Welt — Honkai Star Rail Character Guide

Overview

Imaginary Nihility debuffer and sub-DPS whose Ultimate inflicts Weightless — 40% DEF shred, action delay, and team DMG stacking. A2 grants allies up to +100% DMG against Weightless targets. E4 adds 30% All-Type RES reduction.

Imaginary Nihility debuffer and sub-DPS. Skill bounces 5 times total (main + 4 extra), each hit applying Slow (10% SPD reduction) with 75% base chance. Ultimate deals AoE Imaginary DMG with 100% base chance to Imprison (12% action delay + 10% SPD reduction) AND applies Weightless to all enemies for 2 turns. Weightless enemies take 40% DEF reduction (Talent), 5% SPD reduction (Talent), and 4% action delay per hit (up to 8 hits per target per turn = 32% passive delay). Talent bonus hits against Slowed enemies deal 100% ATK Imaginary Additional DMG — nearly doubling Skill damage. A2 layers 10% DMG per stack (up to 100%) on ally attacks against Weightless targets, with +30 Energy at battle start accelerating the first Ultimate.

Key Mechanics

• Weightless is the new core debuff — 40% DEF reduction + 5% SPD reduction + 4% action delay per hit (up to 32% per target per turn) + 30% All-Type RES reduction at E4. This stacks with other DEF shred (Pela 40%, Ashveil 40%) for near-cap DEF reduction, and with All-Type RES PEN (Ruan Mei, etc.) for saturated RES reduction.
• A2 Retribution rewards follow-up-heavy teams — stacking is per-hit, not per-attack, and each ally tracks their own stacks independently. Multi-hit characters (Ashveil, Jade) reach their own 100% DMG cap fastest via their own attacks against Weightless enemies. Teams with multiple damage dealers benefit more than hypercarry teams because each dealer stacks independently. Follow-up attacks explicitly trigger stacking.
• The stat bonus trace now grants +28% Effect Hit Rate (was +28% ATK). This pushes Welt toward 80% EHR via substats and traces, converting to +80% ATK via A6. CRIT body is mandatory over EHR body because A6 converts the EHR trace into ATK.
• Tutorial Mission LC (4★) is BiS for any role post-Novaflare — S5 grants 40% EHR (near-caps A6 with traces) plus 8 Energy per hit on DEF-reduced enemies. Weightless guarantees DEF reduction, making the energy refund constant during Ultimate uptime.
• Turn denial via Weightless (up to 32% delay per turn + 5% SPD + Imprison 12% + Slow 10%) makes Welt a sustainless enabler. Action delay functionally replaces a sustain slot in many teams when combined with damage clears.
• Two EHR targets: 80% for full A6 ATK conversion (+80% ATK), and 122%+ for consistent Slow vs high-EHR bosses. Tutorial S5 (40%) + trace (28%) = 68% base — ~12% from substats caps A6. The 122% Slow target only matters for hardest content.
• SPD targets: 134 sub-DPS, 160+ support, 170-180+ for Eagle of Twilight Line / Sprightly Vonwacq action-advance support builds.
• E0 is firmly sub-DPS/support (~T0.5). E4 is a top-tier debuffer with 30% All-Type RES reduction. Full carry potential unlocks at E4+ with proper build; E0 hypercarry builds suffer internal anti-synergy between A2 stacking (needs high ally attack frequency) and delay identity (reduces enemy hits).

Best Welt Teams

Debuffer / Sub-DPS

Welt's post-Novaflare flagship role — debuffer and sub-DPS providing 40% DEF shred (Weightless), 5% SPD reduction, action delay (up to 32% per target per turn), +30% All-Type RES reduction at E4, and up to 100% per-ally DMG stacking via A2 Retribution. Best pairings feature Ashveil (premium, dual 40% DEF shred) or a strong carry who benefits from Weightless. Works as the universal amp slot in any comp; particularly strong in follow-up-heavy teams where each ally stacks A2 rapidly from their own hits.

