light Cone, Relics, or activated Trace nodes. |
Kafka is a DoT damage dealer who is best paired with another DoT character to maximize her utility. With the release of Version 3.4, Kafka has received a lot of quality-of-life upgrades that benefit both her and other DoT units.
Kafka now has more options to trigger DoTs, solidifying her role as a DoT enabler. She also can provide a huge ATK boost to other allies if they have enough Effect Hit Rate.
Pull for Kafka if you're into the DoT mechanic in combat and if you have built DoT units like Black Swan.
Kafka's Light Cone, Patience Is All You Need, increases her personal damage and buffs her SPD. This inflicts Erode on enemies, which counts as a Shock DoT based on the wearer's ATK.
You don't have to get this Light Cone especially if you're building Kafka as a Support. Instead, we recommend using Support-based Light Cones such as Lies Dance on the Breeze or Before the Tutorial Mission Starts.
Patience Is All You Need Best Characters
| Best Light Cone | Relics and Ornament | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lies Dance on the Breeze | ||||
| Main Stats | Sub Stats | |||
| Body: Effect Hit Rate or ATK% Feet: SPD Sphere: Lightning DMG or ATK% Rope: Energy Regen | Effect Hit % ★★★ SPD ★★★ ATK% ★★ Flat ATK ★ | |||
| Alternative Light Cones | |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
With her buffs from Version 3.4 in mind, Kafka's new best build puts her in a supportive role in which she buffs the DoT DPS and repeatedly trigger their DoTs.
Eagle of Twilight Line is Kafka's best Relic set since this allows her to get earlier turns for more DoT triggers. With a Support build in mind, Lushaka is Kafka's best Ornament for its Energy Regen and ATK buff.
We recommend using an Energy Regen rope so that Kafka has frequent access to her Ultimate.
| Stat | Recommended Value |
|---|---|
| SPD | Any SPD Breakpoint from 156 SPD and above 170 SPD with Lies Dance on the Breeze |
| ATK% | 2500 or above |
| Effect Hit Rate | 75% or above |
Kafka will want high SPD to be able to trigger as much DoTs as possible in one cycle. Any SPD Breakpoints from 156 SPD and above should suffice. If Kafka has Lies Dance on the Breeze equipped, she should have 170 SPD to fully utilize the effect.
Kafka also would need at least 2500 ATK to deal supplemental DMG as a Support. Kafka will need at least 75% Effect Hit Rate to give herself the ATK buff from her Bonus Ability.
| Best Light Cone | Relics and Ornament | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Patience Is All You Need | ||||
| Main Stats | Sub Stats | |||
| Body: ATK% Feet: SPD Sphere: Lightning DMG Rope: ATK% | SPD ★★★ ATK% ★★ Effect Hit % ★★ Flat ATK ★ | |||
| Alternative Light Cones | |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
This Kafka build specializes in increasing her DoT and Speed so you can maximize her damage and trigger more Skill attacks, which is the main focus of her Kit.
Both Prisoner in Deep Confinement and Revelry by the Sea are DoT-based Relics that increase Kafka's personal damage.
| Stat | Recommended Value |
|---|---|
| SPD | 135 - 160+ |
| ATK% | 3600 - 4000 |
| Effect Hit Rate | 75% or above |
Kafka should have at least 135 SPD for multiple turns in one cycle. Do make sure her SPD is slower than other DoT units so she can trigger their DoTs and make sure she reaches the right SPD Breakpoints.
As for her Effect Hit Rate, Kafka will need at least 75% Effect Hit Rate to give herself the ATK buff from her Bonus Ability.
| Traces | Changes |
|---|---|
| Skill | Skill can cause DoTs on all targets to immediately produce an instance of DMG. |
| Bonus Ability | Follow-up ATK's trigger count increases and the Follow-up ATK can cause DoT on the enemies to immediately produce an instance of DMG. |
| Talent | Talent's Follow-Up Attack triggers on any kind of attack. |
3.4 Character Buffs and Reworks

After the buffs, Kafka's Skill will trigger DoT on all enemies hit instead of the primary target. Each cast of her Skill will result in more damage thanks to the multiple DoT triggers.

