Honkai Star Rail Tier List DPS: The Ultimate Guide to the Best Damage Dealers

I. Introduction & Game Overview

Hey fellow Trailblazer! If you’re here, you’re probably neck-deep in Honkai Star Rail, trying to figure out which characters actually slap in damage, especially for endgame content like Memory of Chaos, Pure Fiction, and Apocalyptic Shadow. I’ve been there — staring at a banner, wallet twitching, wondering if that shiny 5★ DPS is actually worth the pull. So this guide is made for you: straightforward, player-centric, real talk on DPS meta, and a tier list that evolves with the game’s current power landscape.

Let’s break it down and get you the best possible DPS roadmap.

A. What is Honkai Star Rail?

At its core, Honkai Star Rail is a turn-based RPG where you build a team of four characters to beat content ranging from story missions to brutal endgame bosses. Every character has a Path (like Hunt, Destruction, Erudition, or Nihility) and an Element (Wind, Lightning, Fire, Ice, Physical, Quantum), which define how they contribute damage or utility.

Unlike real-time action games, Star Rail’s damage isn’t just about button-mashing — it’s about team synergy, crit builds, weakness hits, and stacking buffs.

B. Why DPS Characters Matter

DPS characters deal damage — duh — but they’re especially important when you hit walls in late game content. A solid DPS will:

• Shred enemy weakness bars faster

• Enable debuffs and follow-ups

• Reduce fight time (less fatigue, more loot)

• Make your support characters feel worth investing in

The right DPS can turn a 10-turn boss fight into a 3-turn cleanup.

C. Tier List Methodology

This tier list isn’t random. It’s based on:

• Endgame performance (Memory of Chaos clear times, boss damage)

• Solo carry potential

• Utility with supports

• Ease of investment (some characters need tons of relics/Eidolons)

• Flexibility across content types

And yes — it accounts for how meta feels in real play, not just theorycraft.

D. Guide Purpose

I want you to:

• Know which DPS are worth building first

• Understand why some characters hit harder

• Stop wasting resources on low-impact units

• Build teams that actually clear top content

No fluff, no copy-paste stats — just actionable advice.

II. Tier List Explanation

Before we drop the tiers, let’s clarify how to interpret them.

A. Tier System Breakdown (SS, S+, S, A, B, C)

• SS Tier — Absolute damage gods. They define the meta and carry teams almost by themselves.

• S Tier — Strong, consistent DPS that dominate most content. Build these if you can.

• A Tier — Solid damage dealers. They excel in niche roles or specific comps.

• B Tier — Capable but often situational or harder to invest.

• C Tier — Characters that can deal damage but are usually overshadowed by higher tiers.

B. How Tiers Are Determined

Tiers consider:

• Damage ceilings

• Consistency

• Ease of build

• Support dependency

• Effectiveness across game modes

A character’s tier can differ slightly depending on whether you’re clearing MoC, PF, or AS.

C. Important Tier List Notes

• This list focuses only on DPS — not support, utility, or healing roles.

• Some characters may be amazing sub-DPS or team enablers, so take team roles into account.

• Meta shifts regularly — this guide reflects the current power landscape as of late 2025.

III. SS Tier DPS — God-Tier Units

These are the carries. If you have any of these units, make them your priority DPS builds.

A. Top-Tier Meta Dominators

1. Firefly (Fire Destruction Break DPS)

Firefly doesn’t just deal damage — she annihilates weakness bars and amplifies damage overall. Once fully built, she’s one of the fastest ways to break enemy defenses and rack up high damage numbers. Her kit lets her stack buffs and really shine in extended fights.

2. Feixiao (Wind Hunt FUA)

Feixiao is the classic Follow-Up Attack (FUA) monster: tons of hits, high burst, and huge damage ceilings. She’s one of the few DPS that makes enemy weakness phase out faster than you expect. With supports that generate SP, she just keeps going.

3. Acheron (Lightning Nihility)

Acheron’s unique mechanic makes her incredibly strong in both single-target and AoE. At high investment, her damage sticks out and competes with the best overall DPS units. She eats up chaos bosses for breakfast.

4. Aglaea (Imaginary Erudition)

Aglaea may require some resource investment to hit her peaks, but once she’s built, that Imaginary base damage output rivals most DPS. She’s a newer addition to the top meta and really rewards thoughtful team comps.

