Honkai: Star Rail Pure Fiction Guide ⎼ Character Tier List & Team Compositions (02/03/2026)
Honkai: Star Rail’s new Pure Fiction mode emphasizes AoE damage and crowd control, shifting the meta; this guide ranks characters for optimal team building and rewards.
Pure Fiction represents a significant evolution in Honkai: Star Rail’s endgame content, demanding strategic team compositions and a deep understanding of character synergies. Unlike the Simulated Universe or Memory of Chaos, Pure Fiction throws players into relentless waves of enemies, prioritizing sustained damage output and efficient energy management. The mode’s unique challenge lies in its endless nature, requiring teams capable of consistently breaking enemy weaknesses and capitalizing on follow-up attacks.
This guide aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current meta, focusing on character tier lists and effective team archetypes specifically tailored for Pure Fiction. We’ll analyze which characters excel in this environment, considering factors like AoE capabilities, Break Effect application, and overall survivability. Prepare to optimize your roster and conquer the endless depths of Pure Fiction!
What is Pure Fiction Mode?
Pure Fiction is a challenging, new game mode in Honkai: Star Rail focused on continuous combat against escalating waves of enemies. It diverges from previous modes by removing the concept of a final boss, instead testing a player’s team’s endurance and damage output over extended battles. Players deploy a team to fight through increasingly difficult stages, earning rewards based on their highest cleared stage and accumulated score.
The mode emphasizes strategic team building, as consistent damage and effective Break Effect application are crucial for success. Unlike other content, Pure Fiction rewards AoE damage dealers and supports who can consistently buff and sustain the team. It’s a true test of a player’s roster depth and understanding of character synergies.
Key Mechanics of Pure Fiction
Pure Fiction introduces unique mechanics centered around sustained combat. Enemies possess varying Break Effects, demanding teams capable of exploiting weaknesses. Energy generation is paramount, as consistent Ultimate usage is vital for damage and support. The mode features a “stacking” mechanic where enemy stats increase with each wave, requiring escalating damage output.
Furthermore, character selection impacts the available “Echoes of War” – passive buffs that modify gameplay. Understanding these Echoes and building teams to maximize their benefits is crucial. Effective teams prioritize consistent damage, Break Effect application, and reliable sustain to overcome the relentless enemy waves.
Scoring System & Rewards
Pure Fiction’s scoring is based on three primary factors: speed, efficiency, and combat points. Faster clears yield higher scores, incentivizing optimized team compositions and skillful play. Efficiency is measured by the number of times your team is defeated, penalizing reliance on revives. Combat points are awarded for defeating enemies and triggering Break Effects.
Rewards include Stellar Jades, Star Rail Passes, and character upgrade materials. Completing higher difficulty levels unlocks exclusive rewards, such as the 4-Star Light Cone, “Lynx.” Consistent participation and high scores contribute to seasonal rankings, offering additional incentives for competitive players.
DPS Tier List
DPS characters are crucial in Pure Fiction, with Argenti, Himeko, and Kafka leading the charge due to their consistent and powerful damage output.
S-Tier DPS Characters
S-Tier represents the pinnacle of damage dealing in Pure Fiction. Argenti consistently tops performance charts, excelling in sustained damage and efficiently clearing waves of enemies. Following closely is Himeko, providing reliable AoE damage that’s invaluable against numerous opponents.
Kafka distinguishes herself as a unique DPS, specializing in debuffing enemies and unleashing devastating follow-up attacks. Her ability to disrupt enemy actions and amplify team damage makes her a cornerstone of many successful strategies. These characters demonstrate exceptional performance, offering significant advantages in tackling the challenges presented by Pure Fiction’s endless waves.
Argenti ⎼ The Top Performer
Argenti consistently demonstrates exceptional performance in Pure Fiction, solidifying his position as the premier DPS choice. His sustained damage output is remarkably efficient, allowing him to swiftly clear waves of enemies. This is crucial in a mode defined by endless encounters.
Argenti’s kit synergizes exceptionally well with Pure Fiction’s mechanics, maximizing his damage potential. Players report significant success pairing him with support characters like Tribbie, further amplifying his already impressive capabilities. He’s a reliable and powerful asset for any team composition aiming for high scores.