• S-tier: Ashveil, Welt, Sunday, Aventurine
• B-tier: Dan Heng • Imbibitor Lunae, Welt, Asta, Huohuo
• A-tier: Cipher, Welt, Tribbie, Hyacine
• S-tier: Welt, Ashveil, Ruan Mei, Huohuo

Carry Welt

E4+ Welt as main DPS carry. At E4, the 30% All-Type RES reduction on Weightless enemies combined with E6's +30% CR/+60% CD on Slowed targets transforms Welt into a top-tier personal DPS. Requires significant investment — E0-E1 carry builds suffer internal anti-synergy between A2 stacking (needs ally attack frequency) and delay identity (reduces enemy hits). Full premium builds pair Welt with Sparkle or Sunday for CRIT DMG and action advance, plus a premium sustain and a flex DPS.

• A-tier: Welt, Sparkle, Mortenax Blade, Fu Xuan
• A-tier: Welt, Sunday, Ashveil, Hyacine

Best Welt Teammates

DPS Partners: Ashveil (S+), Acheron (A), Dr. Ratio (A), Dan Heng • Imbibitor Lunae (B), Kafka (C), Dan Heng (C)

Amplifiers: Mortenax Blade (S), Asta (B), Cerydra (A), Cipher (A), Tribbie (A), Sunday (S+), Ruan Mei (B), Bronya (B), Tingyun (B), Trailblazer • Remembrance (B), Sparkle (A), Pela (C), Silver Wolf (C)

Sustains: Huohuo (A), Hyacine (A), Aventurine (B), Gallagher (B), Lingsha (B), Fu Xuan (C), Luocha (C)

Welt Investment Priority

1. LC S1 — Before the Tutorial Mission Starts (4★ Herta Store LC) is BiS for any Welt role post-Novaflare. 40% EHR at S5 near-caps A6's 80% target with traces, and 8 Energy per hit on DEF-reduced enemies (Weightless guarantees this) transforms his rotation. S1 via Herta Store is trivial; S5 requires purchasing repeatedly.
2. E2 — Critical for support Welt Ultimate uptime. 3 Energy per Talent trigger (Slow-hit Additional DMG) smooths the 120-Energy Ultimate rotation with the new 5-bounce Skill, enabling consistent 2-turn Weightless uptime on carries.
3. E4 — Weightless enemies additionally lose 30% All-Type RES — one of the best amps in the game at E4. Moved from E6 to E4 position in the Novaflare, two eidolons more accessible than the pre-buff equivalent.

Welt Relics and Stat Targets

Recommended: Pioneer Diver of Dead Waters with Sprightly Vonwacq

Stat targets: Effect Hit Rate 80% for A6 ATK cap / 122%+ for consistent Slow, CRIT Rate 60%+, CRIT DMG 120%+, SPD 134 sub-DPS / 160+ support / 170-180+ Eagle builds

Main stats: Body: CRIT Rate > CRIT DMG · Feet: SPD · Sphere: Imaginary DMG > ATK% · Rope: ATK% > Energy Regen

Best Welt Light Cones

• Before the Tutorial Mission Starts (Best in Slot): BiS for support and sub-DPS Welt post-Novaflare — 4★ Herta Store LC providing massive EHR and transformative Energy refund on DEF-reduced enemies. At S5: 40% EHR (near-caps A6's 80% target when combined with the 28% EHR trace) and 8 Energy per hit on DEF-reduced enemies. Weightless guarantees the DEF reduction, so Energy refund is constant during Ultimate uptime — smooths the 120 Energy rotation into a reliable 2-turn cycle. For dedicated E4+ carry builds, CRIT DMG / multiplier-based LCs (Along the Passing Shore, Boundless Choreo) may outperform because A2 saturation dilutes raw CRIT-DMG returns; still universally BiS for the dominant support role.
• Along the Passing Shore: Best personal DPS option for carry/sub-DPS builds. CRIT DMG scaling and Mirage Fizzle debuff synergize with frequent Ultimate usage. Provides no EHR, so pairs best with E4 Welt (RES PEN contribution already saturated, freeing EHR substats for CRIT body). Strong for E6 carry builds combined with CRIT body.
• In the Name of the World: Welt's own signature, still strong but no longer BiS post-Novaflare. Skill EHR boost and ATK buff make the primary damage window harder-hitting; DMG boost against debuffed enemies is always active since Welt maintains Weightless + Slow uptime. Competitive with Along the Passing Shore for carry builds; the Skill EHR bonus is redundant with Tutorial S5's 40%.
• Lies Dance on the Breeze: Strong teamwide support option, no longer BiS post-Novaflare. Provides 18% SPD and 24% DEF reduction to all enemies via Bamboozle — but overlaps significantly with Weightless's own 40% DEF reduction, diluting the unique value. Theft adds 12% DEF reduction at 170+ SPD which can still push toward DEF cap in teams without Ashveil or Pela. Best when the team lacks other DEF shred sources.

