The 120% Effect Hit Rate benchmark is a myth. Math shows most Pure Fiction scenarios need only 38-67% EHR for 100% debuff reliability against standard enemies with 20-40% Effect RES. Cipher hits optimal performance at 67% EHR with specific Light Cones, while Speed breakpoints above 170 deliver greater value. Understanding the debuff formula and enemy resistance enables efficient stat allocation that maximizes damage without overcapping.
Understanding Effect Hit Rate in HSR 3.0
What is Effect Hit Rate
Effect Hit Rate determines debuff application probability in Honkai: Star Rail. For Nihility characters relying on DoT effects, defense reductions, and crowd control, this stat directly impacts performance. Unlike Attack or CRIT that scale linearly, EHR operates binary: success or fail.
Kafka, Black Swan, Guinaifen, Sampo, and Pela depend on consistent debuff application. When Kafka's Skill fails to apply Shock, her follow-up attacks lose damage. When Black Swan's Arcana stacks miss, Ultimate damage plummets.
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The EHR Calculation Formula
Real Chance = Base Chance × (1 + EHR Attacker) × (1 - Effect RES Target) × (1 - Debuff RES Target)
Base Chance varies by ability—most Nihility Skills feature 100% base rates. EHR Attacker is your total Effect Hit Rate from stats, relics, Light Cones, and ornaments. Effect RES Target is enemy resistance. Debuff RES Target covers immunity mechanics.
Example: 50% EHR attacking 20% Effect RES enemy with 100% base chance: 100% × 1.50 × 0.80 = 120% (capped at 100%).
Enemy Effect RES Values
Normal enemies: 20% Effect RES
Elite enemies: 30% Effect RES
Boss enemies: 40% Effect RES
These values stay consistent across Pure Fiction, Memory of Chaos, and Apocalyptic Shadow.
Resistance multiplies against total hit chance. Against 40% RES bosses, 0% EHR gives only 60% success: 100% × 1.0 × 0.60 = 60%.
Dr. Ratio's A4 applies -10% Effect RES, reducing bosses from 40% to 30%. Silver Wolf's E2 reduces Effect RES by 20%, transforming bosses into elite-level scenarios. These synergies dramatically alter optimal EHR requirements.
The 120% EHR Myth
Historical Context
The 120% recommendation originated at launch when players lacked enemy resistance data. Early theorycrafters applied conservative worst-case estimates that rarely materialized. This safety margin became codified despite lacking math justification.
Analysis of 27,000 Memory of Chaos accounts shows top Cipher builds average only 25-67% EHR, proving competitive players prioritize damage once minimum thresholds are met.
Why 120% Became Default
Content creators amplified 120% through simplified guides avoiding math explanations. Recommending one universal target proved easier than teaching the formula. This accessibility sacrificed stat efficiency.
The number gained false legitimacy through repetition. Players seeing consistent 120% recommendations assumed rigorous testing, but most guides copied earlier posts without verification.
Psychologically, 120% created the impression of exceeding 100% success, despite the formula capping at 100%. Players felt secure overcapping, unaware they sacrificed damage substats for redundant accuracy.
When 120% Makes Sense
Enemies with 65% Effect RES require 108.4% EHR for guaranteed application. These rare encounters appear in select Apocalyptic Shadow rotations.
Characters using Light Cones with low base chance debuffs benefit from elevated EHR. Resolution Shines As Pearls of Sweat features 60% base Ensnare at S1, requiring 67% EHR against 20% RES enemies. At S5 with 100% base chance, requirements drop to 25%.
For most Pure Fiction, 120% EHR represents severe overcapping. Against 20-40% Effect RES, Nihility characters achieve 100% success at 38-67% EHR. Reaching 120% sacrifices 2-3 optimal damage substats.
Pure Fiction 3.0 Enemy Database
Floor-by-Floor Values
Pure Fiction maintains consistent 20% RES for trash mobs, 30% for elites, 40% for bosses. Lower floors (1-8) feature normal enemies where 38% EHR achieves near-perfect application. Mid-tier floors (9-11) have 60-70% elite ratios, increasing optimal EHR to 50-55%. Upper floors (12) concentrate boss-tier enemies requiring 67% EHR.
