In the ever-evolving strategic landscape of Honkai: Star Rail, the preservation of your team is as crucial as its offensive output. With all characters exposed on the turn-based battlefield, the role of a stalwart defender is indispensable. Gepard, the steadfast Captain of the Silvermane Guards, stands as a paragon of this protective archetype. As an Ice-type Preservation unit, he serves as the team's immovable bulwark, shielding allies from harm. While his acquisition paths remain consistent through the Stellar Warp or Character Event banners, the art of building him has been refined over time. For players in 2025, optimizing Gepard is a straightforward yet deeply rewarding process, focusing on transforming his raw defensive potential into an unbreachable fortress for any squad.
🛡️ Best Relics And Planar Ornaments For Gepard
Relics and Planar Ornaments, farmed from Caverns of Corrosion and Simulated Universe respectively, form the core of any character's build. Their set bonuses provide transformative effects, but in the early game, the correct main and sub-stats on individual pieces are often more impactful than completing a set.
For Gepard, the ideal relic sets are:
| Type | Name | Reason For Synergy With Gepard |
|---|---|---|
| Relics | Knight of Purity Palace | This is Gepard's best-in-slot Relic Set. It provides a 15% DEF increase and, crucially, boosts the damage absorption of his shields by 20%. This effect is a tidal wave of protection that washes over every ally he safeguards. A full 4-star set is also gifted to players through level-up rewards, making it an accessible cornerstone for his build. |
| Guard of Wuthering Snow | This set prioritizes Gepard's personal survivability. It reduces his damage taken by 8% and regenerates HP and Energy when his health dips below 50%. Early on, when his DEF stat is still developing like a sapling, this set ensures he remains standing to cast his potentially weaker shields. | |
| Messenger Traversing Hackerspace | For veterans confident in Gepard's DEF, this set allows him to become a supportive lighthouse, guiding his team to faster actions. Using his Ultimate grants all allies a SPD boost for one turn, proving invaluable in time-sensitive content like the Forgotten Halls or the latest Pure Fiction modes. | |
| Planar Ornaments | Belobog of the Architects | The pinnacle of defensive Planar Ornaments. Acquired from Simulated Universe World 6, it increases DEF by up to 30% if the wearer has sufficient Effect Hit Rate—a key stat for Gepard's freeze. This massive DEF surge acts like a blacksmith constantly reforging his shield, making it durable enough to often last until his next Ultimate is ready. |
| Sprightly Vonwacq | While it offers no direct DEF, this set is often considered best-in-slot for its utility. It provides Energy Regeneration Rate and action advance. Since Gepard's shield is locked behind his Ultimate, these stats help him generate Energy like a hyper-efficient power plant, allowing for more frequent, albeit slightly weaker, shielding. | |
| Fleet of the Ageless | An excellent early-game option from World 3. It boosts Max HP and provides an ATK buff to allies if Gepard's SPD exceeds 120. It's a reliable, foundational choice. |
Stat Priority is Key:
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Main Stats:
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Head: HP
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Hands: ATK (Fixed)
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Body: DEF% or Effect Hit Rate
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Feet: DEF% or SPD (for Fleet of the Ageless requirement)
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Planar Sphere: DEF%
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Link Rope: Energy Regeneration Rate or DEF%
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Sub-stats: Prioritize DEF% > DEF > Effect Hit Rate > Effect RES > SPD. Effect RES is vital to prevent Gepard from being crowd-controlled when your team needs his protection the most.
