Firefly / Sam, one of the most anticipated characters in Honkai: Star Rail, is finally set to debut in Patch 2.3. While her initial combat style left some fans disappointed, the latest update brings a significant overhaul to her skillset. Most notably, Firefly gains access to the unique Super Crit effect previously exclusive to the Trailblazer character. This unexpected synergy positions them as a powerful “couple” when deployed together.
A Completely Revamped Skillset
Following a two-week beta test, miHoYo determined Firefly’s original skillset wasn’t performing as intended. As a result, they’ve implemented a near-complete rework of her effects and stats. Here’s a breakdown of Firefly’s updated skillset at base Soul Refinement 0:
Base Stat Changes:
- Attack decreased from 756 to 523
- Speed increased from 92 to 104
Basic Attack: Flare Propulsion
- Deals Fire damage equal to 100% of Attack to a single enemy.
Charged Basic Attack: Pyrogenic Decimation
- Recovers 20% Max HP.
- Deals Fire damage equal to 200% of Attack to a single enemy.
Combat Skill: Aerial Bombardment
- Consumes 40% Max HP to recover 60% Max Energy.
- Deals Fire damage equal to 200% of Attack to a single enemy.
- If HP falls below 40% upon using this skill, Sam drops to 1 HP but gains 25% action priority.
Enhanced Combat Skill: Deathstar Overload
- Recovers 35% Max HP.
- Applies a 2-turn Fire weakness to one enemy.
- Deals Fire damage based on 0.2 x TDM + 200% of Firefly’s Attack to the target. Deals additional Fire damage equal to 0.1 x TDM + 100% of Attack to surrounding enemies. Maximum damage capped at 360% TDM.
Ultimate: Firefly Type-IV: Complete Combustion
- Enters the Complete Combustion state, granting 100% action priority and access to enhanced versions of the Basic Attack and Combat Skill.
- In this state, Sam gains 60 Speed. While using enhanced Basic Attack or Combat Skill, her weak point breaking efficiency increases by 50%, and broken enemies take an additional 20% damage. This effect persists until the current attack animation ends.
- A countdown timer for Complete Combustion appears on the action bar, depleting at a fixed rate of 70. When the timer reaches zero, Sam exits the Complete Combustion state.
- Sam cannot recast the Ultimate while in Complete Combustion.
Passive Talent: Chrysalid Pyronexus
- Lower HP reduces incoming damage. This effect reaches its maximum at 20% HP or below, providing a 40% damage reduction.
- While in Complete Combustion, the damage reduction remains at 40% and gains an additional 30% resistance to control effects.
- If Energy is below 50% at the start of battle, it automatically recovers to 50%. When fully charged, it removes all debuffs from Sam.
Signature Skill: Meteoric Incineration
- Launches into the air, gaining unrestricted movement for 5 seconds. This phase can be ended early by initiating a downward attack. Upon reaching the end of this duration, Sam descends and attacks all enemies within an area.
- At the beginning of each wave, applies a 2-turn Fire weakness to all enemies. Deals Fire damage equal to 200% of Attack to all enemies.
Engravings:
- Antilag Outburst: During Complete Combustion, attacks on enemies without a Fire weakness deal 55% of normal Stamina damage.
- Autoreactive Armor: During Complete Combustion, when Sam triggers a 200%/360% Crit on a weak-pointed enemy, their Stamina damage is converted into a single Super Crit hit dealing 35%/50% damage.
- Core Overload: Every 100 Attack exceeding 1600 increases Sam’s Crit Attack by 10%.
Additional Stats:
- 37.3% TDM, 18% Resistance to Control Effects, 5 Speed.
Firefly’s Soul Refinement Changes
Firefly’s Soul abilities have also received adjustments, specifically at Refinement 4 and 6:
- E4: Grants 50% resistance to control effects while in Complete Combustion.
- E6: Increases Firefly’s Fire Penetration by 20% while in Complete Combustion. Additionally, using Enhanced Basic Attack or Enhanced Combat Skill increases her weak point breaking efficiency by another 50%.
Team Synergy with the Trailblazer
The most intriguing aspect of Firefly’s rework is how it mirrors the Trailblazer’s skillset, particularly the Super Crit mechanic. This synergy opens up exciting team composition possibilities. Both characters benefit from building high Attack stats to maximize their Crit damage potential. Additionally, the Trailblazer’s ability to inflict Fire weakness aligns perfectly with Firefly’s focus on exploiting weaknesses. When deployed together, they can create a powerful chain reaction, where the Trailblazer sets up Fire weaknesses, allowing Firefly to capitalize with devastating Super Crit attacks.
Early Impressions and Potential
While the full impact of these changes can only be determined through real-world testing, early impressions suggest a significant improvement for Firefly. The shift towards a more aggressive playstyle with a focus on weak point breaking and Super Crit damage opens up new strategic possibilities. Additionally, the passive self-healing and debuff removal mechanics add a layer of survivability.
However, some concerns remain. The reliance on the Complete Combustion state for optimal damage output introduces a risk-reward factor. Players will need to manage the countdown timer to maximize its effectiveness. Additionally, the decrease in base Attack compared to the initial version might require specific team compositions to compensate for the lost damage potential.
Conclusion
Firefly’s revamped skillset in Honkai: Star Rail injects a much-needed dose of excitement into the character. The unexpected synergy with the Trailblazer opens up intriguing team-building options. While some elements require further testing, the overall direction appears positive, offering players a more aggressive and potentially high-damage Fire DPS character. With further optimization and potentially additional Soul Refinement upgrades in the future, Firefly has the potential to become a dominant force in the Astral dominators.
See more information in the Game News section here.
