What Combat Type is Cipher?

Cipher is a 5-star Quantum character on the Path of Nihility, from Amphoreus, released in version 3.3.

What stat does Cipher scale on?

Cipher's abilities multiply ATK. That is read from the scaling rows on the Skill and Ultimate, not from the ability description, so it reflects what the game actually multiplies rather than what the text mentions.

What is the best Light Cone for Cipher?

Along the Passing Shore is the closest fit on the data: it is a 5-star Nihility Light Cone with 635 base ATK at level 80, and its passive acts on ATK. Boundless Choreo is the best 4-star alternative.

Which relic set should Cipher use?

Poet of Mourning Collapse. Its 2-piece bonus is: Increases Quantum DMG by 10%. Its 4-piece bonus is: Decreases the wearer's SPD by 8%. Before entering battle, if the wearer's SPD is lower than 110/95, increases the wearer's CRIT Rate by 20%/32%. This effect applies to the wearer's memosprite at the same time.

Which Planar Ornament should Cipher use?

Firmament Frontline: Glamoth. Its 2-piece bonus is: Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD is equal to or higher than 135/160, the wearer deals 12%/18% more DMG. Planar Ornaments have no 4-piece bonus; the sphere and the rope are the whole set.

How much does it cost to max Cipher's traces?

Taking one ability from level 1 to 10 costs 652,500 Credits and 2× Tracks of Destiny among other materials. The Materials tab lists every item per level.

What does Cipher E1 do?

Read the Room, Seek the Glee: Cipher's tally of DMG is 150% of its original value. When using the Talent's Follow-Up ATK, increases Cipher's ATK by 80%, lasting for 2 turn(s).

Cipher — Quantum Nihility character | Honkai: Star Rail

All characters

Amphoreus

Cipher

Build guide · Honkai: Star Rail

QuantumNihilitySub DPS

English voice: Shea Fairaday

The best Cipher build in Honkai: Star Rail (Version 4.4) is Lies Dance on the Breeze with Messenger Traversing Hackerspace. Updated August 28, 2026

Where these rankings come fromThe light cone order, relic sets and stat priorities on this tab are prydwen.gg’s, measured in play and rephrased. Relative damage figures are ratios against the bottom of each ranking, not absolute numbers, and each one holds only for the superimposition and team its row states. Everything else — base stats, passive text, material totals — is read from the game’s own data.

Light cones

2 ranked

Lies Dance on the Breeze — 5★ Nihility Light Cone | Honkai: Star Rail

BISLies Dance on the Breeze

Ranked first at S1

582

Base ATK · lv 80

953 HP529 DEF

Resolution Shines As Pearls of Sweat — 4★ Nihility Light Cone | Honkai: Star Rail

#2Resolution Shines As Pearls of Sweat

Ranked #2 at S5

476

Base ATK · lv 80

953 HP331 DEF

Relics

3 sets

CoreMessenger Traversing Hackerspace

2PCIncreases SPD by 6%.

4PCWhen the wearer uses their Ultimate on an ally, SPD for all allies increases by 12% for 1 turn(s). This effect cannot be stacked.

Also works

Planar ornaments

Sphere and rope · 2-piece only

CoreLushaka, the Sunken Seas

Support Cipher | Strong when supporting a single ATK based DPS character and when Energy Regen is useful. More generic than most options.

2PCIncreases the wearer's Energy Regeneration Rate by 5%. If the wearer is not the first character in the team lineup, then increases the ATK of the first character in the team lineup by 12%.

Also works

Main stats

Ultimate · 130 energy

Body: Effect HIT Rate = CRIT DMG
Feet: Speed
Planar Sphere: Quantum DMG = ATK%
Link Rope: Energy Regen Rate = ATK%

Substat priority

Highest first

1[SPD (Until Desired Breakpoint)Best
2EHR (If Desired)
3CRIT RATE = CRIT DMG
4ATK%] or [SPD (Until Desired Breakpoint)
5EHR (If Desired)
6HP%
7DEF%]

Trace priority

Level in this order

#1
Talent = Skill
Max first
#2
Ultimate
Then
#3
Basic
Next

Major traces, best first: Empyrean Strides (A2) > 300 Rogues (A4) > Sleight of Sky (A6)

Best Eidolons

E3 and E5 raise levels only

E1Read the Room, Seek the Glee
E2In the Fray, Nab On a Spree
E3Level bump
E4The Jig Is Up, Quick to Flee
E5Level bump
E6The Thief's Game, Unsung and Free

