Ruan Mei in Honkai Star Rail: guide & build ❄️

Ruan Mei in HSR represents the legendary ice character Ways of Harmony. Takes a position and offers buffs that apply to all allies. And although she is primarily in demand in teams from penetration, she can be relevant in other compositions as well.

Given the main focus of the girl and the mechanics contained in her last "trace", it is important to pay attention to the penetration effect in the build, and then focus on the development of speed and defensive indicators. It is on these parameters that the selection of equipment and stats in relics is built.

The heroine is a strong representative of her class, demonstrating high efficiency in various combat modes as a . She will not be the “ideal” choice in all situations, but with due investment and the right build, she will significantly strengthen any damage dealer.

Rating	S+ position in dash list
Rarity	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
[Type] element	Ice damage type
Path	Harmony
when added to the game	27 декабря 2023 года
How to get a character	Event Jump: Character Banner
Gender	Female
Home planet	Chrysanthemum (planet blessed with Abundance)
Role in the squad	Buffer
Signature light cone	"Reflection of the Past Me"
Voice actresses	English voice actress — Emi Lo Japanese voice actress — Onishi Saori Chinese voice actress — Zhang Wenyu Korean voice actress — Yoon Yeo-jin

Hero's story

ruan mei — A generous scientist and expert in biology. She is a member of Genius Society #81, where she collaborates with Gerta, Skryullum, and Stephen Lloyd to create and develop the Virtual Universe. When not conducting research, she enjoys attending traditional theater performances, trying desserts, and doing embroidery.

She became acquainted with science as a child, as her mother was also a scientist. She grew up as a phlegmatic child and often made mistakes, but her parents treated it calmly. When she was older, she went on expeditions to the planets with her mother, and upon returning, she received a reward in the form of a cake. In her memories, this smell invariably reminded her of their t travels.

When her parents died, she devoted herself entirely to science. Throwing herself into research, she spent days and nights in the laboratory and fell asleep only when she reached her limit. The girl stopped at nothing on the way to her goal and seemed to have forgotten about everything. Only once, looking at the night sky, did she notice the gaze of the Erudition Aeon, Nus, directed at her.

After with Eon, she left her home and began to live in solitude. She became more apathetic and went deeper into work, preferring to study the fundamental nature of life in order to get closer to Nous again. It was for this reason that she decided to become a member of the Society of Geniuses. There is not a shadow of emotion to be found on the girl’s silent face, only the word “Eon” can touch her heart.

How to get a character

This hero can be obtained on your from the event banner or for currency in a special store.

Event Jump: Plum Blossom Trilogy

Ruan Mei can be dropped in the Event Jump: Character, which is called the Plum Blossom Trilogy. The banner is time-limited, but periodically appears as a repeat.

Star Merge: Character Exchange

In addition, the heroine can be purchased in the in-game store "Star Fusion" for 1 unit of special currency Golden Spirit of the Companion.

If you don't want to miss the Ruan Mei rerun, follow the constantly updated banner schedule.

Features

Base stats that increase as you level up, — health, attack power and defense. The exact values ​​of the characteristics are presented in the table.

Level of	Basic Attack	Basic protection	Basic Health	Speed	Taunt
1	89	66	147	104	100
20	175	128	288	104	100
30	255	188	421	104	100
40	336	247	554	104	100
50	417	306	687	104	100
60	498	366	820	104	100
70	578	425	953	104	100
80	659	485	1086	104	100

Speed ​​and mockery — constant parameters that remain unchanged throughout the character's development.

How Ruan Mei's skills work in HSR

The unit's abilities, as a representative of the Path of Harmony, are primarily aimed at strengthening allies. In particular, the scientist's skill and talent increase the damage dealt and the team's speed, as well as the effectiveness and effect of penetration. At the same time, she can deal ice damage and delay the actions of opponents with her ultimate, which ensures greater survivability.

One of its features, in addition to the distribution of buffs, is a unique technique that allows you to more comfortably combat tests in special roguelike modes ("Diverging Universe"). Thanks to the status effect, allies will be able to ignore the innate vulnerabilities of enemies and receive an additional increase in penetration damage.

Such a set of useful skills opens up the possibility of using the heroine to close content of any direction and complexity. However, despite the fact that her arsenal also includes attacking mechanics, this is only additional functionality. For this reason, the girl does not replace the position of a secondary damage dealer, but acts as a full-fledged .

