Guide to Honkai: Star Rail's New Character "Ruan Po": Mechanics, Light Cones, Relics, and Team Strategies

Dec 11,2024

Version 2.6 of Honkai: Star Rail introduces a fresh character, "Ruan Po," who specializes in knowledge-breaking attacks. Ruan Po significantly enhances basic attack output through his ultimate ability. In specific scenarios, his damage output and resilience reduction capabilities are impressive; however, he struggles in environments lacking numerical weaknesses, which substantially lowers his effectiveness. While Ruan Po showcases solid combat potential, he requires the right conditions to shine, and with two strong support characters, "Sunday" and "Forgotten One," arriving in version 2.7, players may want to consider their needs before pulling for him. For hardcore players, he might not be essential, and his overall versatility isn't high, making him less recommended for newcomers.

Currently, Ruan Po's team composition aligns closely with "Flowing Light," but with version 2.7, players will have the opportunity to build two teams capable of knowledge-breaking strategies, alleviating the issue of lacking teammates. Notably, Ruan Po's ultimate can inflict knowledge-breaking damage even when enemies are not defeated, a design feature that surpasses both "Botiou" and "Flowing Light." He excels in group encounters and against elite foes, particularly when facing four or more enemies. His performance in "Apocalyptic Mirage" and "Fictional Narrative" is commendable, but he lacks compensation against single targets, and showcasing his full strength in "Chaotic Memories" can be challenging.

Mechanics Breakdown

Ruan Po’s primary mechanics revolve around enhancing basic attacks after executing his ultimate. When he uses his ultimate, he triggers a bonus attack similar to "Herscher," allowing him to perform a strengthened basic attack without consuming buffs. This mechanic enables players to control bursts of damage manually, while automated play remains smooth. Following this, he can unleash two additional enhanced basic attacks in subsequent turns. However, during this enhanced state, Ruan Po cannot use his ultimate or skills, and while he won’t regain energy, his efficiency and special damage output improve. Even against foes without numerical weaknesses, he can still deliver half of his resilience reduction effect.

The enhanced basic attack consists of three phases: the first two attacks are spread out, while the final attack targets all enemies. The weakening capabilities are distributed as follows: 25% for the primary target, 15% for spread damage, and 5% for group damage. Ruan Po possesses several abilities to reduce weakening and charge energy, allowing him to complete his ultimate followed by enhanced basic attacks seamlessly. His first constellation grants energy recovery, ensuring stable loops, and he benefits from "Flowing Light" by converting resilience reduction into damage against knowledge-breaking targets, enhancing overall team performance.

Star Soul Analysis

Key constellations include the first, which provides energy recovery that stabilizes ultimate execution, boosting damage by approximately 20% while ignoring defenses. The second constellation enhances single-target damage, improving performance in "Chaotic Memories" and optimizing battles in "Apocalyptic Mirage." The sixth constellation amplifies group damage, though it's generally advised to aim for a maximum of 1+1 constellation investment.

Light Cone Recommendations

For five-star light cones, "Ninja Scroll: Raging Demon" boosts knowledge-breaking special damage by 60%. Upon entering battle, it restores 30 energy points. After executing an ultimate, the user gains "Lightning Escape," allowing for faster actions and removing this effect after two basic attacks. Alternatively, the four-star "Harmonious Silence" enhances knowledge-breaking special damage incrementally and increases speed after using an ultimate for two turns.

Relic Selection

For outer circle relic sets, "Eradication of Pests" enhances knowledge-breaking special damage significantly. When the user's special damage exceeds 150%, they ignore 10% of the target's defense. The inner circle relic set "Thief’s Domain: Talia" provides a general boost to special damage but requires a speed threshold.

Team Composition Strategies

Ruan Po fits well within the current team of "Flowing Light" members, including "Ruan Mei," "Harmonious Master," and "Galahad (Spirit Sand)." In version 2.7, "Forgotten One" can fulfill roles of both "Harmonious Master" and "Ruan Mei," though the mixed version may weaken overall effects. Given Ruan Po's ability to maintain enhanced basic attacks without expending skill points, he presents potential as a secondary damage dealer in suitable support conditions. However, his versatility currently lags behind "Flowing Light" and "Huang Quan."