Garden of Recollection
Build guide · Honkai: Star Rail
English voice: Arryn Zech
The best Black Swan build in Honkai: Star Rail (Version 4.4) is Reforged Remembrance with Prisoner in Deep Confinement. Updated August 28, 2026
Also works
Also works
Reach your desired breakpoints of EHR first, then SPD, and finally, after that, stack as much ATK% as possible.
#1
Talent
Max first
#2
Ultimate = Skill = Basic
Then
Major traces, best first: Candleflame's Portent (A6) > Goblet's Dredges (A4) > Viscera's Disquiet (A2)
E1Seven Pillars of Wisdom
E2Weep Not For Me, My Lamb
E3Level bump
E4In Tears We Gift
E5Level bump
E6Pantheon Merciful, Masses PitifulE1While Black Swan is active in combat, enemies afflicted with Wind Shear, Bleed, Burn, or Shock will have their corresponding Wind, Physical, Fire, or Lightning RES respectively reduced by 25%.
E2When enemy targets enter combat, there is a 100% base chance to inflict 30 stack(s) of "Arcana" on them.
E4While in the "Epiphany" state, enemy targets take 20% increased DMG. And at the start of every turn or when they get defeated, regenerates 8 Energy for Black Swan.
E6The upper limit of stackable "Arcana" increases by 30. When an enemy target gets attacked by Black Swan's teammates, Black Swan has a 65% base chance of inflicting 1 stack of "Arcana" on the target. For every 1 stack of "Arcana" Black Swan inflicts on an enemy target, additionally increases the number of "Arcana" stacked this time by 1.
Kafka detonates the stacks Black Swan and a third Nihility unit apply, so every slot but the sustain exists to keep a damage-over-time state on the enemy.
KafkaMain DPS
Black Swan — this characterDoT applier
HysilensDoT applier
HuohuoSustainHonkai: Star Rail 5★ Wind Nihility Sub DPS
Reforged Remembrance tops the light cone ranking for Black Swan at S1, ahead of Those Many Springs, Eyes of the Prey and It's Showtime. That order is prydwen.gg's, measured in play and rephrased here; every row of it sits under Light cones below.
Run Prisoner in Deep Confinement on Black Swan, with Pioneer Diver of Dead Waters behind it. The planar ornament is Revelry by the Sea. Main stats are Effect HIT Rate body, ATK% feet, Wind DMG sphere, ATK% rope. Roll substats in the order EHR (Until 120%) > SPD (Until breakpoint) > ATK%.
Trace priority is Talent > Ultimate = Skill = Basic. The Ultimate costs 120 energy, which is what an Energy Regeneration Rate target has to clear.
Black Swan plays DoT applier in the Kafka team, alongside Kafka, Hysilens and Huohuo.
Deals Wind DMG equal to 100% of Black Swan's ATK to one designated enemy.
Ability level
6 is the cap from trace materials; Eidolons add the rest.
| Attribute | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic ATK DMG | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% | 110% | 120% | 130% | 140% |
Deals Wind DMG equal to 90% of Black Swan's ATK to one designated enemy and adjacent targets. At the same time, there is a 100% base chance of reducing the DEF of the enemy target and the adjacent targets by 20.8%, lasting for 3 turn(s).
Ability level
10 is the cap from trace materials; Eidolons add the rest.
| Attribute | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skill DMG | 45% | 50% | 54% | 59% | 63% | 68% | 73% | 79% | 84% | 90% | 95% | 99% | 103% | 108% | 113% |
| DEF Reduction | 14.8% | 15.4% | 16.0% | 16.6% | 17.2% | 17.8% | 18.6% | 19.3% | 20.1% | 20.8% | 21.4% | 22.0% | 22.6% | 23.2% | 23.8% |
Inflicts "Epiphany" state on all enemies for 2 turn(s). Then deals Wind DMG to all enemies equal to 120% of Black Swan's ATK. While in the "Epiphany" state, enemy targets take 25% increased DMG. For every 1 stack of "Arcana inflicted," there is a 50% fixed chance to additionally increase the number of "Arcana" stacked this time by 1. And "Arcana" stacks won't be halved after dealing DMG at the start of the turn.
Ability level
10 is the cap from trace materials; Eidolons add the rest.
| Attribute | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate DMG | 72% | 77% | 82% | 86% | 91% | 96% | 102% | 108% | 114% | 120% | 125% | 130% | 134% | 139% | 144% |
| Ultimate DMG (2) | 15% | 16% | 17% | 18% | 19% | 20% | 21% | 23% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 27% | 28% | 29% | 30% |
Every time an enemy target receives 1 instance of DoT, there is a 65% base chance for it to be inflicted with 1 stack of "Arcana". While an enemy target is in the "Arcana" state, they are also considered to be simultaneously afflicted with Wind Shear, Bleed, Burn, and Shock. The target receives Wind DoT equal to 240% of Black Swan's ATK at the start of each turn, after which the number of stacks is halved. Each stack of "Arcana" increases this DMG multiplier by 12.0%. "Arcana" can stack 50 times, and can continue to stack beyond this limit, with the excess stacks removed after dealing DMG. DMG from "Arcana" ignores 20% of the target's DEF. Only when "Arcana" deals DMG at the start of the enemy target's turn, adjacent targets take 1 additional instance of Wind DoT equal to 180% of Black Swan's ATK.
