Honkai: Star Rail Physical Character Tier List - From Sushang to Yunli, Who's the Strongest in 2026?

Alright folks, let's talk about something that might surprise you - Physical characters in Honkai: Star Rail. I know what you're thinking: "Physical? Isn't that the most boring element type?" Well, hold your horses! In this game, Physical isn't just about punching things really hard - it's about breaking those Toughness bars and making enemies go "ouch!" in style. And let me tell you, the meta has evolved so much since the early days that Physical characters are now absolute monsters in the right hands. So grab your snacks, because we're diving deep into the world of Physical destruction!

The Underdogs Who Deserve More Love

10. Sushang - The OG Chicken Summoner

Oh, Sushang. Remember when everyone was obsessed with her chicken summoning attack? Good times, good times. This four-star launch character was the talk of the town back in the day, but let's be real - she's been struggling to keep up with the power creep.

Why she's at the bottom:

• Single-target focus only (bye-bye, AoE content)

• Needs Eidolons to really shine

• Early game queen, endgame... not so much

But hey, she's got style points! And that chicken? Still adorable. If you're just starting out in 2026, she'll carry you through the early story, but don't expect her to solo Memory of Chaos for you.

9. Physical Trailblazer - Your First Love

Aww, remember when you first started playing and the Trailblazer was your everything? This Destruction unit is basically your tutorial character - easy to understand, straightforward to play. Single-target basics, AoE skill, enhanced damage with Ultimate... simple, right?

The harsh truth:

• Early game: "Wow, this is amazing!"

• Late game: "Why does my damage feel like tickling the enemy?"

The saving grace? All your investment isn't wasted since Trailblazer levels are shared across all versions. So go ahead, max them out - it's not like you have anything better to do with those early resources anyway!

The Solid Mid-Tier Squad

8. Hanya - The Skill Point Savior

Hanya came into our lives when we were all crying about Skill Points. Remember the Dan Heng: Imbibitor Lunae days? Yeah, we were desperate. Hanya was like that friend who shows up with pizza when you're starving - an absolute lifesaver!

What happened:

• Released to massive hype (those animations though! ✨)

• People learned to manage Skill Points better

• Sparkle and other supports stole her spotlight

She's still viable if you're building a specific team, but let's be honest - in 2026, there are just better options. Still, respect where it's due!

7. Natasha - The Freebie Healer

Natasha, Natasha, Natasha... she's like that reliable pair of shoes that's not fancy but gets the job done. Free for everyone, decent healing, and she'll be your main sustain for a good chunk of the early game.

Her healing kit:

• Skill: Single-target heal + follow-up healing

• Ultimate: Party-wide HP restoration

• Early game: "I will never replace you!"

• Endgame: "So... about that limited five-star healer..."

She's not gonna solo sustain your endgame content, but for everything else? She's your girl. And free is free, people!

6. Luka - The Bleed Machine

Don't mess with the Boxing Champion of Jarilo-VI! This guy means business. Luka is phenomenal at breaking Physical Weakness and applying that sweet, sweet Bleed effect. But here's the real kicker - his buffed Basic Attack can trigger all Bleed instances instantly. Talk about pain!

Build him right:

• Stack that Break Effect

• Apply Break DoT

• Spam enhanced basics for massive damage

He's like that friend who starts slow but once he gets going... oh boy, you better watch out!

The Heavy Hitters

5. Clara - The Counter Queen

Or should I say, Svarog is the real star here? Clara's whole thing is getting hit and hitting back harder. It's the classic "don't hit me or my robot dad will destroy you" strategy.

The good:

• Counter-attacks when Clara or her team gets hit

• Ultimate extends counter to team attacks

• Destruction path means higher aggro rate

The not-so-good:

• No guaranteed taunt (RNG, why must you hurt us so?)

• Needs March 7th or Lynx for consistency

Still, when she works, she WORKS. Watching Svarog just smack enemies around never gets old.

4. Argenti - The Erudition Savior

Erudition characters were kinda... meh for the longest time. Then Argenti showed up with his fabulous hair and said "hold my rose." This man deals damage to EVERYONE on the field with his Skill, but his Ultimate? That's where the magic happens.

Ultimate mechanics:

• Two stacks at 90 and 180 Energy

• Second stack = BIG damage

• First stack = decent for clearing mobs

The catch? He takes forever to ramp up unless you have specific supports. Tingyun and Huohuo basically become his best friends. But when he goes off? Beautiful. Just beautiful.

3. Robin - The Harmony Powerhouse

Remember when the Penacony trailer dropped and everyone lost their minds over Robin? Yeah, me too. And she didn't disappoint! Not only does she give us banger music tracks, but she's an absolute monster in combat.

What she brings to the party:

• Massive DMG, ATK, and Crit DMG boosts

• Instant team turn on Ultimate activation

• Extra damage during Ultimate when allies attack

She's basically the perfect follow-up attack enabler. Put her in a team with lots of damage instances and watch the numbers go brrrrr.

The Top Dogs

2. Boothill - The Dueling Specialist

Now here's a surprise - a Hunt character this high on the list! But Boothill isn't your typical Hunt unit. He's got this whole duel mechanic where he picks one enemy and says "it's just you and me, buddy" until one of you goes down.

Why he's special:

• High Toughness damage

• Can apply Physical Weakness (hello, versatility!)

• Single-target specialist who actually works in endgame

He's like that one friend who insists on 1v1s in every game but actually wins them all. As long as some enemies have Physical Weakness, Boothill will clear content for you. No questions asked.

1. Yunli - The New Queen of Physical

Drumroll please... 🥁 And the crown goes to Yunli! Released in Version 2.4, this Destruction unit took the meta by storm. She's essentially what happens when you take Clara, remove the RNG, and add steroids.

Why she's number one:

• Better version of Clara's counter-attack mechanic

• Attacks hit main target AND adjacent enemies

• Ultimate can be stacked twice (just like Argenti!)

• Destruction path = high aggro = more counters

Yunli is the perfect example of power creep done right. She takes a familiar concept and executes it better in every way. If you're building a Physical team in 2026, she's basically mandatory. Sorry, not sorry!

Final Thoughts

So there you have it - the state of Physical characters in Honkai: Star Rail as of 2026. From humble beginnings with Sushang and the Trailblazer to absolute powerhouses like Yunli and Boothill, Physical has come a long way.

Quick recap for those who scrolled:

Rank	Character	Path	Why They're Here
10	Sushang	The Hunt	OG but power crept
9	Physical TB	Destruction	Great starter, falls off
8	Hanya	Harmony	Skill Point savior (outdated)
7	Natasha	Abundance	Reliable free healer
6	Luka	Nihility	Bleed and break specialist
5	Clara	Destruction	Counter-attack queen (RNG dependent)
4	Argenti	Erudition	AoE king with slow ramp
3	Robin	Harmony	Ultimate support monster
2	Boothill	The Hunt	Dueling specialist
1	Yunli	Destruction	Current Physical meta queen

The moral of the story? Never underestimate Physical characters. What starts as "just punching things" can turn into absolute devastation in the right hands. And with new characters constantly being added, who knows what the Physical meta will look like next year?

So what do you think? Agree with the rankings? Still using Sushang in endgame content (you madlad)? Drop your thoughts below! And remember - in the world of Honkai: Star Rail, sometimes the simplest element can punch way above its weight. Literally. 👊