Foreword
The damage calculation and simulations used in this guide were performed by the YouTuber Grimro and verified by our team during the Final Closed Beta. If you're interested in Honkai: Star Rail video content or the calculations behind this ranking check out Grimro's YouTube channel.
Grimro YouTubeThese calculations are based on a step by step process performed for every character factoring in each of their mechanics with a focus on allowing them to perform to the highest of their ability (but also in a fair environment):

Simulation rules
Note these DPS rankings are based on information from the Release information. The simulation showcases characters damage potential in the 8 cycle turn limit of Forgotten Hall - for those familiar with the Spiral Abyss from Genshin Impact it is a incredibly similar mode.
Please check the rules we've used to create the DPS rankings below (by expanding the tab).
General:
- Combat is simulated at 8 Turns of in-game time or 850 Action Points (1 side of Forgotten Hall on average - that's required to 3 star the stage),
- If a character has a Technique that benefits them, it is being used before the combat and calculated in,
- Characters are simulated to always use their Skill and Ultimate (when it's available). This means that when you build your team, you need to ensure the proper Skill Points balance to feed the main carry with all the SP they need.
Enemies:
- Enemies are considered to always have a Break Bar resulting in units all doing 90% of real damage,
- Due to some units having mechanics around break, the enemies are simulated to be Broken for the purpose of these characters abilities at:
- 75% HP - duration 100 Action Points,
- 50% HP - duration 100 Action Points,
- 25% HP - duration 100 Action Points.
- Enemies are assumed to move every 100 Action Points,
- Enemies are assumed to be at 100% of HP at start of battle and to die at exactly at the end of combat. Which means halfway through the fight they are at 50% HP,
- Enemies are assumed to have 1000 DEF (so they're on the same level as the character),
- Enemies are assumed to be neutral to all elements,
- Enemies are assumed to have 0 Resistance.
Units:
- All units are level 80,
- Traces are all unlocked, skills at Level 10 and Basic at Level 6,
- All units have fully upgraded 5 star relics with 24 desired sub stats out of a possible 54,
- Sub stats are capped at 10/10/4 as it is assumed you will not realistically get desired stats on a planar sphere,
- All units use their Best In Slot 2 and 4 piece sets,
- All units use Light Cones that are realistically obtainable by all players (including those in Herta and FH Stores and Battle Pass).
- Because the Herta Store and farmable Light Cones are easily accessible to playerbase, we are simulating them at Superimposition 5.
Also, if you want to learn more about the damage formula itself, check our other guide:
DPS Ranking
Updated: 16.05.2023Don't use the DPS Ranking as an indication on who is worth pulling or investing as those are just simulations and in day-to-day gameplay there's a lot variables. Use the ranking only to supplement your knowledge. Also, please check the disclaimers available on some characters as they go into detail about how they are being simulated.
The DPS Ranking will be constantly updated as we find new ways to build characters or when new characters are released.




Relic Sets
Increases Quantum DMG by 10%.
When the wearer deals DMG to the target enemy, ignores 10% DEF. If the target enemy has Quantum Weakness, the wearer additionally ignores 10% DEF.
Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD reaches 120 or higher, the wearer's ATK increases by an extra 12%.
Light Cone
Increases the wearer's CRIT rate by 8/10/12/14/16%, and increases their CRIT rate against enemies with HP less than or equal to 50% by an extra 8/10/12/14/16%. When the wearer defeats an enemy, their ATK is increased by 20/25/30/35/40% for 2 turn(s).
The damage breakdown for the updated DPS Ranking will be added in a few days!




Relic Sets
Increases Wind DMG by 10%.
After the wearer uses Ultimate, their action is Advanced Forward by 25%.
Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD reaches 120 or higher, the wearer's ATK increases by an extra 12%.
Light Cone
Increases the wearer's CRIT rate by 8/10/12/14/16%, and increases their CRIT rate against enemies with HP less than or equal to 50% by an extra 8/10/12/14/16%. When the wearer defeats an enemy, their ATK is increased by 20/25/30/35/40% for 2 turn(s).
The damage breakdown for the updated DPS Ranking will be added in a few days!




Relic Sets
This character uses split set setup - so you only use the 2-piece bonus.
Increases Ice DMG by 10%.
After the wearer unleashes their Ultimate, their CRIT DMG increases by 25% for 2 turn(s).
ATK increases by 12%.
The wearer's SPD increases by 6% and Basic ATK DMG increases by 10%.
Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD reaches 120 or higher, the wearer's ATK increases by an extra 12%.
Light Cone
Increases the wearer's CRIT rate by 8/10/12/14/16%, and increases their CRIT rate against enemies with HP less than or equal to 50% by an extra 8/10/12/14/16%. When the wearer defeats an enemy, their ATK is increased by 20/25/30/35/40% for 2 turn(s).
The damage breakdown for the updated DPS Ranking will be added in a few days!




