All Honkai Star Rail Paths Explained

In Honkai Star Rail, every character follows a specific Path that defines their combat style, abilities, and role within a team. While Elements determine what type of damage a character deals, the Path is what shapes their purpose in battle — whether that’s dealing heavy damage, shielding allies, or providing crucial support. There are currently eighteen Paths in the game, each inspired by a mysterious Aeon, the god-like entities that govern different aspects of the universe.

Understanding these Paths is essential if you want to build an effective team and master Star Rail’s combat system. In this guide, we’ll break down what each Path represents, how it works, and which characters follow them — helping you decide which Paths best suit your playstyle and strategy in Honkai Star Rail.

What Are Paths in Honkai Star Rail?

In Honkai Star Rail, Paths represent the philosophical forces that shape the universe and define how each character fights. These paths are formed from powerful concepts and ideals that give rise to imaginary energy, allowing those who align with them to wield unique abilities. Individuals who dedicate themselves to a specific Path are known as Pathstriders, and they draw strength from its principles.

When a Pathstrider reaches complete harmony with their Path’s ideology, they transcend into an Aeon — a divine, god-like being that governs a specific aspect of existence. Aeons can also grant fragments of their power to chosen followers known as Emanators, who become some of the most powerful entities in the Star Rail universe. In short, Paths are the foundation of every character’s power and purpose, linking gameplay mechanics with the deeper lore that drives Honkai Star Rail’s world.

All Paths in Honkai Star Rail

There are a total of 18 Paths in Honkai Star Rail, each tied to a powerful Aeon — divine beings that represent and govern the principles behind these cosmic ideologies. Every Path defines a different combat role, shaping how characters fight and interact with the universe’s energy. Out of the 18 Paths, 8 are currently playable, while a few others only appear in the lore or Simulated Universe. Below is a breakdown of every Path, its Aeon, and what makes it unique.

Playable Paths in Honkai Star Rail

The Destruction (Aeon: Nanook)
Masters of chaos and raw power, Destruction characters specialize in both single-target and area damage while being able to endure heavy hits.
Associated Factions: Antimatter Legion, Annihilation Gang, Chrysos Heirs

The Hunt (Aeon: Lan)
Focused on precision and speed, Hunt Path followers excel at eliminating single targets swiftly — perfect for bosses and elite enemies.
Associated Factions: Xianzhou Alliance, Galaxy Rangers

The Nihility (Aeon: IX)
Nihility characters manipulate debuffs and damage-over-time effects to wear down enemies slowly but efficiently.
Associated Factions: Doctors of Chaos, Device IX, Self-Annihilators

The Erudition (Aeon: Nous)
Champions of knowledge, Erudition Path characters dominate groups of enemies with wide-reaching AoE attacks.
Associated Factions: Genius Society, Intelligentsia Guild, AtaviSearch Forest

The Harmony (Aeon: Xipe)
Harmony followers thrive on teamwork, boosting allies’ stats and amplifying overall team performance.
Associated Factions: The Family

The Abundance (Aeon: Yaoshi)
Abundance characters embody healing and preservation, restoring HP and sustaining the team during long battles.
Associated Factions: Denizens of Abundance, Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, Elixir Seekers, The Unshackled

The Preservation (Aeon: Qlipoth)
Focused on defense and protection, Preservation Path units create shields and reduce incoming damage to keep allies safe.
Associated Factions: Interastral Peace Corporation, The Architects

The Remembrance (Aeon: Fuli)
These characters focus on crowd control and memory-based powers, often freezing or disabling enemies.
Associated Factions: Garden of Recollection, The Cremators

Non-Playable Paths in Honkai Star Rail

Trailblaze (Aeon: Akivili) – Deceased
Represents adventure and discovery; followed by the Nameless.

Elation (Aeon: Aha) – Alive
Symbolizes joy and unpredictability; favored by the Mourning Actors and Masked Fools.

Voracity (Aeon: Oroboros) – Missing
Represents endless hunger and consumption.

Propagation (Aeon: Idrila) – Deceased
Embodies growth and reproduction; linked to The Swarm.

Permanence (Aeon: Long) – Missing or Deceased
Focuses on eternity and unchanging existence.

Beauty (Aeon: Tayzzyronth) – Missing or Deceased
Represents perfection and art; worshiped by the Mirror Holders and Knights of Beauty.

