This HSR tier list ranks every playable Honkai: Star Rail character for Version 4.6 "Dance With the Beast Before Moonrise", Phase 1, as checked on October 18, 2026. It is built for the three endgame modes that decide your Stellar Jade income: Memory of Chaos, Pure Fiction and Apocalyptic Shadow. The roster here is the full list of 88 playable characters on the community wiki, with the Trailblazer and March 7th split by path, so you get 93 rankable entries rather than a shortlist of meta darlings.
Quick answer (TLDR): In Version 4.6 Phase 1, the safest top investments are the Elation core (carries Silver Wolf LV.999, Evanescia and Aventurine • Waveflair, support Yao Guang and the new sustain Pearl), the Fate pair (Archer and Rin Tohsaka with Sparkle), Himeko • Nova with Sunday and Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae, and the Remembrance shell (Castorice, Evernight, Hyacine). Huohuo, Tribbie, Ashveil, Mortenax Blade and Robin • Summeretto round out SS. Pearl is the only new 5-star this version. Phase 2 starts October 21, 2026 (server time) and the version ends November 11, 2026, 06:00 (UTC+8). Last checked: October 18, 2026, 06:30 UTC.
How is this Honkai Star Rail tier list ranked?
We do not copy another site's tiers. Each placement is the consensus of three current Version 4.6 tier lists: Pocket Tactics (updated October 1, SS to C), TopUpLive (October 8, T0 to T4) and EnjoyGM (October 1, SSS to C). None of them covers every entry: Pocket Tactics has no row for Aventurine • Waveflair, Robin • Summeretto, Cipher or the Elation and Remembrance Trailblazers, and TopUpLive ranks only about 70 characters and skips most 4-stars. Where a source is silent, the character is placed on the sources that do rank them.
To compare different scales, each source's bands are mapped to one number: top band 5, second band 4.5 (TopUpLive's T0.5 and EnjoyGM's SS), then 4 for S or T1, 3.5 for T2, 3 for A or T3, 2.5 for T4, 2 for B and 1 for C. The middle value decides the tier (when only two sources rank a character, we average them): SS needs at least two sources in their top band, S is 4.5 or higher without that, A is 4 to 4.49, B is 3 to 3.99, C is 2 to 2.99 and D is below 2. We then check every top pick against the official kit text and the official 4.6 endgame buffs. A fourth list, honkai-builds, independently lands on the same 19-character SS group.
The tiers mean:
- SS: builds an account by themselves or defines an archetype; appears in most top clears.
- S: clears every mode with the right team, but needs one or two specific partners.
- A: still clears hard content when built properly, but no longer sets the pace.
- B: usable in one mode or one team; investment is a choice, not a priority.
- C: story and early-game units, or forms you outgrow.
- D: retire once a better form or unit is unlocked.
Rankings assume E0 for limited 5-stars with a fitting non-signature Light Cone and properly built Relics, not maximum Eidolons. A finished A-tier team routinely beats an SS character on an under-levelled Light Cone with no support. Use this list to decide what to pull and build next, not as a reason to bench a team that already clears.
What is the HSR tier list for Version 4.6?
| Tier | Characters |
|---|---|
| SS | Silver Wolf LV.999, Evanescia, Himeko • Nova, Ashveil, Archer, Castorice, Mortenax Blade, Rin Tohsaka, Yao Guang, Sparkle, Sunday, Tribbie, Robin • Summeretto, Aventurine • Waveflair, Pearl, Hyacine, Huohuo, Evernight, Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae |
| S | Sparxie, Cyrene, Phainon, Firefly, Saber, Kafka, Gilgamesh, Hysilens, The Dahlia, Cerydra, Trailblazer (Elation), Trailblazer (Remembrance) |
| A | Acheron, Fugue, The Herta, Mydei, Anaxa, Black Swan, Robin, Ruan Mei, Lingsha, Aventurine, Cipher, Fu Xuan, Aglaea, Gallagher, Welt, Feixiao, Jiaoqiu, Silver Wolf, Seele, Blade, Jingliu, Yunli, Jade, Bronya, Rappa |
| B | Luocha, Boothill, Dr. Ratio, Topaz & Numby, Tingyun, Jing Yuan, Dan Heng • Imbibitor Lunae, Pela, Gepard, Argenti, Moze, Asta, Trailblazer (Harmony), Bailu, Herta |
| C | Clara, Himeko, March 7th (The Hunt), March 7th (Preservation), Guinaifen, Hanya, Lynx, Xueyi, Yanqing, Dan Heng, Hook, Luka, Misha, Natasha, Qingque, Sampo, Serval, Sushang, Trailblazer (Preservation) |
| D | Yukong, Arlan, Trailblazer (Destruction) |
Two numbers explain the shape of this list. Of the 19 SS characters, 16 were released in 2025 or 2026, and 5 of them are Elation characters, a path whose first character, Yao Guang, only released in February 2026. Older stars such as Acheron, Robin and Ruan Mei have not become weak; the ceiling simply moved, and the official 4.6 endgame buffs lean toward Elation and Ultimate damage.
