Increases the wearer’s CRIT DMG by 36%/42%/48%/54%/60%. When the wearer uses Ultimate, increases the wearer’s Ultimate DMG based on their Max Energy. Each point of Energy increases the Ultimate DMG by 0.36%/0.42%/0.48%/0.54%/0.60%, up to 180 points of Energy.
Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze Guide: Introduction
Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze is a 5-star Light Cone designed for characters following the Erudition path. This Light Cone enhances the wielder’s CRIT DMG and provides a unique damage-boosting effect tied to their Ultimate. Its ability, “A Knight’s Pilgrimage,” offers a substantial boost to Ultimate DMG based on the wearer’s Max Energy, making it particularly effective for characters who rely on their Ultimate for high burst damage. Due to its mechanics, this Light Cone is best suited for Erudition characters who frequently unleash powerful Ultimate attacks in combat.
One of the key strengths of Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze is its synergy with Argenti, an Erudition character known for his Ultimate’s high multipliers. The Light Cone’s CRIT DMG bonus and Ultimate scaling based on Max Energy allow Argenti to achieve even greater burst potential. Other Erudition characters like Herta, Qingque, and Serval can also benefit from its effects, but its impact may vary depending on their kit and playstyle. The Ultimate-focused enhancement ensures that characters who rely on their Ultimate as their primary damage source can maximize their effectiveness in battle.
However, not all Erudition characters benefit equally from this Light Cone. Jing Yuan and Himeko, for example, rely more on Follow-Up Attacks rather than their Ultimate for damage output. As a result, some players consider Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze to be less optimal for them compared to other Light Cones that specifically boost Follow-Up Attack DMG. Comparisons have also been made to the 4-star Light Cone “Make the World Clamor”, which, at max Superimposition, provides a similar Ultimate DMG boost while also granting initial Energy. However, the higher base stats and CRIT DMG boost of “An Instant Before A Gaze” give it an edge, particularly for characters with strong Ultimate-based burst potential.
Originally released on December 6, 2023, during Honkai: Star Rail Version 1.5, this Light Cone debuted alongside Argenti and later returned in the Bygone Reminiscence Warp Banner (July 10–30, 2024, UTC-5). Beyond its stats and mechanics, Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze carries a poetic flavor text reflecting the theme of fleeting beauty and belief in the cosmos. This philosophical touch adds a layer of depth to the Light Cone’s lore, making it not only a powerful weapon but also an artifact of meaning within the game’s universe.
Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze Guide: Light Cone Ability
Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze is a 5-star Light Cone, tailored for characters of the Erudition path. Its signature ability, “A Knight’s Pilgrimage,” offers two primary enhancements:
Superimposition LevelCRIT DMG IncreaseUltimate DMG Increase per Energy PointLevel 136%0.36%Level 242%0.42%Level 348%0.48%Level 454%0.54%Level 560%0.6%CRIT DMG Increase: At Superimposition Level 1, the wearer’s CRIT DMG is boosted by 36%. This percentage scales with each Superimposition level:
Ultimate DMG Enhancement Based on Max Energy: When the wearer activates their Ultimate, the damage is further amplified based on their Max Energy. Specifically, for each point of Max Energy, the Ultimate’s damage increases by 0.36% at Superimposition Level 1, with the scaling as follows:
This Light Cone is particularly effective for Erudition characters who prioritize their Ultimate for damage output. Argenti, for instance, benefits immensely due to his high-energy Ultimate, making this Light Cone his optimal choice. Other characters like Qingque can also utilize its benefits, though the impact varies based on individual playstyles.
However, for Erudition characters whose main damage stems from Skills or Follow-Up Attacks—such as Jing Yuan and Himeko—this Light Cone may be less optimal. For these characters, Light Cones that enhance Follow-Up Attack damage might be more suitable.
An Instant Before A Gaze Stats
Lv.148262120184101803031417213740463254202506123362676076041833270909500397801058582463With its powerful CRIT DMG boost and Ultimate scaling based on Max Energy, Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze is an excellent Light Cone for Erudition characters who prioritize their Ultimate for damage. Its synergy with high-energy burst units like Argenti makes it a top-tier option for maximizing burst potential. However, characters who rely more on Follow-Up Attacks or Skill-based damage may find other Light Cones more effective.
Beyond its abilities, the Light Cone boasts strong base stats, with 1,058 HP, 582 ATK, and 463 DEF at level 80, reinforcing its value as a 5-star weapon. Whether you’re looking to optimize an Ultimate-focused character or simply add a high-utility Light Cone to your arsenal, Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze remains a compelling choice for Erudition path units.
