Honkai: Star Rail has quickly become one of the most popular turn-based RPGs on mobile and PC, blending gacha mechanics, stunning visuals, and a deep sci-fi story. The latest v2.3 update in 2025 expands the game with new characters, adjustments to existing units, and gameplay improvements that reshape the meta. For both free-to-play adventurers and competitive players, understanding which characters to invest in and how to build them is the key to progression.
This article covers the new characters, tier placements, best builds, and team compositions in Honkai: Star Rail v2.3.
🆕 What’s New in v2.3
- New 5-Star Character: Selene (Quantum, Hunt Path)
- A single-target DPS who excels at deleting bosses.
- Skill: Quantum Strike – deals scaling Quantum damage with crit bonuses.
- Ultimate: Celestial Eclipse – massive nuke that ignores 20% enemy defense.
- New 4-Star Character: Orion (Physical, Harmony Path)
- A support unit who boosts ally ATK% and provides shields.
- Balance Changes:
- Seele: Minor buff to ultimate damage scaling.
- Clara: Counterattack frequency slightly nerfed for balance.
- Gepard: Shield values increased for better survivability.
- Quality of Life: Faster daily missions, expanded relic storage, and an improved auto-battle system.
🏆 Character Tier List (2025 Meta)
🔝 S-Tier (Must-Have Units)
- Selene (New) – Top-tier single-target DPS, incredible for bosses and high-level domains.
- Seele – Remains one of the best Quantum carries with strong speed scaling.
- Bronya – Still the ultimate support; her turn manipulation keeps her in S-tier.
- Gepard – With buffed shields, he’s the best defensive anchor.
💪 A-Tier (Strong but Situational)
- Kafka – Excellent for DoT (damage over time) teams, especially with Lightning synergy.
- Silver Wolf – Great for defense reduction, still vital in Quantum comps.
- Clara – Still strong, though counter nerf lowers her dominance.
- Bailu – Solid healer, second only to Luocha in terms of sustainability.
⚖️ B-Tier (Usable but Niche)
- Himeko – Strong in AoE farm stages but less relevant in boss fights.
- Sampo – DoT synergy works well with Kafka but not versatile outside it.
- Asta – Speed buffs are useful but overshadowed by Bronya.
🧰 Best Builds for v2.3
🔥 Selene (Quantum DPS)
- Light Cone: In the Night (best-in-slot), or Sleep Like the Dead as an alternative.
- Relics:
- 4-piece Genius of Brilliant Stars (Quantum damage).
- 2-piece Musketeer of Wild Wheat (ATK%).
- Stats Priority: Crit DMG > Crit Rate > ATK% > Quantum DMG.
- Role: Boss killer, excels in single-target scenarios like Memory of Chaos.
🛡️ Gepard (Tank/Support)
- Light Cone: Moment of Victory.
- Relics:
- 4-piece Knight of Purity Palace (DEF + shields).
- Stats Priority: DEF% > HP% > Energy Recharge.
- Role: Best defensive wall for high-damage content.
⚡ Kafka (DoT Specialist)
- Light Cone: Patience Is All You Need.
- Relics:
- 4-piece Band of Sizzling Thunder.
- Stats Priority: ATK% > Lightning DMG > Effect Hit Rate.
- Role: DoT team enabler, shines in synergy with Sampo.
✨ Bronya (Support)
- Light Cone: But the Battle Isn’t Over.
- Relics:
- 4-piece Messenger Traversing Hackerspace (Speed buffs).
- Stats Priority: Speed > Crit DMG > Energy Recharge.
- Role: Ultimate support; boosts turn order and DPS efficiency.
🧩 Best Team Compositions in v2.3
1. Selene Quantum Carry
- Selene (DPS), Silver Wolf (Defense debuff), Bronya (Support), Gepard (Tank).
👉 Focus: Burst down bosses with Quantum synergy.
2. DoT Chaos Comp
- Kafka (Main DPS), Sampo (Support DoT), Silver Wolf (Debuffs), Bailu (Healer).
👉 Focus: Damage over time stacking, excellent for long battles.
3. Balanced Survival Team
- Seele (DPS), Bronya (Support), Gepard (Tank), Bailu (Healer).
👉 Focus: Balanced sustain with reliable DPS output.
4. Budget Free-to-Play Team
- Dan Heng (DPS), Asta (Support), Natasha (Healer), Serval (AoE).
👉 Focus: Accessible units that still perform well in domains and story.
🎯 Tips to Master v2.3
- Pull Selene if You Can – She’s already ranked S-tier and future-proof.
- Don’t Sleep on Orion – As a free 4-star support, he boosts F2P team flexibility.
- Use New Relic Filters – Quickly find Crit-focused relics for DPS units.
- Adapt to Gepard Buffs – His shields make him more reliable than ever; slot him in for tough content.
- Experiment in Memory of Chaos – v2.3 rebalances stages with more Quantum weak enemies, making Selene and Seele shine.
🌍 Community Reactions
- Fans are hyped about Selene, calling her “Seele 2.0 with more burst.”
- Some players think Clara nerfs were unnecessary, but most welcome Gepard buffs.
- F2P players are happy about Orion, as he adds more support variety.
🔮 What’s Next After 2.3
Leaks and dev teasers suggest:
- New Planetary Region coming in v2.4.
- A Hydro-themed 5-star healer may join the roster.
- Expanded multiplayer co-op modes for farming relics.
✅ Conclusion
The Honkai: Star Rail v2.3 (2025) update refreshes the game with a powerful new DPS (Selene), a useful free-to-play support (Orion), and meaningful buffs to existing characters. The meta now favors Quantum-heavy comps, while tanks like Gepard are more relevant than ever.
For players aiming to climb Memory of Chaos or simply enjoy the story, this patch offers both depth and excitement. Whether you’re pulling for Selene or fine-tuning your Bronya support, v2.3 proves Honkai: Star Rail is still pushing the limits of mobile RPG gameplay in 2025.