E1
Read the Room, Seek the Glee
Game text
Cipher's tally of DMG is 150% of its original value. When using the Talent's Follow-Up ATK, increases Cipher's ATK by 80%, lasting for 2 turn(s).
E2
In the Fray, Nab On a Spree
Game text
When Cipher hits an enemy target, there is a 120% base chance to increase the DMG it receives by 30%, lasting for 2 turn(s).
E4
The Jig Is Up, Quick to Flee
Game text
After the "Patron" gets attacked by an ally target, Cipher deals Quantum Additional DMG to it equal to 50% of Cipher's ATK.
E6
The Thief's Game, Unsung and Free
Game text
The DMG dealt by Follow-Up ATK from Cipher's Talent increases by 350%. During the tally, an additional 16% of non-Overflow DMG dealt by this attack is tallied. After the tally is cleared by using Ultimate, 20% of the cleared tally is returned.

Teams

1 team

Acheron team

Lightning · NihilityStands in for Jiaoqiu

Acheron charges her Ultimate off debuffs other characters apply, so the team runs two more Nihility units and a sustain that never needs a Skill Point.

AcheronMain DPS
JiaoqiuNihility debufferor Cipher
PelaDEF shred
AventurineSustain

All teams, with every replacement

Honkai: Star Rail 5★ Quantum Nihility Sub DPS

Cipher build summary

Updated August 28, 2026

Lies Dance on the Breeze tops the light cone ranking for Cipher at S1, ahead of Resolution Shines As Pearls of Sweat. That order is prydwen.gg's, measured in play and rephrased here; every row of it sits under Light cones below.

Run Messenger Traversing Hackerspace on Cipher, with Pioneer Diver of Dead Waters and Genius of Brilliant Stars behind it. The planar ornament is Lushaka, the Sunken Seas. Main stats are Effect HIT Rate = CRIT DMG body, Speed feet, Quantum DMG = ATK% sphere, Energy Regen Rate = ATK% rope. Roll substats in the order [SPD (Until Desired Breakpoint) > EHR (If Desired) > CRIT RATE = CRIT DMG > ATK%] or [SPD (Until Desired Breakpoint) > EHR (If Desired) > HP% >= DEF%].

Trace priority is Talent = Skill > Ultimate > Basic. The Ultimate costs 130 energy, which is what an Energy Regeneration Rate target has to clear.

Cipher stands in for Jiaoqiu in the Acheron team, alongside Acheron, Pela and Aventurine.

Role: Sub DPS / Support
Best light cone: Lies Dance on the Breeze
Alternatives: Resolution Shines As Pearls of Sweat
Relic set: Messenger Traversing Hackerspace
Planar ornament: Lushaka, the Sunken Seas
Main stats: Effect HIT Rate = CRIT DMG body, Speed feet, Quantum DMG = ATK% sphere, Energy Regen Rate = ATK% rope
Substat priority: [SPD (Until Desired Breakpoint) > EHR (If Desired) > CRIT RATE = CRIT DMG > ATK%] or [SPD (Until Desired Breakpoint) > EHR (If Desired) > HP% >= DEF%]
Trace priority: Talent = Skill > Ultimate > Basic
Best team: Acheron, Jiaoqiu, Pela, Aventurine
Ultimate energy cost: 130 energy
Key ascension material: 65× Darkveil Moonlight
Last updated: August 28, 2026

Abilities

4 levellable

Basic

Oops, a Missed Catch

Single Target
+20 energy
30 Toughness

Deals Quantum DMG equal to 100% of Cipher's ATK to one designated enemy.

Ability level

6 is the cap from trace materials; Eidolons add the rest.

Basic ATK DMG: 100%

All 10 levels

Attribute	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Basic ATK DMG	50%	60%	70%	80%	90%	100%	110%	120%	130%	140%

Skill

Hey, Jackpot for the Taking

Blast
+30 energy
60 Toughness

Has a 120% base chance to Weaken one designated enemy and its adjacent targets (decreasing their DMG dealt by 10%) and increases Cipher's ATK by 30%, lasting for 2 turn(s). Moreover, deals Quantum DMG equal to 200% of Cipher's ATK to one designated enemy, and Quantum DMG equal to 100% of Cipher's ATK to the adjacent targets.

Ability level

10 is the cap from trace materials; Eidolons add the rest.

Skill DMG: 200%
Adjacent DMG: 100%

All 15 levels

Attribute	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
Skill DMG	100%	110%	120%	130%	140%	150%	163%	175%	188%	200%	210%	220%	230%	240%	250%
Adjacent DMG	50%	55%	60%	65%	70%	75%	81%	88%	94%	100%	105%	110%	115%	120%	125%

Ultimate

Yours Truly, Kitty Phantom Thief!

