Version 3.2 of Honkai: Star Rail is just around the corner, and perhaps the most exciting part of the update is that it will serve as Castorice’s debut. This Remembrance-Quantum character is poised to be one of the strongest damage units the game has seen. Leaks and official pre-release material suggest that Castorice will hit harder than her predecessors, and her global passive brings some good value to any account. This has led to discussions about whether Castorice will dominate Honkai: Star Rail’s meta.
Castorice’s playstyle revolves around summoning her Memosprite, Netherwing: Pollux, through her ultimate and then using its powerful Memosprite Skill to deal big AOE damage:
- Ultimate Generation: Castorice charges her ult when teammates lose and gain health during combat. Players can accelerate this charging by using Castorice’s skill, which consumes her allies’ HP. Then players can heal the damage back quickly using healers like Gallagher or Luocha.
- Pollux’s Powerful Breath Scorches the Shadow Skill: When Pollux uses its Memosprite Skill, it consumes its own HP to breathe fire onto all enemies. Players can use this skill as much as they want during Pollux’s turn. After consuming all its health, Netherwing unleashes its Talent, Wings Sweep the Ruins, which deals six instances of Quantum damage (equal to a percentage of Castorice’s Max HP) to enemies, while also resoring some health to all allies. Any damage or healing to allies will heal Netherwing.
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Castorice’s Powerful Ultimate and Memosprite Skill Set Her Up to Dominate
Pollux can deal up to one million damage with one rotation of its Scorched Breath. This is possible because its DMG increases by 30% after every breath attack. Plus, Castorice’s A6 Bonus Trace improves Netherwing’s damage by 30% every time players use its Memosprite Skill, and it stacks up to six times. Pollux can only breathe out fire four times before it perishes, but some content creators, and other playtesters, have figured out how to work around this issue, allowing Pollux to deal even more damage.
The key to maximizing the Netherwing’s damage is to use its weaker, but non-HP-consuming, Claw Splits Veil attack when it reaches its lowest health and then end its turn. Then, Castorice and its allies can lose and gain HP to heal Netherwing, allowing it to perform extra Scorched Breaths during the next turn. When done correctly, Netherwing can use its Breath Scorches the Shadow for at least two turns before bombing the enemies with its Talent. This second turn can deal around two million damage to enemies, assuming that they are still alive after the first round of attacks.
Castorice’s Passive is a Game Changer
Castorice can literally change the game for players who manage to pull her because of her Sanctuary of Mooncocoon global passive. This ability essentially delays ally units from dying for one turn, giving players a chance to heal them. While it triggers only once per battle, it can activate even if Castorice isn’t on the team. This is a big deal because endgame boss health bars are getting bigger, giving them more opportunities to deal devastating damage to teams. Having a solid sustain, like Aventurine or Lingsha, and Castorice’s passive as a backup makes clearing Memory of Chaos, Pure Fiction, and Apocalyptic Shadow much more comfortable.
Castorice’s Team is Relatively Affordable
The only essential, limited five-star teammate for Castorice is Tribbie, who can improve her damage, and Pollux’s, through her teamwide RES PEN buffs and DMG taken debuffs on enemies. Remembrance Trailblazer is free and an excellent second support, providing Castorice with an action advance and True DMG buffs through Mem’s Lemme! Help You! Meanwhile, players will likely pick up Gallagher while pulling for Castorice, and he can provide excellent sustain with his ultimate and Skill healing.
Castorice’s big damage, useful global passive, and easy-to-build team make her an excellent pick-up for any account. The only con is that she needs her signature Light Cone to maximize her damage, with the Battle Pass Sweat Now, Cry Less LC being the only viable alternative. Therefore, players should be prepared to spend a good amount of Stellar Jade if they want to make the most of this meta-defining unit.