Anomaly Arbitration 4.0 Best Characters and Teams in Honkai: Star Rail
This is our guide for Anomaly Arbitration teams and Best Characters in version 4.0 of Honkai: Star Rail. Read on to learn about the best teams available for the current cycle of Anomaly Arbitration.
Anomaly Arbitration 4.0 Stages Best Characters and Team Advice
Anomaly Arbitration is the hardest endgame content available in Honkai: Star Rail facing against 3 different sets of enemies before facing a final boss much harder than other endgame modes. Anomaly Arbitration proves to be a challenge for all types of players. Here you can see an overview of the boss mechanics, some general combat advice as well as our recommended team compositions to clear Anomaly Arbitration in version 4.0.
For players looking for more information on how Anomaly Arbitration works or the rewards from Anomaly Arbitration. Check our overview below:
Anomaly Arbitration 4.0 Current Duration
- Event Duration: Start of Version 4.0 (2026/2/12) - End of Version 4.0
Anomaly Arbitration releases a new phase at the start of every patch, lasting for the update. Always resetting on the Wednesday after the version update.
Knights, Mechanics, and Recommended Teams
Here is a breakdown of all three Knights, as well as recommended teams and best tips to get the maximum stars!
Knight I Stage Breakdown & Team Compositions
For every 1% HP the enemy target loses, reduces CRIT DMG dealt to them by 3%.
| Wave 1 - Enemy Type | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Dreamjolt Troupe's Beyond Overcooked | Fire Lightning Wind |
| Lady of Crashing Waves | Physical Fire Lightning |
Recommended Team Compositions
Knight I debuff primarily affects DPS characters that rely on their critical stats to deal high damage. If possible, build teams around DPS characters that can deal high damage using other forms of damage, such as DoT or Break Damage. Refer to individual character pages to find teammate alternatives!
See below for recommended team setups for Knight 1:
| Main DPS | Support / DPS | Support | Sustain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firefly | The Dahlia | Fugue | Lingsha |
| Hysilens | Kafka | Black Swan | Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae |
| Boothill | The Dahlia | Fugue | Lingsha |
| Phainon | Cyrene | Cerydra | Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae |
Knight II Stage Breakdown & Team Compositions
Each time after the enemy target is attacked, the attacker will lose HP equal to 2% of their own Max HP. This effect is Non-fatal.
When entering combat, reduces ally target's Energy by 50% and decreases their Energy Regeneration Rate by 50% outside of their turn for 2 turn(s).
| Wave 1 - Enemy Type | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Black Tide's Corroded Daemon | Physical Wind Quantum |
| Dark Sun Gryphon | Physical Fire Quantum |
| Wave 2 - Enemy Type | Weaknesses |
| Flame Reaver of the Deepest Dark | Ice Lightning Quantum |
Recommended Team Compositions
Knight II has a debuff that reduces the energy regeneration of ultimates, as well a debuff that allows the enemies to deal extra damage when they are struck. Focus on Characters who can circumvent the energy debuff by having non-energy based ultimates, and make sure to bring a comfortable sustain to survive the onslaught of damage. Refer to individual character pages to find teammate alternatives!
See below for recommended team setups for Knight 2:
| Main DPS | Support / DPS | Support | Sustain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castorice | Evernight | Cyrene | Hyacine |
| Evernight | Cyrene | Remembrance Trailblazer | Hyacine |
| Phainon | Sunday | Cerydra | Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae |
| Acheron | Jiaoqiu | Cipher | Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae |
Knight III Stage Breakdown & Team Compositions
Ally targets initially obtain 10 stack(s) of this effect, with each stack decreasing their own CRIT DMG by 15%. This effect cannot be dispelled. Each time any ally target consumes a Skill Point, 1 stack is removed from all ally targets.
| Wave 1 - Enemy Type | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Canvas Peacock | None |
| Blaze Out of Space | Physical Ice Quantum |
| Wave 2 - Enemy Type | Weaknesses |
| Stellaron Hunter: Sam | Lightning Quantum Imaginary |
Recommended Team Compositions
Knight III, similar to Knight I, has a debuff that reduces outgoing CRIT DMG. However, this debuff can be cleansed by spending SP as a team. Teams that can either ignore this debuff or cleanse it quickly will do well here. Refer to individual character pages to find teammate alternatives!
See below for recommended team setups for Knight 3:
| Main DPS | Support / DPS | Support | Sustain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archer | Sparkle | Silver Wolf | Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae |
| Sparxie | Yao Guang | Sparkle | Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae |
| Anaxa | Cerydra | Cyrene | Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae |
King in Check Enemy Breakdown & Team Compositions
King in Check is the main boss of the Anomaly Arbitration gamemode. Defeating the King provides a limited avatar frame depending on the number of stars you earn. Clearing the Plight version of the king will grant you the highest tier of avatar frame, but is incredibly difficult and only recommended for players with extremely high eidolon investments.
Knights, Mechanics, and Recommended Teams
Here is a breakdown of the King stage, as well as recommended teams and best tips to get the maximum stars.