Active skills

The skills that the character uses in combat include:

• technique — imposes a status that activates a skill at the beginning of the battle without spending skill points. At the same time, while the status is active, in the "Virtual" and "Divergent Universe" allies reduce the durability of enemies and deal more damage to penetration, and enemies receive additional damage from the scientist.
• basic attack - small ice damage that is inflicted on one target.
• skill - Grants a status that increases the overall damage and effectiveness of penetrating the vulnerabilities of all allies.
• superpower — creates an area within which the penetration of all types of enemy resistance increases. In addition, allies' strikes activate an effect that prolongs the state of the penetrated weakness and delays the action of targets. Monsters are also dealt additional damage. 

Below is a detailed description of all skills with clarification of the operating principle of some mechanics. In addition, the order of pumping is indicated, where the highest priority skills in of resource investment are highlighted.

ive skills

The ive skills contain a talent that works from the girl's presence on the battlefield. It offers a speed boost and allows you to deal additional damage.

The order of leveling abilities

Super Ability = Talent = Skill > Basic Attack

All skills except basic attack are useful for allies, so if possible, they should be raised evenly. If resources are lacking, we recommend following the following sequence:

1. Superpower — allows you to ignore part of the enemy's resistance, thereby increasing damage to them, "pushes back" the actions of targets and prolongs the effect of penetration. The damage also depends on the pumping of the ult.
2. Talent — Gives the team a bonus that increases speed. In addition, it allows the heroine to inflict additional damage.
3. Emboldening Salvo - Also One of the main sources of buffs for teammates: increases all damage and penetration efficiency.
4. Basic Attack — Used to restore skill points and energy. Since Normal Hit relies on Attack Power (a non-priority stat), it should be upgraded last.

Tracks

Traces of Ruan Mei:

Penetration effect +5,3% (lvl.1)
"Inert Breathing" (A2): Increases the penetration effect of all allies by 20%.	Defense +5% (A2)	Penetration effect +5,3% (A3)
Speed ​​+2 units. (A3)
"The days are fading, the thoughts are thickening" (A2): Recovers 5 units at the start of your turn.	Penetration effect +8% (A4)	Defense +7,5% (A5)
Penetration effect +8% (A5)
"Candlelight on the surface of the water" (A6): For every 10% over 120% of its own penetration effect, the skill additionally increases allies' damage by 6% (max. — 36%).	Speed ​​+3 units. (A6)	Defense +10% (lvl.75)	Penetration effect +10,7% (lvl 80)

Final increase in stats:

• penetration effect +37,3%;
• protection +22,5%;
• speed +5 units

Eidolons

All heroine's eidolons:

E1	After using the superpower, while the Magic Circle exists, allies ignore 20% of enemy defense.
E2	Allies' attack power increases by 40% when they attack enemies with a broken vulnerability.
E3	Superpower level +2. Max level - 15. Talent level +2. Max level - 15.
E4	When an enemy's vulnerability is broken through, Ruan Mei's penetration effect is increased by 100% for 3 turns.
E5	Superpower level +2. Max level - 15. Base attack level +1. Max level - 10.
E16	Increases the duration of the Superpower Magic Circle by 1 turn. The talent's ice penetration damage multiplier increases by 200%.

The best eidolons of Ruan Mei can be called E1, E2 и E6:

• First eidolon lowers the defense of enemies, increasing the damage done by allies while the Magic Circle is active (superpower). This is an indirect but noticeable increase in DPS, as defense cut is one of the highest damage multipliers in the game.
• Second eidolon increases the attack power of all squad (by 40%) when they attack an enemy with a broken vulnerability. This is a pretty strong buff if the damage dealer's skills depend on attack and the requirement is met.
• Sixth Eidolon Extends the duration of the ult, causing the buffs of the Magic Circle to last as long as the skill. In addition, the constant additionally increases the character's damage due to the increase in the multiplier of her ice penetration.

F2P players are recommended to stop at E1. If you actively use the squad from penetration, you can also unlock E2.

How to play as Ruan Mei

The unit's gameplay involves applying buffs to allies. With her skill, she increases all damage and penetration efficiency, and with her talent, — ively increases speed. Moreover, this applies to the entire team. The superpower prolongs the state of penetration and allows you to partially ignore the elemental resistance of enemies.

The duration of the skill buffs is 3 turns, which makes it possible to reach a positive consumption of action points. The girl brings the squad "in the plus" due to the fact that she generates additional skill points using the basic attack, while the current buffs exist.

As a bonus, the heroine is extremely convenient for completing the "Virtual" and "Divergent Universe". Thanks to the technique, attacks from allies are always considered a blow to vulnerability and deplete the enemy's stamina, and blessings additionally increase the damage of penetration of these attacks.