Ability level
10 is the cap from trace materials; Eidolons add the rest.
| Attribute | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Chance | 50% | 52% | 53% | 55% | 56% | 57% | 59% | 61% | 63% | 65% | 67% | 68% | 70% | 71% | 73% |
| Value 1 | 96% | 112% | 128% | 144% | 159% | 175% | 190% | 204% | 222% | 240% | 252% | 264% | 276% | 288% | 300% |
| Talent DMG | 4.8% | 5.6% | 6.4% | 7.2% | 8.0% | 8.8% | 9.5% | 10.2% | 11.1% | 12.0% | 12.6% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 14.4% | 15.0% |
| Value 5 | 72% | 84% | 96% | 108% | 120% | 131% | 142% | 153% | 167% | 180% | 189% | 198% | 207% | 216% | 225% |
After Technique is used, there is a 150% base chance for each enemy to be inflicted with 1 stack of "Arcana" at the start of the next battle. For each successful application of "Arcana" on a target, inflicts another stack of "Arcana" on the same target. This process repeats until "Arcana" fails to be inflicted on this target. For each successive application of "Arcana" on a target, its base chance of success is equal to 50% of the base chance of the previous successful infliction of "Arcana" on that target.
A2When an enemy target gets attacked by Black Swan, there is a 65% base chance of inflicting 5 stack(s) of "Arcana" on them.
A4When an enemy targets enters combat, there is a 65% base chance for it to be inflicted with 1 stack of "Arcana," and a 100% base chance to be inflicted with the DEF reduction effect from the Skill, which lasts for 3 turn(s). After using Basic ATK or Ultimate, there is also a 100% base chance to inflict the DEF reduction effect from the Skill on the hit enemy targets, which lasts for 3 turn(s).
A6Increases the DMG dealt by all allies by an amount equal to 60% of Black Swan's Effect Hit Rate, up to a maximum DMG increase of 72%.
Totals at full unlock, summed across every node of that stat. Ascension rank gates the nodes as it gates the Bonus Abilities above.
Level 80 and every ability maxed
2,265,500
Credits 12 material lines
Ascension to 80
308,000
Credits 4 materials · 6 steps
All 3 abilities maxed
1,957,500
Credits 3× the single-ability bill
Extinguished Core ×54,000Credits
Extinguished Core ×108,000Credits
Ascendant Debris ×3
Glimmering Core ×616,000Credits
Ascendant Debris ×7Glimmering Core ×940,000Credits
Ascendant Debris ×20
Squirming Core ×680,000Credits
Ascendant Debris ×35Squirming Core ×9160,000Credits
Total to level 80
308,000 Credits
Ascendant Debris ×65Squirming Core ×15Glimmering Core ×15Extinguished Core ×15Extinguished Core ×32,500Credits
Extinguished Core ×6
Fiery Spirit ×35,000Credits
Glimmering Core ×3
Starfire Essence ×310,000Credits
Glimmering Core ×4Starfire Essence ×520,000Credits
Glimmering Core ×6Starfire Essence ×730,000Credits
Heaven Incinerator ×3Squirming Core ×345,000Credits
Heaven Incinerator ×5
Past Evils of the Borehole Planet Disaster ×1Squirming Core ×480,000Credits
Tracks of Destiny ×1Heaven Incinerator ×8Past Evils of the Borehole Planet Disaster ×1160,000Credits
Tracks of Destiny ×1Heaven Incinerator ×14Past Evils of the Borehole Planet Disaster ×1300,000Credits
One ability maxed
652,500 Credits
Tracks of Destiny ×2Heaven Incinerator ×30Past Evils of the Borehole Planet Disaster ×3Squirming Core ×7Glimmering Core ×13Starfire Essence ×15Extinguished Core ×9Fiery Spirit ×3All 3 abilities maxed
1,957,500 Credits
Tracks of Destiny ×6Heaven Incinerator ×90Past Evils of the Borehole Planet Disaster ×9Squirming Core ×21Glimmering Core ×39Starfire Essence ×45Extinguished Core ×27Fiery Spirit ×9E1While Black Swan is active in combat, enemies afflicted with Wind Shear, Bleed, Burn, or Shock will have their corresponding Wind, Physical, Fire, or Lightning RES respectively reduced by 25%.
E2When enemy targets enter combat, there is a 100% base chance to inflict 30 stack(s) of "Arcana" on them.
E3Skill Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Talent Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15.
E4While in the "Epiphany" state, enemy targets take 20% increased DMG. And at the start of every turn or when they get defeated, regenerates 8 Energy for Black Swan.
E5Ultimate Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Basic ATK Lv. +1, up to a maximum of Lv. 10.
E6The upper limit of stackable "Arcana" increases by 30. When an enemy target gets attacked by Black Swan's teammates, Black Swan has a 65% base chance of inflicting 1 stack of "Arcana" on the target. For every 1 stack of "Arcana" Black Swan inflicts on an enemy target, additionally increases the number of "Arcana" stacked this time by 1.
Wind
Nihility