King in Check Clear Requirements
In order to clear the King in Check Stage, you need to defeat the boss within the 6 provided cycles for a 1 star clear. However, for every 2 cycles left when your clear, you can earn a higher star count and a higher tier of avatar frame. If you manage to clear the King in the first cycle, you can unlock a rarer avatar frame.
| Star Target | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 1 Stars | Achieve victory in no more then 6 Cycles |
| 2 Stars | Achieve victory in no more then 4 Cycles |
| 3 Stars | Achieve victory in no more then 2 Cycles |
King in Check has the following buffs available which can be used alongside your team.
After the enemy target uses an attack, randomly causes 5% or 10% action delay to the attacked target.
Ally targets initially obtain 2 stack(s) of this effect, with each stack decreasing their own DMG by 20%. This effect cannot be dispelled, and 1 stack is removed after each Ultimate used.
| Wave 1 - Enemy Type | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Abundance Sprite: Malefic Ape | Fire Ice Wind |
| Aggressive Reading Material x2 | Physical Fire Lightning |
| Rocking Rebel | Physical Fire Wind |
| Wave 2 - Enemy Type | Weaknesses |
| @SparxiConOfficial | Fire Quantum Imaginary |
Recommended Team Compositions
King in Check has the following buffs available which can be used alongside your team.
This stage has a special Elation Skill. When entering Aha Instant, deals 15 instance(s) of Imaginary Elation DMG to a random enemy target. When Aha Instant ends, all allies gain 10% All-Type RES PEN, lasting for 2 turn(s).
Enemy targets on the sub field receive 30% more final DMG but cannot take CRIT Hits.
Increases all ally targets' DMG dealt by 40% and increases the SPD of prime field ally targets by 40%.
Recommended Team Compositions
This King is very heavily centered around pushing the two new elation characters, Sparxie and Yaoguang. However, the available Arbitral Quadrants are quite universal and many DPS can perform well here. You can use any of your characters for the King stage, unlike the Knights.
| Main DPS | Support / DPS | Support | Sustain | Arbitral Quadrant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparxie | Yao Guang | Sparkle | Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae | Elation Instant |
| Firefly | The Dahlia | Fugue | Lingsha | Tears Behind Smiles |
| Rappa | The Dahlia | Fugue | Lingsha | Tears Behind Smiles |
| Hysilens | Kafka | Black Swan | Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae | Tears Behind Smiles |
| Phainon | Sunday | Cerydra | Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae | Thrilling Delight |
| Castorice | Evernight | Cyrene | Hyacine | Thrilling Delight |
| Anaxa | Cerydra | Cyrene | Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae | Thrilling Delight |
| Archer | Sparkle | Silver Wolf | Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae | Thrilling Delight |
King in Check:Plight Clear Requirements
In order to clear the King in Check:Plight Stage, you need to defeat the boss within the 2 provided cycles for a full star clear. Unlike the King in Check stage, there are no 1 or 2 star clear conditions. Clearing this version of the stage will grant you the highest rarity of avatar frame.
| Star Target | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 3 Stars | Achieve victory in no more then 2 Cycles |
After the enemy target uses an attack, randomly causes 5% or 20% action delay to the attacked target.
Ally targets initially obtain 2 stack(s) of this effect, with each stack decreasing their own DMG by 30%. This effect cannot be dispelled, and 1 stack is removed after each Ultimate used.
| Wave 1 - Enemy Type | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Abundance Sprite: Malefic Ape | Fire Ice Wind |
| Aggressive Reading Material x2 | Physical Fire Lightning |
| Rocking Rebel | Physical Fire Wind |
| Wave 2 - Enemy Type | Weaknesses |
| @SparxiConOfficial | Fire Quantum Imaginary |
Recommended Team Compositions
King in Check has the following buffs available which can be used alongside your team.
This stage has a special Elation Skill. When entering Aha Instant, deals 15 instance(s) of Imaginary Elation DMG to a random enemy target. When Aha Instant ends, all allies gain 10% All-Type RES PEN, lasting for 2 turn(s).
Enemy targets on the sub field receive 30% more final DMG but cannot take CRIT Hits.
Increases all ally targets' DMG dealt by 40% and increases the SPD of prime field ally targets by 40%.
Recommended Team Compositions
This King is very heavily centered around pushing the two new elation characters, Sparxie and Yaoguang. Utilize your highest investment team, and select a buff that best suits their playstyle and damage output. The team recommendations below assume high ediolon investments. If you are struggling with this stage, it may be easier to earn the rarest avatar frame on the King in Check stage instead.
| Main DPS | Support / DPS | Support | Sustain | Arbitral Quadrant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparxie | Yao Guang | Sparkle | Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae | Elation Instant |
| Firefly | The Dahlia | Fugue | Lingsha | Tears Behind Smiles |
| Phainon | Sunday | Cerydra | Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae | Thrilling Delight |
| Castorice | Evernight | Cyrene | Hyacine | Thrilling Delight |
Overview and Rewards for Anomaly Arbitration
For more information on Anomaly Arbitration, how to unlock it, how it works, and the rewards you can get, you can head to our Anomaly Arbitration Overview:
Changelog
- 12 Feb. 2026: Guide updated for Version 4.0 Treasures Lightward.
- 19 Dec. 2025: Anomaly Arbitration Guide updated for version 3.8.
- 04 Nov. 2025: Anomaly Arbitration Guide updated for version 3.7.
- 23 Sep. 2025: Anomaly Arbitration Guide added.