I still remember pulling Luka back when he dropped in Honkai: Star Rail 1.2 Phase 2 alongside Kafka, and in 2026 he remains one of my favorite 4-star Nihility characters to bring into Physical-weak fights. He is not your typical healer or buffer; he is a scrappy sub-DPS who slaps Bleed on enemies and sets the table for the big hitters. As the reigning boxing champ of Belobog's Underworld Fight Club and an honorary Mole, he has that underdog energy that makes him fun. If you want to get the most bang for your buck out of him, you need to lean into his debuffs and DoT, not raw crit. Here is the build I use when I want Luka to punch above his weight.
Best Light Cones for Luka
As a Nihility character, Luka can only use Nihility Light Cones. His signature 4-star, Resolution Shines As Pearls Of Sweat, is still the bee's knees for him. At base, it has a 60% chance to inflict Ensnared on enemies not already affected, dropping their DEF by 12% for one turn. At Superimposition 5, that becomes a 100% base chance and a 16% DEF shred. That is huge for your main DPS. It is also easy to level and superimpose because it is a 4-star. If you do not have it, Silver Wolf's Incessant Rain is a solid 5-star substitute: +24% Effect Hit Rate, CRIT Rate if the target has 3+ debuffs, and an Aether Code that increases damage taken by 12%. In the Name of the World is another 5-star option. For a 4-star budget pick, Eyes of the Prey works fine.
Best Relics, Ornaments, and Stats for Luka
When I gear Luka, I do not overcomplicate it. Champion of Streetwise Boxing is the set. The 2-piece gives +10% Physical DMG. The 4-piece gives +5% ATK every time he attacks or is hit, stacking up to 5 times and lasting until the end of the battle. That is a free +25% ATK, and since his Bleed scales off ATK, it is exactly what he wants. For Ornaments, Pan-Galactic Commercial Enterprise is the best fit. It gives +10% Effect Hit Rate and converts 25% of that stat into ATK, up to +25%.
Stats priority:
| Priority | Stat | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ATK | Main source of Bleed DoT damage |
| 2 | Effect Hit Rate | Aim for around 67% total to land Bleed reliably |
| 3 | Speed | More turns, more debuffs |
| 4 | CRIT Rate / CRIT DMG | Not a priority; Luka is not a crit carry |
I usually aim for ATK% body, Speed boots, ATK% sphere, and an Energy Recharge or ATK% rope depending on the team. Effect Hit Rate can come from substats and Pan-Galactic.
Best Team Comps for Luka
Luka shines as a support/sub-DPS, so I build around a standard team: main DPS, sub-DPS/support, sustain, and Luka. A DoT-focused comp is my favorite. Kafka as main DPS boosts all DoT effects, which makes Luka's Bleed hit harder. Silver Wolf as sub-DPS adds weakness implant and more debuffs. Bailu or Luocha keeps everyone alive. If you do not have Kafka, you can run a more traditional setup: Seele, Blade, or Jing Yuan as main DPS; Tingyun or Yukong as second support; and Bailu, Luocha, or Natasha as healer.
Here is a quick table:
| Role | DoT Comp | General Comp |
|---|---|---|
| Main DPS | Kafka | Seele / Blade / Jing Yuan |
| Sub-DPS / Support | Silver Wolf | Tingyun / Yukong |
| Sustain | Bailu / Luocha | Bailu / Luocha / Natasha |
| Luka | Debuffer / Bleed sub-DPS | Debuffer / Bleed sub-DPS |
Trace Priority for Luka
Because Bleed is his bread and butter, I max his Skill first. It applies the debuff and causes Bleed. Next, I split between Ultimate and Talent. His Ultimate increases the damage the target takes, and his Talent makes part of his Bleed stronger. Basic Attack comes last because it is not his main job.
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Skill
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Ultimate & Talent
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Basic Attack
Final Thoughts
Luka is not going to one-punch everything, but he is a knockout in the right team. In 2026, with so many shiny 5-stars around, he still earns his spot as a 4-star Physical DoT enabler. Give him the right Light Cone, stack ATK and Effect Hit Rate, pair him with Kafka or another main DPS, and he will set enemies up for a beating. It might take a bit to get used to spending Skill Points with him, but the build itself is a piece of cake. If you have been sleeping on him, now is a good time to lace up the gloves.