Project Honkai Astral Ring Guide
Astral Ring?
What is Astral Ring? What makes Astral Ring valkyries different from non-AR valkyries? Why does HI3 team building become more versatile? Not sure how you should build Astral Ring teams?
If you have these questions in mind, you come to the right article! Reading the whole article will answer all questions above.
Credits
| Role | Contributors |
|---|---|
| Writing | AMADEUS ROLUX |
| Design | AMADEUS ROLUX |
| Design Collaborators | MARI, CH3COOH, MATCHA APOCALYPSE, ALTHEA, RAY, MIMI MITSU, ESPIP |
| Special Thanks | MARI, CH3COOH, MATCHA APOCALYPSE, ALTHEA, RAY, MIMI MITSU, ESPIP, ENGOL, AYAYA, RIQUORIA, HYPERION AI-CHAN, LUVIQUE, VALEERA, RAV3N, XINTSU. 御霊しんつ, BANG, JUNKOHI3, TERIRI EMPIRE ARMADAS, TERIRI'S GAMING HUB, MY YOUTUBE SUBSCRIBERS, HONKAI IMPACT 3RD DISCORD COMMUNITY |
What is Astral Ring (AR)?
Astral Ring(s), according to Senadina, are, "final blessing bestowed upon the humanity by the world. They are the embodiment of starry sky, the swan song of both heaven and earth."
Starting in version 7.3, HI3rd gameplay focuses more on the Astral Ring system. The previous system is retained, but we'll get more new Astral Ring content and less from the previous (Non-Astral Ring) system.
So, what makes Astral Ring system different from non-Astral Ring system that we have been familiar with?
Astral Ring vs. Previous Generation Systems
Perks
The non-Astral Ring system in game utilizes ELFs, stated in HI3rd manga to be Previous Era's combat tech. They aid in field and buffs valkyries, but you don't have to deploy them in field. While aiding, they provide no special battle effects or states aside from switch cooldown reset.
Meanwhile, Astral Ring valkyries collaborate with AstralOPs (ELFs counterpart in-game) to unlock whole new movesets in certain states. AstralOPs, unlike ELFs, must be deployed in battle.
There's more to Astral Ring System. The system allows valkyries to form teams much more flexibly than previous generation valkyries. You may actually form 3 teams with 3 Astral Ring valkyries, and this is what I mean when you can form 3 teams with just 3 Astral Ring valkyries~
See the team differences between AR and non-AR team? In AR teams, you can just swap the valkyrie leader between the three to decide which acts as the main DMG Dealer, although you can only do this outside battle. Not every AR valkyries can do this, though. There are, sort of, mix-matching rules so that the three can synergize with each other even when you swap leaders among them. More on that later.
Caveats & How this Guide will Help
The cost-effective system that makes AR system comes with caveats. You'd notice Astral Ring valkyries have more complicated skill trees and longer gears description to accomodate Astral Ring's complicated system.
If you can't keep up with skill and gears wall of text, this guide will help you: by explaining Astral Ring System's rules of thumb, summarizing each valkyrie's potential and help you form Astral Ring teams for easier content clears. I will NOT explain each valkyrie's gameplay in depth. Valkyrie's potentials are explored here so that you can decide on your own the best teams against scenarios and mechanisms implemented in the game.
How to Differ AR and Non-AR Valkyries
But first, how to differ Astral Ring (AR) and non-AR Valkyries?
Per version v8.3, most valkyries are incompatible with Astral Ring system. Only 15 are compatible and we will call them AR valkyries from now on.
ALL AR valkyries have an extra lines of tags, and the second line of tags are Astral Ring-related tags. If a valkyrie doesn't have the second line of tags on her valkyrie info, she is NOT compatible with Astral Ring system. End of story.
Few so-called Previous Generation valkyries that are given special weapon called Stellar Key could activate Astral Rings.
We've laid out the core of AR system and what differs it from the previous, non-AR system. Now, let's dive deep down to the Astral Ring system by first learning AR System terms. Please hover to the next tab.
