When I first picked up Jingliu in Honkai: Star Rail, I immediately understood why she was once the sword master of the Xianzhou Luofu and the mentor of Jing Yuan. She may have succumbed to Mara and escaped Starskiff Haven before being stopped by Jing Yuan, but in my team she feels less like a fugitive and more like an apex predator. As a 5-star Ice character following the Destruction path, she is a powerful main DPS who can take out multiple enemies at once. In 2026, her kit still rewards a precise build: you are not simply stacking Attack, you are managing a special state that drains HP from allies and turns it into terrifying damage. So how do I make her shine? Let me walk you through the relic sets, Light Cones, and team compositions I rely on.
Jingliu Best Build & Relic Sets
My first priority is always the damage core. When building Jingliu's relic stats, I focus on CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, ATK, and SPD. Is CRIT Rate the most important stat? Not exactly. Her Spectral Transmigration state already boosts her CRIT Rate, so I prefer to push CRIT DMG much harder.
4-Set Hunter of Glacial Forest
The 2-piece bonus increases Jingliu's Ice DMG by 10 percent, and the 4-piece bonus increases her CRIT DMG by 25 percent for 2 turns after she uses her Ultimate. Since she is an Ice-type character, increasing Ice DMG is incredibly beneficial. The CRIT DMG boost also pairs beautifully with the CRIT Rate she gains in Spectral Transmigration.
2-Set Rutilant Arena
The 2-piece bonus increases her CRIT Rate by 8 percent. When her CRIT Rate reaches 70 percent or higher, her Basic ATK and Skill DMG increase by 20 percent. Because Spectral Transmigration helps her hit that threshold, I almost always enjoy the extra damage.
Here is how I like to assign main stats and substats:
| Piece | Main Stat | Substat Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Body | CRIT DMG | CRIT Rate, ATK%, SPD |
| Feet | SPD | CRIT DMG, CRIT Rate, ATK% |
| Planar Sphere | Ice DMG Boost | CRIT DMG, CRIT Rate, SPD |
| Link Rope | ATK% | CRIT DMG, CRIT Rate, SPD |
I always chase CRIT DMG on every piece because Jingliu's built-in CRIT Rate buff makes those crits hit brutally hard. ATK and SPD are not far behind, since they raise her overall damage and let her act more often.
Jingliu Best Light Cones
Do I always need Jingliu's signature Light Cone? Not necessarily, but it is by far the smoothest option. Any Light Cone that buffs Ice DMG, CRIT stats, or ATK will work on her.
5-Star Light Cone: I Shall Be My Own Sword
This is Jingliu's signature weapon. It increases her CRIT DMG by 20 percent. When an ally gets attacked or loses HP, she gains one stack of Eclipse, up to a maximum of three. Each stack increases the DMG of her next attack by 14 percent. At three stacks, that attack also ignores 12 percent of the enemy's DEF. Since Jingliu already makes allies lose HP during Spectral Transmigration, she can stack this effect naturally. Is that not perfect synergy? I think so.
4-Star Light Cone: A Secret Vow
A Secret Vow increases her DMG by 20 percent. She also deals an extra 20 percent DMG to enemies whose current HP percentage is equal to or higher than her current HP percentage. Since Jingliu often operates at lower HP relative to enemies, this condition is surprisingly easy to trigger. It is a great 4-star alternative.
4-Star Light Cone Alternative: Under The Blue Sky
Under the Blue Sky increases Jingliu's ATK by 16 percent. When she defeats an enemy, her CRIT Rate increases by 12 percent for 3 turns. The ATK boost is always useful, and the CRIT Rate buff helps her land those critical hits as often as possible. There are not many 3-star Light Cones I would recommend, so this is my fallback 4-star pick.
Jingliu Best Team Compositions
The most important thing I remember when building a team around Jingliu is that she needs a healer. Her Spectral Transmigration state causes her to take HP away from her teammates, so without healing, the team can collapse quickly. I also want supports who help her enter that state faster or amplify her damage while she is inside it.
Here are the roles I prioritize:
| Role | What I Look For | Example Picks |
|---|---|---|
| Healer | Sustains the team through HP drain | Luocha, Huohuo |
| Action Advancer | Lets Jingliu act again to enter Spectral Transmigration faster | Bronya, Sparkle |
| Buffer | Increases ATK, CRIT DMG, or Energy | Tingyun, Ruan Mei |
| Debuffer | Reduces enemy DEF or Ice RES | Pela, Silver Wolf |
Why do I like Luocha or Huohuo specifically? Jingliu's HP drain can threaten the whole team, so having a healer who can keep everyone stable without demanding too many skill points is huge. Bronya, on the other hand, gives Jingliu extra turns, which means faster Spectral Transmigration uptime and more damage. Pela is another favorite because she reduces enemy DEF and can help against Ice-weak enemies.
Is Jingliu still worth building in 2026? If you enjoy high-risk, high-reward gameplay and want an Ice DPS who can erase entire waves, absolutely. She asks a lot from your team, but when the pieces line up, she delivers one of the most satisfying destruction loops in Honkai: Star Rail.