Cipher Honkai Star Rail Best Relic, Teams & More HSR Guide!

Cipher brings a fresh “thief” style to Honkai: Star Rail. She steals damage from allies’ hits, converts it to true damage, and dishes it out when you need big bursts. This guide covers everything you need: best Light Cones, top Relic sets, ideal team comps, and practical tips. Read on to make your Cipher shine on the Trail. Also check out the new Honkai Star Rail Hyacine Guide!

Who Is Cipher?

Cipher is a Quantum sub-DPS/support who excels at amplifying team damage and delivering hard true-damage strikes. Instead of chunking raw numbers with her own skills, she sets a “Patron” mark on an enemy; every time your teammates hit that target (and its nearby foes), Cipher siphons a percentage of their damage into a pool. When she uses her Ultimate, all recorded damage is unleashed as true damage—ideal for slicing through high-HP bosses.

• Role: Sub-DPS / Team Support (Quantum, Niility)
• Core Mechanic: Marks a high-HP enemy as Patron → Records 12% of ally damage on Patron and 8% on other foes → Deals recorded true damage via Ultimate
• Passive Aura: All enemies take +40% damage as long as Cipher is on the field
• Team Fit: Works well with Feixiao (free-to-play teams), Castrabane, Dr. Ratio, and Acheron comps

Whether you’re free-to-play or ready to invest, Cipher has unique value. Let’s break down how to build her, which Light Cones and Relics to choose, and which teammates pair best.

Best Light Cones for Cipher

1. Lies Dance on the Breeze (Signature Light Cone)

• Stats: +18% SPD, +12% DMG to targets affected by Bamboozle
• Effect: 120% base chance to inflict Bamboozle on hit (16% DEF shred), plus an extra 8% DEF shred

Boosts Cipher’s speed, allowing her to record more damage per turn. Bamboozle applies an extra DEF shred, which stacks with her 40% damage-taken aura. Very easy to trigger on follow-ups and Ultimates, making allies hit harder

2. Resolution Shines (Four-Star)

• Stats: +12% SPD, +10% ATK
• Effect: 80% base chance to apply Ice on hit, dealing 10% ATK Down for one turn

Extra SPD makes Cipher record damage faster. Ice debuff lowers enemy ATK, adding a layer of utility. Readily available if you didn’t pull her signature LC

Top Relic Sets

1. Pioneer Diver of Death Water & Lushaka Survivor of the Sea (4-Piece)

• 2-Piece Bonus: +12% CRIT Rate against debuffed foes
• 4-Piece Bonus: Increase Crit Rate by 4 % deal more damage to debuffed enemies.

Cipher applies a 40% damage-taken debuff by default (and can apply Attack Down), so debuffed foes are always around Extra CRIT Rate helps her follow-up attacks land, and CRIT DMG boosts true damage multipliers

Stat Priority on Relics:

• SPD (try for 170+ on final build)
• CRIT Rate (~40%)
• CRIT DMG (remainder of your offensive slots)
• Effect Hit (40% for reliable Skill debuff)

Best Team Compositions for Cipher

Cipher has flexible synergy, but these four teams highlight her best roles:

Feixiao Team (F2P Friendly)

• Cipher (Sub-DPS/Support)
• March 7th (Feixiao) (DPS)
• Aventurine (Shield & ATK Buff)
• Robin (Support & SP Restore)

Feixiao’s AoE hits feed Cipher’s recorded pool fast. Aventurine shields and buffs Crit DMG for both Feixiao and Cipher. Robin supplies SP so Cipher can Skill/U lt on demand. Cipher’s 40% DMG Taken aura amplifies Feixiao’s output, allowing recorded true damage to skyrocket.

Keep Cipher’s Patron on the boss. Rotate Feixiao and Aventurine to build recorded damage quickly. Use Cipher Ultimate when the boss is alone for maximum true-damage impact.

Ciper HSR Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Is Cipher worth pulling for free-to-play players?

A: Yes. Cipher works well with widely available Light Cones (Resolution Shines or Stella Sea) and F2P-friendly teams like Feixiao & Aventurine. Even without Idolons, her 40% damage-taken buff helps your whole squad clear content faster.

Q2: Which Idolons should I target first?

A: Aim for E1 as soon as you can—+50% recorded damage and +80% ATK on follow-ups amplify her kit handedly. E2 is a nice second stop (extra vulnerability on hit). E4 and E6 are huge scaling points but require more copies.

Q3: Can I replace Topaz with Cipher in my Acheron team?

A: Cipher subbing in for Topaz works if you lack them. She provides one consistent vulnerability node (40% DMG Taken) plus an Attack Down debuff. You’ll lose some freeze or multi-debuff uptime, but Acheron still hits hard enough if your stats are in line.

Q4: How do I avoid splitting too much true damage?

A: Always try to use your Ultimate when the boss is the only remaining enemy (no adds). If adds remain, the true damage splits 25% to boss, 75% to adjacent enemies—which weakens the final burst. Plan your Skill/Ult timing so you clear adds first or bait out attacks before unleashing true damage.

Q5: What substats should I target on Cipher’s Staff and Boots?

A:

• Staff (Orb): Aim for Crit Rate → Crit DMG → ATK.
• Boots: First seek SPD (with a base +10–15 SPD). Once SPD is close to 170, lean toward Crit Rate substats if you’re under 40% CR.

Cipher stands out thanks to her “damage thief” mechanic. She boosts your whole team with a 40% damage-taken aura, records Ally hits into a pool, and then delivers a hard true-damage strike when you need it. With the right Light Cone (Incessant Rain or Resolution Shines) and a four-piece Pioneer or Lustrous Energy, you’ll carve through bosses faster than you might expect.

Whether you’re free-to-play—running an Feixiao team with Aventurine and Robin, Cipher has a flexible niche. She’s especially handy if you lack Topaz or Jao but need a reliable vulnerability node.

Follow this guide to build her for speed, balance crit stats, and choose teammates that keep recorded damage climbing.

Before long, you’ll be cutting through endgame content with Cipher’s true-damage executes leading the charge.

Take these tips, tune your Relics and Light Cone, and watch Cipher transform your squad’s damage output. Good luck on the Trail—let Cipher’s heist begin!