The Dahlia Guide and Best Builds

Introductions

The Dahlia is a 5★ Fire character who the Path of Nihility. She is a supportive unit for Break teams, enabling Superbreak to always function consistently while providing a wide range of buffs including Break Effect, SPD increases, DEF Reduction and Energy Generation.
Our The Dahlia Build Guide will show you the best Light Cones, Relics, and Team Compositions to build the most powerful The Dahlia you can.

The Dahlia's Best Light Cone

Never Forget Her Flame
S1

Increases the wearer's Break Effect by 60.0 / 75.0 / 90.0 / 105.0 / 120.0%. When entering combat, increases Break DMG dealt by the wearer and another teammate who triggered combat by 32.0 / 42.0 / 52.0 / 62.0 / 72.0%. If there is no teammate who triggered combat, applies this effect to the wearer and the teammate with the highest Break Effect. Effects of the same type cannot be stacked. When the wearer applies Weakness to an enemy target, recovers 1 Skill Point. This effect can only trigger once, and trigger count resets when using Ultimate.

The Dahlia's Signature Light Cone provides a huge boost to Break Effect as well as Break DMG for both The Dahlia and your Main DPS, assuming your Main DPS is the one who started combat. This Light Cone also generates one Skill Point per Ultimate to help with the team's SP economy.

Long Road Leads Home
S1

Increases the wearer's Break Effect by 60.0 / 70.0 / 80.0 / 90.0 / 100%. When an enemy target's Weakness gets broken, there is a 100% base chance to inflict the "Charring" state on it, which increases its Break DMG taken by 18.0 / 21.0 / 24.0 / 27.0 / 30.0%, lasting for 2 turn(s). This effect can stack 2 time(s).

Sources: Event Warp (limited)

This is 's Signature Light Cone and is Dahlia's second best option. This Light Cone also has a huge amount of Break Effect comparable to and applies a debuff that increases Break DMG taken by enemies for 2 Turns. This debuff is applied when the enemy becomes Weakness Broken and can stack twice. This Light Cone is a lot stronger with on the team, as she enables enemies to be broken twice.
Even in teams with , you should run on The Dahlia if you do not have her Signature Light Cone, and use a slightly weaker alternative option for Fugue. Having the highest Break Effect possible on The Dahlia is more important because of The Dahlia's A6 Trace Yet Another Funeral.

Lies Dance on the Breeze
S1

Increases the wearer's SPD by 18.0 / 21.0 / 24.0 / 27.0 / 30.0%. After the wearer uses an attack, there is a 120.0% base chance to inflict the "Bamboozle" state on every enemy target. While under the "Bamboozle" state, enemy targets have their DEF decreased by 16.0 / 18.0 / 20.0 / 22.0 / 24.0% for 2 turn(s). If the wearer's SPD is higher than or equal to 170, there is a 120.0% base chance to inflict the "Theft" state on every enemy target. While under the "Theft" state, enemy targets have their DEF decreased by 8.0 / 9.0 / 10.0 / 11.0 / 12.0% for 2 turn(s). When "Bamboozle" or "Theft" is repeatedly inflicted, only the most recently inflicted instance takes effect.

Sources: Event Warp (limited)

This is 's Signature Light Cone and is a very strong DEF shredding Light Cone and it has the highest DEF Reduction of any Nihility Light Cones. To reach the 170 SPD breakpoint and maximise its effect The Dahlia needs about 10 SPD rolls on gear which is a considerable but achievable investment. Even without reaching the SPD breakpoint it outperforms the 4★ supportive Light Cone because it provides more reduction and has a higher base chance to apply its debuff.

Holiday Thermae Escapade
S5

Increases the wearer's DMG dealt by 16.0 / 20.0 / 24.0 / 28.0 / 32.0%. After the wearer attacks, there is a 100% base chance to inflict the attacked target with Vulnerability, increasing the DMG they receive by 10.0 / 11.5 / 13.0 / 14.5 / 16.0% for 2 turn(s). Effects of the same type cannot stack.

Sources: Nameless Glory

This is a Battlepass 4★ Light Cone that debuffs enemies and increases DMG that they take. This Light Cone is better than because it can refresh its debuff without the debuff needing to expire first resulting in higher uptime. Additionally, at lower Superimpositions this Light Cone does not lose Base Chance to apply the debuff making it vastly more reliable than .

