Phainon | Honkai: Star Rail

Overview

Phainon is a powerful Physical hypercarry whose damage is concentrated inside his Khaslana transformation. He rewards teams that rapidly generate Coreflame and fully buff him before he takes over the battlefield.

Role

Main DPS / Transformation Carry

Playstyle

Outside Ultimate, spam Skill and let allies target Phainon to generate Coreflame. Once ready, apply all important buffs before transforming, then manage Scourge to repeatedly fire his strongest Enhanced Skill.

Why It Works

Phainon gains Coreflame whenever allies target him, making action-advance and targeted supports especially effective. During transformation, his huge self-buffs and isolated turns let him convert all that setup into one extended burst window.

Watch For

Don't enter Ultimate before your buffs are ready; teammates become Departed and cannot act during the transformation. Also avoid spending his strongest Enhanced Skill below 4 Scourge whenever possible.

Playstyle

Combat Flow

Buff Phainon → Skill / generate Coreflame → reach 12 → Ultimate → 4-Scourge Enhanced Skill → rebuild Scourge → Enhanced Skill again → Final Hit → repeat.

Key Notes

Aim around 90–100% CRIT Rate and 160–180%+ CRIT DMG before his Trace buffs. SPD does not increase his transformed turn speed, so use it mainly to speed-tune his pre-Ultimate rotation.
Transformation gives 8 Khaslana turns and Physical Weakness to enemies.
His defensive Enhanced Skill advances enemies, reduces incoming damage, and triggers a powerful Counter.

Build & Investment

Light Cones

Primary

Thus Burns the Dawn

Signature option tailored to his transformation and high-impact damage window.

F2P

On the Fall of an Aeon

Strong accessible ATK option.

Alternative

Something Irreplaceable

Premium sustain-and-damage fallback for a bruiser-style build.

Relics

Primary

Wavestrider Captain

Have other allies target Phainon twice before Ultimate to consume two Help stacks for the ATK bonus; the set also supplies CRIT DMG.

Alternative

Scholar Lost in Erudition

Strong Skill and Ultimate alternative with efficient farming.

Planars

Primary

Arcadia of Woven Dreams

Strong fit for the solo battlefield condition during transformation.

Alternative

Rutilant Arena

Stable Skill-damage alternative after meeting its CRIT condition.

Main Stats

Body

CRIT Rate
AlternativeCRIT DMG

Default for CRIT consistency.

Alternative after reaching enough CRIT Rate.

Feet

ATK%
AlternativeSPD

Preferred when supports manage Coreflame and action timing.

Alternative for self-driven setup turns.

Sphere

Physical DMG Boost
AlternativeATK%

Default offensive sphere.

Competitive with better substats.

Rope

ATK%

Default damage rope.

Recommended Substats

SPD
CRIT Rate
CRIT DMG
ATK%

Use SPD only for the chosen pre-transformation support sequence, then prioritize CRIT and ATK. Ordinary SPD substats do not increase Khaslana's extra-turn speed, which inherits base SPD; they help Phainon gather Coreflame outside the transformation.

Eidolon Investment

E0 has the Coreflame and Khaslana loop. Build a team that targets and advances Phainon consistently before adding Eidolons; E2 changes transformed turns and resistance penetration, rather than enabling the basic transformation.

Thus Burns the Dawn adds base SPD, which affects Khaslana's inherited extra-turn speed, plus DEF ignore and a post-Ultimate damage boost. Its base-SPD benefit is distinct from ordinary SPD substats.

Grants Khaslana 20% Physical RES PEN and an extra turn when Stardeath Verdict consumes four Scourge.

Improves Khaslana's base-SPD inheritance ratio, with further increases after defeated enemies, and grants CRIT DMG after Ultimate.

Teams

Recommended Teammates

Transformation hypercarry

Cerydra and Sunday front-load buffs and Coreflame before Phainon enters the solo state.

PhainonCore character
Cerydra
Sunday
Huohuo

Broad amplification core

Tribbie and Robin provide teamwide buffs that can be established before transformation.

Core partners (not a full team)

Best Phainon Teams

30,514 observed teams36 recent contexts

Most Played With

Most Played Teams

#117.6%5,373 teams
- Phainon
- Sunday
- Cerydra
- Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae
#213.6%4,135 teams
- Phainon
- Sparkle
- Sunday
- Cerydra
#37.6%2,323 teams
- Phainon
- Cerydra
- Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae
- Cyrene
#46.9%2,106 teams
- Phainon
- Cerydra
- Cyrene
- Trailblazer (Remembrance)

Explore full Team Comp Finder

Skills

Basic ATK

Stride to Deliverance

Single AttackLv. 6

Deals Physical DMG equal to 100% of Phainon's ATK to one designated enemy.

Basic ATK sequence

Creation: Bloodthorn Ferry

BlastLv. 6

Gains 2 point(s) of "Scourge", dealing Physical DMG equal to 250% of Khaslana's ATK to one designated enemy and Physical DMG equal to 75% of Khaslana's ATK to adjacent targets.

Lv. 6

Skill

Let There Be Light

BlastLv. 10

Gains 2 point(s) of "Coreflame," dealing Physical DMG equal to 300% of Phainon's ATK to one designated enemy and Physical DMG equal to 120% of Phainon's ATK to adjacent targets.

Skill sequence

Calamity: Soulscorch Edict

EnhanceLv. 10

Gains "Scourge" by an amount equal to the number of enemies and 1 stack of "Soulscorch," then causes all enemies to immediately take action.

