Normally, we recommend paying close attention to the Level and Element recommendations in Honkai: Star Rail. However, if you are a free-to-play player, you may be stuck grinding for a while to raise a team to Level 55 and challenge World 5 of the Simulated Universe. What if we told you there was a reliable way to challenge Kafka with only free, Four-Star characters at Level 50? It's true, I've done it myself multiple times. Here's how to do it.
HSR Simulated Universe 5 Guide
Who to bring in Honkai Star Rail Simulated Universe World 5?
Other than being level 55, the recommended elements for Simulated Universe World 5 are based on Kafka's Weaknesses: Physical, Wind, and Imaginary. Without Welt, Bronya, or Sampo, your Team Comps will be fairly limited, but, as we said earlier, this challenge can still be tackled by all free Four-Star characters—Physical Trailblazer, Dan Heng, Natasha, and March 7th—even though Kafka resists freeze, that's not what you'll be using March for in this team.
If you do have Welt, Bronya, Sampo, or even Sushang or Clara, they can easily be slotted into this team as well. The heroes you bring don't matter. Your chosen Path is what will really carry you through te Kafka fight.
Related: Honkai Star Rail Relic Farming Guide
What Path and blessings should you choose for Simulated Universe World 5?
No matter who you decide to bring into Simulated Universe World 5, this strategy hinges on choosing the Abundance Path. Whenever possible, choose Abundance blessings, with a second preference for Preservation Blessings. Also, if you can find a Destruction Blessing called Eternally Collapsing Object, which builds Effect RES, scoop it up.
When choosing your Resonance Formation, it's very important to choose Anicca and Anatta (with Anicca as a priority). This will become key in the final fight.
How to defeat Kafka in Honkai Star Rail Simulated Universe World 5
Difficulty 1
You don't need much damage stacking to tackle Kafka, but you do need to watch out for her Debuff, Dominated, which will not only incapacitate your team members but also have them attacking each other. March 7th and Natasha can both cleanse Debuffs via their Skills, as long as you have unlocked their first Bonus Abilities.
After the first phase of the fight, Kafka will cast her Debuff teamwide. If both Natasha and March are hit, you still have an Ace up your sleeve. Your Abundance Path Resonance with the Anicca Formation will cleanse your party team-wide, so save this Resonance for when you need it.
Do not use Auto battle for this fight! Auto battle may unleash Path Resonance at the wrong time, leaving you totally incapacitated in the final phase. If you follow this strategy, even with slightly under-leveled characters, you shouldn't have any problems finishing the fight.
Difficulty 2 and above
Simulated Universe World 5 Difficulty 2 and 3 are some of our favorite places to farm materials in (and not just because we need those Nihility Relics). It’s because of how autoable it is with a dedicated Abundance blessing run. Just gather 10 of its Blessings so you can take two Resonance Formations from the Abundance deck: Anicca and Anatta.
Anicca cleanses your team’s debuff on activation. Anatta adds The Abundance to your turn order permanently, which cleanses your party every two to three cycles. If you turn on auto mode, The Path Resonance will keep your party from being Dominated, allowing you to steadily chip away at Kafka’s HP until she’s defeated.
Just be sure your team has a healer that can do party-wide healing since Kafka does have an AoE that can slice 60% to 80% of all your characters’ HP (even with Abundance buffs).
Now that you've beaten Kafka, it's time to move onto Swarm Disaster (if you dare). For all the help you can get with that and more, check out Honkai Star Rail Swarm Disaster Guide (Simulated Universe) – Best team comps, strategies, & more! here at Pro Game Guides.
Michaela Schulte is a Mom, gamer, and Contributing writer for Pro Game Guides. She was hooked on fantasy lands in childhood, during her first trip through Hyrule. She's also been to Pallet Town, Whiterun, and Novigrad. Currently traveling through Sumeru. Her travel partners include her husband, two boys, and their dog, Ellie.