Honkai Star Rail Tier List: The Best Characters in HSR 1.0

All 5 star and 4 star characters ranked.

Honkai Star Rail Facebook

Guide by Dion Dassanayake Contributor

Updated on May 9, 2023

Looking to create the perfect party in Honkai Star Rail? 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 v1.0, from best to worst:

Tier	Character
S-tier	Bronya, Bailu, Seele, Tingyun, Trailblazer (Fire), Welt
A-tier	Himeko, March 7th, Yanqing, Gepard, Clara, Sushang, Natasha
B-tier	Asta, Arlan, Pela, Dan Heng, Sampo, Serval, Hook
C-tier	Trailblazer (Physical), Qingque
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 at launch in version 1.0 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. The Character Event Warp will be where HoYoverse releases new 5 star characters that are the focus of each major update. For HSR 1.0 Seele was first up followed by Jing Yuan (who currently isn't available) in phase 2. If you're hoping to pull for Seele just bear in mind that her time-limited banner will only be available until 6pm BST on Wednesday, 17 May 2023.

There are a number of other characters that HoYoverse has already announced, which we currently don't have release details for yet. These characters are Blade, Fu Xuan and Luocha. We'll also have to wait and see whether Kafka and Silver Wolf, who players take control of in the tutorial, get their own Character Event Warp in the future. To understand more about how the game's gacha system works visit our Honkai Star Rail Warp Banner guide.

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 skeptical.

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

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

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 when activated

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

Gepard

The captain of the Silvermane Guards, Gepard helps protect the peace of everyday life in Belobog. In battle he is able to draw attacks from enemies to help protect the rest of the party.

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

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 when activated

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 when activated

Natasha

Natasha is a kind-hearted doctor who works in the Belobog Underworld, where medical resources are scarce.

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

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 when activated

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 when activated

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 when activated

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 when activated

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 when activated

Honkai Star Rail C-tier characters

Qingque

Qingque is a Quantum character that follows the path of Erudition. Her attacks involve her using jade tiles similar to mahjong tiles.

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

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.