The arrival of the second-anniversary character in Honkai Star Rail, Castorice, has completely shaken up the meta. Released in Version 2.6, this Quantum Remembrance character introduces a fresh and devastatingly powerful playstyle. She's a damage dealer who scales entirely off HP and, get this, doesn't use a single Skill Point! If you've been lucky enough to pull the enigmatic Chrysos Heir from Aidonia, you're in for a treat. This guide will cover everything you need to know about the phenomenal hsr castorice, from her unique kit to her best builds and teams.

Who is Castorice?

Castorice is more than just a powerful unit; she's a character steeped in the lore of Aidonia, the land that reveres death. As the Daughter of the River of Souls, she embarks on a journey to find the "Death" Coreflame. Her in-game presence is just as imposing as her backstory, bringing a memosprite companion, Netherwing, to the battlefield. This Quantum DPS is all about manipulating the party's HP to unleash colossal damage. She's a game-changer, and understanding her mechanics is the first step to mastering her.

Understanding Castorice's Unique Kit

Forget everything you know about Energy and Ultimates. Castorice uses a special charge system called "Newbud." Here's the breakdown:

• Newbud Generation: Castorice gains Newbud whenever any ally loses HP, whether from enemy attacks or her own abilities. Once the Newbud gauge is full (requiring a total of 34,000 HP loss), she can use her Ultimate.

• Skill - Silence, Wraithfly's Caress: This is her bread and butter. Castorice consumes 30% of all allies' current HP to deal significant Quantum DMG. Since it doesn't use a skill point, she can spam this every turn, enabling your supports to use their skills freely.

• Ultimate - Doomshriek, Dawn's Chime: This is where the magic happens. Castorice summons her memosprite, Netherwing, a massive dragon that creates a "Territory" on the field. This Territory debuffs all enemies, reducing their All-Type RES. Netherwing acts on its own and has its own skillset.

• Netherwing, the Memosprite: While Netherwing is active, Castorice's Skill becomes an even more powerful AoE Joint ATK. Netherwing itself can attack, but its most iconic move is a breath attack that consumes its own HP to deal ramping damage. Once its HP is depleted, it unleashes a final, devastating kamikaze Bounce attack, Wings Sweep the Ruins, before disappearing.

• Global Passive: Castorice has a unique passive that places an ally who receives a killing blow into a temporary stasis. They can act for one more turn, but will fall if not healed. It’s a fantastic safety net, but not a substitute for a proper sustain.

Building the Perfect Castorice

Building Castorice is all about maximizing her HP and CRIT values. Since she has the highest base HP in the game, she can reach some truly staggering numbers. Let's look at her best-in-slot gear.

Relics & Ornaments

Item	Set	Reason
Relics	4-pc Poet of Morning Collapse	This is her undisputed best set. It provides Quantum DMG and a massive CRIT Rate buff to both Castorice and Netherwing.
Ornaments	2-pc Bone Collection's Serene Demesne	The perfect complement, this set boosts her and her memosprite's CRIT DMG based on their HP.

Main Stats & Substats

• Body: CRIT DMG

• Feet: HP%

• Planar Sphere: Quantum DMG% or HP%

• Link Rope: HP%

For substats, you'll want to prioritize CRIT Rate until you're consistently activating your relic sets, then stack as much CRIT DMG and HP% as you can. SPD is a lower priority thanks to her A4 Trace providing a significant in-combat boost.

Best Light Cones for Castorice

This is one area where Castorice is a bit demanding. Her best options are quite specific, and there are very few good F2P-friendly choices.

1. Make Farewells More Beautiful (Signature LC): This is, without a doubt, her best Light Cone. It provides a huge HP boost, allows her and Netherwing to ignore enemy DEF, and even advances her action. It's a massive damage increase and highly recommended.

2. The Flower Remembers / Sweat Now, Cry Less (Battle Pass LCs): These are the next best options, providing valuable CRIT stats and DMG bonuses for her and Netherwing. If you don't have her signature, these are strong contenders.

Assembling the Ultimate Castorice Team

A proper castorice team is built around her unique HP-draining mechanic. This brings us to a critical rule: no castorice team should ever use a shielder. Shielders prevent HP loss, which directly stops Castorice from gaining Newbud for her Ultimate. You absolutely need a powerful healer.

Core Teammates:

• Healers (Abundance): Characters like Gallagher and Luocha are S-tier partners. Their immense healing throughput not only keeps your team alive but, thanks to Castorice's A2 Trace, their healing (including overhealing!) directly contributes to charging Newbud. This synergy is the key to her rotation. 😉

• Supports:

  • Remembrance Trailblazer: An incredible F2P option. They provide True DMG buffs that apply to both Castorice and Netherwing, help generate Newbud, and offer turn advancement.

  • Tribbie: Another HP-scaling character, Tribbie's universal buffs are perfect for Castorice. Her frequent follow-up attacks are also amazing for triggering healing from Luocha or Gallagher, further accelerating Newbud generation.

Example Premium Team:

• Castorice (DPS)

• Tribbie (Sub-DPS/Support)

• Remembrance Trailblazer (Support)

• Hyacine or Luocha (Sustain)

Can Castorice 0-Cycle? The Endgame Potential

So, the big question on every meta player's mind: can she achieve the coveted castorice 0cycle clear in Memory of Chaos? The answer is a resounding yes. With her signature Light Cone, decent Eidolons (especially E2), and a well-built team, her damage ceiling is astronomical. The strategy revolves around quickly generating Newbud by taking damage and healing it back, summoning Netherwing, and letting the dragon's multi-cast breath attack and finisher combo obliterate the field. It's a high-investment strategy, but watching Netherwing wipe the board is one of the most satisfying experiences in honkai star rail castorice gameplay. ✨

In conclusion, Castorice is an extraordinary addition to the Honkai: Star Rail roster. She's an SP-neutral, HP-scaling powerhouse who rewards a new, aggressive playstyle focused on HP management. While she might be tricky to build for F2P players due to her Light Cone dependency, the payoff is a DPS unit who is not only incredibly strong but also incredibly fun to play. Welcome the reaper, and enjoy the destruction! 🦋