- Always use characters with the appropriate weakness type for both halves of Stages 3 and 4 of Pure Fiction in HSR.
- Focus on defeating the weaker enemies first in both halves, before fighting the elite ones.
- Target the enemies that self-explode on defeat to deal the most damage in every turn.
Pure Fiction is the new permanent endgame game mode and has completely changed the meta. The HSR Pure Fiction character tier list clearly shows that Erudition characters reign supreme in this game mode, and with the S or A-tier characters, players should be able to clear the stages with ease. Still, many are struggling to get 3 stars, especially stages 3 and 4. Here is a complete guide on how to get 3 stars in Pure Fiction Stage 3 and 4 in version 1.6 of Honkai Star Rail.
HSR Pure Fiction Stage 3
Stage 3 of Pure Fiction is comparatively easier compared to stage 4, but you still need the correct characters for each stage to get 3 stars, even with max-level characters. First, you need to analyze the enemy weaknesses and then set up appropriate team comps for both nodes.
Nodes Weaknesses 1st Half Physical, Lightning 2nd Half Ice, Fire
In Stage 3 of Pure Fiction in Honkai Star Rail, the first half has the Physical and Lightning weakness. This means characters with the Physical and Lightning damage type will be better for clearing the first half. Similarly, the 2nd half has the Ice and Fire weakness, making characters with those damage types suitable for getting 3 stars.
HSR Pure Fiction Stage 3: Best Team Comps
Best Teams for 1st Half
Order Main DPS Support/Sub-DPS Support Sustain Best Argenti Serval Tingyun Fu Xuan Alternative Kafka Serval Tingyun Luocha Alternative Jing Yuan Serval Tingyun Luocha F2P Friendly Serval Physical Trailblazer Tingyun Natasha
For the first half of Stage 3, Serval, Argenti, Kafka, and Jing Yuan are best for DPS. Alongside them, you can use Tingyun as Support and Fu Xuan or Luocha as Sustains. You can also run Serval and Physical Trailblazer as Sub-DPS instead of a Sustain or Support.
Best Teams for 2nd Half
Order Main DPS Sub-DPS Support Sustain/Support Best Jingliu Herta Ruan Mei Fu Xuan Alternative Himeko Herta Topaz Fire Trailblazer Alternative Himeko Guinafen Asta Luocha F2P Friendly Herta Hook Asta Fire Trailblazer
For the 2nd half of Stage 3, Jingliu, Himeko, and Herta are best for DPS. Alongside them, you can use Topaz to buff the Follow-up attacks, Asta as Support and Fire Trailblazer, Fu Xuan or Luocha as Sustains. You can also use Hook or Guinafen as Sub-DPS.
HSR Pure Fiction Stage 3 Enemies and How to Clear
First Half Enemies in Stage 3
Name Weaknesses The Ascended Physical, Lightning, Ice Disciples of Sanctus Medicus – Ballistarius Physical, Wind, Ice Entranced Ingenium – Illumination Dragonfish Physical, Imaginary, Lightning Windspawn Lightning, Fire Imaginary Weaver Quantum, Physical, Lightning Warp Trotter Physical, Lightning Automaton Beetle Imaginary, Lightning, Wind Flamespawn Imaginary, Ice
First Wave: Focus on defeating the Illumination Dragonfish as it does extra damage to adjacent enemies once defeated. Next, focus on The Ascended, and take him out as quickly as possible to move to the second wave.
Second Wave: Focus on defeating the Warp Trotters before they run away to get the maximum points.
Third Wave: Similar to the first wave, take down the weaker enemies first, especially the Illumination Dragonfish, and target The Ascended last.
Second Half Enemies in Stage 3
Name Weaknesses Senior Staff – Team Leader Imaginary, Fire, Ice Grunt – Security Personnel Physical, Fire, Ice Grunt – Field Personnel Fire, Ice Voidranger – Eliminator Quantum, Ice, Fire Vagrant Imaginary, Ice, Fire Warp Trotter Ice, Fire Baryon Wind, Ice
First Wave: Focus on defeating the Grunts to capitalize on the Performance Points from the Team Leader. Next, focus on the Team Leader, and take him out as quickly as possible to move to the second wave.
Second Wave: Focus on defeating the Warp Trotters before they run away to get the maximum points.
