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If you gaze long enough into the abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you and will probably give you a wink and the power to troll your enemies in Honkai: Star Rail. That sums up the Nihility Path in Honkai: Star Rail.
It’s a character role or specialization that focuses on placing as many debuffs on enemies as possible to wither down their mental fortitude with the impending and inevitable doom of nothingness. And also to shorten your fights– mostly that. It’s a cryptic path, so we’ll explain it.
What is the Nihility Path in Honkai: Star Rail?
As per the Honkai: Star Rail lore, The Nihility is a Path governed by the Aeon IX. It’s less of a person and more of an abstract entity, making it unique and more inconceivable compared to all the other Aeons or god beings in Honkai: Star Rail.
Simply put, IX is the manifestation of the void of space and time in Honkai: Star Rail. If IX had a form, it would most closely resemble our perception and idea of a black hole or a singularity that merges anything it touches into a collective nonexistence. It also gives that kind of power to everything under its domain.
Hence, characters that follow The Nihility Path are often flippant and whimsical; like the Aeon that lends them power, they have an overarching conclusion that everything is meaningless and lawless in the universe they tread. And no matter how much they resist the void’s nothingness, all will eventually join in its nihilistic embrace.
It’s getting a little too dark and edgy here; let’s lighten up the atmosphere with these Light Cones for The Nihility Path.
Nihility Light Cones
Despite being there only four Nihility Path characters, there are a lot of Nilihity Light Cones for them to choose from (upcoming ones aren’t included yet as the stats might change).
All of these Light Cones boost their ideal wearer’s ability to disrupt and incapacitate enemies rather than outright killing them. Give them a taste of the void with the following Light Cones so that they might be more inclined to join IX in the peace of oblivion.
5-star Nihlity Light Cones
- In the Name of the World: Increases the wearer’s DMG to debuffed enemies by 24~40%. When the wearer uses their Skill, the Effect Hit Rate for this attack increases by 18~30%, and ATK increases by 24~40%.
- Incessant Rain: Increases the wearer’s Effect Hit Rate by 24~40%. When the wearer deals DMG to an enemy that currently has 3 or more debuffs, increases the wearer’s CRIT Rate by 12~20%. After the wearer uses their Basic ATK, Skill, or Ultimate, there is a 100% base chance to implant Aether Code on a random hit target that does not yet have it. Targets with Aether Code receive 12~20% increased DMG for 1 turn.
4-star Nihility Light Cones
- Before the Tutorial Mission Starts: Increases the wearer’s Effect Hit Rate by 20~40%. When the wearer attacks enemies that have reduced DEF, regenerates 4~8 Energy.
- Eyes of the Prey: Increases the wearer’s Effect Hit Rate by 20~40% and increases DoT by 24~48%.
- Fermata: Increases Break Effect dealt by the wearer by 16~32%, and increases their DMG to enemies afflicted with Shock or Wind Shear by 16~32%. This also applies to DoT.
- Good Night and Sleep Well: For every debuff the target enemy has, the DMG dealt by the wearer increases by 12~24%, stacking up to 3 time(s). This effect also applies to DoT.
- Resolution Shines As Pearls of Sweat: When the wearer hits an enemy and if the hit enemy is not already Ensnared, then there is a 60~100% base chance to Ensnare the hit enemy. Ensnared enemies’ DEF decreases by 12~16% for 1 turn(s).
- We Will Meet Again: After the wearer uses Basic ATK or Skill, deals Additional DMG equal to 48~96% of the wearer’s ATK to a random enemy that has been attacked.
3-star Nihility Light Cones
- Hidden Shadow: After using Skill, the wearer’s next Basic ATK deals Additional DMG equal to 60~120% of ATK to the target enemy.
- Loop: Increases DMG dealt from its wearer to Slowed enemies by 24~48%.
- Void: At the start of the battle, the wearer’s Effect Hit Rate increases by 20~40% for 3 turn(s).
Nihility Path Characters in Honkai: Star Rail
You have a healthy selection of debuffers in Honkai: Star Rail and they come in a decent balance of rarities. Two are 4-stars and two are 5-stars– all of them have similar personalities and sure enough, a similar playstyle in which they make combat encounters a living hell for the enemies.
They like toying with their prey regardless of their elements.
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Silver Wolf (Quantum, 5-star)
The latest to be added to the playable character roster, Silver Wolf has also been teased as a trial character in the Prologue. She’s a hacker which is highly fitting for her Path as she merely likes to cause trouble for everyone just because she can.
More importantly, Silver Wolf can make specific team compositions based on enemy Weaknesses meaningless (heh) since she can change their Weaknesses at will using her Skill. That makes for interesting experimentation with teams.
Welt (Imaginary, 5-star)
Welt might look old and harmless, but inside that quiet head holds many secrets swirling in chaos and mystery. He thus encapsulates the tenets (or lack thereof) of IX and The Nihility. After all, his Ultimate ability is a literal Imaginary damage black hole.
Thematically enough, Welt also excels in incapacitating enemies usually for one turn, or slowing them down, denying them their turn. It’s like the enemies and the threat they present is nonexistent with Welt on the team.
Pela (Ice, 4-star)
Pela is an odd one out of all the Nihility Path characters since she’s the most respectful. And she certainly values order. However, there’s a different side of her that she likes to keep hidden; she loves to create dissonance among novel and book fans by penning some anonymous masterpieces.
Sure enough, Pela in combat is also quite nihilistic and prefers to soften up her targets by whittling down their defenses.
Sampo (Wind, 4-star)
Was there ever any doubt about Sampo’s place in The Nihility Path? He fits right in. Sampo believes in nothing but self-preservation and profit regardless of the ethics of earning it. And underneath that friendly and humorous facade is a worrying and enigmatic truth that only Sampo knows.
Sampo excels in increasing the DoT (damage over time) taken by enemies. So he practically loves to give his enemies a slow and bleeding death. Not many characters specialize in DoT damage yet but there are some promising and upcoming contenders…
Upcoming: Luka (Physical, 4-star)
Not much is known about Luka, but he has appeared in a 4-star Light Cone and is expected to arrive sometime this year in future Honkai: Star Rail updates. He has a robotic right arm and belongs in the Belobog Underworld as a skilled fighter who now mainly spends time in caged matches.
Upcoming: Kafka (Lightning, 5-star)
And there she is, the quintessential mommy waifu. For Honkai: Star Rail, at least. Kafka is there to look into your blank, nihilistic eyes and show you a glimmer of hope while shooting you in the belly with her twin pistols– or maybe the hope’s just your fleeting reflection? Anyway, Kafka’s irreverent behavior and personality are perfect for the Nihility Path.
As for her combat abilities, she’s great at DoT damage, meaning she and Sampo go well together as the facetious duo. She also deals shock damage, so you know mommy Kafka wants it slow and torturous with her electric play.