The Seriousness of Breakfast (S5)
Increases the wearer's DMG by 24%. For every defeated enemy, the wearer's ATK increases by 8%, stacking up to 3 time(s).
The Seriousness of Breakfast is a free Light Cone that can be obtained through various means such as purchasing with Lucent Afterglow, Echo of War drops, or completing a hidden task aboard the Herta Space Station. While not the top choice for The Herta, it serves as a reliable option for new players who lack better alternatives. This Light Cone provides straightforward damage boosts, making it an effective placeholder until a superior option is acquired.
The Day The Cosmos Fell (S5)
Increases the wearer's ATK by 24%. When the wearer uses an attack and affects no fewer than 2 attacked enemies with a corresponding Weakness, the wearer's CRIT DMG increases by 40% for 2 turn(s).
The Day The Cosmos Fell is another accessible Light Cone, available through Lucent Afterglow purchases or Echo of War drops. A free copy can also be obtained by finding all the Origami Birds in Golden Hour. This Light Cone outperforms The Seriousness of Breakfast, though its effectiveness hinges on consistently meeting its CRIT DMG buff conditions. It remains a solid temporary option for The Herta until a more suitable Light Cone can be found.
Eternal Calculus (S5)
Increases the wearer's ATK by 12%. After using an attack, for each enemy target hit, additionally increases ATK by 8%. This effect can stack 5 times and lasts until the next attack. If there are 3 or more enemy targets hit, this unit's SPD increases by 16%, lasting for 1 turn(s).
Eternal Calculus, available at Herta's Store using Herta Bonds, offers a notable ATK% boost. Its performance varies with the number of targets hit, making it less effective in fights with fewer enemies. However, when fully utilized, it remains a strong choice, with the added benefit of a 16% SPD increase at S5, which can be crucial for certain combat strategies. It's an effective placeholder for The Herta until a more powerful option is secured.
Yet Hope Is Priceless (S1)
Increases the wearer's CRIT Rate by 16%. While the wearer is in battle, for every 20% CRIT DMG that exceeds 120%, the DMG dealt by follow-up attack increases by 12%. This effect can stack up to 4 time(s). When the battle starts or after the wearer uses their Basic ATK, enables Ultimate or the DMG dealt by follow-up attack to ignore 20% of the target's DEF, lasting for 2 turn(s).
Yet Hope Is Priceless, designed for Jade, still serves as a decent option for The Herta due to its 16% CRIT Rate increase at S1. Although The Herta cannot benefit from the Follow-Up buffs, the Light Cone functions as a reliable stat booster. The 20% DEF penetration for the Ultimate can be useful if used early in combat, though it's less effective as The Herta typically avoids using Basic ATKs. Players should not aim to pull this Light Cone specifically for The Herta, as other free options may perform just as well.
Geniuses' Repose (S5)
Increases the wearer's ATK by 32%. When the wearer defeats an enemy, the wearer's CRIT DMG increases by 48% for 3 turn(s).
Geniuses' Repose, obtainable from the standard Stellar Warp, provides a significant 32% ATK increase and a 48% CRIT DMG boost at S5. The CRIT DMG buff is activated upon defeating an enemy, which is manageable in most scenarios due to its three-turn duration. However, its effectiveness may wane in long battles against single boss targets without frequent summons to refresh the buff.
An Instant Before A Gaze (S1)
Increases the wearer's CRIT DMG by 36%. When the wearer uses their Ultimate, the wearer's Ultimate DMG increases based on their Max Energy; Ultimate DMG increases by 0.36% per point of Energy, up to 180 Energy.
An Instant Before A Gaze, tailored for Argenti, is a solid choice for The Herta, offering a 36% CRIT DMG increase and a 64.8% boost to Ultimate DMG at S1. While the Ultimate buff is beneficial, The Herta would ideally prefer boosts to Skill DMG or general DMG. This Light Cone should only be used if already owned, and players should avoid pulling it specifically for The Herta.
Before Dawn (S1)
Increases the wearer's CRIT DMG by 36%. Increases the wearer's Skill and Ultimate DMG by 18%. After the wearer uses their Skill or Ultimate, they gain Somnus Corpus. Upon triggering a follow-up attack, Somnus Corpus will be consumed and the follow-up attack DMG increases by 48%.
Before Dawn, Jing Yuan's signature Light Cone, is a strong choice for The Herta. While she cannot utilize the Follow-Up Attack buff, the Light Cone still offers valuable unconditional stats. At S1, it provides a 36% CRIT DMG increase and an 18% damage boost to both Skill and Ultimate. Though The Herta would benefit more from CRIT Rate, the additional CRIT DMG remains highly beneficial.
Today Is Another Peaceful Day (S5)
After entering battle, increases the wearer's DMG based on their Max Energy. DMG increases by 0.4% per point of Energy, up to 160 Energy.
Today Is Another Peaceful Day stands out as an excellent 4-star Light Cone, offering a significant unconditional damage boost. With The Herta's high 220 Energy cost for her Ultimate, she maximizes this Light Cone's effect, gaining a total 64% damage increase at S5. It also has the highest base ATK among current 4-star Erudition Light Cones, making it the best option for free-to-play and low-spending players. Some argue it's even a more consistent choice than other Light Cones.
Night on the Milky Way (S1)
For every enemy on the field, increases the wearer's ATK by 9%, up to 5 stacks. When an enemy is inflicted with Weakness Break, the DMG dealt by the wearer increases by 30% for 1 turn.
Night on the Milky Way, available from the standard Stellar Warp, is a strong 5-star option for The Herta. It can provide up to a 45% ATK boost at S1, but maintaining those stacks requires five enemies on the field. Additionally, a Weakness Break is necessary to activate the damage buff. While its consistency may not match some other Light Cones, it remains a powerful choice, especially for Pure Fiction.
Into the Unreachable Veil (S1)
Increases the wearer's CRIT Rate by 12%. When the wearer uses their Ultimate, increases DMG dealt by the wearer's Skill and Ultimate by 60%, lasting for 3 turn(s). After the wearer uses their Ultimate, if this Ultimate consumed 140 or more Energy, recovers 1 Skill Point.
Into the Unreachable Veil, The Herta's signature Light Cone, is her best-in-slot option. It offers a significant boost to CRIT Rate and provides a substantial damage increase to both her Skill and Ultimate. Additionally, it recovers a Skill Point each time The Herta uses her Ultimate, making it highly effective for SP-heavy teams. With the highest base ATK among all Erudition Light Cones, it's also valuable for other Erudition characters, even if they can't meet the Energy requirement for the Skill Point recovery.
The Herta is a formidable 5-star Ice Erudition unit in Honkai: Star Rail, renowned for her powerful self-buffs and damage multipliers. As a damage dealer, she focuses on the essential stats of CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, and ATK, alongside any general damage boosts from her Light Cones. Given The Herta's kit provides a generous 80% CRIT DMG buff, she typically seeks Light Cones that grant CRIT Rate. Additionally, increases to her Skill and Ultimate output are highly valuable due to her Interpretation mechanic, with a particular preference for the former.
While the ideal combination of CRIT Rate and Skill DMG increases is rare outside her signature Light Cone, The Herta still has numerous viable options within the Erudition Path. Many of these Light Cones, both limited and free, offer valuable stats and perform closely to each other in effectiveness. Below are the best Light Cone options for The Herta in Honkai: Star Rail.
