On the Interastral Peace Corporation's wanted list, Kafka's only has two things — her name, and a single sentence: "Likes collecting coats." Little is known about this Stellaron Hunter, other than that she is one of Destiny's Slave Elio's most trusted members. In order to achieve Elio's envisioned future, Kafka gets to work.
To learn more about Kafka check the sections below. Use the tabs to quickly switch to the kind of information you're looking for - kit, traces, review or build guides.
Kafka has at least one video guide available, so if you prefer this sort of medium to learn more about a character, check it out:
Last review update
Patch 2.0
Last major build/calcs update
Patch 2.0
Last profile update*
September 15th, 2024
*Profile update means smaller edits to relics, stats, synergies or teams that don't require new calculations.
To learn more about Kafka check the sections below. Use the tabs to quickly switch to the kind of information you're looking for - kit, traces, review or build guides.
Profile
Review
Build and teams
MoC/PF/AS Statistics
Calculations
Profile
Midnight Tumult
Single Target
Energy gain: 20
Break: 10
Caressing Moonlight
Blast
Energy gain: 30
Break: 20 + 10 adjacent
Twilight Trill
AoE | 120 energy cost
Energy gain: 5
Break: 20
Gentle but Cruel
Single Target
Energy gain: 10
Break: 10
Mercy Is Not Forgiveness
Energy gain: 0
Break: 20
Torture
Plunder
Thorns
Da Capo
Eidolon 1
When the Talent triggers a follow-up attack, there is a 100% base chance to increase the DoT received by the target by 30% for 2 turn(s).
Fortississimo
Eidolon 2
While Kafka is on the field, DoT dealt by all allies increases by 25%.
Capriccio
Eidolon 3
Skill Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Basic ATK Lv. +1, up to a maximum of Lv. 10.
Recitativo
Eidolon 4
When an enemy target takes DMG from the Shock status inflicted by Kafka, Kafka additionally regenerates 2 Energy.
Doloroso
Eidolon 5
Ultimate Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Talent Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15.
Leggiero
Eidolon 6
The DMG multiplier for Shock DMG dealt by Ultimate, Technique, or the follow-up attack triggered by Talent increases by 156%, and extends the duration of Shock on the enemy target by 1 turn(s).
Review
Strong single target and AoE damage, making her very versatile,
Consistent damage output due to DoTs,
Can force proc DoTs on enemies to frontload damage,
Doesn’t care about CRIT stats at all,
Easy DoT application thanks to her Talent.
Extremely high investment required for both her and her teammates,
Wants potentially unreasonable amounts of SPD,
Greatly benefits from her A6 meaning she takes a while to reach her max.
The Spirit Whisperer and Destiny’s Slave, Kafka expertly carries out large-scale devastation. She is capable of instantaneously triggering DoT damage on enemies, meaning that with some setup in applying several damage over time debuffs to enemies, Kafka can swoop in and snap enemies out of existence. Due to her DoT-heavy gameplay, Kafka also enjoys focusing almost exclusively on ATK% and some Effect Hit Rate, meaning she does not care for CRIT stats at all.
Kafka’s Skill is what acts as this metaphorical snap. She deals damage to a target enemy as a Blast AoE, hitting adjacent foes as well, and if the enemy you targeted has DoT debuffs on them, they will all immediately deal up to 75% of their original damage. Yes, all of them. Get yourself some DoT-applying teammates and watch the fireworks happen.
Her Ultimate can help start the chain. She deals up to 80% of her ATK to all enemies and has a 100% base chance to apply Shock for 2 turns. In addition to this, enemies will also instantly take a damage instance from said Shock state upon application, a whopping 290% of Kafka’s ATK at max Trace Level.
Kafka’s Talent is also quite a cheeky tool to apply Shock early. When any ally uses a Basic ATK on an enemy, Kafka will instantly perform a follow-up attack onto that target, dealing up to 140% of her ATK and having a 100% base chance to apply the same Shock debuff as the one on her Ultimate. She only gets to do this once per turn, but considering you’re going to have some of your other teammates Basic Attacking a lot, this is pretty much guaranteed to be used at every available instance.
Her Bonus Traces just add to this by improving her consistency with A6 by increasing the base chance for her own Shock debuffs to be applied by 30%, for a new base chance of 130%, and allowing her Ultimate to also explode all DoTs instead of just Shock with her A2. Her A4 grants 5 energy back when a Shocked enemy is defeated.
