Black Swan, a top-tier 5-star Nihility character in Honkai Star Rail, specializes in Wind damage and excels in DoT DPS setups. Her kit is intricate but promises exceptional DoT damage potential. Set to debut in the upcoming Honkai Star Rail 2.0 update, here’s a breakdown of Black Swan’s abilities and the optimal build you’ll want to aim for if you’re planning to recruit her.
Understanding Black Swan in Honkai Star Rail
Black Swan serves as the Memokeeper within the Garden of Recollection. Described as a mysterious and elegant seer, she carries a gentle smile and listens attentively to others, using their words as a gateway into their memories.
Black Swan Release Date
While Black Swan is slated for release in the Honkai Star Rail 2.0 update, the specific phase, whether phase 1 or 2 featuring her in the character banners remains undisclosed. The anticipated launch date for the HSR 2.0 update is estimated to be February 7, 2024.
Black Swan’s Cycle Rotation And Kit (At Max Level)
Upon her release, Black Swan is poised to ascend rapidly in the Honkai Star Rail character tier list. Her intricate kit harbors immense damage potential. Let’s delve into the details of Black Swan’s abilities and explore optimal strategies for harnessing her power to its fullest extent.
- Percipience, Silent Dawn (Basic Attack): Strikes a single enemy with Wind damage, potentially inflicting a stack of Sacrament. If the target already suffers from certain debuffs, there’s a chance to add more Sacrament stacks.
- Decadence, False Twilight (Skill): Unleashes Blast Wind Damage on enemies, inflicting a stack of Sacrament and reducing enemy Defense by 23.8% for 3 turns.
- Bliss of Otherworld’s Embrace (Ultimate): Deals AoE Wind Damage and bestows Epiphany upon enemies for 2 turns. Epiphany increases enemy damage taken by 30% on their turn. Sacrament effects during Epiphany are treated as Wind Shear, Bleed, Burn, or Shock, stacking without resetting.
- Loom of Fate’s Caprice (Talent): Inflicts Sacrament on enemies receiving Damage over Time (DoT), causing Wind DoT based on Black Swan’s Attack. DoT increases with each Sacrament stack (up to 99). Multiple Sacrament stacks trigger various effects, like dealing DoT to adjacent enemies or ignoring Defense under specific stack conditions.
- From Façade to Vérité (Technique): Upon entering battle, inflicts Sacrament on all enemies with a high initial chance and continues doing so repeatedly with a decreased chance until failing.
Black Swan’s strategy centers on afflicting enemies with the Sacrament debuff, accumulating up to 99 stacks. While both her Skill and Basic Attack can apply Sacrament, prioritizing her Skill is crucial. The number of Sacrament stacks escalates alongside additional DoT debuffs on foes, emphasizing the need for a companion who can apply debuffs to maximize her damage potential.
Black Swan: Planar Ornaments, Relics & Sub Stats
Black Swan’s intricate kit holds the potential for immense damage output when paired with the right Relics, Planar Ornaments, and Stats. Here’s the optimal setup for the best Black Swan build in Honkai Star Rail.
Best Relics for Black Swan
- 4-piece Prisoner in Deep Confinement set (Best for Black Swan)
The 4-piece Prisoner in Deep Confinement set proves ideal for Black Swan’s DoT-centric build. This relic set grants a 12% flat boost to attack and reduces enemy defense by 6% for each DoT applied (up to 3), substantially amplifying Black Swan’s damage potential.
Best Planar Ornaments for Black Swan
- 2-piece Space Sealing Station set (Best for Black Swan)
- 2-piece Firmament Frontline: Glamoth set (Best for Speed builds)
- 2-piece Pan-Cosmic Commercial Enterprise set (Good for meeting the effect hit rate requirements of Black Swan)
For Black Swan’s Planar Ornaments, the 2-piece Space Sealing Stations stands out as optimal, providing a direct attack increase for any build. Alternatively, opt for the 2-piece Firmament Frontline: Glamoth if pursuing a speed-focused build and meeting the challenging 160-speed requirement during combat.