Kafka's Talent now triggers on any attack made by her allies instead of just the Basic ATK. This improves her efficiency in applying Shock to her enemies.

Kafka's Thorns Bonus Ability will now refresh her Talent's Follow-Up Attack and allow it to trigger all DoT effects on the target, improving damage and Shock consistency.
| DPS | DPS | Support | Healer |
|---|---|---|---|
Kafka
|
Any DoT Unit |
Asta
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Natasha
|
This F2P (Free to Play) Team for Kafka focuses on applying DoT and buffing her Speed. Asta is a nice Support since she provides ATK% and Speed buffs while also being able to apply Burn on enemies.
| DPS | DPS | Support | Healer |
|---|---|---|---|
Kafka
|
Hysilens
|
Ruan Mei
|
Huohuo
|
A standard Kafka team will require an additional DoT character, one support character, and one healer or shielder.
You can also Kafka with two other DoT units, which will be especially effective with Hysilens on the team.
| Character | Merits |
|---|---|
Black Swan | DPS Replacement Black Swan is another DoT unit that can be used to apply DoTs and use her Ultimate to increase the DMG taken by enemies. |
Guinaifen | DPS Replacement Guinaifen is a great against enemies who are weak to Fire. Guinaifen can also increase the DMG taken by an enemy. |
Sampo | DPS Replacement Sampo can increase the enemy's DMG taken by DoTs and is especially useful for inflicting Weakness Break on enemies who are weak to Wind. |
Luka | DPS Replacement Luka is a DoT unit that can replace Black Swan if you're up against an Elite enemy with a Physical Weakness. He's capable of high single-target DMG and can remove enemy buffs. |
Serval | DPS Replacement Though not a true Nihility character, Serval can add more Lightning damage and DoT for the team. |
Jiaoqiu | Support Replacement Jiaoqiu can provide his own DoTs and increase the DMG taken by enemies through Ashen Roast. |
Silver Wolf | Support Replacement Silver Wolf is your support alternative if you don't have Ruan Mei and if you need Weakness Break for the party. Though her implant debuff requires a bit of RNG, it can be somewhat controlled through proper team comp planning. |
Pela | Support Replacement Pela is a great alternative for Silver Wolf, especially if you need to apply a DEF debuff on multiple enemies. |
Robin | Support Replacement Robin can increase the party's ATK and DMG. Robin can also advance everyone in the turn order after using her Ultimate. |
Tingyun | Support Replacement Tingyun is generally just a great buffer for any damage dealer, including DoT characters like Kafka. |
Bronya | Support Replacement Though DoTs can't CRIT, Bronya still provides incredible utility by enabling Kafka to take more actions per turn and while giving a DMG% buff. |
Gallagher | Healer Replacement Gallagher can provide an ATK reduction debuff with his Enhanced Basic ATK. He can also heal the team as long as an ally attacks the debuffed enemy. |
Permansor Terrae | Sustain Replacement Permansor Terrae can give the main DoT DPS an ATK buff, shields, and the Souldragon summon which allows them to deal more damage. This pairs well with Kafka's own ATK buff and allows that DPS to deal even more damage. |
| Any Abundance or Preservation Characters | Healer Replacement Any Defensive support characters like Luocha, Gepard, or Natasha can be good Alternatives for Huohuo. All you need is someone to keep the team alive. |
| Relics | Rating & Merits |
|---|---|
|
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★★★★★ - Best for Support Eagle of Twilight Line is Kafka's best Relic set as a Support. This allows Kafka to have earlier turns when she uses her Ultimate, which results in faster DoT triggers. |
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★★★★★ - Best for DPS Prisoner in Deep Confinement is Kafka's best Relic for DPS. This helps ignore DEF if the enemy is affected with more DoTs. |
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★★★★☆ - 2nd Best Band of Sizzling Thunder increases Kafka's Lightning DMG and ATK%. |
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★★★☆☆ - 3rd Best You can use a mix of Lightning DMG and SPD Relic pieces for Kafka's early-game build. |
| Ornaments | Merits |
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★★★★★ - Best for Support Lushaka, the Sunken Seas is Kafka's best Ornament as a Support for its Energy Regen and ATK buff. Make sure the other DoT unit is placed at the 1st Position. |
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★★★★★ - Best for DPS Revelry by the Sea is Kafka's best-in-slot Ornament for DPS since this increases her DoT DMG as long as she has at at least 2400 or 3600 ATK. |
