Honkai Star Rail Jiaoqiu: Best Builds Guide

In Honkai: Star Rail, Jiaoqiu is a 5-star Fire-type character from the Path of Nothingness. He can act as a secondary damage dealer/debuffer in a team, dealing damage over time (DoT) and inflicting negative effects on enemies. In this guide, you will learn about his best builds, light cones, and relics. We will also tell you about the recommended squads with him.

Note: The Alchemy Commissioner has not yet been officially released, so the information provided here is based on information obtained during beta testing. If necessary, we will update the guide when the hero is released in the game.

Jiaoqiu's Main Features

How to Get Jiaoqiu

This character can only be obtained during the Jump event. In the near future, this banner will be launched as part of the second phase of patch 2.4 (August 21, 2024). If you want to be among the first to know about his next rerun, we recommend you bookmark this article.

Let's add that HoYoverse has only given away a 5-star hero once for winning the “Best Mobile Game of the Year” nomination, and never for completing various events, so it's highly likely that you'll only be able to unlock this member of the Alchemy Commission using Jumps.

Jiaoqiu's Stat Progression

The table below shows how the Galactic Ranger's basic stats change as she levels up.

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Level	Attack Power	Defense	HP	Speed
82	69	185	98
20	160	135	360	98
40	307	260	693	98
60	454	385	1026	98
80	602	509	1358	98

Note that his critical damage, critical hit chance and taunt are 50%, 5% and 100 units respectively at any level, and his energy reserve is 100 units.

Jiaoqiu's Abilities

The most important ability of the Chef-Healer is the talent “Quartet of Refined Taste”, since it is the basis of his entire gameplay, so let's look at this passive first. When the character hits an enemy with a basic attack, skill or super ability, he has a 100% chance of placing 1 level of Hot Ash on them, which increases the damage they take by 7.5-18.75%. Each subsequent stack increases this figure by 2.5-6.25%.

A maximum of 5 levels of Hot Ash can be placed on one enemy, each of which lasts only 2 turns. When the target is afflicted with this debuff, they are also considered to have Burning applied to them, causing them to take fire damage over time at the start of each turn equal to 90-225% of Jiaoqiu's attack power.

Explanation: Thanks to this talent, the cunning fox will be useful to almost any damage dealer, because at level 10 of the passive and with 5 stacks of Hot Ash, he will be able to deal 35% more damage to marked enemies. Burning will be the main source of damage for Jiaoqiu, since it deals considerable damage. The debuffs themselves will be a nice bonus for fighters like Acheron and Black Swan.

When using the basic attack “Burning Heart”, it deals fire damage to one enemy equal to 50~130% of their attack power. It also penetrates 30 stamina and restores 20 energy.

Explanation: These are unremarkable normal attacks, which, however, are not completely useless. Firstly, due to their high attack power, they will deal relatively high damage. Secondly, they can be used to apply Hot Ash to one selected enemy.

After using the skill “Fiery Onslaught”, he deals fire damage to the selected target and nearby enemies equal to 75~187.5% and 45~112.5% ​​of his attack power respectively. In addition, Jiaoqiu has a 100% chance of placing 1 layer of Hot Ash on the main target. At the same time, the skill penetrates 60 units of durability (the explosion can remove another 30 units) and restores 30 energy.

Explanation: In terms of one-time damage, it is comparable to the skill of the same Acheron or Kafka, since it deals more damage to adjacent targets. However, its main advantage is the ability to immediately apply 2 stacks of Hot Ash to the main target (1st level is applied by skill, and 2nd by talent) and 1st level each on enemies adjacent to it. For this reason, we highly recommend that you use Jiaoqiu's skill every turn.

By using the super ability “Magic of Pyrography”, the hero equalizes the number of levels of the enemy's Hot Ash status with the highest number of levels of the effect on the battlefield, after which he creates a Zone and deals fire damage to all enemies in the amount of 60-120% of his attack power.

While inside the Zone, enemy targets take 9-18% more damage from the Ultimate ability, and have a 50-65% chance to gain 1 stack of Burning Ash whenever they perform any action. While the Zone is active, this effect can only occur up to 6 times, and only once per enemy turn. The available number of activations is reset each time Jiaoqiu uses his Ultimate.

The Zone only lasts for 3 turns, and at the start of each hero's turn, its duration is reduced by 1 turn. If Jiaoqiu is unable to fight, the Zone will immediately dissipate.

