As a 5-star Imaginary character following the Path of the Hunt, Dr. Ratio stands out as one of the most lethal single-target damage dealers in Honkai: Star Rail. His unique follow-up attack mechanics and potent debuff synergies make him a prized asset for challenging content, from Memory of Chaos to Simulated Universe expansions. While he was famously distributed for free during the Version 2.1 celebration, players in 2026 now rely on limited-time banner reruns to add this scholar to their roster. Regardless of how he is acquired, fully unlocking Dr. Ratio’s potential demands a serious investment of materials. The journey to level 80 and maxed-out Traces is long, but understanding exactly what to farm—and where to find it—can streamline the grind considerably.

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Ascension Materials Breakdown

Raising Dr. Ratio through six Ascension thresholds not only increases his base stats but also unlocks crucial Traces and bonus abilities. The core materials split into two major categories: enemy drops and boss-exclusive items.

Thief’s Instinct Family

The first set of required materials consists of Thief’s Instinct, Usurper’s Scheme, and Conqueror’s Will. These are dropped by Antimatter Legion soldiers, which populate several maps. Key enemy types include Baryon, Antibaryon, and the various Voidranger variants such as Distorter, Eliminator, and Reaver. Efficient farming spots are concentrated in the Storage Zone and Supply Zone of Herta Space Station, though these foes also appear regularly in the Simulated Universe and can be targeted through daily Assignments or purchased with Embers Exchange.

As Ascension tiers advance, the material rarity shifts. Early thresholds consume Thief’s Instinct, mid levels demand Usurper’s Scheme, and the final stretch requires Conqueror’s Will. The Synthesizer becomes an invaluable tool here; by transforming three lower-grade drops into one higher-grade item, players can mitigate excess farming and avoid depleting resources unnecessarily. The same conversion logic applies to the Arrow materials needed for Traces, so stockpiling the base form is always a wise strategy.

Suppressing Edict

The second essential Ascension material, Suppressing Edict, is exclusive to the Stagnant Shadow: Shape of Puppetry activity. Located on the Artisanship Commission map of the Xianzhou Luofu, this encounter must be challenged repeatedly. A total of 65 Suppressing Edicts are needed to reach the final Ascension, plus 308,000 Credits strictly for the Ascension process itself. This does not account for the additional 580,100 Credits required to level Dr. Ratio from 1 to 80 using Character EXP Materials. Resource-conscious players should budget accordingly and clear the Stagnant Shadow over several days, especially since Trailblaze Power regeneration is a limiting factor.

While the exact count of Antimatter Legion drops varies per tier, a typical pattern sees players burning through dozens of Usurper’s Schemes and Conqueror’s Wills near the end. Weekly boss mats are not required for Ascension, but the monetary and gear investment should not be underestimated.

Trace Materials: Maximizing Abilities

Once Dr. Ratio is fully Ascended, attention turns to his skill tree—a far more demanding undertaking. Maxing out his Basic ATK, Skill, Ultimate, Talent, and all bonus nodes demands an enormous amount of materials.

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Antimatter Legion Drops Return

The entire Thief’s Instinct family remains relevant for Traces. Hundreds of Usurper’s Scheme and Conqueror’s Will are consumed, meaning players will need to continue farming Herta Space Station or Simulated Universe runs well after Ascension is complete. Using the Synthesizer to upcycle leftover lower-rarity drops is highly recommended.

Arrow Series from Bud of the Hunt

A new set of materials appears for Traces: Arrow of the Beast Hunter, Arrow of the Demon Slayer, and Arrow of the Starchaser. These are exclusive to characters on the Path of the Hunt and are obtained exclusively from the Calyx (Crimson): Bud of the Hunt activity. The Calyx is found on the Outlying Snow Plains map of Jarilo-VI. Similar to the Thief items, the three Arrows form an evolution chain, so players should farm whichever rarity they currently lack and rely on the Synthesizer for conversion. Running this Calyx multiple times at the highest available difficulty yields the best efficiency.

Past Evils of the Borehole Planet Disaster

At higher Trace levels, upgrading Dr. Ratio’s skills requires Past Evils of the Borehole Planet Disaster, a boss material from the Borehole Planet's Old Crater: Echo of War in Herta Space Station. Because Echo of War challenges are capped at three rewards per week, planning ahead is crucial. If players wish to max multiple characters that need this same material, they may face delays. It is wise to start farming this boss early, even before Dr. Ratio’s Traces demand it, and to save any self-modeling or item-reroll resources for priority upgrades.

In addition to these materials, fully developing all Traces consumes several Tracks of Destiny—a high-level resource earned from events, the Nameless Honor battle pass, and the Embers Exchange—along with well over a million Credits. Dedicated farmers often keep a spreadsheet to avoid being caught short on the final levels.

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Efficient Farming Tips in 2026

  • 🗺️ Batch Farming Routes: Set a daily route through Herta Space Station’s Storage and Supply Zones to gather Thief family drops consistently. Pair this with a Calyx run to knock out both Arrow and EXP requirements.

  • ⚙️ Synthesizer Priority: Only craft higher-rarity materials when absolutely necessary. Over-converting early can waste base items that might be needed for other characters.

  • ⏳ Trailblaze Power Planning: Since both Stagnant Shadows and Calyxes demand power, stagger your farming across days. Use condensed runs during double-reward events to multiply gains.

  • 💰 Credit Management: The total Credit cost for Ascension and Traces easily exceeds 2.5 million. Save self-modeling and relic leveling for after Dr. Ratio’s fundamental materials are secured.

  • 📅 Weekly Boss Discipline: Never skip the Echo of War challenges. Accumulating Past Evils over several weeks prevents a frustrating standstill when only one Trace upgrade remains.

Farming for Dr. Ratio is a marathon, not a sprint. The process requires patience and resource discipline, but the payoff is a top-tier Imaginary DPS capable of shredding even the toughest enemies. By focusing on the right drop sources, leveraging the Synthesizer, and respecting the weekly boss lockout, any Trailblazer can bring this esteemed scholar from a freshly pulled 5-star to a fully realized team pillar.