List of Honkai: Star Rail characters

Honkai: Star Rail, a 2023 role-playing video game by miHoYo, follows the story of the Trailblazer, a player-named protagonist who boards the interstellar train known as the Astral Express to explore other worlds across the universe. Throughout their journey, the Trailblazer encounters various characters and becomes involved in resolving crises caused by the Stellaron. Many characters are aligned with specific universal concepts known as Paths. Each Path is associated with an Aeon, a celestial higher-dimensional deity that governs aspects of existence across the universe. Some characters, known as Pathstriders, align closely with a respective Path based on their wills. Others become Emanators, beings that are able to draw divine power directly from an Aeon. They are typically enforcers of Aeons' wills often incomparably more powerful than mere mortals, but this is not always the case.

Creation and design

Honkai: Star Rail producer David Jiang stated that the development team places significant emphasis on character creation, noting that drafting narrative text for a single character typically takes around a month. The production team emphasized the importance of making the game's diverse characters feel as though they genuinely inhabit the fictional world. According to the writers, their role is not to direct the characters according to their own intentions, but rather to document the words, actions, and events of characters as if they were real individuals within the setting. To imbue characters with a sense of authentic humanity, the writers often drew inspiration from people around them when shaping character traits. For example, when designing Qingque, a character with a strong interest in mahjong, the development team observed avid mahjong players, asking questions such as "How do people who love mahjong typically behave?" and "What do they dislike?" The resulting traits were then incorporated into the character's design.

According to lead game designer Chengnan An, the development team adopts a "character-first" design philosophy, wherein personality and narrative are prioritized over gameplay mechanics. He explained that creating gameplay systems before developing the characters often limited their creativity, stating that "we ran out of inspo really, really fast" when doing so. Character concepts go through multiple visual iterations and feedback rounds to heighten their aesthetic appeal, often becoming "prettier and even more handsome and even more cool with each iteration." The team is also known for incorporating distinctive, sometimes eccentric traits into character design to make them more memorable. For instance, the character Dr. Ratio attacks with an oversized book to reflect his egotistical intellect, while Himeko is portrayed calmly sipping tea amid a fiery explosion during her ultimate move.

Regarding the design of character artificial intelligence (AI), Jiang explained that, to enhance immersion in Honkai: Star Rail, AI technology was integrated into the behavioral patterns of non-player characters (NPCs). This approach aimed to make traditionally scripted NPC behavior appear more natural, thereby providing players with a stronger sense of being part of the game world. He also noted that current AI applications are limited to serving as development aids. However, he suggested that if AI tools can be used to expand character dialogue and narrative content, they may allow for continued introduction of new interactions between players and characters.

In terms of character backstories, Jiang stated that the game's narrative and worldbuilding are developed around its characters, who in turn serve as the primary means of conveying the story and its underlying themes. Honkai: Star Rail draws inspiration from the narrative structure of road movies, with the protagonist and similarly aged companions travelling across a variety of planets. These planets differ greatly in social structure, technological level, cultural systems, and historical background, offering a highly varied setting in which character development and personal growth are explored.

Prior to a character's official release in the game, miHoYo promotes them by releasing character-related videos through its official social media channels. In addition to the main storyline, players can undertake Companion Missions, which provide insight into each character's backstory and personality traits that may not be fully explored within the central narrative. These missions allow for a more detailed understanding of individual characters, gradually uncovering their histories and adding depth to their development throughout the journey.

Astral Express

• Trailblazer (开拓者; Kāituòzhě) / Caelus (穹; Qióng) or Stelle (星; Xīng)

Voiced by: Qin Qiege (Chinese); Caleb Yen (English); Junya Enoki (Japanese); Kim Myung-jun (Korean) (Caelus)

Voiced by: Chen Tingting (Chinese); Rachael Chau (English); Yui Ishikawa (Japanese); Kim Ha-ru (Korean) (Stelle)

The main protagonist of the game. An artificial receptacle, in the form of a human being, that contains a Stellaron. Players can choose to play as either Caelus (male) or Stelle (female) as the Trailblazer and may enter their chosen name to be used throughout the story. After being awakened by Kafka and Silver Wolf in the Herta Space Station, they joined the Astral Express to eliminate the threats posed by the Stellaron.

