Astral Express
Build guide · Honkai: Star Rail
English voice: Cia Court
The best Himeko • Nova build in Honkai: Star Rail (Version 4.4) is A Star That Lights the Night with As Navigator Isee Sees It. Updated August 28, 2026
#1
Talent
Max first
#2
Ultimate
Then
#3
Skill
Next
#4
Basic
Later
Major traces, best first: Whither, the Last and First Men? (A2) > Soul, Hark! The Express's Pulse Roars (A4) > The Silver Rail, Hushed in Antiquity (A6)
E1That Which We Stride Is the Trailblaze
E2The Colors We Never Strike
E3Level bump
E4Let No Skyward Hand Stay Unheld
E5Level bump
E6Ours Is the Oath to Sail StarwardE1Allows 1 more Assist Skill per Ultimate rotation from Companion Protocols while also making the activation conditions much easier to satisfy. For Verdict mode, the difference it makes can be massive, as using 4 Ultimates per Himeko Nova's Ultimate rotation is not feasible in most teams. Eidolon 1 reduces the requirements from 2 allied Ultimates to 1, lowering the total requirement to just 3 allied Ultimates to use up all Assist Skill count. For Decimation mode, the trigger condition is reduced from 9 to 6, making her slightly more flexible against low target scenarios, but the overall requirement to use up all Assist Skill remains at 18 hits.
E2Game-changing! Increases allied Assist Skill usage per Himeko Nova's turn by 1, allows non-Traiblaze Companion characters to gain an Extra Turn when using Assist Skill, while also providing 1.3x independent damage multipliers to her Assist Skill and Ultimate. This does not affect her team-building requirement as she still requires 1 Traiblaze Companion to activate her Companion Protocol, but including another one can allow her to play dual states with ease because of the extra Assist Skill. Both of these Eidolons will add an extra Assist Skill per Himeko Nova's turn and per Ultimate rotation. The extra activations restore 18 Energy to Himeko Nova each at a baseline and result in a substantial damage increase and faster Ultimate rotations.
E4Modest increase in damage for Himeko Nova from 10% RES PEN, and 20% RES PEN buff becomes a team-wide buff. Can be useful in some comps with other damage dealers.
E6Capstone Eidolon. Providing another 20% RES PEN for a total of 50% from her kit alone. This Eidolon increases her Assist Skill DMG by 75% and improves her Ultimate damage significantly by doubling her Source Energy and thus the Bounce DMG multipliers, while also adding another AoE hit, which can result in twice as much damage from her Ultimate. Note that the Ultimate combo remains the exact same. Himeko Nova may prefer Companion Protocol: Verdict, given how much her damage profile is shifted towards her Ultimate.
Her Talent hands every ally an Assist Skill that calls her Starblazer, so the other three slots are chosen for how often they take a turn.
Himeko • Nova — this characterMain DPS
SundayAction advance
Ruan MeiHarmony buffer
LingshaSustainHonkai: Star Rail 5★ Fire Erudition Main DPS
A Star That Lights the Night tops the light cone ranking for Himeko • Nova, at 139.77% relative damage at S1, ahead of Into the Unreachable Veil, Night on the Milky Way and Today Is Another Peaceful Day. That order is prydwen.gg's, measured in play and rephrased here; every row of it sits under Light cones below.
Run As Navigator Isee Sees It on Himeko • Nova, with Scholar Lost in Erudition and Wavestrider Captain behind it. The planar ornament is Fallen Star Anchorage. Main stats are CRIT Rate > CRIT DMG body, ATK% > Speed feet, ATK% >= Fire DMG sphere, ATK% rope. Roll substats in the order CRIT Rate = CRIT DMG > ATK% > SPD.
Trace priority is Talent > Ultimate > Skill > Basic. The Ultimate costs 150 energy, which is what an Energy Regeneration Rate target has to clear.
The strongest team is Himeko • Nova, Sunday, Ruan Mei and Lingsha, built around Himeko • Nova — Fire · Erudition.
Deals Fire DMG equal to 100% of Himeko • Nova's ATK to one enemy.