While in the "Soulscorch" state, Khaslana takes 75% reduced DMG. After an enemy target attacks or takes action, gains 1 more stack of "Soulscorch." After said enemy targets finish their actions, immediately launches Counter, deals Physical DMG to all enemies equal to 40% of Khaslana's ATK, and additionally deals 4 instance(s) of DMG, with each instance being Physical DMG equal to 30% of Khaslana's ATK dealt to one random enemy. Afterward, "Soulscorch" is dispelled. Each "Soulscorch" stack increases the DMG multiplier of said Counter by 20% of its original multiplier value.

DMG dealt through this ability is considered as Skill DMG. If "Soulscorch" is still active at the start of Khaslana's extra turn, immediately launches Counter.

Foundation: Stardeath Verdict

BounceLv. 10

Dispels all debuffs on this unit, then deals Physical DMG equal to a max of 1170% of Khaslana's ATK.

For every 1 point of "Scourge" consumed, deals 4 instance(s) of DMG, with each instance being Physical DMG equal to 45.0% of Khaslana's ATK dealt to one random enemy. When consuming 4 point(s) of "Scourge", additionally deals Physical DMG equal to 450% of Khaslana's ATK, which is evenly distributed across all enemies.

Lv. 10

Ultimate

He Who Bears the World Must Burn

AoE AttackLv. 10

Transforms into Khaslana. During the transformation, deploys the Territory "Ruinous Irontomb." Within the Territory, other teammates depart and cannot take action, and all enemies have Physical Weaknesses.

Khaslana does not enter his own turn, but has 8 Khaslana's extra turn(s), with a SPD set at 60% of Khaslana's base SPD. When the last of Khaslana's extra turns starts, immediately launches a final hit and deals Physical Ultimate DMG equal to 960% of Khaslana's ATK that is distributed evenly across all enemies.

Lv. 10

Talent

Pyric Corpus

EnhanceLv. 10

Phainon's Talent. When "Coreflame" reaches 12 point(s), can activate Ultimate. Even after reaching the limit, can still hold up to 3 overflow point(s). When the transformation ends, gains "Coreflame" based on the number of overflow points.

When Phainon is targeted by an ability from any other target, gains 1 "Coreflame" point. And if the ability is cast by one of Phainon's teammates, can also increase Phainon's CRIT DMG by 30% for 3 turn(s).

Talent sequence

Fate: Divine Vessel

EnhanceLv. 10

Khaslana's Talent. Upon transformation, gains 4 point(s) of "Scourge". If this happens during an ally target's turn, then the duration of all buffs on that target is extended by 1 turn and the current turn ends.

Khaslana is immune to Crowd Control debuffs, has 1 Enhanced Basic ATK and 2 Enhanced Skills, but cannot use Ultimate. During the transformation, increases ATK by 80% and Max HP by 270%. After using an attack, restores HP equal to 20% of his Max HP. When Khaslana takes a killing blow, he will not get knocked down. Instead, he will restore HP equal to 25% of Max HP and immediately launch a final hit. For every 1 remaining Khaslana's extra turn, the final hit's DMG multiplier decreases by 12.5% of its original multiplier value.

When the transformation ends, increases all allies' SPD by 15% for 1 turn.

Lv. 10

Technique

Beginning of the End

Maze AttackLv. 1

While Phainon is in the team, increases Max Technique Points by 3.

When actively using this Technique, consumes 2 Technique Points and immediately attacks all enemies within a certain range. After entering combat, regenerates 25 Energy for allies and gains 2 "Scourge" and 1 Skill Point(s). Deals Physical DMG equal to 200% of Phainon's ATK to all enemies at the start of each wave.

If attacking a normal enemy, immediately defeats them without entering combat. No Technique Points are consumed if no enemies are hit.

Traces

Major Traces

March to Oblivion

When the battle starts, gains 1 point(s) of "Coreflame." When the transformation ends, gains 3 point(s) of "Coreflame."

Bide in Flames

When receiving healing or a Shield from a teammate, deals 45% increased DMG for 4 turn(s). This effect cannot trigger repeatedly within one turn.

When receiving an Energy Regeneration effect from a teammate's ability, gains 1 point(s) of "Coreflame."

Shine with Valor

When entering combat or ending transformation, increases ATK by 50%. This effect can stack up to 2 time(s).

Minor Traces

CRIT DMG Boost+37.3%
CRIT Rate Boost+12%
SPD Boost+5

Eidolons

Fire and Light Bind Virtue and Vice

The base SPD inheritance ratio for Khaslana's extra turn increases to 66%. For every enemy target defeated in one battle, additionally increases this ratio by 1.5%, up to a max of 84%.

When using Ultimate, increases CRIT DMG by 50%, lasting for 3 turn(s).

Sky and Earth Churn Mortal Froth

Khaslana's Physical RES PEN increases by 20%. When one use of "Foundation: Stardeath Verdict" consumes 4 "Scourge" point(s), gains 1 extra turn.

Depths of Quiet, Entombed in Ruin

Basic ATK +1
Ultimate +2

Ultimate Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15.

Basic ATK Lv. +1, up to a maximum of Lv. 10.

Faces of Titans, Blurred by Time

When using "Calamity: Soulscorch Edict," additionally gains 4 stack(s) of "Soulscorch."

The Wheel Spins Forevermore

Skill +2
Talent +2

Skill Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15.

Talent Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15.

Embers of Old Rise Still

The number of overflow points allowed for "Coreflame" no longer has an upper limit. When the battle starts, gains 6 point(s) of "Coreflame."

After using the attack from "Foundation: Stardeath Verdict," additionally deals True DMG equal to 36% of the total DMG dealt in this attack to the enemy target with the highest HP.

Stats

Level 80

Maximum ascension

HP1436

ATK582

DEF703

SPD94

Level	HP	ATK	DEF	SPD
1	195	79	96	94
20	459	186	225	94
30	635	257	311	94
40	811	329	397	94
50	987	400	483	94
60	1162	471	569	94
70	1338	543	656	94
80	1436	582	703	94