Welt FAQ

Who works best with Welt in HSR?

Welt's best team options include Ashveil, Sunday, Aventurine. StarGuide rates teammates by role and composition fit so the recommendation reflects how the character is actually played.

What relics should Welt use?

Welt's recommended relic setup is Pioneer Diver of Dead Waters with Sprightly Vonwacq, with stat targets around Effect Hit Rate 80% for A6 ATK cap / 122%+ for consistent Slow, CRIT Rate 60%+, CRIT DMG 120%+.

What is the best light cone for Welt?

Before the Tutorial Mission Starts is the top listed light cone for Welt. BiS for support and sub-DPS Welt post-Novaflare — 4★ Herta Store LC providing massive EHR and transformative Energy refund on DEF-reduced enemies. At S5: 40% EHR (near-caps A6's 80% target when combined with the 28% EHR trace) and 8 Energy per hit on DEF-reduced enemies. Weightless guarantees the DEF reduction, so Energy refund is constant during Ultimate uptime — smooths the 120 Energy rotation into a reliable 2-turn cycle. For dedicated E4+ carry builds, CRIT DMG / multiplier-based LCs (Along the Passing Shore, Boundless Choreo) may outperform because A2 saturation dilutes raw CRIT-DMG returns; still universally BiS for the dominant support role.

How should I invest in Welt?

Welt's first listed investment priority is LC S1. Before the Tutorial Mission Starts (4★ Herta Store LC) is BiS for any Welt role post-Novaflare. 40% EHR at S5 near-caps A6's 80% target with traces, and 8 Energy per hit on DEF-reduced enemies (Weightless guarantees this) transforms his rotation. S1 via Herta Store is trivial; S5 requires purchasing repeatedly.

Important Notes

• Sustainless Welt underperforms in 190-200 SPD premium shells. At endgame boss SPD, Weightless's 4%-per-hit action delay contributes only ~8 AV per attacker, and Welt's own SPD lags the other damage-relevant allies (e.g. Silver Wolf Lv.999, Yao Guang) so he often fails to get a turn before the wave clears — Ultimate and Weightless uptime both collapse. Either run a sustain slot or scale Welt's SPD to match the rest of the team before relying on him as the sustainless enabler.
• Slow + Weightless reduce enemy turn frequency, which can disrupt Break DPS and DoT teams that rely on enemy actions to trigger damage — avoid pairing with Break-focused DPS
• Bounce Skill (now 5 hits) has random targeting in multi-enemy scenarios — cannot reliably focus a specific enemy, which limits single-target burst setups
• Tutorial Mission LC S5 plus trace covers most EHR requirement (68% base); supplement with ~12% substats for 80% EHR A6 cap. Build CRIT body, not EHR body
• E2 strongly recommended for support Welt Ultimate uptime — Weightless lasts only 2 turns, so consistent 2-turn Ultimate cycling is essential for maximum amp value
• Using Ultimate during an Elite or Boss's extra action immediately ends their turn due to Imprisonment being a control effect — powerful defensive tech but requires reactive timing
• E0 carry Welt suffers internal anti-synergy — A2 stacking needs high ally attack frequency but Welt's delay identity reduces enemy hits. At E0-E1, play Welt as sub-DPS/support, not carry
• Weightless delay can reduce enemy hit energy on the team or delay helpful enemy mechanics — occasional team rotation cost in niche scenarios
• Castorice teams work but run into friction — Cyrene is the primary amp for Castorice, and Welt cannot help Cyrene stack. Functional pairing but Welt contributes less to the core Castorice DPS loop than supports that directly enable Cyrene
• Current meta has thin demand for pure debuffers — Remembrance, Elation, Break, Archer, FUA, and Guilt archetypes don't benefit, leaving Acheron (whose own damage has slipped) as essentially the only team that wants Welt. Mechanically king of Nova Flare but meta-held-back in current content