On the Interastral Peace Corporation's wanted list, Kafka's only has two things — her name, and a single sentence: "Likes collecting coats." Little is known about this Stellaron Hunter, other than that she is one of Destiny's Slave Elio's most trusted members. In order to achieve Elio's envisioned future, Kafka gets to work.
To learn more about Kafka check the sections below. Use the tabs to quickly switch to the kind of information you're looking for - kit, traces, review or build guides.
Kafka has at least one video guide available, so if you prefer this sort of medium to learn more about a character, check it out:
Last review update
Patch 2.6
Last major build/calcs update
Patch 2.6
Last profile update*
November 30th, 2024
*Profile update means smaller edits to relics, stats, synergies or teams that don't require new calculations.
To learn more about Kafka check the sections below. Use the tabs to quickly switch to the kind of information you're looking for - kit, traces, review or build guides.
Profile
Review
Build and teams
MoC/PF/AS Statistics
Calculations
Profile
Midnight Tumult
Single Target
Energy gain: 20
Break: 10
Caressing Moonlight
Blast
Energy gain: 30
Break: 20 + 10 adjacent
Twilight Trill
AoE | 120 energy cost
Energy gain: 5
Break: 20
Gentle but Cruel
Single Target
Energy gain: 10
Break: 10
Mercy Is Not Forgiveness
Energy gain: 0
Break: 20
Torture
Plunder
Thorns
Da Capo
Eidolon 1
When the Talent triggers a follow-up attack, there is a 100% base chance to increase the DoT received by the target by 30% for 2 turn(s).
Fortississimo
Eidolon 2
While Kafka is on the field, DoT dealt by all allies increases by 25%.
Capriccio
Eidolon 3
Skill Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Basic ATK Lv. +1, up to a maximum of Lv. 10.
Recitativo
Eidolon 4
When an enemy target takes DMG from the Shock status inflicted by Kafka, Kafka additionally regenerates 2 Energy.
Doloroso
Eidolon 5
Ultimate Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Talent Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15.
Leggiero
Eidolon 6
The DMG multiplier for Shock DMG dealt by Ultimate, Technique, or the follow-up attack triggered by Talent increases by 156%, and extends the duration of Shock on the enemy target by 1 turn(s).
Review
Strong single target and AoE damage, making her very versatile,
Consistent damage output due to DoTs,
Can force proc DoTs on enemies to frontload damage,
Doesn’t care about CRIT stats at all,
Easy DoT application thanks to her Talent.
Extremely high investment required for both her and her teammates,
Wants potentially unreasonable amounts of SPD,
Greatly benefits from her A6 meaning she takes a while to reach her max,
DoT archetype lacks dedicated support characters, so she struggles to find a spot in the current meta.
The Spirit Whisperer and Destiny’s Slave, Kafka expertly carries out large-scale devastation. She is capable of instantaneously triggering DoT damage on enemies, meaning that with some setup in applying several damage over time debuffs to enemies, Kafka can swoop in and snap enemies out of existence. Due to her DoT-heavy gameplay, Kafka also enjoys focusing almost exclusively on ATK% and some Effect Hit Rate, meaning she does not care for CRIT stats at all.
Kafka’s Skill is what acts as this metaphorical snap. She deals damage to a target enemy as a Blast AoE, hitting adjacent foes as well, and if the enemy you targeted has DoT debuffs on them, they will all immediately deal up to 75% of their original damage. Yes, all of them. Get yourself some DoT-applying teammates and watch the fireworks happen.
Her Ultimate can help start the chain. She deals up to 80% of her ATK to all enemies and has a 100% base chance to apply Shock for 2 turns. In addition to this, enemies will also instantly take a damage instance from said Shock state upon application, a whopping 290% of Kafka’s ATK at max Trace Level.
