The entire concept of the game, from the way it tackles content variety to its battle system, also feels significantly more mobile-friendly. Whereas Genshin Impact can sometimes feel difficult to navigate during time-intensive ability swapping and movement-based boss fights, Honkai: Star Rail doesn't run into this issue. It's a bit of a battery drainer to be sure, but it's well-suited to mobile in a way that makes it feel significantly better to play on the

**Honkai: Star Rail ** is a video game built on years of experience in the limelight of live-service gaming. Developer HoYoverse certainly isn't a stranger to high-profile, ongoing titles - Genshin Impact remains one of the most popular and influential titles in its space. While Star Rail is a dramatically different experience overall, the similarities between the two games are almost entirely positives, with a polished cast of characters, intriguing story, and incredible depth of gameplay pushing the 1.0 launch into rarefied territ

Those issues aren't directly related to the core of Star Rail , however, which shines as brightly as any of the celestial bodies it tasks players with visiting. The quality of content at launch is, quite simply, incredible - it really looks, feels, and plays like a live service game that has already been out for years. Its turn-based combat might, tragically, not be for everyone, even in spite of its depth of tactics and highly customizable loadouts. That should be something everyone decides for themselves, however. Honkai: Star Rail is a must-play 2023 release that could very well become the next big thing in live service games, and will, if nothing else, become one of the better RPG releases in recent mem

While Night on the Milky Way is the best Light Cone for Himeko’s build in Honkai: Star Rail , there is yet another 5-star option that goes along well with her. Jing Yuan’s signature weapon, Before Dawn, also fits her skills. The Light Cone offers a 635-point boost to ATK (at level 80), but its skill is what fits her w

Light Cones are memory fragments associated with different characters, meaning most characters in Honkai: Star Rail have a Light Cone specially designed for their kit. As a central character in the game, March 7th actually has two Light Cones connected to her memory, both of which would prove useful. March 7th's best Light Cone for a Shield build is Day One of My New Life . With a built-in DEF bonus to boost her shield's strength, Starrailhub.Com the Light Cone increases her allies' DMG RES by up to 12%. This is further protection for when enemies are attracted to t

Each of March 7th's main builds requires different stat-boosting Relics in Honkai: Star Rail . For example, March 7th's Shield build works best with a 4-piece Knight of Purity Palace set . This set boosts DEF by 15% when two pieces are equipped. At four pieces, the set increases the DMG March 7th's shields can take by 20%. This will help better protect her allies as they draw enemy fire, strengthening the shield from two directi

The Simulated Universe is a complete gamechanger. The roguelike dungeon element of Honkai Star Rail was the first thing I really took to early on, and it’s remained fun since then. It’s the kind of thing each gacha game in 2022 and onward needs - an excuse to test multiple teams (moreso than something like the Spiral Abyss, even) and more reason to potentially look into expanding a roster. Plus, roguelikes are just fun. It’s not rocket science, though the in-game character behind the Simulated Universe would likely be extremely upset by that assert

There are some slight changes to the turn-based experience, for the better. Players can use ultimates to interrupt the chain of attack, and can even queue them mid-enemy attack if it looks like a series of abilities are beginning that will threaten a specific party mem

The turn-based combat itself is also an immediate joy, with seamless animations making the initial battles feel flashy and impactful even while they're largely getting players up to speed on Star Rail 's gameplay systems. There are seven elements that serve as means to break enemy weaknesses, and balancing a team that's spread out with these elements while also functional represents a significant challenge. Traditional roles like tank and healer are somewhat subverted here - though there's obvious representations of both - and flexibility seems to be the name of the game when it comes to Honkai: Star Rail. The ability to swap teammates after previewing an enemy's weaknesses on the map helps ensure there are a minimum of ill-prepared fights that feel unwinna

**Even if you’re not a fan of Honkai Impact 3rd or Genshin Impact , this is a game worth checking out. ** The gameplay systems feel highly refined, the story is accessible from the start, and the characters add a lot of charm and customization to the title. I don’t think someone needs to be familiar with HoYoverse’s other works to enjoy Honkai Star Rail , which is a major boon for the game. I also think those who are fans of HoYoverse’s previous titles will find Honkai Star Rail perhaps the best iteration of everything the developer has learned over the years. At least for me, the Honkai Star Rail closed beta has immediately launched the game into my most anticipated upcoming release, ahead of some other heavy hitters like Final Fantasy X