Blast
+5 energy
90 Toughness

Deals Quantum DMG equal to 120% of Cipher's ATK to one designated enemy. Then, deals True DMG equal to 25% of the current tally kept by Talent to the one designated enemy. Moreover, deals Quantum DMG equal to 40% of Cipher's ATK alongside True DMG equal to 75% of the current tally kept by Talent to the one designated enemy and its adjacent targets. And this True DMG is distributed evenly among all targets of this ability.

Ability level

10 is the cap from trace materials; Eidolons add the rest.

Ultimate DMG: 120%
Ultimate DMG (2): 40%

All 15 levels

Attribute	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
Ultimate DMG	60%	66%	72%	78%	84%	90%	98%	105%	113%	120%	126%	132%	138%	144%	150%
Ultimate DMG (2)	20%	22%	24%	26%	28%	30%	33%	35%	38%	40%	42%	44%	46%	48%	50%

Talent

The Hospitable Dolosian

Single Target
+5 energy
60 Toughness

When there are no enemy targets in the "Patron" state on the battlefield, Cipher immediately causes one enemy target with the highest Max HP on the battlefield to become the "Patron." When using Skill and Ultimate, the primary target becomes the "Patron." The "Patron" state only takes effect on the most recent target. After the "Patron" gets attacked by other ally targets, Cipher immediately launches Follow-Up ATK against the "Patron," dealing Quantum DMG equal to 150% of Cipher's ATK. This effect can trigger up to 1 time(s) per turn, and this trigger count resets at the start of Cipher's turn. Cipher will tally 12% of the non-True DMG dealt by ally targets to the "Patron." Overflow DMG will not be tallied. After using Ultimate, clears this tally.

Ability level

10 is the cap from trace materials; Eidolons add the rest.

Follow-Up DMG: 150%

All 15 levels

Attribute	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
Follow-Up DMG	75%	83%	90%	98%	105%	113%	122%	131%	141%	150%	158%	165%	173%	180%	188%

Technique and fixed effects

1 fixed

Technique

Puss in Boots

Enhance

Gains "Zagreus's Blessing" that lasts for 15 second(s). During this time, Cipher will be undetectable by enemies and her movement speed increases by 50%. When approaching an enemy in the overworld/Simulated Universe/Divergent Universe, can immediately gain a random Consumable. Consumables can be gained this way for up to 50 time(s) in each Earth day. When entering battle with "Zagreus's Blessing" active, deals Quantum DMG equal to 100% of Cipher's ATK to all enemies. And the tallied amount Cipher gains from this instance of DMG increases by 200%.

Bonus Abilities

3 unlocked by ascension

A2
Empyrean Strides
When Cipher's SPD is higher than or equal to 140/170, CRIT Rate increases by 25%/50%, and the gained tally increases by 50%/100%.
A4
300 Rogues
Cipher can tally 8% of the non-True DMG dealt by ally targets to the enemy targets other than the "Patron." Overflow DMG is not tallied.
A6
Sleight of Sky
Increases the CRIT DMG dealt by the Talent's Follow-Up ATK by 100%. When Cipher is on the battlefield, DMG received by all enemy targets increases by 40%.

Stat traces

Every node taken

SPD: 14
Quantum DMG: 14.4%
Effect Hit Rate: 10.0%

Totals at full unlock, summed across every node of that stat. Ascension rank gates the nodes as it gates the Bonus Abilities above.

Full bill

Credits, summed from the tables below

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

Ascension

Level 1 → 80 in 6 steps

Lv 30
Ethereal Omen ×5
4,000Credits
Lv 40
Ethereal Omen ×10
8,000Credits
Lv 50
Darkveil Moonlight ×3
Echoing Wail ×6
16,000Credits
Lv 60
Darkveil Moonlight ×7
Echoing Wail ×9
40,000Credits
Lv 70
Darkveil Moonlight ×20
Eternal Lament ×6
80,000Credits
Lv 80
Darkveil Moonlight ×35
Eternal Lament ×9
160,000Credits