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★★★★☆ - 2nd Best Firmament Frontline Glamorth provides Kafka with a high DPS increase even if you only manage to reach the 135 SPD Breakpoint. |
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★★★☆☆ - 3rd Best Space Sealing Station is an early-game set for Kafka since it increases her ATK%, which improves DoT Damage. |
| Light Cone | Why We Recommend It |
|---|---|
|
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★★★★★ - Best Lies Dance on the Breeze is Support Kafka's best Light Cone thanks to its SPD buff and the ability to decrease enemy DEF. |
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★★★★☆ - Great Before the Tutorial Mission starts is Kafka's best free-to-play Light Cone as a Support for its Effect Hit Rate and energy gain. |
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★★★★☆ - Great Those Many Springs provides Kafka with Effect Hit Rate and increases the DMG taken by enemies. Thanks to its high Effect Hit Rate stat, you can use an ATK Body for more personal DMG. |
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★★★☆☆ - Good Patience is All You Need is Kafka's signature Light Cone that increases her own personal DMG. This is still a viable option for Support Kafka thanks to the SPD increase. |
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★★★☆☆ - Good Holiday Thermae Escapade increases Kafka's personal DMG and increases the DMG received by enemies. |
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★★★☆☆ - Good Solitary Healing can help increase Kafka's DoT and help her gain more energy when enemies are hit via DoT. |
| Light Cone | Why We Recommend It |
|---|---|
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★★★★★ - Best Patience Is All You Need is best for DPS Kafka due to its generally high base stats and it also increases her DoT Damage. Also, the Light Cone has a stackable SPD buff that allows her to use her Skill more often, and the Erode debuff which is an additional Lightning DoT. |
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★★★★☆ - Great Reforged Remembrance is also great for Kafka since it increases her Effect Hit Rate and allows her to utilize the Prophet buff, which increases her ATK and enables her DoT to ignore a percentage of the target's DEF. |
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★★★★☆ - Great Good Night and Sleep Well is a great 4-Star Light Cone for Kafka since it gives her a stacking DMG boost for every debuff the enemy has. |
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★★★☆☆ - Good In the Name of the World is a good Light Cone for Kafka since it allows boosts her DMG to debuffed enemies, which synergizes well with her kit and increases her ATK when she uses her Skill. |
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★★★☆☆ - Good Fermata is also a good option for Kafka since it increases the damage she and her DoT deal against Shocked enemies. It also increases her Break Effect. |
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★★★☆☆ - Good Incessant Rain is a good Light Cone for Kafka since it increases her Effect Hit Rate and also provides the Aether Code debuff, which increases the enemy's damage taken. However, Kafka does not benefit much from the CRIT Rate boost as most of her damage comes from DoT. |
| Ascension Materials | Total |
|---|---|
| 15 | |
| 15 | |
| 15 | |
| 65 | |
| 308,000 |
| All Trace Node Materials | Total |
|---|---|
| 15 | |
| 41 | |
| 72 | |
| 56 | |
| 139 | |
| 58 | |
| 12 | |
| 8 | |
| 3,000,000 |
Kafka Ascension and Trace Materials Guide
| Trace | Priority & Explanation |
|---|---|
| Basic Attack | ★★☆☆☆ - Low Priority Kafka should rarely, if ever, use her Basic attacks. Prioritize this Trace last. |
| Skill | ★★★★★ - Highest Priority One of Kafka's main sources of damage. Prioritize this equally with her Ultimate. |
| Ultimate | ★★★★★ - Highest Priority One of Kafka's main sources of damage.Prioritize this equally with her Skill. |
| Talent | ★★★★☆ - High Priority Helps Kafka deal additional DMG. Upgrade this after maxing her Skill and Ultimate |
| Trace | Priority & Explanation |
|---|---|
| Thorns | ★★★★★ - Highest Priority Kafka's Follow-up attacks can trigger DoTs. This upgrades her personal damage. |
| Plunder | ★★★★★ - Highest Priority Kafka restores energy when a Shocked enemy is taken down. |
| Torture | ★★★★★ - Highest Priority Allies with at least 75% Effect Hit Rate will receive a 100% ATK Buff. Kafka can also be affected by this Bonus Ability. |
Kafka's Skill deals AoE Lightning damage to enemies. If the main target and adjacent enemies have a DoT effect currently applied, the effect of the DoT will trigger be triggered.