Ability level
6 is the cap from trace materials; Eidolons add the rest.
| Attribute | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic ATK DMG | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% | 110% | 120% | 130% | 140% |
After using Skill, immediately recovers all Assist Skill uses. Himeko • Nova gains "Navigator's Semaphore," lasting for 3 turn(s). This duration decreases by 1 at the start of Himeko • Nova's every turn. When Himeko • Nova has "Navigator's Semaphore," DMG dealt by all allies increases by 20%. At the start of every turn, immediately recovers 1 Assist Skill use.
Ability level
10 is the cap from trace materials; Eidolons add the rest.
| Attribute | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skill DMG | 10% | 11% | 12% | 13% | 14% | 15% | 16% | 18% | 19% | 20% | 21% | 22% | 23% | 24% | 25% |
Deals Fire DMG equal to 160% of Himeko • Nova's ATK to all enemies, and additionally deals 3 instances of DMG, with each instance dealing Fire DMG equal to 24% of Himeko • Nova's ATK to one random enemy. When used by Himeko • Nova, deals Fire DMG equal to 200% of Himeko • Nova's ATK to all enemies, and additionally deals 4 instances of DMG, with each instance dealing Fire DMG equal to 32% of Himeko • Nova's ATK to one random enemy. If the user is a Trailblaze Companions character other than Himeko • Nova, then depending on the user, Himeko • Nova additionally gains 1 of the Special Effects. The extra Assist Skill via all Special Effects can be launched up to 2 time(s) per battle, and this count is reset after Himeko • Nova uses her Ultimate.
Ability level
10 is the cap from trace materials; Eidolons add the rest.
| Attribute | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AoE DMG | 80% | 88% | 96% | 104% | 112% | 120% | 130% | 140% | 150% | 160% | 168% | 176% | 184% | 192% | 200% |
| Skill DMG | 12% | 13% | 14% | 16% | 17% | 18% | 20% | 21% | 23% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 28% | 29% | 30% |
| AoE DMG (2) | 100% | 110% | 120% | 130% | 140% | 150% | 163% | 175% | 188% | 200% | 210% | 220% | 230% | 240% | 250% |
| Skill DMG (2) | 18% | 19% | 21% | 22% | 24% | 25% | 27% | 28% | 30% | 32% | 33% | 35% | 36% | 38% | 39% |
Enters the "Companion Protocol: Verdict" state. Increases DMG dealt by Himeko • Nova by 100%, and additionally increases her Ultimate DMG dealt by 100%. After Himeko • Nova's teammates actively use their Ultimate 2 time(s), Himeko • Nova immediately launches 1 Assist Skill against enemies at no cost.
Ability level
10 is the cap from trace materials; Eidolons add the rest.
| Attribute | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skill DMG | 50% | 55% | 60% | 65% | 70% | 75% | 81% | 88% | 94% | 100% | 105% | 110% | 115% | 120% | 125% |
| Skill DMG (2) | 50% | 55% | 60% | 65% | 70% | 75% | 81% | 88% | 94% | 100% | 105% | 110% | 115% | 120% | 125% |
Enters the "Companion Protocol: Decimation" state. Increases all allies' CRIT DMG by 100%, and additionally increases the CRIT DMG dealt by Skill by 100%. For every 1 enemy target hit by allies, gains 1 Charge. When Charge reaches 9, consumes all Charge, and Himeko • Nova immediately launches 1 Assist Skill against enemies at no cost. This instance of Assist Skill cannot grant Charge.
Ability level
10 is the cap from trace materials; Eidolons add the rest.
| Attribute | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skill DMG | 50% | 55% | 60% | 65% | 70% | 75% | 81% | 88% | 94% | 100% | 105% | 110% | 115% | 120% | 125% |
| Skill DMG (2) | 50% | 55% | 60% | 65% | 70% | 75% | 81% | 88% | 94% | 100% | 105% | 110% | 115% | 120% | 125% |
Immediately takes control of "Starblazer." "Starblazer" can launch "Hyperluminal Particle Beam" against enemies 6 times, or consume "Source Energy" to launch "Orbital Annihilation Pulse," dealing Fire DMG up to 762% of Himeko • Nova's ATK to one designated enemy, and Fire DMG up to 252% of Himeko • Nova's ATK to other targets. When the uses of "Hyperluminal Particle Beam" are depleted, automatically launches "Orbital Annihilation Pulse," followed by Final Hit, dealing 3 instance(s) of DMG, with each instance dealing Fire DMG equal to 80% of Himeko • Nova's ATK to one random enemy. When "Hyperluminal Particle Beam" or "Orbital Annihilation Pulse" deals fatal damage to all enemies on the field, or when enemy HP can no longer be reduced, immediately launches Final Hit.