Himeko ⎼ Consistent AoE Damage
Himeko excels in Pure Fiction due to her reliable and substantial Area of Effect (AoE) damage. The mode’s relentless enemy waves demand characters capable of clearing large groups efficiently, and Himeko delivers consistently. Her ability to quickly dispatch multiple opponents makes her a valuable asset in prolonged battles.
While not reaching Argenti’s peak performance, Himeko remains a strong contender, particularly for players who haven’t invested in the 5-star options. She provides a solid foundation for team compositions focused on sustained damage and efficient enemy control within Pure Fiction.
Kafka ⎼ Debuff & Follow-Up Specialist
Kafka shines in Pure Fiction as a premier debuffer and follow-up damage dealer. Her unique ability to apply a debuff that triggers additional attacks from teammates synergizes exceptionally well with the mode’s extended combat duration. This allows for consistent, amplified damage output against the endless waves of enemies.
Kafka’s strategic application of debuffs, combined with team compositions built around exploiting them, can significantly enhance a team’s overall effectiveness. She’s a key component for maximizing damage potential and controlling the battlefield in Pure Fiction.
A-Tier DPS Characters
A-Tier DPS characters offer substantial damage output in Pure Fiction, though they may require more specific team compositions or have slight limitations compared to S-Tier options. Jingliu demonstrates strong performance, but her reliance on specific team dynamics keeps her from the top tier. Similarly, DHIL (Dan Heng • Imbibitor Lunae) possesses high potential, yet mastering his complex mechanics is crucial for maximizing his effectiveness.
These characters are viable choices, capable of clearing content, but may not consistently outperform the elite S-Tier DPS units in all scenarios.
Jingliu ‒ Strong but Niche
Jingliu proves a potent DPS option in Pure Fiction, capable of significant damage, but her effectiveness is heavily reliant on team synergy. She isn’t a universally applicable powerhouse; her performance spikes when paired with specific supports, notably Tribbie, allowing for substantial damage amplification. Without this tailored support, her output diminishes, preventing her from reaching S-Tier consistency.
While capable of achieving impressive numbers – like 38k damage with optimal team setups – Jingliu’s niche requirements limit her broader applicability within Pure Fiction’s diverse challenges.
DHIL (Dan Heng • Imbibitor Lunae) ‒ High Potential, Complex
DHIL (Dan Heng • Imbibitor Lunae) possesses considerable damage potential within Pure Fiction, yet realizing this power demands a deep understanding of his mechanics and meticulous team construction. He’s a complex unit, requiring careful energy management and precise timing to maximize his output. Mastering his unique playstyle is crucial for success.
Despite his high ceiling, DHIL’s complexity prevents him from consistently outperforming simpler, more reliable DPS options. He remains a strong contender for dedicated players, but isn’t a straightforward pick for all teams.
B-Tier DPS Characters
B-Tier DPS characters in Pure Fiction offer viable, though not exceptional, damage output. Herta surprisingly excels due to the mode’s endless waves, making her AoE capabilities highly effective. Serval provides consistent damage alongside valuable energy generation, ensuring frequent ultimate usage and sustained combat presence.
While capable, these characters generally require more specific team compositions or investment to truly shine. They aren’t as universally strong as higher-tier options, but can contribute meaningfully to successful runs with proper support and strategic play.
Herta ⎼ The Top Performer
Herta emerges as a surprisingly potent DPS choice in Pure Fiction, defying expectations. Her strength lies in consistent AoE damage, perfectly suited for the mode’s endless enemy waves. While often overlooked in other content, Herta’s ability to clear large groups efficiently makes her a valuable asset.
Compared to higher-tier options like Argenti or Himeko, Herta requires less investment to perform effectively. Players report she often outperforms characters initially ranked higher, particularly when paired with synergistic supports. She’s a strong contender for players seeking a reliable, accessible DPS option.
Serval ‒ Consistent Damage & Energy Gain
Serval proves to be a consistently reliable DPS option within Pure Fiction, offering a blend of sustained damage output and valuable energy generation. Her kit allows for frequent Ultimate usage, contributing to overall team performance against the relentless waves of enemies.
