How To Beat Tides of War In Honkai: Star Rail

Beating the Tides of War event in Honkai: Star Rail 2.1 is a matter of using the best team comps and selecting the ideal Support Functions that will not only give you a bonus during the combat phases but also synergize with the team you chose. In one stage of this combat event in Honkai: Star Rail 2.1, for instance, the best way of getting through all the boss encounters is to focus on Energy Regeneration alone, with a party that boosts that effect, sustained by Support Functions that further increase the rate at which your characters recharge their Ultimates.

Of course, you do not need to defeat all three bosses in a single stage to claim the best rewards. In fact, you gain the first set of rewards for each stage simply by entering it, and the second one is granted upon defeating the first boss. At this point, you will have obtained the maximum amount of Stellar Jade and have counted toward Bob’s Offering, which grants you a Tracks of Destiny if you beat the first boss in each stage of Tides of War in Honkai: Star Rail.

If you are capable of going through all three bosses in each stage, you will get some bonus rewards, like extra Credits and Relic Remains, but it is not utterly necessary.

Best Team Comps To Beat All Stages Of Tides Of War In Honkai: Star Rail

Close

Even if you are not required to go through all three bosses and only need to defeat the first one at every stage, you should prepare yourself with the mindset of clearing everything – that way, you can guarantee an easy pass through the first boss and, if all things go well during your fights, you can claim those extra rewards. If not, you have at least ensured the bare minimum to progress. The goal is to get “S” ranks from each stage of Tides of War, even though “B” is an acceptable passing grade in Honkai: Star Rail.

Related Biggest Honkai: Star Rail 2.2 Leaks & Rumors Honkai: Star Rail 2.2 should bring the final missions in the main arc of Penacony, and there are a lot of leaks and rumors about the upcoming content.

Stage 1 - Trotter Effect

The first stage of the Tides of War event is called Trotter Effect and it lives up to its name. During the combat phases, multiple Warp Trotters will spawn alongside the bosses, and defeating them increases your Grit Value – and by increasing your Grit Value, you can activate the special perks you chose before the battle, including the pre-selected Grit Phase 4 effect that, in this case, boosts the damage received by all enemies you are facing.

The table below lists the best team comps and Support Functions for this Stage in Honkai: Star Rail, as suggested by Game8:

Stage 1 - Trotter Effect Best Team Comp Best Support Function Acheron

Kafka

Black Swan

Gallagher or Aventurine (with Trend of the Universal Market) Phase 2: Fear Vulnerability

Phase 3: Final Blow

The strategy for the first stage of Tides of War is taking advantage of Acheron’s extreme firepower and applying as many debuffs as possible when fighting opponents to constantly charge her Ultimate ability, which will be buffed. Additionally, you should ensure you always get a few hits and kills against Trotters, since this will eventually allow you to deal more damage, especially when you hit Grit Phase 4 and have all your Ultimates charged in addition to triggering the special effect.

Aventurine in Honkai: Star Rail, as well as a few of the upcoming suggested characters like Ruan Mei, are not part of the Trial Characters offered by the activity, but you may use them if you so desire.

Stage 2 - Perilous Threshold

Perilous Threshold, the second phase of Tides of War, is one that concentrates on HP fluctuation mechanics, which will accumulate Grit Value as you lose HP or heal. As such, characters like Blade and Jingliu are perfect for this. The idea for this stage is to constantly be attacking with your Basic Attack and Skill so that you can deal the maximum amount of damage while you lose and restore HP to gain more Grit Value.

The table below lists the best team comp suggestion and ideal Support Functions for this stage in Honkai: Star Rail:

Stage 2 - Perilous Threshold Best Team Comp Best Support Function Blade

Jingliu

Bronya or Ruan Mei

Luocha Phase 2: Desperate Counter

Phase 3: Struggle Booster

Using Blade and Jingliu as a duo of DPS units here can really work, especially considering that they are not only both heavy-hitters but both work with HP-loss mechanics, which constantly helps gain Grit Value. The chosen Support Functions will keep them attacking more frequently and dealing more damage based on their specialties in Honkai: Star Rail, which are not Ultimates and follow-up attacks.

Stage 3 - Supreme Leader

Custom Image by Bruno Yonezawa

Stage 3, also known as Supreme Leader, is where the Tides of War event can start to get a little bit more complicated, mainly due to the great Trial Character options. Different from the previous stage, it is best to not use two DPS units and instead focus on a single damage dealer in a hypercarry team. Players should constantly be using their Ultimates, and multiple support units that aid in Energy Regeneration Rate along with advancing actions is a perfect strategy.

