Honkai: Star Rail Yukong Character Guide

Introduction

Yukong is an Imaginary-Type character following the Path of Harmony. Her Skill can increase the ATK of all allies. Her Ultimate can buff her Skill and increase the Crit Rate and Crit DMG of all allies, as well as dealing DMG to a single target enemy.

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Skills Overview

Basic Attack - Arrowslinger

Deals 50%–110% of Yukong's ATK as Imaginary DMG to a target enemy.

Skill - Emboldening Salvo

Obtains 2 stack(s) of "Roaring Bowstrings" (to a maximum of 2 stacks). When "Roaring Bowstrings" is active, the ATK of all allies increases by 40%–88%, and every time an ally's turn ends, Yukong loses 1 stack of "Roaring Bowstrings."
When it's the turn where Yukong gains "Roaring Bowstrings" by using Skill, "Roaring Bowstrings" will not be removed.

Ultimate - Diving Kestrel

If "Roaring Bowstrings" is active on Yukong when her Ultimate is used, additionally increases all allies' CRIT Rate by 21%–29.4% and CRIT DMG by 39%–70.2%. At the same time, deals Imaginary DMG equal to 228%–410.4% of Yukong's ATK to a single enemy.

Talent - Seven Layers, One Arrow

Basic ATK additionally deals Imaginary DMG equal to 40%–88% of Yukong's ATK, and increases the Toughness Reduction of this attack by 100%. This effect can be triggered again after 1 turn(s).

Technique - Chasing the Wind

After using her Technique, Yukong enters Sprint mode for 20 seconds. In Sprint mode, her Movement SPD increases by 35%, and Yukong gains 2 stack(s) of "Roaring Bowstrings" when she enters battle by attacking enemies.

Ascension 2 - Archerion

Yukong can resist 1 debuff application for 1 time. This effect can be triggered again in 2 turn(s).

Ascension 4 - Bowmaster

When Yukong is on the field, Imaginary DMG dealt by all allies increases by 12%.

Ascension 6 - Majestas

When "Roaring Bowstrings" is active, Yukong regenerates 2 additional Energy every time an ally takes action.

TLDR

Yukong has a lot of pros for a 4-star character (even more at E6), but it comes with one important con; she's really hard to build/play due to her buff mechanic and is also SP negative to the team.

First of all, let's talk about her Skill. Using Yukong's Skill, she will generate 2 stacks of Roaring Bowstrings to herself. When she has those stacks, the team will get an ATK bonus. This is easy enough to understand.

Roaring Bowstrings will lose 1 stack of it for each ally's turn and NOT action. This means that using Ultimate or triggering follow-up attacks won't make it lose 1 stack of Roaring Bowstrings and will fully benefit from the buffs provided.

Now for the Ultimate. If there is AT LEAST 1 STACK OF ROARING BOWSTRINGS, her Ultimate will increase the team's Crit Rate and Crit DMG, while also dealing some big Imaginary DMG. If she does NOT HAVE any Roaring Bowstrings, this Ultimate will only deal damage but not provide any buff. Yeah, caps lock because it's really important.
In short, if you want to use her Ultimate to get that sweet Crit Rate and DMG, make sure to use her Skill first before using Ultimate (you don't have to IF you have 1 stack of Roaring Bowstrings or you have her E6). Otherwise, it will really be a waste of Energy. This is why I mentioned that she is considered SP negative; as she constantly need to use Skill Point to get those buffs.

Traces Priorities

Skill > Ultimate > Basic ATK > Talent

Recommended Light Cones

1. Past Self in Mirror (5⭐)
2. But the Battle Isn't Over (5⭐)
3. Past and Future (4⭐)
4. Planetary Rendezvous (4⭐)
5. Memories of the Past (4⭐)
6. Dance! Dance! Dance! (4⭐)
7. Carve the Moon, Weave the Clouds (4⭐)
8. Meshing Cogs (3⭐)

1) Past Self in Mirror

Increases the wearer's Break Effect by 60~100%. When the wearer uses their Ultimate, increases all allies' DMG by 24~40%, lasting for 3 turn(s). Should the wearer's Break Effect exceed or equal 150%, 1 Skill Point will be recovered.

2) But the Battle Isn't Over

Increases the wearer's Energy Regeneration Rate by 10~18% and regenerates 1 Skill Point when the wearer uses their Ultimate on an ally. This effect can be triggered once after every 2 uses of the wearer's Ultimate. When the wearer uses their Skill, the next ally taking action (except the wearer) deals 30~50% more DMG for 1 turn(s).