Ability level
10 is the cap from trace materials; Eidolons add the rest.
| Attribute | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate DMG | 381% | 419% | 457% | 495% | 533% | 572% | 619% | 667% | 714% | 762% | 800% | 838% | 876% | 914% | 953% |
| Ultimate DMG (2) | 126% | 139% | 151% | 164% | 176% | 189% | 205% | 221% | 236% | 252% | 265% | 277% | 290% | 302% | 315% |
| Ultimate DMG (3) | 40% | 44% | 48% | 52% | 56% | 60% | 65% | 70% | 75% | 80% | 84% | 88% | 92% | 96% | 100% |
Deals Fire DMG equal to 32% of Himeko • Nova's ATK to all enemies and gains 1 point(s) of "Source Energy." A maximum of 3 "Source Energy" can be held.
Ability level
10 is the cap from trace materials; Eidolons add the rest.
| Attribute | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AoE DMG | 16% | 18% | 19% | 21% | 22% | 24% | 26% | 28% | 30% | 32% | 34% | 35% | 37% | 38% | 40% |
Consumes 1 point of "Source Energy" to deal Fire DMG equal to 20% of Himeko • Nova's ATK to all enemies. When the current "Source Energy" is more than 1, for every 1 point(s) of "Source Energy" consumed, additionally deals 1 instance of Fire DMG equal to 30% of Himeko • Nova's ATK to one random enemy.
Ability level
10 is the cap from trace materials; Eidolons add the rest.
| Attribute | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AoE DMG | 10% | 11% | 12% | 13% | 14% | 15% | 16% | 18% | 19% | 20% | 21% | 22% | 23% | 24% | 25% |
| Ultimate DMG | 15% | 17% | 18% | 20% | 21% | 23% | 24% | 26% | 28% | 30% | 32% | 33% | 35% | 36% | 38% |
While Himeko • Nova is on the field, immediately deploys the Territory "Starblazer Visioscape," summoning "Starblazer" to the field and granting all ally characters 1 Assist Skill use. Ally characters can use Assist Skill to call upon "Starblazer" to attack enemies. Using Assist Skill is considered as Himeko • Nova using her Skill. Himeko • Nova gains 20% increased All-Type RES PEN and 80% increased CRIT DMG. When attacking, can ignore Weakness Types to reduce enemy Toughness. When breaking Weakness, triggers the Fire Weakness Break effect. When ally characters other than Himeko • Nova use their Assist Skill, regenerates 4 Energy for them.
Ability level
10 is the cap from trace materials; Eidolons add the rest.
| Attribute | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value 2 | 10% | 11% | 12% | 13% | 14% | 15% | 16% | 18% | 19% | 20% | 21% | 22% | 23% | 24% | 25% |
| Talent DMG | 40% | 44% | 48% | 52% | 56% | 60% | 65% | 70% | 75% | 80% | 84% | 88% | 92% | 96% | 100% |
When Himeko • Nova is in the team, increases the max Technique Points by 3. After using Technique, enters the "Cruise" state for 30 seconds. Actively using the Technique consumes 2 Technique Points and immediately attacks all enemies within a certain range. After entering combat, immediately uses Skill 1 time at the start of each wave. If attacking a Normal Enemy, immediately defeats them without entering combat. No Technique Points are consumed if no enemies are hit.
A2When Himeko • Nova launches Assist Skill, it does not consume Assist Skill uses. At the start of the turn, if the Assist Skill uses have reached the current cap, Himeko • Nova additionally regenerates 5 Energy.
A4When a Trailblaze Companions character other than Himeko • Nova uses Assist Skill, that character immediately gains 1 extra turn in which they can insert the use of their Ultimate. The extra turn gained from Assist Skill will not repeatedly trigger this Trace effect.
