Best Build for Yunli in Honkai Star Rail 3.2

Look, if you’re here, you’ve probably just pulled Yunli and you’re wondering how to make this sword-wielding prodigy absolutely demolish everything in her path. Good news – you’ve landed on the right guide. Yunli isn’t just another Physical DPS; she’s a game-changer who’s rewriting the counter-attack meta in version 3.2.

This guide breaks down everything you need to transform Yunli into the ultimate damage dealer, from her core mechanics to the perfect team setups that’ll have enemies regretting they ever stepped into battle.

Understanding Yunli’s Counter-Attack Mechanics

Here’s where Yunli gets spicy. Unlike other counter units who just hit back randomly, Yunli’s kit is built around her Parry State – think of it as her “bring it on” mode. When you pop her Ultimate, she enters this state until the next unit acts, and that’s when the magic happens.

During Parry State, Yunli becomes a walking threat. She taunts all enemies (basically saying “come at me”), gains a massive 100% CRIT DMG boost on her next counter, resists crowd control, and takes 20% less damage. It’s like having a built-in shield with teeth.

The real power move is Intuit: Cull – her enhanced counter that triggers when enemies attack during Parry State. This bad boy deals 220% of her ATK to the main target and 110% to adjacent enemies. Miss the timing? You get the weaker Intuit: Slash instead, but don’t sweat it – her A2 trace automatically converts your next Slash into a Cull.

What makes Yunli brilliant is her energy economy. Every counter generates 15 energy, giving her incredible Ultimate uptime. You’ll be cycling through Parry States like it’s nobody’s business.

Light Cone Priorities: Your Weapon of Choice

Dance at Sunset (Signature) is the crown jewel here. This light cone doesn’t just increase your odds of getting attacked – it boosts CRIT DMG by up to 60% and grants Firedance stacks after using Ultimate. These stacks pump your follow-up attack damage by another 60%. It’s tailor-made for Yunli’s playstyle.

Don’t have her signature? No problem. The Unreachable Side is your next best bet, offering 30% CRIT Rate and Max HP, plus a 40% damage boost after getting hit. Something Irreplaceable works too, providing ATK buffs and healing based on your ATK when you get smacked or defeat enemies.

For budget builds, Under the Blue Sky from the Herta Store is solid. It gives ATK bonuses and CRIT Rate buffs when you defeat enemies, plus it’s accessible to everyone.

Relic Sets That Actually Matter

The Wind-Soaring Valorous 4-piece set is Yunli’s best friend. This set was practically designed for her, boosting ATK, CRIT Rate, and Ultimate damage. It’s the gold standard for maximizing her counter potential.

If you’re still farming or want alternatives, The Ashblazing Grand Duke 4-piece works well too. Both sets focus on what Yunli does best – hitting hard and hitting often.

For Planar Ornaments, Inert Salsotto gives the most consistent damage output. Duran, Dynasty of Running Wolves can edge ahead in specific team compositions, especially when you’re running follow-up focused squads.

Stats That Actually Win Games

Here’s your target distribution:

• ATK: 3200-3400 (this is your bread and butter)
• CRIT Rate: 90-100% (consistency is king)
• CRIT DMG: 100-120% base (remember, this becomes 200-220% during Ultimate)
• Speed: Keep it at 94 (base speed works since you’re countering, not racing)

For main stats, prioritize CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG on Body (whichever gives you better ratio), ATK% on Feet, Physical DMG% on Planar Sphere, and ATK% on Link Rope. Energy Regen% can work on Link Rope if you’re struggling with Ultimate timing, but ATK% is safer.

Team Compositions That Dominate

Premium Setup: Yunli + Tingyun + Sparkle + Huohuo

This is the dream team. Tingyun and Huohuo provide consistent energy generation without overcapping (crucial since Yunli can use Ultimate before hitting 240 energy). Both offer ATK buffs to boost your damage output. Sparkle brings significant CRIT DMG buffs, helps with Skill Point management, and can advance Yunli’s turn when needed.

Budget Beast: Yunli + Tingyun + Pela + Lynx

F2P players, this one’s for you. Pela replaces Sparkle as your debuff unit, shredding enemy defenses. Lynx steps in for Huohuo with healing and Survival Response, which increases aggro generation for Destruction units like Yunli. Still powerful, just more accessible.

Follow-up Focus: Yunli + Robin + Topaz + Aventurine

Want to lean into the follow-up synergy? Robin and Topaz provide support that enhances Yunli’s follow-up damage, while Aventurine keeps everyone alive. This team maximizes counter opportunities and damage output.

Why Yunli Outshines Clara

Let’s address the elephant in the room. Yes, Clara was the counter-attack queen, but Yunli represents a significant evolution. Here’s why she’s better:

Yunli’s counter is a Blast attack that works even if the target dies before she counters. Clara’s counter is single-target and fails if the enemy dies. Yunli’s Ultimate counter counts as Ultimate damage, opening up more team synergies. Her energy management is superior with the double Ultimate bar system, and she has better AoE capability with Intuit: Cull.

Plus, Yunli can heal herself with her skill – something Clara completely lacks. In the current meta, Yunli positions herself in a higher tier, comparable to powerhouses like Jingliu and Acheron.

Mastering the Timing Game

Here’s the tricky part: timing her Ultimate correctly. You want to use it right before an enemy’s attack action, not just any action. Use it before an enemy buffs or summons, and you’ll get the weaker Intuit: Slash instead of the devastating Intuit: Cull.

The good news? Her A2 trace (Fiery Wheel) acts as a safety net, automatically converting your next Intuit: Slash into Intuit: Cull. It’s like having training wheels while you learn enemy attack patterns.

Investment Priority Guide

Focus your resources on:

1. Ultimate (highest priority for Parry State mechanics)
2. Talent (enhances counter damage)
3. Skill and Basic (equal priority)

For bonus traces: Fiery Wheel (A2) first (it’s your timing safety net), then True Sunder (A6), and finally Demon Quell (A4).

Making Yunli Work for You

Yunli isn’t just another DPS unit – she’s a strategic powerhouse that rewards good timing and understanding. Her versatility shines in both premium and budget setups, making her accessible to players at every spending level.

Whether you’re a veteran looking to optimize your roster or someone seeking a powerful DPS that brings something unique to the table, Yunli delivers. Her combination of defensive mechanics with explosive offensive power makes her one of the standout characters in version 3.2’s meta.

The key is understanding her rhythm. Once you master the Parry timing and build her correctly, you’ll have a character that doesn’t just deal damage – she controls the battlefield while doing it. That’s the Yunli difference, and that’s why she’s worth every resource you invest in her.

Ready to build your counter-attack master? Start with these foundations, and you’ll be watching enemies regret every attack they throw your way.

Also Read: Honkai Star Rail 3.2 Update: Complete Player Guide