An Old Flame Returns to Honkai: Star Rail
On January 18, 2024, Honkai: Star Rail released a Myriad Celestia Trailer titled “A Night of Ever-Flame: Scene 33”. In this video, they introduced the 5 members of the Annihilation Gang: Duke Inferno, Akash, Dubra, Caterina, and Constance. And then, they drop them. The Annihilation Gang was taken completely off the map by Acheron, off-screen, with only a brief mention of their fates in the Penacony storyline. Now, almost a year later, one of the members of the Gang has finally resurfaced as a playable character: Constance, The Dahlia.
How Does The Dahlia Work
The Dahlia is a 5-Star Fire Nihility who specializes in Super Break DMG to the point where she can even cause it while the enemies’ Weakness Bar is still up.
Zone of Weakness
The Dahlia’s Skill creates a zone which, while active, both increases allies’ Weakness Break Efficiency and causes any Toughness Reduction taken by enemy targets while they are not Weakness Broken to be converted into Super Break DMG. This zone lasts for 3 turns, with its duration decreasing by 1 at the start of The Dahlia’s turn.
The zone can be deployed immediately upon entering combat if you use her Technique, which creates a Special Dimension when used. Enemies within the dimension will not actively attack your characters. Additionally, when combat starts, The Dahlia will convert the combat-triggered Toughness Reduction into a single instance of Super Break DMG against enemy targets that are Weakness Broken.
Pas de Deux
The Dahlias Talent causes her to Regenerate 35 Energy when she enters combat, as well as become “Dance Partners” with the teammate that initiated combat (the one you used to attack the enemy). If there is no “Dance Partner” on the field (either they died or you got attacked instead), The Dahlia will partner up with the character who has the highest Break Effect.
When either “Dance Partner” attacks a Weakness Broken enemy target, they will deal Super Break DMG. Additionally, when her partner attacks an enemy, The Dahlia will launch a Follow-Up ATK, which deals 5 instances of random DMG to the enemies. If any of these attacks hit a Weakness Broken enemy, they will deal Super Break DMG as well. This effect can only occur once per turn and, if the target is defeated before the Follow-Up ATK is used, it will launch at another random enemy instead. Also, thanks to her 2nd Trace Ability, this Follow-Up ATK will recover a Skill Point, though it has a 2-use CD.
Broken Defense
In addition to providing Super Break DMG when enemies aren’t Toughness Broken yet, The Dahlia can apply the “Wilt” Debuff to enemies through her Ultimate, which reduces their DEF.
Cooperation for Personal Gain
The Dahlia’s remaining 2 Trace Abilities benefit her considerably. Her 1st one increases her teammates’ Break Effect by 24% of her own, lasts for 1 turn. However, if The Dahlia is Healed or Shielded, this effect triggers again (though it can’t trigger more than once a turn).
Her 3rd Trace Ability increases her SPD when an ally adds a Weakness to an enemy. If the ally is a Fire unit, and they add Fire Weakness as part of an attack, a fixed amount of Fire Toughness Reduction will be dealt to every target implanted with said Weakness. The Dahlia will also Regenerates 10% of her Max Energy, with a max of 50% (presumably it’s per enemy affected up to 5).
What to Build on The Dahlia
Break Effect is a must, as is SPD. That means a Weakness Break Chain and SPD Boots. Her other Main Stats are somewhat less important. While you can give her ATK or Fire DMG to marginally increase her damage, it won’t technically do much since her main power comes from Super Break DMG. As such, if you want to build her more defensively, you could. As for her Sub Stats, try to get a much Break Effect and SPD as you can.
Her best Lightcone is Never Forget Her Flame (her personal one), but if you want something else, Long Road Leads Home and Solitary Healing are acceptable 5-Star options. If you don’t have any and need to use a 4-Star Lightcone, try Resolution Shines As Pearls of Sweat or Fermata.
Go to the Iron Cavalry Against the Scourge for her Cavern Relic set and the Forge of the Kalpagni Lantern set for her Planar Ornaments.
Who Synergizes with The Dahlia
Firefly. She was effectively made to work with Firefly. To that end, she also works with Fugue, Lingsha, and Gallagher. Basically, if you don’t have Firefly and her posse, she’s not the best pull.