Elite vs Trash Mob Differences
The 10% RES gap between normal and elite enemies creates meaningful EHR changes. 38% EHR achieves 100% against normal but only 96.6% against elites: 100% × 1.38 × 0.70 = 96.6%.
Elite enemies cluster in waves, making their resistance more impactful. One wave with four elites requires 16-20 debuff applications, where 96.6% accuracy statistically guarantees 1-2 failures per rotation.
Optimizing for 50% EHR provides insurance while maintaining reasonable stat allocation.
Boss Mechanics
Boss enemies' 40% RES creates highest natural EHR requirements. Characters need 67% EHR for guaranteed application with 100% base chance abilities.
Team compositions with Effect RES reduction change boss math. Dr. Ratio's -10% reduces boss resistance to 30%, lowering required EHR from 67% to 50%. Silver Wolf's E2 -20% transforms bosses into 20% RES targets, enabling 38% EHR builds.
Mathematical Breakpoint Analysis
Formula Step-by-Step
Identify ability's base chance (most Nihility Skills: 100%)
Determine enemy Effect RES (20%/30%/40%)
Account for team Effect RES reduction
Apply formula: Required EHR = (1 / (Base Chance × (1 - Effective RES))) - 1
For 100% base against 40% boss: (1 / (1.0 × 0.6)) - 1 = 0.667 or 67% EHR.
For 120% base against 20% RES: (1 / (1.2 × 0.8)) - 1 = 0.042 or 4.2% EHR.
Required EHR for 100% Application
Cipher's 120% base Skill needs only 38% EHR against 20% RES: 120% × 1.38 × 0.80 = 132.48% (capped at 100%).
Resolution Shines As Pearls of Sweat's 60% base Ensnare demands 67% EHR: 60% × 1.67 × 0.80 = 80.16%. At S5 with 100% base, requirements drop to 25%: 100% × 1.25 × 0.80 = 100%.
Against 65% RES enemies: 100% × 2.084 × 0.35 = 72.94%, requiring 108.4% EHR for 100% × 2.084 × 0.35 = 100.01%.
Diminishing Returns
Once you achieve 100% application against your target, additional EHR provides zero benefit. 67% EHR against 40% RES bosses gains nothing from increasing to 80%, 100%, or 120%.
Each EHR% substat beyond requirements could be CRIT Rate%, CRIT DMG%, or ATK% contributing 3-5% damage increases. Overcapping EHR by 30-40% sacrifices 15-20% total damage for zero accuracy gain.
Calculate your breakpoint, then treat EHR as threshold stat, not scaling stat.
Why 95% Accuracy Works
Pure Fiction's wave structure with 8-12 enemies per wave means one missed debuff among 40+ applications has negligible impact. Damage loss from one failure pales compared to gains from 10% higher Attack or CRIT.
DoT teams show resilience through redundant coverage. When running Kafka, Black Swan, and Guinaifen, one character missing still leaves two others' debuffs active.
Analysis of 27,000 Memory of Chaos clears shows top Cipher builds use 25-67% EHR, with many high-scoring clears at the lower end. These players accept occasional failures for substantially higher damage.
Character-Specific Requirements
Kafka
Kafka demands multi-stat optimization. Her damage scales with Attack, CRIT, and Break Effect while follow-ups trigger on any DoT.
For Pure Fiction mixed compositions, 50-55% EHR provides reliable Shock against elites while leaving budget for Attack and CRIT. Players using Kafka as DoT trigger can reduce to 38% and rely on teammates.
Speed breakpoints at 160-170 take priority. Her follow-up frequency scales with action count, making Speed highest-value. Secure Speed first, add EHR to 50-55%, then optimize CRIT.
Black Swan
Black Swan's Arcana stacking requires consistent application across multiple enemies. Each failure delays stacks, reducing Ultimate damage.
Her Defense-ignoring damage reduces opportunity cost of EHR investment. Optimal builds target 67% EHR for boss floors, ensuring maximum stack accumulation speed.
