Honkai Star Rail: How to Choose the Best Light Cones Guide

Here's a quick guide on how to choose the best Light Cones in Honkai: Star Rail.

Light Cones are a major part of character building in Honkai: Star Rail. The right Light Cone can significantly increase a character’s damage, survivability or utility. But choosing one is not simply a matter of highest rarity. You have to think about the character’s Path, abilities, stats and overall role.

Match the Light Cone to the Path

The first thing you should do is make sure that the Light Cone matches the Path of your character. A character may only equip Light Cones of their Path, such as Destruction, Hunt, Harmony, or Nihility. Always check the passive effect of the Light Cone before using it. Some effects are very specific and might only help certain playstyles.

Prioritize Character Synergy

Choose a Light Cone that directly supports your character’s mechanics. For example, a DPS character may want to take advantage of CRIT, DMG, ATK or other offensive effects while a Support may prefer Speed, Energy or buffs for the team. Sometimes a lower rarity Light Cone with a useful passive will outperform a higher rarity option that doesn't fit the character.

Consider the Character's Role

The choice should be based on your character’s role. Main DPS characters will generally want Light Cones that buff their own damage. Utility Effects that buff, Energy, or Team are often the Utility Effects that Supports benefit from. For Sustain characters, look for effects that increase survivability, healing, shielding or any other defensive mechanic.

Check the Stats

Check out the Light Cone’s base stats and passive ability. Higher-level Light Cones will offer better stats, but the passive effect can be even more impactful on performance. Be sure the passive can be reliably activated. A strong effect that rarely works may be worse than a weaker effect that is active most of the battle.

Consider Free-to-Play Options

F2P players don’t have to rely on the limited five-star Light Cones only. There are several useful options available in the game through events, shops, crafting systems and other sources. Before spending precious resources on a Light Cone, see if you already have a good alternative.

Upgrade the Right Light Cones

Don't invest heavily in every Light Cone you receive. Focus on upgrading the weapons carried by your most-used characters. Where feasible, Light Cones are to be leveled and Superimposition upgraded. Don’t waste valuable materials on something you probably won’t use.

Last Tips

The best Light Cone is the one that fits your character’s Path, role, mechanics, and stat needs. Don't just select rare or base stats. Do your homework and look at the passive effect, compare with available alternatives. Think about your team’s needs. A good match Light Cone can do wonders for a character, while a costly but bad match, can be surprisingly little value.

Also, check out our other Honkai: Star Rail guides:

• Honkai Star Rail: How to Farm Stellar Jades Efficiently Guide
• Honkai Star Rail: How to Spend Trailblaze Power Efficiently Guide
• Honkai Star Rail: How to Level Up Characters Fast Guide
• Honkai Star Rail: How to Clear Simulated Universe Easily Guide
• Honkai Star Rail: How to Farm Credits Efficiently Guide
• Honkai Star Rail: Best Fuel Usage Guide
• Honkai Star Rail: Echo of War Farming Guide
• Honkai Star Rail: How to Get More Star Rail Special Passes Guide
• Honkai Star Rail: How to Unlock and Upgrade Equilibrium Levels Guide
• Honkai Star Rail: Spending Undying Embers and Undying Starlight Guide