Why are these characters SS tier in Version 4.6?
Which damage dealers have the highest ceiling?
- Silver Wolf LV.999 (Elation, Imaginary): the top single-target Elation carry once her Punchline engine is running. Her premium shell is Yao Guang, Sparxie or Sparkle, and Huohuo or Pearl.
- Evanescia (Elation, Physical): the strongest single pull for a thin roster this version and the carry Pearl was clearly designed around. Her rerun is a Phase 1 banner, so it closes on October 21.
- Himeko • Nova (Erudition, Fire): holds up against both single targets and waves, which is why every source places her at the top. Sunday, Sparkle and Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae are her best partners.
- Ashveil (The Hunt, Lightning): a follow-up attacker whose damage comes from repeated hits rather than one big Ultimate; Mortenax Blade and Tribbie raise that ceiling.
- Aventurine • Waveflair (Elation, Quantum): an Elation damage dealer, not a shielder like the original Aventurine. He slots into both follow-up teams beside Ashveil and Mortenax Blade and Elation teams beside Yao Guang.
- Archer (The Hunt, Quantum) and Rin Tohsaka (Erudition, Quantum): the Fate collaboration pair. Archer is skill-point hungry, which is why Sparkle is his standard partner.
- Castorice (Remembrance, Quantum): the safest HP-scaling carry, held up by Evernight, Hyacine and Cyrene.
- Mortenax Blade (Nihility, Fire): a hybrid debuffer and follow-up damage dealer that fits Ashveil, Elation and Fate teams. He is the reported Phase 2 rerun, so he matters most for accounts missing a flexible glue slot.
Which supports and sustains are worth building first?
Yao Guang, Sparkle, Sunday, Tribbie and Robin • Summeretto are the five supports that make several carries better at once. Yao Guang is the Elation support pull; Sparkle is the skill-point engine for Archer, Rin Tohsaka, Himeko • Nova and older hypercarries; Sunday feeds action advance and energy to Phainon and Himeko • Nova; Tribbie supplies a damage-taken buff that almost any team is missing; and Robin • Summeretto is the buffer for fights that are not Elation checks.
On sustain, Huohuo, Hyacine, Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae and Pearl all sit in SS for different reasons. Huohuo remains the universal answer for healing, cleansing and team energy. Hyacine is both healer and part of the Castorice HP engine. Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae is the Preservation sustain for Himeko • Nova teams, and Pearl is the Elation sustain covered below.
Is Pearl worth pulling in Honkai Star Rail 4.6?
Pearl is the only new 5-star in Version 4.6, and the official update notice describes her this way: "Pearl is a defense character who consumes 'Certified Banger' to block DMG for all allies. Her Ultimate advances a teammate's action, and can grant that unit an extra turn with massive Punchline and 'Certified Banger' under certain conditions. She also restores HP and dispels debuffs for all allies." (HoYoverse, Version 4.6 Update Details)
That kit is why she lands in SS. She is the first sustain that also accelerates an Elation team, not just keeps it alive. Pull her if you already own Evanescia, Silver Wolf LV.999 or another Elation carry. If your account does not run Elation, she is a sidegrade to Huohuo, and Huohuo still covers DoT and hypercarry teams better. Trackers report that Pearl's banner stays up for the whole version, while Evanescia's rerun ends with Phase 1; confirm both on the in-game Warp screen before you spend.
Which characters are best for Memory of Chaos, Pure Fiction and Apocalyptic Shadow?
The overall tier above is an average. The current endgame cycles, taken from the official 4.6 notice, reward different things:
| Mode (4.6 cycle) | Runs (server time) | Official buff | Who benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memory of Chaos: Crossing the Afterlife | Version 4.6 launch to November 2, 2026 | Lineup slot 1 gains the Elation Skill "Euphoric Maelstrom"; Aha gains an extra turn each Cycle | Elation teams: Silver Wolf LV.999, Evanescia, Yao Guang, Pearl |
| Apocalyptic Shadow: Dominance of Oblivion | October 5 to November 16, 2026 | Enemies take 25% more Ultimate DMG; Elation DMG +15% | Ultimate-heavy carries and Elation; Firefly Super Break for Break-weak bosses |
| Pure Fiction: Domain Genesis (current, from 4.5) | Ends October 19, 2026 | Carried over from Version 4.5 | AoE carries; it closes the day after this check |
| Pure Fiction: Imagined Words | October 19 to November 30, 2026 | Inflicting a debuff grants 1 extra Grit Value, up to 10 times per enemy | AoE carries plus debuffers: Himeko • Nova, Sparxie, Kafka, Black Swan, Hysilens |
| Memory of Chaos: Survival of the Fittest | November 2 to December 14, 2026 | Using an Ultimate grants 5 Punchlines | Elation again, plus frequent-Ultimate teams |
Teams that current tier sources use across these modes:
- Elation: Silver Wolf LV.999, Sparxie, Yao Guang, Pearl; or Evanescia, Yao Guang, Trailblazer (Elation), Pearl.
