Cipher
★★★★★

Cipher Build

Cipher is a 5★ Quantum character on the Path of Nihility in Honkai: Star Rail. Below are the character's stats, skills and Eidolons — plus a pity calculator if you plan to pull.

Released: 11/06/2025 · v3.3· Updated: 03/07/2026
Updated for version 4.3 · 02/07/2026
Calculate pity to pull this character →
Community usage · phase 4.3.2
Memory of Chaos1.5%
Pure Fiction3.6%
Apocalyptic Shadow4.1%
Stats from 16,423 real player profiles (Memory of Chaos) · community data by LvlUrArti
Building Cipher — just follow the numbers
30-second summary

Pull if your Acheron or hypercarry team still lacks a fast debuffing sub-DPS. Skip if you already own a strong Jiaoqiu or Topaz for that slot.

1
30-second build
In a hurry? This box is all you need — details below
BodyCRIT DMG FeetSPD SphereQuantum DMG RopeATK%

Sub-stat priority: SPD > CRIT DMG > CRIT Rate > ATK% > EHR

2
Verdict & playstyle
How strong, worth pulling, how to play
Memory of Chaos 4.5/5
Pure Fiction 4/5
Apocalyptic Shadow 4.5/5
Should you pull Cipher?

Pull if your Acheron or hypercarry team still lacks a fast debuffing sub-DPS. Skip if you already own a strong Jiaoqiu or Topaz for that slot.

Pros
  • High SPD, acts early to shred DEF
  • Team-wide DEF down + damage-taken aura
  • Records and echoes ally damage
  • Flexible into most carries
Cons
  • Wants a debuff-heavy team to shine
  • Hard-gated on the 170 SPD threshold
  • Modest personal damage at E0
  • Somewhat team-dependent
How to play

Each turn use Skill to record ally damage and shred enemy DEF, then fire Ultimate to apply the team-wide 'increased damage taken' aura and unleash the recorded hit. Her high SPD lets her act before the carry to set up.

3
Full build
Light cones, relics, stat targets — with reasons
Best Relics
BodyCRIT DMG
FeetSPD
SphereQuantum DMG
RopeATK%

Sub-stat priority: SPD > CRIT DMG > CRIT Rate > ATK% > EHR

Stat targets

SPD 170+ (required for her bonus ability), CRIT Rate ~50% from gear (she gets 50% baked in, so ~100% in combat), CRIT DMG 160%+, ATK ~3000, EHR ~40%+ to land debuffs reliably.

4
Teams
Best teammates to pair with
Best teams for Cipher

Acheron (with Jiaoqiu + Aventurine) is her best home thanks to stacked debuffs. She also slots into Feixiao/Robin follow-up teams, while Pela + Gallagher make a clean budget core.

Meta suggestions synthesized from global community consensus (Meta 2026-07). Figures come from game data — updated each patch.

5
Eidolons
How far to invest, which milestones matter

E0 (E1/E2 rất mạnh) — E0 is already a solid sub-DPS. E1 (1.5x recorded damage + 80% ATK) and E2 (extra 30% damage-taken debuff) are big power spikes and well worth it if you can spare the pulls.

E1
Read the Room, Seek the Glee★★★★★
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).
Boosts the DMG tally to 150% of its value and grants +80% ATK for 2 turns on the Talent's Follow-Up ATK, a huge early power spike.
E2
In the Fray, Nab On a Spree★★★☆☆
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).
High base chance (120%) to make the hit target take 30% more DMG for 2 turns, a solid team-wide DMG buff but not kit-changing.
E3
From Thin Air, Hard to Foresee★★☆☆☆
Ultimate Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Basic ATK Lv. +1, up to a maximum of Lv. 10.
Only raises Ultimate and Basic ATK levels, a minor incremental gain with no real breakthrough.
E4
The Jig Is Up, Quick to Flee★★★★☆
After the "Patron" gets attacked by an ally target, Cipher deals Quantum Additional DMG to it equal to 50% of Cipher's ATK.
Whenever an ally hits the 'Patron' target, Cipher automatically deals extra Quantum DMG equal to 50% of her ATK, adding meaningful extra damage throughout the fight.
E5
Safe in Numbers, Light as a Bee★★☆☆☆
Skill Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Talent Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15.
Only raises Skill and Talent levels, a minor incremental gain with no real breakthrough.
E6
The Thief's Game, Unsung and Free★★★★★
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.
Massively increases the Talent's Follow-Up ATK DMG by 350% plus extra tally-gain/release mechanics, fundamentally transforming Cipher's damage potential.
6
Skills & Traces
What to level first — tap each skill for details
Skill Leveling Priority
Skill ★★★★★ Skill deals the highest direct hits, applies Weaken and a 30% ATK self-buff, and marks the Patron target, making it a top leveling priority.
Ultimate ★★★★★ Ultimate converts the entire Talent tally into massive True DMG on top of its own hit, making it just as top-priority as Skill.
Talent ★★★★☆ Talent sustains the Patron mechanic and builds up the tally that fuels Ultimate, important but it doesn't deal direct damage on its own.
Basic ATK ★☆☆☆☆ Basic ATK is just a 140% ATK hit unrelated to the tally mechanic, so as usual it stays the lowest leveling priority.
Trace priority: A6 > A2 > A4 Eidolon priority: E6 > E1 = E2 > E4 > E3 = E5
Skills
Oops, a Missed Catch
Oops, a Missed Catch
Basic ATK Single Target Lv.10

