Stellaron Hunters
Build guide · Honkai: Star Rail
English voice: Cheryl Texiera
The best Kafka build in Honkai: Star Rail (Version 4.4) is Before the Tutorial Mission Starts with Eagle of Twilight Line. Updated August 28, 2026
#1
Ultimate = Skill
Max first
#2
Talent
Then
#3
Basic
Next
Major traces, best first: Torture (A2) > Thorns (A6) > Plunder (A4)
E1Da Capo
E2Fortississimo
E3Level bump
E4Recitativo
E5Level bump
E6LeggieroE1When using an attack, has a 100% base chance to increase the DoT taken by the target by 30% for 2 turn(s).
E2While Kafka is on the field, DoT dealt by all allies increases by 33%.
E4When an enemy target takes DMG from the Shock status inflicted by Kafka, Kafka additionally regenerates 2 Energy.
E6The Shock state inflicted on the enemy target by the Ultimate, Technique, or the Talent-triggered Follow-Up ATK has a DMG multiplier increase of 156% and lasts 1 turn(s) longer.
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.
Kafka — this characterMain DPS
Black SwanDoT applier
HysilensDoT applier
HuohuoSustainThe same "Fervor" engine fed by a Hunt carry and a Nihility unit whose off-turn hits count as attacks, with a Remembrance sustain whose memosprite keeps the counter moving between Waveflair's turns.
Aventurine • WaveflairMain DPS
AshveilHunt carry
Mortenax BladeOff-turn attackeror Kafka
HyacineSustainHonkai: Star Rail 5★ Lightning Nihility Sub DPS
Before the Tutorial Mission Starts tops the light cone ranking for Kafka at S1, ahead of Patience Is All You Need, Lies Dance on the Breeze and Those Many Springs. That order is prydwen.gg's, measured in play and rephrased here; every row of it sits under Light cones below.
Run Eagle of Twilight Line on Kafka, with Sacerdos' Relived Ordeal and Prisoner in Deep Confinement behind it. The planar ornament is Lushaka, the Sunken Seas. Main stats are Effect HIT Rate = ATK% body, Speed feet, Lightning DMG >= ATK% sphere, Energy Regen Rate > ATK% rope. Roll substats in the order Effect Hit Rate (Until 75%) > SPD > ATK%.
Trace priority is Ultimate = Skill > Talent > Basic. The Ultimate costs 120 energy, which is what an Energy Regeneration Rate target has to clear.
The strongest team is Kafka, Black Swan, Hysilens and Huohuo, built around Kafka — Lightning · Damage over time.
Deals Lightning DMG equal to 100% of Kafka'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 Lightning DMG equal to 160% of Kafka's ATK to one designated enemy and Lightning DMG equal to 60% of Kafka's ATK to adjacent targets. If the designated enemy or the adjacent targets are currently afflicted with DoT, all DoTs currently placed on those enemies immediately produces DMG equal to 75% or 50% of the original DMG.
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 | 80% | 88% | 96% | 104% | 112% | 120% | 130% | 140% | 150% | 160% | 168% | 176% | 184% | 192% | 200% |
| Adjacent DMG | 30% | 33% | 36% | 39% | 42% | 45% | 49% | 53% | 56% | 60% | 63% | 66% | 69% | 72% | 75% |
| DoT DMG | 60% | 62% | 63% | 65% | 66% | 68% | 69% | 71% | 73% | 75% | 77% | 78% | 80% | 81% | 83% |
| DoT DMG (2) | 40% | 41% | 42% | 43% | 44% | 45% | 46% | 48% | 49% | 50% | 51% | 52% | 53% | 54% | 55% |
Deals Lightning DMG equal to 80% of Kafka's ATK to all enemies, with a 100% base chance for enemy targets hit to become Shocked and immediately take DMG from their current DoT debuff(s), equal to 120% of the original DMG. Shock lasts for 2 turn(s). While Shocked, enemy targets receive Lightning DoT equal to 290% of Kafka's ATK at the beginning of each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AoE DMG | 48% | 51% | 54% | 58% | 61% | 64% | 68% | 72% | 76% | 80% | 83% | 86% | 90% | 93% | 96% |
| DoT DMG | 100% | 102% | 104% | 106% | 108% | 110% | 113% | 115% | 118% | 120% | 122% | 124% | 126% | 128% | 130% |
| Value 4 | 116% | 127% | 138% | 149% | 160% | 176% | 198% | 225% | 257% | 290% | 304% | 318% | 332% | 347% | 361% |
After Kafka's teammate uses an attack on an enemy target, Kafka immediately launches Follow-Up ATK and deals Lightning DMG equal to 140% of Kafka's ATK to the primary target, with a 100% base chance to inflict Shock (equivalent to that applied by her Ultimate) on the attacked enemy target for 2 turns. This effect can trigger up to 2 time(s), 1 of which can be regained at the end of Kafka's 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Follow-Up DMG | 42% | 52% | 62% | 71% | 81% | 91% | 103% | 116% | 128% | 140% | 150% | 160% | 169% | 179% | 189% |
Immediately attacks all enemies within a set range. After entering combat, deals Lightning DMG equal to 50% of Kafka's ATK to all enemies, with a 100% base chance to inflict Shock (equivalent to that applied by her Ultimate) on every enemy target for 2 turn(s).