Astral Ring (AR) System's Terms
We should familiarize ourselves with AR terms first. All these phrases will be repeated frequently throughout the guide and in-game descriptions.
AstralOP
First is the enabler of Astral Ring System, the AstralOPs. You will get AstralOP Dreamseeker by default upon unlocking AstralOP system at level 30. The other 3 are gacha-exclusive. Similar to ELFs, AstralOPs assist in field by buffing valkyrie teams and can deal minor DMG themselves. However, as you have seen the gameplay differences earlier, AstralOPs could enable more powerful moveset if a certain condition is reached. More on that soon.
Note: you can use past ELFs as AstralOPs too.
Astral Ring Intensity
For next terms, it is easier to look onto HI3rd's battlefield. See the numbers that is limited at 150 and could keep increasing every time? That's what we called Astral Ring Intensity. Keep attacking, it will increase at certain rate (depends on your valkyries' skills and AstralOP).
Every valkyrie has different Astral Ring Intensity capacity. Vita's cap is 150, while Mini Durandal has 200.
Stellar Drain
If you feel your valkyries' innate AR Intensity regen/second is too slow, you can instantly boost AR intensity once in a while, by consuming Stellar Drain. Every time each valkyrie in team enters field or after Stellar Outburst state is over, she will gain Stellar Drain. In order to consume Stellar Drain, they have to perform a certain special attack.
Astral Ring Charging State
The state valkyrie teams are in while AR Intensity is still charging, not on full capacity, and as long as that button is not activated is called Astral Ring Charging State.
So, what happened if AR Intensity is full and you click that purple button?
Stellar Outburst
Your valkyrie in field enters a special animation scene with your AstralOP (all timer is stopped), and she and team enters a state called Stellar Outburst for a certain duration.
This is where things get interesting. AR Valkyries enter an enhanced state and will behave differently depend on their Astral Ring Specialization. When entering Stellar Outburst, most team buffs are automatically refreshed. Buffs that are exclusively active on AR Charging state will not be active on Stellar Outburst state.
It's almost always best to activate Stellar Outburst when your leader is on the field. But what if you don't?
In most cases, the team's special mechanics won't activate. As you'll see in this example, you need to get Eepy Teri to the field so that she can trigger her special mechanics, followed by her teammates.
This begs some questions. What are the special mechanics during Stellar Outburst? Does each AR valkyrie have one?
Astral Ring (AR) Specialization
Astral Ring Specialization protects a valkyrie and grants her the power to activate AR-related buffs, Stellar Outburst-related special mechanics, and sync with fellow AR valkyries in the field. So far, there are 5 introduced AR Specialization, but as confirmed by Part 2 Chapter 1 Opening cutscene there are 12 of them. Each AR Specialization has its own unique mechanics.
Each valkyrie is protected by an AR Specialization. However, in an AR team, ONLY the valkyrie leader's AR Specialization is activated. The leader is always the main DMG dealer in a team. Note that "protected by AR Specialization" is an official in-game phrase, I'm keeping it as is.
Astral Ring (AR) Attribute(s)
So, how could the other valkyries sync with the leader in a team? The teammates correspond to the leader's AR Specialization by matching their Astral Ring Attributes to the leader's AR Specialization.
If a valkyrie own an AR Attribute that corresponds strongly to her team leader's AR Specialization, she can utilize her leader's special mechanisms triggered in Stellar Outburst, and in turn greatly boosts the leader's DMG. AR valkyries have more than one AR Attribute. Only Helia (Valkyrie Boltstorm) has one AR Attribute. Regardless, every AR valkyrie only has one AR Specialization.
In game, you would see AR Attributes also being referred as AR Traits or Tags, these terms are all the same.
So, that's it for the AR System terms you have to know first. We'll learn more about AR Specialization and Attributes in the next lesson, including which Attributes to support which Specializations.
Astral Ring (AR) Specializations and Attributes
We mentioned about how valkyries could support their team leaders: by matching the supports' AR Attributes to the leader's AR Specialization.
But which Attributes could support which Specialization? The first section of this tab will answer it. Other sections will discuss each Specialization and Attribute.
