Hey Trailblazers! Today, let's dive deep into the Universal Matrix and Spirit Thief Relic sets in Honkai: Star Rail. These sets can significantly boost your characters' performance, but understanding how they work and who benefits most is key. So, buckle up, and let's get started!

Universal Matrix: A Deep Dive

Let's talk about the Universal Matrix. This set is all about consistent damage output and ensuring your characters can keep the pressure on enemies. The 2-piece bonus increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. It’s a straightforward boost that benefits almost any damage dealer in the game. When deciding on relics for your characters, it's important to consider how the bonuses of each relic set synergize with the character's abilities and role in the team.

For example, characters who rely heavily on their Basic ATK, Skill, or Ultimate will find the ATK boost valuable in increasing their overall damage output. The 4-piece bonus is where things get interesting. It states that when the wearer inflicts Weakness Break on an enemy, their ATK increases by 24% for 2 turn(s). This effect is huge for characters built around Break Effect or those frequently breaking enemy weaknesses.

Who Benefits from Universal Matrix?

• Dan Heng • Imbibitor Lunae: His enhanced Basic ATK makes great use of the ATK bonus, and he's often involved in breaking enemy weaknesses with his high damage output.
• Seele: With her ability to take multiple actions, she can consistently trigger Weakness Break, maintaining the 24% ATK boost.
• Trailblazer (Physical): The Physical Trailblazer is designed to break enemy weaknesses, making them a perfect candidate for this set.

Maximizing the Potential

To really maximize the potential of the Universal Matrix set, focus on characters who can reliably inflict Weakness Break. Team compositions that include characters with high Break Effect or those who target specific enemy weaknesses will help ensure the 4-piece bonus is consistently active. Additionally, consider pairing this set with Planar Ornaments that further boost ATK or Break Effect to amplify the overall damage output.

Spirit Thief: A Detailed Look

Now, let's shift our attention to the Spirit Thief set. This set is all about Energy Regeneration and extending your characters' survivability. The 2-piece bonus increases the wearer's Break Effect by 16%. This might seem niche, but for characters built around Break Effect, it's a significant boost to their ability to deal damage and disrupt enemies. Break Effect, as a stat, has become more important with the release of new characters and the game's meta evolving towards faster, more aggressive strategies.

The 4-piece bonus is the real game-changer. It states that when the wearer inflicts Weakness Break on an enemy, they restore 2 Energy and increases Break Effect by 24% for 2 turn(s). This effect can stack up to 1 time. This set is excellent for characters who rely on their Ultimate ability and can consistently break enemy weaknesses.

Who Benefits from Spirit Thief?

• Ruan Mei: Ruan Mei is a premier support character that focuses on increasing the party's Break Efficiency, Break DMG, and extends the Weakness Break state. This makes her the perfect candidate for this set.
• Asta: Asta’s kit is all about buffing the team's SPD and ATK, and she can consistently apply Fire Weakness to enemies. The energy restoration from the 4-piece bonus helps her keep her buffs up more frequently.
• Luka: He's a dedicated damage-over-time (DoT) character who can frequently apply Bleed and break enemy weaknesses.

Strategic Considerations

When using the Spirit Thief set, consider your team composition and how it can facilitate consistent Weakness Break. Pairing this set with characters who can apply specific weaknesses or those with high Break Effect stats will help maximize its potential. Additionally, keep an eye on the energy costs of your characters' Ultimates to ensure you're optimizing the energy regeneration provided by the 4-piece bonus.

Relic Stats: What to Look For

Regardless of whether you're farming for the Universal Matrix or Spirit Thief set, understanding which stats to prioritize is crucial. Here’s a quick rundown:

• Body: Crit DMG/Crit Rate (for damage dealers), HP%/DEF% (for sustain characters), or ATK% (for characters who scale with ATK).
• Feet: SPD is generally the best option for most characters, allowing them to take more actions and generate more energy.
• Planar Sphere: DMG Boost of the character's corresponding element is ideal for damage dealers, while HP% or DEF% is better for sustain characters.
• Link Rope: Energy Regeneration Rate is crucial for characters who rely on their Ultimates, while Break Effect can be valuable for characters built around breaking weaknesses.

Substats: Crit DMG, Crit Rate, SPD, ATK%, HP%, and DEF% are all valuable substats to look for, depending on the character's role and build.

Team Composition Synergies

The true potential of these Relic sets is realized when they're paired with the right team compositions. Here are a few examples:

Hypercarry Team

• Main DPS: Dan Heng • Imbibitor Lunae (Universal Matrix)
• Support: Bronya (Buffer), Tingyun (Energy Battery)
• Sustain: Luocha (Healer)

This team focuses on maximizing the damage output of Dan Heng • Imbibitor Lunae. Bronya buffs his ATK and Crit DMG, Tingyun provides energy regeneration, and Luocha keeps the team alive.

Break Effect Team

• Main DPS: Ruan Mei (Spirit Thief)
• Sub DPS: Trailblazer (Harmony)
• Support: Asta (Buffer)
• Sustain: Gallagher (Healer)

This team focuses on maximizing Break Effect damage. Ruan Mei increases Break DMG and extends Weakness Break, the Trailblazer and Asta help break enemy weaknesses, and Gallagher keeps the team alive while providing additional Break DMG.

Advanced Tips and Tricks

Alright, buckle up, because we're diving into some advanced tips and tricks to really maximize the effectiveness of these relic sets.

Memory of Chaos Optimization

When you're tackling Memory of Chaos stages, adaptability is your best friend. Don't be afraid to swap relics and team compositions based on the enemy weaknesses and stage conditions. For example, if a stage is filled with enemies weak to Fire, bring characters like Asta who can exploit that weakness and consistently trigger the 4-piece bonus of the Spirit Thief set.

Relic Leveling Strategies

Not all relics are created equal, guys. When leveling your relics, prioritize those with the best substats. A relic with perfect main stats but poor substats might not be as effective as one with slightly lower main stats but excellent substats like Crit DMG, Crit Rate, and SPD. Always keep an eye on those substats and invest your resources wisely.

Breakpoint Awareness

Understanding breakpoints for stats like Crit Rate and SPD is crucial. For Crit Rate, aim for at least 70% to ensure consistent critical hits. For SPD, aim for breakpoints that allow your characters to take more actions within the same turn cycle. These breakpoints can vary depending on the specific content you're tackling, so do your research and optimize accordingly.

Synergizing with Planar Ornaments

Don't forget about your Planar Ornaments! These can provide significant stat boosts and unique effects that synergize with your relic sets. For example, the Inert Salsotto set can increase your Ultimate and Follow-Up attack damage, while the Space Sealing Station set can provide a flat ATK boost based on your character's SPD. Choose ornaments that complement your relic sets and amplify your character's strengths.

Final Thoughts

The Universal Matrix and Spirit Thief Relic sets are powerful tools in Honkai: Star Rail. Whether you're focusing on consistent damage output or maximizing Break Effect, understanding how these sets work and who benefits most will help you optimize your team and conquer even the toughest challenges. So, go forth, Trailblazers, and may your relic farming be ever in your favor!