How Does Turn-Based Combat Work In Honkai Star Rail?

Honkai Star Rail is a sprawling open-world RPG. However, unlike its predecessors in Honkai Impact 3rd and Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail is the first turn-based RPG that HoYoverse has ever developed. Turn-based games typically have a lot more strategy involved, as players will have to rely more on their critical thinking as opposed to their reaction time. The Honkai Star Rail combat system still has a lot of unique features that separate it from a traditional JRPG and will hopefully keep the combat fast-paced and exciting!

So, if you are interested in learning more about turn-based combat in Honkai Star Rail, you've come to the right place. This article will cover everything you need to know about turn-based combat in Honkai Star Rail. 

How Does Turn-Based Combat Work In Honkai Star Rail?

The turn-based combat works in Honkai Star Rail as it does in any other RPG, where players and enemies take turns performing actions. During combat, every character involved in the battle will have a turn to perform an action. This can be an attack, a heal, or an ultimate ability. 

To know the order of who will perform their action next, players can look to the left side of the screen to see an action readiness bar. This bar determines who the subsequent attacker will be. The order of this bar is determined by a character's speed, which can be increased through the use of Relics (Honkai Star Rail's unique gearing system). 

You may be thinking this feels pretty similar to any other RPG out there. However, there are a few unique features that aim to liven up the stereotypical slower pace of turn-based combat. One of the biggest inclusions to ramp up excitement is the use of ultimate abilities. 

In Honkai Star Rail, once an ultimate ability is ready to be used, that character will speed to the front of the action readiness bar and be able to use their ability instantly! This adds a whole new level of depth, as maximizing speed (which is optimal in a lot of other games that use this system, such as Epic Seven and Summoner's War) may not be the best course of action in Honkai Star Rail. 

Before combat begins, players will also be able to strike opponents first, providing them with a small bonus when first entering a combat encounter. Enemies must be struck in the open world, and if done so from a stealthy position, it may make the forthcoming battle a lot easier. 

And that's everything you need to know about how turn-based combat works in Honkai Star Rail!