Players have noted Serval’s effectiveness, particularly when building teams focused on maintaining consistent pressure. While not reaching the peak damage potential of S-Tier characters, she provides a solid foundation for many team compositions. Her energy-recharge capabilities are especially beneficial in this endurance-focused mode.
Support Tier List
Support characters are crucial in Pure Fiction, enhancing DPS output and team survivability; Guinafen and Ruan Mei currently dominate this role.
S-Tier Support Characters
Guinafen stands out as a premier Support in Pure Fiction, primarily due to her exceptional Break Effect capabilities and significant damage amplification for the team. Her ability to consistently shatter enemy weaknesses is invaluable against the relentless waves of opponents. This makes her a cornerstone for many successful compositions.
Ruan Mei is equally impactful, offering a potent combination of an ultimate skill that boosts team performance and a suite of buffs. These buffs significantly enhance damage output and overall efficiency, allowing teams to clear stages more quickly and reliably. Her versatility and consistent contribution secure her place at the top.
These two characters consistently outperform others in Pure Fiction, providing substantial advantages that are difficult to replicate.
Guinafen ⎼ Break Effect & Damage Boost
Guinafen excels in Pure Fiction due to her unparalleled ability to consistently inflict Break on enemies. This is crucial in a mode defined by endless waves, as breaking weaknesses quickly disables opponents and maximizes damage opportunities. Her kit isn’t just about breaking; it also provides a substantial damage boost to allies.
This amplification synergizes perfectly with high-damage DPS characters, allowing them to clear stages with increased efficiency. Players report significant improvements in clear times when Guinafen is included in their teams. She’s particularly effective against enemies with multiple weaknesses, making her a versatile pick.
Her consistent performance solidifies her position as an S-Tier Support.
Ruan Mei ⎼ Ultimate Skill & Buffs
Ruan Mei stands out in Pure Fiction as a premier Support, primarily due to her incredibly potent Ultimate skill. This skill provides a significant damage buff to the entire team, dramatically increasing their offensive output against the relentless waves of enemies. Beyond the damage boost, Ruan Mei offers a suite of buffs that enhance team performance.
These include increased Speed and Action Advance, allowing units to act more frequently and capitalize on enemy weaknesses. Her ability to consistently provide these buffs makes her invaluable in prolonged battles. Players consistently report faster clears and higher scores with Ruan Mei in their compositions.
She’s a cornerstone of many top-tier teams.
A-Tier Support Characters
A-Tier Support characters in Pure Fiction offer substantial benefits, though they may require more specific team compositions than their S-Tier counterparts. Asta excels at boosting team Speed and providing Action Advance, enabling frequent turns and maximizing damage output. Bronya similarly offers Action Advance, coupled with a potent damage buff, making her a strong choice for amplifying a single DPS’s performance.
These supports aren’t quite as universally effective as the top tier, but are still incredibly valuable. Strategic team building is key to unlocking their full potential in the challenging Pure Fiction mode.
Asta ⎼ Speed Buffs & Action Advance
Asta shines in Pure Fiction due to her exceptional Speed buffing capabilities and consistent Action Advance. Her skill allows teams to cycle through turns more rapidly, crucial for maximizing damage output against the relentless waves of enemies. This is particularly effective when paired with DPS characters who benefit from frequent turns.
While not offering direct damage amplification like some supports, Asta’s ability to control the battle’s pace is invaluable. She enables quicker Break Effect application and more opportunities to trigger follow-up attacks, solidifying her place as a strong A-Tier support.
Bronya ⎼ Action Advance & Damage Boost
Bronya remains a potent A-Tier support in Pure Fiction, primarily for her Action Advance and substantial damage boosting capabilities. Her skill grants an ally an extra turn, allowing for immediate follow-up damage or strategic Break Effect application against the numerous enemies. This is incredibly valuable for maximizing burst potential.
Furthermore, Bronya’s damage buff significantly enhances the output of key DPS characters. While her utility is high, she requires careful team composition to fully capitalize on her abilities, making her slightly less universally effective than some other supports.
B-Tier Support Characters
B-Tier supports offer valuable contributions but lack the consistent impact of higher-tier options in Pure Fiction. Tingyun provides reliable energy recharge and ATK boosts, aiding in consistent ultimate uptime for DPS characters. However, her impact is less pronounced compared to dedicated energy-focused supports.
