 Gepard |  Ice |  Preservation |  5-Star |
| Guides | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Light Cone | |||
Gepard makes his appearance in Honkai: Star Rail as the captain of the Silvermane Guards in Belebog city. With such a responsibility, gameplay-wise, he is given a suitable kit that focuses on defending himself and his allies to his utmost potential. When it comes to Preservation characters, he currently has the highest potential for creating strong shields, combining elements from both March 7th, with higher scaling shields, and Fire Trailblazer, who is able to shield all allies in the form of an AoE. Similarly, his shielding also scales with DEF, making light cones that allow him to increase DEF highly beneficial for him, as he can essentially become a formidable defensive unit that cannot be easily killed. On the other hand, the DEF stat doesn't essentially help him with his DPS potential until late game since his skill deals damage based on his ATK which only scales higher after his sixth ascension.
This makes it quite viable to build him entirely as a defensive unit instead. Generally speaking, his best light cones are well-aligned with those that are suitable for March 7th, making it simple to save resources and swap equipment between these two characters in Honkai: Star Rail. This is especially beneficial because both characters are also of the Ice element and have the ability to freeze enemies with a high Effect Hit Rate.
5 Amber
- Base ATK (LVL 80): 264
- Base DEF (LVL 80): 330
- Base HP (LVL 80): 846
- Effect : Increases the wearer’s DEF by 16%/20%/24%/28%/32% . If the wearer’s current HP is less than 50% of their Max HP, increases their DEF by a further 16%/20%/24%/28%/32% .
As a 3-star light cone, Amber can provide more utility than expected, especially at higher superimpose levels, making it a great free-to-play option. Generally speaking, players may not often see Gepard at low HP unless they are facing very challenging content. However, considering that his ascension trace increases the chance of Gepard being attacked, the secondary effect of Amber is still quite beneficial. Luckily, since DEF is the primary stat to prioritize for Gepard, dropping below 50% will only benefit him and the other team members, as he will be able to generate even stronger shields and improve overall survivability.
4 Landau's Choice
- Base ATK (LVL 80): 423
- Base DEF (LVL 80): 396
- Base HP (LVL 80): 952
- Effect : The wearer is more likely to be attacked, but DMG taken is reduced by 16%/18%/20%/22%/24% .
Being a member of the Landau family, together with her older sister Serval, it makes sense that this 4-star light cone is essentially designed as a 4-star option for Gepard. While it doesn't typically increase his DEF stat like many other preservation light cones, it features a unique ability to give Gepard even more aggro while reducing the damage taken, making him a true tank character even without having access to a direct taunt skill like the Fire Trailblazer. As such, players who are interested in such gameplay may find Landau's Choice a great option that gets the job done in a different but entirely viable way.
3 Day One of My New Life
- Base ATK (LVL 80): 370
- Base DEF (LVL 80): 463
- Base HP (LVL 80): 952
- Effect : Increases the wearer’s DEF by 16%/18%/20%/22%/24% . After entering battle, increases DMG RES of all allies by 8%/9%/10%/11%/12% . Effects of the same type cannot stack.
Day One of My New Life is another ideal 4-star light cone option for those who primarily want to focus on increasing the DEF stat while also providing additional damage reduction utility for the entire team. It also enables Gepard to create stronger shields with the added DEF. Therefore, the choice between Day One of My New Life and Landou's Choice essentially depends on which one players have obtained from the Gacha and whether they prefer a purely tanking Gepard or a team that prefers spreading the damage among team members.
2 Texture of Memories
- Base ATK (LVL 80): 529
- Base DEF (LVL 80): 529
- Base HP (LVL 80): 1058
- Effect : Increases the wearer’s Effect RES by 8%/10%/12%/14%/16% . If the wearer is attacked and has no Shield, they gain a Shield equal to 16%/20%/24%/28%/32% of their Max HP for 2 turn(s). This effect can only be triggered once every 3 turn(s). If the wearer has a Shield when attacked, the DMG they receive decreases by 12%/15%/18%/21%/24% .
Luckily, Gepard's best light cones include not only a 3-star free-to-play option but also a 5-star light cone, Texture of Memories, which can be obtained from Herta's Store by collecting enough Herta Bonds through completing Simulated Universe worlds and earning sufficient weekly points. This light cone offers unique aspects, such as increasing the wearer's Effect RES, making Gepard more resistant to debuffs and certain negative status effects, while also allowing him to gain a shield if he doesn't have one or reducing incoming damage when he already has a shield.
It is important to note that Texture of Memories may be better suited for players who have already obtained optimal relics for Gepard and have sufficient DEF stats, making additional DEF from the light cone unnecessary. Additionally, the shield provided by this light cone is based on his HP, which may not be ideal, but it is not a major concern since Gepard can often have a shield through his technique and Ultimate, and this mechanic serves as a fail-safe measure instead.
1 Moment of Victory
- Base ATK (LVL 80): 476
- Base DEF (LVL 80): 595
- Base HP (LVL 80): 1058
- Effect : Increases the wearer’s DEF by 24%/30%/36%/42%/48% and Effect Hit Rate by 20%/25%/30%/35%/40% . Increases the chance for the wearer to be attacked by enemies. When the wearer is attacked, increase their DEF by an additional 24%/30%/36%/42%/48% until the end of the wearer’s turn.
Unsurprisingly, being the signature 5-star light cone of Gepard, Moment of Victory is a perfect option for him if players have access to this light cone. While it can be obtained through Gacha, players also have the option to redeem this light cone by exchanging 600 Undying Starlight in the shop. This light cone not only significantly boosts Gepard's DEF stat, particularly when he is attacked - which is easily achieved due to his kit and the light cone's effect - but it also enhances his ability to consistently apply Freeze to enemies with the added Effect Hit Rate.
Honkai: Star Rail is now available on Android, iOS, and PC. A PlayStation version is in development.
