Video Guide:
Introduction:
This is a free-to-play teammate guide for the upcoming Imaginary Preservation five-star character, Aventurine. He is one of the characters to be released in Patch 2.1. Aventurine is the second limited preservation unit after Fu Xuan to be released in Honkai Star Rail, making him an invaluable character for free-to-play players. If you skipped Fu Xuan or, unfortunately, did not have enough stellar jades to pull her, you will be happy to know that Aventurine matches Fu Xuan’s sustain capabilities. I have found Aventurine’s technique to work amazingly well to shield all allies, allowing Aventurine to go skill point positive because he does not need to use his skill for the first few turns.
F2P Friendly?
I will go over non-gacha options if you want to go for Aventurine as a free-to-play player. Aventurine is a divisive character for the community because they do not like his personality; however, that does not affect his gameplay. I expect fewer people to spend money on Aventurine’s banner because Acheron is a Raiden Mei expy, and more people will pull for her. But if you are a free-play-player without a limited 5-star sustain character, I would personally recommend pulling for Aventurine over Acheron.
For this guide, I will not be going over any limited 5-star characters or 5-star light cones, not even Aventurine’s signature light cone, Inherently Unjust Destiny. If you have a limited 5-star character equivalent to one of the options I mention, replace the recommended one with your 5-star one. I will only be mentioning 5-star characters from the standard banner.
Teams:
Aventurine is a very flexible character and can be slotted on any team because he is a preservation unit.
Abilities:
Aventurine’s basic attack, skill, and ultimate scale off defense, so prioritize defense substats. Aventurine does not have a restriction like Acheron, so he can work on any team. However, optimally, you want to use follow up characters with Aventurine because his bonus ability, Bingo, provides him with a blind bet point for allies launching a follow-up attack. Aventurine’s talent makes it so that after reaching 7 points of Blind Bet, he launches a 7-hit follow-up attack, with each hit dealing imaginary damage equal to 25 percent of Aventurine's defense to a single random enemy.
Recommended Endgame Stats:
Ideally, you want to aim for 3600 defense with Aventurine because he scales off defense and is more likely to achieve that than the maximum of 4000 defense, which he would need to cap his bonus ability’s effect. If possible, get a 50 percent critical rate and 100 percent critical damage to reach the optimal critical ratio. You can also get away with 134 speed because he is not too reliant on speed.
Relic Set:
For Aventurine’s relic set, I recommend Knight of Purity Palace because it increases defense by 15 percent and increases the maximum damage that can be absorbed by a shield by 20 percent.
Planar Set:
For the 2-piece set, I recommend Inert Salsotto because it increases Aventurine’s Critical Rate by 8 percent. At a 50 percent critical rate, Aventurine’s follow-up attack damage increases by 15 percent due to this set. This is optimal because most of Aventurine’s damage comes from his follow-up attacks.
Relic Main Stats:
For your body piece, I would recommend a defense percent main stat since Aventurine scales off defense. I recommend speed feet to reach the 134 threshold. Aventurine should also defense percent main stats for his planar sphere and link rope. Prioritizing Aventurine’s defense stat is vital because his bonus ability, leverage, increases his critical rate by 2 percent up to 48 percent once his defense exceeds 1600.
Ability Level Priority:
Aventurine’s ability priority is skill, then talent, then ultimate. This is because his skill provides all allies with a shield, and his talent increases effect resistance by 50 percent for a single ally. Both of these effects take priority over his ultimate, which only deals damage.
Light cones:
Aventurine’s best free-to-play light cone is the 4-star Destiny's Threads Forewoven. This light cone is available for free from the Memory of Chaos shop. Its effect, at superimposition level 5, increases Aventurine’s effect resistance by 20 percent. In addition, for every 100 defenses Aventurine has, his damage dealt increases by 1.2 percent, up to 48 percent. This second effect is great for Aventurine because he is a preservation unit who also wants to deal damage with his ultimate and follow-up attacks.
I will only talk about one limited 5-star character now because Trend of the Universal Market is an overpowered 4-star light cone for Aventurine in Acheron teams. At superimposition level 5, it increases Aventurine’s defense by 32 percent, and when he is attacked, there is a 120 percent base chance to inflict burn on an enemy. Acheron needs debuffs applied to enemies to get her ultimate, which deals a ton of damage. I would say to only use Trend of the Universal Market if you are using Acheron; otherwise, I would stick with Destiny's Threads Forewoven.
