Honkai: Star Rail – All Preservation Light Cones, Ranked

May 6, 2024

In any RPG, even a turn-based one, a party isn’t complete without a tank, someone to draw attention away from the rest of the group. In Honkai: Star Rail, the characters on the Path of Preservation generally act as tanks and damage sponges in one way or another. It could be through shields, damage splitting, or some other mechanic.

The Trailblazer using his ultimate in Honkai Star Rail

Fire Trailblazer is one of Honkai: Star Rail’s premier tanks who can dish out and absorb absurd amounts of damage.

Preservation light cones focus on enhancing survival stats and providing the team with protection, usually increasing the character’s defense or HP. Because many of them have similar effects, it can be hard to determine which ones to level up.

14 Pioneering

HP	43-952
ATK	12-264
DEF	12-264
Effect	When the wearer Breaks an enemy’s Weakness, the wearer restores HP by 12/14/16/18/20% of their Max HP.

The 3-star light cone Pioneering heals the user after they inflict Weakness Break on an enemy. The amount of healing scales off the user’s HP and superimposition level. While this may seem useful at first, it has many drawbacks. Most importantly, Preservation characters break weaknesses that often. They normally use basic attacks to create skill points unless their skill is needed.

Basic attacks do low toughness damage compared to skills and ultimates, which a DPS will be doing frequently. With nothing else to offer, a different light cone would be best.

13 Defense

HP	43-952
ATK	12-264
DEF	12-264
Effect	When the wearer unleashes their Ultimate, they restore HP by 18/21/24/27/30% of their Max HP.

Despite the name being Defense, this light cone actually does not increase the user’s defense stat. After the user uses their ultimate, they restore some of their HP. This recovery is scaled off the user’s maximum HP and superimposition level. This is useful for teams without a healer, and because Preservation units are naturally tough, they won’t take too much damage.

This light cone can only heal and offers no other stat boosts or effects. It can be handy in a pinch, but for the most part, these characters should be able to minimize damage anyway.

12 Amber

HP	38-846
ATK	12-264
DEF	15-330
Effect	Increases the wearer’s DEF by 16/20/24/28/32%. If the wearer’s current HP is lower than 50%, increase their DEF by a further 16/20/24/28/32%.

Of the 3-star options, Amber is the most useful for new players, giving the user a defense boost that doubles when their health is low. It’s a simple effect, but one that gets great mileage because most Preservation characters create shields based on their defense stat.

However, there is no reason to continue using this light cone after players can afford the F2P options available in in-game stores. Those light cones offer a higher defense boost along with a secondary effect.

11 Trend of the Universal Market

Trends of the Universal Market Light Cone Honkai Star Rail

HP	48-1058
ATK	16-370
DEF	18-396
Effect	Increases the wearer’s DEF by 16/20/24/28/32%. When the wearer is attacked, there is a 100/105/110/115/120% base chance to Burn the enemy. For each turn, the wearer deals DoT that is equal to 40/50/60/70/80% of the wearer’s DEF for 2 turn(s).

Trend of the Universal Market is a good light cone for building stats, since it gives up to 32% extra defense to the character. However, that’s about all it does. The second effect is applying a burn on enemies who attack the user. The burn damage is equal to a percentage of the user’s defense.

Acheron from her character trailer in Honkai: Star Rail

Here are two good examples of the best Acheron teams in Honkai: Star Rail that can squeeze the most mileage out of this unique Nihility unit.

The DoT damage is pretty negligible given the scaling doesn’t exceed 80% of the user’s defense. Even with a large amount of defense, the damage in return wouldn’t matter. This light cone gets more use in Acheron and Dr. Ratio teams since they need debuffs to do more damage, and DoTs count.

10 Destiny’s Threads Forewoven

Destiny's Threads Forewoven Light Cone Honkai Star Rail

HP	43-952
ATK	16-370
DEF	21-463
Effect	Increases the wearer’s Effect RES by 12/14/16/18/20%. For every 100 of DEF the wearer has, increases the DMG dealt by 0.8/0.9/1/1.1/1.2% to a max increase of 32/36/40/44/48%.