Enigmata (Aeon: Mythus) – Alive
Symbolizes mystery and deception; connected to The Riddlers and History Fictionologists.

Equilibrium (Aeon: HooH) – Alive
Embodies balance and fairness; worshiped by The Arbitrators and Claretwheel Temple.

Finality (Aeon: Terminus) – Alive
Represents destiny and the end of all things; associated with Omen Vanguards, Creed Exequy, and Stellaron Hunters.

Order (Aeon: Ena) – Absorbed into Xipe
Symbolizes structure and discipline; once followed by the Beyond the Sky Choir.

Each Path in Honkai Star Rail not only defines how characters fight but also reflects the game’s deep lore and cosmic hierarchy. Whether you prefer destruction, healing, or control, mastering your chosen Path is key to becoming a true Trailblazer.

All Honkai Star Rail Characters for Every Path

Each Path in Honkai Star Rail defines not just a playstyle but also the personalities and powers of the characters who follow it. Whether it’s dishing out massive damage, healing allies, or shielding teammates, every Path offers unique gameplay experiences. Below is the complete list of all Honkai Star Rail characters categorized by their respective Paths — including both the newest additions and familiar faces from earlier patches.

Destruction Path Characters

The Destruction Path is all about overwhelming offense and durability. These characters thrive in close combat and can handle both single-target and multi-target situations with ease.
Characters: Saber, Phainon, Mydei, Misha, Yunli, Firefly, Xueyi, Jingliu, Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae, Blade, Clara, Arlan, Destruction Trailblazer

Hunt Path Characters

Hunt Path characters specialize in single-target burst damage, excelling in boss fights and elite encounters where precision matters most.
Characters: Archer, Feixiao, Moze, Hunt March 7th, Boothill, Dr. Ratio, Topaz & Numby, Yanqing, Seele, Sushang

Nihility Path Characters

Followers of the Nihility Path focus on applying debuffs, damage-over-time effects, and weakening enemies to gain a tactical edge in prolonged fights.
Characters: Hysilens, Cipher, Fugue, Jiaoqiu, Acheron, Black Swan, Guinaifen, Luka, Kafka, Silver Wolf, Welt, Pela, Sampo

Erudition Path Characters

The Erudition Path is perfect for players who love dealing AoE damage. These characters dominate groups of enemies using powerful elemental attacks and massive ultimate abilities.
Characters: Anaxa, The Herta, Jade, Rappa, Argenti, Jing Yuan, Himeko, Serval, Qingque, Herta

Harmony Path Characters

Harmony characters are the backbone of team synergy, focusing on buffs, speed boosts, and damage amplification to maximize overall team performance.
Characters: Cerydra, Tribbie, Sunday, Harmony Trailblazer, Robin, Sparkle, Ruan Mei, Hanya, Tingyun, Bronya, Yukong

Abundance Path Characters

As the main healers of Honkai Star Rail, Abundance characters excel in sustaining allies, restoring HP, and cleansing debuffs during tough battles.
Characters: Lingsha, Gallagher, Huohuo, Luocha, Lynx, Bailu, Natasha

Preservation Path Characters

Preservation characters focus on defense, creating shields and barriers to protect the team while occasionally countering enemy attacks.
Characters: Aventurine, Fu Xuan, Preservation Trailblazer, Preservation March 7th, Gepard

Remembrance Path Characters

The Remembrance Path revolves around control and disruption, using freeze, slow, or memory-based powers to immobilize enemies and dictate the flow of battle.
Characters: Hyacine, Castorice, Aglaea

Each Path in Honkai Star Rail plays a vital role in shaping team composition and strategy. Whether you prefer the brute force of Destruction, the precision of Hunt, or the tactical support of Harmony, mastering how each Path works is the key to building the perfect squad for any challenge.

Conclusion

Paths in Honkai Star Rail are much more than simple combat roles — they represent the game’s deepest lore and philosophical core. Each Path reflects an Aeon’s ideology, shaping how characters draw power and interact with the universe. Whether it’s the destructive chaos of Nanook, the wisdom of Nous, or the harmony of Xipe, every Path offers a unique way to experience the story and gameplay. As more Aeons and Paths are revealed in future updates, players can expect even greater depth and variety in both combat and world-building, making Honkai Star Rail one of the most intricate RPGs in the genre.