Path of Destruction Guide

Destruction is one of the Paths you can choose in the Simulated Universe of Honkai: Star Rail. See how to unlock it, how to use it, the best characters that can use it, the Path's buffs, and all the Destruction Blessings here!

How to Unlock Path of Destruction

Play World 3 of Simulated Universe

The Path of Destruction unlocks after playing or clearing the World 3 in the Simulated Universe. Even if you fail to clear the World, it will automatically be unlocked and can be selected once you are starting another run.

Simulated Universe World 3 Guide

Also Available in Swarm Disaster

The Path of Destruction is also available in the Swarm Disaster, the most recent addition to the Simulated Universe. Here, the Path of Destruction and its Blessings are already unlocked and can be used immediately right from the start.

Simulated Universe Swarm Disaster Guide

Also Available in Gold and Gears

The Path of Destruction is also available in Gold and Gears. Here, the Path of Destruction and its Blessings are already unlocked and can be used immediately!

Simulated Universe Gold and Gears Guide

Path of Destruction Information

Provides Both Defense and Offense

The Path of Destruction offers both defense and offense for your characters since its Blessings provide damage reduction, increased damage, shields, and Fighting Spirit which increases a character's ATK and DEF for each stack.

Revolves Around HP Loss

The Path of Destruction's Blessings revolve around losing HP and its Path Resonance is no different. Its Path Resonance deals more damage if your characters are at low HP and its Blessings give you more incentives if you can maintain that.

How to Use Path of Destruction

In Simulated Universe

The Path of Destruction in the Simulated Universe works by allowing your characters to deal increased damage at lower HP while also reducing the damage they take. This makes your party pretty tanky but not at the cost of losing damage.

The only problem with the Path of Destruction is that you have to find a way to keep your characters' HP low, but not low enough that they would be susceptible to dying.

Capitalize on Low HP Advantage

The Path Resonance deals more damage, the lower your party's HP is. Capitalize on this and make sure to get Destruction Blessings so you can upgrade the Path Resonance and make it hit harder.

Obtaining more Blessings also means more buffs for your party, so it is always a win-win situation.

Get Preservation and Abundance Blessings

For you to maximize the damage boost that Destruction Blessings give, you need to maintain Low HP. Healing is okay, but using shields is way better since they don't interfere with your current HP.

You can use Preservation Blessings that provide shields or the Abundance Blessing that reduces damage taken, which can help you maintain that HP threshold without the worry of your characters dying.

In Swarm Disaster

In Swarm Disaster, the mechanics for Paths work differently. Swarm Disaster introduces a board that you traverse to enter different domains. Each Path affects the board by modifying it in a way based on their Audience Die.

The Path of Destruction's Audience Die alters the board by turning domains into Combat or Elite domains, which give you rewards after beating them.

Enter Combat or Elite Domains

Since you get rewards like Blessings and stacking damage boosts, always picking Combat or Elite Domains on the board will be beneficial. Make sure to use each Dice Effect to your advantage!

Using the Dice Effect Scorched Subjugation, you can also immediately obtain the rewards of the selected Combat or Elite domain which makes it even easier since you don't have to enter combat at all.

Win Battles to Increase Damage

While using the Path of Destruction in the Swarm Disaster, whenever you win a battle you obtain a stacking damage boost for your party that lasts throughout the run.

This gives more incentive in only entering Combat or Elite domains since you want to take advantage of this continuous effect.

Use Preservation and Elation Resonance Interplay

With Resonance Interplay in Swarm Disaster, getting three Blessings of Preservation and Elation is a must. The buffs they provide to the Path Resonance are invaluable and can be used to make your run easier, so take advantage of them!

Keep in mind that only three Blessings of each Path are required to activate their respective Resonance Interplays, so you don't need to get more Blessings after unless you want to.

