Stage 4 – Deceitful Chaos: Best Pure Fiction Teams Guide for Honkai: Star Rail

Pure Fiction Stage 4, also known as “Deceitful Chaos,” is a real test of endurance, damage output, and battle efficiency in Honkai: Star Rail. Unlike previous stages, this phase ramps up both the difficulty and complexity by introducing a more punishing enemy lineup and faster-paced mechanics. To successfully tackle this stage and earn the coveted three stars, you’ll need to optimize your team setups with a mix of synergy, burst, and sustain. This guide breaks down the best strategies and team compositions for each half of the stage.

First Half: Speed, Sustain, and Synergy

The first half of Deceitful Chaos focuses on waves of durable enemies with the ability to stall your progress. These enemies test your single-target and AoE potential as well as your team’s sustain under pressure.

🔹 Recommended Teams for First Half

⭐ Argenti Hypercarry Team

Argenti is ideal for stages with large enemy counts, thanks to his powerful AoE-focused kit that scales with the number of foes on the field.

• Argenti (DPS) – Focus on Energy Regen and Crit Rate/DMG
• Tingyun (Support/Buffer) – Amplifies Argenti’s damage and charges his Ultimate quickly
• Ruan Mei (Debuffer/Buffer) – Increases team SPD and Weakness Break efficiency
• Gepard (Shielder) – Ensures team survival through consistent shielding

Why It Works: Argenti shines in high-density encounters. Combined with Tingyun and Ruan Mei’s buffs, he can clear waves efficiently. Gepard’s shields prevent interruptions and stabilize fights.

⭐ Jingliu Carry with Luocha Sustain

Jingliu thrives in short, high-impact encounters where she can dish out massive burst damage.

• Jingliu (DPS)
• Tingyun (Buffer)
• Ruan Mei (Buffer)
• Luocha (Healer/Debuffer)

Why It Works: Jingliu’s high-damage output is supported by Tingyun and Ruan Mei’s attack and speed buffs. Luocha’s auto-healing ensures she can stay in her enhanced state without worry.

⭐ Free-to-Play Friendly Team

For players without many premium characters, a strong F2P lineup can still handle the challenge.

• Herta (AoE DPS)
• Trailblazer (Physical or Fire)
• Yukong (Buffer)
• Natasha (Healer)

Why It Works: While damage may be lower compared to premium comps, this team offers good wave control and sustain. Yukong’s Crit Rate buff boosts Herta’s follow-up potential significantly.

⭐ No-Sustain Speed Clear

For advanced players looking to push for fast clears with riskier teams.

• Argenti
• Tingyun
• Ruan Mei
• Herta

Why It Works: This team focuses on raw damage output and ends battles quickly to avoid taking significant hits. Suitable for well-invested characters and experienced players.

Second Half: Tactical Damage and Survivability

The second half of Stage 4 presents enemies with higher HP pools and more disruptive abilities. This phase favors teams that can apply damage over time (DoT), manage debuffs, and stay alive under pressure.

🔹 Recommended Teams for Second Half

⭐ Acheron + Debuff Core

Acheron thrives in Pure Fiction due to her ability to scale with debuffs, wiping waves clean when paired with proper synergy.

• Acheron (Main DPS)
• Black Swan (DoT/Debuffer)
• Pela (DEF shred + Debuff)
• Fu Xuan (Tank/Healer)

Why It Works: This team layers debuffs rapidly, triggering Acheron’s ult consistently. Fu Xuan adds durability and keeps the team alive through AoE hits.

⭐ Kafka DoT Engine

A strong DoT team built around Kafka can sustain damage across waves while bypassing direct confrontation.

• Kafka (Main DPS)
• Black Swan (Debuff/DoT)
• Pela (DEF shred)
• Huohuo (Healer/Buffer)

Why It Works: Kafka enables continuous triggering of DoTs. Black Swan adds stacks and Pela reduces enemy DEF for more efficient DoT scaling. Huohuo balances the risk with heals and buffs.

⭐ Blade + Bronya Core

Blade’s HP-reliant damage makes him a perfect fit for teams with consistent healing and support.

• Blade (Main DPS)
• Bronya (Buffer)
• Pela (Debuff/Support)
• Huohuo (Healer)

Why It Works: Bronya boosts Blade’s turns and damage. Pela further enhances his output with DEF reductions. Huohuo keeps Blade sustained despite his self-harm mechanics.

⭐ No-Sustain Offensive Team

A high-risk option that trades healing for pure damage, perfect for players aiming to speed clear.

• Acheron
• Welt (Control/Debuffer)
• Pela
• Sparkle (SP/Buffer)

Why It Works: Acheron’s fast charge cycles and Sparkle’s SP recovery allow for non-stop ultimates. Welt slows enemies, minimizing incoming damage.

⭐ F2P Viable Setup

A steady and dependable composition for players without meta characters.

• Serval (DoT/AoE)
• Dan Heng (ST DPS)
• Asta (Speed buffer)
• Lynx (Healer)

Why It Works: Serval and Dan Heng offer consistent damage, while Asta boosts speed for more turns. Lynx ensures the team survives longer fights.

Tips for Mastering Deceitful Chaos

🔸 Manage Your SP Economy

Fast-clearing teams often suffer from Skill Point starvation. Include SP generators like Sparkle or manage skill usage wisely to avoid running dry mid-fight.

🔸 Maximize Break Efficiency

Enemies in Stage 4 can be stubborn. Characters like Ruan Mei improve Break Efficiency and action speed, reducing enemy turns and allowing more offensive momentum.

🔸 Prioritize AoE and Debuff Synergy

With multi-wave battles, AoE and DoT damage are king. Building teams around Acheron, Kafka, or Argenti will improve your clear speeds and star rating.

🔸 Adapt to Boss Patterns

Cocolia and Gepard can disrupt your rhythm with shields and freezes. Bring buffers or debuffers that can minimize their impact and maintain tempo.

Final Thoughts

Stage 4 – Deceitful Chaos is one of the most demanding yet rewarding Pure Fiction stages in Honkai: Star Rail. Whether you’re using top-tier meta units or building around a more budget-friendly roster, the key to success lies in understanding team synergy, turn manipulation, and sustaining your momentum across waves. With proper planning and execution, even the most chaotic of stages can become a manageable—and even enjoyable—challenge.