Yao Guang Build Guide: Best Relics, Light Cones & Teams (Feb 2026)

Yao Guang Overview: Role and Meta Position

Yao Guang functions as a Physical Elation hybrid buffer-DPS who amplifies team damage through Zone deployment and Punchline generation. Base SPD 101, max Energy 180.

Core Mechanics:

• Skill (Decalight Unveils All): Deploys 3-turn Zone generating 3 Punchlines, +15% ally Elation, +20% self Elation
• Talent (Behold Wherever Light Unfolds): Certified Banger grants up to 24% Elation DMG per ally attack (max 3 stacks)
• Ultimate (Hexagram of Feathered Fortune): Consumes 5 Punchlines for Aha Instant; 20 Punchlines grants extra turn with 20% All-Type RES PEN for 3 turns
• Basic ATK: 90% ATK single target + 30% ATK adjacent, generates 30 Energy
• Elation Skill (Let Thy Fortune Burst in Flames): 100% Physical Elation DMG across 5 hits + 20% to random targets, applies Woe's Whisper (16% increased Elation DMG taken for 3 turns)

Critical Trace - Amaze-In Grace: At SPD ≥120, gains 30% Elation + 1% per excess SPD point (up to 200 excess). Creates breakpoints at 134, 143, 152, and 160 SPD.

Poised and Sated: Recovers 1 Skill Point when using Elation Skill, grants 60% CRIT DMG.

For pulls and resources, recharge Honkai Star Rail oneiric shards express supply through BitTopup offers competitive pricing and instant delivery.

Level 80 Stats: HP 1242, ATK 466, DEF 655, SPD 100

Meta Position: Strong A-tier in Version 4.0 (launched Feb 12, 2026 NA / Feb 13, 2026 EU/Asia, Phase 1 until March 6). Excels in Pure Fiction, solid in Memory of Chaos floors 11-12 with proper SPD tuning.

Best Builds Tier List

S-Tier: Premium DPS

• Light Cone: When She Decided to See (signature)
• Relics: Diviner of Distant Reach 4pc
• Main Stats: CRIT Rate Body, SPD Feet, Physical DMG% Sphere, ERR% Rope
• Substats: SPD > CRIT Rate > Effect RES > ATK%
• Targets: 160+ SPD, 70%+ CRIT Rate, 140%+ CRIT DMG, 130%+ ERR

Achieves 160 SPD breakpoint for max CRIT Rate (+18%) from Diviner 4pc. Signature provides 18% SPD, 10% CRIT Rate, 30% CRIT DMG, 12% ERR to allies, plus 15 Energy at wave start.

A-Tier: Balanced Hybrid

• Light Cone: Alternative 5-star Elation or high-refinement 4-star
• Relics: Diviner of Distant Reach 4pc
• Main Stats: CRIT Rate Body, SPD Feet, Physical DMG% Sphere, ERR% Rope
• Substats: SPD > CRIT Rate > ATK% > Effect RES
• Targets: 143-152 SPD, 65%+ CRIT Rate, 120%+ CRIT DMG, 120%+ ERR

Sacrifices 18-24% team DPS vs S-tier but requires less investment.

B-Tier: F2P Friendly

• Light Cone: 4-star Elation from events/Herta's Store
• Relics: Diviner 2pc + flexible 2pc (SPD/ATK%)
• Main Stats: CRIT Rate Body, SPD Feet, Physical DMG% Sphere, ATK%/ERR% Rope
• Substats: SPD > CRIT Rate > ATK%
• Targets: 120-134 SPD, 55%+ CRIT Rate, 100%+ CRIT DMG

Achieves 120 SPD threshold for +10% CRIT Rate and Amaze-In Grace activation. 35-40% less personal damage than S-tier but maintains core buffing.

Light Cone Selection

When She Decided to See (Best-in-Slot)

Level 80: HP 1058, ATK 529, DEF 529

Passive: +18% SPD, allies gain +10% CRIT Rate, +30% CRIT DMG, +12% ERR, 15 Energy at wave start

Provides ~18 SPD alone, requiring only 1-2 SPD substat rolls to reach 120. Team CRIT buffs increase total DPS by 18-24% in optimal comps.