- Follow-up: Aventurine • Waveflair, Ashveil, Mortenax Blade, Huohuo.
- Remembrance: Castorice, Evernight, Robin • Summeretto, Hyacine.
- Hypercarry: Phainon, Cerydra, Robin • Summeretto, Cyrene; or Himeko • Nova, Sunday, Robin • Summeretto, Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae.
- Super Break: Firefly, Fugue, The Dahlia, Lingsha.
Pure Fiction: Imagined Words opens tomorrow, October 19, so the debuff pick is our reading of the buff text, not a tested result yet. Expect this table to change once clear data comes in.
Some characters rank far better in one mode than their overall tier suggests:
- Pure Fiction specialists: The Herta, Herta, Argenti, Jade, Rappa and Himeko clear waves much better than they handle a single boss.
- Boss specialists: Boothill, Acheron, Feixiao and Seele are strongest against one elite at a time, so they gain value in Memory of Chaos and Apocalyptic Shadow and lose it in Pure Fiction.
Are S- and A-tier characters still worth building?
Yes. S tier is full of characters who are one partner away from the top. Firefly with Fugue, The Dahlia and Lingsha is still one of the most forgiving premium teams for a new account. Kafka, Black Swan and Hysilens form a complete DoT core. Saber (Wind) with Gilgamesh (Lightning) is a strong mixed-element Fate pairing. Sparxie climbs a band when she is paired with Silver Wolf LV.999.
A tier is where most veterans' rosters live: Acheron, Robin, Ruan Mei, Fu Xuan, Feixiao, Jingliu, Blade and Seele can all still clear Memory of Chaos with the right team. The honest advice is not to pull more Eidolons for them in 4.6, but there is no reason to bench a finished A-tier team that already clears. Robin and Ruan Mei in particular stay valuable as second-team supports when Robin • Summeretto, Sunday or Sparkle are already in use.
How should F2P players use this HSR tier list?
Free-to-play players should think in teams, not tiers. Most endgame modes ask for two teams, and the cheapest strong pieces are free or 4-star:
- Build Trailblazer (Elation) and Trailblazer (Remembrance) first. Both are S tier and cost no Stellar Jade.
- Pick one limited carry and finish their team before chasing a second. Evanescia plus Pearl, or Silver Wolf LV.999 plus Yao Guang, is a stronger account than three half-built SS characters.
- Keep Gallagher and Pela built. Gallagher is A tier and the best 4-star sustain for a Break team; Pela's Defense shred fits many budget teams.
- Save for supports over duplicates. One extra SS support usually lifts two teams; an extra Eidolon lifts one character.
- Redeem every code. Our Honkai Star Rail codes page lists only verified active Stellar Jade codes, refreshed whenever a code is added or expires.
How will Version 4.6 Phase 2 change the tier list?
Phase 2 begins on October 21, 2026 (server time); the official notice dates the new "Interastral Peace Gala: One Take" event from that day. Third-party banner trackers report a Mortenax Blade rerun for Phase 2. We will confirm the Phase 2 Warp line-up from HoYoverse's own notice and refresh this page then. No new playable character is expected in Phase 2, so tier movement should come from new Pure Fiction and Memory of Chaos clear data rather than from new releases.
Version 4.6 ends on November 11, 2026, 06:00 (UTC+8). Version 4.7 details will only go on this page once HoYoverse announces them. We do not rank unreleased characters from beta leaks.
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FAQ
Who is the best character in Honkai Star Rail right now? There is no single best character in Version 4.6. Silver Wolf LV.999 and Evanescia lead the Elation teams, Himeko • Nova and Archer lead the non-Elation carries, and Huohuo is the most universal sustain. Pick the one whose full team you can finish.
Is Pearl worth pulling in Version 4.6? Yes, if you run or plan to run Elation, because her Ultimate advances a teammate and can grant an extra turn. If your account is built around DoT, Break or Remembrance, she is a sidegrade to Huohuo and you can skip her.
Should I pull Evanescia or Pearl first? If you have no Elation carry, pull Evanescia first, because her rerun ends with Phase 1 on October 21. If you already own an Elation carry, Pearl adds more to your team.
Is Acheron still good in 2026? Yes. Acheron is A tier and still clears Memory of Chaos with Jiaoqiu and a debuffer. She no longer sets the pace in Version 4.6, so build her team out before pulling more Eidolons.
How often is this HSR tier list updated? We refresh this page in place at each phase start and each new character release. The version, phase and date at the top always show which patch the rankings apply to.
Which free characters are good in Honkai Star Rail? Trailblazer (Elation) and Trailblazer (Remembrance) are both S tier. Among 4-stars, Gallagher and Pela are the most useful free or easy-to-get picks for endgame teams.
