Honkai: Star Rail Light Cones, Traces and Eidolons explained

There are plenty of different things to do in Honkai: Star Rail, and one of them is upgrading your characters. In HoYoverse’s new sci-fi strategy RPG, you can earn characters for your team with gacha-type rolls. But the only way to make sure that you leave a battle alive is through upgrades and abilities. When perusing the character menu in Honkai: Star Rail, if you’re confused by what Light Cones, Traces, and Eidolons do, we’ll explain everything below.

Light Cones, Traces, and Eidolons in Honkai: Star Rail explained

Light Cones

The first upgrade you’ll learn about in Honkai: Star Rail are Light Cones. Instead of weapons like in Genshin Impact, Light Cones are equipable items that provide bonuses abilities. These bonuses come into play usually when using your character’s abilities, and they also align with their Path type. This is a class system, and there are 14 in total, for now. Not only will Light Cones add HP, ATK and DEF points, they have a special Light Cone Ability.

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Throughout your time playing Honkai: Star Rail, you’ll find yourself earning new Light Cones, usually from Warps. There are dozens of different types of Light Cones, each with their own unique ability. But you’ll also need to enhance these Light Cones, either with Aether or other Light Cones. Remember, if your character is connected to a certain Path, they can only equip Light Cones that are also connected to that same Path.

Another important thing to note is that you can Superimpose your Light Cone. This can only be done using other copies of that same Light Cone, so be careful not to use duplicates to enhance. Only use duplicates for Superimposing, which will enhance its special Ability.

Traces

Next in the character menu are Traces. The Traces screen looks like a skill tree, and it sort of acts like one. With the help of upgrade materials, you can enhance your characters’ Traces. Traces are specifically referred to as the abilities themselves, and there are five types:

• Basic Attack: Your usual attack which recovers a Skill Point
• Skill: Consumes a Skill Point when used
• Ultimate: Takes time to regenerate, and can be used whenever in combat
• Talent: Improves your abilities in unique ways
• Technique: Improves characters with a passive ability

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Unlocking some of these Trace abilities requires that you reach certain Ascension levels first. To do this, your character must reach Level 20, your Trailblazer Level should be 20, and your Equilibrium Level is 20. Also, you’ll need to gather the materials needed to surpass Level 20 for your character. Once that is done, you can unlock more things on the Trace screen.

Eidolons

The last thing on your character menu is Eidolons. Yet again, these are even more upgrades for your characters. Every character has six possible Eidolons to unlock, and each Eidolon requires a special upgrade material. The only way to earn these materials is from the Warp system.

Screenshot by PC Invasion

If you’re rewarded with a character you already have, don’t get too upset. You want duplicates, because if you unlock a character you already have, you receive the upgrade material needed for Eidolons. So make sure to keep rolling for characters in the Warps, because you’ll be able to upgrade your character even further.