The table below lists the ideal team comps for stage 3 of Tides of War in Honkai: Star Rail:

Stage 3 - Supreme Leader Best Team Comp Best Support Function Argenti

Sparkle

Tingyun

Huohuo Phase 2: Respect From All

Phase 3: Hone Your Strength

Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae may initially seem like an attractive choice, but Argenti is the prime DPS for this combat stage. The character, aided by his supports, will be constantly using his Ultimate and, even if it seems he is dealing less damage than expected, his constant poking at the bosses’ HP bars will eventually destroy them all. The strategy is to boost your Energy Regeneration Rate in Honkai: Star Rail as much as possible, and this is also aided by the Support Functions in this stage.

Stage 4 - Weakness Assault

The whole idea behind Weakness Assault, the fourth stage of the Tides of War event is to do what its name implies: inflicting Weakness Break. As such, you will mod your team comp around that very idea and try to optimize this. As suggested by Game8, it is best if you go back and pair up a duo of DPS units rather than focus on a single one, using a key piece to consistently inflict Weakness Break: Ruan Mei in Honkai: Star Rail.

The table lists the recommended team comps and Support Functions for Weakness Assault:

Stage 4 - Weakness Assault Best Team Comp Best Support Function Himeko

Xueyi

Ruan Mei

Lynx Phase 2: Expose Weakness

Phase 3: Pursuer

Both Himeko and Xueyi are capable of dealing AoE attacks and, even with Xueyi being a 4-star damage dealer, her potential in inflicting Weakness Break should not be underestimated. Ruan Mei is essential for this stage since she boosts the power of Weakness Break, while also prolonging that state on enemies, allowing for more raw damage to be dealt to them.

You do not need to use Lynx as your healer in this stage of the activity. Instead, you may opt for Fu Xuan as a shielder or even Huohuo in Honkai: Star Rail, who can provide Energy Regeneration on top of her healing.

Stage 5 - Overflowing Wounds

Stage 5, also called Overflowing Wounds, can be the toughest part of Tides of War if you make poor choices. The whole idea behind this stage is to take advantage of the stage’s Overflow DMG. So, instead of directly attacking the boss like in most of the previous stages, you will want to try to one-shot the weaker enemies around them. Like Supreme Leader, your odds are at their best if you concentrate your offensive efforts around a single DPS in a hypercarry team comp in Honkai: Star Rail.

The table below lists the best team comp for Overflowing Wounds, along with the ideal Support Functions to choose:

Stage 5 - Overflowing Wounds Best Team Comp Best Support Function Seele

Sparkle

Tingyun

Fu Xuan Phase 2: Solitary Overwound

Phase 3: Final Blow

The strategy for stage 5 is to use Seele to quickly defeat the mobs and, with Sparkle’s extra Skill Points, you should consistently be able to use her empowered Skill rather than have to use her empowered Basic Attack. Both Sparkle and Tingyun give Seele extra offensive power and Fu Xuan is the best choice for survivability, as she also helps inflict Weakness Break against the enemies in this stage in Honkai: Star Rail.

Stage 6 - Perpetual Exploit

The sixth and final stage of Tides of War is called Perpetual Exploit and it may be the funniest one since the entire strategy is to trigger follow-up attacks. Doing so raises your Grit Value, which boosts damage and advances actions. In this stage, you should be constantly attacking and, by doing so, activating follow-up attacks from the same unit and allies. In fact, the largest portion of your damage against bosses should stem from follow-up attacks rather than directed ones.

The table lists the best team comp and Support Functions for Perpetual Exploit in Honkai: Star Rail:

Stage 6 - Perpetual Exploit Best Team Comp Best Support Function Dr. Ratio

Topaz

Hanya or Sparkle

Aventurine Phase 2: Chain Motivation

Phase 3: Master Exploder

Related Honkai: Star Rail - Aventurine Character Ascension (& Materials) Leveling Aventurine through his Ascension thresholds and increasing his abilities in Honkai: Star Rail is the first step in optimizing this shielder.

With Dr. Ratio and Topaz as your main DPS, the two characters will constantly be activating each other’s follow-up abilities. Hanya or Sparkle are good choices here since they provide buffs and can increase Skill Points, while Aventurine is not only a supreme shielder, but is also capable of dealing massive damage through follow-up attacks, making him a third follow-up attack unit. With these team comps and Support Functions, you should be able to complete all stages of Tides of War in Honkai: Star Rail to perfection.

Source: Game8