Honkai Star Rail Tier List (February 2026) Every Character Ranked S to E

The Honkai Star Rail tier list for March 2026 ranks every playable character from SS-Tier to E-Tier based on performance across all three endgame modes: Memory of Chaos (MoC), Pure Fiction (PF), and Apocalyptic Shadow (AS). With Version 4.0 and the Amphoreus arc reshaping the meta, knowing who to pull makes all the difference for your Stellar Jades.

Honkai Star Rail Tier List 2026: Full Breakdown

SS-Tier: Meta-Defining Units

These characters can brute-force any content and define the strongest team archetypes in 2026.

• Phainon (Remembrance/DPS) — Currently the strongest DPS in the game. His Ultimate form makes him nearly indestructible while outputting astronomical damage across all three endgame modes. Pair with Sunday and Aventurine for the best team.
• Castorice (Remembrance/Sub-DPS) — The only character with a global passive ability that affects the entire battlefield. She’s essential for high-score Pure Fiction and dominates alongside Phainon.
• Sunday (Harmony/Support) — The ultimate hypercarry support. He action-forwards both characters and summons/memosprites, revitalizing older units and making newer ones god-tier.
• Robin (Harmony/Support) — Zero downsides. Her Ultimate action-forwards all allies by 100%, buffs team damage, and amplifies Follow-Up Attacks. A permanent top-tier support since her release.
• Tribbie (Quantum/Harmony) — An SS-tier support hiding as a Sub-DPS. Her passive team damage buff and follow-up attacks frequently rival Robin in specific compositions, especially Quantum teams.

S-Tier: Excellent, Highly Recommended

• The Herta (Erudition) — Best AoE damage dealer for Pure Fiction. She dominates whenever enemies dip below HP thresholds.
• Ruan Mei (Harmony) — A meta-defining support whose Break efficiency buffs translate across MoC, PF, and AS without exception.
• Aventurine (Preservation) — The premier defensive sustain with strong offensive utility. Best-in-slot for any Nihility or Remembrance team.
• Feixiao & Acheron — Gold standard for single-target boss deletion in MoC and Apocalyptic Shadow.
• Firefly (Destruction) — Dominates the “Super Break” meta in AS. If an enemy has a Fire weakness, she wins.
• Hyacine — Currently the best healer in the game, replacing older sustain picks in most meta compositions.

A-Tier: Strong Picks for Most Content

A-Tier units are powerful but require more specific team setups to reach peak performance:

Lingsha & Huohuo are the top offensive healers — they provide sustain and team damage buffs. Fu Xuan remains an elite tank with team-wide Crit Rate bonuses. Fugue is an essential Break support, while Aglaea and Jade offer reliable follow-up damage. New Yao Guang (Elation Support from Version 4.0) has high upside as more Elation units release.

B-Tier: Situationally Solid

Silver Wolf and Sparkle remain excellent utility supports despite Sunday/Robin taking their spotlight — weakness implanting and SP manipulation are still invaluable. Kafka and Black Swan are the backbone of DoT teams and remain PF-relevant. Boothill is still the king of single-target Physical Break.

C–E Tier: Power-Crept or Niche

Jingliu and Dan Heng IL were dominant in Version 1.x but struggle with SP costs and no Memosprite synergy. Gallagher stays C-Tier as the best F2P Sustain thanks to Firefly synergy. Seele dropped to D-Tier — enemy HP bloat in 3.x+ prevents her Resurgence from triggering reliably. E-Tier characters like Yanqing, Bailu, and Natasha are completely replaced by newer sustains and should only be built for personal enjoyment.

Best Team Compositions in Honkai Star Rail March 2026

How do we rank HSR Characters?

Rankings are based on E0 performance (E6 for 4-stars) across three endgame modes:

• MoC — rewards single-target burst and cycle efficiency
• PF — rewards AoE wave-clearing and action speed
• AS — rewards Weakness Break and boss gimmick handling

FAQ

Who is the best character in Honkai Star Rail 2026?

Phainon is the top DPS, while Sunday and Robin are the best supports. Castorice and Tribbie round out the SS-Tier.

Is Seele still worth building in 2026?

No — Seele has dropped to D-Tier due to HP bloat in the 3.x+ meta. She can still clear content at very high investment, but newer units are far more efficient.

Are 4-star characters viable in endgame?

Yes. Gallagher, Silver Wolf, Pela, and March 7th all remain viable in endgame with proper builds and team synergies.

What’s new in the Version 4.0 meta?

Version 4.0 introduced the Elation path with Sparxie and Yao Guang, shaking up Follow-Up Attack meta. Chrysos Heir team synergies (Phainon, Castorice) also dominate the current patch.

Which sustain should I prioritize as F2P?

Gallagher is the best F2P sustain, especially in Break teams. March 7th and Lynx are also strong free options.

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