Kafka's Ultimate deals DMG to all enemies and applies Shock. If enemies are currently affected with a DoT, then the Shock status will immediately trigger and will receive additional Lightning DoT each turn.
If another party member uses any attack, Kafka will initiate a Follow-up attack on the targeted enemy. This Follow-up attack has a chance to apply a Shock status on enemies and can trigger DoTs.
Kafka's Technique causes her to deal Lightning DMG in an AoE around her with a chance of inflicting Shock on them which will last for 2 turns.
| Trace | Scaling and Explanation |
|---|---|
| Basic ATK | Midnight Tumult: Deals Lightning DMG equal to 50% of Kafka's ATK to a single enemy. |
| Skill | Caressing Moonlight: Deals Lightning DMG equal to 80% of Kafka's ATK to a target enemy and Lightning DMG equal to 30% of Kafkais ATK to enemies adjacent to it. If the designated enemy or the adjacent targets are currently afflicted with DoT, all DoTs currently placed on those enemies immediately produces DMG equal to 60% or 40% of the original DMG. |
| Ultimate | Twilight Trill: Deals Lightning DMG equal to 48% of Kafka's ATK to all enemies, with a 100% base chance for enemies hit to become Shocked and immediately take DMG from their current Shock state, equal to 80% of its original DMG. Shock lasts for 2 turn(s). While Shocked, enemies receive Lightning DoT equal to 116% of Kafka's ATK at the beginning of each turn. |
| Talent | Gentle but Cruel: After Kafka's teammate uses an attack on enemy target, Kafka immediately launces Follow-up ATK and deals Lightning DMG equal to 42% of Kafka's ATK to primary target, with a 100% base chance to inflict Shock on the attacked enemy for 2 turns. This effect can trigger up to 2 time(s), 1 of which can be regained at the end of Kafka's turn. |
| Trace | Scaling and Explanation |
|---|---|
| Skill | Caressing Moonlight: Deals Lightning DMG equal to 160% of Kafka's ATK to a target enemy and Lightning DMG equal to 60% of Kafkais ATK to enemies adjacent to it. If the designated enemy or the adjacent targets are currently afflicted with DoT, all DoTs currently placed on those enemies immediately produces DMG equal to 75% or 50% of the original DMG. |
| Ultimate | Twilight Trill: Deals Lightning DMG equal to 80% of Kafka's ATK to all enemies, with a 100% base chance for enemies hit to become Shocked and immediately take DMG from their current Shock state, equal to 100% of its original DMG. Shock lasts for 2 turn(s). While Shocked, enemies receive Lightning DOT equal to 290% of Kafka's ATK at the beginning of each turn. |
| Talent | Gentle but Cruel: After Kafka's teammate uses an attack on enemy target, Kafka immediately launces Follow-up ATK and deals Lightning DMG equal to 140% of Kafka's ATK to primary target, with a 100% base chance to inflict Shock on the attacked enemy for 2 turns. This effect can trigger up to 2 time(s), 1 of which can be regained at the end of Kafka's turn. |
Basic ATK is maxed out at Level 6.