• Dan Heng (丹恒; Dān Héng) a.k.a. Imbibitor Lunae (饮月; Yǐn Yuè)

Voiced by: Li Chunyin (Chinese); Nicholas Leung (English); Kent Itō (Japanese); Kim Hye-sung (Korean)

A reserved young man who acts as the train's guard. He often spends more time in the Astral Express data archives than in his bedroom. He conceals his true identity as a Vidyadhara from the Xianzhou Luofu, where he was once known as Imbibitor Lunae. During the Xianzhou Luofu chapter, his past is revealed when the Astral Express crew is drawn into a conflict involving the Cloud Knights. He later reawakens his powers and assumes the form of Imbibitor Lunae, while remaining loyal to the Astral Express.

• March 7th (三月七; Sānyuè Qī)

Voiced by: Nuoya (Chinese); Skyler Davenport (English); Yui Ogura (Japanese); Jung Hye-won (Korean)

A cheerful girl with no memory of her past before the Astral Express crew rescued her from being encased in ice. She took the name "March 7th" as it marked the day of her rescue.

• Himeko (姬子; Jīzǐ)

Voiced by: Lin Su (Chinese); Cia Court (English); Rie Tanaka (Japanese); Kim Bo-na (Korean)

A scientist who fixed the Astral Express when it became stuck in her home world as a teenager. She later becomes the train's navigator and de facto owner and is the most senior active member of the Nameless, a faction that travels aboard the Astral Express to follow the Path of Trailblaze.

• Welt Yang (瓦尔特•杨; Wǎ'ěrtè Yáng) / Joachim Nokianvirtanen (约阿希姆•诺基安维塔宁; Yuēāxīmǔ Nuòjī'ānwéitǎníng)

Voiced by: Peng Bo (Chinese); Corey Landis (English); Yoshimasa Hosoya (Japanese); Han-sin (Korean)

The former Anti-Entropy Sovereign and the second-most senior active member of the Nameless. The events that occur in the aftermath of A Post-Honkai Odyssey Chapter 2 and the Alien Space manga in Honkai Impact 3rd eventually lead to his appearance in the game.

• Pom-Pom (帕姆; Pàmǔ)

Voiced by: Jiang Li (Chinese); Christine Sposato (English); Miki Nagasawa (Japanese); Yoon Ah-yeong (Korean)

The conductor of the Astral Express who is unable to leave the train.

Visited worlds / civilizations

Herta Space Station

• Herta (黑塔; Hēitǎ) a.k.a. The Herta (大黑塔; Dà Hēitǎ)

Voiced by: Hou Xiaofei (Chinese); PJ Mattson (English); Haruka Yamazaki (Japanese); Kim Seo-yeong (Korean)

The space station's true master and the interest-driven member #83 of the Genius Society. She is an Emanator of Erudition who controls her namesake puppets, loosely modelled after her younger self, scattered throughout the space station. To distinguish herself between the puppets, she calls herself as The Herta.

• Asta (艾丝妲; Àisīdá)

Voiced by: Guiniang (Chinese); Felecia Angelle (English); Chinatsu Akasaki (Japanese); Kim Hyeon-ji (Korean)

An astronomer and the space station's lead researcher who comes from a wealthy family. Arlan often has to rein in her spending.

• Arlan (阿兰; Ālán)

Voiced by: Tao Dian (Chinese); Dani Chambers (English); Ryoko Shiraishi (Japanese); Kim Yul (Korean)

The head of the space station's security department.

• Ruan Mei (阮•梅; Ruǎn Méi)

Voiced by: Zhang Wenyu (Chinese); Emi Lo (English); Saori Ōnishi (Japanese); Yoon Yeo-jin (Korean)

A life sciences expert and member #81 of the Genius Society. A completely amoral scientist with dreams of becoming an Aeon herself, though she regrets being unable to emotionally connect with her creations.