5. Castorice (New DPS)

This newer DPS has been blowing past many older standards thanks to consistent output and flexible damage potential.

IV. S Tier DPS — Strong Meta Characters

These characters are still powerhouses and meta staples. Some might not reach SS ceilings yet, but they’re remarkably consistent.

A. S Tier DPS List

Boothill (Physical Break DPS)

A physical output shredder that makes bosses cry. He brings reliable single-target damage and works nicely with support chains that buff crit, attack, and follow-ups.

Dan Heng IL (Imaginary Destruction)

Dan Heng — Imaginary version — hits like a truck. He’s versatile in single-target fights, especially when supported by SP gen and buffs.

Dr. Ratio (Imaginary Hunt)

Often underestimated, Dr. Ratio is a dark horse that benefits massively from crit builds and weakness hits. With the right supports he can deal insane burst damage.

Jingliu (Cryo Destruction)

Jingliu is great once her buffs and relics are optimized. She’s consistent and deals solid damage across a bunch of fights.

Kafka (Lightning Nihility DoT)

Kafka excels in damage-over-time and provides ciphertext debuffs that pair well with Nihility burst comps. She’s a rock in MoC and PF setups.

Black Swan (Arcana Nihility)

Black Swan isn’t a pure DPS in the traditional sense, but her DoT scales really well. She sets up some crazy damage windows when paired with backline supports.

Seele (Quantum Hunt Single-Target)

Single-target focused and fast, Seele remains a strong pick for bosses where you just need concentrated damage.

Other S-Tier Options

There are a few niche S-tier DPS that can shine in specific comps or enemy types thanks to unique interactions.

V. A Tier DPS — Solid & Viable Options

These DPS units are dependable and worth building, but they won’t outshine SS/S-tier without heavy investment or specific team synergy.

A. A Tier Standouts

Jing Yuan (Lightning Erudition)

Jing Yuan deals great AoE Lightning damage with high crit potential. He also provides utility for certain team comps.

Clara (Physical Destruction)

Clara’s physical hits are solid and she gets extra mileage in teams built around physical crit and support buffs.

Blade (Quantum Destruction)

Blade is a dependable sub-DPS that performs well on both AoE and single-target teams when built right.

Argenti (Imaginary Erudition)

He’s solid in niche comps where Imaginary damage gets bonus multipliers and can serve as a damage pillar.

Himeko (Fire Erudition)

Himeko still packs a punch, especially in AoE roles and for newer players building a Fire team first.

Other A-Tier Characters

There are other DPS units that perform decently in A-tier roles when fully built — they’re just a step behind the top meta hits.

VI. B Tier DPS — Capable but Limited

These units can deal damage but face limitations such as heavier dependency on supports, lower ceilings, or situational roles.

A. B Tier DPS Picks

Welt (Imaginary Erudition Sub-DPS)

Welt deals nice slow and damage, but he’s more of a sub-DPS utility pick than a carry.

Luka (Physical Erudition)

Luka does consistent output if built right, but compared to other physical DPS, he lingers behind.

Misha (Ice Destruction)

Misha’s damage can be competent but requires setup to reach respectable peaks.

Yanqing (Cryo Hunt)

Yanqing’s niche is single-target cryo damage, but at higher levels, he can feel underwhelming compared to other cyro hitters.

Sampo (Wind Nihility)

Sampo can stack wind damage over time but needs heavy relic investment to stay competitive.

VII. C Tier DPS — Power-Crept & Niche

These characters can deal some damage but generally get overshadowed by higher-tier options.

A. C Tier Units

Sushang (Physical Hunt)

Sushang works in specific comps, but in most cases she’ll be a lower choice compared to B/A tiers.

Hook (Fire Destruction)

Hook's damage output is fine, but he simply doesn’t scale as hard as other fire DPS.

Dan Heng (Wind Hunt)

Vanilla Dan Heng hits okay early game, but he doesn’t keep up with strengthened Hunt DPS options.

Other C Tier Characters

Some other units fall into this tier mostly due to strict situational usefulness or power creep from newer bumps.

VIII. Endgame Content Breakdown

Doing well in Memory of Chaos, Pure Fiction, or Apocalyptic Shadow requires different DPS priorities.

A. Memory of Chaos (MoC)

MoC punishes slow damage teams — you want burst and SP generation. SS and top S DPS shine here best.

