Honkai Star Rail Archer Build & Teams Guide

Updated 6 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

To build an “Archer” in Honkai: Star Rail, you are really building a Hunt-path character who deals single-target damage from the back row, and the best current options are Seele, Topaz, and Dr. Ratio. This guide covers the best light cones, relics, stats, and team compositions for these Hunt characters so you can maximize their damage output in all game modes.

What Is an Archer in Honkai: Star Rail?

In Honkai: Star Rail, there is no literal “Archer” class. Players use the term to describe characters on the Hunt path, which specializes in dealing massive single-target damage. These characters are the closest equivalent to archers or snipers in other RPGs: they focus one enemy at a time, often with powerful follow-up attacks or speed-boosting mechanics. The main Hunt characters as of Version 2.x are Seele (Quantum), Topaz (Fire), Dr. Ratio (Imaginary), and the 4-star options like Dan Heng (Wind) and Sushang (Physical).

Core Stats and How They Work

Every Hunt character scales primarily with ATK, CRIT Rate, and CRIT DMG. Speed is also crucial because acting more often means more damage per cycle. The typical stat priority is:

CRIT Rate to at least 70% (to reliably trigger effects like the Cruising in the Stellar Sea light cone).
CRIT DMG as high as possible, ideally 120% or more.
ATK% on boots or rope if you are not using speed boots.
Speed to 134 or 142 breakpoints to get extra turns in MoC (Memory of Chaos).

Break Effect and Effect Hit Rate are generally not useful for Hunt characters, except for very specific builds (e.g., a break-focused Sushang).

Best Light Cones for Hunt Characters

Light cones are the weapons of Honkai: Star Rail. For Hunt characters, the best options are:

5-star: In the Night (Seele’s signature) – increases CRIT Rate and boosts CRIT DMG based on speed. Best for Seele.
5-star: Worrisome, Blissful (Topaz’s signature) – increases CRIT Rate and boosts follow-up attack damage. Best for Topaz.
5-star: Baptism of Pure Thought (Dr. Ratio’s signature) – increases CRIT DMG and provides a debuff-based damage bonus. Best for Dr. Ratio.
4-star: Cruising in the Stellar Sea – free from Herta’s Store; increases CRIT Rate and boosts ATK after defeating an enemy. Great for any Hunt character.
4-star: Swordplay – increases damage per hit on the same target; excellent for single-target fights.

If you do not have the signature light cones, Cruising in the Stellar Sea is the best free option and works well on all Hunt characters.

Relics and Planar Ornaments

Relic sets and planar ornaments provide the bulk of your stats. The recommended sets are:

4-piece: Genius of Brilliant Stars – increases Quantum damage and ignores DEF on enemies with Quantum weakness. Best for Seele.
4-piece: Ashblazing Grand Duke – increases follow-up attack damage and ATK. Best for Topaz and Dr. Ratio (they rely on follow-ups).
2-piece combinations – if you do not have a full 4-piece, use 2-piece Musketeer of Wild Wheat (ATK +12%) and 2-piece Messenger Traversing Hackerspace (Speed +6%).

For planar ornaments, the best are:

Inert Salsotto – increases CRIT Rate and boosts follow-up attack and Ultimate damage. Great for Topaz and Dr. Ratio.
Celestial Differentiator – increases CRIT DMG and gives a one-time CRIT Rate boost at the start of battle. Good for Seele.
Space Sealing Station – increases ATK and further boosts ATK if speed is 120+. A safe generic option.

Main stats on body, boots, sphere, and rope:

Body: CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG (whichever you need more).
Boots: Speed (recommended) or ATK% if you have enough speed from substats.
Planar Sphere: DMG% of the character’s element (Quantum, Fire, Imaginary).
Link Rope: ATK% (or Energy Regeneration Rate if you need more Ults).