Deals Quantum DMG equal to 140% of Cipher's ATK to one designated enemy.

Hey, Jackpot for the Taking
Hey, Jackpot for the Taking
Skill Blast Lv.15

Has a 120% base chance to Weaken one designated enemy and its adjacent targets (decreasing their DMG dealt by 10%) and increases Cipher's ATK by 30%, lasting for 2 turn(s). Moreover, deals Quantum DMG equal to 250% of Cipher's ATK to one designated enemy, and Quantum DMG equal to 125% of Cipher's ATK to the adjacent targets.

Yours Truly, Kitty Phantom Thief!
Yours Truly, Kitty Phantom Thief!
Ultimate Blast Lv.15

Deals Quantum DMG equal to 150% of Cipher's ATK to one designated enemy. Then, deals True DMG equal to 25% of the current tally kept by Talent to the one designated enemy. Moreover, deals Quantum DMG equal to 50% of Cipher's ATK alongside True DMG equal to 75% of the current tally kept by Talent to the one designated enemy and its adjacent targets. And this True DMG is distributed evenly among all targets of this ability.

The Hospitable Dolosian
The Hospitable Dolosian
Talent Single Target Lv.15

When there are no enemy targets in the "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 most recent target. After the "Patron" gets attacked by other ally targets, Cipher immediately launches Follow-Up ATK against the "Patron," dealing Quantum DMG equal to 188% of Cipher's ATK. This effect can trigger up to 1 time(s) per turn, and this trigger count resets at the start of Cipher's turn. Cipher will tally 12% of the non-True DMG dealt by ally targets to the "Patron." Overflow DMG will not be tallied. After using Ultimate, clears this tally.

Attack
Attack

Attacks an enemy, and after entering combat, reduces their Toughness of the corresponding Type.

Puss in Boots
Puss in Boots
Technique Enhance

Gains "Zagreus's Blessing" that lasts 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, can immediately gain a random Consumable. Consumables can be gained this way for 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. And the tallied amount Cipher gains from this instance of DMG increases by 200%.

Major Traces
3 powerful passives (A2/A4/A6) — unlocked via Ascension
A2
Empyrean Strides

When Cipher's SPD is higher than or equal to 140/170, CRIT Rate increases by 25%/50%, and the gained tally increases by 50%/100%.

A4
300 Rogues

Cipher can tally 8% of the non-True DMG dealt by ally targets to the enemy targets other than the "Patron." Overflow DMG is not tallied.

A6
Sleight of Sky

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%.

Trace Bonuses
Total stats gained from unlocking the full trace tree
+14.4%Quantum DMG Boost
+14SPD
+10%Effect Hit Rate
7
Stats & Materials
Base stats at Lv.80 and what to farm
Level 80 stats
HP
931
ATK
640
DEF
509
SPD
106
CRIT Rate
5%
CRIT DMG
50%
Ascension Materials
Total materials to max ascension — tap to see how to farm.
Material Planner →
8
Cipher FAQ
What is the best Light Cone for Cipher?

The best Light Cone for Cipher is Lies Dance on the Breeze (top pick). See F2P options in the Light Cones section above.

Is Cipher worth pulling?