✨ Best Light Cones For Gepard
As a Preservation unit, Gepard must wield a Light Cone from his own path to activate its ability. His options range from legendary signatures to surprisingly potent 3-star choices.
| Light Cone | Rarity | Key Effect & Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| Moment of Victory | 5★ | Gepard's signature weapon and his undisputed best choice. At Superimposition 1, it grants a 24% increase to both DEF and Effect Hit Rate. It also increases his likelihood of being targeted, synergizing perfectly with his Integrity Bonus Ability. When attacked, his DEF increases further, making his shield an ever-strengthening glacier. |
| Landau's Choice | 4★ | A fantastic 4-star alternative that functions like a focused decoy. It significantly increases his aggro, drawing enemy fire like a magnet, while reducing the damage he takes. This allows your damage dealers to operate with impunity. |
| Day One of My New Life | 4★ | A straightforward and sturdy option. It provides a DEF boost for Gepard and increases All-Type DMG RES for the entire party. This offers a layer of permanent, background damage reduction, a silent guardian even when his shield is down. |
| This Is Me! | 4★ | Offers a solid DEF boost. Its unique trait increases the damage of Gepard's Ultimate based on his DEF, giving his shield-cast a surprising offensive punch—like a tortoise whose shell also fires cannonballs. |
| Amber | 3★ | A phenomenal budget option that should not be underestimated. At Superimposition 5, it provides a 32% DEF increase, doubling to a 64% DEF increase when Gepard's HP falls below 50%. This massive stat boost can rival higher-rarity cones, though its lower base stats are the trade-off. |
🔬 Gepard Traces Overview And Priority
Gepard's Traces are a toolkit designed to reinforce his identity as an unyielding protector. Unlike some characters, his abilities are more modular, each serving a distinct defensive purpose.
| Ability Name | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Fist of Conviction | Basic Attack | Deals Ice DMG to a single enemy. Low upgrade priority. |
| Daunting Smite | Skill | Deals Ice DMG to a single enemy with a 65% base chance to Freeze. The freeze is a powerful control tool, but its chance does not increase with upgrades. |
| Enduring Bulwark | Ultimate | Grants a shield to all allies based on Gepard's DEF. This is the cornerstone of his kit and the absolute highest priority for upgrades. |
| Unyielding Will | Talent | Prevents Gepard from being knocked out once per battle, instead instantly healing him for a portion of his HP. A built-in emergency lifeboat. |
| Comradery | Technique | Provides a pre-emptive shield to the team at the start of the next battle. |
| Integrity | Bonus Ability | Increases Gepard's chance of being attacked. Essential for tanking. |
| Commander | Bonus Ability | When Unyielding Will triggers, Gepard's Ultimate is fully restored. A incredible synergy that can turn the tide of battle. |
| Fighting Spirit | Bonus Ability | Increases Gepard's ATK by 35% of his DEF each turn. A nice damage supplement that scales with his primary stat. |
Trace Leveling Priority:
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Ultimate (Enduring Bulwark) -> Maximize shield strength.
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Talent (Unyielding Will) -> Enhance his survivability.
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Skill (Daunting Smite) -> For the damage increase, not the freeze chance.
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Basic Attack (Fist of Conviction) -> Can be left at level 1.
Bonus Abilities (Integrity, Commander, Fighting Spirit) should be unlocked as soon as ascension allows, as they provide significant passive power.
🎯 Final Build Synthesis for 2025
In the current meta, building Gepard is about creating a self-sustaining defensive engine. The optimal 2025 build focuses on creating a "perma-shield" state for your team.
Recommended Endgame Build:
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Relics: 4-piece Knight of Purity Palace
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Planar Ornaments: 2-piece Sprightly Vonwacq or Belobog of the Architects
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Light Cone: Moment of Victory (Best) / Landau's Choice (Best 4-Star)
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Stat Goals:
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DEF% > 3000 (The higher, the better)
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Effect Hit Rate: ~30-40% for reliable freezes (if using Belobog)
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Energy Regeneration Rate: Crucial for Ult spam
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Effect RES: Aim for 30%+ to avoid debilitating debuffs
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SPD: 121+ to activate Fleet of the Ageless or for general turn advantage
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This configuration ensures Gepard's Ultimate is available almost every other turn, layering new shields before old ones break. He becomes less of a character and more of a permanent environmental effect on the battlefield—a moving fortress that lets your damage dealers operate without fear. Whether facing the latest Memory of Chaos challenges or new endgame simulations, a well-built Gepard remains one of the most reliable and timeless investments in a player's roster, a true heir to the Preservation path's ideals.