Astral Ring (AR) Specializations and Attributes Relationship (v8.3)
This chart sums the relationship among the current Astral Ring (AR) Specializations and Attributes per version v8.3. Legend is also attached to the relationship chart.
By strongly corresponding, said teammate or support valkyries possessing the Attribute can activate special mechanics that correspond to the Specialization the leader is protected by.
Remember: each AR valkyrie has a Specialization. However, in a team, only the valkyrie LEADER's AR Specialization matters. And the valkyrie leader is always the main DMG dealer in an AR team.
The best team matchmaking involves matching the valkyrie leader with support valkyries whose attribute strongly correlate to leader's specialization. Meaning World Star leaders with Domain Resonance supports, Wheel of Destiny with Harmonized Shadow Star, and Law of Ascension with Heavenly Shift. What about Rite of Oblivion? They are the exceptions. More on it later. So, in what forms these Astral Ring Specializations and Attributes correspond?
That's the focus of our next section.
When a Rite of Oblivion valkyrie leader enters Stellar Outburst, their gameplays may either behave differently between Stellar Outburst and Astral Ring Charging states, or are enhanced. Their Stellar Outburst gameplay is similar to burst mode.
While Rite of Oblivion Stellar Outburst gameplay is similar to burst mode, it is NOT burst mode. There are mechanisms related to actual burst mode in game, and valkyries associated with it are ALL non-AR valkyries. Most Rite of Oblivion valkyrie leaders stay in the field for the whole outburst duration and deal DMG by themselves, without leader-support mechanics or link throughout Stellar Outburst.
Rite of Oblivion Valkyrie List (v8.5)
Currently, there are 3 valkyries protected by Rite of Oblivion: Coralie (Valkyrie Blastmeta), Vita (Lone Planetfarer), and Kiana Herrscher of Finality (HoFi).
Omniscient Star valkyries can support all current AR Specializations, meaning they can support all AR valkyries. However, in all teams, they could only offer general buffs. They will not be able to cast special effects related to the AR Specialization the team activated without having the related AR attributes.
Omniscient Star Valkyrie List (v8.5)
The same valkyries that are under AR Rite of Oblivion have Omniscient Star attribute. HoFi also requires her Stellar Key weapon, Waxing Moon, in order to support any AR valkyries.
When a leader valkyrie in World Star team activates Stellar Outburst, she will create Domain Resonance Marks and deal Resonance Attacks. With an exception (Senadina/Deepspace Anchor), support valkyries with Domain Resonance detonate the Domain Resonance Marks created by the valkyrie leader with their Resonance Attacks upon switching into field. Resonance Attacks moveset may differ or not between Stellar Outburst and Astral Ring Charging states for each valkyrie with Domain Resonance, but there are patterns:
Domain Resonance valkyrie's kinetic bars are converted to 6
- Their attacks have multiple sequences
- And the last attack sequence are often their special attacks (Combo/Charged/Special Weapon Skill). Note that you don't trigger these special attacks under normal circumstances e.g. using hold ATK or Weapon Skill.
- Resonance Attacks sequences end with said special attacks. When valkyries with Domain Resonance continue attacking within Stellar Outburst duration, their attacks will revert to normal attacks and their kinetic bars will be back normal again.
Senadina's Special Case
In case of Senadina, her bar is converted to only 1
As support, when she switches in, she replaces the leader's Domain Resonance Mark with her own Mark.
World Star Valkyrie List (v8.5)
Currently, there are 5 valkyries protected by World Star: Senadina (Deepspace Anchor), Helia (Valkyrie Boltstorm), (Eepy) Teri (Schicksal's Imperative), Sparkle (Thousand-Faced Maestro: Cameo), and Seele Herrscher of Rebirth.
AR Attribute: Domain Resonance
Valkyries with Domain Resonance attributes can properly support World Star valkyrie leaders by dealing Resonance Attacks and detonating Domain Resonance Marks while in Stellar Outburst state.
Domain Resonance Valkyrie List (v8.5)
Currently, there are 12 valkyries owning Domain Resonance attribute. Per v8.1, there are only 18 valkyries in total, making Domain Resonance currently the most shared Attribute.
