Simulated Universe mechanics and style of gameplay are a fun and refreshing mode in Honkai: Star Rail. With each run, players are sure to have different paths and outcomes because of all the different Blessings, Curios, and enemies they could encounter during that run.
Not only choices from within the Simulated Universe, but players can also take many directions before entering any Simulated Universe in Honkai: Star Rail that has a direct impact on the experience inside.
8 Alt F4 Is Your Best Friend
During any Simulated Universe run, players are at risk of losing all their progress with any battle loss. There are some ways to prevent losing progress after a loss like getting Laurel Crown of Planar Shifts Curio which will protect players from one battle loss and consider it a victory, except when losing against bosses.
To unconditionally prevent losing progress during any SU run, players simply should exit the game. No matter which device they’re on, force-quitting the game will reset players' progress to a moment before they initiate a battle. However, note that any pre-battle buff and Technique Points spent will not return.
7 Character Placement Is Important
Most bosses and enemies in the Simulated Universe have a range of AoE attacks that could damage multiple allies. Just like characters, this type of attack is usually aimed at a target with its adjacent units. Therefore, Tanks should not have squishy characters like Hunt or Erudition standing next to them. Because naturally, a tanky unit would Taunt or increase the chance of being hit by enemies, which will be hurtful to the characters standing next to them.
So, players should place their characters like this: Tank - Healer - Less Squishy Character - Most Squishy Character. Placing the most squishy character far from the Taunt unit will ensure it'll be safe from the enemy's 3-target AoE hit.
6 The Simulated Universe Is Flexible
When picking the first four characters to enter a Simulated Universe in Honkai: Star Rail, players should know that these units are not the last ones to pick. There will be opportunities of accessing a couple of Downloaders during the SU run to add more characters to their roster.
Players can also change their lineup at any time given and even change Relics, weapons, and even the Trailblazer's Path. Most importantly, inside the Simulated Universe, players can always exit and save their progress to be able to continue the same SU run later. This allows people to farm for some resources in case some of their equipment or character is not properly leveled.
5 Check Enemies Lineups
One of the most important things to do before entering any Simulated Universe is to check enemies’ lineups and prepare the right characters for the run. For example, if most enemies are weak to Ice, then bringing Ice characters can prove to be effective.
Checking enemies’ lineups also helps plan which Path Resonance should players acquire to go through that Simulated Universe with ease. Finally, there are some unique bosses and monsters like Kafka who need specific types of characters that can help against them.
4 Plan Your Blessings
What makes every Simulated Universe a special and unique experience is the ability to gather a set of Blessings during the run. On every victory, players will get three Blessings to choose from, divided equally among seven types; Preservation, Remembrance, Nihility, Abundance, Hunt, Destruction, and Elation. Each type of Blessing notably changes the experience inside the Simulated Universe. For example, Trailblazers can go for more Preservation Blessings to be defensive while focusing on Hunt Blessings makes the team more deadly.
Blessings are also divided into rarities with each type of Blessing holding three types of rarities. Most victories will land players a choice between three 1-star Blessings, with a small chance of having a 2-star Blessing included. As for 3-star Blessings, they’re mostly won against Elite enemies that are hard to take down. Of course, that’s not the only way as some events and Curios are able to give players more chances to obtain 3-star Blessings.
These few extra notes can also help further understand how to plan Blessings in Honkai: Star Rail. First, it’s important to choose wisely and try to synergize newly obtained Blessings with the already available ones. This improves the chances of clearing the Simulated Universe. Second, do not be afraid to Reset Blessings when all three choices are bad and unable to add anything to the already chosen Path or if players simply want to stack on one type of Blessing. Finally, some Blessings could be completely useless upon getting but extremely deadly and game-changing when upgraded or synergized with other effects.
3 Enhance Your Path Resonance
Before entering any Simulated Universe in Honkai: Star Rail, players can choose among seven Paths to take. Each Path grants a strong set of Resonance Formations that belong to that type of Blessing only. The Path Resonance is given after 3 Blessings of that Path are collected, while the Resonance Formations are obtained after players own 6, 10, and 14 Blessings of that same type (Path Resonance and its Formations aren't counted).
The Resonance Formation can be game-changing as it turns the Path Resonance from a mere damage/healing Skill into a complicated mechanic that should be used with consideration. For example, the Abundance Path Resonance simply heals without Resonance Formations, but with them, it can do other things like reviving a downed character, healing periodically, or cleansing/blocking debuff.
2 Don’t Hesitate To Spend Herta Bonds
While Herta’s Store doesn’t have many choices, it has one of the rarest items in Honkai: Star Rail. After clearing any Simulated Universe for the first time or after meeting the weekly score, players will obtain Herta Bonds, which is a currency to use inside Herta’s Store. Players should not be afraid to spend their hard-earned Herta Bonds inside that Store since there’s no other place to benefit from the currency. Furthermore, players will keep earning Herta Bonds weekly, so clearing the Store of all its items is inevitable.
1 Careful Of Bad Curio
Although most Curios in Honkai: Star Rail grant positive effects, there are instances where players may get stuck with negative ones. This may happen from occurrences like the time players journey to a spider lair, or if people choose to obtain 300 Cosmic Fragment and a negative Curio along with it. For example, Curios like the Black Forest Cuckoo Clock will put a random ally under the threat of always being attacked by enemies. Some Curios will also hurt the saving of Cosmic Fragments like the Perpetual Motion Cuckoo Clock, or even severely hurt the team’s synergy by taking away two Skill points at the start of any battle with the effect of Mechanical Cuckoo Clock.
There are some Curios that are in between, where they offer great benefits with great risks like the Galactic Big Lotto, which grants players a chance to receive an extra Curio when they break objects at the risk of losing 99% of the entire team’s HP.
Additionally, although the Broken Code Curio is initially negative, players should always get them. They offer an annoying disadvantage for the next three battles but will then switch that disadvantage into a useful advantage to have in the entire Simulated Universe run. The Broken Code always appears in a room with three enemies, so players can fix it immediately before going to the next room.
Honkai: Star Rail is now available on Android, iOS, and PC. A PlayStation version is in development.