As Honkai Star Rail’s 3.2 update rolls out its grand anniversary celebration, players face a tantalizing choice: claim the free 5-star healer Luocha or the versatile support Ruan Mei. Both characters have proven their worth in different team compositions, but which one truly deserves a spot in your roster? Whether you prioritize relentless healing or powerful buffs, this guide breaks down everything you need to know to make the smartest pick before the offer disappears. Dive in to discover which free star companion will elevate your gameplay to new heights.
All Star Rail players will be able to claim a Golden Companion Spirit (a new type of currency) between the launch of version 3.2 and the end of version 3.4. These spirits can be traded in for five-star characters, but the only two options as of launch are Luocha and Ruan Mei.
That said, you may be wondering, “Should I pick Luocha or Ruan Mei?” The answer is: You should pick with your heart. If you love Luocha and want to collect his Eidolons, you can and should pick him. However, if you’re looking for an answer based on the meta, we get into it below.
A quick disclaimer: Your needs will vary based on what units you have, so make sure to also do your own research into what your specific characters may want! Our answers are not the be-all-end-all, since there’s no way for us to know your specific account situation.
Should you pick Luocha in Honkai: Star Rail?
Luocha is a versatile 5-star Imaginary element character in Honkai: Star Rail who excels as a support healer with strong offensive capabilities. His healing scales with his attack stat, allowing him to both sustain the team and deal damage, especially effective against Imaginary-type enemies. Luocha’s kit includes healing, debuff removal, and AoE damage, making him a solid choice for long battles and diverse team compositions. However, while he is a reliable healer, some players feel he is overshadowed by other sustain characters who provide additional buffs. Choosing Luocha largely depends on your team needs and playstyle preferences, as he can be a valuable asset but may not always be the top-tier support option.
Luocha is by no means a “bad unit,” but he’s just been very harshly powercrept by other sustain units that provide more than him. With most sustain now providing additional buffs, Luocha’s raw heals just aren’t enough anymore, comparatively.
That is to say that Luocha does play very nicely with units that consume their own HP, since he heals a lot. If you are building Mydei, Castorice, and/or Blade, then you may want to pick up Luocha.
Gallagher is a cheaper unit that also provides heals (and buffs), but since Luocha can heal automatically outside of his turn, it makes him a valuable pick for those HP-consuming DPS.
What about for Eidolons? If you’re considering picking up Luocha E1, then. well. It does provide a 20% attack buff when his healing field is active, but this kind of just brings up him to par with other existing sustain units. His Eidolons are not bad by any means, but just like the rest of Luocha, they’ve been powercrept by newer units, so they’re a little underwhelming.
Should you pick Ruan Mei in Honkai: Star Rail?
Ruan Mei is an excellent choice if you want a top-tier support character in Honkai: Star Rail. She excels at boosting the entire party’s damage, speed, and Weakness Break efficiency, making it easier to break enemy defenses and extend their vulnerability. Her ultimate skill increases all allies’ resistance penetration and applies a debuff that delays enemy recovery after Weakness Break, further enhancing team control. Ruan Mei’s buffs are tied to her own turns, allowing her to maintain these advantages consistently even with fast teammates. She fits well in most team compositions, especially dual carry setups, and her abilities scale with her Ice Break damage, giving her solid personal damage alongside her supportive role. Overall, she is a versatile and powerful support option for players seeking to maximize team damage and control.
Ruan Mei was broken when she released and she’s still pretty close to the top of the food chain when it comes to buffers. She’s a pretty safe pick all around, as just about every DPS can make use of her buffs. She buffs damage, weakness break efficiency, and can extended the duration of an enemy’s weakness break, making her an asset to any team.
In a world where you need two unique teams to complete end-game content, Ruan Mei can likely slot into either of those teams, making her a must-have if you don’t have her already. The exception to this is if you’re drowning in other supports and buffers, in which you may not need her anymore. If you don’t have Ruan Mei yet and you don’t have the newer supports like Tribbie, Robin, Sunday, or Fugue, you should pick her.
What about for Eidolons? If you already have Ruan Mei and are pondering if you should grab her E1, then the good news is that her E1 is extremely strong, as it ignores 20% of the enemy’s defense when her ultimate field is up. Again, if you already have Tribbie or some other beefed-up supports, you may not need this buff.
Should you just hold on to the Golden Companion Spirit for a future unit?
You might consider holding on to the Golden Companion Spirit for a future unit rather than redeeming it immediately. Although Ruan Mei and Luocha are strong and valuable choices available now, the Golden Companion Spirit does not expire, and the 5-star character shop will continue to add new characters over time. This flexibility allows players to save the Spirit and wait for potentially more desirable or meta-relevant units to be added later, especially if you already own Ruan Mei or Luocha or prefer to collect Eidolons for these characters. This strategic patience can maximize the value of your Golden Companion Spirit in the long run.
This is a third option! If you have both Luocha or Ruan Mei already, or maybe you’re just not enticed by them, you can always hold on to the Golden Companion Spirit and spend it later on a different five-star character. You could even spend it on one of the original standard banner characters (Himeko, Clara, Bronya, Gepard, Yanqing, Bailu, or Welt), but we don’t really recommend doing so unless you really love those characters.
Which free character offers the most versatility for my team in Honkai Star Rail
The free character offering the most versatility for your team in Honkai Star Rail is Lingsha. She excels as a healer and support who not only provides team-wide healing but also inflicts debuffs that increase enemy break damage and triggers follow-up attacks, making her effective in various team compositions, including both premium and free-to-play setups. Her hybrid kit allows her to deal Fire damage, heal, and apply debuffs simultaneously, which enhances overall team damage and survivability. This versatility makes Lingsha a standout choice for players seeking a flexible and impactful free character.
Which free character best balances healing and damage in Honkai Star Rail
The free character that best balances healing and damage in Honkai Star Rail is Lingsha. She is a five-star Fire-element healer who not only provides powerful team-wide healing but also deals significant damage and applies debuffs to enemies, making her both a strong healer and an offensive asset. Her summon attacks trigger additional healing and debuff cleansing, while her talents allow emergency heals and follow-up attacks, giving her a versatile role that supports both survivability and damage output effectively. This combination makes Lingsha the top choice for players seeking a healer who can also contribute meaningfully to damage.