Teammates - Dr. Ratio:
The best free-to-play character for Aventurine is Dr. Ratio, who is also the best free-to-play main D.P.S. for Aventurine. He was given to players for free by Hoyoverse for winning the Game Awards 2023 best mobile game award. If you have not claimed Dr. Ratio yet, do not wait, as his mail is going to expire in Patch 2.1. Dr. Ratio’s kit revolves around follow-up attacks, so he can activate Aventurine’s bonus ability, Bingo. Dr. Ratio’s ultimate makes it so that enemies hit by the ultimate are inflicted with Wiseman's Folly. When Dr. Ratio's allies attack a target afflicted with Wiseman's Folly, Dr. Ratio launches his talent's follow-up attack. Aventurine’s talent effect is that when using his skill, Dr. Ratio has a 40 percent fixed chance of launching a follow-up attack on an enemy, dealing imaginary DMG equal to 270 percent of Dr. Ratio's attack. Unfortunately, Aventurine cannot directly help Dr. Ratio’s damage capabilities because Aventurine cannot debuff enemies, which would increase Dr. Ratio’s damage output by 10 percent, up to a maximum increase of 50 percent when enemies have 3 or more debuffs applied. However, the 4-star light cone trend of the Universal Market’s effect should work, allowing Aventurine to apply debuffs to enemies. I would recommend using the 4-piece Pioneer Diver of Dead Waters relic set on Dr. Ratio because it increases the damage dealt to enemies with debuffs by 12 percent. The planar set I recommend is Inert Salsotto because when the wearer's current critical rate reaches 50 percent or higher, the wearer's follow-up attack damage increases by 15 percent. Dr. Ratio’s best free-to-play light cone option is Cruising in the Stellar Sea, as it is freely obtainable from the Herta Shop and is great on most Hunt characters, so free-to-play players most likely already have it. It increases Dr. Ratio’s critical rate by 16 percent at superimposition level 5 and his attack by 40 percent for 2 turns after he defeats an enemy.
Teammates - Xueyi:
A great free-to-play 4-star D.P.S. is Xueyi, who you can get for free in an upcoming 2.1 4-star selector. You can use Xueyi as a main D.P.S. or as a sub-D.P.S. with Dr. Ratio. Xueyi’s talent makes it so that she launches a follow-up attack after consuming 8 stacks of karma, which she gains from reducing enemy toughness with attacks. It is relatively easy to stack karma because Xueyi’s ultimate does colorless damage, reducing enemies' toughness no matter their type. By dealing colorless damage, free-to-play players will not feel pressured to pull for Silver Wolf and can prioritize Xueyi’s damage against any enemy, regardless of their type. Xueyi’s talent follow up attack directly activates Aventurine’s bonus ability, Bingo. Xueyi’s Eidolons allow her to more effectively gain Karma stacks, which allows her to deal follow up attacks more often, resulting in Aventurine getting Blind Bet points more often. If you are focusing on Xuyei’s colorless damage, I would recommend using the 4-piece Thief of Shooting Meteor because its effect increases Xuyei’s break effect by 16 percent. Alternatively, if you have Genius of Brilliant Stars farmed already, you can use it because it increases quantum damage by 10 percent and ignores 10 percent defense. Genius of Brilliant Stars does 2 percent more damage than Thief of Shooting Meteor if the enemy has quantum weakness but does 6 percent less damage compared to Thief of Shooting Meteor if they do not. The planar set I would recommend for Xuyei is Space Sealing Station because reaching 120 speed is fairly straightforward, so getting a 24 percent increase in attack is easily achievable. Xueyi’s best free-to-play light cone option is the 5-star On the Fall of an Aeon, available from the Herta Shop. Xuyei’s attack increases by 16 percent, up to 4 times, when she attacks enemies at superimposition level 5. After weakness breaking an enemy, Xueyi’s damage increases by 24 percent for 2 turns.
Teammates - Herta:
Another free-to-play sub-D.P.S. you can use with Aventurine is Herta. However, she is mainly used in pure fiction and is rarely used in Memory of Chaos. You can get three of Herta’s eidolons for free by completing Simulated Universe World 2, 4, and 6. Herta’s talent allows her to launch a follow-up attack when allies cause enemies’ H.P. to fall to 50 percent or lower. This follow-up attack generates a point of blind bet for Aventurine. Herta is considered to be S+ tier in pure fiction, so building her is crucial for your account. Use the 4-piece relic set Hunter of Glacial Forest because it increases ice damage by 10 percent and increases critical damage by 25 percent for 2 turns after Herta uses her Ultimate. Inert Salsotto is my recommended planar set because it increases Herta’s critical rate by 8 percent and increases follow-up attack damage by 15 percent if she has a 50 percent or higher critical rate, which is likely since you want to prioritize critical rate substats for her. The Seriousness of Breakfast is a great free-to-play light cone option for Herta, as you can get it for free from the Memory of Chaos shop. The light cone increases Herta’s damage by 24 percent and Herta’s attack by 8 percent for every defeated enemy by up to 3 stacks.