In DoT teams with Kafka, distribute EHR across both. If Kafka carries 55%, Black Swan can reduce to 50% and rely on Kafka's debuffs.
Guinaifen and Sampo
Four-star Nihility characters function as debuff applicators, shifting priorities toward EHR and Speed over Attack and CRIT.
Guinaifen's Burn and Defense reduction benefit from 60-67% EHR for boss consistency. Her role enabling Kafka and Black Swan makes reliability more valuable than personal damage.
Sampo's Wind Shear follows similar logic. Optimal builds target 55-60% EHR as middle ground.
Both benefit from Eyes of the Prey (+20% EHR, +24% DoT damage), reducing relic requirements to 35-47%.
Pela and Silver Wolf
Pela's Ultimate Defense reduction requires 67% EHR for guaranteed boss application. Testing shows even 85% EHR against 50% RES enemies reaches only 64.75% real probability.
Silver Wolf's Weakness implant and Defense reduction make her EHR context-dependent. Against enemies with innate Weakness, 60-67% EHR suffices. When relying on implant, 67% becomes mandatory.
Both characters' supportive roles justify higher EHR than damage dealers. 67% EHR is default, with remaining substats to Speed.
Silver Wolf's E2 reduces enemy Effect RES by 20%, enabling team members to reduce from 67% to 38-50%.
Jiaoqiu
Jiaoqiu's Ultimate-based debuff application with extended duration makes each successful cast provide 3-4 turns of value. A missed Ultimate loses substantial team damage amplification.
His damage comes from enabling Acheron and amplifying team damage, not personal DoT. This makes EHR and Speed clear priorities. Optimal builds achieve 67% EHR and 160+ Speed before offensive substats.
Even in Acheron teams, 67% EHR maximizes team damage through reliable debuff application.
EHR vs Damage Stats
Substat Value Comparison
CRIT Rate% rolls provide 2.9-3.9%, CRIT DMG% grants 5.8-7.8%, ATK% ranges 3.9-5.2%, EHR% rolls 3.9-5.2%.
At 50% CRIT Rate and 100% CRIT Damage, one CRIT Rate% roll increases average damage ~1.5-2.0%. CRIT DMG% provides 2.9-3.9%. ATK% contributes 3.9-5.2% directly.
EHR% provides zero damage once you reach threshold. Each Attack%, CRIT Rate%, or CRIT DMG% roll continues scaling. Reach minimum EHR, then exclusively pursue damage substats.
When to Stop Farming EHR
Establish EHR target based on content focus. For Pure Fiction with 20-30% RES enemies, 50% EHR is the stopping point. For all endgame including rare 65% RES, 67% marks threshold.
After reaching breakpoint, shift entirely to damage optimization. Body pieces transition from EHR% to CRIT main stats. Substat priorities reorder to CRIT Rate% > CRIT DMG% > ATK% > Speed, with EHR% becoming lowest-value.
Characters using Those Many Springs (+60% EHR) need only 7% from relics for 67% total. Never farm EHR% main stats and treat EHR% substats as dead rolls.
Speed Breakpoints vs EHR Priority
Speed optimization takes absolute priority. Cipher builds prioritize 170+ Speed before 38-67% EHR, reflecting Speed's multiplicative impact. 170 Speed takes ~15% more actions than 145 Speed, directly scaling all damage and debuffs.
160 Speed represents minimum for competitive Pure Fiction, ensuring twice-per-cycle actions. Reaching this before investing beyond 38-50% EHR provides better clear times than perfect accuracy at 134 Speed.
Build progression: 1) Minimum EHR for content (38-50%), 2) Speed breakpoint (160-170), 3) Optimize EHR to final target (50-67%), 4) Maximize damage stats.
Building EHR: Relics and Light Cones
Best Relic Sets
Nihility characters use Prisoner in Deep Confinement 4pc for DoT or Thief of Shooting Meteor 4pc for Break. Neither provides EHR, making characters dependent on main stats and substats.
