If you're diving into the world of *Honkai: Star Rail*, mastering The Herta can be a game-changer for your squad. As a 5-Star Ice-type Erudition character and member 83 of the Genius Society, she's not only a key figure in the story but also a powerhouse in combat. Her unique playstyle revolves around stacking Inspiration and Interpretation effects to maximize her damage output, making her a versatile choice for both AoE and single-target scenarios.
Whether you're a free-to-play player or a seasoned gacha veteran, building The Herta correctly is essential to unleashing her full potential. From optimal Light Cones to the best Relic sets and stats, here’s a comprehensive breakdown of how to craft the ideal build for The Herta in *Honkai: Star Rail*.
Best The Herta Build In Honkai: Star Rail
- Light Cone:
- (S1) Into the Unreachable Veil (BIS)
- (S1) Night on the Milky Way (5 Targets)
- (S5) Today is Another Peaceful Day
- (S1) Before Dawn (Stat Stick)
- (S1) An Instant Before A Gaze
- (S5) Geniuses' Repose
- (S1) Yet Hope Is Priceless (Stat Stick)
- (S5) Eternal Calculus
- (S5) The Day the Cosmos Fell
- (S5) The Seriousness of Breakfast
- Relic Sets:
- 4pc Scholar Lost in Erudition (Best-in-Slot)
- 4pc Hunter of Glacial Forest
- Any 2pc combo focusing on Crit Rate, Ice DMG, or ATK%
- Planar Ornaments:
- Izumo Gensei and Takama Divine Realm (Overall BIS)
- Rutilant Arena
- Sigonia, the Unclaimed Desolation (Pure Fiction BIS)
- Recommended Substats:
- Body: CRIT Rate
- Feet: ATK% or SPD
- Planar Sphere: Ice DMG or ATK%
- Link Rope: ATK%
Best The Herta Relics In Honkai: Star Rail
The Herta thrives with high CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, and ATK%. Since her Enhanced Skill and Ultimate are her main sources of damage, any boosts to those abilities are highly valuable. Her top-tier relic set is Scholar Lost in Erudition, which provides an 8% CRIT Rate boost and increases the damage of her Skill and Ultimate by 20%. Additionally, it grants a 25% bonus to the next Skill used after an Ultimate, synergizing perfectly with her kit.
If you don’t have access to Scholar Lost in Erudition yet, Hunter of Glacial Forest serves as a solid alternative. It offers a 10% Ice DMG increase and a 25% CRIT DMG boost for two turns after using an Ultimate. While not as strong as Scholar, it still complements her playstyle well.
For newer players or those with limited resources, combining any two pieces of CRIT Rate, Ice DMG, or ATK% relics can serve as effective placeholders until better options become available.
Planar Ornaments Breakdown:
- Izumo Gensei and Takama Divine Realm – Top-tier option offering 12% ATK and 12% CRIT Rate when paired with another Erudition ally.
- Rutilant Arena – Grants 8% CRIT Rate and 20% Skill damage boost, serving as a flexible and strong alternative.
- Sigonia, the Unclaimed Desolation – Excels in Pure Fiction content but generally less ideal for general use.
The Herta Ideal Stats
- ATK: 2,500–3,900 depending on boots and sphere
- SPD: Base to 134–164 range (depends on team comp)
- CRIT Rate: 80%–100% in combat
- CRIT DMG: 180%–200%+ (with A4 Trace active)
Thanks to her A4 Trace granting 80% CRIT DMG, players should focus on CRIT Rate via chest pieces or support units like Sunday or Remembrance Trailblazer. With proper teammates and Eidolons, The Herta can function efficiently even at base SPD.
Best The Herta Light Cones In Honkai: Star Rail
The absolute best Light Cone for The Herta is her signature weapon, Into the Unreachable Veil. At S1, it gives a 12% CRIT Rate boost and a powerful 60% damage increase to both her Skill and Ultimate for three turns after using her Ultimate. This cone also recovers a Skill Point if her Ultimate costs 140 or more Energy, enhancing her rotation significantly.
Other top-tier choices include:
- Night on the Milky Way – Strong multi-target damage boost but scales poorly with fewer enemies.
- An Instant Before A Gaze – Provides CRIT DMG and Ultimate damage buffs.
- Before Dawn and Yet Hope Is Priceless – Excellent stat sticks that boost CRIT DMG, Skill damage, and CRIT Rate respectively.
For F2P players and low-spenders, Today is Another Peaceful Day (S5) and Geniuses’ Repose are fantastic alternatives. Even some free-to-obtain 4-star Light Cones such as Eternal Calculus, The Day the Cosmos Fell, and The Seriousness of Breakfast can perform decently once fully ascended.