Total to level 80

308,000 Credits

Darkveil Moonlight

Eternal Lament

Echoing Wail

Ethereal Omen

Trace materials

Per ability · 3 levellable

→ 2
Ethereal Omen ×3
2,500Credits
→ 3
Ethereal Omen ×6
Fiery Spirit ×3
5,000Credits
→ 4
Echoing Wail ×3
Starfire Essence ×3
10,000Credits
→ 5
Echoing Wail ×4
Starfire Essence ×5
20,000Credits
→ 6
Echoing Wail ×6
Starfire Essence ×7
30,000Credits
→ 7
Eternal Lament ×3
Heaven Incinerator ×3
45,000Credits
→ 8
Daythunder Anamnesis ×1
Eternal Lament ×4
Heaven Incinerator ×5
80,000Credits
→ 9
Tracks of Destiny ×1
Daythunder Anamnesis ×1
Heaven Incinerator ×8
160,000Credits
→ 10
Tracks of Destiny ×1
Daythunder Anamnesis ×1
Heaven Incinerator ×14
300,000Credits

One ability maxed

652,500 Credits

Tracks of Destiny

Daythunder Anamnesis

Eternal Lament

Heaven Incinerator

Echoing Wail

Starfire Essence

Ethereal Omen

Fiery Spirit

All 3 abilities maxed

1,957,500 Credits

Tracks of Destiny

Daythunder Anamnesis

Eternal Lament

Heaven Incinerator

Echoing Wail

Starfire Essence

Ethereal Omen

Fiery Spirit

Cipher’s Eidolons

6 unlocks

E1
Read the Room, Seek the Glee
Cipher's tally of DMG is 150% of its original value. When using the Talent's Follow-Up ATK, increases Cipher's ATK by 80%, lasting for 2 turn(s).
E2
In the Fray, Nab On a Spree
When Cipher hits an enemy target, there is a 120% base chance to increase the DMG it receives by 30%, lasting for 2 turn(s).
E3
From Thin Air, Hard to Foresee
Ultimate Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Basic ATK Lv. +1, up to a maximum of Lv. 10.
E4
The Jig Is Up, Quick to Flee
After the "Patron" gets attacked by an ally target, Cipher deals Quantum Additional DMG to it equal to 50% of Cipher's ATK.
E5
Safe in Numbers, Light as a Bee
Skill Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Talent Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15.
E6
The Thief's Game, Unsung and Free
The DMG dealt by Follow-Up ATK from Cipher's Talent increases by 350%. During the tally, an additional 16% of non-Overflow DMG dealt by this attack is tallied. After the tally is cleared by using Ultimate, 20% of the cleared tally is returned.

Cipher FAQ

What Combat Type is Cipher?: Cipher is a 5-star Quantum character on the Path of Nihility, from Amphoreus, released in version 3.3.
What stat does Cipher scale on?: Cipher's abilities multiply ATK. That is read from the scaling rows on the Skill and Ultimate, not from the ability description, so it reflects what the game actually multiplies rather than what the text mentions.
What is the best Light Cone for Cipher?: Along the Passing Shore is the closest fit on the data: it is a 5-star Nihility Light Cone with 635 base ATK at level 80, and its passive acts on ATK. Boundless Choreo is the best 4-star alternative.
Which relic set should Cipher use?: Poet of Mourning Collapse. Its 2-piece bonus is: Increases Quantum DMG by 10%. Its 4-piece bonus is: Decreases the wearer's SPD by 8%. Before entering battle, if the wearer's SPD is lower than 110/95, increases the wearer's CRIT Rate by 20%/32%. This effect applies to the wearer's memosprite at the same time.
Which Planar Ornament should Cipher use?: Firmament Frontline: Glamoth. Its 2-piece bonus is: Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD is equal to or higher than 135/160, the wearer deals 12%/18% more DMG. Planar Ornaments have no 4-piece bonus; the sphere and the rope are the whole set.
How much does it cost to max Cipher's traces?: Taking one ability from level 1 to 10 costs 652,500 Credits and 2× Tracks of Destiny among other materials. The Materials tab lists every item per level.
What does Cipher E1 do?: Read the Room, Seek the Glee: Cipher's tally of DMG is 150% of its original value. When using the Talent's Follow-Up ATK, increases Cipher's ATK by 80%, lasting for 2 turn(s).

Cipher

Light cones

Relics

Planar ornaments

Main stats

Substat priority

Trace priority

Best Eidolons

Read the Room, Seek the Glee

In the Fray, Nab On a Spree

The Jig Is Up, Quick to Flee

The Thief's Game, Unsung and Free

Teams

Abilities

Technique and fixed effects

Bonus Abilities

Empyrean Strides

300 Rogues

Sleight of Sky

Stat traces

Full bill

Ascension

Trace materials

Cipher’s Eidolons

Read the Room, Seek the Glee

In the Fray, Nab On a Spree

From Thin Air, Hard to Foresee

The Jig Is Up, Quick to Flee

Safe in Numbers, Light as a Bee

The Thief's Game, Unsung and Free

Cipher FAQ