Battle System Explained and Combat Tips

This is a guide to the Battle System of Honkai: Star Rail. Read on to learn how the combat system works and tips on how to effectively win battles.

Battle System Explained

Battle System Explained
Turn-Based Combat Composed of Basic ATKs, Skills, and Ultimates Weakness Breaks and Elements Paths Are the Class System

Combat is Turn-Based

Honkai: Star Rail features a turn-based combat system where each member of the two participating parties will take turns delivering attacks and powerful special abilities on the opposing team.

The order of battle is arranged by speed, and each member will only have one turn per round to attack, defend, or use an item, so take this time to strategize and act accordingly, depending on the situation of the ongoing battle.

Additionally, some moves and abilities are not only limited to one turn, and some characters have the ability to perform a counter-attack in retaliation towards the enemy that attacks them.

Composed of Basic ATKs, Skills, and Ultimates

Basic Attack

A Basic Attack is a normal attack performed by a character without consuming skill points. Each character's basic attack has an Element attributed to them and can be used on enemies with the appropriate weakness to break them down easily.

Performing Basic Attacks will acquire you 1 Skill Point (or SP), which is required and consumed upon activating Skills.

Skills

Skills provide various effects depending on your characters, from applying a shield and a taunt to your allies to hard-hitting attacks against enemies. Performing a skill will require the use of Skill Points.

Planning around your party's synergy based on their skills and learning when to use them is essential for your party composition, as this will usually dictate how your encounters will go.

How to Save Skill Points

Ultimates

Ultimates are a character's unique ability that can deal a lethal blow to an enemy or provide beneficial effects that can turn the tide of a battle. These can be used once the energy meter is full and could be activated at any time.

Weakness Breaks and Elements

All enemies have white gauges called 'Toughness' above their standard HP levels, which is similar to a shield system. Breaking these shields will make the enemy extremely vulnerable to attacks, delay their actions, and will sometimes cancel their attacks.

Each enemy also has a certain element that they are weak to, and taking advantage of these weaknesses by using characters with the appropriate elemental attack can break them quickly.

All Enemies and Weaknesses Guide

All Bosses and Weaknesses Guide

Paths Are the Class System

There are 7 Paths available in Honkai: Star Rail, and are considered as the class system of the game. These are basically the roles of each character and symbolize what a character is specializing in, ranging from DPS to Support capabilities.

Paths Guide

Combat Tips

Combat Tips
Use Consumables Before Engaging in Combat Make Use of Your Character's Techniques Check Your Enemy's Elemental Weakness Upgrade Your Equipment

Use Consumables Before Engaging in Combat

Using items before combat will give you a huge advantage against enemies as they provide beneficial buffs to your party, such as increasing your max health, attack damage, and defense. Some items will also restore HP and even revive fallen comrades.

However, there will be some situations where you won't be able to use items, such as when you're in the Simulated Universe, so the use of your character's technique is recommended.

List of Consumables

Make Use of Your Character's Techniques

Techniques are very similar to consumables as they also provide beneficial buffs to your party based on your characters. The difference, however, is that they can also be used offensively to break enemies and don't require any materials to use.

Instead, they use Technique Points to give your party buffs, and unlike Consumables, techniques can be used in the Simulated Universe.

How to Use Techniques

Check Your Enemy's Elemental Weakness

It's always good to check your enemy's elemental weakness before entering combat with an enemy. Initiating a fight using characters with elements they are weak against will give you an advantage and makes it easier for you to break them in the process.

This will also allow you to prepare more and strategize which party setup you can use against stronger enemies and bosses.

All Enemies and Weaknesses Guide

All Bosses and Weaknesses Guide

Upgrade Your Equipment

When starting out, enhancing your equipment will give you a boost in terms of power during combat. Try to level up and enhance your Light Cones and Relic Sets whenever possible if you feel like you're being overwhelmed by your enemies.

However, you should always try to spend your EXP Materials at a minimum and wait until you get a 5 Star Relic with incredible stats to avoid wasting precious materials, as you'll probably end up changing your relics later on in the game.

All Upgrade Material Items

Honkai Star Rail Related Guides

All Tips & Tricks

All Tips and Tricks Guides

Game Mechanics Tips and Tricks
All Paths Explained	Trailblaze Power Guide
Forgotten Hall	How to Farm Stellar Jades
Pity System Explained	All Achievements Guide
Simulated Universe Guide	Reroll Guide - Is It Worth It?
Livestream Codes	Battle System Guide
Daily Check-In Guide	How to Save Skill Points
How to Increase Your Trailblaze Level	Daily Task List
How to Return to Herta Space Station	How to Open Mailbox
How to Level Up Characters	All Chest Locations
How to Increase Equilibrium Level	How to Do Follow-Up Attacks
All Memory Bubble Locations	Best Ways to Spend Currencies
World Shops Guide	All Techniques and How to Use
How to Use Photo Mode	Operation Briefing Guide
Easter Eggs and References	Omni-Synthesizer Guide
Team Building Guide	List of All Curios
How to Get Shadow of Destruction	How to Get Shadow of Preservation
List of All Paths	Recommended Assignments
How to Retreat	How to Revive Characters
How to Purchase From the Store	List of Elements and Effects
How to Unlock Daily Training	How to Get Eidolons
How to Fast Travel	Crimson and Golden Calyx Locations and Rewards
Healing and How to Recover HP	How to Level Up Traces
How to Switch Characters	How to Gain Energy for Ultimates
List of All Aeons	Break Effect Guide
Enemy Tracking Guide	List of All Shops and Locations
All Simulated Universe Events	Reserved Trailblaze Power
Speed Breakpoints Guide	How to Get Free Yukong
How to Get Free Lynx	Clockie's Offering Rewards
Penacony Car Dealer Location	How to Invite Characters for a Group Photo in Penacony
FAQ
Is There Multiplayer or Co-Op?	Can You Customize Your Character?
Is There Cross-Platform Play?	How to Fix Connection Errors
Will There Be a Switch Version?	Can You Change Gender?
How to Get Birthday Rewards	What are Eidolons?
Can You Skip Cutscenes?	Controller Support Guide
Should You Buy the Express Supply Pass?	Daily Reset Time
How to Use Windowed or Full Screen Mode	How to Change Main Character's Name
Best Warp (Gacha) Banners to Pull On	How to Add Friends
Permanent Game Features	Best Settings for PC
How to Download on All Platforms	Battle Pass Guide
Starter Guide	How to Get the Fire Trailblazer
How to Fix the Stuck on Train Loading Screen Bug	Is Honkai: Star Rail Open World?
How to Use the Chat Function
Puzzles
How Many Trash Cans Are in Belobog?	Rock, Paper, Scissors Guide
Real Treasure Map Guide	Fool's Box Solutions
Magflow Link Solutions	Mine Cart Test Guide
Unearthly Marvel Solutions	Hexanexus Solutions
Navigation Compass Guide	Triple Authentication Door Guide
Luminflux Pyxis Solutions	Mutare Magnus Solutions
Origami Crane Locations	Abacus Circuitry Locations
Phonograph Record Locations	Obsequies Performed, A Long Road Ahead Character Locations
Origami Bird Locations in Penacony	Clockwork Quests and Gear Locations
Lordly Trashcan Locations and Answers	Dreamscape Pass Stickers
Dream Jigsaw Solutions	Dream Ticker Solutions