Kafka’s Talent is also quite a cheeky tool to apply Shock early. When any ally uses a Basic ATK on an enemy, Kafka will instantly perform a follow-up attack onto that target, dealing up to 140% of her ATK and having a 100% base chance to apply the same Shock debuff as the one on her Ultimate. She only gets to do this once per turn, but considering you’re going to have some of your other teammates Basic Attacking a lot, this is pretty much guaranteed to be used at every available instance.
Her Bonus Traces just add to this by improving her consistency with A6 by increasing the base chance for her own Shock debuffs to be applied by 30%, for a new base chance of 130%, and allowing her Ultimate to also explode all DoTs instead of just Shock with her A2. Her A4 grants 5 energy back when a Shocked enemy is defeated.
Kafka really has no need for her Eidolons to be superb, but her E1 and E2 allow her to amplify overall DoT damage for herself and her allies, with E1 causing a target hit by her Talent to take 30% more DoT damage, and E2 increasing all allies’ DoT damage by 25% while Kafka is alive and on the field. Again, Kafka does not need either of these but they are potentially valuable things to have and are comparatively quite accessible should you wish to pull for Eidolons.
Kafka is really not that complicated; the game plan is simple, right? Just apply as many DoT debuffs on enemies as you can and then have Kafka obliterate them. Well… Sort of. Due to the nature of Kafka’s kit, she can safely ignore the typically important stats like CRIT Rate and CRIT DMG, since DoTs simply aren’t capable of hitting crits. However, again due to the nature of Kafka’s kit, she wants SPD and she wants an obscene amount of it. Getting enough Effect Hit Rate and SPD without sacrificing ATK% can be genuinely quite hard.
Adding to this, Kafka’s preferred teammate lineup can also be very against the grain. A great Harmony teammate for Kafka is everyone’s favorite Ruan Mei, but the issue lies in the fact that she has been snatched by the Break archetype and it's hard to justify using her with Kafka instead. The second best option is Robin whose full team action advance works wonders and allows Kafka to detonate more DoTs, but similar to Ruan Mei, Robin has a different home - the FuA archetype.
Kafka can choose to instead be paired with more DoT-inflicting characters. In these situations, the most important thing for Kafka is to have enough DoTs on the enemy to actually dish out small nuclear detonations, meaning she wants to be paired with characters who apply said DoT. In particular, Black Swan is her best partner in crime. They synergize very well with each other, amplifying their strengths and forming the so-called DoT Duo.
But sadly, that's it.
Outside of Black Swan, everyone who Kafka would like to be partnered with has better teams and this is a big problem for her. While back in the day, Black Swan together with Kafka formed one of the strongest duos in the game, nowadays they struggle. A lot. The main issue behind the decline is the lack of Harmony characters that can amplify the DoT playstyle - while every other archetype (Break, FUA, Hypercarry) received new toys that make the damage dealers of that playstyle stronger, DoT lie forgotten. Hopefully, this will change one day, but till it happens, Black Swan and Kafka will be used primarily in Pure Fiction where the format still works well for their strengths.
You may turn towards Acheron and use Kafka and Black Swan in a more supportive manner toward the Emanator - but while this team works decently well, it's not really that optimal and Acheron has better options in the form of Jiaoqiu.
Things don't look good for the DoT fans and let's hope this changes one day. Hopefully sooner than later.
Honkai: Star Rail is a game where team building matters most and while our tier list takes the optimal setup into account, a lot of characters can work and do well - even those ranked lower - when you invest into them. Also for story or lower difficulties of Simulated Universe, you don't need to worry about ratings and tiers. You can safely clear that content even with F2P characters as long as you build your team correctly.
Character at 5★ are rated at their Eidolon 0 with their best in slot non-limited Light Cone.
Available ratings:
MoC
PF
AS
Build and teams
The numbers show the percentage damage output increase/decrease compared to the Light Cone marked with 100%.
102.04%
Increases DMG dealt by the wearer by 24/28/32/36/40%. After every attack launched by wearer, their SPD increases by 4.8/5.6/6.4/7.2/8%, stacking up to 3 times. If the wearer hits an enemy target that is not afflicted by Erode, there is a 100% base chance to inflict Erode to the target. Enemies afflicted with Erode are also considered to be Shocked and will receive Lightning DoT at the start of each turn equal to 60/70/80/90/100% of the wearer's ATK, lasting for 1 turn(s).
