Every Hoyoverse adventure needs a main character, and Honkai Star Rail is no different. Introducing the Honkai Star Rail Trailblazer, our vessel for joining the crew of the Astral Express and saving the universe from Stellarons. But who exactly is the HSR Trailblazer, what are their skills, and what’s the best build for them? We’re here to answer all these questions for you.
We’ve got plenty of trailblazing guides for you to study up on while we wait for the Honkai Star Rail release date, including a list of all the Honkai Star Rail characters and a guide to Honkai Star Rail codes.
Now, let’s get into our guide on everything Honkai Star Rail’s Trailblazer.
Who is Honkai Star Rail’s Trailblazer?
The Trailblazer is the playable main character of Honkai Star Rail. At the beginning of the game, Honkai Star Rail’s Kafka activates them as a receptacle for a Stellaron with the help of Honkai Star Rail’s Silver Wolf.
You can choose between Receptacle Y, who is male, or Receptacle X, who is female, when you start Honkai Star Rail, and change the codename to whatever you like. Not much is known about the Trailblazer yet other than that they have a Stellaron inside them and they’re part of the Astral Express crew.
What’s the best Honkai Star Rail Trailblazer build?
The Trailblazer is an adaptive character, meaning you can align them with different paths as you progress through the story. As of the final beta, we’ve see the Trailblazer aligned with the path of the Destruction, where they act as a physical damage DPS, and aligned with the path of the Preservation, where they act as a fire damage tank with shielding capabilities.
When aligned with the path of the Destruction, the Trailblazer’s kit is all about hitting hard with physical damage that scales off of their attack stat. They have both single attack and blast options so they’re a great all-round attacker for big bosses or groups of enemies. Currently, we recommend putting your resources into raising their attack stat and physical damage capabilities.
When aligned with the path of the Preservation, the Trailblazer dishes out heavy hits that deal fire damage. Their normal attack triggers a shield for the whole team while also hitting the enemy with a single strike, whereas their skill sees them plant their weapon in front of them, creating a shield for the team and taunting enemies to focus attacks on them instead of their allies. Their ult also triggers the team-wide shield, while also dishing out AoE fire damage to all enemies.
Which light cone should I use for Honkai Star Rail’s Trailblazer?
The Destruction Trailblazer light cones
We’re still getting to grips with the Destruction Trailblazer’s kit, but we have some suggestions for Honkai Star Rail light cones based on what we’ve seen so far. If you can’t get a hold of these specific light cones, you can use any that follow the path of Destruction.
| Light cone | Effect | How to obtain |
| Something Irreplaceable | Increases the Trailblazer’s attack by 24%. After receiving an attack, you immediately restore HP equal to 8% of your attack and increase damage dealt by 20%. This effect is valid until the end of the Trailblazer’s turn. The effect cannot stack and can only trigger once per turn | Gacha |
| The Unreachable Side | Increases your HP and attack by 16%. It also increases damage when attacking by 30%, and follow-up attacks by a certain percentage | Gacha or Herta’s Store |
| On the Fall of an Aeon | Whenever the Trailblazer attacks, it increases their attack by 8% up to four times. When you inflict weakness break on enemies, your damage increases a further 12% for two turns | Herta’s Store |
The Preservation Trailblazer light cones
For the Preservation Trailblazer, we recommend the Texture of Memories light cone from Herta’s Store or Gepard’s Moment of Victory Light Cone. Of, for a four-star option, we recommend Day One of My New Life or Landau’s choice. If you don’t have any of these to hand or want to try something different, just make sure that it also aligns with the path of the Preservation.
| Light cone | Effect | How to obtain |
| Texture of Memories | Increases the Trailblazer’s effect resistance by 8%. If an enemy attacks the Trailblazer when they don’t have a shield, they gain a shield equal to 16% of their max HP for two turns. This effect can only trigger once every three turns. If the Trailblazer has a shield when they’re attacked, the damage they receive decreases by 12% | Herta’s store |
| Moment of Victory | Increases the Trailblazer’s defence by 24% and effect hit rate by 20%. Also increases the chance that enemies will attack the Trailblazer. When an enemy attacks the Trailblazer, their defence increases by an additional 24% until the end of their turn | Gacha or the Starlight Exchange store |
| Day One of My New Life | Increases the Trailblazer’s defence by 16%. After entering battle, also increases the damage resistance of all allies by 8%. Effects of the same type can’t stack | Gacha |
| Landau’s Choice | The Trailblazer is more likely to be attacked, but the damage they take reduces by 16% | Gacha |
Which relics should I use for Honkai Star Rail’s Trailblazer?
