What is the best Light Cone for Cipher?

Along the Passing Shore is the closest fit on the data: it is a 5-star Nihility Light Cone with 635 base ATK at level 80, and its passive acts on ATK. Boundless Choreo is the best 4-star alternative.

Which relic set should Cipher use?

Poet of Mourning Collapse. Its 2-piece bonus is: Increases Quantum DMG by 10%. Its 4-piece bonus is: Decreases the wearer's SPD by 8%. Before entering battle, if the wearer's SPD is lower than 110/95, increases the wearer's CRIT Rate by 20%/32%. This effect applies to the wearer's memosprite at the same time.

Which Planar Ornament should Cipher use?

Firmament Frontline: Glamoth. Its 2-piece bonus is: Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD is equal to or higher than 135/160, the wearer deals 12%/18% more DMG. Planar Ornaments have no 4-piece bonus; the sphere and the rope are the whole set.

Cipher, Quantum Nihility character | Honkai: Star Rail

All characters

Amphoreus

Cipher Build

Build guide · Honkai: Star Rail

QuantumNihilitySub DPS

English voice: Shea Fairaday

The best Cipher build in Honkai: Star Rail (Version 4.6) is Lies Dance on the Breeze with Messenger Traversing Hackerspace. Updated November 5, 2026

Abilities Traces Materials Eidolons

Where these rankings come fromThe light cone order, relic sets and stat priorities on this tab are prydwen.gg’s, measured in play and rephrased. Relative damage figures are ratios against the bottom of each ranking, not absolute numbers, and each one holds only for the superimposition and team its row states. Everything else (base stats, passive text, material totals) is read from the game’s own data.

Light cones

2 ranked

Lies Dance on the Breeze, 5★ Nihility Light Cone | Honkai: Star Rail

BISLies Dance on the Breeze

Ranked first at S1

582

Base ATK · lv 80

953 HP529 DEF

Resolution Shines As Pearls of Sweat, 4★ Nihility Light Cone | Honkai: Star Rail

#2Resolution Shines As Pearls of Sweat

Ranked #2 at S5

476

Base ATK · lv 80

953 HP331 DEF

Relics

3 sets

CoreMessenger Traversing Hackerspace

2PCIncreases SPD by 6%.

4PCWhen the wearer uses their Ultimate on an ally, SPD for all allies increases by 12% for 1 turn(s). This effect cannot be stacked.

Also works

Planar ornaments

Sphere and rope · 2-piece only

CoreLushaka, the Sunken Seas

Support Cipher | Strong when supporting a single ATK based DPS character and when Energy Regen is useful. More generic than most options.

2PCIncreases the wearer's Energy Regeneration Rate by 5%. If the wearer is not the first character in the team lineup, then increases the ATK of the first character in the team lineup by 12%.

Also works

Main stats

Ultimate · 130 energy

Body: Effect HIT Rate = CRIT DMG
Feet: Speed
Planar Sphere: Quantum DMG = ATK%
Link Rope: Energy Regen Rate = ATK%

Substat priority

Highest first

1[SPD (Until Desired Breakpoint)Best
2EHR (If Desired)
3CRIT RATE = CRIT DMG
4ATK%] or [SPD (Until Desired Breakpoint)
5EHR (If Desired)
6HP%
7DEF%]

Trace priority

Level in this order

#1
Talent = Skill
Max first
#2
Ultimate
Then
#3
Basic
Next

Major traces, best first: Empyrean Strides (A2) > 300 Rogues (A4) > Sleight of Sky (A6)

Best Eidolons

E3 and E5 raise levels only

E1Read the Room, Seek the Glee
E2In the Fray, Nab On a Spree
E3Level bump
E4The Jig Is Up, Quick to Flee
E5Level bump
E6The Thief's Game, Unsung and Free

