Honkai: Star Rail has a habit of keeping players on their toes with limited-time rewards, but also serves up permanent modes that stick around long after the hype fades. Aetherium Wars is one of those evergreen activities—launched way back in Version 1.4, and even in 2026, new Trailblazers can still jump in, collect Aether Spirits, and test their team-building chops. While the juiciest event rewards may have expired ages ago, the mode itself remains a surprisingly deep side game where picking the right Spirits can mean the difference between a clean sweep and an embarrassing wipe.
Here's how the strongest contenders shake out, from solid picks to absolute must-haves.
| Rank | Spirit | Type / Role | Best Against |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Voidranger: Eliminator | Attack / Aberrant | Humanoid enemies |
| 8 | Automaton Spider | Sacrifice / Mechanical | Small Aberrant targets |
| 7 | Entranced Ingenium: Obedient Dracolion | Healing / Support | Sustain-heavy fights |
| 6 | Aurumaton Gatekeeper | Overlord / Mechanical | Voidranger: Trampler |
| 5 | Vagrant | Support / Humanoid | Enabling Overlords |
| 4 | Silvermane Lieutenant | Overlord / Defense | Shield-based teams |
| 3 | Voidranger: Trampler | Overlord / Aberrant | Quick sweeps |
| 2 | Silvermane Cannoneer | Support | Burst setups |
| 1 | Warp Trotter | Support | Everything, honestly |
9 Voidranger: Eliminator
Kicking things off at number nine is Voidranger: Eliminator. This attack-type Aberrant Spirit is a little like a busted action economy machine—it thrives on extra turns and multi-hit damage, which makes it a strong pick against Humanoid enemies. Its Skill dishes out multiple hits to two targets, and the Ultimate can grant two instant extra turns after the next Basic Attack or Skill. That sounds spicy, but there's a catch. If players go too hard without finishing off an enemy, the weapon overheats and the Spirit loses a whopping 90% of its HP. So while it can absolutely pop off, it demands careful timing rather than mindless button mashing.
8 Automaton Spider
Number eight is Automaton Spider, a Mechanical Spirit built around the classic kamikaze playstyle. Anyone who has fought these pests in the overworld already knows the drill: it blows itself up for massive damage. As a Mechanical unit, it shreds smaller Aberrant targets. Its Skill costs 45% HP to massively boost SPD and doesn't end its turn. Its Talent also increases DMG as its health drops. The dream setup is to whittle the spider down to one HP before triggering the Ultimate, turning it into a walking (or scuttling) nuke. It's risky business, but the payoff can be chef's kiss.
7 Entranced Ingenium: Obedient Dracolion
After two self-damaging Spirits, it only makes sense to talk about a healer that can bail them out. Obedient Dracolion burns its own HP to heal an ally, yet it isn't nearly as fragile as it looks. Its Talent prevents fatal damage: instead of going down, the lion restores 60% of its HP and smacks the attacker for big damage. Players get one revive stack, but the Ultimate can refresh that stack. Savvy players hold the Ultimate until the revive triggers, effectively giving the team a second wind.
6 Aurumaton Gatekeeper
At number six is Aurumaton Gatekeeper, an Overlord Mechanical-type unit that brings crowd control and surprisingly good utility. Since it is an Overlord, players cannot pair it with other Overlords, so team building requires a bit of thought. Its main claim to fame is delaying enemy actions, which makes it a hard counter to Voidranger: Trampler. When the Ultimate goes off, it spawns two Illumination Dragonfish that deal follow-up damage and apply random DoTs on their turns. After the Ultimate, their Basic Attack hits much harder too. It's like getting a free mini squad on the field.
5 Vagrant
Vagrant lands at number five and is basically the Bronya of Aether Spirits. This Humanoid support can give an ally an instant turn with its Skill, which can completely change the rhythm of a fight—especially for Overlords that need their Ultimate quickly. Its Basic Attack delays the target's action, and if Vagrant takes a hit, incoming damage is reduced by 20% while its own action is advanced by 20%. Pair that with an ATK buff from its Ultimate and Vagrant becomes a low-key carry enabler.
4 Silvermane Lieutenant
Silvermane Lieutenant is another Overlord and deserves a spot because its kit is pure protection plus retaliation. Unlike its overworld counterpart, this Spirit focuses on shields: the Skill shields one ally, the Ultimate shields the whole squad. Whenever a shielded ally gets attacked, the Lieutenant fires off a follow-up attack that hits like a truck. The shield doesn't even have to come from the Lieutenant, so players can get creative with other shield generators. It's a bread-and-butter defensive pick that still contributes solid damage.
3 Voidranger: Trampler
At number three, Voidranger: Trampler embodies the old saying that the best defense is a good offense. This Overlord Aberrant-type unit excels at ending fights fast. Its Talent grants immediate action whenever any ally or enemy goes down, turning every knockout into extra momentum. Its Skill deals heavy single-target damage and can outright delete low-to-medium-health enemies. As long as the team has some sustainability, Trampler carries hard—just be careful against Mechanical types, which it struggles against. For players who like snowballing battles, this is a no-brainer.
2 Silvermane Cannoneer
Silvermane Cannoneer snags second place despite not being an Overlord, which should tell everyone just how cracked this support is. Its Ultimate buffs an ally's ATK and grants up to two Energy toward that ally's Ultimate—more than half the cost for most Overlords. Meanwhile, its Skill lets the Cannoneer launch a follow-up attack whenever the targeted ally attacks. Pair it with heavy hitters like Voidranger: Trampler or Aurumaton Gatekeeper and the battlefield turns into a fireworks show. It's absurdly flexible and easy to slot into almost any comp.
1 Warp Trotter
Finally, the crown goes to Warp Trotter, the cute little critter players meet early in Aetherium Wars. Never judge a book by its cover—this thing is the best support Spirit in the game bar none. In its normal form, the Basic Attack hits all enemies and the Skill heals all allies. But the real magic happens after the Ultimate. Post-Ultimate, the Trotter's Basic Attack simultaneously damages enemies, heals allies, and boosts the damage of their next attack. Its Talent also passively increases ally ATK. It is absurd value in one adorable package. If players build around Warp Trotter, many challenging encounters become significantly more manageable.
The Bottom Line
All in all, Aetherium Wars is not just a throwback mode; it rewards players who understand action economy, team synergy, and timing. While every Spirit has situational value, the ones listed here are the cream of the crop—especially Warp Trotter, which remains one of the best utilities even years after the event first dropped. Whether someone is a returning Trailblazer or a total newcomer in 2026, locking in these Spirits will make the Victory Zone grind feel far less like pulling teeth.