Archer stands out as the second free 5-star DPS character in Honkai Star Rail, making a significant impact in your gaming experience. As a 5-star Quantum character following the Hunt Path, Archer excels at delivering impressive single-target damage. His unique skill enables multiple attacks in a single turn, providing an edge in battles. However, mastering Archer can be a challenge due to his tendency to be skill point negative. This guide will cover the best builds for Archer, helping you maximize his potential and overcome his limitations.
Character Overview: Basic Info, Rating, and Stats
| Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Rarity | 5-Star |
| Path |  The Hunt |
| Element |  Quantum |
| ATK | 620 |
| DEF | 485 |
| HP | 1164 |
| Speed | 105 |
| Energy | 220 |
| General Rating |  |
| Pure Fiction Rating |  |
| Memory of Chaos Rating | |
| Apocalyptic Shadow Rating | |
Is Archer Worth Building? Pros and Cons
Archer is obtainable for free in Honkai Star Rail, but is he really worth your investment in materials? Let’s break down the pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Strong single-target Quantum damage | Very skill point negative |
| Can take multiple turns | Challenging for new players |
| Follow-up attacks | Less effective against multiple foes |
| – | Not very F2P friendly |
Despite his drawbacks, I recommend investing in Archer if you create an ideal team composition. This character can shock opponents with his damaging capability when built correctly. However, securing Sparkle or an equivalent is crucial for his full efficacy.
Should I Get Archer’s Signature Light Cone?
Archer’s signature weapon is not only powerful but also available for free. This Light Cone provides a robust 16% Crit Rate and boosts ATK after each skill use. For characters who act frequently, this weapon shines brightly. One of its passives, however, is only triggered when Skill Points are at six or greater, making it more suitable when paired with Archer or Sparkle.
This Light Cone is advantageous for Archer, as he can ideally expend 10 Skill Points during his turns. This allows him to activate all the effects of the Light Cone from the very first turn, solidifying it as his top option.
Currently, you can snag Archer’s Light Cone for free by spending 200 Star Rail Special Passes on any limited-time banner during version 3.4. Make sure to maximize your Stellar Jades and passes during this time if you want to obtain this phenomenal 5-star Hunt Light Cone with minimal resources. If you’re low on Stellar Jades, be sure to check for Honkai Star Rail codes to help replenish your supplies.
Honkai Star Rail Archer: Best Builds
| Type | Information |
|---|---|
| Light Cone |  The Hell Where Ideals Burn |
| Relic |  Genius of Brilliant Stars |
| Planar Ornament |  Rutilant Arena |
| Main Stats | Body: Crit Rate Boots: ATK% Sphere: ATK% Rope: ATK% |
| Sub Stats | ATK% > Crit Rate > Crit Damage > Speed |
This is the definitive build for Archer in Honkai Star Rail. His best Light Cone is The Hell Where Ideals Burn, paired with the Genius of Brilliant Stars relic and Rutilant Arena Planar Ornament.
For stats, focus on getting a Crit body and ATK% for your boots, sphere, and rope. Archer’s ATK stat is crucial, given how intricately it’s tied to his kit.
HSR Archer Light Cones: Best and Alternatives
| Name | Rarity | Value |
|---|---|---|
The Hell Where Ideals Burn |
5-Star | Best |
 Baptism of Pure Thought |
5-star | Great |
 Cruising in the Stellar Sea |
5-star | Great and F2P |
 See You At The End |
4-star | Good |
 Only Silence Remains |
4-star | Good |
 Swordplay |
4-star | Good |
The Hell Where Ideals Burn is the top Light Cone for Archer, enhancing his ATK significantly and providing a solid Crit Rate. This Light Cone is obtainable for free within version 3.4, making it ideal for building Archer effectively. Besides it, the Baptism of Pure Thought offers a strong 5-star alternative. If you lack that, consider the Cruising in the Stellar Sea from the Herta Store. For 4-star options, See You At The End and Only Silence Remains are also viable choices, along with Swordplay, which suits most Hunt characters.
HSR Archer Relics: Best and Alternatives
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
Genius of Brilliant Stars |
Best |
 Wavestrider Captain |
Great |
 Scholar Lost in Erudition |
Good |
The Genius of Brilliant Stars is the top Relic for Archer, boosting Quantum Damage while allowing you to bypass 20% of enemy DEF, particularly useful against foes weak to Quantum. The Wavestrider Captain and Scholar Lost in Erudition are also solid alternatives, enhancing the overall stats for DPS units.
HSR Archer Planar Ornaments: Best and Alternatives
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
Rutilant Arena |
Best |
 Inert Salsotto |
Great |
The reliable Rutilant Arena is Archer’s best Planar Ornament, enhancing both Crit Rate and Skill Damage, making it an ideal pick. Alternatively, Inert Salsotto also boosts Crit Rate, but it enhances Ultimate and Follow-up Attack damage, leading to a potential loss in overall damage.
Recommended Stats for Archer
| Stat | Recommended Value | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| ATK | 3000+ | High |
| Crit Rate | 100% | High |
| Crit Damage | 150% or above | High |
| Speed | Base Speed | – |
Focus on building Archer with high ATK, Crit Rate, and Crit Damage. Aim for an ATK stat over 3000 to maximize damage output. Achieving a 100% Crit Rate with buffs is also essential since high Crit Damage is pivotal for Archer’s effectiveness. While speed is not required, if you’re not bringing Sparkle into your team, ensure your setup compensates for it.