Get Preservation Blessings

Aside from Resonance Interplay, Preservation Blessings still pair well with the Path of Destruction here in Swarm Disaster. Enemies in the Swarm Disaster hit like a truck, especially the The Swarm - True Sting.

Preservation Blessings help you reduce damage you take and also provide you more shields, which stack with Destruction Blessings. With the Quake mechanic, you will also be able to deal damage when enemies attack you.

In Gold and Gears

The Path of Destruction increases DMG dealty by all allies whenever you meet the conditions for the Custom Dice's passive effects. With this, it is important to understand how your chosen Custom Dice's passive effect works since it is different for every type!

Best Characters for Path of Destruction

Best Characters and Explanation

Character	Explanation
Blade	This Path is great for Blade since Blade's Skill consumes his HP and uses follow-up attacks when he gets hit. Keep in mind that you should not take Blessings that give shields as this will prevent him from doing follow-up attacks.
Clara	Clara is a great pick when using the Path of Destruction since her kit revolves around her getting hit and using follow-up attacks, which reduces her HP often.
Arlan	Arlan's kit synergizes well with Path of Destruction since Arlan's Skill consumes his HP. Additionally, Arlan's overall damage increases when he is at low HP so he fits even better for this Path.

Overall, Path of Destruction is great for characters who consume their HP or tend to get hit a lot by enemies. The Path's buffs and Blessings can help them survive and maintain low HP, all while boosting their stats and their damage at the same time.

Best Path of Destruction Blessings

Best Blessings and Explanation

Blessing Title	Effects
Regression Inequality of Annihilation ★★★	Effect: When the player characters are hit, DMG taken by characters is equally distributed among all allies. Enhanced Effect: Receives 15% less DMG. When the player characters are hit, DMG taken by characters is equally distributed among all allies.
Hazardous Lucent Residue ★★	Effect: After a character uses their Ultimate, they gain a Shield that can absorb DMG equal to 25% of the HP difference between their Max HP and current HP, lasting for 2 turn(s). Enhanced Effect: After a character uses their Ultimate, they gain a Shield that can absorb DMG equal to 25% of the HP difference between their Max HP and current HP, plus 7% of their Max HP, lasting for 2 turn(s).
Disciplinary Flicker ★★	Effect: If a character's HP is lower than 35% when being attacked or losing HP, restores their HP by 12% of their Max HP. Enhanced Effect: If a character's HP is lower than 35% when being attacked or losing HP, restores their HP by 12% of their Max HP. The lower the current HP is, the more HP will be restored this way, but no more than 20%.
Reflection ★	Effect: When struck with a killing blow, instead of becoming downed, characters immediately restore HP by 1% of their Max HP. The allied team can only trigger this effect 1 time(s) per battle. Enhanced Effect: When struck with a killing blow, instead of becoming downed, characters immediately restore HP by 30% of their Max HP. The allied team can only trigger this effect 1 time(s) per battle.

Regression Inequality of Annihilation

This is a great Blessing to pick-up when using any Path since it equally distributes DMG taken to all of your allies. This helps prevent your DPS or squishy characters from getting one shot or from taking heavy damage

Hazardous Lucent Residue

This Blessing provides a Shield after a character uses their Ultimate, which can help defend against some damage. This Blessing is useful for any Path and can help mitigate damage taken.

Disciplinary Flicker

This Blessing can help you heal up or prevent a knockdown since it heals your characters by a percentage of their Max HP when they get hit while below 35% Max HP. It can act as an emergency measure against a heavy hit.

Reflection

This Blessing is a great pick up for any Path since it prevents your characters from getting knocked down and revives them with 1% Max HP. It can come in clutch for emergencies where your characters get knocked down.

