How to Use Relics in Honkai: Star Rail: A Comprehensive Guide

Relics in Honkai: Star Rail are essential pieces of equipment that significantly boost your characters’ stats and abilities, playing a crucial role in progressing through the game. In essence, relics are equippable items that enhance character performance through stat bonuses and set effects. They are divided into two main categories: Cavern Relics and Planar Ornaments. Cavern Relics are sets of four clothing items (Head, Hands, Body, and Feet) while Planar Ornaments are two-piece sets that focus on specific stat boosts. To effectively use relics, you need to understand how to obtain, equip, level up, and utilize their set bonuses.

Understanding Relics in Honkai: Star Rail

What are Relics?

Relics are items you equip on your characters to boost their stats, similar to artifacts in other games of the same genre. There are two types: Cavern Relics which come in sets of four and Planar Ornaments which come in pairs. These items provide a variety of stat increases like attack, defense, HP, critical rate, critical damage, and more.

Cavern Relics vs. Planar Ornaments

Cavern Relics consist of four pieces: Head, Hands, Body, and Feet. Equipping two or four pieces from the same Cavern Relic set provides set bonuses. A two-piece bonus provides a specific stat increase, while a four-piece bonus adds an additional, often more potent, effect.

Planar Ornaments, on the other hand, are two-piece sets and come in two parts. Each set focuses on a specific stat and provides a fixed stat bonus for the entire set. They usually focus on specific buffs like increasing ATK or Break Effect, and are crucial in making more strategic builds.

Unlocking Relics

To unlock the ability to equip Relics, you need to reach Trailblaze Level 14. After reaching this level, complete the “Once Fallen in the Abyss” quest located in Jarilo-VI. Once completed, you’ll unlock access to relics.

How to Equip Relics

1. Open the Character Menu: Navigate to the main menu and select the character you wish to equip with relics.
2. Click on the Relics Tab: Within the character menu, locate and click the “Relics” tab.
3. Enter the Equipping Menu: Tap on the “+” symbol next to any of the relic slots (Head, Hands, Body, or Feet for Cavern Relics; Planar Sphere and Link Rope for Planar Ornaments). This will open the menu where you can select relics.
4. Select a Relic: Scroll through your relic inventory and choose the relic you want to equip for that particular slot. You can alternate between tabs for each gear slot.
5. Equip the Relic: Once you’ve selected the relic, click the “Equip” button located in the bottom right corner of the screen.

How to Level Up Relics

Leveling up relics is crucial to maximize their effectiveness.

1. Go to the Relic Screen: Navigate to the character menu and select the “Relics” tab.
2. Select a Piece to Enhance: Choose the specific relic you want to level up.
3. Choose Level-Up Materials: Tap on the selection menu to open the window. Here, you’ll select relics you want to use as level-up materials. Using higher rarity relics will provide more EXP.
4. Confirm Enhancement: After selecting your desired materials, confirm the enhancement to level up the relic.

Obtaining Relics

You can acquire relics through different game activities, including:

• Caverns of Corrosion: Complete challenges to farm Cavern Relics. These locations feature enemies guarding specific Relic sets.
• Simulated Universe: Each world in the Simulated Universe offers different set options. As you progress through higher difficulty levels (starting from Equilibrium Level 3 at level 40), you can access 5-star versions of these sets.
• Forgotten Hall: This area provides Relic EXP Materials upon completion of combat challenges. It’s an excellent place to regularly farm these materials.
• Boss Fights: Some bosses drop specific relics upon defeat.

Relic Set Bonuses

Understanding relic set bonuses is essential to optimizing your character builds.

• Two-Piece Bonuses: Provide a stat increase, which can range from increased ATK, DEF, HP, or other specific stat buffs.
• Four-Piece Bonuses: Offer an additional and usually more significant effect. This bonus can range from increasing elemental damage to providing a character with unique skill-based abilities.