A2When an ally target's Effect Hit Rate is 75% or higher, Kafka increases that target's ATK by 100%.
A4If an enemy target is defeated while Shocked, Kafka additionally regenerates 5 Energy.
A6After using Ultimate, restores the triggerable count of Talent's Follow-Up ATK by 1. And the Talent's Follow-Up ATK can cause all DoTs debuffs currently on the target to immediately produce DMG equal to 80% of the original DMG.
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
Thief's Instinct ×54,000Credits
Thief's Instinct ×108,000Credits
Shape Shifter's Lightning Staff ×3
Usurper's Scheme ×616,000Credits
Shape Shifter's Lightning Staff ×7Usurper's Scheme ×940,000Credits
Conqueror's Will ×6Shape Shifter's Lightning Staff ×2080,000Credits
Conqueror's Will ×9Shape Shifter's Lightning Staff ×35160,000Credits
Total to level 80
308,000 Credits
Conqueror's Will ×15Shape Shifter's Lightning Staff ×65Usurper's Scheme ×15Thief's Instinct ×15Thief's Instinct ×32,500Credits
Obsidian of Dread ×3Thief's Instinct ×65,000Credits
Obsidian of Desolation ×3Usurper's Scheme ×310,000Credits
Obsidian of Desolation ×5Usurper's Scheme ×420,000Credits
Obsidian of Desolation ×7Usurper's Scheme ×630,000Credits
Conqueror's Will ×3
Obsidian of Obsession ×345,000Credits
Conqueror's Will ×4Obsidian of Obsession ×5
Regret of Infinite Ochema ×180,000Credits
Tracks of Destiny ×1Obsidian of Obsession ×8Regret of Infinite Ochema ×1160,000Credits
Tracks of Destiny ×1Obsidian of Obsession ×14Regret of Infinite Ochema ×1300,000Credits
One ability maxed
652,500 Credits
Tracks of Destiny ×2Conqueror's Will ×7Obsidian of Obsession ×30Regret of Infinite Ochema ×3Obsidian of Desolation ×15Usurper's Scheme ×13Obsidian of Dread ×3Thief's Instinct ×9All 3 abilities maxed
1,957,500 Credits
Tracks of Destiny ×6Conqueror's Will ×21Obsidian of Obsession ×90Regret of Infinite Ochema ×9Obsidian of Desolation ×45Usurper's Scheme ×39Obsidian of Dread ×9Thief's Instinct ×27E1When using an attack, has a 100% base chance to increase the DoT taken by the target by 30% for 2 turn(s).
E2While Kafka is on the field, DoT dealt by all allies increases by 33%.
E3Skill Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Basic ATK Lv. +1, up to a maximum of Lv. 10.
E4When an enemy target takes DMG from the Shock status inflicted by Kafka, Kafka additionally regenerates 2 Energy.
E5Ultimate Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Talent Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15.
E6The Shock state inflicted on the enemy target by the Ultimate, Technique, or the Talent-triggered Follow-Up ATK has a DMG multiplier increase of 156% and lasts 1 turn(s) longer.
Lightning
Nihility
