Honkai: Star Rail, the newest game in the popular Honkai franchise, has won the hearts of fans worldwide with its captivating narrative, engaging gameplay, and charming characters. Particularly, the introduction of male characters, or ‘husbandos’, has significantly boosted its popularity among a wide range of players.
However, while it’s always enticing to gather as many ‘husbandos’ as you can, there are certain characters that may not be the best choice for your in-game progression, depending on your preferred playstyle.
Let’s delve into why you should think twice before pulling these specific Honkai: Star Rail ‘husbandos’, touching on aspects of their in-game performance, and synergy with other characters, among other things.
Luocha
As part of Patch 1.1, Luocha, a new five-star character, is set to make his debut in July. While some players might be eagerly waiting for this character’s debut, there are reasons to think twice before rushing to add him to your roster. Luocha’s exclusive ability to passively heal characters and deal Imaginary damage (currently unique to Welt) may initially seem attractive.
However, the utility of Luocha, particularly for players who have already acquired Bailu, another five-star character from the Path of Abundance, appears questionable. His special Imaginary damage doesn’t necessarily compensate for his diminished value as a healer compared to Bailu.
While he could potentially enhance your strategy with his ability to snowball with his Ultimate, his gameplay tends to be more complex than other healers like Bailu and Natasha. Hence, without a clear understanding of his gameplay and how he integrates with your main characters, Luocha may end up being an unsuitable and costly addition to your team.
Blade
Blade, the much-touted five-star Wind Element character, is drawing attention with his high damage potential. There’s a catch, though: Blade’s powerful attacks chip away at his own health pool, requiring careful balancing of his attack and HP stats to prevent a swift downfall. The consequence is that Blade users are presented with a delicate high-risk, high-reward situation.
Moreover, Blade’s self-inflicted damage necessitates constant healing, implying an increased reliance on your team’s healer. Luocha, with his passive healing, might be an ideal companion, but if you’re not planning to acquire Luocha and your primary healer isn’t effective enough, Blade could prove a fragile and high-maintenance character.
In terms of damage output, Blade’s area-of-effect (AoE) Wind damage is impressive, but it doesn’t necessarily trump other characters like Dan Heng, who is a viable option for free-to-play players. Blade’s singular focus on damage without much versatility makes him a rather one-dimensional character and reduces his overall appeal, unless his kit particularly aligns with your gameplay style.
Imbibitor Lunae Dan Heng
As players eagerly anticipate the release of Patch 1.3 in Honkai: Star Rail, one character generating a fair share of buzz is the Imbibitor Lunae Dan Heng. It should be noted that his abilities are largely based on unverified leaks, leaving room for potential discrepancies once the patch goes live, but if they hold true, Dan Heng will be associated with the Imaginary element and the Destruction Path.
The supposed skill set of Imbibitor Lunae, encompassing burst damage and unique stack mechanisms, may appear appealing at first glance. However, a lack of comprehensive insights into his abilities, particularly the yet unseen Ultimate, leaves room for potential disappointments.
Moreover, a majority of Dan Heng’s skills hinge on a specific stack, the “Reverse Scale”, forcing players to navigate a potentially complex and cumbersome gameplay involving accumulation and consumption of these stacks. This, coupled with the speculation-based information, raises doubts about the overall appeal and user-friendliness of Imbibitor Lunae Dan Heng.
Gepard
Gepard, a prominent Silvermane general, is hailed as a strong shielder with the potential to eliminate the need for a healer in your party. His capabilities do come with their share of limitations, though. For one, his attack power leaves much to be desired, even if it’s an expected trade-off for his defense-heavy play style. His basic attack scaling is notably lower than even some support characters, and his skill – a single-target attack – delivers merely moderate damage.
His redeeming aspect is the potential to freeze enemies, making them susceptible to melee damage. Gepard’s Ultimate offers a shield to the entire party, but apart from his special talent of surviving a fatal blow once per battle, his skillset is notably limited. Gepard is one of the guaranteed 5-star characters in the beginner’s banner and permanently available in the standard banner, so there is no pressing need to pull him.
Welt
Welt, one of the rare Imaginary Element characters, brings a unique flavour to the gameplay, owing significantly to his ability to reduce enemy speed. This unique skill amplifies his appeal, especially when your party includes characters with high base speed. The logic is simple: less speed for your opponents means more turns for your characters, enhancing the frequency of attack, healing, and other support abilities. Welt’s slowing technique also provides a substantial advantage from the onset of a battle.
However, Welt’s utility might not be as pronounced in the early stages of the game where raw damage output often outweighs debuffing abilities. Given his strength lies in his debuffing capabilities, he may not be the best choice when breezing through low-difficulty content.
As a debuffer, Welt is more likely to shine in mid- to late-game scenarios where strategic play becomes crucial. Therefore, players might want to consider whether the current level of gameplay justifies pulling Welt into their roster – despite his distinct advantages.
Screwllum
Screwllum, the enigmatic character teased in the Version 1.1 main event, has sparked discussions among players, but caution should be exercised before pursuing this potential 5-star character. As the first AoE-focused unit with the Imaginary element, Screwllum might appear to be a strong choice within this element category. Erudition characters excel at exploiting weaknesses and dealing with large groups of enemies, making Screwllum look enticing.
However, it’s crucial to note that Screwllum’s effectiveness heavily relies on debuffs and the presence of Diffusion Marks on enemies. These marks are applied through Screwllum’s attacks, triggering follow-up attacks and dealing additional damage. While this mechanic offers potential, it comes with certain limitations.
The inability to apply a Diffusion Mark with a follow-up attack restricts the versatility of Screwllum’s debuff-based playstyle. Additionally, the release date of Screwllum remains uncertain, and no official announcements have been made by HoYoverse regarding his availability.
Luka
Luka, the boxing champion of Belobog’s Underworld, is a 4-Star character from the Path of Nihility featured on Kafka’s banner in Phase 1.2. However, his effectiveness is heavily reliant on being part of Kafka’s team, making him a niche player with limited versatility in other compositions. While his “Lacerating Fist” skill can cause significant damage and inflict bleeding on enemies, the team dynamics may suffer from a lack of durability, particularly when considering the already capable AoE abilities of Sampo and Kafka.
Although Luka’s potential as a damage-over-time (DoT) dealer within Kafka’s team should not be dismissed, his reliance on specific synergy raises questions about his overall value. While he may excel in enhancing the performance of a Kafka team composition, it is important to acknowledge the challenges faced by DoT dealers and consider the trade-offs of building a team solely around Luka’s strengths.
As we journey back from the dazzling universe of Honkai: Star Rail, it’s important to remember that these suggestions are not to discourage you from appreciating the diverse roster of ‘husbandos’, but rather to equip you with a deeper understanding of their functionality within the game’s mechanics and narrative.
Ultimately, your enjoyment of the game should dictate your choice of characters. Whether you’re a min-maxer looking for the perfect team or a story-enthusiast wanting to dive deep into the lore, understanding the pros and cons of each character can significantly enhance your gameplay experience.
Remember, strategic character acquisition can often be the difference between an average and an exceptional gaming experience. Choose wisely, and let your journey in the Honkai: Star Rail universe be as thrilling and engaging as it was designed to be, Trailblazer.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
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