• Screwllum (螺丝咕姆; Luósīgūmǔ)

Voiced by: Zhao Yang (Chinese); Steven Kelly (English); Yūya Uchida (Japanese); Kim Min-kyu (Korean)

Member #76 of the Genius Society.

Jarilo-VI

• Bronya Rand (布洛妮娅•兰德; Bùluònīyà Lándé)

Voiced by: Xie Ying (Chinese); Madeline Reiter (English); Kana Asumi (Japanese); Lee Bo-hee (Korean)

The commander of the Silvermane Guards and Cocolia's adoptive daughter. She became Belobog's Supreme Guardian after Cocolia's death.

• Seele (希儿; Xīér)

Voiced by: Tang Yajing (Chinese); Molly Zhang (English); Mai Nakahara (Japanese); Song Ha-rim (Korean)

An Underworld resident and a spirited member of Wildfire. She grew up at the same orphanage as Bronya.

• Sampo Koski (桑博•科斯基; Sāngbó Kēsījī)

Voiced by: Liu Shengbo (Chinese); Roger Rose (English); Daisuke Hirakawa (Japanese); Jeong Jae-heon (Korean)

A notorious con artist and a member of the Masked Fools wanted across Belobog who ends up supporting the Trailblazer in his way.

• Natasha (娜塔莎; Nàtǎshā)

Voiced by: Qin Ziyi (Chinese); Elizabeth Maxwell (English); Yumi Uchiyama (Japanese); Kang Eun-ae (Korean)

An Underworld doctor and the true leader of Wildfire.

• Cocolia Rand (可可利亚•兰德; Kěkělìyǎ Lándé)

Voiced by: Mufei (Chinese); Heather Gonzalez (English); Misa Katō (Japanese); Unknown (Korean)

The eighteenth Supreme Guardian of Belobog and the adoptive mother of Bronya. Later revealed to be the main antagonist of the Belobog chapter, with the Stellaron's influence turning her away from the Path of Preservation.

• Gepard Landau (杰帕德•朗道; Jiépàdé Lǎngdào)

Voiced by: Ma Yang (Chinese); Bryson Baugus (English); Makoto Furukawa (Japanese); Min Seung-woo (Korean)

The dutiful captain of the Silvermane Guards who is Serval's and Lynx's brother. He is the middle sibling of the Landau family.

• Serval Landau (希露瓦•朗道; Xīlùwǎ Lǎngdào)

Voiced by: Mu Xueting (Chinese); Natalie Van Sistine (English); Aimi (Japanese); Min-a (Korean)

A brilliant mechanic who is Gepard's and Lynx's sister. She is the eldest sibling of the Landau family and has an affection for rock n' roll.

• Clara (克拉拉; Kèlālā)

Voiced by: Zisu Jiuyue (Chinese); Emily Sun (English); Rina Hidaka (Japanese); Kim Yea-lim (Korean)

A young girl and a self-taught mechanic in the Underworld.

• Hook (虎克; Hǔkè)

Voiced by: Wang Xiaotong (Chinese); Felecia Angelle (English); Sora Tokui (Japanese); Lee Jae-hyun (Korean)

The self-proclaimed boss of The Moles, a group of children who go on adventures and play pranks throughout the Underworld.

• Svarog (史瓦罗; Shǐwǎluó)

Voiced by: Wang Yuhang (Chinese); D. C. Douglas (English); Hiroki Yasumoto (Japanese); Choi Nak-yoon (Korean)

An automaton who accompanies Clara in most of the story and during combat.

• Pelageya "Pela" Sergeyevna (佩拉格娅•谢尔盖耶夫娜; Pèilāgéyà Xièěrgàiyēfūnà)

Voiced by: Yanning (Chinese); Xanthe Huynh (English); Sumire Morohoshi (Japanese); Lee Da-eun (Korean)

The intelligence officer of the Silvermane Guards. She is a friend of Lynx and the drummer in Serval's rock n' roll band.