Pela excels at DEF shred and damage reduction, offering survivability, but her offensive utility is limited. While useful, these characters require specific team compositions to shine, and their overall effectiveness doesn’t consistently match the top-tier supports.
Tingyun ⎼ Energy Recharge & ATK Boost
Tingyun consistently delivers energy recharge and ATK boosts, proving valuable for enabling frequent ultimate usage from your primary DPS. Her skill grants energy, accelerating ultimate availability, crucial in Pure Fiction’s endless waves. The ATK buff further enhances damage output, though it’s less impactful than specialized damage amplification.
While a solid choice, Tingyun’s benefits are somewhat overshadowed by supports offering more potent buffs or unique utility. She excels in teams needing consistent energy, but struggles to compete with top-tier supports in overall team performance.
Pela ‒ DEF Shred & Damage Reduction
Pela offers a unique blend of DEF shred and damage reduction, providing both offensive and defensive capabilities. Her DEF shred is particularly valuable against enemies with high defense, common in later Pure Fiction stages, significantly boosting team damage. The damage reduction adds survivability, crucial for prolonged battles.
However, Pela’s effectiveness is tied to specific team compositions and enemy types. While strong against high-DEF foes, her impact diminishes against enemies lacking substantial defense. She’s a niche pick, excelling in tailored teams but falling short of broader utility.
Sustain Tier List
Sustain characters are vital in Pure Fiction, ensuring team survival through relentless waves. Healing and shielding are key to overcoming challenging encounters.
S-Tier Sustain Characters
Luocha stands alone as the premier Sustain choice for Pure Fiction. His consistent healing, coupled with damage reduction through his Skill, provides unparalleled survivability against the mode’s endless onslaught of enemies. He excels at mitigating damage across the entire team, ensuring they can consistently output damage.
His ability to remove debuffs further enhances his value, preventing debilitating effects from hindering your team’s performance. Luocha’s reliable kit makes him an indispensable asset, allowing for aggressive team compositions focused on maximizing damage output without fear of being overwhelmed. He is a cornerstone for success in this challenging game mode, consistently outperforming other options.
Luocha ‒ Reliable Healing & Damage Reduction
Luocha consistently delivers exceptional healing and damage reduction, making him a top-tier Sustain character in Pure Fiction. His Skill provides a substantial healing effect to a single ally, while simultaneously granting a shield that absorbs incoming damage. This dual-layered protection ensures consistent survivability against the relentless waves of enemies.
Furthermore, Luocha’s ultimate ability offers team-wide healing and damage reduction, bolstering the entire team’s resilience. His unique mechanic of delaying healing until an ally takes damage optimizes efficiency, preventing wasted healing. He’s a cornerstone for aggressive teams, enabling consistent damage output.
A-Tier Sustain Characters
Bailu offers significant healing, complemented by her unique ‘bounce’ mechanic, distributing healing to multiple allies, though sometimes unpredictably. Gepard excels at providing robust shielding, mitigating substantial damage and enhancing team survivability, particularly effective against coordinated enemy attacks. Both characters demonstrate strong capabilities in Pure Fiction, but fall slightly short of Luocha’s consistent reliability.
While capable, they require more strategic team building to maximize their effectiveness. Bailu’s healing can be less consistent, and Gepard’s shielding may not always cover all damage types. Nevertheless, they remain valuable assets for players seeking alternative sustain options.
Bailu ⎼ Healing & Bounce Healing
Bailu distinguishes herself with potent single-target healing and a unique ‘bounce’ mechanic, distributing excess healing to other allies. This can be incredibly valuable in Pure Fiction’s chaotic encounters, rapidly restoring team health. However, the bounce effect isn’t always predictable, potentially favoring already healthy characters.
Her skill ceiling is moderate; mastering timing and understanding bounce priorities maximizes her utility. While not as consistently reliable as Luocha, Bailu provides substantial healing output and can significantly improve survivability, especially when paired with teams needing focused recovery.
Gepard ‒ Shielding & Damage Reduction
Gepard excels at providing robust shielding, mitigating incoming damage and bolstering team resilience in Pure Fiction’s relentless waves. His shields are particularly effective against sustained damage, offering consistent protection throughout prolonged battles. This makes him a strong choice for teams lacking immediate burst healing.