Explanation: The ultimate itself does not deal much damage. Its main purpose is to apply a large number of stacks of Hot Ash to enemies. When activated, it scans all enemies and sees which of them has the most stacks of the debuff, and then applies those stacks to the rest of the enemies and adds another stack to it. For example, if one of the mobs had 3 Hot Ash, then after using the ultimate, all monsters in the arena will receive 4 stacks of the effect.

Thus, we advise, if possible, to use the ult only if one of the opponents on the battlefield already has at least 3 levels of Burning Ash. They will also receive the final stack when performing the action. We will add that enemies located in the Zone will receive more damage from super abilities, which again will allow you to strengthen the main damage dealers playing through the ults.

It is also impossible not to mention the technique “Flame Suppression”, the use of which leads to the creation of a special space that can exist for 15 seconds. If you engage in combat with enemies while it is present, the hero will deal fire damage to them in the amount of 100% of his attack power and with a 100% probability will place 1 stack of Hot Ash on them. Only one field created by allies can exist at a time.

Traces of Jiaoqiu

In addition to the above abilities, the character upgrade tree also includes other buffs that provide passive bonuses or permanent increases to characteristics. Basically, we are talking about increasing fire damage, the chance of hitting effects, and speed. You can see them all in the picture below.

Next, we will briefly consider special traces with their own mechanics:

• Purifying Fire – immediately restores 15 energy units to the hero after the start of the battle. Allows you to activate the ult faster in the first half of the battle.
• Heartfire – for every 15% chance of hitting Jiaoqiayu's effects that exceed 80% of this parameter, his attack power is additionally increased by 60%, up to 240%. To get the maximum increase, you will need to increase the SPE to 140%.
• Smoldering Aroma – While the Zone is active, enemies entering combat will gain Burning Ash. The number of stacks applied will be equal to the highest number of stacks any enemy in the arena has. This trail greatly increases Jiaoqiu's usefulness in modes such as Pure Fiction.

Jiaoqiu's Eidolons

To unlock them, you need materials of the same name, issued when duplicates of the hero appear, which, of course, is random. And considering the rarity of 5-star character drops, be prepared to spend a lot of money and time on this. Luckily, even without eidolons, Jiaoqiu can easily play the role of a secondary damage dealer/debuffer on a team. Below is a list of them:

1. Five Paths, Five Flavors – allied damage dealt to enemies with Hot Ash increases by 40%. Whenever the talent casts Hot Ash on enemies, they gain an additional stack of the effect.
2. Taste of Suffering – When an enemy is afflicted with the Burning Ash effect, the multiplier of the periodic fire damage they take from this debuff is increased by 300%.
3. Irresistible Harmony – The skill level is increased by two, and the basic attack by one. The maximum level of the former increases to 15, and the second to 10.
4. Calm Heart, Peace of Mind – When the Zone exists, the attack power of enemies in it is reduced by 15%.
5. Battle Between Light and Darkness – The level of the ult and talent is increased by two. The maximum level of both increases to 15. Greatly increases overall damage.
6. Flame of Nine Colors – After defeating an enemy, the stacks of Hot Ash accumulated by them are transferred to the enemy with the fewest debuff levels. The maximum limit of stacks of the effect increases to 9, and each level of it reduces the target's resistance to all types of damage by 3%.

If you plan to knock out eidolons and use Jiaoqiu only as a debuffer, without intending to increase his personal damage, then you can easily stop at E1, which will allow the hero to significantly strengthen his allies. If you decide to make a full-fledged sub-DD out of the cunning fox, it is also advisable to open E2 for him, which increases the periodic damage he inflicts. If you have a choice between the first eidolon and a signature weapon, then we advise you to take E1.

How to play Jiaoqiu

A lot here depends on who exactly you use Jiaoqiu with. If you put him on the same team as Acheron, then his main task will be to apply as many debuffs to enemies as possible in the minimum amount of time so that the Emanator of Nothingness can use her ultimate faster.

It is advisable to use it after activating Jiaoqiu's super ability, as it will enhance Acheron's ultimate and increase the damage taken by enemies. You should also attack before your opponents' turn, as their actions will then result in additional stacks of Hot Ash, which in turn will speed up the accumulation of charges for the Emanator of Nothingness.

His personal damage will be secondary – the main thing is that he can often and reliably impose weakening effects on enemies. So we advise you to focus on increasing his speed and the chance of hitting effects.