• Luka (卢卡; Lúkǎ)

Voiced by: Xiao Zhai (Chinese); Howard Wang (English); Gakuto Kajiwara (Japanese); Lee Joo-seung (Korean)

An Underworld fighter and a member of Wildfire, a grassroots faction based in the Underworld. He tries to support his friends and neighbors, even at his own expense.

• Lynx Landau (玲可•朗道; Língkě Lǎngdào)

Voiced by: Mihu (Chinese); Risa Mei (English); Haruka Terui (Japanese); Lee Eun-jo (Korean)

A polar explorer who is Serval's and Gepard's sister. She is the youngest sibling of the Landau family, as well as a friend of Pela.

Xianzhou Alliance

• Jing Yuan (景元; Jǐng Yuán)

Voiced by: Sun Ye, Zhong Ke (young) (Chinese); Alejandro Saab, Brenna Larsen (young) (English); Daisuke Ono, Yūka Matsumi (young) (Japanese); Ryu Seung-gon, Kim Yea-lim (young) (Korean)

One of the seven Arbiter-Generals and the general of the Luofu. He summons the Lightning Lord to aid him in combat.

• Tingyun (停云; Tíngyún) a.k.a. Fugue (忘归人; Wàngguīrén)

Voiced by: Jiang Li (Chinese); Anya Floris (English); Yūki Takada (Japanese); Lee Myeong-ho (Korean)

An eloquent foxian and a trade envoy of the Sky-Faring Commission on the Luofu. During the Xianzhou Luofu chapter, the Tingyun encountered by the Astral Express crew was not the real one, but a vessel possessed by Phantylia, who had stolen her identity. The real Tingyun was later saved by Ruan Mei from a shipwreck and later goes by the name Fugue.

• Fu Xuan (符玄; Fú Xuán)

Voiced by: Hualing (Chinese); Sarah Wiedenheft (English); Miku Itō (Japanese); Lee Ji-hyeon (Korean)

The head of the Divination Commission on the Luofu.

• Luocha (罗刹; Luóchà)

Voiced by: Zhao Lu (Chinese); Craig Lee Thomas (English); Akira Ishida (Japanese); Shin Yong-woo (Korean)

A foreign trader who is often seen carrying a huge coffin. His true background is a mystery, but Jing Yuan suspects him of having smuggled a Stellaron onboard the Luofu, and Welt suspects him of being linked to Void Archives from his past.

• Li Sushang (李素裳; Lǐ Sùshang)

Voiced by: Chen Tingting (Chinese); Anjali Kunapaneni (English); Misato Fukuen (Japanese); Park Shi-yoon (Korean)

A young Cloud Knight who wields a large sword and yearns to become a legend. A friend of Guinaifen, she assists in some of her acrobatic stunts and almost always appears in her livestreams.

• Yanqing (彦卿; Yànqīng)

Voiced by: Miao Jiang (Chinese); Amber May (English); Marina Inoue (Japanese); Lee Sae-a (Korean)

The lieutenant of the Cloud Knights on the Luofu and Jing Yuan's retainer seeks to become the Luofu's sword master.

• Yukong (驭空; Yùkōng)

Voiced by: Zhong Ke (Chinese); Dawn M. Bennett (English); Yumi Tōma (Japanese); Jeon Sook-kyeong (Korean)

A foxian former wartime pilot and the head of the Sky-Faring Commission on the Luofu.

• Qingque (青雀; Qīngquè)

Voiced by: Liu Shisi (Chinese); Bryn Apprill (English); Arisa Date (Japanese); Seo Da-hye (Korean)

A librarian and a diviner of the Divination Commission on the Luofu. Although incredibly intelligent, she prefers spending her time slacking off and playing Celestial Jade rather than working.

• Bailu (白露; Báilù)

Voiced by: Duoduo (Chinese); Su Ling Chan (English); Emiri Katō (Japanese); Jo Hyeon-jeong (Korean)

A Vidyadhara doctor of the Alchemy Commission on the Luofu who often tries to escape her responsibilities. She is the heir apparent to the Imbibitor Lunae, the title of the leader of the Vidyadhara race in the Luofu.