4-Star Alternatives

Performance gap: 22-28% personal damage, 12-18% team contribution vs signature. Prioritize options with CRIT Rate, SPD, or Energy regeneration.

F2P options reduce effectiveness by 35-45% but maintain core functionality. Purchase Honkai Star Rail oneiric shards namless honor through BitTopup to accelerate acquisition.

Relics and Planar Ornaments

Diviner of Distant Reach (Best 4pc)

• 2pc: +6% SPD
• 4pc: At SPD ≥120: +10% CRIT Rate; at SPD ≥160: +18% CRIT Rate total; first Elation Skill usage grants allies +10% Elation

SPD-scaling CRIT Rate eliminates need for CRIT Rate substats on several pieces. Ally Elation buff synergizes with Zone for 25% total Elation increase (15% Skill + 10% relic).

2+2 Combinations (Temporary)

• Diviner 2pc + Musketeer 2pc: SPD +6%, ATK +12%
• Diviner 2pc + Physical DMG 2pc: Max personal damage, less team utility

Reduces effectiveness by 15-20%. Use only while farming optimal 4pc.

Planar Ornaments

Sphere: Physical DMG% main stat universally Rope: ERR% optimal for Ultimate frequency; ATK% acceptable alternative

Choose sets emphasizing SPD, CRIT, or Energy mechanics.

Stats Priority

Main Stats (Non-Negotiable)

1. Body: CRIT Rate
2. Feet: SPD (25 flat SPD = ~25% of total needed for 160 breakpoint)
3. Sphere: Physical DMG%
4. Rope: ERR% (preferred) or ATK%

Substat Hierarchy

1. SPD: Each point contributes to breakpoints + Amaze-In Grace (1% Elation per excess SPD beyond 120)
2. CRIT Rate: Target 70%+ total
3. Effect RES: Mitigates CC in endgame
4. ATK%: Scales base damage after CRIT optimization

Minimum Thresholds: 15-20 SPD from substats (3-4 rolls), 20-25% CRIT Rate (4-5 rolls), 30-40% Effect RES

SPD Breakpoints

• 120: Activates Amaze-In Grace (+30% Elation) + Diviner 4pc (+10% CRIT Rate)
• 134: +14% Elation from Amaze-In Grace
• 143: +23% Elation total
• 152: +32% Elation total
• 160: Max Diviner bonus (+18% CRIT Rate), +40% Elation total

Reaching 160: Requires ~59 SPD from equipment (18 Light Cone + 25 Feet + 6 Diviner 2pc + 10 substats = 2-3 rolls). Most achievable optimal target.

CRIT Ratio

Target 1:2 Rate:DMG with Diviner adjustments. At 160 SPD with CRIT Rate Body + signature: ~70-75% CRIT Rate (38% Body + 18% Diviner + 10% Light Cone + 5% base + substats).

Competitive: 70% CRIT Rate / 140% CRIT DMG Premium: 75% CRIT Rate / 160% CRIT DMG

Poised and Sated's 60% CRIT DMG bonus amplifies damage during Elation Skill windows.

Trace Leveling and Eidolons

Skill Priority

1. Skill (Priority 5): Max first for Zone duration + Elation buffs
2. Talent (Priority 4): Certified Banger damage
3. Ultimate (Priority 3): RES PEN scaling
4. Basic ATK (Priority 2): Minimal usage in optimal rotations

Prioritize team buffing before personal damage.

Total Investment: 8 Tracks of Destiny, 12 Vanquished Flow's Reticence, 18 Fluffy Hand-drawn Storyboards, 69 Fluffy Serialization Memorial Issue, 139 Fluffy Collector's Edition, 56 Whimsy Wax, 71 Dreamweave Steel, 73 Lucid Awl, 3,887,800 Credits

Eidolon Value

• E1: Fixes Punchlines at 30-40, +140% Elation Skill DMG, ignores 20% DEF. ~15-18% personal damage increase
• E2: Zone allies gain +12% SPD, +16% Elation. Highest priority - 18-24% team DPS increase
• E3: Skill Lv +2, Basic ATK Lv +1, Elation Skill Lv +1
• E4: Ignores 18% DEF for Elation DMG, +150% Elation Skill multiplier. ~20-25% personal damage
• E5: Ultimate Lv +2, Talent Lv +2, Elation Skill Lv +1
• E6: Allies' Elation DMG +20%, Yao Guang's Elation Skill +60% multiplier

Stopping Point: E0 provides complete functionality. E2 optimal for low-spenders (max team utility per investment).

