Honkai Star Rail: Ruan Mei Comprehensive Training Guide
Ruan Mei, a five-star ice attribute harmony character, has auxiliary effects such as 25% resistance penetration, 68% increased damage, 50% weak spot break efficiency increase, 10% speed increase, 20% special attack on break, and extended break status of “Faded Plum Blossom.” These effects are all aura-type group buffs, and since her debut, she has had a high usage rate in Chaos Memories and Fictional Narratives. Before the break system was introduced, Ruan Mei’s auxiliary abilities mainly relied on resistance penetration and high damage. The increased weak spot break efficiency and extended break status of “Faded Plum Blossom” were more about reducing the survival pressure of the team. After the introduction of the break system, the efficiency increase and extended break status became the core functions of the system, making Ruan Mei one of the cornerstones of the break system.
Character Status Character Performance Since her debut in version 1.6, Ruan Mei has always been a popular choice in Chaos Memories and Fictional Narratives, a versatile addition to any team. She is usually paired with Huo Huo to create a versatile team that can be added to almost any lineup. Represented by the team “Kai Hei Ruan Huo,” she can deal with single or group enemies and has a decent cross-attribute law enforcement ability due to her two effects targeting enemy resistances. In teams with Truth Topa and Black Tower Hime as additional attackers, even though she may not be the optimal choice, Ruan Mei also has her own advantages. With the addition of the first break Big C, Poteo, Ruan Mei’s advantages in breaking are continuously expanding.
Looking at the new character mechanisms, Poteo and Flow Firefly are break Big Cs that focus on breaking endurance, while Harmony Primes provide the “Dance Partner” effect to the entire team, allowing them to deal super break damage to enemies after breaking their endurance.
From the perspective of the newly introduced enemy mechanisms, such as “The Past, Present, and Eternal Play” and “Divine Sunday,” both have break compensation designs to increase endurance. These mechanisms related to endurance reduction continue to increase Ruan Mei’s value.
Low-Speed Flow Analysis Based on the way aura-type buffs are counted, Ruan Mei has also developed a low-speed flow gameplay. Here, “low speed” refers to speeds well below the main C speed of 120, with the core logic being that low-speed Ruan Mei’s 2-turn finishing skill buff can cover multiple turns of main C actions.
This gameplay requires using secret techniques or the “Owak” buff effect to release skills before teammates’ turns, ensuring that the main C has a skill buff when outputting on the first turn. The best choice for the aura is the 3-star “Wheel Covenant,” with the outer ring of the relic set effect choosing special attack on break and the inner ring being “Owak”. The speed only needs to be stacked to 120, and once achieved, it becomes a negative term. The following equipment choices will not be discussed in detail.
In addition to covering multiple turns of the main C actions, this gameplay has 4 other advantages:
- The coverage rate is 100% at 0T and 1T, and when changing waves, Ruan Mei’s buff re-run will also extend.
- More action value is needed in one cycle, making it easier to obtain hit-back reserves and abundant light cones for energy swapping. There is hope to achieve 100% coverage for the finishing skill.
- High-speed Harmony Explorers with the new relic set “4 Watchmakers” have a high coverage rate for Ruan Mei.
- The main attribute of the shoes is life/defense, making them strong in survival.
Of course, this gameplay also has two obvious drawbacks. Firstly, if the finishing skill does not reach 100% coverage, the vacuum period will be lengthy. Secondly, the EAA cycle of Ruan Mei is for point production assistance; the lower the speed, the slower the point production.
Trace Review Skill Point Recommendations: Invest in talents, finishing skills, and skills; basic attacks can be invested in but are optional.
Basic Attack
1 damage segment, 1 point of resistance reduction, and 20 energy recovery.
Skill
Aura-type group buffs can achieve a coverage rate of 100%. Increasing the break efficiency can reduce the team’s survival pressure and significantly improve super break damage for the break system. The value is fixed at 50% and does not increase with levels. If materials are scarce when developing the break system, it can be temporarily left un-upgraded.
Talent
Provides Ruan Mei with some damage and makes it easier for teammates to reach the threshold for speed.
Finishing Skill
Also an aura-type buff, the ideal coverage rate for 3 moves and 1 big move is 66.7%. Resistance penetration increases significantly against enemies with higher resistance, allowing the team to have a fighting chance in cross-attribute outputs. “Faded Plum Blossom” further reduces the team’s survival pressure and can extend the output period for the break system.
