Honkai: Star Rail – Archer build and ascension guide

Become the backbone of your strategy with an exceptional Honkai: Star Rail Archer setup, and let Unlimited Blade Works take center stage. In Honkai: Star Rail, Archer is a 5-Star character associated with The Hunt, specializing in Quantum damage. This character optimizes additional Skill Points and performs Follow-Up Attacks effectively.

Archer’s Basic Attack,  Kanshou and Bakuya, deals Quantum DMG based on his ATK to a foe.

With Caladbolg II: Deceptive Helix Sword, he inflicts Quantum damage on an enemy based on his Attack power, and then places the Archer in the Circuit Connection state. If the Archer is already in this state, his turn won’t end immediately after using his skill. Instead, the damage of his skill increases (up to a maximum of two times) and he can use his skill up to five times as long as he has enough skill points for it. This effect allows him to continuously attack with increased power during his turns while maintaining the Circuit Connection state.

In the game, Unlimited Blade Works (UBW), Archer’s ultimate ability, quantum damage multiplier, is determined by his attack power and inflicts this damage on an enemy. Additionally, using this ability grants him up to a total of four charges, with a maximum of two charges at a time.

As a skilled gamer, I’ve got this archer character who can unleash a powerful Follow-Up Attack whenever one of my teammates hits an enemy. This attack deals Quantum damage proportional to my own attack power and also restores a Skill Point for me. One of my special abilities boosts the maximum number of Skill Points for the whole team by two. Another trace I’ve got gives me Critical Damage if my allies manage to recover at least four Skill Points, making us even more formidable!

Obtaining duplicates of Archer upgrades his Eidolon Level and unlocks additional power-ups:

Level Effects
1 – Archer recovers 2 Skill Points after using his Skill 3 times in a single turn.
2 – Archer’s Ultimate implants Quantum Weakness on its target for 2 turns and reduces its Quantum RES by 20%.
3 – +2 Skill Level, up to a maximum of 15

– +1 Basic Attack Level, up to a maximum of 10

4 – +150% Ultimate DMG
5 – +2 Ultimate Level, up to a maximum of 15

– +2 Talent Level, up to a maximum of 15

6 – Archer recovers 1 Skill Point when his turn begins.

– Circuit Connection’s Skill DMG boost can be stacked up to 3 times.

– Archer’s Skill DMG ignores 20% DEF.

Honkai: Star Rail – Archer: best Light Cones

Clearly, Archer’s ideal choice is The Hell Where Ideals Burn, his distinctive Light Cone. It boosts CRIT Rate and ATK, and further increases ATK whenever the user activates their Skill, stacking over time. Since Archer can swiftly discharge his Skill due to his ability, he can quickly leverage this benefit.

Best Light Cones for Archer in HSR:

  • The Hell Where Ideals Burn (5-Star)
  • I Venture Forth to Hunt (5-Star)
  • Cruising in the Stellar Sea (5-Star)
  • Worrisome, Blissful (5-Star)
  • Baptism of Pure Thought (5-Star)
  • See You at the End (4-Star)
  • Final Victor (4-Star)
  • Swordplay (4-Star)

Honkai: Star Rail – Archer: best Relics

In simpler terms, Archer primarily focuses on increasing Critical Damage (CRIT DMG), Critical Rate (CRIT Rate), and Attack (ATK) to deal maximum damage. If there are issues with keeping Ultimate active, consider using an Energy Regeneration Link Rope. However, it’s usually beneficial to have ATK on the rope as well.

An unexpected trait for the Main Damage Per Second (DPS) character, Archer, is that he doesn’t require Speed Points (SPD) at all. Ideally, you should deploy him after your other characters have filled their SP gauge, allowing him to fire a continuous barrage of shots. Regrettably, his initial SPD of 105 is excessive, preventing him from fully utilizing the Poet of Mourning Collapse set, which would have been beneficial for him.

Best Relic Sets for Archer in HSR:

  • Genius of Brilliant Stars (4) – +10% Quantum DMG, wearer’s attacks ignore 10% DEF; wearer’s attacks ignore an additional 10% DEF if the target has Quantum Weakness.*
  • Scholar Lost in Erudition (4) – +8% CRIT Rate, +20% Skill and Ultimate DMG, +25% Skill DMG after Ultimate use.
  • Wavestrider Captain (4) – +16% CRIT DMG, +1 stack of Help (up to two 2 stacks) when the wearer is targeted by an ally’s ability; when the wearer uses their Ultimate and has 2 stacks of Help, they consume all stacks of Help to gain +48% ATK for 1 turn.