• Xueyi (雪衣; Xuěyī)

Voiced by: Suxun (Chinese); Jenny Yokobori (English); Maki Kawase (Japanese); Park Ri-na (Korean)

A judge of the Ten-Lords Commission on the Luofu and Hanya's older sister. Her natural body was destroyed, but she was resurrected into an ingenium puppet body.

• Jingliu (镜流; Jìngliú)

Voiced by: Du Mingya (Chinese); AmaLee (English); Houko Kuwashima (Japanese); Park Yi-seo (Korean)

The leader of the now-defunct High-Cloud Quintet. She was the sword master of the Luofu and Jing Yuan's mentor until she succumbed to Mara, a curse that caused its host to become insane, and began attacking her former allies.

• Feixiao (飞霄; Fēixiāo) / Saran (萨兰; Sàlán)

Voiced by: Ye Zhiqiu (Chinese); Anairis Quiñones (English); Mikako Komatsu (Japanese); Son Jung-min (Korean)

One of the seven Arbiter-Generals and the general of the Yaoqing. She is of foxian and borisin descent and afflicted by Moon Rage, a condition akin to lycanthropy, resulting from her mixed heritage.

• Yunli (云璃; Yúnlí)

Voiced by: Liu Wen (Chinese); Brenna Larsen (English); Shion Wakayama (Japanese); Lee Ju-eun (Korean)

A sword hunter and the adoptive granddaughter of its general, Huaiyan.

• Moze (貊泽; Mòzé)

Voiced by: Huang Jinze (Chinese); Ben Balmaceda (English); Shogo Sakata (Japanese); Choi Hyun-sik (Korean)

A sneaky, fastidious assassin and Feixiao's assistant. He usually remains hidden, only appearing when it's time to assassinate his enemies.

• Guinaifen (桂乃芬; Guìnǎifēn) / Guinevere (格妮薇儿; Génīwēier)

Voiced by: Xiao Gan (Chinese); Morgan Lauré (English); Hina Suguta (Japanese); Kim Soo-young (Korean)

A street performer who resides on the Luofu after the Antimatter Legion destroyed her home planet. Her real name is Guinevere, but Guinaifen is the local name chosen by her friend Sushang.

• Jiaoqiu (椒丘; Jiāoqiū)

Voiced by: Chenzhang Taikang (Chinese); Mark Whitten (English); Toshiyuki Toyonaga (Japanese); Lee Jung-min (Korean)

A foxian counselor and a healer of the Alchemy Commission on the Yaoqing who was blinded after being attacked by the borisin leader, Hoolay. He loves cooking dishes with heavy amounts of spice, even using spices in combat.

• Hanya (寒鸦; Hányā)

Voiced by: Zhang Yuxi (Chinese); Suzie Yeung (English); Sayumi Suzushiro (Japanese); Yoon Eun-seo (Korean)

A judge of the Ten-Lords Commission on the Luofu who has become numb after becoming flooded with work and haunted by nightmares. She is Xueyi's younger sister.

• Huohuo (藿藿; Huòhuò) and Tail (尾巴; Wěiba)

Voiced by: Ge Zirui (Chinese); Megan Shipman (English); Maria Naganawa (Japanese); Kim Chae-rin (Korean) (Huohuo)

Voiced by: Liu Beichen (Chinese); Aaron Veach (English); Takeshi Hirabayashi (Japanese); Han Bok-hyun (Korean) (Tail)

A foxian trainee judge of the Ten-Lords Commission on the Luofu. She has a fear of inhuman beings, but ironically attracts them due to a heliobus she calls "Mr. Tail" sealed in her tail by the other judges.

• Huaiyan (怀炎; Huáiyán)

Voiced by: Li Haojia (Chinese); J. Michael Tatum (English); Tadashi Miyazawa (Japanese); Jo Min-soo (Korean)

One of the seven Arbiter-Generals and the general of the Zhuming, and Yunli's adoptive grandfather.

