After capturing the hearts of ARPG fans all over the globe with 2020’s Genshin Impact, developer miHoYo moved on to a shoulder genre of sorts: the JRPG genre! Sporting similar aesthetics and gacha systems as Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail is a turn-based RPG with open-world elements.
This free-to-play title offers hours of strategic gameplay amidst beautiful anime-inspired scenery and characters. Unlocking every item in the game might require a top up Honkai: Star Rail first, but there’s still a lot to do for the low-spending player as well. The game has well-developed battle systems and discovering the various ways characters synergize with each other is a joy.
So, here’s our beginner guide for Honkai: Star Rail!
Tip #1: Take Your Time
Even if it’s F2P and set up in a way that you probably won’t even think of reaching for your wallet for hours on end, Honkai: Star Rail still rivals many AAA titles in terms of scope. Therefore, you should approach this adventure with a slow-burn mindset. It’s advised not to rush when taking in the views, as numerous semi-hidden chests and breakable objects yield worthwhile regards.
The game’s areas are often broken down into segments, and you can even check the total number of chests within a segment by opening the map. As such, the game subtly leads new players by the hand and ensures they remain fairly prepared for the rising challenges.
Tip #2: Pay Attention to Characters’ Traits
This is nothing new for ARPG or JRPG fans, but inspecting what a given character is good at is a must for building a successful Honkai: Star Rail team. At the time of writing, there are 40 playable characters you can swap between in the game, and you control a party of four of them at any given time.
Of course, not every character is easily obtainable, but they all bring something to the table. To properly read their strong suits, start by figuring out which element they have an affinity for. Next, look into their list of abilities (displayed under the “Traces” menu on the character screen) to get an idea of the techniques and talents they can learn.
Each character has a vocation (called a “Path” in-game”) they can pursue, and by optimally combining their abilities, you can put together a team capable of besting Honkai: Star Rail’s late-game bosses.
Tip #3: Always Fulfill Your Daily Training Cap
Following the game’s main quest chain will lead you to the planet Jarilo VI. Progressing there takes you to Belobog’s subterranean area, where you’ll meet a character named Seele. Talking to Seele unlocks the Daily Training challenges that become an integral part of the game from that point onward.
Interest in speeding up the grind in Honkai: Star Rail? Head over to our store and learn more! The Daily Training tasks reset every day, and you can check what you need to do to complete a challenge (for example: inflict Weakness on five enemies) at the top-right corner of the screen. Crossing those off the list will earn you Stellar Jades, which are necessary for getting new playable characters.