If you plan to use Jiaoqiu in packs for DoT damage or other teams as a sub-DD, then we advise you not to use his ultimate when ready, but wait until one of the enemies in the arena has accumulated at least 3 glass of Hot Ash. In this case, you can immediately apply almost the maximum number of debuff levels to your enemies. They will receive level 5 when they begin to perform actions while in the Hero Zone.

Whenever possible, try to always use the healer-chef skill to apply 2 stacks of debuff to the target enemy at once. For this reason, you may need a support that gives additional skill points. In general, the optimal rotation for Jiaoqiu will look like this:

1. Try to use Jiaoqiu's technique before the fight to immediately apply 1 stack of Ash Roast to enemies.
2. When the action moves to Jiaoqiu, use his skill on the strongest enemy to apply 2 more levels of the debuff (there will be 3 in total).
3. Once you have accumulated enough energy for the ult, use it if at least one enemy has 3 stacks of Ash Roast. If you are playing with Acheron, you can ignore this condition.
4. Then just hit the enemies with your main damage dealer, which will deal increased damage to them.

Advantages and disadvantages of Jiaoqiu

Thanks to his abilities, he can deal considerable periodic damage to both single and multiple targets. His advantages also include:

• He can very quickly impose multiple debuffs on all enemies at once, which is extremely useful for some damage dealers whose damage depends on debuffs (Acheron, Black Swan, etc.).
• Great for playing through game modes (such as Pure Fiction) where enemies come in waves, as the Smoldering Fragrance trail will constantly cast Hot Ash on new enemies.
• Greatly buffs your main damage dealers , as it increases the damage taken by enemies with its debuffs. Can additionally increase the damage from superpowers, so it's great for main damage dealers playing through them.
• Relatively easy to assemble, since it is enough to increase two parameters: the chance of hitting effects (for guaranteed debuffs) and speed (for more frequent weakening). At the same time, the first parameter will automatically increase the attack power, which determines the damage of the hero's abilities.
• Under certain conditions, it can become a good sub-DD, inflicting significant periodic fire damage with Burning.
• Relatively low cost of superpower (100 units), which significantly increases the frequency of its use even without the need to increase energy recovery.

However, you should not consider this cunning fox an ideal character, since he also has his drawbacks, namely:

• He will be able to inflict really great damage to enemies only with E2 and signature weapons.
• His abilities are mainly aimed at fighting large groups of enemies, as they allow him to apply debuffs on a massive scale. He will be less useful against strong single bosses who are unable to summon regular mobs.
• He reveals himself best with Acheron or other damage dealers who play through debuffs and the ult, which somewhat narrows the choice of suitable teams for him.
• He is not an irreplaceable hero, as he is essentially a slightly improved version of Pela/Guinaifen.

Best builds for Jiaoqiu

Best Light Cones

When selecting weapons, we recommend paying attention to those options that increase the chance of hitting effects and attack power, as well as impose additional weakening and strengthen existing debuffs. The table below shows the most interesting cones.