Note: If Ruan Mei is fully charged with energy outside of her turn, to avoid waste, make sure to release the skill between Ruan Mei’s next turn.
Secret Technique
Automatically triggering skills can greatly alleviate the pressure of skill points at the beginning of the battle. This skill can also recover energy and accelerate the activation of Ruan Mei’s finishing skill. In the Simulated Universe, using break damage can quickly deal with small enemies. Although the efficiency is not as high as “Yellow Springs,” it is still effective against mobs, elite enemies, and bosses, allowing you to skip the first phase of bosses.
Ordered by the unlocking order of the advancement:
Additional Ability 1
Directly added to the character panel after the start of the battle, reducing the pressure on the relic’s special attack on break and increasing the team’s super break damage.
Additional Ability 2
Similar to the energy recovery of “Ting Yun,” it can speed up the activation of the finishing skill.
Additional Ability 3
Provides a secondary use for special attack on break, filling up at 180%, encouraging the stacking of Ruan Mei’s special attack on break to over 180%.
Branch Trace 32% special attack on break, 5 speed, 22.5% defense
Comprehensive Analysis
- Although the increase in special attack on break to 180% can max out the damage increase effect, for Ruan Mei, only special attack on break and speed are effective attributes. 180% special attack on break is not a graduation line but a passing line for Ruan Mei, especially for the break system, it is important to stack as high as possible, and this should be considered when choosing relics and aura.
Two, resistance penetration and increased damage are more versatile than attack power and critical rate, so Ruan Mei has a wide range of applications and the highest versatility among all Harmony characters at present.
Aura Choice In the Mirror
As Ruan Mei’s exclusive aura, “In the Mirror” significantly increases special attack on break, provides group energy recovery at the start of the wave, restores skill points when using the finishing skill, and provides a 3-round damage buff to the entire team. However, this damage buff is not an aura-type buff, so Ruan Mei cannot go for low-speed flow to maintain coverage.
Appearance in Memory
This is the only Harmony aura, apart from the exclusive one, that provides special attack on break and has the additional effect of attack energy recovery. With known energy requirements for Ruan Mei’s finishing skill being 130, when equipped with a full “Shadow” set, this aura can trigger energy recovery twice per EAA cycle, with a base energy of 106 from 5+5+30+5+28+5+28. If equipped with energy recovery ropes and inner circle, with an energy efficiency of 124.4%, the actual energy recovery is 131.9 > 130, meaning even without external interference, she can achieve 3 moves and 1 big move.
Wheel Covenant
This aura is the best choice for low-speed flow Ruan Mei and serves as a substitute for “In the Mirror” when not using low-speed flow. Although it lacks a high special attack on break boost, it provides additional energy when hit.
But the Battle is Not Over
If you unexpectedly obtain this aura, it can also be used as a transition for Ruan Mei. At the first level of the “Shadow” set, the energy recovery rope + energy recovery inner circle + aura energy recovery has an energy efficiency of 134.4%, providing 120.6 energy per EAA cycle. With this setup, if hit once by a single-target attack or twice by an AOE attack within 3 rounds, she can achieve 3 moves and 1 big move. Additionally, after being placed in the lineup, it can provide a 30% damage boost to one output character. However, this boost is limited to one character, and in multi-core systems, the benefits are reduced, and due to the lack of a special attack on break boost, there will be significant relic pressure.
Other auras such as “Engraved Moon, Cloud Cutter,” “Dance Dance Dance,” and “Meeting with the Planets” are not well-suited for Ruan Mei, so they are not recommended here.
Relic Selection Set Selection Outer Circle:
As Ruan Mei only has special attack on break and speed as effective attributes, and there are currently no relic 4-piece sets that provide both of these attributes, she does not have high requirements for outer circle set effects, and there are many choices available. If you are looking for effective attributes, you can choose any combination of 2 sets out of the “Thief Set,” “Messenger Set,” “Watchmaker Set,” and the newly introduced “Iron Cavalry Set” in version 2.3. Since the effects of the “Messenger Set” and “Watchmaker Set” 4-piece sets cannot stack, it is better to prioritize using 4 “Thief” pieces.
