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Honkai Star Rail Cipher Guide

Honkai Star Rail Cipher (real name Cifera) is a 5★ Quantum • Nihility character introduced Version 3.3 (May 21, 2025). She hails from the rogue city Dolos and is one of the Chrysos Heirs, wielding the Coreflame of Trickery. Known for her fleet-footed, cat‑like agility, she marks enemies to accumulate “Wealth Bond” damage that gets unleashed as true damage via her ultimate—making Honkai Star Rail Cipher a hybrid debuffer/sub‑DPS.

Cipher Character

Cipher Build

The Nihility Path

The Nihility

Quantum

Quantum

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

HP

HP

931

ATK

ATK

640

DEF

DEF

509

Speed

Speed

106

Taunt

Taunt

100

Body: CRIT DMG

Feet: Speed

Planar Sphere: Quantum DMG or ATK%

Link Rope: Energy Regen

Effect Hit%

Speed

CRIT DMG

CRIT Rate

Honkai Star Rail Cipher Guide: Skills and Abilities

Cipher Skills
Oops, a Missed Catch

Oops, a Missed Catch

Cipher Normal Attack

Single Target

Deals Quantum DMG equal to 50% of Cipher’s ATK to one designated enemy.

Hey, Jackpot for the Taking

Hey, Jackpot for the Taking

Cipher Skill

Blast

There is a 120% base chance to Weaken one designated enemy and adjacent targets, decreasing their DMG dealt by 10% and increasing Cipher’s ATK by 30%, lasting for 2 turn(s). At the same time, deals Quantum DMG equal to 100% of Cipher’s ATK to one designated enemy, and Quantum DMG equal to 50% of Cipher’s ATK to its adjacent targets.

Yours Truly, Kitty Phantom Thief!

Yours Truly, Kitty Phantom Thief!

Cipher Ultimate

Blast

Energy Cost: 130

Deals Quantum DMG equal to 60% of Cipher’s ATK to one designated enemy. Then, deals True DMG equal to 25% of the currently recorded Talent value to one designated enemy, Quantum DMG equal to 20% of Cipher’s ATK to one designated enemy and its adjacent targets, and True DMG equal to 75% of the current Talent’s recorded value. This True DMG is Distributed to all Skill targets.

The Hospitable Dolosian

The Hospitable Dolosian

Cipher Talent

Single Target

When there are no enemy targets in “Patron” state on the battlefield, Cipher immediately causes one enemy target with the highest Max HP on the battlefield to become the “Patron.” When using Skill and Ultimate, the primary target becomes the “Patron.” The “Patron” state only takes effect on the latest target.

After the “Patron” is attacked by other ally targets, Cipher immediately launches a Follow-up ATK against the “Patron,” dealing Quantum DMG equal to 75% of Cipher’s ATK. This Follow-up ATK can only be triggered 1 time(s) each turn.

Cipher will record 12% of the non-True DMG ally targets dealt to “Patron,” but the Overflow DMG will not be recorded. The recorded value is cleared after using Ultimate.

Puss in Boots

Puss in Boots

Cipher Technique

Enhance

Obtains “Zagreus’s Blessing” for 15 second(s). During this time, Cipher will be undetectable by enemies and her movement speed increases by 50%. When approaching an enemy in the overworld/Simulated Universe/Divergent Universe, there is a chance of immediately obtaining a random Consumable. You can obtain Consumables up to 50 time(s) in each Earth day. When entering battle with “Zagreus’s Blessing” active, deals Quantum DMG equal to 100% of Cipher’s ATK to all enemies. Increases the recorded DMG Cipher obtains from this instance of DMG by 200%.

Cipher Traces
Cipher Trace

Sleight of Sky

First Tier

Increases the CRIT DMG dealt by the Talent’s Follow-up ATK by 100%. When Cipher is on the battlefield, DMG received by all enemy targets increases by 40%.

Second Tier (Ascension 2)

Effect Hit Rate + 6%

Third Tier (Ascension 3)

Quantum DMG + 6.4%

Cipher Trace

300 Rogues

First Tier

Cipher will record 8% of the non-True DMG ally targets dealt to the enemy targets aside from the “Patron.” Overflow DMG is not recorded.

Second Tier (Ascension 4)

SPD + 3

Third Tier (Ascension 5)

Quantum DMG + 4.8%

Fourth Tier (Ascension 5)

SPD + 3

Cipher Trace

Empyrean Strides

First Tier

When Cipher’s SPD is greater or equal to 140/170, increases CRIT Rate by 25%/50%, and recorded value by 50%/100%.

Second Tier (Ascension 6)

Quantum DMG + 3.2%

Third Tier (Lv. 75)

SPD + 3

Cipher Eidolons
Read the Room, Seek the Glee

Read the Room, Seek the Glee

Cipher Eidolon Level 1

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).

In the Fray, Nab On a Spree

In the Fray, Nab On a Spree

Cipher Eidolon Level 2

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).

From Thin Air, Hard to Foresee

From Thin Air, Hard to Foresee

Cipher Eidolon Level 3

Ultimate Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15.

Basic ATK Lv. +1, up to a maximum of Lv. 10.

The Jig Is Up, Quick to Flee

The Jig Is Up, Quick to Flee

Cipher Eidolon Level 4

After the “Patron” gets attacked by an ally target, Cipher deals Quantum Additional DMG to it equal to 50% of Cipher’s ATK.

Safe in Numbers, Light as a Bee

Safe in Numbers, Light as a Bee

Cipher Eidolon Level 5

Skill Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15.

Talent Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15.

The Thief's Game, Unsung and Free

The Thief’s Game, Unsung and Free

Cipher Eidolon Level 6

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.