Path of Destruction Buffs and Blessings

Simulated Universe

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Simulated Universe	Swarm Disaster	Gold and Gears

Path Buffs

Path of Destruction
Buffs	Reduces DMG taken by the characters by 6%
	Increases the chance for Blessings of Destruction to appear
	Obtain 1 Resonance Formation when 6/10/14 Blessings of Destruction has been obtained.
Effects	Fighting Spirit Buff brought by certain Destruction Blessings. For each stack, increases ATK by 3% and DEF by 3%. Stacks up to 35 times.
	Entropic Retribution DEF decreases by 20%. At the beginning of each turn, the unit receives Additional Fire DMG equal to 125% of the HP difference between all allied characters' Max HP and their current HP.

Path Resonance

Blessing	Effect
Destruction ★★★	Effect: Spend 100 points of Energy to use this ability and resonate with the Path of Destruction, dealing Fire DMG to all enemies based on the current HP difference between Max HP and current HP for all allies combined. Activated when 3 Blessings of Destruction has been obtained.

Resonance Formation

Blessing	Effect
Event Horizon ★★★	Effect: When an ally whose current HP is below 35% gets attacked, automatically releases 1 Path Resonance without consuming Energy. This effect can be triggered up to a max of 2 time(s) in a single battle and cannot be triggered multiple times by the same attack.
Extreme Helium Flash ★★★	Effect: The attacks of Path Resonance: The Destruction have a 150% base chance to inflict Entropic Retribution on the enemy target for 2 turn(s).
Cataclysmic Variable ★★★	Effect: Using a Path Resonance will consume HP from all allies up to 40% of their respective Max HP, increasing the DMG of Path Resonance: Destruction by 20%. The amount of HP consumed will be converted into a Shield lasting for 2 turn(s), with the same Shield Value as the HP lost.