Teammates - Qingque:
At Eidolon 4, it is possible for Qingque to provide Aventurine with a point of blind bet, but it is unlikely as she only has a 24 percent fixed chance to launch a follow-up attack. I do not recommend using Qingque unless you like gambling for follow-up attacks.
Teammates - Clara:
A standard banner 5-star D.P.S. option for Aventurine is Clara. Her Talent allows Svarog to launch a follow-up attack, which will provide a point of Blind Bet to Aventurine. Clara’s follow-up attack frequency is really high because her ultimate greatly increases her chance of being attacked, and Svarog can launch a follow-up attack if an ally is attacked as well due to the ultimate. For Clara’s 4-piece relic set, you should use Champion of Streetwise Boxing because it increases physical damage by 10 percent and increases attack by 5 percent, stacking up to 5 times when Clara attacks or is hit. Inert Salsotto is the recommended 2-piece planar set because she prioritizes critical rate subtats, so her follow-up attack damage will deal 15 percent more damage. Similar to Xuyei, On the Fall of an Aeon is great for Clara.
Teammates - Himeko:
If you have Himeko, she is a great 5-star standard banner D.P.S. option. Himeko is mainly used in pure fiction, like Herta, and is considered to be S tier in that game mode. She pairs well with Xuyei because her talent launches a follow-up attack when enemies’ toughness bars are broken, which also provides Aventurine with a point of blind bet. Himeko’s bonus ability, Starfire, has a 50 percent base change to inflict burn, which counts as a debuff and synergies well with Dr. Ratio if you decide to use them together with Aventurine. Use The Ashblazing Grand Duke 4-piece relic set, as it increases follow-up attack damage by 20 percent and Himeko’s attack by 6 percent. Use Inert Salsotto, as it increases follow-up attack damage. The Seriousness of Breakfast is her best free-to-play light cone.
Teammates - Asta:
Aventurine’s best support is Asta because she increases the speed of all allies by 50 for 2 turns with her Ultimate. Her ultimate ability allows for allies to indirectly deal follow-up attacks faster as they have more actions within a single turn. Unfortunately, she does not directly help Aventurine because she cannot launch a follow-up attack herself. But she can help Dr. Ratio deal more damage because her bonus ability, Sparks, gives her basic attack an 80 percent base chance to inflict burn. I would recommend using the 4-piece Messenger Traversing Hackerspace relic set because it increases Asta’s speed by 6 percent and increases all allies speed by 12 percent when she uses her ultimate. The 2-piece planar set I recommend is Fleet of the Ageless because it increases allies' attacks by 8 percent when Asta’s speed reaches 120, which is really easy to achieve because you want to prioritize speed substats for Asta. Her best free-to-play light cone is the 3-star Meshing Cogs, which regenerates 8 energy for Asta whenever she attacks or gets hit. This is great because Asta can get her ultimate faster, which allows for allies to be faster and indirectly increases the number of follow-up attacks your teammates will launch.
Teams:
The free-to-play team I would use is Dr. Ratio, Xueyi, Asta, and Aventurine. You could also replace Xueyi with Tingyun for a hyper carry Dr. Ratio team. If you started playing after 2.1 and missed Dr. Ratio, I would replace him with Tingyun and build a hyper carry Xueyi team. I didn’t mention Tingyun previously because she does not directly synergize with Aventurine, but she is a great support for Dr. Ratio and Xuyei. Use 4-piece Messenger Traversing Hackerspace to increase speed, and 2-piece Broken Keel to increase Tingyun’s effect resistance by 10 percent. At 30 percent or more effect resistance, it increases all allies’ critical damage by 10 percent. Similar to Asta, Meshing Cogs is Tingyun’s best free-to-play light cone. Only use Herta and Himeko with Aventurine in Pure Fiction alongside Asta. If you have Clara, you can use a team with Clara, Asta, Tingyun, and Aventurine.