While his offensive capabilities are limited, Gepard’s defensive prowess is invaluable. He’s a solid A-Tier pick, offering reliable damage reduction and enabling DPS characters to operate more safely. Strategic shield deployment is key to maximizing his effectiveness, anticipating enemy attacks and proactively protecting vulnerable allies.
B-Tier Sustain Characters
B-Tier Sustain characters offer viable, though less impactful, survivability options for Pure Fiction. Fu Xuan provides a unique blend of crit rate buffs and damage reduction, enhancing team consistency but lacking the raw healing or shielding of higher tiers. Her utility shines in specific compositions.
These characters require more strategic team building to compensate for their limitations. While not essential, they can contribute meaningfully with proper support. They are dependable options for players lacking access to S or A-Tier sustain, offering a baseline level of protection against the mode’s challenges.
Fu Xuan ‒ Crit Rate & Damage Reduction
Fu Xuan distinguishes herself in Pure Fiction with a unique kit centered around crit rate buffs and damage reduction, offering a different approach to survivability. Unlike dedicated healers or shielders, she enhances the team’s offensive capabilities while mitigating incoming damage. This makes her a valuable asset in compositions prioritizing consistent, high-damage output.
However, her effectiveness is contingent on team synergy. She doesn’t provide burst healing or strong shielding, requiring careful consideration of other support characters. Fu Xuan’s subtle yet impactful buffs can significantly improve a team’s overall performance.
Team Composition Strategies
Pure Fiction success hinges on synergy; prioritize Break Effect, energy recharge, and DPS/support pairings for maximizing damage output and sustaining through endless waves.
Synergies Between DPS & Supports
Effective team compositions in Pure Fiction demand careful consideration of DPS and Support character synergies. Argenti benefits immensely from Guinafen’s Break Effect amplification and damage boosts, creating a potent offensive core. Similarly, Himeko pairs well with supports providing energy recharge, like Tingyun, to maintain consistent AoE damage output.
Kafka’s debuffing capabilities are best utilized alongside follow-up attackers, maximizing her impact. Jingliu, while niche, thrives with supports that can consistently apply Weakness Break. Understanding these interactions is crucial; a well-coordinated team significantly outperforms a collection of individually strong characters. Prioritize supports that complement your DPS’s strengths and mitigate their weaknesses for optimal results.
Importance of Break Effect in Teams
Break Effect is paramount in Pure Fiction due to the relentless waves of enemies. Characters like Guinafen excel at consistently applying Weakness Break, significantly reducing enemy defenses and increasing damage taken. This is especially valuable against the diverse enemy types encountered in the mode.
Supports who amplify Break Effect, such as Ruan Mei, further enhance this strategy. Teams built around maximizing Break Effect can clear stages more efficiently, even with DPS characters who aren’t top-tier individually. Prioritizing Break Effect allows for consistent damage output and control, making it a cornerstone of successful Pure Fiction teams.
Energy Recharge Considerations
Pure Fiction’s continuous combat demands consistent Ultimate usage. Prioritize characters with inherent energy generation or include supports like Tingyun to address energy needs. Insufficient energy leads to DPS downtime and reduced team effectiveness.
Consider Light Cone and Relic selections to supplement energy recharge where necessary. Teams relying on frequent Ultimates, such as those featuring Ruan Mei, require careful energy management. Balancing damage stats with sufficient energy recharge is crucial for maintaining a consistent offensive and supportive presence throughout the challenging Pure Fiction encounters.
Team Archetypes for Pure Fiction
Pure Fiction thrives on specific team compositions. “Break Effect” teams, utilizing Guinafen and similar characters, excel at weakening enemies. “DoT” (Damage over Time) teams, while viable, often require specific setups like Acheron-focused squads. Hypercarry teams, centered around Argenti or Himeko, demand strong support to maximize damage output.
Dual-DPS compositions offer flexibility but require careful energy management. Prioritize synergy between characters; for example, pairing Argenti with Tingyun boosts his energy and damage. Adapt your archetype based on enemy weaknesses and available character resources for optimal success.