Blessings of Destruction

Blessing	Effect
Non-Inverse Antimatter Equation ★★★	Effect: If a character's current HP is below 50% they are considered to have 16 extra stacks of Fighting Spirit. Enhanced Effect: If a character's current HP is below 50% they are considered to have 20 extra stacks of Fighting Spirit. For every 10% further HP lost, gains 2 extra stack(s) of Fighting Spirit.
Universal Heat Death Characteristic ★★★	Effect: When the characters are hit or consume their own HP, they gain 4 stack(s) of Fighting Spirit. When the turn ends, the character loses 4 stack(s) of Fighting Spirit. Enhanced Effect: When being hit or losing HP, the character gains 4 stack(s) of Fighting Spirit, and adjacent allies gain 1 stacks of Fighting Spirit. When the turn ends, the character loses 4 stack(s) of Fighting Spirit.
Regression Inequality of Annihilation ★★★	Effect: When the player characters are hit, DMG taken by characters is equally distributed among all allies. Enhanced Effect: Receives 15% less DMG. When the player characters are hit, DMG taken by characters is equally distributed among all allies.
Catastrophic Resonance ★★	Effect: If a character attacks while under Fighting Spirit, consumes HP equal to 10% of current HP and deals Additional DMG equal to 60% of the HP lost. Enhanced Effect: If a character attacks while under Fighting Spirit, consumes HP equal to 10% of current HP and deals Additional DMG equal to 60% of the HP lost. For each stack of Fighting Spirit, deals Additional DMG equal to 1% of the HP lost.
Indicative Depth of Field ★★	Effect: For each stack of Fighting Spirit, reduces the DMG taken by the character by 0.8%. Enhanced Effect: For each stack of Fighting Spirit, reduces the DMG taken by the character by 0.8%. Fighting Spirit can stack up to 45 time(s).
Incremental Doomsday ★★	Effect: After being hit, for each stack of Fighting Spirit the character has, the character deals Additional DMG equal to 4% of their ATK to the attacker. This DMG will not be enough to finalize the defeat of the enemy target. Enhanced Effect: After being hit, for each stack of Fighting Spirit the character has, the character deals Additional DMG equal to 4% of their ATK plus 2% of the current HP loss to the attacker. This DMG will not be enough to finalize the defeat of the enemy target.
Hazardous Lucent Residue ★★	Effect: After a character uses their Ultimate, they gain a Shield that can absorb DMG equal to 25% of the HP difference between their Max HP and current HP, lasting for 2 turn(s). Enhanced Effect: After a character uses their Ultimate, they gain a Shield that can absorb DMG equal to 25% of the HP difference between their Max HP and current HP, plus 7% of their Max HP, lasting for 2 turn(s).
Devastating Accretion ★★	Effect: For every 1% of the difference between a character's Max HP and current HP, their ATK increases by 0.8%. Enhanced Effect: For every 1% of a character's Max HP that is lost, their ATK increases by 0.8% and DEF by 0.5%.
Destructive Flare ★★	Effect: When a character's HP is lower than 50%, deals 40% increased DMG. Enhanced Effect: When a character's HP is lower than 50%, deals 50% increased DMG. When HP's lower than 35%, DMG dealt further increases by 20%.
Disciplinary Flicker ★★	Effect: If a character's HP is lower than 35% when being attacked or losing HP, restores their HP by 12% of their Max HP. Enhanced Effect: If a character's HP is lower than 35% when being attacked or losing HP, restores their HP by 12% of their Max HP. The lower the current HP is, the more HP will be restored this way, but no more than 20%.
Sentinel Satellite ★	Effect: When the character's HP is lower than 50%, they gain a Shield that can absorb DMG equal to 20% of their Max HP for 2 turn(s). This effect only be triggered 1 time(s) by each character per battle. Enhanced Effect: When the character's HP is lower than 50%, they gain a Shield that can absorb DMG equal to 30% of their Max HP for 2 turn(s). This effect only be triggered 1 time(s) by each character per battle.
Metric Reservation ★	Effect: Upon entering battle, characters gain a Shield that can absorb DMG equal to 36% the HP difference between then Max HP and current HP, lasting for 2 turn(s). Enhanced Effect: Upon entering battle, characters gain a Shield that can absorb DMG equal to 52% the HP difference between then Max HP and current HP, lasting for 2 turn(s).
Orbital Redshift ★	Effect: Increases Max HP by 16%. Enhanced Effect: Increases Max HP by 24%.
Primordial Black Hole ★	Effect: Character's gain a 5% ATK increase for each Destruction Blessing. This effect can stack up to a max of 6 time(s). Enhanced Effect: Character's gain a 7% ATK increase for each Destruction Blessing. This effect can stack up to a max of 9 time(s).
Instability Strip ★	Effect: When characters are hit or consume their own HP, regenerates 4 Energy. Enhanced Effect: When characters are hit or consume their own HP, regenerates 6 Energy.
Reflection ★	Effect: When struck with a killing blow, instead of becoming downed, characters immediately restore HP by 1% of their Max HP. The allied team can only trigger this effect 1 time(s) per battle. Enhanced Effect: When struck with a killing blow, instead of becoming downed, characters immediately restore HP by 30% of their Max HP. The allied team can only trigger this effect 1 time(s) per battle.
Polarization Receptor ★	Effect: For every 1% of HP lost by a character, their DEF increases by 0.40% Enhanced Effect: For every 1% of HP lost by a character, their DEF increases by 0.60%
Eternally Collapsing Object ★	Effect: For every 1% of HP lost by a character, their Effect RES increases by 0.30%. Enhanced Effect: For every 1% of HP lost by a character, their Effect RES increases by 0.45%.

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Swarm Disaster

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Simulated Universe	Swarm Disaster	Gold and Gears

Audience Dice

Swarm Disaster: Path of Destruction
Buffs	For every victory in combat, DMG dealt by all allies accumulates
	Dimension Effect: When the first or second plane begins, turns 2 random domains into an Elite domain.
	Continuous Effect: After achieving victory in an Elite domain, obtain Blessings 1 extra time. For every battle won, increases DMG dealt by all allies by 8%.
	Upon receiving 3 Blessings of Destruction, you will also receive 3 Blessings of Preservation and 3 Blessings of Elation, allowing for the respective activation of the corresponding Resonance Interplay.