AR Specialization: Wheel of Destiny
When the Wheel of Destiny team leader activates Stellar Outburst, she can't switch teammate, as her teammates become Phantoms that assist in dealing Shadow Star Attacks inside the field when their avatars are clicked. This will last throughout the whole Stellar Outburst duration, or for some valkyries, until they cast special ultimate to get out of Stellar Outburst state manually. During Stellar Outburst, the leader valkyrie unleashes special attacks and enters the 'Rondo in the Shadows' state when summoning support valkyries, gaining buffs exclusive to this state.
Wheel of Destiny Valkyrie List (v8.5)
Currently, there are 5 valkyries protected by Wheel of Destiny: Songque (Jovial Deception), Thelema (Mad Pleasure), Lantern (Lone Destruction), Herrscher of Human Ego (HoHE) with her newest Stellar Key weapon, and Miss Espionage (ME).
AR Attribute: Harmonized Shadow Star
Harmonized Shadow Star valkyries can support Wheel of Destiny valkyrie leaders by being summoned to field as Phantoms. While dealing Shadow Star Attack, their leaders will enter Rondo in the Shadows state.
Harmonized Shadow Star Valkyrie List (v8.3)
Currently, there are 10 valkyries owning Harmonized Shadow Star attribute.
AR Specialization: Law of Ascension
When a valkyrie in Law of Ascension team activates Stellar Outburst, she and her teammates with Heavenly Shift attribute will switch into field and cast special moveset called Stellar Shift once their avatars are clicked. Unlike previous AR Specializations I've mentioned, Law of Ascension valkyries' Stellar Outbursts don't have fixed durations. Stellar Shift will be available until teammates switch in for the first time no matter how long you take.
In return, Law of Ascension leaders and Heavenly Shift Valkyries gain Augmented Ascension state when casting Stellar Shift, gaining extra buffs exclusive to the state for limited time.
When support valkyries cast Stellar Shift, the valkyrie leader will cast
Law of Ascension Valkyrie List (v8.5)
Currently, there are 3 valkyries protected by Law of Ascension: Mini Durandal (Reign Solaris), Ba-dum Kiana (Ba-dum! Fiery Wishing Star), and Sushang (Peregrine Sword).
AR Attribute: Heavenly Shift
Heavenly Shift Overview: Heavenly Shift valkyries can support Law of Ascension valkyrie leaders by casting Stellar Shift upon switching valkyries.
Heavenly Shift Valkyrie List (v8.5)
Currently, there are 10 valkyries owning Heavenly Shift attribute.
AR Specialization: Grail of Infinitude
When a Grail of Infinitude leader activates Stellar Outburst, she and her teammates share an SP bar, named Shining Trace. The starting and maximum amount of Shining Trace depend on the leader and her supports.
Grail of Infinitude valkyries can trigger multiple ultimates consecutively, consuming high amount of Shining Trace. Consuming a certain amount of Shining Trace triggers Facet of Infinitude to provide additional buffs. Facet of Infinitude can be triggered twice, providing even higher buffs.
To keep the high Shining Trace consumption, support valkyries with Symbiosis attribute provide extra Shining Trace amount by casting their special attacks and ultimates after QTE during Stellar Outburst. Symbiosis supports also cast their ultimates free of Shining Trace cost for the first time, providing the leader high Shining Trace supply. Non-Symbiosis valkyries will consume Shining Trace to cast their ultimates during Stellar Outburst.
Grail of Infinitude Valkyrie List (v8.5)
Currently, there are 2 valkyries protected by Grail of Infinitude: The Helia (Planar Armament: Warped Spacetime) and New Ely (Hi♪ Love Elf♥).
AR Attribute: Symbiosis
Symbiosis Overview: Symbiosis valkyries can support Grail of Infinitude valkyrie leaders by casting some attacks and Ultimates that massively restore
Symbiosis Valkyrie List (v8.5)
Currently, there are 8 valkyries owning Symbiosis attribute.
How Versatile Can AR Valkyries be?
