As a dedicated player, I've spent countless hours analyzing and mastering the nuances of Honkai: Star Rail. One character that consistently impresses me is Dan Heng, the free 4-star Wind character on the Path of The Hunt. Even in 2025, amidst a roster filled with powerful 5-star units, Dan Heng remains a cornerstone for Free-to-Play (F2P) players and a surprisingly potent single-target damage dealer. His unique kit, which combines self-sufficient damage amplification through Wind Resistance Penetration with powerful enemy speed manipulation, gives him a distinct niche that hasn't been entirely power-crept. For any captain looking to build a reliable Wind DPS without breaking the bank, understanding Dan Heng's optimal setup is crucial.

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Best Relics and Planar Ornaments for Dan Heng

Equipping Dan Heng correctly is the first step to unlocking his true potential. His build focuses on a core trio of stats: ATK%, Wind DMG Bonus, and SPD. A healthy Critical Rate is non-negotiable to reliably trigger his Skill's SPD reduction effect.

For Relic sets, you have several powerful options in 2025:

Type Name Reason & Synergy
Best-in-Slot Relic Eagle of Twilight Line This is his premier set. The 2-piece bonus boosts Wind DMG, while the 4-piece effect grants him an immediate action advance after using his Ultimate, perfectly syncing with his playstyle of frequent, powerful single-target bursts.
Early Game / Alternative Musketeer of Wild Wheat A fantastic and accessible substitute. Dan Heng utilizes every bonus from this set: increased Basic ATK DMG, ATK%, and SPD. Farm this until you can secure a good Eagle set.
Premium Debuff Synergy Pioneer Diver of Dead Waters A top-tier option if you run him with Nihility supports. It increases DMG to debuffed enemies and provides a massive 8% Crit Rate and 24% Crit DMG boost when the enemy has 3+ debuffs. This requires specific team compositions.

When it comes to Planar Ornaments, the selection is equally strategic:

  • 🏆 Rutilant Arena: The undisputed best-in-slot. It provides free Crit Rate and a significant boost to Basic ATK and Skill DMG once you surpass 70% Crit Rate, a threshold Dan Heng should aim for anyway.

  • 🚀 Space Sealing Station: A great early-game set that provides a straightforward ATK% boost, easy to farm from lower Simulated Universe worlds.

  • ⚔️ Inert Salsotto: A decent choice that boosts both Crit Rate and his powerful Ultimate DMG, though the Follow-up ATK bonus is wasted on him.

  • 🌠 Firmament Frontline: Glamoth: A strong competitor in 2025. If you can achieve 135+ SPD on Dan Heng (which is highly recommended), this set grants a substantial 12% DMG increase, capitalizing on his fast-turn playstyle.

Main & Sub-Stat Priority:

Build Dan Heng like a traditional hyper-carry DPS. Here’s what to target:

Gear Slot Main Stat Priority Sub Stat Priority (Best to Good)
Head HP (Fixed) Crit DMG / Crit Rate > ATK% > SPD
Hands ATK (Fixed) Crit DMG / Crit Rate > ATK% > SPD
Body Crit Rate / Crit DMG The other Crit stat > ATK% > SPD
Feet SPD Crit DMG / Crit Rate > ATK%
Planar Sphere Wind DMG Bonus Crit DMG / Crit Rate > ATK% > SPD
Link Rope ATK% Crit DMG / Crit Rate > SPD

SPD is a cornerstone stat for Dan Heng. High speed allows him to cycle turns faster, activate his Eagle set bonus more frequently, and control the battle tempo by repeatedly slowing key enemies with his Skill's critical hits.

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Best Light Cones for Dan Heng

While Dan Heng's F2P Light Cone options are limited, he shines with higher-rarity alternatives. If you have none of the below, Darting Arrow (3-star) is his best accessible option.

Here are the top Light Cones for him, ranked by effectiveness:

  1. 🌟 In the Night (5-star): The ultimate luxury choice. Its effects scale with SPD, making it perfectly synergistic with Dan Heng's build goals. It increases Crit Rate and ATK based on your SPD and stacks Crit DMG for his Ultimate. A match made in heaven.

  2. 🦈 Cruising in the Stellar Sea (5-star F2P): His best general F2P-friendly option. At Superimposition 5 (S5), it grants a permanent 16% Crit Rate, helping immensely to reach the 70% threshold for Rutilant Arena. It also provides an ATK boost after defeating enemies, aiding in wave clearance.

  3. 💭 Baptism of Pure Thought (5-star): The perfect partner for a Pioneer Diver of Dead Waters relic build. It increases the wearer's Crit DMG based on the number of debuffs on the enemy, mirroring the relic's condition. Also boosts Ultimate DMG.

  4. 🤫 Only Silence Remains (4-star): A fantastic 4-star option. It increases ATK and provides a Crit Rate boost when facing two or fewer enemies, ideal for Dan Heng's single-target boss-killing specialty.

  5. 🌑 Return to Darkness (4-star - Battle Pass): An excellent supportive option. It focuses on Crit Rate and has a chance to remove one buff from an enemy upon scoring a critical hit, adding valuable utility.

  6. 🏹 Darting Arrow (3-star): The go-to early game cone. It simply increases ATK after defeating an enemy. Its strength lies in how easy it is to Superimpose to S5, providing a solid stat boost for a new account.

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Dan Heng Traces Overview and Priority

Maximizing Dan Heng's Traces is essential for his performance. His abilities are all geared towards dealing massive single-target Wind DMG, slowing enemies, and accelerating his own turns.

Trace Leveling Priority:

I recommend focusing your resources in this order: Skill > Ultimate > Talent > Basic Attack. His Skill is his primary damage and control tool, and his Ultimate is his biggest nuke, especially against Slowed targets.

Ability Breakdown:

Ability Name Type Description & Impact
Cloudlancer Art: North Wind Basic ATK Deals Wind DMG to one enemy. Standard filler.
Cloudlancer Art: Torrent Skill PRIORITY. Deals multi-hit Wind DMG to one enemy. If it crits, it Slows the target by 12%, enabling his Ultimate's bonus damage and controlling turn order.
Ethereal Dream Ultimate PRIORITY. Deals massive Wind DMG to one enemy. Deals significantly increased DMG if the target is Slowed. Your main burst button.
Superiority of Reach Talent Core Mechanic. After Dan Heng receives any buff, heal, or shield, his next attack gains Wind RES PEN. This self-damage amplification is what keeps him relevant.
Splitting Spearhead Technique Increases his ATK by 40% at the start of the next battle. Always use before a tough fight.
Faster Than Light Bonus Ability After attacking, has a 50% chance to increase his SPD by 20% for 2 turns. Fantastic for maintaining speed advantage.
High Gale Bonus Ability Makes his Basic ATK deal 40% more DMG to Slowed enemies. Improves his filler turns.
Hidden Dragon Bonus Ability Reduces his chance of being targeted when HP is below 50%. A minor survivability tool.

His minor stat nodes that increase ATK% and Wind DMG% should also be leveled as resources allow, as they provide substantial passive power.

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Final Thoughts for 2025

In my experience, Dan Heng is a testament to well-designed F2P characters. He demands investment in his core stats—Crit, SPD, and ATK—but repays it with consistent, high single-target Wind damage and valuable enemy speed control. While newer characters may flash bigger numbers, Dan Heng's self-sufficient RES PEN mechanic and reliable performance ensure he never truly falls out of the meta for dedicated players. Whether you're just starting your galactic journey or need a reliable Wind specialist for Memory of Chaos, building Dan Heng is a decision you won't regret. Focus on his Speed, ensure his Crits land, and watch him spearhead your team to victory.