B. Pure Fiction (PF)

PF is about wave clear and sustainability — AoE DPS and consistent output matter more.

C. Apocalyptic Shadow (AS)

AS mixes single-target mechanics with high durability enemies — high damage ceilings and debuffs win.

D. Simulated Universe

This mode can favor niche builds and cool combos, but high-tier DPS still dominate.

IX. DPS Types & Mechanics Explained

Not all damage dealers work the same, so let’s break them down:

A. Single-Target DPS

Focuses burst damage against bosses. Great for MoC bosses.

B. AoE DPS

Cleans waves — essential for PF and Simulated Universe.

C. Break DPS

Specializes in breaking enemy weakness bars quickly.

D. DoT DPS

Damage over time builds up across turns.

E. Follow-Up Attack (FUA) DPS

Chains attacks off crits for massive burst windows.

F. Self-Sustain DPS

Deals consistent damage while surviving.

X. Paths & Elements Analysis

A. Hunt Path Characters

Excel at crits and quick follow-ups.

B. Destruction Path Characters

Break enemy weaknesses and deal big hits.

C. Erudition Path Characters

Stack damage through mechanics and high multipliers.

D. Nihility Path Characters

Excellent at crit damage and burst, especially with Null Res.

E. Elemental Considerations

Element matches enemy weaknesses — always exploit it.

XI. Team Building for DPS

A DPS alone does nothing — they need supports.

A. Core Team Structure

• DPS

• Main Support (buff/debuff)

• Energy/Shield/Heal

• Flex slot (AoE or utility)

B. Support Characters

Supports like those that buff crit rate, energy regen, or debuff targets are pivotal.

C. Sustain Options

Shields and heals are clutch in long fights.

D. Synergy Importance

The team should enhance each other — damage buffs stack, crit ramps, SP flows.

XII. Early Game vs Late Game DPS

A. Starter DPS Options

Early game favorites include Clara, Himeko, and some B tier DPS that are easy to build.

B. Transition Period

Mid game is where you start investing in S tier.

C. Late Game Powerhouses

SS and top S characters become your damage engines.

XIII. Gacha & Character Acquisition

A. Limited Banner System

Characters rotate — plan pulls around upcoming meta banners.

B. Reroll Strategy

Reroll only if you hit a top SS DPS early.

C. Free-to-Play DPS Options

Some free or easily accessible DPS can still carry you far — don’t undervalue them.

XIV. Build & Stat Priority Guide

A. Critical Stats for DPS

• Crit Rate / Crit Damage

• ATK%

• SP Generation

• Speed (for some comps)

B. Light Cone Selection

Pick Light Cones that amplify your DPS specialty (crit, burst, AoE).

C. Relic Farming Guide

Target dungeon relics that boost your priority stats.

D. Character-Specific Builds

Every DPS has one or two go-to builds — follow them for max output.

XV. Meta Shifts & Future Changes

A. Power Creep Analysis

Newer releases tend to push older DPS down unless they get upgrades.

B. Upcoming Characters

Pay attention — future meta can flip quickly with new releases.

C. Content Evolution

As new stages launch, DPS mechanics might shift focus.

XVI. Frequently Asked Questions

A. What DPS should I build first?

Go for SS tier — they’ll carry you the longest.

B. Can B or C tier still clear MoC?

Yeah — with good relics and support — but they’ll take longer.

C. Should I invest in multiple DPS?

Yes — different content favors different damage types.

D. I’m new — where do I start?

Build easy starters (A/B tier), then aim for S/SS.

XVII. Community & Resources

A. Tier List Differences

Different communities may rank slightly differently — but damage consistency is universal.

B. Content Creator Guides

Check creators for team showcases to inspire your builds.

C. Resource Links

Use in-game tools and simulators to test comps.

XVIII. Conclusion & Recommendations

A. Best DPS for Different Playstyles

• Burst bosses: SS tier

• AoE waves: S tier

• Budget builds: A/B tier

B. Top Takeaways

Go for SS first, then fill with S and A tier.

C. Future-Proofing Your Team

Build characters with flexible kits.

D. When to Update This Guide

Whenever meta shifts or new releases drop.

E. Final Recommendations

Prioritize DPS with high ceilings and good team synergy.

F. Call to Action

Build smart, play confidently — and may your crits be ever in your favor!

If you want this boiled down into a visual infographic or a quick decision table for pulls and builds, just let me know!