Kafka really has no need for her Eidolons to be superb, but her E1 and E2 allow her to amplify overall DoT damage for herself and her allies, with E1 causing a target hit by her Talent to take 30% more DoT damage, and E2 increasing all allies’ DoT damage by 25% while Kafka is alive and on the field. Again, Kafka does not need either of these but they are potentially valuable things to have and are comparatively quite accessible should you wish to pull for Eidolons.
Kafka is really not that complicated; the game plan is simple, right? Just apply as many DoT debuffs on enemies as you can and then have Kafka obliterate them. Well… Sort of. Due to the nature of Kafka’s kit, she can safely ignore the typically important stats like CRIT Rate and CRIT DMG, since DoTs simply aren’t capable of hitting crits. However, again due to the nature of Kafka’s kit, she wants SPD and she wants an obscene amount of it. Getting enough Effect Hit Rate and SPD without sacrificing ATK% can be genuinely quite hard.
Adding to this, Kafka’s preferred teammate lineup can also be very against the grain. For Harmony characters, Yukong is completely wasted on Kafka as the CRIT buffs do not help her. For Bronya, aside from the Turn Advance, Bronya’s CRIT buffs are also entirely wasted on a DoT-centric team. Bronya is however still usable, and maybe even good in highly optimized settings, but is generally better used on your second side team.
Instead, a great Harmony teammate is everyone’s favorite Lead Researcher, Asta. She can increase everyone’s ATK and SPD, two things that Kafka absolutely cannot have too much of. Tingyun is also great as her Ultimate can provide more Ultimate uptime for Kafka, and Tingyun’s ATK% buff can be maintained on Kafka permanently, but Tingyun is exclusively buffing Kafka, so using other DoT characters in this situation can be unfavorable.
Kafka can choose to instead be paired with more DoT-inflicting characters. In these situations, the most important thing for Kafka is to have enough DoTs on the enemy to actually dish out small nuclear detonations, meaning she wants to be paired with characters who apply said DoT. In particular, Sampo Koski’s DoT enhancing Ultimate finally has a real use case, and seeing as he can apply up to 5 stacks of Wind Shear at a breakneck pace and also maintain them, he is a complete no-brainer pairing with Kafka. For tough single-target encounters, Luka also makes a fantastic teammate due to his absurdly high Max HP% damage from Bleed.
Final good pairs are of course other Nihility units and debuffers. Pela and Silver Wolf can contribute immensely to increasing the team’s overall damage, far more than a Harmony character (besides maybe Asta and Bronya) would be able to. Silver Wolf in particular being able to implant weaknesses into enemies allows Kafka to frequently get additional sources of DoT from Weakness Breaks, amplifying damage even further.
The issue comes with maintaining these teams, as they tend to be really quite SP-intensive. Sampo can mostly switch to Basic Attacking after his Wind Shear is stacked, but if you’re using Luka or Silver Wolf, you may struggle to keep up with the SP costs, and the absolute worst-case scenario is Kafka being unable to use her Skill because she is pretty much all of that team’s damage. The teammates also need to be very well built since the DoT explosion from her Skill and Ultimate are based on your teammates’ DoT stats, so don’t expect Kafka to hit crazy hard in the late game if your Sampo is level 20.
There’s been a lot of mention of Sampo in this review, and that’s no accident. Kafka does not currently have a true dedicated support for her style of gameplay. It just so happens that Sampo is the closest to being that for her, and as such is the next best thing. While Kafka can make do with someone like Serval, Kafka really wants to be paired with Sampo because he synergizes the best with what she wants to do, and not by a small margin. This may change in the future, and maybe a perfect support unit is released for Kafka, but please do not pull for Kafka with the hopes that that will occur, because there’s absolutely no guarantee.
She is a great character already, and she can perform fantastically, especially with Sampo, or with Tingyun and Asta, having a theoretical damage ceiling far above the clouds of most other characters, and future DoT-based characters are likely to work well with her as well, but if you want to pull for her, do it for her and not for hypothetical future releases, even if they would, in theory, be amazing together.
Besides, who doesn’t love looking at fireworks? “Boom.”
Honkai: Star Rail is a game where team building matters most and while our tier list takes the optimal setup into account, a lot of characters can work and do well - even those ranked lower - when you invest into them. Also for story or lower difficulties of Simulated Universe, you don't need to worry about ratings and tiers. You can safely clear that content even with F2P characters as long as you build your team correctly.
Character at 5★ are rated at their Eidolon 0 with their best in slot non-limited Light Cone.