Team Compositions for Archer Builds

Hunt characters need supports that increase their damage or enable their mechanics. Here are three proven team archetypes:

1. Hypercarry Team (Seele)

Seele (DPS)
Bronya (Support – grants extra turns and DMG boost)
Tingyun (Support – ATK buff and Energy regen)
Bailu or Lynx (Healer)

This team maximizes Seele’s turns and buffs. Bronya’s skill lets Seele act again, which synergizes with her Resurgence talent (killing an enemy grants an extra turn).

2. Follow-Up Attack Team (Topaz & Dr. Ratio)

Topaz (DPS/Sub-DPS – marks enemies with her pig, Numby)
Dr. Ratio (Main DPS – triggers follow-ups on debuffed enemies)
Ruan Mei or Pela (Support – debuff/buff)
Luocha or Huohuo (Healer)

This team revolves around triggering Dr. Ratio’s follow-up attacks. Topaz’s skill increases damage taken by the marked enemy, and Dr. Ratio’s follow-up has a high chance to trigger when the enemy has debuffs. Pela or Ruan Mei provide defense shred or weakness break efficiency.

3. Budget Team (Dan Heng / Sushang)

Dan Heng or Sushang (DPS)
March 7th (Shield – also helps with Freeze)
Herta (Sub-DPS – but only if you need AoE; otherwise use Asta)
Natasha (Healer)

This is a free-to-play friendly team that works early game. Dan Heng benefits from speed buffs (his talent increases Wind DMG if his speed is buffed), so Asta is a great partner.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many players make these errors when building Hunt characters:

Ignoring Speed – Even though ATK is important, speed boots often outperform ATK boots because extra turns mean more damage and more energy.
Not balancing CRIT Rate/DMG – A 50/150 crit ratio is worse than a 70/120 one because you miss crits too often. Aim for at least 70% CRIT Rate.
Using the wrong planar set – Inert Salsotto only boosts follow-up and Ultimate damage; if your character relies on skill (like Seele), use Celestial Differentiator or Space Sealing Station.
Forgetting to level traces – Traces provide massive stat boosts and damage multipliers. Level them to at least 6, and prioritize the skill and ultimate.

How to Read Your Damage Numbers

When you test your build, compare damage per screenshot, but also consider damage per cycle. A character that hits for 100k once per cycle is worse than one that hits for 70k twice. Use the simulator in-game (the training dummy in the Simulated Universe) to test rotations. Also note that enemy DEF and RES affect your damage; using Pela or Ruan Mei to shred DEF will increase your numbers significantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Seele still the best Hunt character?

Seele remains top-tier for single-target damage, especially in Quantum-weak content. However, Dr. Ratio and Topaz are stronger in follow-up attack teams, and they are easier to build because they do not rely on speed as much. Choose based on your roster and the enemies you face.

What is the best free light cone for a Hunt character?

The best free light cone is Cruising in the Stellar Sea, obtainable from Herta’s Store. It gives CRIT Rate and a conditional ATK boost after defeating an enemy, which is excellent for all Hunt characters.

Should I use ATK boots or Speed boots?

Speed boots are generally better because they let you act more often, which increases energy and damage. Use ATK boots only if you already have high speed from substats (134+ without boots) or if you are using a character like Seele who gets speed from her skill.

How much CRIT Rate do I need?

Aim for at least 70% CRIT Rate. If you use a light cone or relic that gives CRIT Rate (like In the Night or Cruising in the Stellar Sea), you can aim for 60% base and rely on the buffs.

Can I use a Hunt character in Simulated Universe?

Yes, but Hunt characters are single-target, so they are less efficient in AoE-heavy floors. Pick blessings that boost single-target damage (like the Hunt path blessings) or pair them with AoE characters.

What is the difference between Hunt and Erudition paths?

Hunt focuses on single-target damage, while Erudition focuses on AoE (area-of-effect) damage. Hunt characters are better for boss fights, while Erudition characters are better for clearing waves of enemies. In Memory of Chaos, you often need both.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.