The Destruction Trailblazer relics
Relics are relatively new to Honkai Star Rail, so we haven’t had a chance to crunch all of the numbers yet. However, the best Honkai Star Rail relics for the Destruction Trailblazer so far are those that increase physical damage and attack.
| Relic | Effect | How to obtain |
| Champion of Streetwise Boxing | Two equipped: increases physical damage by 12% Four equipped: increases attack by 7% after you perform or receive an attack. This effect can stack up to six times Five equipped: increases physical damage by 12% |
Calyx domain on Jarilo VI |
| Musketeer of Wild Wheat | Two equipped: increases attack by 15% Four equipped: when you use your basic attack, you gain 20% attack and 10% speed for one turn Five equipped: increases attack by 15% |
Calyx domain on Jarilo VI |
The Preservation Trailblazer relics
When aligned with the path of The Preservation, the best relics for the Trailblazer either increase their defence capabilities or boost their fire damage.
| Relic | Effect | How to obtain |
| Firesmith of Lava Forging | Two equipped: increases fire damage by 10% Four equipped: increases the wearer’s skill damage by 12%. After unleashing an ultimate, the wearer’s next attack deals an additional 12% fire damage |
Cavern of Corrosion: Path of Conflagration in The Xianzhou Luofu’s Stargazer Navalia |
| Guard of Wuthering Snow | Two equipped: reduces damage taken by 8% Four equipped: at the beginning of the turn, if the wearer’s HP is equal to or less than 50% of their max HP, they restore HP equal to 8% of their max HP and regenerate five energy |
Cavern of Corrosion: Path of Providence in The Xianzhou Luofu’s Cloudford |
| Knight of Purity Palace | Two equipped: increases defence by 12% Four equipped: when the wearer creates a shield, it can absorb and additional 20% max damage |
Cavern of Corrosion: Path of Holy Hymn in Jarilo-VI’s Great Mine |
What are Honkai Star Rail’s Trailblazer’s attacks?
The Destruction Trailblazer attacks
Active skills:
| Skill | Effect |
| Basic attack – Farewell Hit (single attack) | Deals physical damage equal to 50% of the Trailblazer’s attack to a target enemy |
| Skill – RIP Home Run (blast) | Deals physical damage equal to 62% of the Trailblazer’s attack to a target enemy and any adjacent enemies |
| Ultimate – Stardust Ace (single attack or blast) | Mode one deals physical damage equal to 300% of the Trailblazer’s attack to a single enemy. Mode two deals physical damage equal to 180% of the Trailblazer’s attack to a single enemy and physical damage equal to 108% of the Trailblazer’s attack to adjacent enemies |
Passive skills:
| Skill | Effect |
| Talent – Perfect Pickoff | Each time the Trailblazer inflicts weakness break on an enemy, their attack increases by 10%. This effect can stack up to two times |
Technique
| Skill | Effect |
| Immortal Third Strike | Immediately heals all allies for 15% of their respective max HP |
Traces
| Skill | Effect |
| Perseverance | Each stack of their talent increases the Trailblazer’s defence by 10% |
| Ready for Battle | The Trailblazer immediately regenerates 15 energy at the beginning of the battle |
| Fighting Will | The Trailblazer’s blast attacks (skill or ultimate) deal 25% more damage to the target enemy |
The Preservation Trailblazer attacks
Active skills:
| Skill | Effect |
| Ice-Breaking Light (basic) | Deal fire damage equal to 50% of the Trailblazer’s attack to a target enemy and gain one stack of magma will |
| Ice-Breaking Light (enhanced) | Consume four stacks of Magma Will to enhance Trailblazer’s basic attack, dealing fire damage equal to 90% of the Trailblazer’s attack to a single enemy, and fire damage equal to 36% of the Trailblazer’s attack to adjacent enemies |
| Ever-Burning Amber | Increases the Trailblazer’s damage reduction by 40% and grants them one stack of Magma Will, with an additional 100% base chance to increase the likelihood that all enemies will attack them for one turn |
