Jiaoqiu is the latest 5-star character in Honkai Star Rail, but he’s probably the most underwhelming one yet. While Honkai Star Rail is known for introducing unique characters with distinct abilities, Jiaoqiu initially seemed like a promising addition as a DoT (Damage over Time) character, especially with the current strength of DoT team compositions. Unfortunately, his launch has been disappointing, with Jiaoqiu being useful only in very specific scenarios and often outperformed by 4-star characters. Here’s why Jiaoqiu is one 5-star character in Honkai Star Rail you should definitely skip.
Jiaoqiu Is a Missed Opportunity as a Nihility Sustain
When Jiaoqiu was first announced by Hoyoverse, he was billed as a healer, which excited me as it meant my DoT team of Kafka, Black Swan, and Sampo would finally have a Nihility healer. Unfortunately, Honkai Star Rail took a different direction, rebranding Jiaoqiu as a debuffer rather than the anticipated healer or sustain role.
In my opinion, this was a missed opportunity. A Nihility healer could have introduced a fresh dynamic to DoT teams, which I find to be the most enjoyable team compositions in the game. Such a character would likely attract more players and boost the number of pulls. Unfortunately, Honkai Star Rail deviated from this concept, transforming Jiaoqiu into a debuffer/support unit. Even this shift would have been acceptable if Jiaoqiu’s kit didn’t end up being overshadowed by nearly every other 5-star and even some 4-star support characters in the game.
Jiaoqiu Only Shines in Acheron Teams
Jiaoqiu is an ideal support for Acheron teams, making him a must-have if you’re focused on Acheron. For other team compositions, however, he can be easily substituted by other 5-star or even 4-star supports. Jiaoqiu’s skill applies debuffs to enemies, increasing the damage they take. These debuffs help Acheron quickly accumulate stacks to unlock her Ultimate.
Without Acheron, Jiaoqiu’s value significantly diminishes. Every 5-star Harmony unit surpasses Jiaoqiu, and even other 5-star debuffing supports like Silver Wolf have more compelling abilities. In many scenarios, 4-star supports such as Pela and Tingyun outperform Jiaoqiu, especially considering the lower investment required. Even Guinaifen, a 4-star character, can rival Jiaoqiu in many cases, particularly with her E6.
Jiaoqiu’s main advantage is in Acheron teams and Pure Fiction, but this alone might not justify pulling for him. In Pure Fiction, Jiaoqiu can continuously apply debuffs to new enemies without using a turn, which is useful. However, you don’t need a 5-star character just for debuffing in Pure Fiction, as there are many strong 5-star and 4-star characters that excel in this content, such as Argenti, Jade, Himeko, and Herta.
Feixiao is Set to Release in the Next Version
Another significant reason to pass on Jiaoqiu is the upcoming release of Feixiao in version 2.5. Feixiao is anticipated to be one of the most powerful DPS units in the game, rivaling top-tier characters like Acheron and Firefly. To ensure you don’t miss out, it’s wise to save your Stellar Jades in version 2.4 and go all-in for Feixiao in version 2.5.
If Feixiao doesn’t interest you, you could consider investing in Lingsha, who is expected to be an offensive Sustain with additional support abilities. Alternatively, Sparkle is currently available alongside Jiaoqiu and is one of the best Support units in the game right now.
Ultimately, it’s all about your personal preference. If you enjoy Jiaoqiu’s kit and playstyle, go ahead and pull for him. However, I’m choosing to save my Stellar Jades for Feixiao and Lingsha in version 2.5. Share your thoughts on Jiaoqiu in the comments below, and let me know if you agree with my take!
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