The gaming landscape of Honkai: Star Rail has witnessed a seismic shift in its competitive meta. Recent data from the Memory of Chaos domain (affectionately known as MoC by veterans) reveals a startling dominance by certain characters that has left even seasoned players raising their eyebrows in astonishment.
The Memory of Chaos stands as the Mount Everest of Honkai: Star Rail's challenging content—a grueling 12-stage gauntlet where each level presents increasingly difficult enemies and obstacles. Unlike other content that remains static, MoC undergoes regular transformations every few weeks, forcing players to constantly reinvent their strategies and team compositions. It's not for the faint of heart or the casual weekend warrior.
The Reign of Ruan Mei
According to data shared by renowned Honkai analyst hxg_diluc, the elegant Harmony path character Ruan Mei has achieved what many thought impossible—a usage rate exceeding 97% in the current MoC rotation! This astronomical figure has sent shockwaves through the community, with many veterans claiming it's the highest pick rate they've ever witnessed in the game's history. Ruan Mei's unprecedented popularity isn't without reason; her specialized kit excels at weakening enemy defenses by depleting their Toughness bars while simultaneously enhancing her team's Weakness Break efficiency. Her recent banner re-run has also contributed to this surge in popularity, giving players who missed her initially a chance to add her to their roster.
The Supporting Cast
Not far behind the queen of the meta stands Firefly with an equally impressive 95% usage rate. This destruction-focused powerhouse from Version 2.3 has captured players' hearts and enemy hit points in equal measure. Firefly's synergy with Ruan Mei creates a devastating combo that players can't seem to resist, explaining why these two characters occupy the top spots so comfortably.
The full top 10 list reveals interesting patterns in the current meta:
-
Ruan Mei (97%)
-
Firefly (95%)
-
Aventurine (87%)
-
Trailblazer (86%)
-
Gallagher (73%)
-
Acheron (65%)
-
Sparkle (64%)
-
Robin (63%)
-
Boothill (59%)
-
Huohuo (55%)
The Shield Master and The Protagonist's Triumph
Aventurine secures a solid third place with his 87% usage rate, proving that defense can indeed be the best offense. This five-star support character brings both protection and power to any team composition. His shielding capabilities provide crucial survivability while his damage scaling with defensive stats makes him a unique dual-threat. As if that weren't enough, his ability to boost the team's Critical Damage ensures he'll remain a staple in many players' lineups.
Perhaps the most surprising entrant in the top ranks is the Trailblazer—the game's main character—sitting proudly at 86% usage. This has sparked numerous discussions among the community, with many pointing out how Honkai: Star Rail has succeeded where other gacha games have failed: making the protagonist actually useful in endgame content! 😮
The Harmony version of the Trailblazer has found perfect alignment with the current meta's focus on Break effects. This stands in stark contrast to games like Genshin Impact, where the Traveler consistently ranks near the bottom of competitive usage charts. Some players have even suggested that Genshin's developers could take notes from Honkai's approach to protagonist design.
Meta Implications and Future Outlook
The current MoC meta clearly revolves around Break effects and support synergies. Teams featuring Ruan Mei and Firefly have become so dominant that players without these characters may find themselves at a significant disadvantage. This raises interesting questions about game balance and power creep as Honkai: Star Rail moves into its next update cycle.
Will future characters be designed to counter this Break-focused meta? Or will we see new mechanics introduced to diversify team compositions? Only time will tell, but one thing remains certain—the Memory of Chaos will continue to evolve, challenging players to adapt or perish in its unforgiving domains.
For now, Ruan Mei sits comfortably on her throne, wielding influence over 97% of successful MoC runs—a testament to both her power and the community's recognition of it. In the ever-shifting landscape of gacha gaming, such dominance is as rare as it is impressive. Whether you love her or lack her, there's no denying that Ruan Mei has left an indelible mark on Honkai: Star Rail's competitive scene in 2026.
The Memory of Chaos waits for no one—and with reset periods approaching, players are scrambling to optimize their teams based on this data. Will you join the 97% embracing Ruan Mei's supremacy, or forge your own path through the chaos? The choice, as always in Honkai: Star Rail, remains yours to make.