Inner Circle:
Ruan Mei’s finishing skill is very powerful but has high energy requirements, so it is recommended to bring “Owak” and “Dreamland Pinocchio,” which provide 5% energy recovery in the inner circle. This setup, combined with the aura’s energy recovery, ensures a stable 3 moves and 1 big move. “Owak” allows Ruan Mei to use her skill before her teammates without using a secret technique. When a secret technique is used, starting with a basic attack can generate 1 skill point at the beginning of the battle to help teammates start, and accelerate the release of Ruan Mei’s finishing skill. Additionally, the team-wide versatility of “Owak” is high, and it can be effective when Ruan Mei is flexibly employed in various teams. On the other hand, “Dreamland Pinocchio” has a lower priority as it only provides buffs to ice characters. Ice character lovers can prepare two sets of inner circle relics for interchange.
Entry Selection Main Entry: Life/Defense for the torso, sphere, speed for shoes, and energy recovery rope.
Secondary Entry: Choose speed entries based on requirements, with special attack on break > life/defense/effect resistance.
Team Build Break System Ruan Mei + Harmony Prime + Galahad + Any Break C
The characteristic of the super break system is full team output, but breaking shields is essential. Therefore, during the attack, the team can be divided into “Endurance Reduction Period” and “Output Period.” As mentioned earlier, Ruan Mei’s finishing skill’s resistance penetration and skill’s break efficiency can increase super break damage. The extended break status of “Faded Plum Blossom” can prolong the team’s output period. Combining this with Galahad’s strong endurance reduction and high special attack on break panel, along with any Break C, completes a complete super break team.
Dot System Ruan Mei + Kafka + Huo Huo + Black Swan
A classic team in the dot system, commonly known as “Kafka, Ruan Mei, Huo Huo, Black Swan.” Dot damage does not benefit from critical rate bonuses, but can benefit from Ruan Mei’s damage increase and resistance penetration. Additionally, when enemies recover weak points due to “Faded Plum Blossom,” an additional push is provided, effectively increasing the speed of continuous damage calculation. Therefore, Ruan Mei is very suitable for inclusion in dot system teams.
Chase System Ruan Mei + Truth Doctor + Topa + Sand Gold
The chase system is a typical direct damage multi-core system, represented by teams like Truth Doctor + Topa and Hime + Black Tower. Additional attacks can fully utilize all of Ruan Mei’s auxiliary effects, and the high-frequency additional attacks of the chase system have strong endurance reduction capabilities. Utilizing the 50% weak spot break efficiency can quickly reduce the endurance of elite enemies to zero. Additionally, “Faded Plum Blossom” can provide a negative buff to Truth Doctor.
Single Core Representative single-core teams like: Ruan Mei + Brionia + Mirror Flow + Rakshasa
Although Ruan Mei is mainly known for group buffs, she performs very well in single-C teams. Especially for characters like Mirror Flow, who have high attack power and double critical hits, Ruan Mei can provide the rare damage increase and resistance reduction, and can also equip the Pinocchio inner circle relic to provide a 10% damage boost to Mirror Flow.
On this basis, Mirror Flow can be replaced with other direct damage output characters, such as Blade.
Star Soul Introduction 1 Soul
This star soul not only has a significant increase in values but also ignores defense, making it an extremely versatile enhancement. Before reaching 100% reduction in defense, it is inversely diluted, and the enhancement will be more pronounced when combined with other defense reduction methods.
2 Soul
This effect will be permanent once triggered, lasting until the end of the battle. Since Ruan Mei does not have an attack power increase, for non-break systems, the 40% attack power boost is significant when Ruan Mei is the only support character in the team. However, for break systems, the attack power boost only increases the low percentage of direct damage, resulting in minimal overall damage increase.
4 Soul
This can significantly increase Ruan Mei’s own special attack on break. This boost enhances the special attack damage, extended break status of “Faded Plum Blossom,” Ruan Mei’s own break damage, and super break damage, while also laying the groundwork for the 6 Soul.
6 Soul
During 3 moves and 1 big move, the coverage rate of the finishing skill is increased to 100%. Additionally, with the significant special attack on break boost from the 4 Soul, the break damage is extremely high, making Ruan Mei a qualified damage sub-C.
Analysis Overall, Ruan Mei’s core star souls are the 1 Soul and 6 Soul. If you plan to supplement star souls, obtaining the 1 Soul is sufficient, as the cost-effectiveness of the 2-5-star souls is not high.