Honkai: Star Rail's Physical Destruction character Yunli has established herself as a counter-attack powerhouse in the 2026 meta. Similar to Clara, this 5-star unit excels at taunting enemies and delivering devastating counterattacks when hit. But what weapons truly maximize her potential? Let's explore the best Light Cones that can elevate Yunli's performance to new heights.
F2P Friendly Options
Flames Afar deserves serious consideration for budget-conscious players. This Light Cone synergizes perfectly with Yunli's playstyle since it activates when she loses HP—something that happens constantly thanks to her taunt mechanics. Isn't it satisfying when game mechanics align so perfectly? With enemies focusing their attacks on her, Flames Afar's passive is almost always active, providing consistent damage bonuses.
For those willing to grind the Simulated Universe, On the Fall of an Aeon represents perhaps the best F2P option available. What makes this Light Cone particularly attractive is how easily it can be Superimposed, eventually providing an enormous 64% ATK boost. Have you ever seen such a substantial stat increase from a free weapon? The farming process might be time-consuming, but the payoff is undeniably worth it for maximizing Yunli's counter damage.
Premium Battle Pass Option
Nowhere To Run from the Battle Pass offers impressive Base ATK and a solid passive effect. However, it's worth noting that many veteran players often skip this in favor of other Battle Pass weapons. Why? Simply because options like On the Fall of an Aeon provide comparable benefits without requiring premium currency. Still, if you have this Light Cone sitting in your inventory, it's certainly a viable option for Yunli.
Borrowed from Other Characters
Brighter Than The Sun wasn't designed with Yunli in mind, and she won't be triggering its passive frequently since her damage primarily comes from Counters, Ultimates, and Skills rather than Basic Attacks. However, don't underestimate the power of raw stats! This Light Cone boasts an impressive Base ATK and Crit Rate boost, making it an excellent stat-stick that can significantly enhance Yunli's overall damage output.
I Shall Be My Own World, Jingliu's signature Light Cone, presents an interesting case. Its passive only activates when other allies take damage or lose HP, which seems counterintuitive for Yunli who aims to draw all enemy attacks to herself. However, against enemies with area-of-effect attacks, this Light Cone can still provide substantial benefits. Consider this a situational option for specific enemy compositions rather than a universal recommendation.
Top Tier Choices
The Unreachable Side perfectly complements Yunli's counter-focused kit by boosting her damage whenever she loses HP. There's an important caveat though—you'll need to avoid using shield characters in your team composition. Why? Because shields prevent HP loss, which would render this Light Cone's passive useless. Are you willing to forego defensive support for maximized damage potential? That's the tradeoff this weapon presents.
Clara and Yunli share remarkably similar gameplay mechanics, so it's no surprise that Clara's signature Light Cone Something Irreplaceable works wonders for Yunli as well. This premium option provides an unconditional ATK increase plus additional damage bonuses after Yunli gets hit. The synergy is undeniable—every time enemies attack Yunli, they're essentially powering up her next counterattack.
The Ultimate Choice
Dance at Sunset stands uncontested as Yunli's best-in-slot Light Cone in 2026. This weapon is tailor-made for her playstyle, increasing the likelihood of enemies targeting her while simultaneously boosting her follow-up attack damage. Remember that Yunli's Counters are classified as follow-up attacks, making this damage bonus particularly valuable. What could be better than a weapon that both helps trigger your character's core mechanic AND amplifies the resulting damage?
Light Cone Comparison Table
| Light Cone | Rarity | Key Benefit | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dance at Sunset | 5★ | Increased taunt + follow-up DMG | Best overall option |
| Something Irreplaceable | 5★ | Unconditional ATK + hit DMG bonus | Premium alternative |
| The Unreachable Side | 5★ | DMG boost on HP loss | No-shield teams |
| On the Fall of an Aeon | 4★ | Easy to max, huge ATK boost | F2P players |
| Flames Afar | 4★ | Consistent damage on HP loss | Budget option |
| Nowhere To Run | 4★ | Good stats and passive | Battle Pass buyers |
| I Shall Be My Own World | 5★ | Team-wide damage potential | AoE-heavy content |
| Brighter Than The Sun | 5★ | High Base ATK and Crit Rate | Stat-stick |
Yunli's counter-attack playstyle offers a refreshing alternative to traditional DPS characters in Honkai: Star Rail. By equipping the right Light Cone, players can maximize her unique strengths and turn enemy aggression into their greatest asset. Whether you're a free-to-play player or a premium spender, there's a Light Cone option that can help Yunli reach her full potential in your team composition.
Have you already built your Yunli? Which Light Cone has worked best for your playstyle? The beauty of Honkai: Star Rail lies in this flexibility—finding the perfect balance between character kits, Light Cones, and team synergies to overcome the game's increasingly challenging content in 2026! 🌟