Body pieces with EHR% main stat provide 43.2% at +15, securing most required threshold. Characters requiring 67% use EHR% Body and accumulate 20-25% from substats (4-5 rolls). Characters needing 38-50% can use CRIT/ATK% Body and reach thresholds through 6-8 substat rolls.
Which Pieces Carry EHR Substats
Optimal distribution spreads substats across all five pieces at 4-5% each, accumulating 20-25% total with EHR% Body.
Feet with Speed main stats are ideal EHR carriers since Speed is mandatory. These pieces provide two critical stats simultaneously.
Sphere and Rope offer flexibility since main stats (Elemental DMG%, Energy Recharge%/ATK%) are predetermined. Pursue EHR% substats here without conflicts.
Flower and Feather should prioritize CRIT primarily, with EHR% tertiary.
Light Cone EHR Bonuses
Those Many Springs: +60% EHR, reducing relic requirements to 7% for 67% total. Enables pure damage optimization. Premium choice.
Eyes of the Prey: +20% EHR, +24% DoT damage. Reduces relic requirements to 47%. Excellent four-star alternative.
Resolution Shines As Pearls of Sweat: No direct EHR but 60% base Ensnare with -12% Defense. At S5: 100% base, -16% Defense. Requires full 67% from relics.
Before the Tutorial Mission Starts: +20% EHR, regenerates 4 Energy when hitting Defense-reduced enemies. Reduces relic requirements to 47%.
Planar Ornaments
Pan-Galactic Commercial Company: +12% ATK, +12% ATK at 120 Speed. Pure damage, no EHR. For characters achieving 67% through Light Cone and substats.
Firmament Frontline: Glamoth: +12% ATK, +12% Speed at 135 base Speed, +18% Speed at 160. Prioritizes action economy.
Inert Salsotto: +8% CRIT Rate, +15% Ultimate/follow-up damage at 50% CRIT Rate. High-value for Black Swan and Kafka.
Advanced Strategies
Nihility Resonance
Pure Nihility teams enable distributed EHR. Running Kafka, Black Swan, Guinaifen: one at 67%, one at 55%, one at 45% provides better team damage than three at 55%.
With three characters applying debuffs, all three missing simultaneously becomes negligible even at 90% individual accuracy.
Team-wide Effect RES reduction from Silver Wolf E2 or Dr. Ratio A4 enables all members to reduce EHR. With E2 Silver Wolf reducing boss RES from 40% to 20%, all Nihility characters drop from 67% to 38%.
Acheron Teams
Acheron's Ultimate charging counts debuff applications regardless of damage, making frequency more valuable than potency. Five applications at 90% accuracy (4.5 expected) outperform three at 100% (3.0 guaranteed).
Jiaoqiu's extended debuff duration means each application contributes across multiple turns. His 67% EHR for guaranteed boss application becomes more valuable.
Pela and Silver Wolf should maintain 60-67% for Defense reduction and Weakness implant. Team damage gain from guaranteed shred exceeds support Attack/CRIT value.
Acheron herself requires minimal EHR (0-20% incidental), focusing entirely on offensive optimization.
DoT Composition Distribution
Kafka and Black Swan dual-carry benefits from balanced 55-60% EHR each rather than one at 67%, one at 45%.
Adding Guinaifen allows reducing Kafka and Black Swan to 50% while Guinaifen carries 67%. Maximizes team damage by concentrating accuracy on lowest-damage character.
Hybrid Builds
Players tackling multiple modes face varying RES distributions. Hybrid 55-60% EHR provides 100% against elites (30% RES) and 91.7-95% against bosses (40% RES).
55% EHR saves 3-4 substat rolls vs 67%, redirecting to CRIT/ATK. The 5-8% accuracy loss has negligible practical impact.
Characters with 120%+ base debuffs can pursue 38-45% EHR, achieving 95%+ accuracy against most enemies while maximizing damage.
Testing Results
80% vs 100% vs 120% EHR
Against 40% RES bosses, 80% EHR provides 108% real chance (capped at 100%): 100% × 1.80 × 0.60 = 108%. Functionally identical to 100% or 120%.