• Lingsha (灵砂; Língshā) / Dan Zhu (丹朱; Dān Zhū)

Voiced by: Rao Zijun (Chinese); Whitney Holland (English); Kaori Maeda (Japanese); Jang Ye-na (Korean)

A Vidyadhara healer and the Cauldron Master of the Alchemy Commission on the Luofu.

Penacony

• Sunday (星期日; Xīngqīrì)

Voiced by: Xu Xiang (Chinese); Griffin Puatu (English); Takeo Ōtsuka (Japanese); Kang Seong-woo (Korean)

A zealous and revered Halovian who is the former head of the Oak Family as well as Robin's brother. He was secretly a Pathstrider of Order and the main antagonist of the Penacony chapter. In order to seek atonement for his actions, he left Penacony in his search for paradise.

• Robin (知更鸟; Zhīgēngniǎo)

Voiced by: Qian Chen (Chinese); Alice Himora (English); Kaori Nazuka (Japanese); Shin Onyu (Korean); Chevy (song vocals)

An elegant Halovian singer and Sunday's sister who has secretly gone missing at the start of the Penacony chapter.

• Gallagher (加拉赫; Jiālāhè)

Voiced by: Ma Yufei (Chinese); Erik Braa (English); Satoshi Mikami (Japanese); Park Sang-hoon (Korean)

A security officer of the Bloodhound family who also works as a bartender. He is the result of an amalgamation of traits from all the Family members combined. His actual identity is that of an agent of the Enigmata ally of the Watchmaker and keeper of the entity known as "Dormancy".

• Misha (米沙; Mǐshā)

Voiced by: Liu Zhixiao (Chinese); Cat Protano (English); Eriko Matsui (Japanese); Bak Sin-hee (Korean)

A bellboy at the Reverie Hotel. His existence is a reflection of the true Watchmaker, Mikhail Char Legwork.

Amphoreus

• Aglaea (阿格莱雅; Āgéláiyǎ)

Voiced by: Chu Yue (Chinese); Morgan Lauré (English); Aya Endō (Japanese); Oh Ro-ah (Korean)

One of the Chrysos Heirs who bears the Coreflame of Romance. She is the Dressmaster of Okhema and her divine authority is Mnestia.

• Anaxagoras (阿那克萨戈拉斯; Ānàkèsàgēlāsī) a.k.a. Anaxa (那刻夏; Nàkèxià)

Voiced by: Qian Wenqing (Chinese); Stephen Fu (English); Yuma Uchida (Japanese); Lee Sang-jun (Korean)

One of the Chrysos Heirs who seeks the Coreflame of Reason. He is one of the Seven Sages of the Grove of Epiphany and his divine authority is Cerces.

• Castorice (遐蝶; Xiádié)

Voiced by: Ruan Congqing (Chinese); Melody Muze (English); Chiwa Saitō (Japanese); Lee Serena (Korean)

One of the Chrysos Heirs who searches for the Coreflame of Death. She is the daughter of River Styx and her divine authority is Thanatos.

• Cifera (赛法利娅; Sàifǎlìyà) a.k.a. Cipher (赛飞儿; Sàifēiér)

Voiced by: Wang Yaxin (Chinese); Shea Fairaday (English); Ayasa Itō (Japanese); Mi So (Korean)

One of the Chrysos Heirs who holds the Coreflame of Trickery. She is a nimble catgirl from Dolos and her divine authority is Zagreus.

• Hyacinthia (雅辛忒丝; Yǎxīntèsī) a.k.a. Hyacine (风堇; Fēngjǐn)

Voiced by: Jing Chen (Chinese); Holly Earl (English); Hina Yōmiya (Japanese); Kim Yeon-woo (Korean)

One of the Chrysos Heirs who guards the Coreflame of Sky. She is a physician and her divine authority is Aquila.

• Mydeimos (迈德谟斯; Màidémósī) a.k.a. Mydei (万敌; Wàndí)

Voiced by: Zhao Chengchen (Chinese); Gabriel Warburton (English); Yōhei Azakami (Japanese); Ahn Hyo-min (Korean)

One of the Chrysos Heirs who seeks the Coreflame of Strife. He is the former crown prince of Castrum Kremnos and his divine authority is Nikador.

