Honkai Star Rail Yao Guang — Full Rerun Build Walkthrough

Yao Guang is the Phase 1 rerun character of Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.3 — running alongside Mortenax Blade's debut from June 2 to June 24, 2026. A 5-star Physical-element character on the Path of Elation, Yao Guang specializes in follow-up burst damage with high single-target output. Here's the complete build: best Light Cone, best Relics, optimal stats, team comps, and pull strategy ahead of her banner closing.

🌙 Who Is Yao Guang?

Yao Guang is a 5-star Physical-element Trailblazer on the Path of Elation — the path centered around damage amplification, follow-up attacks, and the Discord reaction system. Her banner was last available during her debut window in an earlier 4.x patch, and Version 4.3 marks her first rerun since debut.

Her banner runs concurrently with Mortenax Blade's Phase 1 banner from June 2 to June 24, 2026. The dual-banner format means Trailblazers choosing between the two need to evaluate roster needs carefully — Mortenax Blade is a Fire-element Nihility sub-DPS/support, while Yao Guang is a Physical-element Elation damage dealer. They fill different roles, making it possible to pull both if you have the Stellar Jade reserves.

⚔️ Yao Guang's Combat Identity

Yao Guang's kit is built around follow-up burst damage and Discord reaction enabling. As an Elation-path character, her core mechanics involve:

Follow-up attacks — Additional damage triggers triggered by team actions, enabling consistent off-turn damage output
Discord reaction synergy — Her kit triggers or amplifies Discord reactions, which deal additional damage when conditions are met
Physical damage scaling — Her primary damage type benefits from Physical Damage Bonus from Relics and Light Cones
Single-target focus — Yao Guang's damage profile leans toward burst against single high-priority targets rather than wave clearing

This makes her particularly strong in boss content — Memory of Chaos, Apocalyptic Shadow, and Anomaly Arbitration's King in Check Final Boss encounters all reward single-target burst specialists like Yao Guang. Her kit also synergizes naturally with other Follow-Up attackers and the broader Discord reaction framework that Mortenax Blade also benefits from.

Note: Specific skill names, multipliers, and Eidolon details should be confirmed via the in-game character details menu or community resources like Prydwen and Game8. Build recommendations below are general directional guidance.

💎 Best Light Cone — Yao Guang's Signature

Yao Guang's signature Light Cone (typically labeled as her dedicated 5-star LC from her debut window) is her best-in-slot option. Signature LCs in HSR are designed to maximize a specific character's identity — for Yao Guang, that means scaling her follow-up damage, amplifying Discord uptime, or providing Energy Regeneration for tighter Ultimate cycling.

If you can't pull her signature, viable alternatives include:

Cruising in the Stellar Sea — Crit Rate + bonus damage to enemies below specific HP thresholds, strong for burst single-target play
In the Night — Speed-based damage scaling, rewards high-Speed builds
Other Elation-path 5-star LCs from the standard pool

4-star alternatives that work as placeholders include path-matching Elation LCs from the 4-star pool. Yao Guang functions adequately with 4-star LCs but hits her ceiling significantly higher with her signature equipped.

🏛️ Best Relic Set Options

For Yao Guang's role as a Physical Elation DPS, prioritize Relic sets that amplify her damage profile:

Physical Damage Set (2-piece) — The standard Physical damage bonus set provides flat damage scaling for her primary element type. Combined with another offensive 2-piece, this creates a stat-stacking foundation.

Pioneer Diver of Dead Waters (4-piece) — Strong offensive 4-piece option providing Crit DMG and damage scaling against debuffed enemies. Works particularly well in team comps that maintain consistent debuff uptime.

Champion of Streetwise Boxing (4-piece) — Physical-focused 4-piece that benefits characters whose damage profile leans on attack-stacking mechanics

Choose between 4-piece and 2-piece+2-piece combinations based on which gives higher net damage in your specific build. Community theorycrafting will refine the optimal set as the rerun progresses — check updated guides on Prydwen and Game8 for the latest BiS recommendations.

