How To Build Yao Guang: Unlocking the Full Potential in Honkai: Star Rail
With the arrival of Yao Guang in Honkai: Star Rail, players are faced with an exciting opportunity to reinvent their team compositions. As the controversial first playable character on the Path of the Elation, Yao Guang immediately distinguishes herself with one of the most potent support toolkits in the game. Those who secure her are not just preparing for the next wave of meta shifts, but are actively shaping them.
Yao Guang: Elation Path, Physical Attribute and New Support Paradigm
Yao Guang debuts as a 5-star Physical support, leaning heavily into synergistic play. Her defining trait is the All-Type RES PEN buff she grants, echoing the revered support prowess of Ruan Mei. This unique buff carves a niche for her, especially among Elation-path characters, setting a new bar for what support means in the current environment of Honkai: Star Rail. The meta is evolving—as Elation units like Sparxie and Sparkle grow in prominence, Yao Guang is poised to be their ideal partner in both top-tier and experimental team comps.
Best Light Cones: Yao Guang’s Prime Gear Picks
To unleash Yao Guang’s true impact, equipping her with the optimal Light Cone is essential. Her signature Light Cone, When She Decided To See, stands as the unrivaled best-in-slot for her needs. This 5-star weapon dramatically increases her SPD—her most vital stat—and unlocks Great Fortune after Ultimates, buffing CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, and energizing the team for explosive follow-ups. Players looking for a practical free-to-play alternative can secure Mushy Shroomy’s Adventures from the Light Cone Manifest store, which synergizes with her Elation output and delivers strong value without heavy investment. For those running a battle pass, Today’s Good Luck is another solid choice, bolstering CRIT Rate and Elation generation, although it truly shines on DPS role Elation units.
Relics & Ornaments: Optimizing Every Stat Point
Yao Guang’s role as a hyper-support makes relic selection high-impact. The Diviner of Distant Reach (4-piece) set is tailored for her: a two-piece set boosts SPD by 6%, and when equipped fully, delivers a massive CRIT Rate bonus if her SPD is 160 or higher—a practical target for endgame players. Elation value is amplified whenever her Skill is triggered in combat, giving a team-wide offensive surge that cannot be underestimated.
For ornaments, Lushaka, the Sunken Seas currently leads the pack. Dual bonuses—first in energy regeneration, second in strategic ATK boosts for the lead character if Yao Guang is not positioned first—create a layered synergy that matches the depth of high-end strategy.
Stat Priority: Speed First, Damage Second
- SPD ≥ 160 (Activate set bonuses and maximize rotations)
- CRIT Rate/CRIT DMG (To support the team’s overall burst potential)
- Energy Regeneration Rate (For more frequent Ultimate use)
- HP/DEF (Ensures she can withstand late-stage boss mechanics)
Every stat here is more than just a number—it’s a lever to tilt difficult battles in your favor.
Top Team Compositions: Crafting Elation-Centric Squads
Yao Guang truly becomes a meta-defining force when partnered with other Elation characters. The ultimate synergy can be found in a setup with Sparxie (Elation – Fire), Sparkle (Harmony – Quantum), and either Hyacine (Remembrance – Wind) or Permansor Terrae (Preservation – Physical). This configuration leverages layers of buffs, debuffs, and ATK enhancements, producing burst turns and outlasting even the toughest late-game content.
For free-to-play or early roster accounts, pairing Yao Guang with staples like Dan Heng, the Trailblazer (Remembrance – Ice), and Natasha provides a solid backbone while maintaining strong Elation synergy. Even without top-tier Light Cones or character pulls, this composition is competitive in both campaign and abyssal content.
Skill and Trace Prioritization: Path to Power
When allocating resources, always prioritize Ultimate and Skill upgrades, as they frontload the power of her kit. Her three bonus Traces come next, further expanding her utility ceiling. Only after maxing these core abilities does it make sense to invest heavily in her Elation-specific Skill, Talent, and, lastly, Basic Attack.
Competitive Context, Meta Trends, and Yao Guang’s Long-Term Value
Yao Guang’s release has already started to transform the strategic fabric of Honkai: Star Rail. With her capacity to supercharge Elation teams and act as a universal support, it’s likely her relevance will persist through future content drops and balance shifts. As more Elation units are introduced and the Path receives additional support, players who have mastered Yao Guang’s builds and team dynamics will be several steps ahead of the curve.
This is an era in which support characters rival DPS in impact—and with the right build, Yao Guang stands at the very center of that revolution.
