Honkai Star Rail’slatest update, Version 2.5, introduces three new characters: Feixiao and Lingsha as 5-star options, and Moze as a 4-star character. Interestingly, unlike the usual structure with one concurrent rerun banner, this time players will also see three rerun characters—Kafka, Black Swan, and Robin—alongside Feixiao. This makes it particularly challenging for players who were saving resources for these reruns while also being drawn to the new roster. Consequently, choosing which banner to prioritize between the new characters and reruns can be especially tough for those managing limited resources.
Fortunately, choosing between Feixiao and Lingsha might not be too complex since their primary roles and team compositions differ significantly. That said, both characters bring substantial value to the evolving meta, making the decision tricky for any player, especially those weighing their options in terms of team-building needs and playstyle preferences. Here’s what players need to consider when deciding whether to pull for either or both characters, regardless of being free-to-play or not inHonkai: Star Rail.
Feixiao Or Lingsha In Honkai: Star Rail
Ultimately, while player preference should drive the decision, from a meta perspective, understanding the distinct kits, team synergies, and builds of Feixiao and Lingsha is essential for making an informed choice. Thankfully, their roles are vastly different, making the distinction easier compared to version updates that introduce characters with overlapping roles like support or DPS.
Feixiao debuts as a Wind Hunt unit in the first banner, excelling in single-target damage with a focus on herUltimate and follow-up attacks. She’s particularly strong in content like the Memory of Chaos (MoC) where single-target damage is essential. In contrast, Lingsha, who joins on the second half of the verison is a Fire Abundance unit who thrives inWeakness Break teams, much like Gallagher. She applies a debuff that boosts enemies' Break DMG taken, heals the entire team, deals damage with both her skill and ultimate, and can dispel debuffs from allies—making her an excellent choice for versatile teams, including Break-oriented ones.
If players are in need of ahypercarry single-target unit, especially for follow-up attack teams, Feixiao stands out as one of the best recent options, offering great value for MoC and similar content. However, Feixiao’s utility may be more limited in battles requiring AoE characters, such as Apocalyptic Shadow or Pure Fiction. On the other hand, Lingsha offers versatility as a healer with extra utility for Break teams, though she might feel redundant to those who already have Gallagher. Nevertheless, both Feixiao and Lingsha excel in their respective niches—Feixiao as a high-damage hypercarry, and Lingsha as a versatile healer with added Break DMG utility. Their unique mechanics and strengths make them valuable additions to theHonkai: Star Railroster. That being said, choosing both characters could offer significant advantages across multiple areas of gameplay, but skipping them may not result in a substantial loss for most meta content. Here’s a deeper look into their strengths, weaknesses, builds, and roles to further guide player decisions.
Roles
Feixiao is the first 5-star Wind Hunt character inHonkai: Star Rail,joining a roster of Wind characters that has been notably limited, especially when it comes to hyper-carry options. Previously, Blade stood as the primary Wind DPS, but Feixiao introduces a fresh dynamic. Her kit sets her apart from existing Hunt characters by centering around her Ultimate and follow-up attacks. Interestingly, her Ultimate operates similarly to Acheron’s, as it is not triggered by traditional energy regeneration but through accumulating stacks when her allies attack a designated target. This mechanic allows Feixiao to potentially attack multiple times in the same turn and activate her Ultimate more frequently, making her single-target DPS incredibly high. This ability makes her exceptional in Memory of Chaos (MoC).
However, her effectiveness relies heavily on team synergy. Feixiao requires team members who can attack frequently to build her stacks consistently, making her most viable in follow-up attack teams. Without such teams, her Ultimate’s stack accumulation will falter, reducing her overall damage output. Therefore, her team compositions may require premium characters to maximize her potential.
On the other hand, Lingsha offers greater versatility as a healer. While her strength lies in amplifying Break DMG, particularly useful for characters like Firefly or Boothill, her kit also provides healing, debuff dispelling, and follow-up attacks that deal damage. This makes her not only a strong sustain unit but also a valuable asset in offensive-oriented teams. Lingsha’s ability to deal damage, apply debuffs, and provide healing makes her particularly useful in synergy with characters like Feixiao or Acheron. In this regard, she shares some similarities with Aventurine, who provides shields instead of healing but similarly enhances team survival and offense.
Builds
Feixiao, as a hypercarry DPS unit, requires significant investment in her build to maximize her damage output. Players should prioritizeCrit Rate,Crit DMG, andATKin her stats, withSPDalso being useful for maintaining her pace in combat. Her best relic set isThe Wind-Soaring Valorous, which boosts her Crit Rate, ATK, and Ultimate DMG. This set complements her single-target-focused kit. For planar ornaments, theDuran Dynasty of Running Wolvesset is ideal, especially considering Feixiao’s reliance on follow-up attack teams. Althoughthis set might be nicheand take time to farm, alternative relics likeThe Ashblazing Grand DukeorIzumo Gensei and Takama Divine Realmare good fallback options.
Feixiao’s best light cone is her signature,I Venture Forth to Hunt, which increases Crit Rate and allows her Ultimate to ignore enemy DEF. While this is her top choice, Feixiao is not as dependent on her signature light cone as other 5-star characters like Boothill or Acheron. She can still perform well with alternatives such asBaptism of Pure ThoughtorWorrisome, Blissful. For players looking for more accessible options,Cruising in the Stellar SeaorSwordplayare solid free-to-play light cones that also enhance her performance.
In contrast, Lingsha, as asupport-oriented healer, has a simpler build that focuses onBreak Effect,ATK, andSPD. Depending on the team’s composition, Lingsha can effectively use relic sets likeIron Cavalry’s Homing Helm,Thief of Shooting Meteor, andPasserby of Wandering Cloud. Planar ornament sets likeForge of the Kalpagni Lantern,Talia: Kingdom of Banditry, orFleet of the Agelessare great choices depending on the team needs.
As a healer, Lingsha’s effectiveness isn’t heavily dependent on her light cone, though her signature,Scent Alone Stays True, is excellent for enhancing her Break Effect and adding a debuff that increases enemy DMG taken. However, this light cone is fairly niche, benefiting only her and Gallagher, so it’s a significant investment for a stat not widely used by most characters. The 4-star alternative,What Is Real?, is also a solid choice for her. Generally, any abundance light cone, regardless of rarity, will suffice to boost her healing potential without much difference in performance.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Feixiao and Lingsha, with their differing roles, bring distinct strengths and weaknesses to the table. While their unique abilities compensate for some of these weaknesses, it’s important for players to carefully evaluate them before deciding to invest in either character.
Verdict: Pulling Feixiao vs Lingsha
When deciding whether to pull for Feixiao or Lingsha, the choice largely depends on the player’s current team needs and their preferred playstyle. Feixiao offers a powerful single-target DPS option, excelling in follow-up attack teams with high damage potential, making her a strong pick for those seeking to dominate boss battles or Memory of Chaos. However, her reliance on team synergy and the need for heavy investment make her less appealing for players without the necessary resources or complementary characters. Lingsha, on the other hand, provides a versatile healing and debuffing role, ideal for players looking to bolster their team’s sustainability while increasing Break DMG. While not as flashy as Feixiao, her utility across a variety of teams and content makes her a valuable addition. For players who already have strong DPS and sustain options, pulling for both may not be necessary, but if you’re in need of a powerful follow-up attacker or a flexible support, either character can be a worthwhile addition to the roster. Ultimately, consider the team’s needs and the resources at hand before deciding to pull for one or both. Below aspects can be quite useful especially when considering for team synergies:
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