Best Teams

Premium Meta

Yao Guang + Sparkle + Sparxie + Dan Heng Permansor Terrae

Sparkle: SP generation + CRIT DMG buffs Sparxie: Action advancement + damage amplification Dan Heng: Hypercarry benefiting from Elation buffs + Zone

Maintain Zone uptime, funnel Sparkle buffs to Dan Heng during burst windows.

Balanced Mid-Investment

Yao Guang + Sparkle + Topaz & Numby + Gallagher

Gallagher: Healing + break capabilities Topaz & Numby: Follow-up attacks trigger Talent stacks Sparkle: SP economy + CRIT buffs

Requires only 2 limited 5-stars (Yao Guang, Sparkle). Accessible for moderate spenders.

F2P Accessible

Yao Guang + Sparkle + Fu Xuan + Evanescia

Fu Xuan: Premium sustain + CRIT Rate sharing (reduces relic requirements) Evanescia: Accessible damage Sparkle: Primary buffer

Sacrifices 25-30% total damage vs premium but clears all endgame content.

Teammate Synergies

Pair with characters who:

• Attack frequently (max Talent stacks)
• Benefit from CRIT buffs (signature Light Cone synergy)
• Utilize Elation damage (amplifies Zone + relic buffs)
• Provide Skill Points (compensates Skill-intensive rotation)

Avoid SP-hungry teammates without adequate generation.

Combat Strategy

Optimal Rotation

1. Turn 1: Technique before battle (auto-Skill: 3 Punchlines, Zone active)
2. Turns 2-3: Basic ATK for Energy (30 per use) while Zone active
3. Turn 4: Refresh Zone with Skill before expiration (3 more Punchlines, total 6)
4. Turn 5+: Basic ATK until 20 Punchlines or 180 Energy

At 20 Punchlines: Ultimate grants Aha Instant extra turn. Use bonus turn for Elation Skill during RES PEN window (20% All-Type RES PEN for 3 turns).

Ultimate Timing

Requires 180 Energy, consumes 5 Punchlines. Reaching 20 Punchlines triggers Aha Instant—use extra turn for max damage during RES PEN buff.

ERR% Rope accelerates Ultimate from every 5-6 turns to 4-5 turns (20-25% more usage). Signature's 15 Energy at wave start reduces first Ultimate by 1-2 turns.

Target Priority

Multi-target: Apply Woe's Whisper (16% increased Elation DMG taken) to priority targets before Elation Skill. Basic ATK's 30% splash to adjacent enemies favors central positioning.

Boss encounters: Maintain Zone uptime for ally Elation buffs over personal damage. Team-wide 15% Elation typically exceeds personal contribution.

Common Mistakes

• Letting Zone expire (breaks buff uptime, wastes Punchlines)
• Using Ultimate below 20 Punchlines (misses Aha Instant)
• Overconsumption of Skill Points (prevents teammate Skills)
• Ignoring SPD tuning (suboptimal turn order reduces buff sync)

Monitor Zone duration (3 turns), Punchline count, and SP availability.

Endgame Performance

Memory of Chaos Floors 11-12

Technique's auto-Skill establishes Zone immediately for first-wave efficiency. Floor 12 bosses require precise Ultimate timing to align RES PEN with teammate bursts.

Optimal clear: 4-6 cycles with premium builds. 20% All-Type RES PEN increases damage by 15-25% against high-resistance bosses.

Pure Fiction

Emphasizes AoE through Elation Skill's 5-hit distribution + Woe's Whisper. 16% increased Elation DMG debuff creates multiplicative scaling with Zone buffs.

Target 40,000+ points per stage. Certified Banger procs from frequent ally attacks generate substantial supplemental damage.