The Brilliant Stars’ Genius shines exceptionally well against foes vulnerable to Quantum Weakness. It significantly improves when paired with Archer’s Eidolon at level 2, or if you team it up with Silver Wolf. This combination maximizes its effectiveness against enemies not inherently weak in Quantum Weakness.

Best Planar Ornaments for Archer in HSR:

  • Rutilant Arena (2) – +8% CRIT Rate, +20% Basic Attack and Skill DMG when the wearer’s CRIT Rate is 70% or higher.

Best stats for Archer in HSR:

  • Head – HP (Primary), CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, ATK %, ATK
  • Hands – ATK (Primary), CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, ATK %, Break Effect
  • Body – CRIT DMG or CRIT Rate (Primary), CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG, ATK %, ATK, Break Effect
  • Feet – ATK % (Primary), CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, ATK, Break Effect
  • Planar Sphere – Quantum DMG (Primary), CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, ATK %, Break Effect
  • Link Rope – ATK % (Primary), CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, ATK, Break Effect

Honkai: Star Rail – Archer: best teams

Archer values companions who either replenish his Skill Points or have lower requirements for them, since he himself is keen on accumulating more.

  • Archer (Main DPS), Sparkle (Support), Sunday (Support), Gallagher (Support)

In simpler terms, Sparkle and Archer work well together because their Skill Point increases build up jointly, giving the team a vast number of these points – ideal for Archer’s powerful skill attacks. Moreover, Sparkle can help activate Archer quickly despite his lower speed, and also enhances his offensive power. Sunday shares these advantages, excluding the Skill Point aspect, while Gallagher doesn’t typically need Skill Points unless the team is in a critical situation.

As a fan, I can’t help but appreciate Hanya as another fantastic addition to my Archer team, providing a slightly toned-down version of Sparkle’s potent Skill Point recovery. In terms of alternative healers, Luocha and Lingsha are reliable choices due to their relatively low Skill Point consumption rates. Lastly, the pairing of Silver Wolf and Cipher makes for a powerful duo of debuffers, making them potential replacements for the second Support in my team. The added bonus is that Silver Wolf allows Archer to fully leverage Genius of Brilliant Stars against any adversaries.

Honkai: Star Rail – Archer: ascension materials

Here’s a breakdown of how to elevate Archer to the highest level, fully upgrading all of his abilities:

1. Follow this guide step-by-step to advance Archer to the maximum level.
2. Ensure you have enough resources (gold, experience points) to upgrade each talent completely.
3. Carefully follow the order of upgrades suggested in the guide for optimal results.
4. Stay persistent and dedicated throughout the process.
5. Enjoy watching your powerful, fully-upgraded Archer dominate battles!

As a gamer, I need these upgrading resources to hit level 80 beyond just earning the required experience points:

(This version maintains the original’s structure while making it more conversational and easier for a gamer to understand.)

  • Credits x308,000
  • Extinguished Core x15
  • Glimmering Core x15
  • Squirming Core x15
  • Darkveil Moonlight x65

On Herta Space Station and within the Simulated Universe, you have the ability to gather Cores from defeated enemies. You can then craft or trade these Cores using the Omni-Synthesizer on the Astral Express. Cores are a resource that can be efficiently obtained through Daily Missions assigned to your characters, providing a consistent supply of this material. Darkveil Moonlight is a drop from the Stagnant Shadow in the Grove of Epiphany or Murmuring Woods. The most abundant source of Credits across the cosmos are the Golden Calyxes.

Archer requires the following materials to upgrade his combat abilities and Traces:

  • Credits x3,000,000
  • Extinguished Core x41
  • Glimmering Core x56
  • Squirming Core x58
  • Meteoric Bullet x18
  • Destined Expiration x69
  • Countertemporal Shot x139
  • Guardian’s Lament x12
  • Tracks of Destiny x8

To find the previously listed items – Meteoric Bullet, Destined Expiration, and Countertemporal Shot – head to the Crimson Calyx (Scorchsand Audition Venue) on Penacony. For crafting advanced materials, simply combine lower-level ones in the Omni-Synthesizer aboard the Astral Express, as you often do.

In simpler terms, Guardian’s Lament is a less common resource that comes from the Everwinter Hill’s Echo of War domain. On the other hand, Tracks of Destiny can be acquired during special events such as the Embers Exchange, the Nameless Honor, or as a prize for Simulated Universe Points.

Read More

2025-07-11 14:19