• Phainon (白厄; Bái'è)

Voiced by: Qin Qiege (Chinese); Joshua Waters (English); Satoshi Hino (Japanese); Yoon Yong-sik (Korean)

One of the Chrysos Heirs of Amphoreus.

• Tribios (缇里西庇俄丝; Tílǐxībìésī) a.k.a. Tribbie (缇宝; Tíbǎo) / Trianne (缇安; Tíān) / Trinnon (缇宁; Tíníng)

Voiced by: Cai Shujin (Chinese); Hayden Daviau (English); Hikaru Tono (Japanese); Bang Yeon-ji (Korean)

One of the Chrysos Heirs who stole the Coreflame of Passage. She is the Holy Maiden of Janusopolis and her divine authority is Janus.

Major factions

Stellaron Hunters

• Kafka (卡芙卡; Kǎfúkǎ)

Voiced by: Xu Hui (Chinese); Cheryl Texiera (English); Shizuka Itō (Japanese); Sa Moon-young (Korean)

A soft-spoken woman who is incapable of feeling fear. She personally implanted a Stellaron into a body now known as the Trailblazer during the opening events of the game. She is one of the first two people, along with Silver Wolf, that the Trailblazer met.

• Silver Wolf (银狼; Yín Láng)

Voiced by: Hanser (Chinese); Melissa Fahn (English); Kana Asumi (Japanese); Jang Mi (Korean)

A master hacker who has excelled in a skill that alters reality called "aether editing". She is one of the first two people, along with Kafka, that the Trailblazer met.

• Blade (刃; Rèn) formerly Yingxing (应星; Yìngxīng)

Voiced by: Liu Yijia (Chinese); Daman Mills (English); Shin-ichiro Miki (Japanese); Kwak Yoon-sang (Korean)

A swordsman who abandoned his body to become a blade and a former member of High-Cloud Quintet who went by the name Yingxing. He is cursed with immortality after a failed ritual resulted in him becoming Mara-struck.

• Firefly (流萤; Liúyíng) and SAM (萨姆; Sàmǔ)

Voiced by: Song Yuanyuan (Chinese); Analesa Fisher (English); Tomori Kusunoki (Japanese); Yu Hye-ji (Korean) (Firefly)

Voiced by: Gan Ziqi (Chinese); Adin Rudd (English); Jun Kasama (Japanese); Jang Seo-hwa (Korean) (SAM)

A young girl clad in a mechanical armor called SAM. She joined the Stellaron Hunters in the hopes of finding the meaning of life and a way out of her doomed fate.

Interastral Peace Corporation (IPC)

• Topaz (托帕; Tuōpà) / Jelena (叶琳娜; Yèlínnà) and Numby (账账; Zhàngzhàng)

Voiced by: Lu Minyue (Chinese); Sam Slade (English); Yoshino Nanjō (Japanese); Bang Si-u (Korean) (Topaz)

Voiced by: Lu Minyue (Numby)

One of the Ten Stonehearts who bears the Cornerstone "Topaz of Debt Retrieval". Her partner Numby, a warp trotter, can locate treasures within a particular radius.

• Aventurine (砂金; Shājīn) / Kakavasha (卡卡瓦夏; Kǎkǎwǎxià)

Voiced by: Yang Chaoran, Pi Xiugang (young) (Chinese); Camden Sutkowski, Caitlyn Elizabeth (young) (English); Kengo Kawanishi (Japanese); Park Jun-won (Korean)

One of the Ten Stonehearts who bears the Cornerstone "Aventurine of Stratagems". He is a gambler by nature, treating life as a high-risk, high-reward investment.

• Jade (翡翠; Fěicuì)

Voiced by: Zhang Ruoyu (Chinese); Faye Mata (English); Kotono Mitsuishi (Japanese); Kim Soon-mi (Korean)

One of the Ten Stonehearts who bears the Cornerstone "Jade of Credit". A pawnbroker, she is willing to lend people anything they want as long as she receives something of equivalent value in her eyes.

