When the wearer unleashes their Ultimate, they restore HP by 18%/21%/24%/27%/30% of their Max HP
Honkai Star Rail Defense Guide: Introduction
Honkai Star Rail Defense is a 3-star Light Cone belonging to the Path of Preservation. While often overshadowed by higher-rarity options, this Light Cone provides a straightforward yet valuable effect: HP restoration upon using the wearer’s Ultimate. At Superimposition Level 1, it heals for 18% of the wearer’s Max HP, making it a solid early-game pick for durability-focused characters. Though simple in design, this healing mechanic can enhance a team’s survivability, especially when better Preservation Light Cones are unavailable.
Statistically, Honkai Star Rail Defense offers a respectable increase in core attributes for a 3-star Light Cone. Starting at 43 HP, 12 ATK, and 12 DEF at Level 1, it scales up to 952 HP, 264 ATK, and 264 DEF at Level 80. These values contribute to the wearer’s overall bulk, reinforcing their ability to withstand sustained enemy attacks. However, given its low rarity, Defense lacks the specialized utility of higher-rarity options, making it more of a stepping stone than a long-term investment.
When it comes to usability, Honkai Star Rail Defense is best suited for Preservation characters who benefit from self-healing rather than shield-stacking. It serves as a decent option for Fu Xuan, allowing her to recover additional HP, but is less effective on Gepard, who already generates powerful shields. While not a top-tier pick, this Light Cone can help sustain frontline units in the early to mid-game, especially for players lacking premium alternatives. Its true value lies in being an accessible, widely available choice, as it can be obtained from all Warp Banners, including Stellar Warp, Departure Warp, and various Limited Banners.
Beyond its practical applications, Honkai Star Rail Defense carries a thematic flavor that reflects perseverance and resilience. Its description—“A drop of strength condensed from time itself”—captures the essence of endurance in battle. Whether viewed as a temporary survival tool or a nostalgic reminder of early-game struggles, this Light Cone embodies the core principles of the Preservation Path: standing firm in the face of adversity.
Light Cone Ability
Honkai Star Rail Defense Light Cone is a 3-star equipment piece aligned with the Path of Preservation. Its signature ability, Revitalization, activates when the wearer uses their Ultimate, restoring HP based on a percentage of their Max HP. At Superimposition Level 1, this restoration is 18% of Max HP, increasing incrementally to 30% at Level 5.
Defense Superimpose Levels
Superimposition LevelHP Restoration PercentageLevel 118% of Max HPLevel 221% of Max HPLevel 324% of Max HPLevel 427% of Max HPLevel 530% of Max HPStatistically, Honkai Star Rail Defense provides modest enhancements typical of 3-star Light Cones. At Level 1, it offers 43 HP, 12 ATK, and 12 DEF. When fully leveled to Level 80, these stats increase to 952 HP, 264 ATK, and 264 DEF, bolstering the wearer’s survivability.
To ascend Honkai Star Rail Defense to its maximum level, players need specific materials and 231,000 Credits. The required materials include 2 Endurance of Bronze, 6 Oath of Steel, 9 Safeguard of Amber, 12 Thief’s Instinct, 10 Usurper’s Scheme, and 8 Conqueror’s Will.
In terms of usability, Honkai Star Rail Defense is particularly beneficial for Preservation characters who lack innate healing abilities. For instance, it can enhance the sustainability of characters like Fu Xuan. However, for characters such as Gepard, who possess substantial self-shielding capabilities, the healing effect of Honkai Star Rail Defense may be less impactful.
Defense Stats
The Honkai Star Rail Defense Light Cone may be a 3-star option, but its accessibility and reliable healing effect make it a valuable tool for players progression. With its Revitalization ability scaling up to 30% HP restoration at Superimposition Level 5, it provides a steady sustain boost for Preservation characters, particularly those who lack built-in healing. While its base stats are modest compared to higher-rarity Light Cones, the steady growth from 43 HP, 12 ATK, and 12 DEF at Level 1 to 952 HP, 264 ATK, and 264 DEF at Level 80 ensures a noticeable durability boost.
Lv.14312122016646463028278784041611511550550153153606841901907081822722780952264264For those in need of a temporary sustain option, Honkai Star Rail Defense is a reliable pick, especially in the early to mid-game. Its ease of acquisition through multiple Warp Banners makes it an accessible and practical choice, ensuring that players can enhance their team’s survivability without relying on rare or event-exclusive Light Cones. Fu Xuan and other tanks benefit from its healing effect, whereas shield-heavy units like Gepard may find it less impactful.
