Honkai: Star Rail: Should You Superimpose 5-Star Light Cones?

Do not superimpose duplicate five-star Light Cones in Honkai: Star Rail. Keep extra copies at Superimposition 1 (S1) to equip characters across multiple teams.

Superimposition from S1 to S2 provides only minor passive increments—such as a 2% to 4% damage increase—while permanently consuming a premium five-star weapon. Because base HP, ATK, and DEF scale exclusively with weapon level rather than Superimposition rank, an S2 Light Cone offers zero base stat improvements over an S1 copy. In dual-team endgame modes like Memory of Chaos, Pure Fiction, and Apocalyptic Shadow, fielding two separate S1 weapons on two characters yields far more account value than concentrating marginal passive bonuses onto a single unit.

High-Value Support Light Cones to Keep Separate

Support Paths gain the most value from keeping duplicates separate because their passives provide universal mechanics like Energy Regeneration Rate (ERR) and Skill Point economy.

Bronya’s Signature: "But the Battle Isn't Over"

This Harmony cone should almost never be merged into S2. At S1, it provides:

• A flat Energy Regeneration Rate boost to shorten Ultimate rotations.
• One restored Skill Point every two Ultimate uses.
• A damage buff for the ally acting immediately after the wearer uses their Skill.

Because these mechanics benefit many Harmony supports—including Sparkle, Tingyun, Yukong, and Hanya—keeping two separate S1 copies lets you run high-tier energy and Skill Point utility on both sides of endgame content.

Universal Preservation and Nihility Cones

Defensive and debuff cones follow the same rule:

• "Moment of Victory": Gepard’s signature Preservation cone offers high base DEF, Effect Hit Rate, and increased taunt value. Running two separate copies helps stabilize solo sustain units on both endgame teams without dropping down to under-statted four-star options.
• Nihility Cones: Weapons applying universal DEF reduction or vulnerability debuffs should remain separate so both squads can access damage amplification.

When Superimposition Is Justifiable

Merging duplicate five-star Light Cones is only advisable under strict circumstances:

• Hyper-Niche Passives: The weapon requires specific combat triggers—such as bespoke follow-up attacks or unique self-buffs found on select Hunt, Destruction, or Erudition cones—that cannot be utilized by any other current or planned character on your roster.
• Surplus Alternatives: Your secondary squad already has fully built options, such as S5 Light Cones from the Simulated Universe store ("Cruising in the Stellar Sea" or "On the Fall of an Aeon").
• Rotation Breakpoints: Upgrading to S2 provides an Energy Regeneration or speed threshold that verifiably shaves a full turn off an Ultimate rotation.

Decision Checklist Before Merging

Run through these checks before confirming any Superimposition prompt:

1. Check Second-Team Coverage: Does your secondary team's equivalent unit have a fully leveled five-star or optimal S5 four-star cone equipped? If not, keep the duplicate.
2. Count Shared Path Users: Do you actively deploy two characters of this Path across both endgame halves? If yes, keep both copies separate.
3. Inspect the Upgrade Value: Does the S2 upgrade merely grant small percentage boosts to damage or Effect Hit Rate, or does it hit an exact rotation breakpoint? If it offers only standard stat increments, do not fuse.
4. Plan for Future Pulls: If the cone has a broadly usable passive, keep the extra copy at level 1 in your inventory as an instant, zero-Stellar-Jade equipment option for future characters.