Honkai Star Rail Cerydra Guide (March 2026) Release Date, Kit

Updated by Ankit Babal
July 23, 2025
Gaming

Are you ready to meet Honkai Star Rail’s most strategic 5-star support character? As someone who’s been tracking every leak and official announcement since Amphoreus launched, I’m thrilled to share everything we know about Cerydra – the Chess Master Monarch who’s set to revolutionize team compositions when she arrives in HSR Version 3.5.

Cerydra is a 5-star Wind Harmony character releasing September 3, 2026, with a unique “Military Merit” system that massively amplifies Skill damage and provides perfect synergy with Phainon. Her kit focuses on single-target damage amplification through strategic buff management and action manipulation.

Whether you’re planning to pair her with Phainon or exploring her potential with other DPS characters, this comprehensive guide covers her complete leaked kit, ascension materials, optimal team compositions, and everything you need to know before her banner drops.

Honkai Star Rail Cerydra Quick Reference

Attribute	Details
Rarity	5-Star
Path	Harmony
Element	Wind
Release Date	September 3, 2026 (HSR 3.5 Phase 2)
Base ATK	620
Base HP	1,358
Base DEF	485
Base Speed	99
Energy Cost	130
Role	Support/Sub-DPS

Honkai Star Rail Cerydra Release Date

Cerydra is expected to be released on September 3, 2025, during the second phase of the Honkai Star Rail 3.5 update. Based on her drip marketing announcement order, she’ll feature in the second phase banner alongside potential reruns of older characters.

The HSR 3.5 update timeline looks like this:

Phase 1 (August 13 – September 3): Hysilens banner + potential Kafka rerun
Phase 2 (September 3 – September 24): Cerydra banner + potential Silver Wolf rerun

Mark your calendars and start saving those Stellar Jades! For more free pulls, check out our latest Honkai Star Rail codes guide to maximize your pulling power.

Cerydra Character Overview: The Chess Master Monarch

Cerydra, known by many titles including ‘Flamebearer,’ ‘Tyrant,’ ‘Empress,’ ‘Supreme Commander,’ and ‘Imperator,’ is a Chrysos Heir who wields the Coreflame of “Law” from the Titan Talanton. Her story is one of strategic brilliance and eventual isolation – she united the Chrysos Heirs after the fall of the Amphoreus Titans and established the foundation for Okhema’s current prosperity.

Lore Background:

Led the army that ended the Chrysos War
United the scattered Chrysos Heirs into a formidable force
Declared herself ruler of Okhema after achieving victory
Gradually disappeared from public view after a harsh military defeat
Known as a master strategist with chess-themed abilities

Her design perfectly reflects her regal status with a royal blue outfit, silver crown, and chess piece motifs that hint at her strategic nature.

Honkai Star Rail Cerydra Leaked Kit Analysis

Based on Version 3 beta leaks from trusted sources, Cerydra’s kit revolves around a unique “Military Merit” system that transforms allies into powerhouses. Here’s the complete breakdown:

Basic Attack: Maneuver – Expeditious Relocation

Type: Single Target Wind Damage
Multiplier: 50-110% ATK (scales with level)
Description: Standard single-target basic attack dealing Wind damage

Skill: Ascend – From Pawn to Queen

SP Cost: 1 Skill Point
Core Mechanic: Grants “Military Merit” to one ally and provides Cerydra with 1 Charge (max 8)
Key Feature: When Charge reaches 6 points, “Military Merit” upgrades to “Peerage”

Military Merit Effects:

Ally gains ATK boost equal to 18-25.2% of Cerydra’s ATK
Ally generates 1 Charge for Cerydra when using Basic Attack or Skill
Speed boost of 20 for 3 turns when Cerydra uses Skill

Peerage Effects (Advanced State):

72% CRIT DMG boost for Skill damage
Triggers “Coup de Main” when using Skills on enemies
Additional 10% All-Type RES PEN when Cerydra is in Departed state
Dispels Crowd Control debuffs

Ultimate: All is Chess, Checkmate in Four

Energy Cost: 130
Type: AoE Wind Damage
Multiplier: 144-259.2% ATK to all enemies
Special Effect: Gains 2 Charge, prioritizes granting Military Merit to position 1 if no ally has it

Talent: Glory to the Imperator

Passive Buff: Allies with Military Merit gain ATK increase equal to 18-25.2% of Cerydra’s ATK
Charge Generation: Cerydra gains 1 Charge when Military Merit ally uses Basic Attack/Skill
Limitation: Cannot gain Charges during Coup de Main

Technique: First-Move Advantage

Pre-Battle Buff: Grants Military Merit that transfers to active character
Battle Start: Automatically uses Skill once without consuming SP

Coup de Main Mechanic Explained

This is Cerydra’s signature ability that makes her incredibly powerful:

Activation: Triggered when Peerage ally uses Skill on enemies
Effect: Copies and immediately uses the ability about to be used, then uses the original ability
Result: Essentially doubles the damage and effects of the ally’s Skill
Limitation: Coup de Main won’t trigger another Coup de Main

This mechanic makes Cerydra perfect for Skill-focused DPS characters like Phainon, effectively doubling their burst potential.

