Quick Links
Honkai: Star Rail’s version 1.6 update introduces three new characters, with two of them being 5-star units, following the general banner route the game has taken so far. Surprisingly, however, as announced during the version update livestream,Dr. Ratio will be given to all players for freeas a celebration for winning awards, allowing players to build this character without needing to spend any Stellar Jade on it.
Some players who were previously interested in pulling him and saving up for him might be wondering whether it is worth investing in him further, either by pulling his eidolons or his light cone. Alternatively, they may be considering whether it’s better to pull for Ruan Mei or wait for other upcoming characters like Sparkle or Black Swan. Fortunately, as both Ruan Mei and Dr. Ratio have different roles, players have various factors to consider to make the best decision that suits their playstyle.
Ruan Mei Or Dr. Ratio In Honkai: Star Rail
Ruan Mei joins the roster as an Ice Harmony character, marking the first limited Harmony character to be introduced. On the other hand, Dr. Ratio is an Imaginary Hunt character, expanding the list of Imaginary Damage dealers. Previously, the only other character that could be considered strictly DPS for Imaginary was Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae.
With this considered, they bring quite different aspects to the table. Nevertheless, as the game has been introducing significantly more DPS-oriented characters than offensive support ones, it’s important to consider that most players might benefit more from pulling support characters instead of investing further in a DPS character. Regardless, both characters have added advantages and disadvantages to be considered before deciding on whom to spend valuable resources.
Roles
Ruan Mei, as a support unit, focuses on a unique buff, primarily related to Weakness Break, by increasing allies' Weakness Break efficiency. She also boosts their damage, provides speed, and Effect RES Pen. Both her Skill, Ultimate, and even her Talent provide different buffs, and with their long duration (3 turns), she remains on theskill point-positive end. Considering all these unique buffs, Ruan Mei can complement virtually any DPS character in the game, making her a versatile choice regardless of which DPS characters players have been prioritizing.
Considering that players will have access to obtaining Dr. Ratio for free, the significance of investing in his first Eidolon, assuming some might want to prioritize this over the light cone or Ruan Mei, comes into consideration. His first Eidolon enhances his second Ascension trace, increasing the maximum stacks he can obtain to further boost his Crit Rate and Crit DMG. With this Eidolon, he can increase his Crit Rate by an additional 10% and Crit DMG by an additional 20%, providing a substantial boost to his DPS. However, acquiring these stacks relies on him attacking with his skill against opponents with debuffs, and achieving 10 debuffs on a single opponent may not be easy in every team composition. Fortunately, he gains 4 stacks at the start of the battle, maintaining a consistent increase even in non-debuff teams for the actual ascension. This Eidolon may prove less useful if players haven’t focused on a heavy debuff-oriented team composition. The second Eidolon also deals additional Imaginary DMG based on added debuffs, but considering the resources needed to unlock both the first and second Eidolons, it may not be worth it for most players.
Builds
In terms of builds, Ruan Mei and Dr. Ratio differ significantly due to their distinct roles. For Ruan Mei, a recommended build includesmaximizing Break Effect, Speed, and Energy Recharge to ensure the effectiveness of her buffs, particularly from her Ultimate, which should be maintained every 3 turns. Defensive stats like HP% or DEF% are suitable for other considerations, as Harmony characters typically have lower base values in these areas. Crit-oriented stats are unnecessary for Ruan Mei, as her damage is primarily based on Break Effect rather than traditional damage-related stats. While some of her optimal light cones are not F2P, players can achieve similar effects with many 4-star variants, especially a max-refined Memories of the Past. If players have this light cone, they might consider using Ruan Mei without further significant investment. Ruan Mei’s relics offer flexibility with different options, focusing on providing additional benefits for allies, such as Penacony, the Land of Dreams, which can enhance the damage of other Ice characters.
For Dr. Ratio, a more traditional DPS build is recommended, emphasizing Crit Rate, Crit DMG, and ATK% to maximize his damage output. Given the prominence of follow-up attacks in his kit, players should consider providing him with piece effect set bonuses that include follow-up attacks, such as the Inert Salsatto set and by combining the Wastelander of Banditry Desert set with The Ashblazing Grand Duke set. It’s important to note that Dr. Ratio’s build considerations are relatively more strict as opposed to Ruan Mei, requiring better min-maxing to optimize him to his fullest potential, which is typical for a DPS character.
When it comes to light cones, the best options for Dr. Ratio become a more significant consideration. While his signature light cone, Baptism of Pure Thought, is tailored for him and offers increased Crit DMG without specific conditions, it does require debuffs on the opponent to reach its maximum effect. It also provides additional benefits like follow-up attacks ignoring DEF, giving it an edge over other light cones. However, the next best light cone for him is Cruising in the Stellar Sea, which is a completely F2P 5-star light cone, making Dr. Ratio a relatively F2P-friendly character. Pulling for his light cone may not be as worthwhile as pulling for other characters, especially considering its niche nature, which might not be as suitable for upcoming Hunt characters.
Strengths and Weaknesses
While both Ruan Mei and Dr. Ratio have unique abilities that can provide a fun gameplay experience, it is worth for players to consider their strengths and weaknesses before deciding on pulling for Ruan Mei, further investing in Dr. Ratio, or waiting for upcoming characters and saving up their resources.
Verdict: Pulling Ruan Mei vs Dr. Ratio
As a result of Dr. Ratio being an F2P character, pulling for Ruan Mei might seem like a better option for most players, all things considered. However, players should still pay attention to the aspects below to make the ultimate decision on what is more worth their resources, primarily by considering the other characters in their roster:
Honkai: Star Rail
WHERE TO PLAY
Board the Astral Express and roam the universe in search of myths and legends. From global interactive entertainment brand HoYoverse comes a new space fantasy RPG. Harness the spirirt of the Trailblaze in a cel-shaded space fantasy adventure where you’ll embark on an unforgettable intergalactic odyssey. You and your fellow Astral Express passengers will hop from world to world, resolve conflicts, form friendships and uncover a wealth of mysteries. In this exciting new free-to-play game, you’ll journey through immense worlds of the unknown and bond with a series of memorable characters. Choose your companions and arrange the ultimate four-person combat team to help you take down a looming threat to the universe.