Name	Characteristics	Ability
Countless Spring Days (5 Stars)	HP: 43~953 Attack Power: 26~582 Defense: 24~529	Increases the chance of effects hitting by 60-100%. After the wearer uses a basic attack, skill or superpower to defeat an enemy, he has a 60% chance of placing the “Armor Away” status on him. While in this state, the target receives 10-18% more damage over 2 turns. If an enemy is under a DoT status caused by the owner, then with a 60% chance he receives the Cornered effect, which additionally increases the damage he receives by 14-22% for 2 turns. A signature weapon for Jiaoqiu that significantly increases the stat he needs and allows him to weaken his opponents. However, we still recommend taking E1 instead, since you can gain SPE with other cones, and with Eidolon, allies will be able to deal 40% damage to enemies, which is higher than 24%.
Reworked Memories of the Past (5 stars)	HP: 48~1058   Attack Power: 26~582   Defense: 21~463	Increases the chance of effects hitting by 40-60%. Grants 1 level of Farseer status when the wearer hits an enemy with Weather, Bleed, Shock, or Burn. You can get a maximum of 4 stacks. Each type of DoT adds only 1 stack of status per battle. Each level of the Diviner increases attack power by 5-9% and allows periodic damage to ignore 7.2-10% of the enemy's defense. Gives Jiaoqiu the hit chance he needs and increases his attack power, which increases his ability damage. This cone is more suitable for a hero with E2 in his DoT pack.
In the name of peace (5 stars)	HP: 1058 ATK: 582 DEF: 463	Increases damage dealt to enemies with debuffs by 24-40%. After using the skill, the probability of being hit by effects increases by 18-30%, and attack power by 24-40%. Another good option that will suit Jiaoqiu both in squads with Acheron and without it, as it can increase the SPE, attack power and his overall damage. You will activate the passive often, since it is advisable to use Jiaoqiu's skill every turn.
Incessant Rain (5 stars)	HP: 1058 ATK: 582 DEF: 463	Increases the chance to hit effects by 24~40%. When dealing damage to an enemy with three or more debuffs, the hero's critical chance increases by 12~20%. When attacking, there is a 100% chance that Ethereal Code will be cast on the enemy, increasing any damage dealt to them by 12~20%. Critical Chance is useless for Jiaoqiu, but increasing the HP and applying an additional debuff will help allies deal more damage. A good cone for an Acheron team.
Before the start of the training mission (4 stars)	HP: 43~952   Attack Power: 21~476   Defense: 15~330	Increases the chance of effects hitting by 24~40%. When striking an enemy with reduced defense, the cone restores 4 units of energy to the character. Increases the character's required SPE, but the second part of the passive will only work if the team has Pela, Silver Wolf, or another debuffer capable of cutting off enemy defense. It will allow you to use the ult even more often. A good option for packs with Acheron, but it could only be obtained during the Star Hunt event.
The show begins (4 stars)	HP: 48~1058   Attack power: 26~582   Defense: 21~463	After applying a weakening effect to an enemy, the owner gets 1 stack of the Trick status. Each level increases the wearer's damage by 6-10% (maximum 3 times). This bonus lasts for one turn. Increases the owner's attack power by 20-36% if his chance to hit effects is equal to or greater than 80%. An excellent cone for E2, as it significantly increases the hero's damage and attack power. True, you will have to get the chance to hit effects from relics, which can be quite difficult. Could be obtained during the patch 2.0 event.
Prey's Gaze (4 stars)	HP: 952 ATK: 476 DEF: 330	Increases the chance to hit effects by 20-40% and increases periodic damage by 24-48%. A universal cone that will be useful for both the debuffer under Acheron and sub-DD.
Determination Shines Like Sweat Pearls (4 Stars)	HP: 952 ATK: 476 DEF: 330	Has a 60~100% chance of trapping the enemy it hits (if it hasn't already), reducing their DEF by 12-16% for one turn. Can be taken in a squad with Acheron or similar main DD to further increase his damage.
Good night and peaceful sleep (4 stars)	HP: 952 ATK: 476 DEF: 330	Increases damage by 12-24% for each weakening the target enemy has, stacking up to three times. The bonus also affects periodic damage. A good option for DoT teams, where Jiaoqiu can deal significant damage with Burn.

Best Relics

As for the choice of common relics mined in the Caves of Corrosion, we advise paying attention to sets that increase speed, attack power and the chance of hitting effects, as well as in one way or another covering weakening in their bonuses. The table below shows the best options.

Name	Bonuses	Advantages
Prisoner of the Dark Dungeon	2 parts: increases attack power by 12%. 4 parts: For each damage over time effect an enemy has (up to a max of 3), the owner ignores 6% of that enemy's defense when dealing damage.	A good option if you plan on using Jiaoqiu in DoT packs. It maximizes the periodic fire damage dealt by Burning Ash.
Prisoner of the Dark Dungeon/Wild Wheat Marksman The Messenger Wandering in Hackerspace	2 pieces: increases attack power by 12%. 2 pieces: increases acceleration by 6%.	Use these partial sets if you lack the speed that is essential for Jiaoqiu or until you have managed to build a full Prisoner with suitable stats.
Dead Waters Discoverer Herald Wandering in Hackerspace	2 pieces: Increases damage dealt to enemies with debuffs by 12%. 2 pieces: Increases Haste by 6%.	These two partial sets should be used if Jiaoqiu is teamed with Acheron, so that he can roam more often and apply more debuffs.
Wild Wheat Marksman	2 copies: Attack power stat increases by 10%. 4 copies: Increases the wearer's speed by 6%, and the damage dealt by 10% of the base attack stat.	You can take it as a starting set, as it gives the hero the attack power he needs and slightly increases his speed.

