Image Credit: HoyoVerse

Yao Guang is one of Honkai Star Rail’s newest 5-star characters introduced in Version 4.0, and she brings a completely new mechanic to the game: Elation support. Instead of directly dealing massive damage like a typical DPS, Yao Guang excels at boosting Elation stats and enabling high output for Elation-focused teams through her Punchline generation, Aha Instants, and teamwide buffs. This guide breaks down how to build her effectively with Light Cones, relics, stats, team comps, and playstyle tips.

What Makes Yao Guang Special

Yao Guang’s core strength is her ability to elevate her team’s Elation output- a new stat that directly affects Elation damage. Her Skill deploys a Zone that boosts all allies’ Elation based on her own stat, and she generates Punchlines which fuel Elation bursts. Her Ultimate gives an extra Aha Instant turn (a free burst action) and boosts team All-Type RES PEN for three turns, making her invaluable in coordinated Elation rotations.

Her traces further enhance this: when her Speed (SPD) reaches 120 or higher, she gains increased Elation via her trace, and every additional point of SPD converts into even more Elation, making speed one of her highest-priority stats.

race, and every additional point of SPD converts into even more Elation, making speed one of her highest-priority stats.

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Best Light Cones for Yao Guang

When She Decided to See (Best-in-Slot)

This is Yao Guang’s signature Light Cone and by far the most impactful option for her. It boosts her Speed by up to 30%, which directly enhances Elation via her trace. It also applies the Great Fortune buff when she enters combat or uses her Ultimate, granting the team CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, and Energy Regeneration bonuses while the buff lasts. Additionally, it gives Yao Guang 15 Energy at the start of each wave, helping her reach her Ultimate sooner.

Other Recommended Light Cones

If you don’t have her signature, these are solid alternatives:

• Mushy Shroomy’s Adventures: Boosts Yao Guang’s Elation and increases Elation DMG taken by enemies after she uses her Elation Skill.
• Today’s Good Luck: Increases CRIT Rate and stacks Elation per Elation Skill use.

These options still support her role by improving Elation or team damage indirectly.

Best Relics for Yao Guang

Cavern Relics

Diviner of Distant Reach (4-piece) is Yao Guang’s best relic set.

• 2-piece: +6% SPD.
• 4-piece: If her SPD is 120+, she gains +10% CRIT Rate (increasing to +18% CRIT Rate at 160+ SPD).
• Additionally, the first time she uses her Elation Skill in a battle, she enhances all allies’ Elation by 10% (one-time effect each battle).

This set helps her hit critical speed breakpoints while providing team utility via Elation buffs.

Planar Ornaments

Best choices include:

• Lushaka, the Sunken Seas: Increases Yao Guang’s Energy Regeneration Rate and boosts the first character’s ATK if Yao Guang isn’t in the lead slot.
• Sprightly Vonwacq: Grants Energy Regeneration and can advance Yao Guang’s turn immediately upon entering battle if her SPD is high enough.

Other ornament sets like Broken Keel can raise Effect RES and boost team CRIT DMG if Yao Guang reaches 30% RES, which indirectly benefits DPS burst windows.

Stat Priorities

To unlock her full support and Elation potential, focus on these stats:

Main Stat Priorities

• Relic Body: CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG
• Relic Feet: SPD
• Planar Sphere: HP% or DEF% (for survivability and scaling)
• Link Rope: Energy Regeneration Rate

Substat Priorities

1. SPD – Because her trace converts SPD directly into Elation.
2. CRIT Rate – Boosts her team’s crit performance and team buffs.
3. CRIT DMG – Further amplifies Elation damage.
4. Energy Regeneration – Helps her use her Ultimate more reliably.

Aim for 160+ SPD if possible to activate the maximum CRIT Rate bonus from Diviner of Distant Reach while still boosting Elation from her trace.

Best Team Compositions

Yao Guang shines in teams built around Elation damage. Here are some strong options:

Premium Elation Team

• Yao Guang (Support, Elation) – Buffs Elation and generates Punchlines.
• Sparxie (Main DPS, Fire Elation) – A core Elation DPS who greatly benefits from Punchline build-up.
• Robin (Support) – Can help generate Skill Points for faster rotations.
• Aventurine or Sparkle (Buffs/Sustain) – Adds teamwide buffs, damage boosts, or healing.

This lineup uses Yao Guang’s Zone to build Elation and trigger Aha Instants that allow heavy burst damage from Sparxie or other Elation DPS.

Alternative Hybrid Team

• Yao Guang
• Sparkle – Provides additional buffs and Skill Point sustainability.
• Main DPS (non-Elation) – Can still benefit from RES PEN and Critical buffs.
• Sustain unit – Helps survivability in tougher encounters.

Even when not fully Elation themed, Yao Guang’s utility and team buffs make her valuable in flexible compositions.

Gameplay and Rotation Tips

• At the start of combat, deploy Yao Guang’s Zone early to immediately raise your team’s Elation baseline.
• Use her Basic Attack and Skills to generate Punchlines so that your Elation DPS characters can trigger high-impact Aha Instants.
• Her Ultimate is a powerful burst button, giving an extra Aha Instant turn and a Team All-Type RES PEN buff for three turns, opening up major damage windows.
• Always aim to align her buffs with your main DPS’s burst rotations for maximum synergy.

Yao Guang introduces a fresh Elation support archetype to Honkai Star Rail, turning speed and stat-sharing into explosive team damage. If you want more advanced build breakdowns, optimal team templates, and tier analysis tailored to every new character, subscribe to The Gamers Cut. We deliver cutting-edge strategies so your roster stays powerful and ready for every challenge.