Herta's Top Light Cones in Honkai: Star Rail

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• The Seriousness of Breakfast (S5)
• The Day The Cosmos Fell (S5)
• Eternal Calculus (S5)
• Yet Hope Is Priceless (S1)
• Geniuses' Repose (S5)
• An Instant Before A Gaze (S1)
• Before Dawn (S1)
• Today Is Another Peaceful Day (S5)
• Night on the Milky Way (S1)
• Into the Unreachable Veil (S1)

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The Herta is a powerful 5-star Ice Erudition unit in Honkai: Star Rail, boasting incredibly strong self-buffs and damage multipliers. As a damage dealer, she prioritizes CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, and ATK, along with general damage boosts from her Light Cones. Her kit's 80% CRIT DMG buff makes Light Cones that boost CRIT Rate particularly valuable. Increases to Skill and Ultimate damage are also beneficial due to her Interpretation mechanic, especially Skill DMG.

While the ideal combination of CRIT Rate and Skill DMG is rare outside her signature Light Cone, many viable options exist within the Erudition Path, including both limited and free Light Cones. Here's a breakdown of the best options:

The Seriousness of Breakfast (S5)

Increases the wearer's DMG by 24%. For every defeated enemy, the wearer's ATK increases by 8%, stacking up to 3 times.

This free Light Cone (obtainable via Lucent Afterglow, Echo of War drops, or a hidden Herta Space Station task) offers straightforward damage boosts, serving as a solid starting point for new players.

The Day The Cosmos Fell (S5)

Increases the wearer's ATK by 24%. When the wearer uses an attack and affects at least 2 enemies with a Weakness, the wearer's CRIT DMG increases by 40% for 2 turns.

Another free Light Cone (Lucent Afterglow, Echo of War drops, or finding all Origami Birds in Golden Hour), it offers slightly better performance than The Seriousness of Breakfast, but its effectiveness depends on consistently maintaining its conditional CRIT DMG buff.

Eternal Calculus (S5)

Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. After using an attack, for each enemy hit, ATK increases by 8% (stacks 5 times, lasts until the next attack). Hitting 3 or more enemies increases SPD by 16% for 1 turn.

This free 5-star Light Cone (Herta's Store, using Herta Bonds) provides a significant ATK% boost, but its performance varies based on the number of targets hit. Its 16% SPD increase can be beneficial for reaching certain SPD breakpoints.

Yet Hope Is Priceless (S1)

Increases the wearer's CRIT Rate by 16%. For every 20% CRIT DMG exceeding 120%, follow-up attack DMG increases by 12% (stacks up to 4 times). When the battle starts or after a Basic ATK/Ultimate use, ignores 20% of the target's DEF for 2 turns.

While offering a valuable 16% CRIT Rate increase, The Herta cannot fully utilize its follow-up attack buffs. Its performance is comparable to free alternatives, making it unnecessary to specifically obtain for her.

Geniuses' Repose (S5)

Increases the wearer's ATK by 32%. When the wearer defeats an enemy, CRIT DMG increases by 48% for 3 turns.

This excellent 4-star Light Cone (standard Stellar Warp) offers a substantial ATK increase and a CRIT DMG boost, but its effectiveness diminishes in prolonged battles against single bosses.

An Instant Before A Gaze (S1)

Increases the wearer's CRIT DMG by 36%. When using the Ultimate, Ultimate DMG increases by 0.36% per Energy point (up to 180 Energy).

Provides a significant CRIT DMG increase and a valuable Ultimate DMG boost, but The Herta benefits more from Skill DMG or general DMG increases.

Before Dawn (S1)

Increases the wearer's CRIT DMG by 36%. Increases Skill and Ultimate DMG by 18%. After using a Skill or Ultimate, gains Somnus Corpus; consuming it increases follow-up attack DMG by 48%.

Offers excellent unconditional stats, boosting CRIT DMG and damage to both Skill and Ultimate. The Herta cannot utilize the follow-up attack buff.

Today Is Another Peaceful Day (S5)

After entering battle, increases DMG by 0.4% per Energy point (up to 160 Energy).

Provides a substantial unconditional damage boost, easily maximized by The Herta's high Energy cost Ultimate. It boasts high base ATK.

Night on the Milky Way (S1)

For each enemy, increases ATK by 9% (up to 5 stacks). When an enemy is inflicted with Weakness Break, DMG increases by 30% for 1 turn.

Can perform exceptionally well with consistently maintained effects, but its performance diminishes with fewer enemies.

Into the Unreachable Veil (S1)

Increases CRIT Rate by 12%. When using the Ultimate, increases Skill and Ultimate DMG by 60% for 3 turns. If the Ultimate consumed 140+ Energy, recovers 1 Skill Point.

The Herta's best-in-slot Light Cone, providing significant Crit Rate and damage boosts to both Skill and Ultimate, and recovering a Skill Point per Ultimate use. It also boasts the highest ATK stat among Erudition Light Cones.