CRITATLAS /// HSR
Honkai Star Rail
ASTRAL EXPRESS FIELD MANUAL

BEGINNER
ROADMAP

Build one reliable team, spend Trailblaze Power on guaranteed upgrades, and delay expensive Relic optimization until your account is ready.

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The Rule That Saves the Most Resources

Do not try to build every character at once. Select one damage dealer, two compatible supports and one sustain. Raise that group together until it can clear story and farming stages consistently. A second team becomes important later for modes such as Memory of Chaos and Pure Fiction.

Character level, Light Cone level and important Traces are guaranteed improvements. Relic substats are random. This is why early Trailblaze Power should favor guaranteed progression before extended Cavern of Corrosion farming.

01 / TEAM FOUNDATION

Build Roles, Not Just Favorites

Main damage

Your primary Skill Point user and main source of damage. Match their Path and attack pattern to the encounter: Hunt for focused targets, Erudition for waves, or Destruction for flexible Blast pressure.

Amplifier

Harmony buffs or Nihility debuffs should directly improve the carry's damage type, action frequency or resource needs. A famous support is not automatically the best support for every kit.

Second utility

This slot can provide additional buffs, debuffs, Break, follow-up synergy or sub-DPS. Protect the team's Skill Point economy instead of selecting four characters that all need to use Skill every turn.

Sustain

Abundance heals and cleanses; Preservation prevents damage with shields or mitigation. Choose the sustain that answers the encounter rather than chasing damage at the cost of consistency.

02 / DAILY RESOURCES

Trailblaze Power Priority

  1. Character ascension

    Unlock the next level cap for the four characters currently in use.

  2. Light Cone ascension

    Base stats affect every action and are cheaper to secure than ideal Relics.

  3. Important Traces

    Raise the Skill, Ultimate or Talent that defines the character. Basic ATK can remain lower on characters that rarely use it.

  4. Temporary Relics

    Equip correct main stats and level useful pieces. Do not wait for perfect four-piece sets.

  5. Relic optimization

    Farm substats after guaranteed upgrades are complete and your rotation already works.

03 / CHARACTER CHECKLIST

Efficient Build Order

1Character level and Ascension
2Light Cone level and Ascension
3Major Trace nodes
4Core ability levels
5Correct Relic main stats
6Speed tuning and substats

A support with correct Speed and Energy Regeneration often improves an account more than adding a small amount of CRIT to an already functional damage dealer.

04 / RELIC DECISIONS

Main Stats Before Set Bonuses

Keep a piece when…

  • Its main stat is required by a character you use.
  • It has Speed, CRIT, Effect Hit Rate, Break Effect or the correct scaling stat.
  • It completes a temporary two-piece combination without damaging the rotation.

Replace a piece when…

  • The main stat does not support the character's role.
  • A set bonus forces significantly weaker substats.
  • The build misses a necessary Speed, Effect Hit Rate or Energy breakpoint.

Use the Relic database to compare set effects, then open the character guide for main stats and Planar Ornament recommendations.

05 / ENDGAME PREPARATION

Each Mode Rewards Something Different

Memory of Chaos

Two teams, clean cycles, elite and boss damage, appropriate Weakness matching.

Pure Fiction

Fast wave clearing, frequent actions, AoE and stage-buff exploitation.

Apocalyptic Shadow

Boss mechanics, Toughness pressure, Break windows and efficient targeting.

Anomaly Arbitration

Deeper roster checks and encounter-specific planning across multiple battles.

06 / COMMON ERRORS

Avoid These Account Traps

Spreading resources too thin: finish one functional team before raising every new character.

Ignoring Speed order: supports should apply buffs or debuffs before the damage dealer's important action.

Forcing signatures: many accessible Light Cones preserve the kit well enough to prioritize new teammates instead.

Farming perfect Relics too early: guaranteed levels and Traces provide predictable value.

Using one tier list for every mode: target count and stage mechanics change a character's practical value.

07 / QUICK ANSWERS

Beginner FAQ

When should I start farming Relics seriously?

After reaching a progression stage where five-star pieces are reliably available and after your main team's levels, Light Cones and important Traces are in a healthy state.

Do I need two teams immediately?

No. One stable team is enough for story and routine farming. Build the second team when dual-side endgame stages become a real objective.

Should every Trace reach maximum level?

No. Maximize the abilities that drive the character's role first. Utility nodes and rarely used Basic ATKs can wait.

Are four-star characters worth building?

Yes. Several four-star supports, debuffers and sustains remain useful because team synergy and resource economy matter more than rarity alone.

Last verified: Version 4.4. Progression principles are reviewed when systems, level caps or endgame requirements change.