Relic Sets
Increases Lightning DMG by 10%.
When the wearer uses Skill, increases the wearer's ATK by 20% for 1 turn(s).
Increases the wearer's CRIT Rate by 8%. When the wearer's current CRIT Rate reaches 50% or higher, the wearer's Ultimate and follow-up attack DMG increases by 15%.
Light Cone
After entering battle, increases the wearer's DMG based on their Max Energy. DMG increases by 0.2/0.25/0.3/0.35/0.4% per point of Energy, up to 160 Energy.
The damage breakdown for the updated DPS Ranking will be added in a few days!




Relic Sets
This character uses split set setup - so you only use the 2-piece bonus.
Increases Fire DMG by 10%.
Increases the wearer's Skill DMG by 12%. After unleashing Ultimate, increases the wearer's Fire DMG by 12% for next attack.
ATK increases by 12%.
The wearer's SPD increases by 6% and Basic ATK DMG increases by 10%.
Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD reaches 120 or higher, the wearer's ATK increases by an extra 12%.
Light Cone
Whenever the wearer attacks, their ATK is increased by 8/10/12/14/16% in this battle, up to 4 time(s). When the wearer inflicts Weakness Break on enemies, the wearer's DMG increases by 12/15/18/21/24% for 2 turn(s).
The damage breakdown for the updated DPS Ranking will be added in a few days!




Relic Sets
Increases Physical DMG by 10%.
After the wearer attacks or is hit, their ATK increases by 5% for the rest of the battle. This effect can stack up to 5 time(s).
Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD reaches 120 or higher, the wearer's ATK increases by an extra 12%.
Light Cone
Increases the wearer's CRIT rate by 8/10/12/14/16%, and increases their CRIT rate against enemies with HP less than or equal to 50% by an extra 8/10/12/14/16%. When the wearer defeats an enemy, their ATK is increased by 20/25/30/35/40% for 2 turn(s).
The damage breakdown for the updated DPS Ranking will be added in a few days!




Relic Sets
Increases Physical DMG by 10%.
After the wearer attacks or is hit, their ATK increases by 5% for the rest of the battle. This effect can stack up to 5 time(s).
Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD reaches 120 or higher, the wearer's ATK increases by an extra 12%.
Light Cone
Whenever the wearer attacks, their ATK is increased by 8/10/12/14/16% in this battle, up to 4 time(s). When the wearer inflicts Weakness Break on enemies, the wearer's DMG increases by 12/15/18/21/24% for 2 turn(s).
The damage breakdown for the updated DPS Ranking will be added in a few days!




Relic Sets
This character uses split set setup - so you only use the 2-piece bonus.
Increases Wind DMG by 10%.
After the wearer uses Ultimate, their action is Advanced Forward by 25%.
ATK increases by 12%.
The wearer's SPD increases by 6% and Basic ATK DMG increases by 10%.
Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD reaches 120 or higher, the wearer's ATK increases by an extra 12%.
Light Cone
Increases Effect Hit Rate of its wearer by 20/25/30/35/40% and increases DoT by 24/30/36/42/48%.
The damage breakdown for the updated DPS Ranking will be added in a few days!




Relic Sets
This character uses split set setup - so you only use the 2-piece bonus.
Increases Fire DMG by 10%.
Increases the wearer's Skill DMG by 12%. After unleashing Ultimate, increases the wearer's Fire DMG by 12% for next attack.
ATK increases by 12%.
The wearer's SPD increases by 6% and Basic ATK DMG increases by 10%.
Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD reaches 120 or higher, the wearer's ATK increases by an extra 12%.
Light Cone
After entering battle, increases the wearer's DMG based on their Max Energy. DMG increases by 0.2/0.25/0.3/0.35/0.4% per point of Energy, up to 160 Energy.
The damage breakdown for the updated DPS Ranking will be added in a few days!




Relic Sets
Increases Lightning DMG by 10%.
When the wearer uses Skill, increases the wearer's ATK by 20% for 1 turn(s).
Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD reaches 120 or higher, the wearer's ATK increases by an extra 12%.
Light Cone
Whenever the wearer attacks, their ATK is increased by 8/10/12/14/16% in this battle, up to 4 time(s). When the wearer inflicts Weakness Break on enemies, the wearer's DMG increases by 12/15/18/21/24% for 2 turn(s).
The damage breakdown for the updated DPS Ranking will be added in a few days!




Relic Sets
Increases Lightning DMG by 10%.
When the wearer uses Skill, increases the wearer's ATK by 20% for 1 turn(s).
Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD reaches 120 or higher, the wearer's ATK increases by an extra 12%.
Light Cone
After entering battle, increases the wearer's DMG based on their Max Energy. DMG increases by 0.2/0.25/0.3/0.35/0.4% per point of Energy, up to 160 Energy.
The damage breakdown for the updated DPS Ranking will be added in a few days!




Relic Sets
Increases Physical DMG by 10%.
After the wearer attacks or is hit, their ATK increases by 5% for the rest of the battle. This effect can stack up to 5 time(s).
Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD reaches 120 or higher, the wearer's ATK increases by an extra 12%.
Light Cone
Whenever the wearer attacks, their ATK is increased by 8/10/12/14/16% in this battle, up to 4 time(s). When the wearer inflicts Weakness Break on enemies, the wearer's DMG increases by 12/15/18/21/24% for 2 turn(s).
The damage breakdown for the updated DPS Ranking will be added in a few days!