Available ratings:
MoC
PF
AS
Build and teams
The percentage numbers showcase the relative DPS increase when you take into account the set bonus only. For some characters there's no DPS (or its equivalent) available and in that case we listed the sets in the order of priority. If a characters uses the Pioneer Diver of Dead Waters, the 100% uptime marking means that they can easily apply the debuff with their skills to activate the 100% bonus to Crit Rate / Crit.
100%
Increases ATK by 12%.
For every DoT the target enemy is afflicted with, the wearer will ignore 6% of target's DEF when dealing DMG to them. This effect is valid for a max of 3 DoTs.
97.70%
Increases Lightning DMG by 10%.
When the wearer uses Skill, increases the wearer's ATK by 20% for 1 turn(s).
97.44%
Increases Lightning DMG by 10%.
When the wearer uses Skill, increases the wearer's ATK by 20% for 1 turn(s).
Increases DMG dealt to enemies with debuff by 12%.
Increases CRIT Rate by 4%. The wearer deals 8%/12% increased CRIT DMG to enemies with at least 2/3 debuffs. After the wearer inflicts a debuff on enemy targets, the aforementioned effects increase by 100%, lasting for 1 turn.
103.28%
160 SpeedIncreases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD is equal to or higher than 135/160, the wearer deals 12%/18% more DMG.
100%
135 SpeedIncreases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD is equal to or higher than 135/160, the wearer deals 12%/18% more DMG.
96.95%
Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD reaches 120 or higher, the wearer's ATK increases by an extra 12%.
SPD (breakpoint) = EHR (Until Cap) > ATK% > Break Effect
HP: 3000+
DEF: 900+
ATK: 3400 - 3800+
SPD: 134 / 143 (Recommended) / 160
EFFECT HIT RATE: 29%
Ultimate > Skill > Talent > Basic
Torture (A2) > Thorns (A6) > Plunder (A4)
The numbers show the percentage damage output increase/decrease compared to the Light Cone marked with 100%.
125.09%
Increases DMG dealt by the wearer by 24/28/32/36/40%. After every attack launched by wearer, their SPD increases by 4.8/5.6/6.4/7.2/8%, stacking up to 3 times. If the wearer hits an enemy target that is not afflicted by Erode, there is a 100% base chance to inflict Erode to the target. Enemies afflicted with Erode are also considered to be Shocked and will receive Lightning DoT at the start of each turn equal to 60/70/80/90/100% of the wearer's ATK, lasting for 1 turn(s).
Source: Event Warp (limited)
121.88%
For every debuff the target enemy has, the DMG dealt by the wearer increases by 12/15/18/21/24%, stacking up to 3 time(s). This effect also applies to DoT.
Source: Stellar Warp
102.43%
Increases Effect Hit Rate of its wearer by 20/25/30/35/40% and increases DoT by 24/30/36/42/48%.
Source: Stellar Warp
100.00%
Increases the Break Effect dealt by the wearer by 16/20/24/28/32%, and increases their DMG to enemies afflicted with Shock or Wind Shear by 16/20/24/28/32%. This also applies to DoT.
Source: Echo of War | Forgotten Hall Store
97.52%
Increases the wearer's Break Effect by 20/25/30/35/40%. When the wearer unleashes their Ultimate, increases DoT dealt by the wearer by 24/30/36/42/48% for 2 turn(s). Defeating the target suffering from the wearer's DoT allows the wearer to regenerate 4/4.5/5/5.5/6 Energy.
Source: Herta's Store
The teams in the section are generated based on the current Memory of Chaos data we have gathered. If you want to see more statistics about the mode, check the MoC/PF/AS Statistics tab.
MoC/PF/AS Statistics
This section contains information about Kafka performance in the latest Memory of Chaos cycle (2.4), latest Pure Fiction (2.4) and the latest Apocalyptic Shadow (2.4), and the commonly used Relics and Cones in both modes. The page will be automatically updated every 2 weeks once enough data is gathered in the current cycle.
If you want to share your clear information with us, you simply need to fill the form below and provide us with your UID and make your Hoyo profile public - we will automatically parse the MoC/PF clear information from your profile after that!
MoC/PF/AS Stats FormCharacters are ranked with appearance rate, which is how often a character was used in Memory of Chaos by the players who we have scanned, regardless of whether they own the character or not. Ownership rate currently cannot be obtained.
