Phainon Build Guide
Best relics, light cones, team compositions & trace priority for Honkai Star Rail 4.0 (February 2026)
📖 Phainon Overview
Phainon is a 5-star Physical Destruction character and the strongest DPS in Honkai Star Rail. His unique Coreflame mechanic replaces the standard energy system — he needs 12 Coreflame stacks to activate his Ultimate, which transforms him into an enhanced state for 8 solo turns of devastating damage. During this transformation, all allies become Departed (removed from combat), and all enemies gain Physical Weakness.
Element
Physical
Path
Destruction
Rarity
★★★★★
Tier
SS
⚔️ Skills Breakdown
Basic Attack
Deals Physical DMG to a single enemy. Used primarily to generate Scourge stacks.
Skill
Deals Physical DMG to a single enemy and adjacent targets. Generates 2 Coreflame stacks. This is his most important trace.
Ultimate
Requires 12 Coreflame. Transforms Phainon into enhanced state (Territory). Removes allies from combat, applies Physical Weakness to all enemies. Provides 8 enhanced turns.
Talent
When targeted by ally abilities or enemy attacks, gains 1 Coreflame. When targeted by ally abilities, gains 30% CRIT DMG for 3 turns.
Technique
Destroys all enemies hit. Consumes 2 SP unless no enemy is hit. Increases max Technique Points by 3.
🛡️ Best Relics & Planar Ornaments
Relic Sets
🏆 Best in Slot
Wavestrider Captain (4pc)
Alternatives
Scholar Lost in Erudition (4pc), Champion of Streetwise Boxing (4pc)
Planar Ornaments
🏆 Best in Slot
Arcadia of Woven Dreams
Alternatives
Rutilant Arena, Firmament Frontline: Glamoth
🔮 Best Light Cones
🏆 Best in Slot
Thus Burns the Dawn (Signature)
Alternatives (ranked)
On the Fall of an Aeon (F2P), A Trail of Bygone Blood (4★), Brighter Than the Sun, I Shall Be My Own Sword, Under the Blue Sky (4★)
📊 Stat Priority & Main Stats
Body
CRIT Rate
Feet
ATK% or SPD
Sphere
Physical DMG Bonus
Rope
ATK%
Sub-stat Priority
CRIT Rate > CRIT DMG > ATK% > SPD
Target Stats
100% CRIT Rate, 180%+ CRIT DMG, 136 SPD breakpoint
👥 Best Team Compositions
🏆 Optimal Teams
Alternative Teams
📈 Trace & Eidolon Priority
Trace Upgrade Order
Skill > Ultimate > Talent > Basic Attack
Eidolon Priority
E1 (huge DPS increase) > E2 > E6
✅ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Strongest DPS in the game with massive damage during enhanced state
Nearly indestructible during Ultimate — built-in sustain
Applies Physical Weakness to ALL enemies
F2P-friendly team compositions and Light Cone options
Can self-dispel debuffs
❌ Cons
Damage outside of enhanced state is mediocre
Allies cannot act during his Ultimate (no mid-fight support)
Requires proper buff timing before transformation
Selfish DPS — entire team revolves around him
💡 Tips & Tricks
Stack all buffs on Phainon BEFORE using Ultimate — buffs persist through transformation.
Sunday is his best partner because turn advance and energy restoration both generate Coreflame.
You can skip a Sustain character entirely since allies are Departed during Ultimate.
Target 136 SPD if using action-advance supports like Bronya or Sunday.
His Technique destroys overworld enemies instantly — great for farming.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best relics for Phainon?
The best relic set is Wavestrider Captain (4pc) paired with Arcadia of Woven Dreams as the planar ornament. Alternatives include Scholar Lost in Erudition (4pc), Champion of Streetwise Boxing (4pc).
What is the best Light Cone for Phainon?
The best Light Cone is Thus Burns the Dawn (Signature). Good alternatives include: On the Fall of an Aeon (F2P), A Trail of Bygone Blood (4★), Brighter Than the Sun, I Shall Be My Own Sword, Under the Blue Sky (4★).
What tier is Phainon in HSR 4.0?
Phainon is ranked SS Tier in our Honkai Star Rail 4.0 tier list as of February 2026.
Is Phainon worth pulling?
As a SS Tier Main DPS, Phainon is absolutely worth pulling and one of the best investments in the game.