Deep Dark Flame Thief in Honkai Star Rail: How to Beat the Boss

Thief of the flame of deep darkness in "The gates are open, a shadow has fallen on the throne". This enemy can be called a unique boss, since it can "hide" its true incarnation behind clones, and then absorb them to carry out a powerful area attack and thereby cause significant damage to the team.

As part of a protracted battle, the battle process will often confront other heavy blows that take away a large percentage of HP. For this reason, it is important to know the basic mechanics of the dangerous enemy from the "Eternal Land": below, we will reveal the tactics for confronting the enemy and present suitable squads to defeat the Deep Dark Flame Thief in XSR.

Flamethief Resistances and Vulnerabilities

The normal version of the Deep Dark Flame Thief can be fought during Chapter 2 of the main Amphoraeus storyline, where the boss will not have any health buffs or increased resistance to incoming damage. However, as part of the walkthrough "Pure Fiction" the enemy will be many times stronger and "larger". As a result, it is extremely important to understand what weaknesses and vulnerabilities the enemy has:

• vulnerabilities: electric, ice, quantum damage types;
• resistance: increased resistance to negative effects such as Freeze (75%), Bind (75%), Imprison (75%).

Who to take in the squad for the Deep Dark Flame Reaver in HSR

The Deep Dark Flame Thief, also known as the "Nameless Swordsman," is a formidable opponent that can be encountered not only in the main story campaign, but also in the process of completing high-level, updated modes. As a result, to defeat him, you need to assemble a balanced squad, including good DPS characters.

Best characters

When approaching the choice of the main damage dealer of the team, and also taking into the vulnerabilities and resistances of the nameless swordsman, you can make a choice in the direction of:

• Mishu (Destruction: Ice) in the absence of the legendary damage-dealing character Path.
• Acheron (Nothingness: Electric) — a representative of the Void, destroying opponents with a unique type of superpower. Dependent on other Void heroes in the squad, therefore, requires a responsible approach to assembling the group.
• Arlana (Destruction: Electric).
• Qingque (Erudition: Quantum) - quantum damage units that can be used to form a mono-squad, offering good characters from the Paths of Harmony, Preservation and/or Abundance.
• Boothill (Hunt: Physical) - heroes who play from the penetration effect and can impose additional vulnerability on the boss with personal abilities.

In addition to these characters, it is possible to consider other heroes, including those of epic rarity, but those considered above can be called the most attractive options for killing the boss.

Top Teams

The table shows the suitable squads to kill Deep Dark Flame Reaver in HSR:

The composition of and free groups may vary depending on the level of characters. The table only provides examples on the basis of which you can create your own squad.

Boss attacks

Let's take a look at the main abilities of the Deep Dark Flame Reaver in HSR, so that later, taking into the most deadly ones, we can compile a list of effective tips for destroying a powerful enemy.

The first phase

Attacks used during the first phase of the battle:

• "Storm of Doom" и "Fading Destiny" — in the first case, attacks one target and its closest allies, in the second — the entire squad, additionally applying Corrosion. After using Storm of Doom and/or Fading Fate, spends its own HP and summons a Damaged Vessel (clone).
• "A Decisive Farewell" - While the "Damaged Vessel" is on the battlefield, it accumulates levels of the positive effect, due to which it receives a reduced amount of incoming damage.
• "The Grief of the Underworld" — When the number of Corrupted Vessels on the field reaches 2 or 4, the Flame Thief will perform its normal attack, which is repeated by its clones. After performing such an attack, at least two duplicates will be absorbed by the boss, and the main enemy will receive 2 charges of Power of Disaster. Corrupted Vessels can also apply Corrosion during their turns, but ignore control effects and will perform their attack together with the Flame Thief, regardless of whether the vulnerability is penetrated.

• Status "Force of Disaster" — After performing a blow with Damaged Vessels and then absorbing them, the boss receives a number of charges equal to the number of returned copies. The number of stacks of Calamity Power can be seen next to the boss's HP scale. This status cannot be removed from the Flame Thief in any way. Multiple attack is performed after absorbing all copies, so it is extremely important to quickly eliminate all doubles on the field to prevent them from receiving a boost.

• "But suffering is necessary" - Consumes all charges of the Force of Disaster and carries out a series of powerful attacks on the squad.

The second phase

Skills that are often found in the second phase of the battle (in addition to those present in the first phase):

• "Silent Sorrow" — a state from the second phase of the Flame Thief, when the boss prepares a powerful multiple attack. Externally, this looks like a stance with a raised sword and dagger, and in the list of actions, the enemy icon turns red. If the Flame Thief is not defeated before the animation of Silent Sorrow es, then the attack animation will play, followed by the reset of charges of Calamity.