Source: Event Warp (limited)
100%
For every debuff the target enemy has, the DMG dealt by the wearer increases by 12/15/18/21/24%, stacking up to 3 time(s). This effect also applies to DoT.
Source: Stellar Warp
84.72%
Increases the wearer's Break Effect by 20/25/30/35/40%. When the wearer unleashes their Ultimate, increases DoT dealt by the wearer by 24/30/36/42/48% for 2 turn(s). Defeating the target suffering from the wearer's DoT allows the wearer to regenerate 4/4.5/5/5.5/6 Energy.
Source: Herta's Store
82.05%
Increases the wearer's Break Effect by 16/20/24/28/32%, and increases their DMG to enemies afflicted with Shock or Wind Shear by 16/20/24/28/32%. This also applies to DoT.
Source: Echo of War | Forgotten Hall Store
The percentage numbers showcase the relative DPS increase when you take into account the set bonus only. For some characters there's no DPS (or its equivalent) available and in that case we listed the sets in the order of priority.
100%
Increases ATK by 12%.
For every DoT the target enemy is afflicted with, the wearer will ignore 6% of target's DEF when dealing DMG to them. This effect is valid for a max of 3 DoTs.
96.76%
Increases Lightning DMG by 10%.
When the wearer uses Skill, increases the wearer's ATK by 20% for 1 turn(s).
95.24%
Increases ATK by 12%.
For every DoT the target enemy is afflicted with, the wearer will ignore 6% of target's DEF when dealing DMG to them. This effect is valid for a max of 3 DoTs.
If you can't put together a top recommended 4P set with satisfactory sub/main stats, mix and match the 2P Bonuses from the following instead:
102.69%
160 SpeedIncreases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD is equal to or higher than 135/160, the wearer deals 12%/18% more DMG.
100%
135 SpeedIncreases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD is equal to or higher than 135/160, the wearer deals 12%/18% more DMG.
98.12%
Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD reaches 120 or higher, the wearer's ATK increases by an extra 12%.
SPD (breakpoint) = EHR (Until Cap) > ATK% > Break Effect
HP: 3000+
DEF: 900+
ATK: 3400 - 3800+
SPD: 134 / 143 (Recommended) / 160
EFFECT HIT RATE: 29%
Ultimate > Skill > Talent > Basic
Torture (A2) > Thorns (A6) > Plunder (A4)
Below you can find a list of some of the stronger synergies between this character and others.
The teams in the section are generated based on the current Memory of Chaos data we have gathered. If you want to see more statistics about the mode, check the MoC/PF/AS Statistics tab.
MoC/PF/AS Statistics
This section contains information about Kafka performance in the latest Memory of Chaos cycle (2.6), latest Pure Fiction (2.6) and the latest Apocalyptic Shadow (2.7), and the commonly used Relics and Cones in both modes. The page will be automatically updated every 2 weeks once enough data is gathered in the current cycle.
If you want to share your clear information with us, you simply need to fill the form below and provide us with your UID and make your Hoyo profile public - we will automatically parse the MoC/PF clear information from your profile after that!
MoC/PF/AS Stats FormCharacters are ranked with appearance rate, which is how often a character was used in Memory of Chaos by the players who we have scanned, regardless of whether they own the character or not. Ownership rate currently cannot be obtained.
Characters are ranked with appearance rate, which is how often a character was used in Pure Fiction by the players who we have scanned, regardless of whether they own the character or not. Ownership rate currently cannot be obtained.
Kafka needs 28% Effect Hit Rate to guarantee Shock on 40% Res enemies. Build as much SPD as possible so she can detonate DoTs. Break Effect Rope can also be considered in niche cases. Genius of Brilliant Stars set is great against Quantum weak enemies (and when you pair Kafka with Silver Wolf).