Galaxy Rangers

• Boothill (波提欧; Bōtíōu)

Voiced by: Peng Bo, Kinsen (young) (Chinese); Andrew Russell (English); Katsuyuki Konishi (Japanese); Kim Dan (Korean)

A cyborg cowboy who seeks revenge on the IPC for destroying his home planet and his daughter despite the massive bounty they placed on his head.

• Rappa (乱破; Luànpò)

Voiced by: Jin Na (Chinese); Kendell Byrd (English); Megumi Han (Japanese); Kim Yurim (Korean)

An experimental subject at a young age who was implanted with a memetic virus based on a popular ninja manga. After being freed from captivity, she became a Galaxy Ranger but still interpreted everything through the eyes of a ninja.

Other significant characters

• Acheron (黄泉; Huángquán) / Raiden Bōsenmori Mei (雷电忘川守芽衣; Léidiàn Wàng Chuānshǒu Yáyī)

Voiced by: Juhuahua (Chinese); Allegra Clark (English); Miyuki Sawashiro (Japanese); Park Ji-yoon (Korean)

A cosmic drifter and an Emanator of Nihility. She claims to be a Galaxy Ranger, earning the ire of Boothill, who points out she's an impostor using their name. She carries a long sword reminiscent of an ōdachi.

• Black Swan (黑天鹅; Hēi Tiān'é)

Voiced by: Yang Menglu (Chinese); Arryn Zech (English); Hitomi Nabatame (Japanese); Kim Ha-young (Korean)

A mysterious Memokeeper from the Garden of Recollection. She later accompanies the Astral Express as a passenger in travelling to Amphoreus.

• Sparkle (花火; Huāhuǒ)

Voiced by: Zhao Shuang (Chinese); Lizzie Freeman (English); Reina Ueda (Japanese); Seong Ye-won (Korean)

A manipulative trickster and a member of the Masked Fools who can shapeshift into anyone, taking on whatever identity she finds interesting at a given moment.

• Veritas Ratio (维里塔斯•拉帝奥; Wéilǐtǎsī Lādìào) a.k.a. Dr. Ratio (真理医生; Zhēnlǐ Yīshēng)

Voiced by: Sang Yuze (Chinese); Jordan Paul Haro (English); Shunsuke Takeuchi (Japanese); Lee Dong-hoon (Korean)

A narcissistic Intelligentsia Guild member who often conceals his appearance with an alabaster head. He treats ignorance as a disease and aims to cure it by spreading knowledge throughout the universe.

• Argenti (银枝; Yínzhī)

Voiced by: Liang Dawei (Chinese); Talon Warburton (English); Shinnosuke Tachibana (Japanese); Choi Seung-hoon (Korean)

A cosmic drifter and a Knight of Beauty who travels the cosmos performing heroic deeds like an old-fashioned knight-errant, hoping to one day see the reappearance of Idrila, the currently missing Aeon of Beauty.

Reception

Many critics praised Honkai: Star Rail for continuing HoYoverse's tradition of strong character design, highlighting the game's vivid, expressive, and well-developed cast. PC Gamer reviewer Tyler Colp remarked that each character in the game "glows with personality," and that their combat animations are "extraordinarily expressive." GamesHub reviewer Samantha Low described the characters as engaging, with flashy designs reminiscent of a techwear runway, emphasizing their visual appeal and distinctive personalities. According to IGN China reviewer Water Ash, the character designs appeal to a broad range of fan preferences, with facial expressions and animations during dialogue presented in a detailed and nuanced manner. PCGamesN reviewer Nat Smith observed that the characters possess strong individual appeal, describing them as familiar archetypes that evoke the nostalgic charm of 1990s Japanese role-playing games. Smith also highlighted the game's non-playable characters (NPCs), noting that even minor figures often play pivotal roles in the narrative, enhancing the game's world-building. IGN reviewer Jess Reyes observed that the game gradually unveils subtle character traits through scenarios that highlight different facets of their personalities, enhancing the narrative's suspense and engagement.