Resolution Shines As Pearls of Sweat
S5

When the wearer hits an enemy and if the hit enemy is not already "Ensnared," then there is a 60.0 / 70.0 / 80.0 / 90.0 / 100% base chance to "Ensnare" the hit enemy. "Ensnared" enemies' DEF decreases by 12.0 / 13.0 / 14.0 / 15.0 / 16.0% for 1 turn(s).

Sources: Stellar Warp

This is a 4★ Light Cone that has a chance to reduce enemy DEF on hit. This reduction effect only lasts for 1 turn and cannot be reapplied while it is still active, which can result in downtime. Despite this, it is still better than because DEF reduction is more impactful for Team DPS.

Holiday Thermae Escapade
S1

Solitary Healing
S5

Increases the wearer's Break Effect by 20.0 / 25.0 / 30.0 / 35.0 / 40.0%. When the wearer uses their Ultimate, increases DoT dealt by the wearer by 24.0 / 30.0 / 36.0 / 42.0 / 48.0%, lasting for 2 turn(s). When a target enemy suffering from DoT imposed by the wearer is defeated, regenerates 4 / 4.5 / 5 / 5.5 / 6 Energy for the wearer.

Sources: Herta's Store

This is a 5★ Light Cone can be purchased from the Herta's Store. This Light Cone offers a large amount of Break Effect, which is The Dahlia's best stat as it boosts her own Superbreak Damage and gets passed on to her allies via Yet Another Funeral. This Light Cone has slightly more Break Effect than . The other stats on this Light Cone do not matter as Dahlia does not have a DoT.
Dahlia can sometimes trigger the Energy Generation effect if an enemy dies while it has a burn from her Breaking the enemy, but this is extremely rare and unreliable so is not factored into evaluation.

Fermata
S5

Increases the wearer's Break Effect by 16.0 / 20.0 / 24.0 / 28.0 / 32.0%, and increases their DMG to enemies afflicted with Shock or Wind Shear by 16.0 / 20.0 / 24.0 / 28.0 / 32.0%. This also applies to DoT.

Sources: Forgotten Hall Store, Echo of War

This is a 4★ Light Cone that can be bought from the Forgotten Hall Manifest Store. This Light Cone grants a moderate increase to Break Effect, making it good for The Dahlia as her main DPS output is Superbreak DMG, and the Break Effect also benefits her allies via Yet Another Funeral. The DMG increase against enemies with Shock or Wind Shear does not matter for the Dahlia as it will not scale her Superbreak or Break Damage which make up the vast majority of her output.

Best Relics and Planar Ornaments for The Dahlia

Best Relics for The Dahlia

These are the best Relic Sets to build for The Dahlia.

Iron Cavalry Against the Scourge

2-Piece Set: Increases Break Effect by 16.0%.

4-Piece Set: If the wearer's Break Effect is 150.0% or higher, the Break DMG dealt to the enemy target ignores 10.0% of their DEF. If the wearer's Break Effect is 250.0% or higher, the Super Break DMG dealt to the enemy target additionally ignores 15.0% of their DEF.

This is the best set to build for The Dahlia, granting has 16% Break Effect and lets your Break And Superbreak damage to ignore 10% DEF if you have at least 150% Break Effect. If you have at least 250% Break Effect it will ignore an additional 15% DEF. The DEF Ignore for Break will provide more Team DPS than having another 16% Break Effect would.

Thief of Shooting Meteor

2-Piece Set: Increases Break Effect by 16.0%.

4-Piece Set: Increases the wearer's Break Effect by 16.0%. After the wearer inflicts Weakness Break on an enemy, regenerates 3 Energy.

This set is another viable option, providing 16% Break Effect from both the 2pc and the 4pc. Despite that, it is worse than because the DEF Ignore is far stronger than having more Break Effect and the Energy Regeneration rate from this set is unreliable and does not usually allow for more Ultimate uses.

Best Planar Ornaments

Forge of the Kalpagni Lantern

2-Piece Set: Increases the wearer's SPD by 6.0%. When the wearer hits an enemy target that has Fire Weakness, the wearer's Break Effect increases by 40.0%, lasting for 1 turn(s).