• "Don't cry for the abandoned" - an enhanced version of the attack "But suffering is necessary."

Unique Mechanics Damaged Vessel

Damaged vessel — boss doubles that appear after performing one of the attacks. The Flame Thief spends some of its own HP to create two copies in one attack. The boss's health is then put into the "reserve" from the Entangling Agony status and will be restored to its previous value at the moment of absorbing the vessels. Perform area attacks using electric, ice or quantum damage to quickly remove all the doubles. In addition, all targets can be subject to a suitable vulnerability if there is a character with such a mechanic in the squad. When eliminating doubles, the delayed percentage of the boss's HP spent on their creation is reduced.

How to Beat Deep Dark Flame Thief Boss in Honkai: Star Rail

Before the battle with the Deep Dark Flame Thief, be sure to take damage dealers with area damage and suitable s to your squad. During the battle, it is important to destroy the boss's clones that appear to avoid multiple attacks and receiving an internal buff for the enemy. Part of the incoming physical damage from the Flame Thief is converted into a harmful status that "delays" the health of the attacked targets. The Corrosion effect can be healed with the help of the Abundance hero or blocked by the shield of the Preservation character. Also, the "delayed" HP can be restored by performing any attack on the boss or his clones. The more targets you hit with a blow, the more health will be restored to the attacking hero.

The enemy has many buffs, blocks a certain percentage of incoming damage if there are doubles on the field, and carries out mass attacks on all allies. To complete the boss according to the story, it is recommended to take the strongest Abundance and Preservation s on the , since each enemy hit removes a significant percentage of health. If there are clones on the field, any deadly attack can be repeated multiple times.

Destroy the clones when they appear on the battlefield.

Clones are not only the reason for the accumulation of the Force of Disaster, but also additional damage that goes through the squad. As a result, in order to maintain a high survivability of the team, try to get rid of unnecessary targets on the battlefield as quickly as possible.

Don't let the boss build up levels of Calamity Power

By accumulating charges of the Force of Calamity, the nameless swordsman can activate two types of enhanced attacks - "But suffering is necessary" in the first phase and "Do not cry for the abandoned" in the second phase. These abilities are mass-type skills, and accordingly, they cause significant damage to the entire squad. Since this status can't be removed from the boss, it is extremely important to destroy the Damaged Vessel clones as quickly as possible, which directly affect the effect stacks.

Use Midea's charged ability

As part of the story campaign "The gates are open, a shadow has fallen on the throne" it is allowed to use special ability on the "R" key, during which Prince Mideimos is summoned to the battlefield and carries out a powerful attack, significantly reducing the enemy's HP. Do not neglect its activations to quickly deal with the enemy.

Avoid the negative effect of Corrosion

As mentioned, enemies with the Corrosion effect are unique in that they inflict the corresponding status when hit. Use offensive abilities as often as possible to remove Corrosion and restore some of the health marked in red on the HP bar.

Achievements for killing the boss

Several achievements can be earned by fighting the Deep Dark Flame Thief during story missions or encounters within battle modes. "Oh grove, why are the wise men silent?" You won't be able to complete any of the achievements due to a story limitation. The encounter in "Oh, the Enemy, Burning with Golden Blood" has the most favorable conditions due to the presence of help in the form of additional damage.

The Man Who Lost His Shadow

• Condition: Make it so that Deep Dark Flame Thief cannot activate the Corrupted Vessel synergy after using Underworld Grief 2 times in a row.
• Reward: 5 star jade.

In the previous turns with the presence of doubles on the field, it is necessary to reduce their HP percentage as much as possible. Wait for the Flame Thief to attack together with the doubles, and then quickly activate the accumulated attack super ability of any ally and finish off the Damaged Vessels so that the boss cannot absorb them.

The Man Without a Shadow

• Condition: Defeat all Corrupted Vessels while Deep Dark Flame Reaver's Silent Sorrow is active.
• Reward: 5 star jade.

Before performing a t attack with Corrupted Vessels, try to eliminate all the duplicates on the field. It is recommended to use heroes with AoE damage Path of Erudition or Destruction for greater efficiency.

Hopefully, this guide helped you defeat Deep Dark Flame Thief in Honkai: Star Rail. If you have any questions about party composition or the boss's combat mechanics, please leave a comment below. comments — the author or players will try to help.