Pull if your Acheron or hypercarry team still lacks a fast debuffing sub-DPS. Skip if you already own a strong Jiaoqiu or Topaz for that slot.

What is the best team for Cipher?

Acheron (with Jiaoqiu + Aventurine) is her best home thanks to stacked debuffs. She also slots into Feixiao/Robin follow-up teams, while Pela + Gallagher make a clean budget core.

Matching Light Cones
Path of Nihility — a Light Cone only gives its bonus to matching-Path characters.
Light Cones →
How to read this build page

Every character build page has these parts: recommended Light Cone/Relic sets and stat table, a Trace/skill leveling order, Eidolon milestones worth considering, and a reference SPD threshold. Read them in that order — gear tells you "what to use", Traces tell you "what to level first", Eidolon tells you "is it worth pulling dupes", SPD tells you "how fast you need to be to keep the rotation on time". The section below explains how to read each part and applies the same way to every character on the site — check the exact numbers in the table above this section, since community sources sometimes differ by a few points.

Why the Light Cone and Relic picks make sense

Most characters have a "signature" Light Cone built for their exact role, plus a few cheaper substitutes from the standard banner or easy-to-get 3-4★ cones. Missing the signature isn't a dead end — most characters keep most of their power with a well-matched substitute, typically losing somewhere between a few percent and roughly a fifth of total damage depending on the setup, per most public comparisons.

  • Relic sets (2pc+2pc or 4pc) are picked for the set effect that fits that character's role (single-target DPS, AoE, shield/healing support, Break damage, and so on).
  • Main stats per slot (Body/Feet/Sphere/Rope) and substats follow a priority that changes by role: DPS roles usually chase CRIT Rate/CRIT DMG before ATK%; Break-focused roles prioritize Break Effect; support/healing roles often value Effect Hit/RES or Outgoing Healing over pure CRIT.

These weights differ per character and can shift slightly between ranking sources — follow the exact priority table above rather than applying one formula to every role.

Trace/skill leveling order by role (a general guideline, not a fixed rule)

There's no single order that's correct for every character, and community sources sometimes disagree depending on the team the character is used in — but the general pattern by role is:

  • DPS: level whichever skill (Skill or Ultimate) carries most of the damage for that character first, with Basic ATK usually last if it isn't the main damage source.
  • Support/Buffer: prioritize Traces that boost buff strength or the skill that applies the effect over Basic ATK, since this role's value comes from lifting the team rather than personal damage.
  • Healer/Shielder: prioritize the main healing or shield skill first, since that is the reason the team runs this character.
  • Break/CC: prioritize whichever skill contributes the most Toughness Damage, since the Break/Weakness Break window is where the team dumps damage.

Major Traces unlock at fixed ascension levels in-game, not by choice — but which one to level first (when resources are limited) should follow the role priority above. Since the exact order can differ between ranking sources, check the specific recommendation in the table above for this character.

Eidolons: how far E0 gets you, and which milestone is worth considering

General rule: most characters at E0 (no duplicates) already handle most content, even 5-star characters. Eidolons are a duplicate-fueled upgrade system — higher levels cost more resources for a smaller power gain, and the actual gain varies a lot per character (some barely change role at E0, others shift how they're played at a specific level). The milestones most often cited by the community tend to sit at E1, E2, or E6 depending on the character — but none of these are required to clear the game's content. Check the Eidolon section in the table above for this character's specific milestone and gain; if sources disagree on how to rate a milestone, trust the in-game effect description over a pre-set percentage number.

How to think about SPD breakpoints

SPD (Speed) controls how often a character acts in the turn order — higher SPD means denser actions, and for some roles (especially support/healing that need to buff or heal before the team gets hit) hitting the right SPD "breakpoint" matters more than the raw SPD number. Values like 101 or 134 SPD are often cited as community-common breakpoints (letting a character act again before or after a specific point in certain team setups) — this is crowd-verified action-gauge math, not an official fixed number the game states for every situation. The right breakpoint also depends on the team and allies' SPD, so treat the SPD suggestion in the table above as a starting point to adjust from, not a mandatory target.

Where to dig deeper

This section only teaches you how to read the page — for deeper comparisons, use the dedicated tools:

  • Tier list to see where this character stands against the full roster.
  • Teams for full in-game comps with rotation order.
  • Relic score to check how your current gear scores against the benchmark.
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