Phainon, the latest character in Honkai Star Rail, has taken the gaming community by storm. This hypercarry DPS has a unique ability: he can single-handedly tackle enemies while his allies step back from the battlefield. Thanks to his free-to-play-friendly builds, Phainon can effectively guide you through the most challenging challenges without needing extensive resources. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the best build for Phainon, including his ideal teammates.
Honkai Star Rail Phainon Build
Phainon, often referred to as the ‘Deliverer’, shines as a true hypercarry DPS in Honkai Star Rail. To make the most of him, you’ll need a solid build. Here’s how to set him up for success:
- Relic: Wavestrider Captain (4-piece)
- Planar Ornament: Arcadia of Woven Dreams
- Main Stats: Crit Rate (Body), Speed (Boots), Physical Damage Boost (Sphere), Attack% (Link Rope)
- Light Cone: Thus Burns the Dawn (5-star), A Trail of Bygone Blood (4-star)
- Team: Phainon, Sunday, Robin, Cipher
Even though Phainon excels in his straightforward DPS role, there are variations you can experiment with. Below, we break down the details of his build, including relics, planar ornaments, stats, light cones, and team recommendations.
Phainon Build: Best Relics
- Wavestrider Captain (4-piece)
- Scholar Lost in Erudition (4-piece)
The Wavestrider Captain relic complements Phainon’s abilities beautifully. It boosts Crit Damage by 16%. Additionally, when allies target Phainon, he gets stacks that enhance his attack when he uses his Ultimate ability. This synergizes perfectly with his role as a solo fighter.
If you haven’t yet farmed this relic, consider using the Scholar Lost in Erudition as a viable alternative. While it doesn’t optimize Phainon’s damage potential as effectively, it still improves Crit rate, skill, and Ultimate damage.
Phainon Build: Best Planar Ornaments
- Arcadia of Woven Dreams
- Rutilant Arena
The new Arcadia of Woven Dreams planar ornament is superb for Phainon, especially since it activates his damage potential based on how many allies are present. You can stack damage bonuses that significantly boost his output during combat.
If you’ve not unlocked this ornament yet, the Rutilant Arena is a reliable alternative that enhances overall damage and Crit rate.
Phainon Build: Main and Sub Stats for Relics
- Body: Crit Rate = Crit Damage
- Boots: Speed > Attack%
- Planar Sphere: Physical Damage Boost
- Link Rope: Attack %
- Sub-stats: Crit Rate (100%) > Crit Damage (over 180%) > Attack% > Speed (136)
A classic hypercarry DPS role like Phainon requires a focus on stacking Crit rate and Crit damage. Aim for a minimum of 100% Crit rate, complemented by over 180% Crit damage. His Trace boosts Crit damage, so prioritize your build to first hit that 100% Crit rate mark.
Most importantly, ensure your Attack stat is as high as possible, turning to Speed only when necessary.
Phainon Build: Best Light Cones
- Thus Burns the Dawn
- On the Fall of an Aeon
- A Trail of Bygone Blood
- Brighter Than the Sun
- I Shall Be My Own Sword
- Secret Vow
The best Light Cone for Phainon is undoubtedly Thus Burns the Dawn, his signature item. For those looking at other top-tier options, consider 5-star Light Cones like Brighter Than the Sun. However, if you’re on a budget, On the Fall of an Aeon is an excellent choice for Destruction units that scale on attack.
Among the 4-star options, don’t overlook A Trail of Bygone Blood, accessed through the Nameless Honor, as well as Secret Vow as a worthwhile alternative.
Best Phainon Teams in Honkai Star Rail
- Best Team: Phainon, Sunday, Cipher, Robin
- Alternative: Phainon, Ruan Mei, Tingyun, Yukong
- Free-to-play-friendly: Phainon, Remembrance Trailblazer, Tingyun, Yukong
Phainon’s design allows him to fight independently, eliminating the need for sustain characters. His Ultimate ensures he remains in combat while allowing him to heal, making him self-sufficient on the battlefield. Look for teammates that enhance his abilities!
Using characters that buff Phainon will accelerate his transition to Ultimate form, making battles easier. Ideal companions include Sunday, Bronya, and Tingyun. Harmony characters enable Phainon to gather stacks of buffs without needing constant reapplication.
Honkai Star Rail Phainon Kit and Traces
Phainon possesses remarkable abilities that allow him to effectively take on challenges alone. His skills deliver high damage, particularly when he transitions to Khaslana during the Ultimate phase, allowing him to dominate the battlefield.
- Basic Attack:
- Stride to Deliverance: Deals Physical Damage equal to 100% of Phainon’s Attack to one designated enemy.
- Creation: Bloodthorn Ferry: Gains 2 “Scourge”, dealing Blast Physical Damage equal to 250% of his Attack to the primary target and Physical Damage equal to 75% to adjacent targets.
- Skill:
- Let There Be Light: Gains 2 points of “Coreflame”, dealing Physical Damage equal to 300% of Phainon’s Attack to one designated enemy and Physical Damage equal to 120% to adjacent targets.
- Calamity: Soulscorch Edict: Gains Scourge proportional to targets present and launches an immediate counter after targets act. Chaining counter damage builds Phainon’s skill versatility even further.
- Ultimate: Transforms into Khaslana, creating a field that maximizes his solo potential against enemies while imparting Physical Weakness.
- Talent:
- Pyric Corpus: Activating Ultimate at the right moment greatly increases his damage output.
Honkai Star Rail Phainon Eidolons
Phainon’s Eidolons provide valuable enhancements, but the core of his gameplay lies within his original kit. Investing in Eidolons is optional; his base abilities are already incredibly powerful. If you’re considering Eidolons, focus on E1 and E2 for the best gains.
- E1: Increases the speed of Khaslana’s extra turns and boosts Crit Damage during Ultimate.
- E2: Offers enhancements to Physical Resistance Penetration.
Honkai Star Rail Phainon Materials
If you’re wondering about the required materials for leveling Phainon, here’s what you’ll need:
HSR Phainon Character Ascension Materials:
- 15 Ethereal Omen
- 15 Echoing Wail
- 65 Invasive Clot
- 15 Eternal Lament
- 308k Credits (approx. 300k EUR)
HSR Phainon Trace Materials:
- 18 Borisin Teeth
- 69 Lupitoxin Sawteeth
- 139 Moon Rage Fang
- 41 Ethereal Omen
- 56 Echoing Wail
- 58 Eternal Lament
- 12 Daythunder Anamnesis
- 8 Tracks of Destiny
- 3M Credits (approx. 3M EUR)
With Phainon’s inclusion in the HSR 3.4 banners, he’s an important character for any player’s roster. His self-sufficiency makes him ideal, especially for newer players. Have you tried summoning Phainon yet in Honkai Star Rail? Share your experience!