Ultimately, its effectiveness depends on the wielder’s playstyle and energy mechanics. Players who favor high-damage Ultimates will find it incredibly rewarding, while others may prefer Light Cones tailored to different attack strategies. With careful Superimposition upgrades and character synergy, this Light Cone can be a game-changer in the right hands.
Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze Guide: Best Characters to Use the Light Cone
Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze is a 5-star Light Cone tailored for characters on the Erudition path. Its ability, “A Knight’s Pilgrimage,” enhances the wearer’s CRIT DMG and boosts Ultimate DMG based on their Max Energy. This makes it particularly effective for characters who rely heavily on their Ultimate abilities for damage output.
Best Characters to Use the Light ConeArgentiAs a prominent Erudition character, Argenti’s combat style centers around his Ultimate, which boasts high damage multipliers. Equipping Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze amplifies his burst potential, aligning perfectly with his offensive capabilities.
Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze is Argenti’s signature Light Cone, meticulously designed to complement his combat style and maximize his damage potential. The Light Cone offers a substantial 36% increase in CRIT DMG at Superimposition Level 1, with higher levels providing even greater boosts. Additionally, it enhances the wearer’s Ultimate DMG based on their Max Energy, allowing each point of Energy to further amplify Ultimate damage.
Argenti’s combat strategy heavily relies on his Ultimate ability, which boasts high damage multipliers. The synergy between his skill set and the Light Cone’s attributes ensures that he fully capitalizes on the CRIT DMG increase and the Ultimate DMG boost. This alignment makes Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze exceptionally effective for Argenti, enhancing his burst damage capabilities and overall performance in battles.
Moreover, equipping this Light Cone allows players to focus on building more ATK on Argenti through Relic sub-stats, as the inherent CRIT DMG boost from the Light Cone reduces the necessity to prioritize CRIT DMG in other equipment. This strategic advantage simplifies the optimization of Argenti’s gear, making it easier to achieve higher damage outputs.
Other Recommended CharactersHertaWhile Herta falls under the Erudition path, her primary damage stems from Follow-Up Attacks rather than her Ultimate. Consequently, she may not fully capitalize on the Ultimate DMG boost provided by this Light Cone.Qingque
Qingque’s damage output is largely derived from her Skill and Talent mechanics. Since her Ultimate isn’t the focal point of her damage, Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze might not be the most effective choice for her.Serval
Serval’s main damage comes from her Skill and Lightning damage over time effects. Therefore, the Ultimate-focused enhancements of this Light Cone may not significantly benefit her playstyle.Jing Yuan and Himeko
Both characters excel in dealing damage through Follow-Up Attacks. Since Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze emphasizes Ultimate enhancements, these characters might not harness its full potential.
In summary, “An Instant Before A Gaze” is most effective for Erudition characters like Argenti and Idrila, who heavily rely on their Ultimate abilities for damage. Characters whose damage revolves around Skills, Talents, or Follow-Up Attacks may find more suitable Light Cones that align with their specific playstyles.
Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze Guide: Is An Instant Before A Gaze Worth it?
Whether Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze is worth it depends heavily on the Erudition characters you use and your specific needs.
Reasons why “An Instant Before A Gaze” might be worth it:
Excellent for Argenti: The Light Cone is considered amazing for Argenti because his Ultimate deals high damage and is his primary source of damage. The boosts to both CRIT DMG and Ultimate DMG based on his Max Energy significantly enhance his burst potential. It can also allow you to focus more on building ATK on Argenti through Relic substats.
Good for Ultimate-focused Erudition characters: Generally, Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze is a good choice if you want to boost purely the DMG of a character who mainly uses their Ultimate as their source of damage. The CRIT DMG increase is a universal benefit, and the Ultimate DMG increase can be significant for characters with high Max Energy and damaging Ultimates.
Higher CRIT DMG than “Before Dawn”: Compared to the other 5-star Erudition Light Cone “Before Dawn,” Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze provides a higher CRIT DMG increase. Additionally, the Ultimate DMG increase is beneficial to any character with a damaging Ultimate, unlike “Before Dawn’s” secondary effect which requires Follow-Up Attacks.
Potentially better than some 4-star options: While a fully Superimposed 4-star Light Cone like “Make the World Clamor” can offer a similar Ultimate DMG bonus for characters with 180 Energy, “An Instant Before A Gaze” has superior base stats due to its 5-star rarity and provides a CRIT DMG bonus instead of starting Energy.