Ultimately, while Honkai Star Rail Defense may not be a permanent fixture in high-end teams, it serves an important role in early progression and resource management. Players looking to maintain a solid frontline without investing heavily in 4-star or 5-star Preservation Light Cones can make good use of its self-sustain effect. Whether used as a stepping stone or an emergency backup, Defense remains a worthwhile consideration for those navigating the challenges of the game’s tougher encounters.
By optimizing the use of the Honkai Star Rail Defense Light Cone and considering its synergy with various Preservation units, players can maximize their survival strategies and maintain consistent performance in battles. Whether it’s an interim solution or a budget-friendly option, Defense fulfills its role effectively, helping players push through the challenges of Honkai: Star Rail.
Best Characters to Use the Light Cone
The Honkai Star Rail Defense Light Cone is a 3-star Preservation Light Cone that provides a self-healing effect when the wearer uses their Ultimate. This makes it particularly useful for tanky characters who need extra sustain during battles. While it may not offer the same level of protection as higher-rarity Light Cones, its accessibility and healing utility make it a solid choice for certain Preservation characters.
Characters who benefit the most from Honkai Star Rail Defense are those who lack innate healing but play a crucial role in protecting the team. Notably, Fu Xuan and the Fire Trailblazer are excellent candidates for this Light Cone. The HP restoration effect enhances their longevity on the battlefield, ensuring they can continue absorbing damage and shielding their allies.
Choosing the right character for the Honkai Star Rail Defense Light Cone can make a significant difference in early-game survivability and resource management. Since it is a widely available Light Cone from multiple Warp Banners, players can easily obtain and superimpose it to maximize its healing potential.
Best Characters to Use the Light ConeTrailblazer (Fire)As a Preservation unit, the Fire Trailblazer serves as a frontline tank, drawing enemy attacks to protect allies. Equipping the Honkai Star Rail Defense Light Cone allows them to restore HP upon using their Ultimate, enhancing their durability and effectiveness in sustaining team defense.Fu Xuan
Fu Xuan benefits from the HP restoration provided by the Honkai Star Rail Defense Light Cone, which complements her role in sustaining team survivability. The self-healing effect upon using her Ultimate enhances her ability to mitigate damage and maintain her protective functions.
While higher-rarity Light Cones may offer better defensive boosts or unique effects, Honkai Star Rail Defense remains a reliable and accessible option, especially for those in the early to mid-game. It allows players to strengthen their frontline without relying on hard-to-obtain gear, making it a practical choice for those who prioritize durability.
Understanding which characters can fully utilize Honkai Star Rail Defense ensures that its healing effect does not go to waste. While it works well for Fu Xuan and Fire Trailblazer, characters like Gepard, who already have strong shielding mechanics, may not see as much benefit from it. Players should consider their team composition and choose the best Light Cone based on their needs.
Ultimately, the Honkai Star Rail Defense Light Cone serves as a great stepping stone for Preservation characters needing extra sustain. Whether used as a temporary solution or a budget-friendly alternative, it remains a useful tool for enhancing team survivability, making it a valuable addition to any player’s arsenal in Honkai: Star Rail.
Is Defense Worth it?
Whether the Honkai Star Rail Defense Light Cone is “worth it” depends on your current situation and the characters you are using. Its value varies based on how far you have progressed in Honkai: Star Rail and the Preservation units in your team.
Honkai Star Rail Defense is a good temporary Light Cone for boosting the survivability of Preservation characters, especially in the early to mid-game. Its Revitalization ability restores HP based on the wearer’s Max HP when they use their Ultimate, making it particularly helpful for tanks such as Fu Xuan who rely on HP sustain. This allows Preservation units to stay in battle longer and support the team effectively.
However, Honkai Star Rail Defense is not ideal for characters who already provide significant shielding, such as Gepard. Since his primary function is to generate strong shields, additional HP restoration does not contribute much to his survivability. Additionally, as a 3-star Light Cone, Defense has moderate base stats, meaning it becomes outclassed by higher-rarity Light Cones with superior stats and additional effects as you progress.
A major advantage of Honkai Star Rail Defense is its ease of acquisition. It can be pulled from any Warp Banner, making it readily available and easy to Superimpose for a stronger healing effect. While it serves as a practical option early on, most players will want to replace it with a higher-rarity Light Cone as they obtain better alternatives. In summary, Defense is a useful stepping stone but not a long-term Best in Slot (BiS) choice for most Preservation characters.
How to Obtain Defense
You can obtain the Honkai Star Rail Defense Light Cone by pulling it from any Warp Banner. As a 3-star Light Cone, it is part of the general pool, meaning it is relatively easy to acquire compared to higher-rarity options. This makes it a readily available choice for players looking to enhance their Preservation characters with a self-healing effect.
The following Warp Banners include the Honkai Star Rail Defense Light Cone, allowing players multiple opportunities to obtain it:
Stellar Warp – The permanent standard banner, available at all times.
