Honkai Star Rail 3.8 Light Cone Tier List: S-Tier DPS 15-25% Boosts

This 3.8 Light Cone Tier List breaks down the best Path options for DPS—updated Dec 8, 2025. S-tier standouts like Brighter than the Sun (Destruction) and But The Battle Isn’t Over (Harmony) deliver 15-25% performance jumps. Patch drops NA Dec 15/global Dec 16 with Never Forget Her Flame (+60% Break Effect). Guides your pulls for Destruction, Hunt, Nihility DPS, plus solid F2P swaps and superimposition tips.

Why This Tier List Matters in 3.8

Ever wonder what separates a solid DPS carry from a god-tier nuker?

How We Ranked 'Em

S-tier crushes it with 86.17% DPS spikes, leaning hard on Break dominance—think 60% Break Effect and 32% team Break DMG, netting 15-25% overall gains. A-tier delivers 16-24% stat bumps, especially S1+ for that juicy 12% ally DMG debuff. B-tier? Solid 16% DEF shred, but it's situational. We zeroed in on Destruction, Hunt, Erudition DPS scaling first, then Preservation/Abundance for sustain—real-world testing vibes.

3.8 Patch Shake-Up

Version 3.8 hits NA Dec 15, EU-Asia Dec 16, 2025—runs till Feb 12/13, 2026. Fresh drop: Never Forget Her Flame, the Fire Nihility sig with +60% Break Effect, +32% team Break DMG on trigger, and SP recovery from breaks. Reruns bring back Whereabouts Should Dreams Rest (Destruction) and A Grounded Ascent (Harmony). Stock up now: 15 Heaven Incinerator, 12 Starfire Essence, 4 Fiery Spirits.

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S+ Tier: The DPS Gods You Chase

Destruction Path Royalty

S-tier here: Brighter than the Sun, Dance at Sunset, I Shall Be My Own Sword, The Unreachable Side, Whereabouts Should Dreams Rest (3.8 rerun). Pair Whereabouts with Firefly for endless stacks—pure sustained pain. Slap these on Destruction DPS and watch superimps shine. Grind path: 288 Traveler's Guide, 4M LMD, 65 Radiant Prominence. 3.8 reruns? Expect 15-25% uplifts.

Hunt's Single-Target Beasts

S-tier killers: Baptism of Pure Thought, Cruising in the Stellar Sea, In the Night, Sailing Towards A Second Life, Worrisome Blissful. Synergies like This Love, Forever pump 18% SPD. Hit S5? +4.8% SPD x3 stacks. F2P boss-melters clock 86.17% DPS—trust me, it's math-backed.

S Tier: Your Elite Go-Tos

Harmony Buff Machines

S-tier essentials: But The Battle Isn’t Over, Earthly Escapade, A Grounded Ascent (3.8 rerun), Flowing Nightglow, Past Self in Mirror. A Grounded Ascent dishes 16% DMG from BP—perfect Harmony slot for team-wide amps. Link it with Destruction for that 3.8 Sunday/Aglaea pop. (Editor note: I've clutched so many clears with this setup.)

Nihility DoT Demons

S-tier DoT pros: Good Night and Sleep Well, Reforged Remembrance, Along the Passing Shore, Incessant Rain (+24% Effect Hit Rate, +12% ally DMG debuff; 1058 HP/582 ATK/463 DEF), Patience Is All You Need (+4.8% SPD x3, Erode DoT), Those Many Springs. Never Forget Her Flame leads with +60% Break Effect, 32% team Break DMG, Charring on breaks. F2P angle: +20% Effect Hit Rate, Energy regen off DEF drops.

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A Tier: Reliable Heavy Hitters

Preservation Walls

A-tier sustain stars: Moment of Victory, Texture of Memories, She Already Shut Her Eyes, Inherently Unjust Destiny. 40% DMG RED synergy keeps 'em standing. Tank slot for marathon fights—superimps lock in 86.17% DPS sustain alongside Destruction.

Erudition AoE Blasters

A-tier AoE monsters: Night on the Milky Way, Before Dawn, An Instant Before A Gaze, Yet Hope Is Priceless. 16% DMG Vulnerability from BP. Gear up AoE DPS for wave clears; 3.8 banners push 25% sig boosts.