| Flaming Lance Behind Enemy Lines | Deal fire damage equal to 50% of the Trailblazer’s attack +75% of the Trailblazer’s defence to all enemies. The next basic attack is automatically enhanced and doesn’t cost Magma Will |
Passive skill:
| Skill | Effect |
| Treasure of the Architects | Each time an enemy hits the Trailblazer, they gain one stack of Magma Will for a max of eight stacks. When Magma Will has four stacks or more, enhances the Trailblazer’s basic attack, dealing damage to a single enemy and adjacent enemies. When the Trailblazer uses their basic attack, skill, or ultimate, they apply a shield to the entire ally team that absorbs damage equal to 4/8% of the Trailblazer’s defence plus 16. This shield lasts for two turns |
Technique:
| Skill | Effect |
| Call of the Guardian | At the start of the next battle, gains a shield that blocks damage equal to 50% of the Trailblazer’s defence plus 160 for one turn |
Traces:
| Skill | Effect |
| The Strong Defends the Weak | After the Trailblazer uses their skill, reduces the damage taken by all allies by 15% for one turn |
| Unwavering Gallantry | When the Trailblazer uses their enhanced basic attack, they restore 5% of their max HP |
| Action Beats Overthinking | When the Trailblazer starts the turn protected by a shield, they regenerate five energy and their attack increases by 15% until the action is over |
What are the Trailblazer’s eidolons?
Eidolons are similar to constellations in Genshin Impact. They are bonus effects for your characters that you unlock by getting duplicate copies of them. They work slightly differently for the Trailblazer though, as you unlock their eidolons by progressing through the story.
The Destruction Trailblazer eidolons
| Eidolon | Effect |
| Scattered Stars | When the Trailblazer defeats enemies with their ultimate, they regenerate ten energy |
| A Perfect Host | Attacking an enemy with physical weakness restores the Trailblazer’s HP equal to 5% of their attack |
| The Spirit That Leads the Path | The Trailblazer gains two levels in their skill and talent, up to a maximum level of 15 |
| Staring Down the Moment of Destruction | Attacking enemies whose weakness is already broken increases the Trailblazer’s crit rate by 25% |
| A Hope for Survival | The Trailblazer gains two levels in their ultimate, up to a maximum level of 15, and two levels in their basic attack up to a maximum level of ten |
| The Will of Trailblazing | The Trailblazer’s talent is also triggered when they defeat an enemy |
The Preservation Trailblazer eidolons
| Eidolon | Effect |
| Resonance With the Earth’s Core | When the Trialblazer uses their basic attack, they deal additional fire damage equal to 15% of their defence. When they use their enhanced basic attack, they deal additional fire damage equal to 20% of their defence |
| Perseverance of Ancient Cold Iron | The shield the Trailblazer provides to all allies blocks additional damage equal to 3% of the Trailblazer’s defence plus 12 |
| Blueprints for the Future | Increases the level of the Trailblazer’s skill by two up to a maximum level of 15, and their basic attack by one up to a maximum of level ten |
| Lingering Civilization’s Oath | Immediately gain four stacks of Magma Will at the beginning of battle |
| Courage to Light the Flame | Increases the level of the Trailblazer’s skill by two, up to a maximum of level 15, and their basic attack by one, up to a maximum of level ten |
| Tall City Wall Ramparts | After they use their enhanced basic attack or ultimate, the Trailblazer’s defence increase by 10%. Stacks up to three times |
There you have it, everything we know about the Honkai Star Rail Trailblazer. Bookmark this page so you can stay up to date with changes from the Honkai Star Rail beta and beyond. While you’re here, be sure to check out our Honkai Star Rail tier list and other build guides for characters like Honkai Star Rail’s Bailu and Honkai Star Rail’s Serval.