Departure Warp – A beginner-friendly banner with a discount on the first ten pulls.
Brilliant Fixation – A limited-time Light Cone event banner that typically focuses on 5-star Light Cones.
Eyes of a Ninja – A time-limited banner featuring specific character Light Cones.
Epochal Spectrum – A rotating Light Cone banner offering increased chances for featured items.
Bygone Reminiscence – Another event-based Warp that includes general 3-star and 4-star Light Cones.
Since Honkai Star Rail Defense is a 3-star Light Cone, players are likely to acquire multiple copies over time simply by pulling on any of these banners. This is important because Superimposing the Light Cone increases the effectiveness of its Revitalization ability, allowing for better HP restoration upon using an Ultimate. While Defense is a temporary option for many players, its frequent availability ensures that it can reach Superimposition Level 5 quickly, maximizing its healing potential before eventually being replaced by stronger alternatives.
Ascension Materials
Ascending the Defense Light Cone in Honkai: Star Rail is essential to unlocking its full potential, improving its base stats, and increasing its overall effectiveness. Each ascension stage requires specific materials and Credits, which become progressively more demanding as the Light Cone reaches higher levels. Properly managing these resources ensures that the Defense Light Cone remains a viable tool for boosting the survivability of your Preservation characters during battles.
LevelMaterials Required20 ➔ 30Thief’s Instinct ×4,Credit ×4,00030 ➔ 40Endurance of Bronze ×2,
Thief’s Instinct ×8,
Credit ×8,00040 ➔ 50Oath of Steel ×2,
Usurper’s Scheme ×4,
Credit ×16,00050 ➔ 60Oath of Steel ×4,
Usurper’s Scheme ×6,
Credit ×40,00060 ➔ 70Safeguard of Amber ×3,
Conqueror’s Will ×3,
Credit ×80,00070 ➔ 80Safeguard of Amber ×6,
aConqueror’s Will ×5,
Credit ×160,000
Fully ascending the Honkai Star Rail Defense Light Cone requires a steady investment of materials and Credits, but doing so ensures it reaches its maximum potential. As a 3-star Light Cone, it provides a solid self-healing effect that can be useful for certain Preservation characters, particularly in the early to mid-game.
While Honkai Star Rail Defense is not a long-term Best in Slot choice for most characters, its accessibility and ease of Superimposition make it a viable temporary option for players looking to enhance their team’s survivability. Investing in its ascension can help bridge the gap until better Preservation Light Cones become available.
Ultimately, whether or not you fully level and ascend Honkai Star Rail Defense depends on your current Light Cone options and character lineup. If you lack stronger alternatives, upgrading it can provide decent survivability. However, as you obtain higher-rarity Light Cones with superior stats and effects, Defense will likely be replaced in favor of more powerful choices.
In summary, Honkai Star Rail Defense serves as a useful stepping stone for new and progressing players. Its self-healing effect, ease of acquisition, and low investment requirements make it a practical choice in the early game, but it is not a long-term solution for most Preservation characters.
Conclusion
The Defense Light Cone serves as a reliable but temporary solution for boosting the survivability of Preservation characters in Honkai: Star Rail. Its Revitalization ability, which restores a portion of the wearer’s HP upon using their Ultimate, provides a consistent source of healing that can be helpful in sustaining frontline units. While it lacks the raw power and additional effects of higher-rarity Light Cones, its accessibility and ease of Superimposition make it a practical choice for early-game and mid-game players who need a defensive boost.
Despite its useful healing effect, Defense is not an ideal long-term investment due to its moderate base stats and lack of additional utility beyond HP restoration. Tanks like Fu Xuan can benefit from its healing mechanics, but shield-based Preservation characters like Gepard will find little use for it, as their sustain relies more on damage mitigation rather than HP regeneration. As a result, Defense is best used as a stepping stone until stronger Preservation Light Cones become available.
One of its strongest advantages is its high availability, as it can be obtained from any Warp Banner. This makes it one of the easiest Light Cones to acquire and upgrade, ensuring that players can quickly Superimpose it to Level 5, where its healing effect becomes most effective. However, as players progress and gain access to superior 4-star and 5-star Light Cones, Defense will likely be replaced by options with better scaling stats and more impactful abilities that offer shielding, damage reduction, or team-wide defensive buffs.
Defense Light Cone is a functional but short-term choice for Preservation characters. Its healing effect is valuable early on, but its limitations become apparent as players unlock higher-tier alternatives. For those in the early stages of the game, it provides a cost-effective survival tool, but for veteran players, it will eventually be outclassed by stronger Light Cones that provide a more comprehensive defensive advantage.
