Honkai: Star Rail Luka banner: Abilities, release date, and more

Luka has been officially revealed by HoYoverse to join Honkai: Star Rail with Patch 1.2, alongside five-star characters Kafka and Blade.

He is a four-star Physical character from the Nihility Path, according to the developer’s update highlight page revealed on July 8.

Related: All Honkai: Star Rail Version 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 leaks

Luka was seen for the first time in the game’s launch trailer, which included a lot of character teasers. He was seen energetically boxing a bag with his mechanical arm.

At that time, he was overshadowed by the reveal of other key characters from the game—and it might also be the case for his release alongside two highly-awaited five-star characters, but he shouldn’t be overlooked.

Luka’s reveal in Honkai: Star Rail

Luka’s official character art was revealed by the developer’s Chinese official page on May 25, with a short description of his personality and background. Here is the translation made by Reddit user Bisentinel:

• “Here’s something you should know, the secret to being a champion is to train hard while others are resting.”
• Bright and optimistic, an adaptable fighter with a mechanical arm, and one of the members of “Wildfire.”
• From the boxing ring to the battlefield or from a boxer to a fighter, Luka uses his power to protect the citizens of the Underworld.
• After having gone through despair and hardships himself, he is more eager to bring hope unto others.

Luka’s banner release date in Honkai: Star Rail

Luka was revealed to join Honkai’s roster with Patch 1.2 during the developer’s official livestream giving highlights of the update on July 8. His element, Path, and even some ability animations were shown in the livestream.

If his release follows the same schedule as other four-star characters, Luka will likely release as part of the update’s first and second Phases, which means he’ll be highlighted in the Character Warp of Kafka and Blade.

Luka’s abilities in Honkai: Star Rail

Luka’s official abilities are the last information players are dying to know, but they are still shrouded in mystery. Fortunately for curious players, leakers have answered that question. Here are Luka’s abilities, according to leaks:

• Basic Attack: Deals Physical damage scaling on Luka’s Attack to one target.
• Skill: Deals Physical damage scaling on Luka’s Attack to a target. The attack has a chance to put the target into an altered state for several turns. In this state, the enemy will receive damage over time at each beginning of their turn.
• Ultimate: Gains stacks of Fighting Spirit and has chances to increase damage dealt by a target for several turns. Also deals damage scaling on Luka’s Attack to the target.
• Talent: Luka gains stacks of Fighting Spirit when using Basic attacks or Skills, up to Four simultaneous stacks. When Luka has at least Two stacks of Fighting Spirit, his normal attack is strengthened.
  • If the target hit by the strengthened attack is in the altered state inflicted by the Skill, they receive damage at the beginning of the turn and grant one more Fighting Spirit stack to Luka.

Based on those abilities, Luka doesn’t look like the easiest character to pick up. When his snowball effect granted by Fighting Spirit stacks in combination with the altered state from the Skill hits, however, he looks pretty strong. We think Luka will be very rewarding once mastered but won’t fit everyone’s playstyle.

Luka will release in Honkai alongside Patch 1.2, which is planned for July 19.