Now we move on to planar decorations that are obtained in the Virtual Universe. The list below shows the recommended options (the numbers indicate the choice priority):

Planar Decoration	Bonuses	Reasons for choosing
1) Pan-Galactic Commercial Enterprise	2 copies: the hit chance stat of effects increases by 10%. The wearer's attack power is buffed by 25% of the hit chance value, but no more than 25%.	The perfect set for Jiaoqiu, giving him the necessary SPE and, like his trail, increasing attack power, which increases the damage of Hot Ash.
2) Ageless Fleet	2 copies: maximum health increases by 12%. If the wearer's speed is more than 120, then the attack power of the entire team increases by 8%.	A good option for a debuffer under Acheron, which will increase Jiaoqiu's survivability and strengthen the main DD. However, it will also suit a DoT pack, as it will increase the periodic damage of all DoTers.
3) Broken Keel	2 parts: Increases the owner's effect resistance by 10%. If the owner's effect resistance is greater than or equal to 30%, all allies' critical damage is increased by 10%.	Makes Jiaoqiu less susceptible to control effects and strengthens allies. Good when playing with Acheron.
4) Space Sealing Station	2 copies: the attack power stat value increases by 12%. If the wearer's speed is at least 120, then his attack power also increases by 12%.	Significantly increases Jiaoqiu's attack power, and therefore its periodic damage. Can be used as a starter set.

As for the characteristics of the relics, you need to choose as follows:

• Body: chance to hit effects
• Legs: speed (priority) or attack power%
• Planar Sphere: fire damage bonus or attack power
• Connecting rope: energy recovery speed
• Additional characteristics: chance to hit effects -> speed -> attack power% -> health/defense

If we talk about parameter values, then the chance of hitting effects must be 140% in order to receive the entire bonus to attack power from the trace (its size can reach 3000 units). The speed must be at least 140 units, and for the most comfortable game you need at least 160 units.

Best Teams for Jiaoqiu

We have already noted above that this hero will be a great addition to both Acheron and any DoT pack. He can also be used in a regular squad, because he can strengthen any damage dealer, especially if his main source of damage is the ult.

As for suitable supports, he will benefit from any support characters that increase attack power, advance his action forward and/or give additional skill points, since he will want to use the skill every turn. The table below presents the most interesting squad options.

Main-DD	Sub-DD	Sub-DD/Support	Support
Acheron	Jiaoqiu	Spark	Fu Xuan (Welt)
Acheron	Pela	Jiaoqiu	Gallagher
Acheron	Jiaoqiu	Silver Wolf	Fu Xuan
Kafka	Black Swan	Jiaoqiu	Hoho
Kafka	Jiaoqiu	Tingyun	Locha
Kafka	Jiaoqiu	Silver Wolf	Bailu
Black Swan	Jiaoqiu	Ruan Mei	Hoho
Black Swan	Jiaoqiu	Asta	Locha
Black Swan	Jiaoqiu	Pela	Locha

Leveling up Jiaoqiu

How to increase abilities (what to level up first)

The images below show the materials and amounts needed to max out your Basic Attack, Skill, Ultimate, and Talent.

• Fire Spirit, Starfire Essence, and Celestial Cremator are obtained from the Sepal located in the Alchemy Commission (Luofu Xianzhou) or through Synthesis.
• Sprouts of Immortality, Ethereal Flower of Immortality, and Branch of Immortal Glory are obtained from Abominations of Abundance, Quests, and Enemies in the Virtual Universe or through Synthesis.
• Lost Echo of the Unity of Desires – obtained from fighting the boss Choir of Balance: Great Septimius in the Echo of War “Tribute of the Courtesy of Mortal Tears” located in Penakonia.
• Fate's Fingerprints – Obtained in the Virtual Universe, awarded with the Battle Pass, and purchased with Everlasting Ash in the Pom-Pom Shop. Sometimes a reward in temporary events.

As for the priority of pumping abilities, it is advisable to pump the super ability, skill and talent in parallel with each other. In case of limited resources, first pump the passive, and only then the ult and skill (that is, it should be ahead of the last two by 1-2 levels). Basic attacks are the last thing you need to level up.

How to Ascend a Character

At certain levels, you will need to Ascend the heroine, spending a large amount of resources and credits:

• Ascension (level 30): credits x4000 and sprouts of immortality x5
• Ascension (level 40): credits x8000 and sprouts of immortality x10
• Ascension (level 50): credits x16000, Ethereal Flower of Immortality x6, and Flaming Heart x3
• Ascension (level 60): credits x40000, Ethereal Flower of Immortality x9, and Flaming Heart x7
• Ascension (level 70): credits x80000, Branch of Immortal Glory x6, and Flaming Heart x20
• Ascension (level 80): credits x160000, Branch of Immortal Glory x9, and Flaming Heart x35

The Flaming Heart can be obtained from the Stagnant Shade located in the Residence of Morning Dew (Penakonia).