Ok now that we have covered the AR Specializations and Attributes relationships, let's get back to my early claim that we could form 3 teams with just 3 valkyries. Is it really true? Yes, but not all AR valkyrie team combinations could do that.
I've put AR Specialization of the leader (Thelema) and utilized Attribute of the supports (Sena and Lantern) here. All three perfectly sync. Now, let's swap their places and see if the three could still sync perfectly.
Perfect, they still match. Now, Senadina is protected by World Star. If Sena is made the leader, could Lantern and Thelema support her?
Yes, they do, because they both own Domain Resonance Attribute that corresponds to World Star Specialization.
So it's proven that these 3 valkyries could actually form 3 teams. However, the previous 3 are one of the weird valkyrie combinations that could sync perfectly. Normally, it is not that easy to achieve such perfect combinations.
Let's test Mini Dudu, Songque, and Sparkle combinations.
Let's switch the leaders.
See, Sparkle can't sync with this team because she lacks Harmonized Shadow Star Attribute.
When Sparkle is made the leader, their sync rate is immediately 0 because both supports don't own Domain Resonance attribute to properly correspond Sparkle. On top of these, there are few exceptions: valkyries that require rigid support as leaders/DMG dealers. AR Specialization/Attribute matchmaking like these don't work on them.
That being said, in my opinion, the AR System still allows for a myriad of team combinations with a smaller valkyrie lineup, reducing Captains' gacha burden while making valkyries more versatile than ever.
You still with me? We are going for AstralOP review next, and we haven't discussed about real team planning and building yet. Please hang on, ok? If you're ready, hover to the next tab about AstralOP.
AstralOP Overview
AstralOP
For AstralOP, we are given Dreamseeker as default AstralOP, with options to gacha the other 3. But you don’t have to, unless you have obtained every AR valkyries plus their weapons or have different priorities. Dreamseeker provides general buff value. All 3 Premium AstralOPs provide increased AR Intensity regeneration when compared to Dreamseeker. Premium AstralOPs are more specialized and don’t buff by elements, rather by Astral Ring Specializations or Attribute. This chart sums their buffed Specializations/Attribute. Among the 3 Premium AstralOPs, only Songque provides buffs through AR Attributes. She is regarded as the most versatile AstralOP as of v8.5, since there are 12 Domain Resonance valkyries, and she can buff all of them to some extent.
ELFs as AstralOPs
No Premium AstralOPs? You can rely on the 50k+ year old tech as your decent AstralOP replacements. All ELFs have extra tab that is dedicated to be AstralOPs replacement. In order to use them as AstralOPs, upgrade their Astral Ring’s skill tree first. ELFs as AstralOP rely more on elements to distinguish themselves. See the chart below for the ELFs’ niches. Note that they generally provide worse AR Intensity than even Dreamseeker. For competitive uses, they are far worse than Premium AstralOPs.
Next is AR Team Planning. We will learn about how to plan a *proper* AR team that follows through the rules we’ve just learned.
AR Team Planning
We've completed the AR system foundation lessons and are ready to plan an AR team. First, there are two Rite of Oblivion teams that require rigid support. They don't follow general AR system rules, but that makes them easier to explain, so I'll go through them first.
AR Team Planning: Vita
First is Vita (Lone Planetfarer)'s team. Instead of requiring specific AR Attributes, her team is pretty much locked needing 3 Rite of Oblivion (her own AR Specialization) valkyries in team for huge buffs as shown in one of her leader skills.
This is what Vita's team look like 98% of the time. (Don't think too much about the 2%, it's outside this video's lesson scope.)
AR Team Planning: HoFi
Next is Herrscher of Finality (HoFi) plus her Stellar Key Waxing Moon. As dps, she is always meant to be with Herrscher of Origin and Truth. This doesn't change after obtaining her Stellar Key. HoO and HoTr also obtain buff adjustments made for HoFi AR gameplay as DMG dealer.
Aside from adjustments, there are also HoFi, HoO, and HoTr related buffs from the trio's skills even before HoFi's Stellar Key was introduced. Most of the effects are Joint Burst related.
So there you have it, new gears but same old friends fighting alongside you.