| Trace | Scaling and Explanation |
|---|---|
| Technique | Mercy Is Not Forgiveness: Immediately attacks all enemies within a set range. After entering battle, deals Lightning DMG equal to 50% of Kafka's ATK to all enemies, with a 100% base chance to inflict Shock equivalent to that applied by her Ultimate on every enemy target for 2 turn(s). |
| Bonus Ability | Thorns: After using Ultimate, restores the triggerable count of Talent's Follow-up ATK by 1. And the Talent's Follow-up ATK can cause all DoT debuffs currently on the target to immediately produce DMG equal to 80% of the original DMG.
Stat Bonus: 1. Max HP +6.0% 2. Effect Hit Rate +8.0% |
| Bonus Ability | Plunder: If an enemy is defeated while Shocked, Kafka additionally regenerates 5 Energy.
Stat Bonus: 1. ATK +6.0% 2. Effect Hit Rate +6.0% 3. ATK +6.0% |
| Bonus Ability | Torture: When an ally target's Effect Hit Rate is 75% or higher, Kafka increases that target's ATK by 100%.
Stat Bonus: 1. Effect Hit Rate +4.0% 2. ATK +4.0% 3. Max HP +4.0% |
| Why We Recommend It | |
|---|---|
| E1 | ★★★★★ - Amazing Applies a very strong debuff on the enemies which increases the DoT they receive. If you are looking for an Eidolon to unlock this should be it. |
| E2 | ★★★★☆ - Great Straightfoward DoT damage increase for everyone in the party. |
| E4 | ★★★☆☆ - Good Increases Kafka's Energy gain, charging her Ultimate slightly faster. |
| E6 | ★★★★★ - Great Huge personal damage increase for Kafka. |
| E1 | Da Capo When the Talent triggers a follow-up attack, there is a 100% base chance to increase the DoT received by the target by 30% for 2 turn(s). |
|---|---|
| E2 | Fortississimo While Kafka is on the field, DoT dealt by all allies increases by 33% |
| E3 | Capriccio Skill Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Basic ATK Lv. +1, up to a maximum of Lv. 10. |
| E4 | Recitativo When an enemy target takes DMG from the Shock status inflicted by Kafka, Kafka additionally regenerates 2 Energy. |
| E5 | Doloroso Ultimate Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Talent Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. |
| E6 | Leggiero The Shock inflicted on the enemy target by the Ultimate, the Technique, or the Talent-triggered follow-up attack has a DMG multiplier increase of 156% and lasts 1 turn(s) longer. |
| Limited Banners |
![]() Nessun Dorma |
|---|
Kafka was available in Phase 1 of Version 3.5 alongside Hysilens.
Kafka's Banner, Nessun Dorma, ran from August 12, 2025 until September 2, 2025 (Server Time).
Indelible Coterie Banner Schedule and Rates
| English VA | Cheryl Texiera |
|---|---|
| Japanese VA | Shizuka Itoh |
| Faction | Stellaron Hunters |
|---|---|
| Background | A member of the Stellaron Hunters. A dashing, collected, and professional beauty. Used the enchantment of Spirit Whisper to set up the Trailblazer to absorb the Stellaron. Her hobby is shopping for and organizing her collection of coats. |

| Character Rarity | |
|---|---|
| ★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Character Paths | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Character Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning Characters | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Tingyun |
Serval |
Kafka |
Jing Yuan |
Bailu |
Arlan |
Acheron |
Moze |
Aglaea |
|||
i dont have any other DOP besides kafka... is she ok without it?
Kafka Best Builds and Teams



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You can use Serval, Asta, Sampo, Gui, and Luka as substitutes until you get the premium dot units.