Third Wave: Similar to the first wave, focus on the Grunts and then take out the Team Leader.
HSR Pure Fiction Stage 4
Stage 4 is the hardest level in Pure Fiction and needs maxed-level characters with the correct weakness type to get 3 stars. This stage also features Geopard and Svarog as bosses for both phases, making it a lot harder to clear.
Nodes Weaknesses 1st Half Physical, Ice 2nd Half Lightning, Fire
In Stage 4 of Pure Fiction, the first half has the Physical and Ice weakness. This means characters with Physical and Ice damage must be prioritized for an easier clear. Similarly, the 2nd half has the Lightning and Fire weakness, so characters with those damage types are suitable for getting 3 stars.
HSR Pure Fiction Stage 4: Best Team Comps
Best Teams for 1st Half:
Order Main DPS Support/Sub-DPS Support Sustain Best Argenti Herta Ruan Mei Fu Xuan Alternative Jingliu Herta Bronya Luocha Alternative Herta Bronya Pela March 7th F2P Friendly Herta Physical Trailblazer Pela March 7th
For the first half of Stage 4, Argenti, Herta, Jingliu, and Physical Trailblazer are best for DPS. Alongside them, you can use Bronya as Support to give your DPS more turns and Fu Xuan, Luocha or, March 7th as Sustains. You can also use Herta as Sub-DPS and Pela as support for most of the above team comps.
Best Teams for 2nd Half:
| Order | Main DPS | Sub-DPS | Support | Sustain/Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best | Kafka | Himeko | Guinafen | Asta |
| Alternative | Himeko | Serval | Asta | Fire Trailblazer |
| Alternative | Kafka | Guinafen | Asta | Fire Trailblazer |
| F2P Friendly | Serval | Hook | Asta | Fire Trailblazer |
For the 2nd half of Stage 4, use Kafka, Himeko, or Serval as your main DPS. You can also run Serval and Himeko as sub-DPS in most of the above teams. Fire Trailblazer should be the main Sustain unit, but you can also use Luocha and Fu Xuan. Asta, Hook, and Guinafen are good Support and Sub-DPS options.
Pure Fiction Stage 4 Enemies and How to Clear
First Half Enemies in Stage 4:
Name Weaknesses Silvermane Lieutenant Quantum, Physical, Ice Silvermane Gunner Physical, Ice Silvermane Cannoneer Physical, Imaginary, Lightning Automaton Hound Lightning, Physical Incineration Shadewalker Imaginary, Wind, Ice Warp Trotter Physical, Ice Imaginary Weaver Quantum, Physical, Lightning Geopard Imaginary, Physical, Lightning
First Wave: Focus on defeating the Silvermane Gunner, Cannoneer and Automator Hound first to stop them from buffing or healing each other. Next, focus on Silvermane Lieutenant and defeat him quickly to move to the next wave.
Second Wave: Focus on defeating the Warp Trotters before they run away to get the maximum points.
Third Wave: Focus on defeating every enemy other than Geopard, as you don’t need to defeat him to score 30k points in the first half. Only focus your efforts on Geopard after defeating all other enemies.
Second Half Enemies in Stage 4
Name Weaknesses Automaton Grizzly Lightning, Ice, Fire Automaton Spider Wind, Lightning Imaginary Weaver Physical, Quantum, Lightning Vagrant Imaginary, Ice, Fire Warp Trotter Ice, Fire Windspawn Lightning, Fire Svarog Wind, Fire, Lightning
First Wave: Focus on defeating the Automaton Spiders first so they explode and deal damage to adjacent enemies. Next, focus on the other enemies left to move to the next wave.
Second Wave: Focus on defeating the Warp Trotters before they run away to get the maximum points.
Third Wave: Similar to the first half, focus on defeating every enemy other than Svarog, as you don’t need to defeat him to score 30k points in the first half. Only focus your efforts on Svarog after defeating all the other enemies, or if you fail to get 30k points in the first half.
So there you have it. You can easily get 3 stars in the Pure Fiction Stages 3 and 4 by following the above instructions. If you have any questions regarding possible team comps or this guide, ask us in the comment section.
Sanmay Chakrabarti
Sampad Banerjee
Sanmay Chakrabarti
Sampad Banerjee
Upanishad Sharma
Sagnik Das Gupta