Effect Resistance is important for sustain characters like Preservation and Abundance since it can stop DoT effects and stuns. Building as much Effect Resistance as possible is an important part of keeping the team alive. This light cone gives some Effect Resistance for free. It’s not much, but every little bit helps.

The second effect converts the user’s defense into extra damage. Generally, Preservation characters aren’t designed to do damage. Until Aventurine was released, no other Preservation character could output enough damage while still protecting the team.

9 Concert for Two

Concert for Two Light Cone Honkai Star Rail

HP	43-952
ATK	16-370
DEF	21-463
Effect	Increases the wearer’s DEF by 16/20/24/28/32%. For every on-field character that has a Shield, the DMG dealt by the wearer increases by 4/5/6/7/8%.

Concert for Two is great for boosting defense. With high superimpostition, the bonus goes up to 32%. The other effect of this light cone is increasing damage based on the number of characters who have a shield. For characters like Aventurine and Gepard, it’ll be easy to get max value, but other characters may struggle.

The problem with damage-based light cones is that the scaling is different. Basic attacks and damaging skills or ultimates usually scale on attack while shielding scales on defense. A properly built tank would do low damage anyway, and a damage bonus won’t change that. The only exception is Aventurine.

8 This Is Me!

This Is Me! is the Preservation light cone from the battle pass. It offers up to 32% extra defense and will directly add defense scaling to the character’s ultimate ability. The extra damage is equal to a percentage of the user’s defense stat. This light cone is different from other damage boosters because it adds its own multiplier rather than a damage bonus.

Unfortunately, being on the battle pass means it’ll take time and money to get the most of this light cone, up to five battle pass cycles. Either way, it’s only usable on March 7th, Aventurine, or Trailblazer.

7 We Are Wildfire

We Are Wildfire Light Cone Honkai Star Rail

HP	33-740
ATK	21-476
DEF	21-463
Effect	At the start of the battle, the DMG dealt to all allies decreases by 8/10/12/14/16% for 5 turn(s). At the same time, immediately restores HP to all allies equal to 30/35/40/45/50% of the respective HP difference between the characters’ Max HP and current HP.

We Are Wildfire is a great F2P option for players who haven’t rolled on many banners or are still in the early stages of the game. For the first five turns of combat, all team members will take less damage, up to 16%. This is one of the few light cones with a team-wide buff. It will also heal the team at the start of battle.

Honkai Star Rail_ All Available Light Cones, Explained-1

There are several ways for players to obtain high-rarity Light Cones without having to rely on the gacha system.

The buff will last as long as it takes the user to go through 5 turns, which will vary depending on how much speed the user has, but it’s best used on teams that can clear content fast to maximize its effectiveness.

6 She Already Shut Her Eyes

She Already Shut Her Eyes Light Cone Honkai Star Rail

HP	57-1270
ATK	19-423
DEF	24-529
Effect	Increases the wearer’s Max HP by 24/28/32/36/40% and Energy Regeneration Rate by 12/14/16/18/20%. When the wearer’s HP is decreased, increases the DMG of all allies by 9/10.5/12/13.5/15% for 2 turns. At the beginning of each wave, restores HP equal to 80/85/90/95/100% of HP already lost by the character themselves for team.

Fu Xuan is the only Preservation character to scale on HP rather than defense, and it shows in her light cone. It provides the user with extra HP, and when the user’s health is reduced, the entire team gains a damage boost. It’s perfectly tailored to her kit, but that means it’s less useful on other units.

For those who have this light cone but no Fu Xuan, it’s still a great stat builder as a 5-star, but past that, it doesn’t provide much utility. The damage boost effect won’t trigger because other characters will usually have shields to block damage. The Trailblazer might be able to use it, but it’s situational.

5 Landau’s Choice

Landau's Choice Light Cone Honkai Star Rail

HP	43-952
ATK	19-423
DEF	18-396
Effect	The wearer is more likely to be attacked, but DMG taken is reduced by 16/18/20/22/24%.

Aggro score is a hidden stat that isn’t seen in-game. It’s essentially the likelihood of being attacked, and Preservation and Destruction characters have a higher aggro score than the other paths. This light cone will further increase the user’s aggro score, allowing them to take more damage for the team.