Characters are ranked with appearance rate, which is how often a character was used in Pure Fiction by the players who we have scanned, regardless of whether they own the character or not. Ownership rate currently cannot be obtained.
Characters are ranked with appearance rate, which is how often a character was used in Apocalyptic Shadow by the players who we have scanned, regardless of whether they own the character or not. Ownership rate currently cannot be obtained.
This section lists the characters that were most commonly paired with Kafka in the current phase of Memory of Chaos.
This section lists the characters that were most commonly paired with Kafka in the current phase of Pure Fiction.
This section lists the characters that were most commonly paired with Kafka in the current phase of Apocalyptic Shadow.
Eidolons data comes from players we have scanned who used Kafka in the current MoC cycle (1903), in the current PF cycle (3370) or in the current AS cycle (375) and had the character placed in their Profile.
64.25%
8.65 cyc.Eidolon 0
16.51%
7.84 cyc.When the Talent triggers a follow-up attack, there is a 100% base chance to increase the DoT received by the target by 30% for 2 turn(s).
10.07%
6.72 cyc.While Kafka is on the field, DoT dealt by all allies increases by 25%.
1.24%
7.15 cyc.Skill Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Basic ATK Lv. +1, up to a maximum of Lv. 10.
0.73%
5.75 cyc.When an enemy target takes DMG from the Shock status inflicted by Kafka, Kafka additionally regenerates 2 Energy.
0.19%
99.99 cyc.Ultimate Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15. Talent Lv. +2, up to a maximum of Lv. 15.
7.07%
4.14 cyc.The DMG multiplier for Shock DMG dealt by Ultimate, Technique, or the follow-up attack triggered by Talent increases by 156%, and extends the duration of Shock on the enemy target by 1 turn(s).
Light Cones are ranked with usage rate among the players we have scanned who used Kafka in the current MoC cycle (1903), in the current PF cycle (3370) or in the current AS cycle (375) and had the character placed in their Profile.
64.59%
8.19 cyc.Increases DMG dealt by the wearer by 24/28/32/36/40%. After every attack launched by wearer, their SPD increases by 4.8/5.6/6.4/7.2/8%, stacking up to 3 times. If the wearer hits an enemy target that is not afflicted by Erode, there is a 100% base chance to inflict Erode to the target. Enemies afflicted with Erode are also considered to be Shocked and will receive Lightning DoT at the start of each turn equal to 60/70/80/90/100% of the wearer's ATK, lasting for 1 turn(s).
Source: Event Warp (limited)
21.85%
8.84 cyc.For every debuff the target enemy has, the DMG dealt by the wearer increases by 12/15/18/21/24%, stacking up to 3 time(s). This effect also applies to DoT.
Source: Stellar Warp
7.17%
8.73 cyc.Increases the wearer's Break Effect by 20/25/30/35/40%. When the wearer unleashes their Ultimate, increases DoT dealt by the wearer by 24/30/36/42/48% for 2 turn(s). Defeating the target suffering from the wearer's DoT allows the wearer to regenerate 4/4.5/5/5.5/6 Energy.
Source: Herta's Store
3.95%
8.7 cyc.Increases the Break Effect dealt by the wearer by 16/20/24/28/32%, and increases their DMG to enemies afflicted with Shock or Wind Shear by 16/20/24/28/32%. This also applies to DoT.
Source: Echo of War | Forgotten Hall Store
1.51%
8 cyc.Increases the wearer's DMG to debuffed enemies by 24/28/32/36/40%. When the wearer uses their Skill, the Effect Hit Rate for this attack increases by 18/21/24/27/30%, and ATK increases by 24/28/32/36/40%.
Source: Stellar Warp
0.32%
99.99 cyc.Increases Effect Hit Rate of its wearer by 20/25/30/35/40% and increases DoT by 24/30/36/42/48%.
Source: Stellar Warp
0.26%
10 cyc.When the wearer hits an enemy and if the hit enemy is not already Ensnared, then there is a 60/70/80/90/100% base chance to Ensnare the hit enemy. Ensnared enemies' DEF decreases by 12/13/14/15/16% for 1 turn(s).
Source: Stellar Warp
0.15%
9 cyc.Increases wearer's Effect Hit Rate by 40/45/50/55/60%. When the wearer deals DMG to an enemy inflicted with Wind Shear, Burn, Shock, or Bleed, they will individually gain 1 stack of Prophet. This effect can stack up to 4 times. In a single battle, each type of DoT can only generate 1 stack of Prophet. Every stack of Prophet increases wearer's ATK by 5/6/7/8/9% and the DoT dealt will ignore 7.2/7.9/8.6/9.3/10% of the target's DEF.