Choosing the Right Relics

When choosing relics, consider:

• Character Role: Determine the main role of your character in the team. A damage dealer will prioritize ATK, CRIT Rate, and CRIT DMG, while support characters will focus on HP, DEF, and Speed.
• Relic Set Bonuses: Select relics that synergize with the character’s abilities and your team composition.
• Main Stats: Prioritize relics with main stats that are beneficial for the character’s role.
• Sub-Stats: While harder to control, sub-stats can also contribute to building a powerful character. These are randomly generated each time you acquire a Relic.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I get 5-star relics in Honkai Star Rail?

You can obtain 5-star relics by progressing through higher difficulty levels in the Simulated Universe starting from Equilibrium Level 3. Complete them for the first time or defeat certain elite or boss enemies.

2. What is the “pity” system in Honkai Star Rail?

The pity system ensures that you are guaranteed a 5-star character pull after a certain number of attempts. It is set at 90 pulls for a character banner. Additionally, there is a “soft pity” system which will usually drop a 5 star unit before you hit 90 pulls. There is also a pity system for Light Cone banners, with a guaranteed 5-star every 80 pulls.

3. Where can I farm for Relic EXP materials?

The Forgotten Hall features a combination of permanent and temporary combat skirmishes which rewards you with Relic EXP Materials upon completion. You can also obtain these through various events that are added periodically.

4. What are the best relics for Jing Yuan?

For Jing Yuan, the 4-piece Band of Sizzling Thunder Relic set is recommended to increase his Lightning and Skill damage. The 4-piece Musketeer of Wild Wheat set can also be a good alternative for increasing attack and speed.

5. How many pulls guarantee a 5-star in Honkai: Star Rail?

You are guaranteed at least one 4-star character every 10 pulls and a 5-star character every 90 pulls on the character banners. Light cone banners guarantee at least one 4-star every 10 pulls while a 5-star light cone is guaranteed every 80 pulls.

6. How good is Bronya in Honkai: Star Rail?

Bronya is an excellent buffer and is widely considered one of the best support characters in the game. She also has access to relic sets that compliment her abilities to provide better buffs to her team.

7. Is Honkai Star Rail pay-to-win?

No, Honkai: Star Rail is not a pay-to-win game. It’s primarily a single-player RPG experience without any PVP mechanics. You can earn currency to acquire characters without paying.

8. Who is the strongest character in Honkai: Star Rail?

Currently, Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae is considered one of the strongest characters, especially in terms of single-target and multi-target damage. He can be very skill point intensive, though.

9. Should I level up relics in Star Rail?

Yes, leveling relics, especially those with ideal stats, is crucial as it increases their effectiveness and helps with overall progression. Focus on flat HP and ATK for early game to get a smooth curve, and swap to better 4-star and 5-star relics as you progress further.

10. Are there 5-star relics?

Yes, relic sets come in different rarities, up to 5 stars. The higher rarity sets provide stronger bonuses and can be upgraded further, up to a max of +15 for 5-star relics.

11. How many relics can you equip?

You can equip a total of 6 relics: 4 Cavern Relics (Head, Hands, Body, Feet) and 2 Planar Ornaments (Planar Sphere, Link Rope).

12. How much does it cost to level a relic in Star Rail?

Leveling relics costs 1.5 Credits per EXP point. Upgrading a full set of 5-star relics can cost up to 456,000 EXP & 684,000 Credits in total.

13. What should I farm in Honkai Star Rail?

Important farming locations include:
Broken Teeth of Iron Wolf, Destroyer’s Final Road, Endotherm Chitin, Enigmatic Ectostella, Gelid Chitin, Golden Crown of the Past Shadow, Guardian’s Lament and Horn of Snow. These materials are mainly used for character ascension.

14. How do I increase my Trailblazer Level?

Increase your Trailblazer Level by completing various in-game activities such as Adventure Missions, Companion Missions, Calyx farming, and Daily Training missions.

15. Is Honkai: Star Rail like Genshin Impact?

Both are developed by MiHoYo and share similar UI and character customization approaches. However, Genshin Impact is open-world with real-time combat, while Honkai: Star Rail is a turn-based combat game with a closed world.

By understanding how to acquire, equip, and optimize your relics, you’ll be well-equipped to take on any challenge that Honkai: Star Rail throws your way. Remember to prioritize relics that compliment your character’s abilities, and you will always be ready for the next adventure.