Best Kafka build in Honkai Star Rail: Relics, Light Cones, Eidolons, & Abilities

Cassidy Stephenson
A screenshot of Kafka from Honkai Star Rail

Kafka is a powerful 5-star Lightning unit in Honkai Star Rail hailing from the Path of Nihility. Here is a guide for Kafka in Honkai Star Rail.

Kafka was released alongside the second phase of version 1.2 within the game. She is exceptionally strong and brings a lot to the table.

Kafka is a Nihility unit, but her damage scales off ATK stats and how much DoT (Damage over Time) she can stack on the enemy. The overall DoT stacking can lead to some really big numbers from her ultimate, which in turn out-damages the likes of Jing Yuan by a mile.

Kafka is definitely a top-tier unit, and she can even be referred to as a must-have. As such, if you did end up pulling for Kafka, a guide to build her, including the abilities, Light Cones, and Eidolons, have been discussed in this article.

Contents

Honkai Star Rail: Kafka abilities

A screenshot for Kafka abilities in Honkai Star Rail
Kafka has some really powerful abilities in Honkai Star Rail
Active SkillEffect
Basic Attack: Midnight Tumult Deals Lightning DMG equal to 50% of Kafka’s ATK to a single enemy.
Skill: Caressing MoonlightDeals Lightning DMG equal to 80% of Kafka’s ATK to a target enemy and Lightning DMG equal to 30% of Kafka’s ATK to enemies adjacent to it.
If the target enemy is currently receiving DoT, all DoTs currently placed on that enemy immediately produce DMG equal to 80% of their original DMG.
Ultimate: Twilight TrillDeals Lightning DMG equal to 48% of Kafka’s ATK to all enemies, with a 100% base chance for enemies hit to become Shocked and immediately take DMG from their current Shock state equal to 80% of its original DMG. Shock lasts for 2 turn(s).
While Shocked, enemies receive Lightning DoT equal to 75% of Kafka’s ATK at the beginning of each turn.
TalentEffect
Gentle but Cruel After an ally of Kafka’s uses Basic ATK on an enemy, Kafka immediately launches 1 follow-up attack and deals Lightning DMG equal to 60% of her ATK to that enemy, with a base chance of 100% of increasing the DoT inflicted by 15% for 2 turns. This effect can only be triggered 1 time per turn.
TechniqueEffect
Mercy is not ForgivenessImmediately attacks the enemy. After entering battle, deals Lightning DMG equal to 50% of Kafka’s ATK to all enemies. In addition, all enemies have a 100% base chance to become Shocked for 3 turn(s).
Traces Effect
Torture When the Ultimate is used, enemies targets will now receive DMG immediately from all DoT sources instead of just receiving DMG immediately from the currently applied Shock.
PlunderIf an enemy is defeated while Shocked, Kafka additionally regenerates 5 Energy.
ThornsThe base chance for target enemies to get Shocked by the Ultimate, the Technique, or the Talent-triggered follow-up attack increases by 30%.

Honkai Star Rail: Kafka Eidolons

A screenshot of Kafka's Eidolons in Honkai Star Rail
Kafka’s Eidolons enhance her damage out by a significant amount
  • Level 1 – Da Capo: When the Talent triggers a follow-up attack, there is a 100% base-chance to increase the DoT received by the target by 30% for 2 turn(s).
  • Level 2 – Fortississimo: When Kafka is on the field, DoT dealt by all allies is increased by 25%.
  • Level 3 – Capriccio: Skill Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Basic ATK Lv. +1, up to a maximum of Lv.10. 
  • Level 4 – Recitativo: When an enemy target takes DMG from the Shock status inflicted by Kafka, she additionally regenerates 2 Energy.
  • Level 5 – Doloroso: Ultimate Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Talent Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15.
  • Level 6 – Leggiero: The Shock inflicted on the enemy by the Ultimate, the Technique, or the Talent-triggered follow-up attack has a DMG-multiplier increase of 156% and lasts for 1 turn(s) longer.

Best Light Cones for Kafka in Honkai Star Rail

A screenshot of the Light Cone Patience is All You Need for Kafka
Kafka’s signature Light Cone is her best-in-slot, but there are other good options too

The best Light Cone for Kafka in Honkai Star Rail is Patience is All You Need. This Light Cone increases the DMG dealt by the user by 24%-40%. Apart from that, after every attack, the SPD of the user increases by 4.8%-8.0% up to 3 times.

Upon hitting an enemy not affected by Erode, you have a 100% base chance to inflict it. Every enemy affected by Erode is considered as Shocked, and they will receive Lightning DoT equal to 60%-100% of the wearer’s ATK at the start of each turn.

This Light Cone can only be obtained from the Event Warp whenever it is available. It cannot be obtained from any other source.

However, if you want an easy-to-obtain 5-star option, then In the Name of the World is a very good option. This is the best-in-slot Light Cone for Welt, but it works quite well for Kafka and can be obtained from the Starlight shop for 600 Undying Starlight.

Lastly, if you want a 4-star option then you can go for either Good Night and Sleep Well or Fermata.

Best Relics for Kafka in Honkai Star Rail

The best Relic set for Kafka is Prisoner in Deep Confinement based on its DoT effect. The set-piece bonus for this Relic set is provided below:

2-piece bonus: Increases ATK by 12%

4-piece bonus: For every DoT the target enemy is afflicted with, the wearer will ignore 6% of the target’s DEF when dealing DMG to them. This effect is valid for a max of 3 DoTs.

The best Planar Ornament set for Kafka in Honkai Star Rail is Firmanent Frontline Glamoth. The set bonus will increase Kafka’s ATK by 12%, and when her SPD is equal to or higher than 135/160, Kafka deals 12%/18% more DMG.

Best Team Comp for Kafka in Honkai Star Rail

Kafka is a DoT unit, and her damage depends on how many stacks of Shock, Bleed, or other status effects are present on the enemy. Therefore, the best partners for Kafka in the game are Sampo, Ruan Mei, and Huohuo.

In this team, Sampo inflicts status effects on the enemies, while Huohuo heals the team, and Ruan Mei acts as the support. It goes without saying Kafka also inflicts status effects on the enemies.

Alternatively, you can also replace Sampo with Luka or Guinaifen to ensure that there is a second DoT unit on the team.

However, there is a second team where Kafka can function as the Hypercarry. This team includes Silver Wolf, Tingyun, Kafka, and Huohuo. Silver Wolf can reduce the DEF of enemies and also apply debuffs. Tingyun functions marvelously as her ATK boosts enhance Kafka’s DMG by a lot.

Lastly, Huohuo will act as the primary healer in the team.

Kafka trailer in Honkai Star Rail

On August 8, 2023, HoYoverse released an official trailer for Kafka on their YouTube account. If you missed it, then please take a look at it from the link provided below.

That concludes our guide for Kafka in Honkai Star Rail. Check out our other guides to see if any other characters catch your eye.

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About The Author

Cassidy graduated from Concordia University Chicago in 2021 with a Bachelor's Degree in Media Communication. She's an expert in all things Pokemon, and her favorite games include Pokémon Crystal, Genshin Impact, and Fire Emblem: Three Houses. You can contact her at cassidy.stephenson@dexerto.com.