3) Past and Future

When the wearer uses their Skill, the next ally taking action (except the wearer) deals 16~32% increased DMG for 1 turn(s).

4) Planetary Rendezvous

After entering battle, if an ally deals the same DMG Type as the wearer, DMG dealt increases by 12~24%.

5) Memories of the Past

Increases the wearer's Break Effect by 28~56%. When the wearer attacks, additionally regenerates 4~8 Energy. This effect cannot be repeatedly triggered in a single turn.

6) Dance! Dance! Dance!

When the wearer uses their Ultimate, all allies' actions are Advanced Forward by 16~24%.

7) Carve the Moon, Weave the Clouds

At the start of the battle and whenever the wearer's turn begins, one of the following effects is applied randomly: All allies' ATK increases by 10~20%, all allies' CRIT DMG increases by 12~24%, or all allies' Energy Regeneration Rate increases by 6~12%. The applied effect cannot be identical to the last effect applied, and will replace the previous effect. The applied effect will be removed when the wearer has been knocked down. Effects of the same type cannot be stacked.

8) Meshing Cogs

After the wearer uses attacks or gets hit, additionally regenerates 4~8 Energy. This effect cannot be repeatedly triggered in a single turn.

Recommended Relics & Planar Set

1. Relics
   • Musketeer of Wild Wheat + Wastelander of Banditry Desert
   • Longevous Disciple + Messenger Traversing Hackerspace
2. Planar Set
   • Fleet of the Ageless
   • Broken Keel
   • Penacony, Land of the Dreams

Cavern Relics

Relic Set (Musketeer of Wild Wheat + Wastelander of Banditry Desert)

2 Piece: ATK increases by 12%.
2 Piece: Increases Imaginary DMG by 10%.

Relic Set (Longevous Disciple + Messenger Traversing Hackerspace)

2 Piece: Increases Max HP by 12%.
2 Piece: Increases SPD by 6%.

Planar Ornaments

Planetary Set (Fleet of the Ageless)

2 Piece: Increases the wearer's Max HP by 12%. When the wearer's SPD reaches 120 or higher, all allies' ATK increases by 8%.

Planetary Set (Broken Keel)

2 Piece: Increases the wearer's Effect RES by 10%. When the wearer's Effect RES is at 30% or higher, all allies' CRIT DMG increases by 10%.

Planetary Set (Penacony, Land of the Dreams)

2 Piece: Increases wearer's Energy Regeneration Rate by 5%. Increases DMG by 10% for all other allies that are of the same Type as the wearer.

Team Recommendations

Basic Team for F2P / Premium

Yukong is an amazing support character (even better at E6). If you use 'But the Battle Isn't Over' or 'Past and Future,' you need to build Yukong to have her SPD just before your Main DPS so they can get the ATK buff from her Skill. But if you use LC like Planetary Rendezvous, it is much more reliable as it does not have any specific condition and is always active (although only if your Main DPS is Imaginary type).
Yukong: Buffer
Clara / Seele / Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae: Main DPS
Welt / Silver Wolf / Other Harmony or debuffer character: Buffer / Debuffer
Luocha or any other healer and shielder: Healer / Shielder

Eidolons

Best Eidolons: E2 & E6

E1: Aerial Marshal
At the start of battle, increases the SPD of all allies by 10% for 2 turn(s).

E2: Skyward Command ⭐
When any ally's current energy is equal to its energy limit, Yukong regenerates an additional 5 energy. This effect can only be triggered once for each ally. The trigger count is reset after Yukong casts her Ultimate.

E3: Torrential Fusillade
Skill Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Basic ATK Lv. +1, up to a maximum of Lv. 10.

E4: Zephyrean Echoes
When "Roaring Bowstrings" is active, Yukong deals 30% more DMG to enemies.

E5: August Deadshot
Ultimate Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Talent Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15.

E6: Bowstring Thunderclap ⭐
When Yukong uses her Ultimate, she immediately gains 1 stack(s) of "Roaring Bowstrings."

Note: When a E6 Yukong uses her Ultimate without any Roaring Bowstrings stack, it will provide 1 Roaring Bowstrings stack right before the attack, meaning that the Roaring Bowstrings created in such way will provide all the ATK, CRIT Rate and CRIT DMG buff.