Reasons why “An Instant Before A Gaze” might not be worth it (or less optimal):
Less effective for non-Ultimate focused characters: The primary drawback of “An Instant Before A Gaze” is that its Ultimate DMG boost is less valuable for Erudition characters whose main damage comes from sources other than their Ultimate, such as their Skill, Talent, or Follow-Up Attacks. Characters like Jing Yuan and Himeko, who rely on Follow-Up Attacks, will not benefit as much from the Ultimate DMG increase.
Alternatives might be better for specific characters: Some players feel that other Light Cones might be better for certain Erudition characters. For example, “Before Dawn” is considered potentially better for characters with Follow-Up Attacks like Jing Yuan, Himeko, and Herta. Several 4-star options are also suggested for Serval.
Community perception: Some players consider “An Instant Before A Gaze” to be “lackluster” or even “one of the worst” 5-star Light Cones because its damage boost is solely tied to the Ultimate. They suggest it would be more universally useful if the DMG boost applied to all damage.
If you use Argenti extensively, then “An Instant Before A Gaze” is definitely worth it as it is his best-in-slot (BiS) option. If you have another Erudition character who heavily relies on their Ultimate for damage, and you want to maximize their burst damage, this Light Cone can be a good choice. However, if your primary Erudition damage dealers are characters like Jing Yuan, Himeko, Serval, or Qingque, you might find more value in other Light Cones that better synergize with their primary damage sources.
Ultimately, the worth of “An Instant Before A Gaze” depends on your current character roster and your strategic priorities in building your Erudition units.
Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze Guide: How to Obtain An Instant Before A Gaze
The Light Cone “An Instant Before A Gaze” is a 5-star Erudition path equipment in Honkai: Star Rail. It was first introduced on December 6, 2023, during the second half of Version 1.5, alongside the character Argenti.
This Light Cone was also featured in the Bygone Reminiscence Warp Banner. However, the exact dates of this banner are not specified in the available information.
In Honkai: Star Rail, Light Cones are primarily acquired through Warping (the game’s gacha system) on specific Light Cone banners or character event banners that feature a signature Light Cone.
Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze Guide: Ascension Materials
Lvl.Light Cone Ascension Materials20 ➔ 30Extinguished Core x8Credit x500030 ➔ 40Key of Inspiration x4
Extinguished Core x12
Credit x1000040 ➔ 50Key of Knowledge x4
Glimmering Core x8
Credit x2000050 ➔ 60Key of Knowledge x8
Glimmering Core x12
Credit x5000060 ➔ 70Key of Wisdom x5
Squirming Core x6
Credit x10000070 ➔ 80Key of Wisdom x10
Squirming Core x8
Credit x200000
“An Instant Before A Gaze” requires a variety of ascension materials to reach its full potential, including different tiers of Keys and Cores, along with a significant amount of Credits. As a 5-star Light Cone, fully ascending it can be resource-intensive, but the investment is well worth it for Ultimate-focused Erudition characters like Argenti. If you’re planning to enhance this Light Cone, ensure you farm the necessary materials in advance to maximize its effectiveness.
Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze Guide: Conclusion
Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze is a powerful 5-star Light Cone designed for Erudition characters who rely heavily on their Ultimate for damage. With its significant CRIT DMG increase and Ultimate DMG boost based on Max Energy, it is an excellent choice for maximizing burst damage potential. However, its benefits are somewhat specialized, meaning it may not be the most versatile Light Cone for every Erudition character, especially those who focus on Follow-Up Attacks or Skill-based damage.
Among all Erudition characters, Argenti stands out as the best user of this Light Cone. His kit is built around his Ultimate, which scales well with high multipliers and benefits greatly from both of the Light Cone’s effects. Equipping Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze allows Argenti to deal even more devastating burst damage while enabling different stat allocation strategies, such as prioritizing ATK instead of solely focusing on CRIT-related substats. This synergy makes it his best-in-slot (BiS) Light Cone.
For other Erudition characters, the effectiveness of this Light Cone varies. Herta, Qingque, and Serval can use it, but they may have better alternatives depending on their playstyle. Characters like Jing Yuan and Himeko, who deal most of their damage through Follow-Up Attacks, may find “Before Dawn” more effective. While Honkai Star Rail An Instant Before A Gaze remains a strong option, it is important to consider whether your character benefits more from Ultimate-focused boosts or a more general damage increase.
Ultimately, whether “An Instant Before A Gaze” is worth investing in depends on your character roster and playstyle. If you have Argenti or another Ultimate-reliant Erudition unit, this Light Cone is a fantastic choice. However, if your Erudition characters rely more on Skills or Follow-Up Attacks, other Light Cones may offer greater overall value. With this information, you can make an informed decision about whether to pursue, upgrade, and equip this Light Cone in Honkai: Star Rail.
