UPDATE 10/12/2024: We have updated this Blade build with some additional information about their ascension materials and which traces you should prioritize.
The ultimate Blade build for Honkai: Star Rail introduces a sophisticated damage dealer, setting him apart from any other character in the game. Mastering Blade requires not only managing his health strategically but also skillfully timing his abilities to maximize his damage output.
Fortunately, assembling Blade’s build is straightforward, even without his signature Light Cone.
Optimal Blade Build in Honkai Star Rail
Blade, a 5-Star character from the Path of Destruction, utilizes the Wind element to inflict damage. His unique qualities allow him to deal higher damage based on his maximum HP, making it vital to prioritize both HP and attack in his build. While there’s currently only one Destruction Light Cone that boosts HP, prioritizing attack is critical if you don’t possess Blade’s signature Cone.
Best Light Cones for Blade
5-Star Light Cones
Blade’s signature Light Cone, known as The Unreachable Side, significantly enhances his abilities. It provides an 18% increase in both maximum HP and critical rate. Additionally, when Blade loses HP, his damage increases by 24% until his next attack. This effect synergizes well with his skill set, allowing Blade to unleash powerful critical hits, similar to the capabilities of Jing Yuan.
Another excellent choice is the Something Irreplaceable Light Cone, which grants a substantial 24% attack boost. Whenever Blade receives damage or loses HP—an occurrence that is nearly constant—he recovers HP equal to 8% of his attack stat, further enhancing his offensive capabilities.
For an accessible option, On the Fall of an Aeon is a great alternative. Previously available in the Forgotten Hall’s Light Cone shop, it delivers an 8% attack boost each turn, which can stack up to four times during a single battle. Additionally, when inflicting weakness break, it affords a 12% damage increase for two turns, potentially amplifying Blade’s attack stat by nearly 50% when timed correctly.
4-Star Light Cones
Among 4-star options, Nowhere to Run stands out as the top choice for Blade. It provides a flat 24% attack increase and restores HP equivalent to 12% of his attack when defeating an enemy. Another solid contender is A Secret Vow by Arlan, which grants a 20% attack boost and offers additional damage if the enemy possesses more HP than Blade.
3-Star Light Cones
For a 3-star choice, consider Mutual Demise, which enhances critical rate by 12%—increasing to 24% if Blade’s HP falls below 80%. This benefit aligns perfectly with his gameplay style.
Best Relics for Blade
In version 1.2, HoYoverse introduced the Longevous Disciple Relic set, which is tailor-made for Blade and pairs remarkably with his Light Cone.
- **Two-piece effect**: Increases the wearer’s maximum HP by 12%.
- **Four-piece effect**: Grants an 8% critical hit rate buff for two turns after taking damage, stacking twice.
If you prefer a mixed approach, combining two pieces from the Longevous set with two Eagle Line relics can be beneficial, as the latter boosts wind damage.
Ensure you equip a 4-star or 5-star head Relic for optimal HP boosts, while prioritizing HP or critical hit rate for body stats. Attack or HP are advisable for the feet slot.
Best Ornaments for Blade
Your choice of Ornaments can enhance Blade’s effectiveness depending on your build. If you achieve over 50% critical hit rate, consider the Inert Salsotto set, which increases critical hit rate by 8% and provides a 15% power boost to ultimate and follow-up attacks once critical hit rate exceeds 50%.
For those keen to maximize critical rate further, the new Rutilant Arena set is worth pursuing. It offers an 8% critical rate boost and a 20% increase in damage to basic attacks and skills once critical rate reaches 70%. Although Blade’s skill does not deal damage, this buff significantly enhances his basic attacks.
For sphere stats, focus on wind damage or HP, while ensuring HP or attack stats are assigned to the Link Rope.
Prioritizing Blade’s Traces
Blade’s primary damage source is his basic attack. Most of your damage will come from enhanced basic attacks triggered by Hellscape, which boosts their effectiveness. Thus, it’s crucial to prioritize improving both Blade’s basic attack and the Hellscape skill.
The recommended order for upgrading Blade’s Traces is:
- Basic Attack
- Skill
- Ultimate
- Talent
Blade’s Ascension Materials
To level Blade from 1 to 80, you will require the following Ascension Materials:
- 15x Immortal Scionette
- 15x Immortal Aeroblossom
- 15x Immortal Lumintwig
- 65x Ascendant Debris
- 308,000x Credits
Assessing Blade’s Performance in Honkai Star Rail
Blade excels as a single-target DPS character, capable of dealing respectable damage to groups under optimal conditions. Notably, he is among the few potent wind characters who rely less on damage-over-time mechanics, making him a formidable asset in any lineup.
In summary, Blade’s capabilities are impressive.
Typically, Blade’s basic attack may seem weak, but it transforms dramatically post-skill activation. His skill depletes 30% of his HP, initiating the Hellscape state, allowing basic attacks to deal splendid damage based on both HP and attack to not just the target, but also nearby foes.
However, this aid comes with consequences; Blade’s skill does not regenerate energy, and during Hellscape, basic attacks cannot restore skill points. Hence, careful planning is advised before execution.
Blade’s ultimate ability reduces his HP to 50% and calculates damage from three aspects: 24% of his attack, 60% of his max HP, and 60% of the HP he has lost during the battle. Notably, the last factor accumulates, meaning healing does not lessen total HP lost and resets after using the ultimate.
With tactical execution, Blade can inflict enormous damage across groups and also save himself, thanks to the HP restoration allowing him to rise to 50% of max health.
Blade’s talent is a double-edged sword, revolving around Charge stacks. Gaining one stack for every instance of lost HP from skills or enemy attacks, Blade unleashes a substantial wind attack when reaching five stacks. Accordingly, precise timing combined with his abilities lets players unleash significant damage quickly.
Should You Roll for Blade in Star Rail?
If you are in the market for a robust single-target damage dealer, investing your Jade in Blade’s banner when he returns is certainly justified. Honkai Star Rail features a handful of elite single-target fighters, such as Seele, Jing Yuan, and Yanqing. Should you lack any of these characters on your roster, Blade could substantially enhance your team’s performance in endgame content.
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