Honkai: Star Rail is a turn-based RPG that rewards careful team building, synergy, and role coverage across its many game modes. While every character can perform well with the right investment, some units consistently stand out thanks to their damage output, utility, or ability to enable entire team compositions. To help players decide where to focus their resources, we’ve updated our tier list to highlight the most impactful characters currently available. This guide ranks characters from S Tier down to B Tier, explaining what each tier represents and why specific characters excel in the current meta.

But before we jump into the character breakdowns, here’s a quick glance at our Honkai: Star Rail tier list for 2026.

S		NAME	RARITY	ELEMENT
		Firefly	5-Star	Fire
		Boothill	5-star	Physical
		Castorice	5-star	Quantum
		The Herta	5-star	Ice
		Ruan Mei	5-Star	Ice

A		NAME	RARITY	ELEMENT
		Aglaea	5-star	Lightning
		Acheron	5-star	Lightning
		Rappa	5-star	Imaginary
		Anaxa	5-star	Wind
		Sunday	5-star	Imaginary

B		NAME	RARITY	ELEMENT
		Tribbie	5-star	Quantum
		Lingsha	5-star	Fire
		Gallagher	4-star	Fire
		Jiaoqiu	5-star	Fire
		Fugue	5-star	Fire

S Tier Characters – Meta-Defining Picks

S Tier characters represent the most powerful and universally useful units in Honkai: Star Rail right now. These characters either define team archetypes, provide unmatched buffs or survivability, or deliver consistently high damage across multiple endgame modes such as Memory of Chaos, Pure Fiction, and Apocalyptic Shadow. Investing in S Tier units is rarely a mistake, as they remain relevant regardless of content rotation.

Firefly

Firefly is one of the most dominant damage dealers in the current meta, particularly in Break-focused teams. Her kit revolves around overwhelming Super Break damage, allowing her to shred enemies once Weakness Breaks are triggered. Firefly excels in Apocalyptic Shadow and Memory of Chaos, where precision damage and Break efficiency are heavily rewarded. When paired with supports that enhance Break or action economy, she delivers some of the highest sustained DPS in the game.

Boothill

Boothill stands out as a premier single-target Break DPS who specializes in quickly dismantling elite enemies and bosses. His ability to convert Break effects into massive follow-up damage makes him exceptionally strong in Apocalyptic Shadow. Boothill thrives in teams that can consistently apply Weakness Breaks, and his high ceiling allows skilled players to maximize his output through proper timing and positioning.

Castorice

Castorice is a top-tier AoE damage dealer who shines in modes that demand fast wave clearing, especially Pure Fiction. Her ability to repeatedly pressure multiple enemies at once makes her invaluable for clearing large groups efficiently. Castorice’s damage scales well with team buffs, and she fits comfortably into compositions that emphasize sustained AoE pressure rather than burst-only strategies.

The Herta

The Herta remains one of the strongest AoE-centric characters in the game, particularly for content that rewards repeated follow-up attacks. Her ability to trigger consistent AoE damage whenever enemies fall below HP thresholds makes her a cornerstone pick in Pure Fiction. While she requires proper team support to reach her full potential, her damage output and reliability keep her firmly in S Tier.

Ruan Mei

Ruan Mei is a meta-defining support whose value transcends individual game modes. Her buffs to Weakness Break efficiency, team damage, and overall combat flow make her one of the most universally powerful characters available. Ruan Mei enables both Break-centric and traditional DPS teams, and her presence significantly smooths out difficult encounters by accelerating team performance.

A Tier Characters – Powerful but Situational

A Tier characters are extremely strong and fully capable of clearing endgame content, but they may require more specific team setups or face competition from S Tier units in similar roles. These characters are excellent long-term investments, especially if they align with your preferred playstyle.

Aglaea

Aglaea is a strong damage dealer whose performance scales well in structured team compositions. She offers reliable output and excels when paired with supports that enhance action economy or elemental synergy. While she may not dominate every mode, Aglaea’s consistency and flexibility make her a dependable pick for players building balanced teams.

Acheron

Acheron specializes in burst damage and debuff-centric playstyles, making her particularly effective in Memory of Chaos. Her ability to punish enemies through layered debuffs allows her to output high damage without relying solely on traditional buff stacking. Acheron performs best in teams built around Nihility synergies and rewards players who can manage her setup effectively.

Rappa

Rappa is a versatile AoE attacker who performs well in both wave-based and hybrid encounters. Her kit allows her to apply consistent pressure across multiple enemies, making her a strong choice for Pure Fiction and certain Memory of Chaos stages. While she may not match the raw efficiency of top-tier AoE units, her adaptability keeps her firmly in A Tier.

Anaxa

Anaxa offers a mix of strong damage and utility, excelling in teams that capitalize on Break and follow-up mechanics. She performs particularly well in Apocalyptic Shadow, where controlled damage and Break timing matter more than raw AoE. Anaxa rewards strategic play and shines when paired with characters that amplify her elemental strengths.

Sunday

Sunday is a premium support whose value lies in enabling sustained damage and team stability. He performs well across multiple modes by enhancing action flow and reinforcing team survivability. While he may not provide the sheer universal impact of Ruan Mei, Sunday remains a top-tier enabler in optimized compositions.

B Tier Characters – Strong but Outclassed

B Tier characters remain fully viable and can clear all content with sufficient investment. However, they are generally outperformed by higher-tier options in efficiency, flexibility, or overall impact. These characters often shine in specific compositions rather than across all game modes.

Tribbie

Tribbie is a capable support who performs well in teams that require additional stability or supplemental buffs. She shines in longer encounters where sustained value matters more than burst impact. While not a universal pick, Tribbie can significantly improve team performance in the right setups.

Lingsha

Lingsha offers a blend of damage and healing that makes her useful in mixed-content scenarios. She is particularly effective in teams that benefit from incidental sustain without sacrificing offensive pressure. Although she does not reach the same heights as top-tier sustain units, Lingsha remains a solid and reliable option.

Gallagher

Gallagher functions as a durable sustain option with utility that supports aggressive team compositions. He is especially effective in Memory of Chaos, where survivability and consistent healing are critical. Gallagher’s straightforward kit makes him easy to slot into many teams, even if he lacks the standout power of higher-tier supports.

Jiaoqiu

Jiaoqiu provides niche support capabilities that can be valuable in specific team archetypes. His strengths become more apparent in compositions built around synergy rather than raw stats. While he is not a universal pick, Jiaoqiu can still contribute meaningfully when used with intention.

Fugue

Fugue rounds out the B Tier as a situational but functional support character. She performs adequately in content that values control and incremental advantages. While she may not compete directly with higher-tier options, Fugue remains viable for players who lack premium alternatives or need her specific utility.

Tier lists are a helpful tool for understanding the current meta in Honkai: Star Rail, but they shouldn’t be the sole factor in deciding who to build. Team synergy, available relics, and personal playstyle all play a major role in performance. That said, focusing your resources on higher-tier characters can make progression smoother and endgame challenges more manageable. For the best experience, players can enjoy Honkai: Star Rail on PC with BlueStacks, where a larger screen, keyboard controls, and smoother performance make team management and combat even more enjoyable.