Acheron Ascension and Trace Materials Guide for Honkai: Star Rail

As a Trailblazer who has journeyed across the stars, I can confirm that the release of Acheron in Version 2.1 was a monumental event for all of us. This five-star Lightning Nihility character, shrouded in mystery and with deep ties to HoYoverse's legacy, quickly became a cornerstone for many teams. Her unique combat mechanic, where her Ultimate activates upon accumulating nine stacks of Slashed Dreams instead of using Energy, demands a specific build to unleash her full, terrifying potential. If you're looking to harness the power of this enigmatic swordswoman, you'll need a comprehensive farming plan. Let me guide you through all the ascension and trace materials required to make your Acheron a force of nature.

Acheron Ascension Materials: Reaching Level 80

To ascend Acheron to her maximum level, you'll need to gather a specific set of resources. The process is divided into six stages, each requiring a combination of common enemy drops, Stagnant Shadow materials, and Credits. Here’s the complete breakdown:

📍 Farming Locations:

• Dreamjolt Troupe Drops (Component/Valve/Engine): The primary source for these ascension items is defeating the Dreamjolt Troupe enemies found throughout Penacony's Dreamscape. You can supplement your farming by completing the Golden Calyx challenges in Penacony or by sending characters on Assignments that yield these materials.

• Shape Shifter's Lightning Staff: This crucial ascension material is exclusive to the Shape of Doom Stagnant Shadow encounter located in the Stargazer Navalia area. You'll need to farm this boss repeatedly to collect all 65 required Staves.

Acheron Trace Materials: Unlocking Her True Power

Acheron's strength as a critical hit-focused Nihility Damage Per Second (DPS) unit is locked behind her Traces. Maximizing them is non-negotiable for optimal performance. You'll need to upgrade her Basic Attack to level 6, and her Skill, Talent, and Ultimate to the maximum level of 10.

Basic Attack Trace Materials (Levels 2-6)

Skill, Ultimate & Talent Trace Materials (Levels 2-10)

This is where the bulk of your farming efforts will go, as these three core abilities define her playstyle.

⚠️ Important Note: The totals in the table above are for a single Trace (Skill, Ultimate, or Talent). Since you need to upgrade all three to level 10, you must multiply the required materials (except Tracks of Destiny) by three. You will need a massive amount of Crimson Calyx and Dream Troupe drops!

📍 Farming Locations for Traces:

• Crimson Calyx Drops (Fiery Spirit/Starfire Essence/Heaven Incinerator): Farm the "Bud of Nihility" Crimson Calyx in the Alchemy Commission on the Xianzhou Luofu. This is your go-to spot for all the red-tier upgrade materials.

• Past Evils of the Borehole Planet Disaster: This weekly boss material is obtained from the Echo of War challenge against the "Destruction's Beginning" boss. To unlock this challenge, you must first complete the relevant Trailblaze Continuance mission on Herta Space Station. Remember, you can only claim rewards from Echo of War three times per week, so plan accordingly!

• Tracks of Destiny: These are premium, time-gated resources obtained from events, the Embers Exchange shop, the Nameless Honor (Battle Pass), and occasionally as rewards from major updates.

💎 Total Investment Summary

To fully build Acheron from scratch to her maximum potential in 2025, here’s a consolidated view of the staggering total investment required:

• Credits: ~2.5 Million (For ascension and all traces)

• Dream Collection Component: 15 (Ascension) + [6 (Basic) + (9 x 3 Core Traces)] = 48

• Dream Flow Valve: 15 (Ascension) + [7 (Basic) + (13 x 3 Core Traces)] = 61

• Dream Making Engine: 15 (Ascension) + [7 (Basic) + (7 x 3 Core Traces)] = 43

• Shape Shifter's Lightning Staff: 65

• Fiery Spirit: 3 (Basic) + (3 x 3 Core Traces) = 12

• Starfire Essence: 8 (Basic) + (15 x 3 Core Traces) = 53

• Heaven Incinerator: 11 (Basic) + (30 x 3 Core Traces) = 101

• Past Evils of the Borehole Planet Disaster: 3 x 3 Core Traces = 9

• Tracks of Destiny: 2 x 3 Core Traces = 6

The grind is real, fellow Trailblazers! My advice is to start by focusing on the Stagnant Shadow and Crimson Calyx, as they have unlimited daily farming potential. Prioritize unlocking the weekly Echo of War boss early to start collecting those crucial Past Evils. With dedication and this guide, your Acheron will be slicing through enemy dreams in no time. Good luck on your farming journey!