Dice Effect

Name	Effect
Destruction: Scorched Subjugation	Effect: Select a Combat, Combat: Swarm, or Elite domain to immediately get the rewards of the domain and change it to a Blank domain (The effect of Curios do not activate simultaneously)
Destruction: War Worship	Effect: Select a Combat, Combat: Swarm, or Elite domain and immediately give it an Enhance Beacon
Destruction: Spiritual Suicide	Effect: Enter a Combat, Combat: Swarm, or Elite domain during this round to immediately obtain 1 Blessing
Destruction: Blood Like Water	Effect: When entering combat this round, all allies' DMG dealt increases by 50%
Destruction: Corporeal Monarch	Effect: Select 1 domain (excluding Boss or Boss: Swarm) and change it to a Combat domain

Resonance Interplay

Blessing	Effect
Substellar Belt ★★★	Effect: Using Path Resonance will cause any character with a current HP percentage lower than 50% to gain a Shield equal to 40% of their Max HP, lasting for 2 turns.
Zero Age Main Sequence ★★★	Effect: When a character launches a follow-up attack, regenerates 5% Energy for Path Resonance. If the character's current HP percentage is lower than 50%, additionally regenerates 5% Energy for Path Resonance.

In addition to Path Resonance, Resonance Interplay is a new addition available in Swarm Disaster. The Path of Destruction has Resonance Interplay with both Preservation and Elation, which provides its Path Resonance shields and Energy.

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Gold and Gears

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Simulated Universe	Swarm Disaster	Gold and Gears

Path Boost

Gold and Gears: Path of Destruction
Buff	When the conditions for the Custom Dice's passive effects are met, you will receive the enhancement: Increases DMG for all allies.
Activation Conditions	Path Resonance can be activated when 3 Blessings of Destruction have been obtained, and Resonance Formation can be activated when 6/10/14 have been obtained.
	If you obtain 3 Blessings of The Hunt or 3 Blessings of Abundance while you already have 3 Blessings of Destruction, you can activate the respective Resonance Interplay.

Resonance Interplay

Blessing	Effect
Nuclear Implosion ★★★	Effect:[nlWhen using Path Resonance to attack, additionally deals a set amount of DMG to all enemy targets whose HP is below 20% of their Max HP, reducing these targets' HP to 1.
Protostar ★★★	Effect: After losing HP due to allies or Path Resonance effects, the characters gain Healing Over Time that lasts 2 turn(s). At the start of every turn, restore HP equal to 30% of the consumed HP.

Resonance Interplay, a feature introduced in Swarm Disaster, is also available in Gold and Gears. The Path of Destruction has Resonance Interplay with both The Hunt and Abundance, which provide bonus effects after using Path Resonance.

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Honkai: Star Rail Related Guides

Simulated Universe Guide

Simulated Universe Stage Guides

Simulated Universe Guides
World 1	World 2	World 3
World 4	World 5	World 6
World 7	World 8	World 9

Paths and Blessing Guides

All Simulated Universe Paths
Propagation	Preservation	Abundance	Nihility
The Hunt	Remembrance	Destruction	Elation
Erudition

Swarm Disaster Guides

Simulated Universe: The Swarm Disaster Guides
The Swarm Disaster Guide	How to Unlock All Chapters
Communing Trail and Pathstrider Guide	Exploration Guide
How to Clear Difficulty 5

Gold and Gears Guides

Simulated Universe: Gold and Gears Guides
Gold and Gears Guide	How to Unlock All Trailblaze and Aeon Secrets
Neural Network Guide	Dice Customization and All Dice Faces
How to Beat Difficulty 5

Other Simulated Universe Guides

Simulated Universe Guides
List of All Paths	Simulated Universe Events
List of All Curios	Resonance Interplay Guide