This is The Dahlia's best Planar Ornament to build in most situations. This provides both a 6% SPD increase and an additional 40% Break Effect whenever the wearer hits an enemy that has a Fire Weakness. The Dahlia can apply Fire Weakness with her Ultimate so enemies will almost always have Fire Weakness.

The Dahlia's Stat Priority

Body

HP%

DEF%

Feet

SPD

Planar Sphere

HP%

DEF%

Link Rope

Break Effect

Stat Priority

SPD

Break Effect

3000+

SPD

140+ SPD

Break Effect

180%+

Skills Priority

Talent > Ultimate > Skill > Basic Atk

Major Traces Priority

Outgrow the Old, Espouse the New > Yet Another Funeral > Lament, Lost Soul

The Dahlia Build Comments

Character Explanation Build Advice

Character Explanation

The Dahlia is a Superbreak Support whose main benefit is enabling allies to deal Superbreak damage to enemies even when they are not Weakness Broken. She allows this to happen through the zone provided by her Skill Lick... Enkindled Betrayal. This means that The Dahlia's highest Priority is keeping her Zone up at all times. Her Zone lasts for 3 turns meaning she will use 1 SP every 3 turns while using Basic ATKs on the other 2 turns to generate SP.

Dahlia's Technique The Heart Makes the Finest Tomb grants her the Zone from her Skill immediately at the start of combat, allowing her to start her rotation with two Basic ATKs before using her Skill. This smooths out the opening turns of a fight immensely by freeing up Skill Points for her teammates to set up their buffs and effects.

Dahlia's Talent Who's Afraid of Constance? does two important things: Firstly, it allows for both Dahlia and her Dance Partner to to deal SUper Break DMG (60% at Lv10) which is a large boost to team Superbreak DMG. Secondly, it lets Dahlia launch a Follow-Up ATk whenever her Dance Partner attacks an enemy, once per turn.
The Follow-Up ATK deals 5 instances of damage, each dealing 3 Toughness Damage for a total of 15 before Weakness Break Efficiency. This attack converts 200% of its Toughness DMG to Superbreak DMG (At Lv10) bringing it up to 260% Superbreak in total before considering other supports on the same team. This Follow-Up ATK Superbreak ends up making up a significant portion of her personal DMG output (~61% ST, ~48% 3T, and ~43% 5T).

Dahlia's Ultimate Wallow...Entombed Ash will apply the "Wilt" debuff to all enemies, reducing their DEF by 18% for 4 turns and making them have Weakness to the elements of all "Dance Partners". Since Dahlia will always be one of the Dance Partners, this will always apply Fire Weakness, alongside your Main DPS's element. The Dahlia usually casts Ultimate every 3 turns if she gets hit by the enemy, or 4 turns without any additional sources of Energy (e.g. being hit, kills).

Dahlia's A2 Trace Outgrow the Old, Espouse the New is an extremely powerful Trace that triggers when anyone on her team adds Weaknesses to enemies. When this Trace triggers it will by grant the teammate who applied the Weakness 30% SPD for 2 turns. If the Weakness was applied by a Fire Character, it deals 20 fixed Fire Toughness Damage and regenerates 10% of the Ally's Max Energy for them (up to a maximum of 50%).
This Trace is perfectly designed for Firefly and is still strong for Boothill. Unfortunately, Rappa does not benefit from this Trace making her worse than the other options.

Dahlia's A4 Trace Lament, Lost Soul generates one Skill Point for every two Follow-Up ATKs Dahlia launches. The Dahlia uses 1 Skill Point every 3 turns to maintain her Skill's Zone, and uses Basic ATK on the other 2 turns meaning she generates ~0.66 SP per turn. This Trace will increase that to ~1.1 SP per turn, making her one of the best Skill Point generators in the game despite having to spend Skill Points maintain her Zone.

Dahlia's A6 Trace Yet Another Funeral drastically improves Dahlia's Break Effect scaling by granting all allies 24% of The Dahlia's Break Effect plus an additional 50%. This is is a very large Break Effect Buff and massively boosts overall team DPS. The buff is granted at the start of combat for 1 turn or for 3 turns whenever Dahlia receives healing or shielding from a teammate, making it almost always worth running a Sustain unit in The Dahlia teams.