A6When using Ultimate, immediately gains 3 "Source Energy." If the current "Source Energy" is 3 or more, when using the "Orbital Annihilation Pulse" attack, the DMG multiplier of "Orbital Annihilation Pulse" against random single enemies increases by 30%.
Totals at full unlock, summed across every node of that stat. Ascension rank gates the nodes as it gates the Bonus Abilities above.
Level 80 and every ability maxed
5,528,000
Credits 12 material lines
Ascension to 80
308,000
Credits 4 materials · 6 steps
All 8 abilities maxed
5,220,000
Credits 8× the single-ability bill
Whimsy Wax ×54,000Credits
Whimsy Wax ×108,000Credits
Radiant Prominence ×3
Dreamweave Steel ×616,000Credits
Radiant Prominence ×7Dreamweave Steel ×940,000Credits
Lucid Awl ×6Radiant Prominence ×2080,000Credits
Lucid Awl ×9Radiant Prominence ×35160,000Credits
Total to level 80
308,000 Credits
Lucid Awl ×15Radiant Prominence ×65Dreamweave Steel ×15Whimsy Wax ×15Whimsy Wax ×32,500Credits
Celestial Globe ×3Whimsy Wax ×65,000Credits
Dreamweave Steel ×3
Galaxy Framework ×310,000Credits
Dreamweave Steel ×4Galaxy Framework ×520,000Credits
Dreamweave Steel ×6Galaxy Framework ×730,000Credits
Cosmic Sandpit ×3Lucid Awl ×345,000Credits
Cosmic Sandpit ×5Lucid Awl ×4
Vanquished Flow's Reticence ×180,000Credits
Tracks of Destiny ×1Cosmic Sandpit ×8Vanquished Flow's Reticence ×1160,000Credits
Tracks of Destiny ×1Cosmic Sandpit ×14Vanquished Flow's Reticence ×1300,000Credits
One ability maxed
652,500 Credits
Tracks of Destiny ×2Cosmic Sandpit ×30Lucid Awl ×7Vanquished Flow's Reticence ×3Dreamweave Steel ×13Galaxy Framework ×15Celestial Globe ×3Whimsy Wax ×9All 8 abilities maxed
5,220,000 Credits
Tracks of Destiny ×16Cosmic Sandpit ×240Lucid Awl ×56Vanquished Flow's Reticence ×24Dreamweave Steel ×104Galaxy Framework ×120Celestial Globe ×24Whimsy Wax ×72E1The number of extra Assist Skill uses from Talent additionally increases by 1. While in the "Companion Protocol: Verdict" state, reduces the number of Ultimate uses required to launch Assist Skill by 1. While in the "Companion Protocol: Decimation" state, reduces the Charge required to launch Assist Skill by 3. When Himeko • Nova launches Assist Skill, the number of extra DMG instances increases by 1.
E2The cap of Himeko • Nova's Assist Skill uses increases to 2, and the DMG dealt by Ultimate and Assist Skill becomes 130% of their original DMG. During the "Navigator's Semaphore" state, at the start of each turn, additionally recovers 1 use of Assist Skill immediately. When a non-Trailblaze Companions character uses Assist Skill, the Trace "Hark! The Express's Pulse Roars" now also grants them 1 extra turn.
E3Ultimate Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Basic ATK Lv. +1, up to a maximum of Lv. 10.
E4When using Assist Skill via the Talent "Of Fire and Far Faring," the All-Type RES PEN boost now applies to all allies. And when Himeko • Nova gains this effect, her All-Type RES PEN additionally increases by 10%.
E5Skill Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Talent Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15.
E6Himeko • Nova's Fire RES PEN increases by 20%. The cap of "Source Energy" increases to 6. When an ally uses or launches Assist Skill, DMG dealt by Assist Skill increases by 75%, and Himeko • Nova gains 1 "Source Energy." When launching "Hyperluminal Particle Beam" during Ultimate, additionally gains 1 "Source Energy". When launching "Orbital Annihilation Pulse," if the current "Source Energy" is 6 or more, additionally deals 1 instance of Fire DMG to all enemies, equal to 160% of Himeko • Nova's ATK.
Fire
Erudition