Opting for the 2-piece Pan-Cosmic Commercial Enterprise is also a valuable choice, enhancing Black Swan’s effect hit rate for added effectiveness.
Best Main and Sub Stats
Best Light Cones for Black Swan
- Reforged Remembrance (Signature Light Cone): Boosts Effect Hit rate by 40%. When the wearer damages an enemy already suffering from Wind Shear, Burn, Shock, or Bleed, they gain 1 stack of Prophecy (max 4 stacks). Each type of DoT contributes 1 stack. Each Prophecy stack raises the wearer’s Attack by 5% and enables DoT to bypass 7.2% of the target’s Defense.
- Eyes of the Prey (Best 4-Star Alternative): Elevates Effect Hit Rate by 20% and enhances DoT by 24%.
- Solitary Healing (Best F2P option): Heightens the Wearer’s Break Effect by 20%. Additionally, boosts DoT by 24% for 2 turns upon the wearer’s Ultimate use. Defeating an enemy affected by the Wearer’s DoT regenerates 4 energy for the wearer.
Black Swan Ascension and Trace Materials
All Ascension Materials for Black Swan:
All Trace Materials for Black Swan:
Black Swan Eidolons in Honkai Star Rail
- Seven Pillars of Wisdom (E1): Lowers Wind, Physical, and Lightning Resistance for enemies with corresponding status effects (Wind Shear, Bleeding, Burning, and Shocked) while Black Swan is active in battle.
- Weep Not For Me, My Lamb (E2): Upon the defeat of an enemy afflicted with Sacrament, applies 5 stacks of Sacrament to adjacent enemies.
- As Above, So Below (E3): Increases Skill Level by 2 (max Level 15) and Talent Level by 2 (max Level 15).
- In Tears We Gift (E4): Reduces enemies’ effect Resistance by 10% during the Epiphany state. Additionally, Black Swan gains 8 energy upon the defeat of an afflicted enemy. This effect triggers once per Epiphany and refreshes upon reapplication.
- Linnutee Flyway (E5): Raises Ultimate Level by 2 (max Level 15) and Basic Attack Level by 1 (max Level 10).
- Pantheon Merciful, Masses Pitiful (E6): When allies strike enemies, Black Swan has a 65% base chance to inflict Sacrament on all hit enemies. Upon Black Swan inflicting Sacrament, there’s a 50% chance to increase the Sacrament stack by 1.
Black Swan Traces in Honkai Star Rail
Bonus Abilities:
- Viscera’s Disquiet (Ascension 2): Upon using her Skill, applies 1 stack of Sacrament to a single target for each debuff (Wind Shear, Bleed, Burn, or Shock) present on the enemy.
- Goblet’s Dredges (Ascension 4): With a 65% base chance, inflicts 1 stack of Sacrament up to 3 times from a single attack, each time a target suffers from DoT during allies’ single attacks.
- Candleflame’s Portent (Ascension 6): Amplifies damage by an amount equal to 60% of her Effect Hit Rate, with a maximum of 72% damage increase.
Stat Boosts:
- Wind Damage Boost: 14.4%
- Attack Boost: 28%
- Effect Hit Rate Boost: 10%
Best Team Comps For Black Swan
Black Swan thrives in DoT-focused squads. If Kafka is in your roster, she makes an excellent companion for Black Swan. Alternatively, consider utilizing other debuff providers like Guinafe, Luka, or Sampo if Kafka isn’t available. Additionally, pairing Black Swan with Pela or Silver Wolf proves beneficial. While Black Swan complements most Sustain characters, Huohuo stands out by granting an Attack boost and hastening energy regeneration.
Is Summoning Black Swan Worth It in Honkai Star Rail?
Black Swan stands as a potent force in HSR, especially within DoT-oriented teams. If you’ve previously invested in DoT characters or aim to explore this strategy, Black Swan is a compelling choice worth considering. As for my thoughts on Black Swan and pulling for her, I’m intrigued by her potential but would love to hear more about your strategy and approach before making a decision!
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