E1
Read the Room, Seek the Glee
Game text
Cipher's tally of DMG is 150% of its original value. When using the Talent's Follow-Up ATK, increases Cipher's ATK by 80%, lasting for 2 turn(s).
E2
In the Fray, Nab On a Spree
Game text
When Cipher hits an enemy target, there is a 120% base chance to increase the DMG it receives by 30%, lasting for 2 turn(s).
E4
The Jig Is Up, Quick to Flee
Game text
After the "Patron" gets attacked by an ally target, Cipher deals Quantum Additional DMG to it equal to 50% of Cipher's ATK.
E6
The Thief's Game, Unsung and Free
Game text
The DMG dealt by Follow-Up ATK from Cipher's Talent increases by 350%. During the tally, an additional 16% of non-Overflow DMG dealt by this attack is tallied. After the tally is cleared by using Ultimate, 20% of the cleared tally is returned.

Teams

1 team

Acheron team

Lightning · NihilityStands in for Jiaoqiu

Acheron charges her Ultimate off debuffs other characters apply, so the team runs two more Nihility units and a sustain that never needs a Skill Point.

AcheronMain DPS
JiaoqiuNihility debufferor Cipher
PelaDEF shred
AventurineSustain

All teams, with every replacement

Honkai: Star Rail 5★ Quantum Nihility Sub DPS

Cipher build summary

Updated November 5, 2026

Lies Dance on the Breeze tops the light cone ranking for Cipher at S1, ahead of Resolution Shines As Pearls of Sweat. That order is prydwen.gg's, measured in play and rephrased here; every row of it sits under Light cones below.

Run Messenger Traversing Hackerspace on Cipher, with Pioneer Diver of Dead Waters and Genius of Brilliant Stars behind it. The planar ornament is Lushaka, the Sunken Seas. Main stats are Effect HIT Rate = CRIT DMG body, Speed feet, Quantum DMG = ATK% sphere, Energy Regen Rate = ATK% rope. Roll substats in the order [SPD (Until Desired Breakpoint) > EHR (If Desired) > CRIT RATE = CRIT DMG > ATK%] or [SPD (Until Desired Breakpoint) > EHR (If Desired) > HP% >= DEF%].

Trace priority is Talent = Skill > Ultimate > Basic. The Ultimate costs 130 energy, which is what an Energy Regeneration Rate target has to clear.

Cipher stands in for Jiaoqiu in the Acheron team, alongside Acheron, Pela and Aventurine.

Role: Sub DPS / Support
Best light cone: Lies Dance on the Breeze
Alternatives: Resolution Shines As Pearls of Sweat
Relic set: Messenger Traversing Hackerspace
Planar ornament: Lushaka, the Sunken Seas
Main stats: Effect HIT Rate = CRIT DMG body, Speed feet, Quantum DMG = ATK% sphere, Energy Regen Rate = ATK% rope
Substat priority: [SPD (Until Desired Breakpoint) > EHR (If Desired) > CRIT RATE = CRIT DMG > ATK%] or [SPD (Until Desired Breakpoint) > EHR (If Desired) > HP% >= DEF%]
Trace priority: Talent = Skill > Ultimate > Basic
Best team: Acheron, Jiaoqiu, Pela, Aventurine
Ultimate energy cost: 130 energy
Key ascension material: 65× Darkveil Moonlight
Last updated: November 5, 2026

Cipher build FAQ

What is the best Light Cone for Cipher?: Along the Passing Shore is the closest fit on the data: it is a 5-star Nihility Light Cone with 635 base ATK at level 80, and its passive acts on ATK. Boundless Choreo is the best 4-star alternative.
Which relic set should Cipher use?: Poet of Mourning Collapse. Its 2-piece bonus is: Increases Quantum DMG by 10%. Its 4-piece bonus is: Decreases the wearer's SPD by 8%. Before entering battle, if the wearer's SPD is lower than 110/95, increases the wearer's CRIT Rate by 20%/32%. This effect applies to the wearer's memosprite at the same time.
Which Planar Ornament should Cipher use?: Firmament Frontline: Glamoth. Its 2-piece bonus is: Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD is equal to or higher than 135/160, the wearer deals 12%/18% more DMG. Planar Ornaments have no 4-piece bonus; the sphere and the rope are the whole set.