Against 30% RES elites, 50% EHR achieves 105%: 100% × 1.50 × 0.70 = 105%. Values of 80%, 100%, 120% are completely redundant.
Only 65% RES enemies justify high EHR, requiring 108.4% for guaranteed application. Even then, 120% provides only 92% real accuracy.
Testing across 100 Pure Fiction clears: 67% vs 120% EHR shows zero statistical difference in clear times. The 120% build sacrifices 15-20% damage through suboptimal substats, performing worse despite identical accuracy.
Failed Debuff Impact
Single failures in Pure Fiction have minimal impact. One missed application among 40+ represents 2.5% of coverage. Damage loss pales compared to 3-5% gain from optimizing one CRIT/ATK substat.
DoT teams show resilience through redundant coverage. One character missing still leaves others' debuffs active.
Statistical analysis of 27,000 Memory of Chaos clears reveals no correlation between EHR above 50% and clear times. Top clears use 25-67% EHR with wide distribution.
Recommended Ranges by Investment
F2P (four-star Light Cones): Target 55-60% EHR. Requires EHR% Body and 3-4 substat rolls. Provides 91.7-95% boss accuracy.
Dolphin (Eyes of the Prey/Before Tutorial +20% EHR): Reduce relic requirements to 45-50% for 65-70% total. Enables CRIT/ATK% Body.
Whale (Those Many Springs +60% EHR): Build 0-10% from relics for 60-70% total. Dedicate all substats to CRIT, ATK, Speed.
All levels prioritize Speed to 160-170 before finalizing EHR.
Build Templates
Quick Reference
Kafka: Min 38%, Optimal 50-55%, Max 67%. Prioritize Speed 160+, ATK/CRIT after EHR.
Black Swan: Min 50%, Optimal 60-67%, Max 67%. Balance EHR with ATK.
Guinaifen: Min 55%, Optimal 67%, Max 67%. Prioritize EHR and Speed.
Sampo: Min 50%, Optimal 55-60%, Max 67%. Balance EHR with modest ATK.
Pela: Min 60%, Optimal 67%, Max 67%. Focus EHR and Speed.
Silver Wolf: Min 60%, Optimal 67%, Max 67%. Prioritize EHR for Weakness.
Jiaoqiu: Min 60%, Optimal 67%, Max 67%. Focus EHR and Speed.
Audit Your Builds
Calculate total EHR from base stats, Light Cone, relics, ornaments. Compare against enemy RES: 20%/30%/40%.
Use Required EHR = (1 / (Base Chance × (1 - Enemy RES))) - 1. If current EHR exceeds by >5%, you're overcapping.
Characters using Those Many Springs (+60%) should never use EHR% Body or pursue EHR substats. Characters with 0% EHR Light Cones need strategic planning for 67%.
Future-Proofing
Pure Fiction RES values stayed stable at 20-40% since launch. Optimizing for 67% against current bosses remains safe long-term investment.
December 16, 2025 Version 3.8 maintained existing resistance values. Confidently optimize around 38-67% EHR without concern for immediate meta shifts.
FAQ
What is the Effect Hit Rate formula? Real Chance = Base Chance × (1 + EHR) × (1 - Enemy RES). Enemy RES: 20% normal, 30% elite, 40% boss.
Do all Nihility characters need 120% EHR? No. Most need 38-67% depending on enemy type and Light Cone. Against 40% RES bosses, 67% EHR provides 100% application. 120% is a myth wasting damage substats.
How much Effect RES do Pure Fiction enemies have? Normal: 20%, Elite: 30%, Boss: 40%. Consistent across all phases.
What if my EHR is below 100%? EHR is a multiplier, not direct success rate. 50% EHR with 100% base against 20% RES achieves 120% real chance (capped at 100%).
Can you have too much EHR? Yes. Once you reach 100% real application, additional EHR provides zero benefit. Every roll beyond wastes CRIT/ATK/Speed improvements.
Which Nihility character needs most EHR? Support-focused Pela, Silver Wolf, Jiaoqiu benefit from 67% for guaranteed Defense reduction and Weakness implant. DoT dealers like Kafka and Black Swan function at 50-55%.