While it might seem bad to take more damage, it also gives the user a good amount of damage reduction. If given a shield, that unit would be more or less safe. This is great for Gepard and Fu Xuan who want to take damage for their team.

4 Day One of My New Life

Day One of My New Life Light Cone Honkai Star Rail

HP	43-952
ATK	16-370
DEF	21-463
Effect	Increases the wearer’s DEF by 16/18/20/22/24%. After entering battle, increases DMG RES of all allies by 8/9/10/11/12%. Effects of the same type cannot stack.

Day One of My New Life is the best 4-star light cone for two reasons. It offers a team wide damage resistance buff, and gives the user a decent boost in defense, helping them fulfill their role as a tank. The damage resistance maxes out at only 12%, but it activates automatically and never ends.

Honkai_ Star Rail – Best March 7th Light Cones

There are many light cone options available to enhance March 7th’s defensive and offensive capabilities, catering to different types of players.

This gacha light cone is available through the standard banner, meaning it can show up at any time, and players should keep at least one copy. The only Preservation unit that wouldn’t be able to use this light cone is Fu Xuan who uses HP instead of defense.

3 Texture of Memories

Texture of Memories Light Cone Honkai Star Rail

HP	48-1058
ATK	19-423
DEF	24-529
Effect	Increases the wearer’s Effect RES by 8/10/12/14/16%. If the wearer is attacked and has no Shield, they gain a Shield equal to 16/20/24/28/32% of their Max HP for 2 turn(s). This effect can only be triggered once every 3 turn(s). If the wearer has a Shield when attacked, the DMG they receive decreases by 12/15/18/21/24%.

As far as free-to-play options go, Texture of Memories is great. It offers a decent amount of Effect Resistance and also reduces damage to characters protected by a shield. Most Preservation units produce their own shield, but for characters like Fu Xuan, the light cone will create a shield after the user takes damage.

This is a good universal option, since it doesn’t specify a specific stat and achieves its own requirements. Any Preservation character can use it and benefit without struggle. However, the extra stat boosts available on other light cones may be preferred to extra resistance.

2 Inherently Unjust Destiny

Inherently Unjust Destiny Light Cone Honkai Star Rail

HP	48-1058
ATK	19-423
DEF	30-661
Effect	Increases the wearer’s DEF by 40/46/52/58/64%. When the wearer provides a Shield to an ally, the wearer’s CRIT DMG increases by 40/46/52/58/64%, lasting for 2 turn(s). When the wearer’s follow-up attack hits an enemy target, there is a 100/115/130/145/160% base chance to increase the DMG taken by the attacked enemy target by 10/11.5/13/14.5/16%, lasting for 2 turn(s).

Aventurine’s signature light cone perfectly fits his design. It offers a huge 40% increase in defense and extra critical damage after giving allies a shield. Those two stat boosts alone make this light cone great, but when the user does a follow-up attack, there’s a chance to make an enemy take more damage for 2 turns.

For most Preservation characters, extra critical damage is useless, since Preservation is not built for damage. Not many other characters can make full use of this light cone, but the big defense boost it has is more than worth it.

1 Moment of Victory

Moment of Victory Light Cone Honkai Star Rail

HP	48-1058
ATK	21-476
DEF	27-595
Effect	Increases the wearer’s DEF by 24/28/32/36/40% and Effect Hit Rate by 24/28/32/36/40%. Increases the chance for the wearer to be attacked by enemies. When the wearer is attacked, increase their DEF by an additional 24/28/32/36/40% until the end of the wearer’s turn.

The best Preservation light cone is the one available on the standard banner, Moment of Victory. It increases both defense and effect hit rate by a decent amount, up to 40% at superimposition five, and the defense increase doubles after the user is attacked. That extra boost lasts until the end of the user’s turn.

As a 5-star light cone, it comes with great base stats, and its effect will make most characters tough enough to survive most fights. Gepard and March 7th make the most of it with their ability to freeze, but it can still come in handy for Trailblazer’s taunt.