Follow this order to build your Ruan Mei rotation:

1. Before the battle, use the technique to get the "Silk Serenade" status and automatically activate the skill without spending points. In addition, you can use the techniques of other heroes.
2. When it's the scientist's turn, use a basic attack if the skill bonus is still active. This will generate an action point and restore some energy.
3. If the status effect ends, use the skill again to re-increase damage and penetration efficiency of all allies for 3 turns.
4. Until you have enough energy for your ult, continue alternating between the skill and normal attacks using the following pattern: skill > base attack > base. attack.
5. Activate the ultimate to create a Magic Circle. It will increase resistance penetration of all types and apply the Plum Blossom status. This status will prolong the state of the penetrated vulnerability and delay the actions of targets. Ideally, the ultimate should be used every 3 turns.

All about character leveling

This section contains all the materials needed to fully upgrade the heroine, including abilities and traces.

Elevation materials

List of materials to level up to 80:

Skill Leveling Materials

List of materials for upgrading abilities:

The order of pumping traces

Total amount of materials for pumping tracks:

In total, to upgrade a unit, including full elevation, abilities and traces, you will need:

• loans (×3 888 000);
• traveler's guide (×290);
• sprouts of immortality (×56), ethereal flower of immortality (×71), a branch of immortal glory (×73);
• harmonious melody (×18), song of the family (×69), symphony of constellations (×139);
• gelid chitin (×65);
• past wormhole disasters (×12);
• imprint of fate (×8).

Advantages and disadvantages

Having understood the principle of how abilities work, you can draw conclusions about the strengths and weaknesses of the unit.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Increases Squad DPS skill, offering a boost to all damage dealt. It's a versatile buff that's suitable for any DPS hero. In addition, it increases speed talent.	Dear Superpower — 130 units of energy. The "minus" is partially compensated by the second trace and a sufficient speed indicator, but a connecting rope will also be required to restore energy.
Ideal for "punching" squads: Increases the effectiveness and penetration effect, causing the white bar to deplete faster and dealing more damage/prolonging statuses.	Buffs "burn out" during the turn. This makes it easier to play with fast characters, but it complicates the selection of speed. In particular, it is undesirable to overtake allies too much or, conversely, to walk too slowly.
Doesn't spend a lot of action pointsGiven the duration of the skill buff, you can use a rotation that allows you to generate an additional skill point (skill > basic attack > basic attack).	Team oriented with two damage dealers, since buffs apply to all party . In the case of one DD, more competitors appear among representatives of the Path of Harmony.
ively damages, when one of the allies destroys the enemy's weakness or when the enemy tries to restore his vulnerability (talent and superpower mechanics).	Limited capabilities as a sub-DD without opening the fourth and sixth eidolons. The cones of the Path of Harmony do not correct the situation either, since they are primarily aimed at .
Suitable for F2PRuan Mei doesn't need Eidolons to reach her potential as a , and she can also use Epic Cone, which is not much inferior to Signe.	Low base health makes the character vulnerable. Being a , it is important for her to stay in action, so it is necessary to look for HP and resistance to effects in sub-stats, and pump up traces for defense.
Great for completing the "Virtual" and "Divergent Universe". The technique allows any heroes to penetrate the enemy's vulnerability at the beginning of the battle. Moreover, each blessing additionally increases the damage.	The extended vulnerability and delayed actions don't work well with some heroes' mechanics, especially when fighting a strong opponent. For example, the talent Himeko (Erudition: Fire).
Extends the state of reduced durability and delays the enemy's action. Together with imaginary heroes, it can create conditions in which the enemy will be unable to attack for a cycle.
In addition to the main buffs to reduce the durability of enemies, it increases Breakdown of resistance of all types of elements. This is a fairly rare buff that allows you to deal more damage to targets that have the element of your allies.

Best Ruan Mei Builds in Honkai: Star Rail

The Scholar of the Genius Society belongs to the Path of Harmony and acts as a -buffer. Her mechanics are focused on providing allies with an advantage in combat, helping them deal more damage while weakening opponents. When composing a Ruan Mei build in XSR, we recommend paying attention to the following characteristics:

• Penetration effect — Not only your own DPS depends on this indicator, but also the percentage of damage increase from the trace.
• Speed — Allows you to quickly accumulate energy for the smooth operation of your ult and create skill points for your team.
• Energy recovery — The super ability costs 130 energy and is also one of the main sources of power-ups.
• HP, protection и effect resistance — Like most s, survivability needs to be upgraded due to low base defensive stats.

It's also worth noting attack power, which affects the damage of the basic attack. Since the girl uses a normal hit to generate VP anyway, and her mechanics are related to penetration, attacking at lower stats will not hurt.