HSR Cerydra Ascension Traces

Ascension 2 – Seeker

When Cerydra’s ATK exceeds 2000, she gains 18% CRIT DMG for every 100 ATK over the threshold, up to a maximum of 360%. This encourages building high ATK stats on Cerydra.

Ascension 4 – Observer

Increases Cerydra’s CRIT Rate by 100%
Gains 1 Charge when Military Merit ally uses Ultimate (once per battle)

Ascension 6 – Conqueror

Speed boost of 20 for Cerydra and Military Merit ally for 3 turns when using Skill
Regenerates 5 Energy when Military Merit ally uses Basic Attack/Skill

HSR Cerydra Eidolons Priority Guide (2026)

E1: Crown of Absolute Claim (Highest Priority)

Characters with Military Merit ignore 16% of target’s DEF when dealing damage. Peerage state adds another 20% DEF ignore for Skill damage. Additionally regenerates 2 Energy for the target ally when Cerydra uses Skill.

Value: Game-changing damage boost that makes this her most important Eidolon.

E2: Aspiration of the Collective (High Value)

Characters with Military Merit deal 40% more damage. When a teammate with Military Merit is present, Cerydra’s damage increases by 160%.

E4: The Realms Reforged (Decent)

Increases Ultimate damage multiplier by 240%.

E6: Fate in the Sea of Stars (Premium)

Characters with Military Merit gain 20% All-Type RES PEN. Cerydra deals additional Wind damage equal to 360% of her ATK after they attack (up to 20 times per Ultimate cycle).

Honkai Star Rail Cerydra Materials Guide (2026)

Start farming these materials now since most are already available in-game:

Ascension Materials

Material	Total Needed
Ethereal Omen	15
Echoing Wail	15
Charred Bud of Twilight	65
Eternal Lament	15
Credits	308,000

Trace Materials

Material	Total Needed
Firmament Note	18
Ethereal Omen	41
Celestial Section	69
Echoing Wail	56
Heavenly Melody	139
Eternal Lament	58
Daythunder Anamnesis	12
Tracks of Destiny	8
Credits	3,000,000

Farming Priority:

Start with Ethereal Omen and Echoing Wail (available now)
Stockpile Credits and EXP materials
Wait for HSR 3.5 to access Charred Bud of Twilight

Best Cerydra Team Compositions (March 2026)

Premium Hypercarry Team: Phainon + Cerydra

Team: Phainon / Cerydra / Sunday / Flex Support

This is the ultimate synergy team that maximizes both characters’ potential:

Phainon benefits massively from Coup de Main doubling his meteor attacks
Sunday provides additional action advance and SP recovery
Cerydra grants huge damage buffs and speed boosts
Flex slot can be Bronya for more buffs or a sustain unit if needed

Rotation:

Cerydra uses Skill on Phainon (grants Military Merit)
Build up to Peerage state through combat
Phainon uses Skill → Coup de Main triggers → Double damage
Sunday advances Phainon for more actions
Repeat until Ultimate is ready

F2P Friendly Option: Anaxa + Cerydra

Team: Anaxa / Cerydra / Tingyun / Natasha

Cerydra works well with non-Remembrance solo damage dealers like Anaxa who rely on Action Gauge mechanics.

Alternative DPS Options

Dr. Ratio: Benefits from RES PEN and Skill damage amplification
Seele: Can use the speed boosts for more turns
Jingliu: Post-buff synergy with Skill-focused gameplay

For more team building ideas, check our comprehensive Honkai Star Rail tier list to see how these characters rank in the current meta.

Cerydra vs Other Harmony Supports

Cerydra vs Tribbie

Cerydra: Single-target focused, better for hypercarry teams
Tribbie: More universal application, easier to use
Winner: Depends on team composition – Cerydra for Skill-heavy DPS, Tribbie for general use

Cerydra vs Sunday

Cerydra: Damage amplification through Military Merit system
Sunday: Action manipulation and SP recovery
Synergy: They work incredibly well together in premium teams

Cerydra vs Robin

Cerydra: Single-target specialist with unique mechanics
Robin: AoE team support with Ultimate-based gameplay
Use Case: Cerydra for single-target content, Robin for multi-target scenarios

Should You Pull for HSR Cerydra?