Build Advice

We recommend targeting SPD breakpoints on gear as your top priority. Aiming for 160 SPD is ideal, as it works in the most modes granting an extra action within 250 AV (1 cycle MoC) and 500 AV (2 cycle Anomaly Arbitration). Reaching 160 SPD typically needs approximately 13 SPD Substat rolls, which is a heavy investment to get while also rolling Break Effect on your gear.
If you are cannot put together a set of gear that has both 160+ SPD along with a high amount of Break Effect, then targeting 140 SPD is far easier to accomplish (around 4 SPD rolls). This grants you an extra action within 150 AV (134 SPD breakpoint) and 500 AV while being far easier to get more Break Effect rolls on your gear.

The only other offensive stat that matters on gear for The Dahlia is Break Effect, and you should get as much as possible. Generally, getting more useful rolls in general on your gear (SPD + Break Effect) will matter more than reaching the 160 SPD threshold with mediocre Break Effect.

We recommend using a Break Effect Rope over an Energy Regeneration Rate Rope. The DPS gained from Break Effect, especially considering Dahlia's A6 Trace Yet Another Funeral, outweighs the DPS increase gained by having slightly increased Ultimate Frequency.

If you are using a Debuff based Light Cone such as Lies Dance on the Breeze, Holiday Thermae Escapade, or Resolution Shines As Pearls of Sweat, you have the option to use an Effect Hit Rate body armour over a defensive Body Armour to slightly increase the consistency of applying the Light Cone debuffs. However, because The Dahlia's Follow-Up hit multiple times, this is generally unnecessary, as she already has a very high chance to apply debuffs each turn without getting additional Effect Hit Rate.

The Dahlia's Best Eidolons

The Dahlia's First Eidolon When a Bud Readies to Bloom is a very strong. It grants the Superbreak from her Talent Who's Afraid of Constance? to her teammates without Dance Partner while increasing the Superbreak Multiplier for Dance Partners by 40%. This alone is over 20% DPS increase for your team. Additionally, it allows you to deal 25% of an enemy's Toughness (up to 300) once per enemy.

The Dahlia's Second Eidolon Fresh, Ethereal, and Beloved is also incredibly powerful. It reduces all enemies' All-Type RES by 20%, which should be ~20% team DPS. Additionally, automatically applying Wilt to all enemies when they enter combat is a major Quality of Life improvement, letting you use your Ultimate on cooldown for damage instead of worrying about holding Ultimate to apply Wilt to new enemies. This is a strong stopping point for investment, as E3 and E5 are comparatively weak which makes further investment less efficient.

The Dahlia's Third Eidolon Pity Its Petals Thin as Mist is a weak Eidolon that provides only a 1-2% DPS increase for your team. Most of its value comes from the additional two levels to her Ultimate, which increase her DEF reduction by 2%.

The Dahlia's Fourth Eidolon Pity Its Heart Gnawed by Worms is also extremely strong. It considerably boosts her personal Superbreak damage (+58.7% 1T, +45% 3T, +39.7% 5T) by adding additional Follow-Up ATK hits. It also increases her Energy Regeneration, allowing her to consistently get 3 Turn Ultimate uses without needing to be hit. Furthermore, it applies a 12% DMG Taken debuff for 2 turns to all enemies hit by her Follow-Up, which is a massive boost to team DPS.

The Dahlia's Fifth Eidolon Fallen, Decayed, and Despised is fairly weak, providing roughly a 5.5% DPS increase for The Dahlia and about 3% for other characters on the team. The DPS gain comes from the additional levels for her Talent, which increases the Superbreak Multiplier provided to her teammates as well as the the Superbreak Multiplier for her Follow-up ATK.

The Dahlia's Sixth Eidolon And Yet, Always, Deathly Beautiful is extremely powerful, granting 150% Break Effect to both The Dahlia and your Main DPS. This will also action advance both characters by 20% each time she uses her Follow-Up ATK, effectively every turn. This Eidolon is roughly a 60% DPS increase for your Main DPS and ~70% for Dahlia herself, as she typically has less Break Effect than your main DPS so she benefits more from the boost.

The Dahlia's Best Teams

To learn all about The Dahlia's synergies and best team compositions, check our dedicated The Dahlia's team page below:

The Dahlia Teams

Saeldur

Staff Author

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This guide was written by Saeldur, expert Honkai: Star Rail theorycrafter and guide writer for Icy Veins. Saeldur is a high-end HSR player with a deep understanding of the various characters while also clearing PF, MoC and AS when each cycle releases.