Honkai Star Rail Archer: Best Teams
To truly realize Archer’s potential, pairing him with the right team is crucial. Without supportive allies, you might not witness his full damage output. Here’s a closer look at the best team compositions for Archer in Honkai Star Rail.
Archer’s Mono Quantum Team
| Type | DPS | Support | Support | Sustain | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hypercarry |  Archer |
 Sparkle |
 Tribbie |
 Gallagher |
Best |
The ultimate team composition for Archer should always include Sparkle, as she boosts Skill Points necessary for maximizing Archer’s damage.
In addition, select characters who are Skill Point positive and augment Archer’s potential. Tribbie excels in generating Skill Points while also boosting team damage. For sustain, Gallagher is an excellent choice with solid support capabilities.
Archer’s Generalist Team
| Type | DPS | Support | Support | Sustain | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Archer |
 Sunday |
 Cipher |
 Luocha |
Good |
If you’re unable to bring the previous best picks, consider these alternatives. Both Sunday and Bronya work admirably to replace Sparkle. For support, characters like Cipher, Pela, and Silver Wolf can fit seamlessly into this composition, while Luocha or Hyacine can substitute for Gallagher in sustain roles.
Archer’s F2P Friendly Team
| Type | DPS | Support | Support | Sustain | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F2P | Archer |
 RMC |
 Pela |
Gallagher |
Decent |
For a more budget-friendly setup, Archer’s best F2P team combines Remembrance Trailblazer, Pela, and Gallagher. If you lack certain builds, you can also opt for Tingyun instead of Pela and Lynx to substitute Gallagher.
Honkai Star Rail Archer Kit: Traces and Eidolons
HSR Archer’s Trace and Eidolon Priority
| Trace | Explanation | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Attack | Deals minimal Quantum damage to one enemy. You generally shouldn’t prioritize basic attacks with Archer. | Very Low / Ignore |
| Skill | Allows Archer to unleash consecutive attacks on single targets with a damage multiplier. Consuming two skill points for each attack, he can stack damage, making this the primary source of damage. | Highest |
| Ultimate | Causes significant Quantum damage to one enemy while earning 2 charges. | High |
| Talent | After an ally attacks, Archer can follow up, consuming charges and recovering Skill Points. | High |
| A2 | Boosts the maximum skill point limit, enhancing overall efficiency. | High |
| A4 | Provides 1 charge as Archer enters a battle. | Medium |
| A6 | Enhances Archer’s Crit Damage for 1 turn when 4 or more Skill Points are present. | High |
| E1 | Facilitates the recovery of Skill Points. | Great |
| E2 | Induces Quantum weakness and decreases enemy Quantum resistance. | Best |
| E4 | Increases Ultimate damage. | Decent |
| E6 | Replenishes Skill Points at start of the turn and allows Skill damage to ignore 20% of DEF. | Good |
HSR Archer’s Traces and Eidolons
| Trace | Details |
|---|---|
| Basic Attack (Kanshou and Bakuya) |
Deals Quantum damage equal to 100% of Archer’s ATK to one designated enemy. |
| Skill (Caladbolg II: Fake Spiral Sword) |
Enters the “Circuit Connection” state, enabling stacking damage multipliers for enhanced performance. |
| Ultimate (Unlimited Blade Works) |
Inflicts 1000% of Archer’s ATK as Quantum damage to a single foe while gaining additional charges. |
| Talent (Mind’s Eye (True)) |
Facilitates a Follow-up Attack while recovering Skill Points following teammate attacks. |
| Technique (Clairvoyance) |
Launches a surprise attack, inflicting damage on multiple enemies while gaining charges. |
| A2 (Projection Magecraft) |
Increases Archer’s max Skill Point limit by 2. |
| A4 (Hero of Justice) |
Grants 1 charge upon entering combat. |
| A6 (Guardian) |
Boosts Crit Damage following skill point gain. |
| Bonus Stats | 22.4% Quantum Damage 18% ATK 6.7% Crit Rate |
| E1 (The Unreached Dream) |
Recovers Skill Points after using skills multiple times. |
| E2 (The Unfulfilled Happiness) |
Induces Quantum weakness upon using Ultimate. |
| E3 (The Untamed Will) |
Skill and Basic Attack levels increase. |
| E4 (The Unsung Life) |
Increases Ultimate damage significantly. |
| E5 (The Nameless Watch) |
Boosts Ultimate and Talent levels. |
| E6 (The Endless Pilgrimage) |
Recovers Skill Points at the start of the turn while enhancing damage output through Skill. |
Honkai Star Rail Archer’s Ascension and Trace Materials
Archer’s Ascension Materials
| Ascension Material | Total |
|---|---|
| Extinguished Core | 15 |
| Glimmering Core | 15 |
| Darkveil Moonlight | 65 |
| Squirming Core | 15 |
| Credit | 308,000 |
Archer’s Trace Materials
| Trace Materials | Total |
|---|---|
| Meteoric Bullet | 18 |
| Extinguished Core | 41 |
| Destined Expiration | 69 |
| Glimmering Core | 56 |
| Countertemporal Shot | 139 |
| Squirming Core | 58 |
| Guardian’s Lament | 12 |
| Tracks of Destiny | 8 |
| Credit | 3,000,000 |
In summary, Archer is an impressive free 5-star DPS option, particularly useful in challenges like the version 3.4 MoC and Apocalyptic Shadow. With Sparkle available and his Light Cone provided for free, now is the perfect opportunity to build Archer with fewer resources than usually required. Interested in leveling up your game with Archer? Explore more tips and strategies by visiting Moyens I/O.