Honkai Star Rail Cipher Guide: Team Composition

Honkai Star Rail Cipher thrives in Follow-Up ATK teams as a Quantum Nihility Sub-DPS who marks enemies and unleashes stored damage as True DMG. With high FUA frequency and strong debuffs, Honkai Star Rail Cipher pairs perfectly with allies who scale off follow-ups, like Feixiao and Robin.

Honkai Star Rail Cipher

Cipher

Honkai Star Rail Cipher is a 5★ Quantum Nihility Sub-DPS who marks enemies with her Skill, recording damage that unleashes as True DMG via her Ultimate. Her frequent follow-up attacks help trigger allied FUA passives and debuffs, making her ideal in synergy-heavy FUA teams like with Feixiao or Robin.

Honkai Star Rail Feixiao

Feixiao

Feixiao excels in a FUA role by gaining stacks when allies hit marked enemies. Honkai Star Rail Cipher’s frequent follow-ups rapidly fuel Feixiao’s passive and Ultimate, increasing Feixiao’s output. Cipher also adds debuffs, enabling Dead Waters relic and raising Feixiao’s total damage.

Honkai Star Rail Robin

Robin

Robin buffs allies with ATK%, CRIT DMG, and Action Advance via her Ultimate, letting Honkai Star Rail Cipher cycle skills faster. Robin’s passive triggers bonus Physical DMG per attack, synergizing with Cipher’s frequent hits. She also keeps buffs up for Cipher’s max FUA pressure.

Honkai Star Rail Aventurine

Aventurine

Aventurine provides team-wide shields and gains stacks through follow-ups, making Honkai Star Rail Cipher’s constant attacks highly synergistic. His DEF debuffs and bonus follow-ups on Ultimate empower Cipher’s True DMG output, while ensuring survivability for the whole team.

Honkai Star Rail Cipher Guide: Ascension Materials

Lvl. Character Ascension Materials
20 ➔ 30 Ethereal Omen ×5
Credit ×4,000
30 ➔ 40 Ethereal Omen ×10
Credit ×8,000
40 ➔ 50 Darkveil Moonlight ×3
Echoing Wail ×6
Credit ×16,000
50 ➔ 60 Darkveil Moonlight ×7
Echoing Wail ×9
Credit ×40,000
60 ➔ 70 Darkveil Moonlight ×20
Eternal Lament ×6
Credit ×80,000
70 ➔ 80 Darkveil Moonlight ×35
Eternal Lament ×9
Credit ×160,000
Lvl Basic ATK Ascension Materials
2 Fiery Spirit ×3
Ethereal Omen ×6
Credit ×5,000
3 Starfire Essence ×3
Echoing Wail ×3
Credit ×10,000
4 Starfire Essence ×5
Echoing Wail ×4
Credit ×20,000
5 Heaven Incinerator ×3
Eternal Lament ×3
Credit ×45,000
6 Heaven Incinerator ×8
Eternal Lament ×4
Credit ×160,000
Lvl Skill, Talent, & Ult Ascension Materials
2 Ethereal Omen ×3
Credit ×2,500
3 Fiery Spirit ×3
Ethereal Omen ×6
Credit ×5,000
4 Starfire Essence ×3
Echoing Wail ×3
Credit ×10,000
5 Starfire Essence ×5
Echoing Wail ×4
Credit ×20,000
6 Starfire Essence ×7
Echoing Wail ×6
Credit ×30,000
7 Heaven Incinerator ×3
Eternal Lament ×3
Credit ×45,000
8 Daythunder Anamnesis ×1
Heaven Incinerator ×5
Eternal Lament ×4
Credit ×80,000
9 Tracks of Destiny ×1
Daythunder Anamnesis ×1
Heaven Incinerator ×8
Credit ×160,000
10 Tracks of Destiny ×1
Daythunder Anamnesis ×1
Heaven Incinerator ×14
Credit ×300,000

Honkai Star Rail Cipher Guide: Conclusion

Honkai Star Rail Cipher is a high‑speed Nihility Sub‑DPS who excels at weakening foes, siphoning teammate damage via her “Patron” mark, and unleashing it as potent True Damage with her Ultimate. Built around SPD and Effect Hit, she synergizes perfectly with follow‑up teams and Acheron/Feixiao comps. Honkai Star Rail Cipher signature Light Cone boosts SPD and DEF shred, elevating her disruptive, bursty playstyle. With strong traces and eidolons amplifying her recording and follow‑up hits, Honkai Star Rail Cipher brings a fresh, strategic twist to Quantum lineups.

Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q)

❓What’s her core mechanic?

Honkai Star Rail Cipher applies “Patron” to a high‑HP enemy. Allied hits on that target trigger her follow‑up and tally 12% of non‑True damage. Her Ultimate then deals recorded true damage plus quantum bursts.

❓Is she worth pulling?

Yes—Honkai Star Rail Cipher offers hybrid sub‑DPS/support utility through True Damage burst, debuffs, and agility in follow‑up comps. Ideal for players with quantum or fast follow‑up teams.

❓Does Cipher benefit from Effect Hit Rate?

Yes—she applies debuffs, and Effect Hit Rate helps them land, especially on higher-level enemies. About 38% Effect Hit is often enough with trace boosts and relic substats for consistency.

❓Can Cipher be used in MoC/Simulated Universe?

Yes—she excels in both. In Memory of Chaos, her burst timing helps with strict turn limits. In Simulated Universe, she synergizes with Nihility Paths and benefits from frequent follow-ups and debuff-based blessings.

Honkai Star Rail Cipher Guide

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