🌟 Best Planar Ornament Options

Inert Salsotto — Crit Rate boost + follow-up damage amplification. Strong synergy with Yao Guang's follow-up-focused kit
Duran, Dynasty of Running Wolves — Strong for Follow-Up DPS team compositions, scales with team Follow-Up frequency
Rutilant Arena — Crit Rate + skill damage amplification, good general-purpose offensive Planar
Sprightly Vonwacq — Energy Regen + Action Advance, helpful if Yao Guang's rotation relies heavily on Ultimate uptime

📊 Optimal Stats Priority

Build Yao Guang around these stat targets:

Crit Rate: 70%+ — Standard Elation/DPS Crit Rate target. Aim for higher if your Crit DMG ceiling allows
Crit DMG: 180%+ — Burst damage scaling — every percentage of Crit DMG translates directly to her burst windows
Physical Damage Bonus — Body or Sphere main stat priority for her primary element scaling
Attack% — Standard offensive scaling, particularly on Disks
Speed: 134+ — Standard SPD breakpoint for endgame turn order optimization
Energy Regeneration — Tighter Ultimate cycle = more burst windows. Stack ERR if your build allows without sacrificing offensive stats

👥 Best Team Compositions

Yao Guang fits naturally into multiple team archetypes built around her single-target burst and Elation path identity:

Follow-Up Burst Team (Strong):

Yao Guang (Main DPS)
A follow-up attacker like Feixiao or Topaz to maximize Follow-Up frequency
Sub-DPS or buffer like Robin for additional damage amplification
Sustain — Aventurine for shields or Huohuo for healing

Discord-Synergy Team (4.3 Meta):

Yao Guang (Main DPS providing Physical Discord trigger)
Mortenax Blade (Comburent buff + debuffs amplify Yao Guang's output)
Aventurine (sustain + Crit DMG team buff)
Pela or Silver Wolf (additional debuff stacking)

The Mortenax Blade pairing is particularly interesting in 4.3 — if you pull both Phase 1 characters, their kits genuinely complement each other through Mortenax Blade's Comburent damage buff and Discord reaction amplification. This makes the dual-pull case stronger than usual for Trailblazers debating which character to prioritize.

Generalist Boss Killer Team:

Yao Guang (Main DPS)
Sparkle or Bronya (turn manipulation + buffs)
Tingyun, Ruan Mei, or Hanya (offensive support)
Healer/Shielder

🎯 Pull Strategy — Yao Guang vs Mortenax Blade

The Phase 1 dual-banner format forces Trailblazers to decide priority. Here's how to think about the decision:

Pull Yao Guang FIRST if:

You missed her debut window and have wanted to add her to your roster
You lack a strong Physical-element DPS in your current lineup
You run follow-up-focused team compositions and want to maximize that archetype
You don't need another Nihility damage support (Mortenax Blade's primary identity)

Pull Mortenax Blade FIRST if:

You already have a primary single-target DPS and want a team amplifier instead
You run Acheron, Ashveil, or other Nihility-focused teams that benefit from Mortenax Blade's amplification
You value broader team utility over single-character damage ceiling

Pull both if: Your Stellar Jade reserves allow it. The two characters synergize naturally in a Discord-amplification team, making the dual-pull more than the sum of its parts.

📅 Banner Timeline

June 1-2, 2026 — HSR Version 4.3 launches; Yao Guang and Mortenax Blade Phase 1 banners open
June 24, 2026 — Phase 1 banners close; Phase 2 (Phainon + Cyrene reruns) begins
July 2026 (TBD) — Version 4.4 expected, featuring Himeko Nova, Rin Tohsaka, and Gilgamesh (Fate Collab Part 2)

🛒 Build Yao Guang for the Endgame

Yao Guang's rerun window closes June 24 — and after that, her next banner could be months away based on HSR's typical rerun cadence. Trailblazers ready to pull her at full pity and build her to her ceiling can explore trusted Honkai: Star Rail Accounts with strong existing rosters and Stellar Jade reserves ready for the Phase 1 dual-banner, accelerate every Relic farm and Trace material grind with expert Honkai: Star Rail Hourly Services, or clear every piece of Version 4.3 endgame content effortlessly through reliable Honkai: Star Rail Boosting.

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