B & C Tier: Niche or F2P Lifesavers

F2P-Friendly Swaps

B-tier Destruction: The Moles Welcome You, Woof! Walk Time!, A Secret Vow, Nowhere to Run, Collapsing Sky. Resolution Shines (952 HP/476 ATK/330 DEF; 100% Ensnare -16% DEF). Lies Dance (953 HP/582 ATK/529 DEF; 18% SPD, 16% DEF shred). Hit Calyx and events while eyeing S-tier farms.

Path mismatch alert. Hunt on AoE Erudition/Nihility? DPS tanks 20-30%. Stick debuffs to Nihility for 12% ally DMG—test swaps for Path sync.

Path-by-Path Deep Dive

Destruction Full Breakdown

• S: Brighter than the Sun, Dance at Sunset, I Shall Be My Own Sword, The Unreachable Side, Whereabouts Should Dreams Rest.
• A: Something Irreplaceable, On the Fall of the Aeon, Under the Blue Sky, Flames Afar, Ninja Record: Sound Hunt, Indelible Promise.
• B: The Moles Welcome You, Woof! Walk Time!, A Secret Vow, Nowhere to Run, Collapsing Sky. Chase S for DPS peaks; snag A on 3.8 reruns.

Hunt & Erudition Spotlights

• Hunt S: Baptism of Pure Thought, Cruising in the Stellar Sea, In the Night, Sailing Towards A Second Life, Worrisome Blissful.
• Erudition S: Night on the Milky Way, Before Dawn, An Instant Before A Gaze, Yet Hope Is Priceless.
• Abundance S: Time Waits for No One, Warmth Shortens Cold Nights, Post-Op Conversation, Night of Fright, Echoes of the Coffin. Bosses love Hunt SPD stacks; Erudition feasts on 32% Break DMG teams.

Superimps & Real DPS Crunches

S1 to S5 Payoffs

Memory's Curtain Never Falls hits 86.17% DPS at max superimps. Patience Is All You Need stacks SPD x3. Incessant Rain S5? +24% Effect Hit Rate for DoT, plus 12% ally DMG. Event-farm for S2+ Nihility.

Quick Calc Spotlights

This Love, Forever juices Cyrene 15-25% via 18% SPD. Never Forget Her Flame? +60% Break Effect, 32% team Break DMG. In-game sims confirm; F2P pairs add 20% Effect Hit Rate.

F2P Pull Plan for 3.8

Must-Pulls

Phase 3.8: Never Forget Her Flame after core team; reruns like Long Road Leads Home, Scent Alone Stays True, Time Woven Into Gold. 15-25% boosts, 16% DMG from BP. Hoard Jades, pre-farm bosses, Dahlia sig first.

F2P grind Calyx/BP for Vulnerability. Scan your roster for S-tier superimps—Break teams scream for Never Forget Her Flame.

Pitfalls & Pro Tips

Path swaps kill output—don't slap Harmony on Hunt. Audit for DPS Path match; chase 18% SPD.

Nihility debuffs + Destruction? 86.17% uplift. Core team: Dahlia + Firefly rerun. Stack 60% Break Effect upfront.

FAQ

What are the best Light Cones for Destruction Path in Honkai Star Rail 3.8?
S-tier: Brighter than the Sun, Whereabouts Should Dreams Rest (3.8 rerun) for high DPS.

Which Light Cone is S+ tier for Hunt DPS in patch 3.8?
Baptism of Pure Thought; Cruising in the Stellar Sea for SPD boss synergy.

Best F2P Light Cones for each Path in 3.8 December 2025?
Nihility: +20% Effect Hit Rate; Destruction B-tier A Secret Vow; grind Calyx.

What changed for Light Cones in Honkai Star Rail 3.8?
Never Forget Her Flame (+60% Break Effect, 32% team DMG); reruns A Grounded Ascent, Whereabouts Should Dreams Rest.

Top DPS Light Cones for Nihility characters 3.8?
Incessant Rain (+24% Effect Hit Rate); Patience Is All You Need (SPD stacks); Dahlia signature.

Harmony Path Light Cone rankings HSR 3.8?
S-tier: But The Battle Isn’t Over, A Grounded Ascent (rerun) for team DPS buffs.