Pull Priority: HIGH

Reasons to Pull:

Unique support mechanics not found in other characters
Perfect synergy with Phainon (if you have him)
Future-proof design that may work with upcoming DPS characters
Harmony supports historically have long-term value

Skip Conditions:

Already have well-built Tribbie and Sunday
Focused primarily on AoE/multi-target content
Limited Stellar Jades and prioritizing other characters

Investment Recommendations

E0S0: Perfectly functional, significant upgrade over 4-star supports
E1: Major damage boost, recommended if you main hypercarry teams
E2+: Luxury territory, only for dedicated mains

Preparing for Cerydra’s Release

Pre-Farming Checklist

[ ] Farm 308,000 Credits for ascension
[ ] Collect available trace materials
[ ] Save 15,000+ Stellar Jades for guaranteed pull
[ ] Level up potential teammates (Phainon, Sunday, etc.)
[ ] Clear current endgame content to free up resources

Banner Strategy

Since Cerydra is likely in Phase 2 of 3.5, you have time to:

Test Hysilens in Phase 1
Save additional pulls from events and codes
Wait for community testing and optimal builds
Make informed pulling decisions

Looking ahead to future content, Cerydra’s unique mechanics position her well for the evolving meta. With more single-target focused endgame modes likely coming, investing in specialized supports like her could pay dividends.

For more character analysis and building guides, check out our Phainon best build guide to see how these two Chrysos Heirs work together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cerydra only good with Phainon?

While Cerydra has incredible synergy with Phainon due to their complementary kits, she’s designed to work with any Skill-focused DPS character. She’s expected to be useful for characters specializing in single-target damage who rely on Action Gauge mechanics, making her viable with characters like Anaxa, Dr. Ratio, and future DPS units.

When exactly does Cerydra release?

Cerydra is expected to release on September 3, 2025, during the second phase of Honkai Star Rail Version 3.5. This date assumes HoYoverse follows their standard 6-week update cycle and 21-day banner phases.

What makes Cerydra’s “Coup de Main” special?

Coup de Main is Cerydra’s signature mechanic that essentially doubles your DPS ally’s Skill usage. It copies and immediately uses the ability about to be used, then follows with the original ability. This means if Phainon uses his Skill, Coup de Main triggers first with the same damage and effects, then Phainon’s original Skill activates.

How does Cerydra’s Military Merit system work?

Military Merit is a buff Cerydra grants to one ally that provides multiple benefits: ATK boost based on Cerydra’s ATK, charge generation for Cerydra when the ally attacks, and speed boosts. When Cerydra accumulates 6 charges, Military Merit upgrades to “Peerage,” which adds massive CRIT DMG bonuses and enables the Coup de Main mechanic.

Is Cerydra worth pulling if I don’t have Phainon?

Yes! While Phainon is her most synergistic partner, Cerydra works well with any Skill-heavy DPS character. Her damage amplification, speed boosts, and RES PEN make her valuable for hypercarry compositions regardless of the specific DPS unit.

What are Cerydra’s material requirements?

Cerydra needs 15 Ethereal Omen, 15 Echoing Wail, 65 Charred Bud of Twilight, and 15 Eternal Lament for ascension, plus 308,000 Credits. For traces, she requires significantly more materials including 58 Eternal Lament and 12 Daythunder Anamnesis, totaling 3 million Credits for full investment.

How does Cerydra compare to other Harmony supports?

Cerydra specializes in single-target damage amplification while supports like Robin excel at team-wide buffs and Tribbie offers more universal application. Her power level is expected to surpass Tribbie and Hyacine, making her particularly suited for single-target damage-focused compositions.

Can I use Cerydra in Free-to-Play teams?

Absolutely! While premium teams with Sunday and Bronya maximize her potential, F2P alternatives work well. Try Cerydra with Tingyun (for energy and ATK buffs), Natasha (for sustain), and any Skill-based DPS you own. The core Military Merit mechanics remain powerful regardless of team cost.

Should I pull for Cerydra’s Eidolons?

E1 is highly recommended if you plan to use Cerydra as your main support, as it provides substantial DEF ignore and energy regeneration. E2 offers significant damage boosts but isn’t necessary for her core functionality. Higher Eidolons are luxury investments for dedicated users.

Will Cerydra get powercrept quickly?

Harmony supports historically have excellent longevity in Honkai Star Rail. Cerydra’s unique mechanics and single-target specialization give her a distinct niche that’s unlikely to be directly replaced. Her kit is designed to scale well with future DPS characters who rely on Skill damage.

Final Thoughts

Cerydra represents a new evolution in Honkai Star Rail’s support design, offering strategic depth through her Military Merit system and game-changing Coup de Main mechanic. Whether you’re a Phainon main looking for the perfect partner or someone seeking a powerful single-target support, she delivers exceptional value that will enhance your teams for months to come.

Remember to bookmark this guide and check back for updates as we get closer to her September 3rd release! For the latest HSR content and character guides, explore more of our comprehensive game coverage.

Last Updated: March 2026 | All information based on Version 3.5 beta leaks and official announcements