Free Character Choice: Luocha or Ruan Mei in Honkai: Star Rail 3.2
Deciding between a free Luocha or Ruan Mei in Honkai: Star Rail Version 3.2 can be quite the challenge. Both characters are exceptional in different team setups. As 5-star units available in the game for some time now, players have the unique opportunity to select one of them for free during a limited time just by logging in. This event is part of official announcements from HoYoverse, celebrating the game’s anniversary along with the new content update in Version 3.2.
The upcoming update promises to be significant. Players can look forward to various anniversary festivities, including free rewards, mini-games with exciting prizes, and crucial story developments. Additionally, two new characters will join the roster, expanding the Amphoreus campaign with quests that unfold through two distinct story arcs—one following Castorice and the other focusing on Anaxa. Players will also get to access banners for both Castorice and Anaxa within Honkai: Star Rail 3.2, heightening the anticipation surrounding these new additions.
Luocha & Ruan Mei: Free from Honkai: Star Rail 3.2 to 3.4
During the celebration, HoYoverse has confirmed a generous offering: a free 5-star character selection starting from Version 3.2 through the end of Version 3.4. This means players can choose between Luocha and Ruan Mei without any required actions beyond unlocking events following the game’s start at Herta Space Station. After that, players can simply pick their preferred character in Honkai: Star Rail.
For those who haven’t had the chance to get Luocha or Ruan Mei yet, this presents an excellent opportunity to add top-tier support and sustain characters to their teams. For players who already possess one or both, like myself, this is a great moment to enhance their Eidolon levels, unlocking additional useful abilities that could significantly improve their utility in team compositions. When deciding between the two characters, it’s crucial to consider your team’s needs while weighing the benefits and drawbacks of Luocha and Ruan Mei in Honkai: Star Rail.
Weighing the Pros and Cons of Luocha
Luocha: An Outstanding Healer
Even years after his introduction, Luocha remains one of the strongest healers in the game. While characters like Huohuo may outshine him in specific setups, Luocha continues to be a reliable choice. His Skill offers a distinct advantage: it automatically heals allies who fall below 50% HP every two turns without using Skill Points. Additionally, with two stacks of Abyss Flower, he creates a Zone that heals all allies whenever an enemy is hit, making him a valuable asset.
In teams with characters like Blade, who frequently reduce their own HP, Luocha is a secure choice. Not only does he encourage an aggressive playing style—since allied HP recovers with their attacks in the active Zone—but his overall contributions include both healing and damage, which are tied to his ATK stat. It’s worth noting, however, that he may not significantly benefit team members who rely on maximizing health.
With many players having access to Luocha already, obtaining a free copy during Version 3.2 serves as an opportunity to elevate his Eidolon levels. For instance, his E1 gives a 20% ATK boost to all allies when his Zone is active, a valuable bonus in countless team compositions.
Ruan Mei: A Versatile Support Option
Unlike Luocha, Ruan Mei excels in buffing allies and debuffing enemies, effectively enhancing the team’s overall damage and attack speed. This ice-casting Harmony character adds significant value to not just traditional DPS but also HP-scaling units. She has carved out a niche in Super Break team compositions alongside characters such as Boothill and Firefly, aided by the Harmony Trailblazer. With her broad utility, Ruan Mei fits in well with a variety of characters.
Ruan Mei also establishes a Zone that enhances allies’ All-Type Res Penetration while extending the duration of Weakness Break on enemies, making her exceptionally supportive for damage-over-time strategies.
Conclusion
In terms of versatility and support capabilities, Ruan Mei may have the edge over Luocha due to her buffs being applicable to various stats rather than being focused on ATK. That said, both characters offer distinct advantages in different roles. If sustainability or managing Skill Points poses a challenge within your team setups, then Luocha might serve you better—especially in challenging encounters. Your choice ultimately depends on your specific team needs, but rest assured, both Luocha and Ruan Mei are exceptional characters in Honkai: Star Rail.