Source: Event Warp (limited)
0.12%
99.99 cyc.Increases the wearer's Effect Hit Rate by 20/25/30/35/40%. When the wearer attacks enemies that have reduced DEF, regenerates 4/5/6/7/8 Energy.
Source: Mission Reward
0.06%
8.5 cyc.Increase the wearer's CRIT Rate by 8/10/12/14/16%. The wearer deals 24/30/36/42/48% more CRIT DMG to enemies that are currently DEF reduced or Slowed.
Source: Event Warp (limited)
Relic Sets are ranked with usage rate among the players we have scanned who used Kafka in the current MoC cycle (1903), in the current PF cycle (3370) or in the current AS cycle (375) and had the character placed in their Profile. The results are limited to top 5 combinations. Flex means 2 random Relic pieces that don't combine into a Set.
91.54%
Increases ATK by 12%.
For every DoT the target enemy is afflicted with, the wearer will ignore 6% of target's DEF when dealing DMG to them. This effect is valid for a max of 3 DoTs.
5.39%
Increases Lightning DMG by 10%.
When the wearer uses Skill, increases the wearer's ATK by 20% for 1 turn(s).
0.51%
ATK increases by 12%.
The wearer's SPD increases by 6% and Basic ATK DMG increases by 10%.
Increases Lightning DMG by 10%.
When the wearer uses Skill, increases the wearer's ATK by 20% for 1 turn(s).
0.48%
ATK increases by 12%.
The wearer's SPD increases by 6% and Basic ATK DMG increases by 10%.
0.29%
ATK increases by 12%.
The wearer's SPD increases by 6% and Basic ATK DMG increases by 10%.
Increases SPD by 6%.
When the wearer uses their Ultimate on an ally, SPD for all allies increases by 12% for 1 turn(s). This effect cannot be stacked.
81.94%
Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD is equal to or higher than 135/160, the wearer deals 12%/18% more DMG.
15.68%
Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD reaches 120 or higher, the wearer's ATK increases by an extra 12%.
0.51%
Increases the wearer's Effect Hit Rate by 10%. Meanwhile, the wearer's ATK increases by an amount that is equal to 25% of the current Effect Hit Rate, up to a maximum of 25%.
0.37%
Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When entering battle, if at least one other ally follows the same Path as the wearer, then the wearer's CRIT Rate increases by 12%.
0.32%
Increases the wearer's Max HP by 12%. When the wearer's SPD reaches 120 or higher, all allies' ATK increases by 8%.
Relic Stats are shown based on the Relics used by the players we have scanned who used Kafka in the current MoC cycle (1903), in the current PF cycle (3370) or in the current AS cycle (375) and had the character placed in their Profile.
Calculations
Don't use the damage output calculations as an indication on who is worth pulling or investing as those are just simulations and in day-to-day gameplay there's a lot variables. Use the numbers only to supplement your knowledge and treat them as the 'floor' of a character's damage output which you can further scale with proper team and investment.
The simulation showcases characters damage potential in the 8 cycle turn limit of Memory of Chaos against 1 target and 3 targets. The section below has all the rules listed.
General:
Enemies:
Units:
Disclaimer for this particular calculations:
The enemies Speed in these calculations is at 100. As a baseline faster or slower enemies will increase or decrease Kafka`s damage potential impacting your in game results.
And here are the Relics and the Light Cone used in the calculations above:
Increases the Break Effect dealt by the wearer by 16/20/24/28/32%, and increases their DMG to enemies afflicted with Shock or Wind Shear by 16/20/24/28/32%. This also applies to DoT.
Source: Echo of War | Forgotten Hall Store
Increases ATK by 12%.
For every DoT the target enemy is afflicted with, the wearer will ignore 6% of target's DEF when dealing DMG to them. This effect is valid for a max of 3 DoTs.
Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. When the wearer's SPD is equal to or higher than 135/160, the wearer deals 12%/18% more DMG.
ATK (50.5%), Effect Hit Rate (11.66%), Speed (18.4)
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Kafka needs 28% Effect Hit Rate to guarantee Shock on 40% Res enemies. Build as much SPD as possible so she can detonate DoTs. Break Effect Rope can also be considered in niche cases. Genius of Brilliant Stars set is great against Quantum weak enemies (and when you pair Kafka with Silver Wolf).