Recommended Specs

Stats that are recommended to be upgraded in relics:

Head	HP (permanent)
Arms	Attack Power (Permanent)
Body	HP > protection
Legs	Speed
planar sphere	HP > protection
Connecting rope	Energy Recovery > Breakthrough Effect

Secondary characteristics:

Penetration Effect (up to 180%) > Speed ​​> HP% = Defense > Effect Resistance > Attack Power

Optimal final values ​​of unit stats:

• Penetration effect: 180% (during combat) and 160% (before combat). Reaching this value activates the max buff from the trail, which increases the damage of allies.
• Speed: from 121/134/142 units. It is desirable that the indicator be higher than that of damage dealers, or on par with them.
• Energy recovery: from 119,4%.
• HP (health): from 3-700 units.
• DEF: from 1 units.
• Status Resistance: from 30% if planar decoration is equipped "Broken Keel".

One of the options to get 180% penetration effect:

• Full trace upgrade: 57,3%.
• light cone "Memories of the Past" R5: 56% /(or) Signature Cone "Reflection of the Past Me": 60%.
• Relics "The Falling Meteor Thief": 32%.
• Sub-stats: 34,7-30,7% /(or) planar decoration "Talia - the land of bandits": 36%.

Light Cone Rating

The weapon being equipped must be of the Ways of Harmony, so that the ive effect works, and also gives: the penetration effect, energy recovery, speed and buffs for the team. The table shows the light cones that will best suit the character.

In addition, the unit can use the following weapons:

• "The Adventures of Gresavile" (epic) - increases damage depending on what skill the heroine used. Accordingly, it is necessary to think through the rotation so that the main DD gets a boost for his main skill.
• "Date with the Stars" (epic) - Only works in combination with heroes who have an ice element. Otherwise, the cone is not recommended, as it will not be able to offer any buffs.
• "Past and Future" (epic) - buffs one partner, but offers nothing else. However, to use the only bonus, you will need to calibrate the speed so that the damage dealer always follows the scientist.

What relics and decorations are needed

Ruan Mei's relics, like weapons, should be aimed at increasing her main stats, which include: the penetration effect, energy recovery and speed. The following are sets and combinations of sets that can be effectively used on heroin.

cave relics

planar decorations

Squad Guide for Ruan Mei in HSR

Ruan Mei is a hero in the team, focusing on buffing her allies. She fits into any lineup, but excels in piercing builds and dual damage builds due to her ability to buff all team at once.

Which characters are suitable?

Characters that benefit the most from an alliance with a scientist, as they are tied to the durability reduction mechanic:

Despite the general focus, the heroine's buffs are quite universal and can be beneficial to the following damage dealers:

Ruan Mei can also be combined with any of the Path of Harmony, Nonexistence, Abundance, and Preservation s, even if they are not related to penetration. However, the table primarily considers damage dealers, since they are the ones who prioritize and form the basis of the group selection.

Examples of the best teams

The scientist most effectively realizes her abilities in squads from penetration:

Alternative teams where the heroine acts as a universal :

Is it worth knocking out Ruan Mei?

ruan mei — A representative of the Path of Harmony, whose abilities are focused on providing allies with various buffs. The scientist from the Society of Geniuses offers an increase to all damage, speed, and penetration efficiency, making her one of the best s for dual-DPS team compositions.

The uniqueness of the heroine lies in the fact that she specializes in penetration effect. In addition to accelerating the process of destruction of enemy shields, it prolongs this state and increases the penetration of elemental resistance. In addition, it is a useful in roguelike modes due to additional bonuses. Does not require eidolons and can wear an epic cone, which is almost as good as a signa.

Among the main disadvantages of Ruan Mei, one should highlight the high cost of the ultimate and the dependence of buffs on one’s own moves. While this allows for great synergies with fast characters, it also forces you to balance your speed so that the power-ups last enough turns to still gain energy/generate skill points in a timely manner.

Which is better: signal or E1

First eidolon — a priority choice in of increasing the team's DPS. Despite the fact that the signature "card" contains pleasant bonuses, there is an equally worthy alternative, which is almost as good at high overlaps ("Memories of the Past"). At the same time, E1 offers a decrease in enemy defense, which is one of the strongest options for increasing damage. In addition, it will be in demand in absolutely any composition. 

The "Reflection of the Past Me" light cone can be selected if not  "Memories of the Past" or this weapon is presented only in a single copy, respectively, creates weak competition. In this case, the benefit of the signal begins to increase mainly due to the fact that the rotation and the process of forming the assembly become more comfortable. 

We hope we helped you put together the best build for Ruan Mei and understand which squads to put her in Honkai: Star Rail. In the comments, ask any questions about the character so that the author or other players can help. In the special section, see other builds.

Ruan Mei Trailers