Apocalyptic Shadow

Single-target focus favors sustained buffing. Multi-phase bosses benefit from consistent Zone uptime (15% Elation throughout transitions).

Physical-resistant bosses reduce personal damage 30-40% but maintain team buffing value. Ultimate's 20% RES PEN partially mitigates resistance.

DPS Benchmarks (per cycle)

• S-Tier: 180,000-220,000 personal, 25-30% team contribution
• A-Tier: 140,000-170,000 personal, 20-25% team contribution
• B-Tier: 100,000-130,000 personal, 15-20% team contribution

Assumes optimal rotations, SPD tuning, synergistic teams.

Resource Planning

Ascension Materials (Level 80)

• Invasive Clot: 65 (Stagnant Shadow: Shape of Ire)
• Whimsy Wax: 15 (Calyx: Bud of Preservation)
• Dreamweave Steel: 15
• Lucid Awl: 15
• Credits: 308,000

Farm Invasive Clot during double drop events.

Trace Materials

Complete maximization: 2-3 weeks dedicated Trailblaze Power. Whimsy Wax (56), Dreamweave Steel (71), Lucid Awl (73) are primary bottlenecks.

Relic Farming

Diviner drops from specific Cavern of Corrosion domains. Expect 2-3 weeks (160 Trailblaze Power daily) for functional 4pc with acceptable substats.

Farm Body and Feet first (CRIT Rate, SPD main stats most critical). Use temporary alternatives for Sphere/Rope while farming.

Stellar Jade Investment

Securing Yao Guang + signature: ~160-240 pulls depending on pity. F2P accumulation: 60-80 pulls per patch. Supplement through BitTopup for competitive rates and instant delivery.

Common Mistakes

Stat Errors

• Excessive ATK% focus (damage scales from CRIT + Elation multipliers, not base ATK)
• Neglecting Effect RES (debuffs disrupt rotations)
• Ignoring SPD breakpoints (missing 120/160 sacrifices 10-18% CRIT Rate + Elation bonuses)
• Break Effect investment (no break-focused mechanics)

Prioritize: SPD to breakpoints → CRIT optimization → defensive stats → ATK%

Team Composition Pitfalls

• Insufficient SP generation (Yao Guang needs consistent Skill usage)
• Lack of sustain (moderate bulk requires healer/shielder)
• Redundant buffers (multiple CRIT Rate buffers create diminishing returns at 70%+)
• Element mismatch (optimal synergy needs Physical DMG/Elation mechanics)

Ensure teams include SP generation, sustain, damage dealers maximizing her buffs.

Investment Errors

• Premature Eidolon chasing (E0 complete; build functional teams first)
• Light Cone over character acquisition (signature improves 22-28%, new characters provide versatility)
• Relic perfectionism (80% optimal substats > waiting for perfect pieces)

Achieve minimum thresholds (120 SPD, 55% CRIT Rate, proper main stats) before optimization.

FAQ

What's the best light cone for Yao Guang?

When She Decided to See (signature): 18% SPD, team CRIT buffs (+10% Rate, +30% DMG), 12% ERR, 15 Energy at wave start. Increases team DPS 18-24% vs best 4-star alternatives.

Which relic sets work best?

Diviner of Distant Reach 4pc: +6% SPD, up to +18% CRIT Rate at 160 SPD, +10% Elation to allies when using Elation Skill. Perfect synergy with SPD-scaling + team buffing.

Best teammates?

Premium: Sparkle, Sparxie, Dan Heng Permansor Terrae F2P: Topaz & Numby, Gallagher, Fu Xuan, Evanescia

What main stats?

CRIT Rate Body, SPD Feet, Physical DMG% Sphere, ERR% Rope. Maximizes damage while achieving 120/160 SPD breakpoints.

Most important eidolons?

E2 (Blind Arrows Guided by Feathers): Zone allies +12% SPD, +16% Elation for 18-24% team DPS increase. E0 fully functional; E2 optimal stopping point for low-spenders.

What speed threshold?

Target 160 SPD: +18% CRIT Rate (Diviner 4pc), +40% Elation (Amaze-In Grace). Minimum 120 SPD: +10% CRIT Rate, +30% Elation. Achievable with moderate investment.