With AR system, HoFi could even provide her two friends extra buffs, their own damage increase significantly compared to pre-Stellar Key era.
General AR Team Planning
Now that the exceptions have been laid, let's get to the field example of AR team planning and building in general. We start with deciding the valkyrie leader, then the supports, and last the AstralOP. The best field practice to decide on AR team planning is the most complicated HI3rd content ever: Superstring Dimension a.k.a. Exalted Abyss a.k.a. Abyss.
Ok let's say we're against a certain tank in abyss this abyss cycle. First, check the cycle weather for the boss stage. This abyss weather buffs your team if your team deals Shadow Star attacks, which is translated to Wheel of Destiny's team (mechanics: summoning the Phantom in Stellar Outburst state to deal DMG). After, check if the boss' type and whether it has element immunity, resistance or weakness by clicking on the boss' thumbnail. In here, we can see the tank has slight lightning and ice resist.
Aside from Astral Ring, please remember that there are other valkyries' features that need to be considered as well when selecting the DMG dealer: types, elements, and traits (not only AR traits, but traits in general).
So who, in your opinion, is the best DMG dealer against this tank? Yes, it's Lantern~
Next question, who should be her teammates?
Note that choosing the right supports can be far more complicated. To pick the right supports, you might want to exploit the tank's mechanics like weak spots (usually in bosses' descriptions). HoHE can exploit this exactly, and she's also PSY-type, countering that MECH-type tank. The other supports can't exploit tank's mechanics anymore, so picking any of the available HSS supports you have is alright. In reality, DMG difference between each support is more apparent the higher your abyss tier is, and even so the differences are too situational to be included in a general guide like this. You will not only have to count on the supports' mechanics, but also to know their list of buffs, which buffs are important, time needed in field to buff their teams and consume Stellar Drain, abyss disturbances, the list will only grow from here. When facing such situations in not only this abyss boss but other bosses, I recommend you to ask the HI3 community, or to Amadeus xD.
If you don't have Lantern, who is the 2nd DMG dealer option?
The choice is already clear in this boss: HoHe. Despite the ice resist, she can utilize weakspot mechanics and may score even higher than Lantern with the same ranks.
The other choices could be Songque or Thelema, even trio AR bruteforce works in lower disturbances. Just don't expect high scores compared to the first two DMG dealers I mentioned.
Next is the AstralOP. If, let's say, you have all three gacha-exclusive AstralOPs, who should you pick? Correct, is Serapeum~ her buffing mechanics are heavily adjusted for Wheel of Destiny teams.
As Lantern has Domain Resonance attribute, Songque could help if you don't have Sera. Songque couldn't work well with HoHe, tho (she has no Domain Resonance Attribute).
Okay, all of this is solely for team planning against a boss. Definitely not covering every Abyss boss. Abyss is highly situational, but I hope this guide helps you be more creative in team planning with a proper guideline.
The next tab is Conclusion. I'll close this lesson by iterating the pulling guide and whether you should pull AstralOP or not.
Conclusion
AR Valkyrie Pulling Priority (v8.5)
For those sticking to meta, I won’t make a pull priority list, I’ll rather share guidelines to help you decide which valkyries to pull based on current patterns. If Hoyo ever breaks these patterns one day, I hope these guidelines still offer useful insights.
- Backpulling valkyries ARE NOT recommended, be she a AR valkyrie or not. Pull the valkyrie on release, or skip.
- To avoid pulling valkyries aimlessly, pick the newest valkyrie you want to pull, and build a team around her. For example, if you’re pulling for The Helia and don’t have her supports, wait for next versions’ valkyries info and pull them. You can always rely on good ol’ rank As Coralie and Helia while waiting for The Helia’s supports. Or, you know… Vita. (do NOT backpull her if you don’t have her yet)
Gacha AstralOP, Pull? (v8.3)
If you are F2P and not preferring over-investing in one team, do NOT pull premium AstralOPs. You’ll do just fine unless your abyss competitors are unusually competitive. If you have 3* ELFs from spending event, you can use them, but make sure you don’t have anything else to buy first. Don’t buy them just for your AR teams.