RPGs typically follow the Holy Trinity of classes, but Honkai: Star Rail takes it to another level with its support characters. Vars II explores the dominance and power creep of these universal supports, such as Runme, Sparkle, and Robin, and the potential consequences for character variety and gameplay balance. While these all-purpose supports may be convenient for players, it raises questions about the need for diverse teams and the future of the game’s meta.
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Key Takeaways:
- Honkai: Star Rail follows the traditional RPG concept of the Holy Trinity with tank, healer, and DPS classes.
- Support characters in Honkai: Star Rail have become increasingly dominant and powerful, overshadowing other roles.
- Universal supports like Runme, Sparkle, and Robin can fit into any team and provide a wide range of buffs and benefits.
- This trend of all-purpose supports raises concerns about character variety, power creep, and gameplay balance.
The Dominance of Support Characters
In Honkai: Star Rail, the support category tends to have the most influence on a party’s success. While damage dealers and sustain units are important, it is the supports that truly complete the team. Supports enhance a team’s combat pressure, supplement their abilities, and enable them to tackle various scenarios. They can augment existing capabilities or compensate for deficiencies, making them crucial for success.
The Rise of Universal Supports
However, the recent releases of universal supports like Runme, Sparkle, and Robin have raised concerns. These supports can fit into any team and provide a multitude of buffs and benefits. They outshine other supports and make it difficult for alternative units to compete. This trend of all-purpose supports simplifies the game but also diminishes character variety and challenge.
The Consequences of Power Creep
While convenient for players, the dominance of universal supports raises questions about the future of character variety and gameplay balance. If this trend continues, Honkai: Star Rail may face a similar situation to the power five in Genshin Impact, where a few characters dominate the meta and render others irrelevant. It also raises concerns about power creep and the potential lack of challenge for players.
Overall, Vars II highlights the need for balance and diversity in support characters in Honkai: Star Rail. While universal supports may be powerful and convenient, they risk overshadowing other roles and limiting the gameplay experience. It remains to be seen how the game’s developers will address this issue and maintain a healthy meta.
