Let me tell you, fellow Trailblazers, I've been grinding like a madman since the Cipher leaks dropped! As a veteran Honkai: Star Rail player, I know the drill—get those materials ready before your waifu arrives or suffer the consequences of a benched 5-star gathering dust in your inventory. And let me tell you, Cipher is NOT someone you want collecting dust. This 5-star Quantum Nihility beast is about to revolutionize our teams like a tornado through a house of cards!

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Cipher's Kit: The Patron Saint of Follow-up Attacks

Cipher's kit is more complex than my relationship with the gacha system. Her Talent marks the enemy with the highest HP as a 'Patron' (can also be assigned via Skill and Ultimate). When allies attack this marked enemy, Cipher launches a follow-up attack that's more persistent than my ex trying to get back together. She also keeps track of non-True DMG dealt to the Patron, which she later converts to True DMG with her Ultimate. Her Skill applies Weakness, reducing enemy damage while boosting her ATK.

I've spent countless hours theory-crafting, and I can confidently say she works as both sub-DPS or main DPS depending on your team comp. Her flexibility is like a gymnast who's also a rocket scientist—impressively versatile in ways you didn't think possible!

Ascension Materials: The Black Tide Shopping List

Listen up! Here's what you need to farm for Cipher's ascension:

  • Ethereal Omen, Echoing Wail, and Eternal Lament: These drop from Black Tide Creatures across Amphoreus. I've been farming these like a squirrel hoarding nuts before winter! The most efficient method? Hit those Calyx (Golden) activities on Amphoreus for guaranteed drops.

  • Darkveil Moonlight: This Quantum-exclusive material can be farmed at Stagnant Shadow: Shape of Gelidmoon in Murmuring Woods. I've run this domain so many times, I swear the enemies recognize me and run the other way!

  • Credits: A hefty 308,000 for ascension plus another 508,000 for leveling. My credit farming has been more aggressive than a hungry shark in a feeding frenzy.

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Trace Materials: The Real Resource Sink

Oh boy, this is where things get spicy! Maxing Cipher's Traces will drain your resources faster than my phone battery during an all-night gaming session. Here's what you need:

  • More Ethereal Omen family materials: Yes, even MORE than for ascension. I've killed so many Black Tide creatures that I'm pretty sure I'm on their most wanted list.

  • Fiery Spirit, Starfire Essence, and Heaven Incinerator: These Nihility-exclusive materials come from Calyx (Crimson): Bud of Nihility on Xianzhou Luofu. I've been farming these since before it was cool.

  • Daythunder Anamnesis: THIS is the only material you can't prefarm before 3.3 drops. It comes from the new weekly boss Aquila in Echo of War: Glance of Twilight. But don't worry—you can farm it during the first phase of 3.3 before Cipher arrives in phase 2.

  • Credits: A whopping 3 MILLION! My Credits have been disappearing faster than free pizza at a gaming convention.

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People Also Ask

When exactly will Cipher be available in Honkai: Star Rail 3.3?

Cipher will arrive in the second phase of Version 3.3, which should be approximately two weeks after the update launches. This gives you plenty of time to farm that pesky Daythunder Anamnesis from Aquila!

Is Cipher worth pulling for meta purposes?

Based on leaks and official information, Cipher offers unique utility with her Patron mechanic and follow-up attacks. She fits into various team compositions and can be built as either main or sub-DPS. If you're looking for a versatile Quantum character, she's definitely worth considering!

How many pulls should I save for Cipher?

To guarantee Cipher, you need up to 180 pulls in the worst-case scenario (losing the 50/50 and going to hard pity twice). However, with average luck, aim for at least 160 pulls to be safe. My wallet is already crying like a newborn baby!

My Farming Strategy: Efficiency Is Key

I've developed a farming routine that would make even the most hardcore min-maxers blush. Here's my daily schedule:

  1. Monday & Thursday: Nihility Trace materials on Xianzhou Luofu

  2. Tuesday & Friday: Black Tide materials on Amphoreus

  3. Wednesday & Saturday: Credit farming and miscellaneous materials

  4. Sunday: Everything I'm still short on

  5. Every Week: Save Trailblaze Power to blitz Aquila once 3.3 drops

The key is consistency—I'm more dedicated to this farming schedule than I am to my actual job! My friends think I've lost my mind, but they'll be the ones begging for my Cipher in co-op when she's fully built on day one!

The True Cost of Excellence

Let me break it down for you in cold, hard numbers. To fully max Cipher (level 80, all Traces maxed), you'll need:

  • 308,000 Credits for ascension

  • 508,000 Credits for EXP materials

  • 3,000,000 Credits for Traces

  • Countless hours of your life that you'll never get back

But is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY! When Cipher is obliterating everything in sight with her Quantum damage that hits harder than reality after graduation, you'll thank me.

Call to Action: Join the Prefarm Revolution!

Don't be that player who gets Cipher and then has to bench her for weeks while slowly gathering materials! Start your prefarm journey TODAY! Join my Discord server where we run material domains together, share farming routes, and collectively cry about RNG.

Remember, in the words of the ancient Honkai proverb I just made up: "Those who prefarm together, perform together." Your future self will thank you when you're showcasing your fully-built Cipher while others are still struggling to level her past 40!

Are you prefarming for Cipher? What's your strategy? Let me know in the comments below, and may the RNG gods bless your pulls in 3.3! 🚀✨