Pure Fiction is an endgame mode in Honkai: Star Rail that challenges you to defeat two unique encounters, both made up of three waves. This mode heavily favours area-of-effect (AOE) damage since 5 targets will always be present on-field, creating a distinct meta from other endgame modes. In this guide to the Version 3.7 Pure Fiction, you will discover the best lineups and strategies to earn great in-game rewards!
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Introduction to Pure Fiction
Pure Fiction is a unique and challenging endgame mode in Honkai: Star Rail, where you fight two encounters consisting of three waves of five enemies across 4 stages of difficulty. The main enemy of Waves 2 and 3 is a boss with a large HP pool that can be reduced by defeating the enemies surrounding it. The goal is to earn 60,000 points to obtain three stars across both bosses, with points being obtained based on how much damage is dealt.
You are given 4 cycles to complete each encounter, and two unique teams are required. By defeating enemies, a unique gauge called "Grit" fills up to 100. Once full, "Surging Grit" activates, which has a different effect in every version of Pure Fiction. Because of the many enemies present, characters that can do strong AOE attacks, such as Erudition path units, are very preferable in Pure Fiction.
Grit Mechanics for Version 3.7
In Version 3.7 of Pure Fiction, these are the following Grit mechanics to be aware of before you start the battle:
| Grit Mechanic | Description |
| Triggers DoT | Every time a DoT is received by an enemy target, additionally accumulates 2 Grit Value for allies. |
| Concordant Truce | When an enemy target enters battle, they are inflicted with 1 stack(s) of "Echo Enigma," which deals a special kind of Wind Shear, and they suffer 1 stack(s) of "Echo Enigma" after acting, receiving Wind DoT at the start of each turn. Goes up to 10 stack(s) at max for 3 turn(s). |
| Surging Grit | Entering the "Surging Grit" state causes all enemies to suffer 5 stack(s) of the special Wind Shear "Echo Enigma," and causes all currently suffered DoT to immediately produce DMG equal to 100% of the original DMG. During the "Surging Grit" period, increases enemy targets' DMG received by 50%, reduces DMG dealt by 35%, and increases SPD by 50%. |
These Grit mechanics greatly favour damage-over-time (DoT) characters as they will quickly enter "Surging Grit", which provides a massive SPD and DMG buff for your team. It is not strictly necessary to have DoT-based characters however, as "Echo Enigma" means all enemies will take DoT damage when entering the battle or when taking action.
Available Buffs
For both encounters of Pure Fiction, you are given a choice of three buffs to use to assist you in the battle:
| Buff | Description |
| Exposition | During the "Surging Grit" period, the ally targets' DoT dealt ignores 20% of the target's All-Type RES. When the enemy target receives DoT, increases all allies DoT dealt by 1%. Up to a max of 99 stack(s). Lasts until "Surging Grit" ends. |
| Torn Fabric | During "Surging Grit," each stack of "Echo Enigma" increases Weakness Break Efficiency by 10% when ally targets deal damage. When enemy target's Weakness is Broken, additionally accumulates 5 Grit Value for allies. |
| Cinnabar Inscription | Every stack of "Echo Enigma" increases enemy target's DMG received by 3%. During "Surging Grit," enemy targets gain 1 stack(s) of "Echo Enigma" after a memosprite attacks them.After memosprites' attacks, every enemy target hit additionally accumulates 3 Grit Value for allies. |
The first buff, Exposition, further enhances DoT teams, which are already strong in this Pure Fiction, increasing your team's DoT damage up to 99%. The second buff, Torn Fabric, provides an additional means to accumulate Grit value by breaking enemy weaknesses, which is a strong effect for any Break team. Finally, Cinnabar Inscription is the best pick for Remembrance teams, providing them with extra Grit when memosprites attack. The DMG received buff can benefit any team that wouldn't benefit a lot from the other buffs available.
Node 1: Cocolia
Enemy Information
| Enemy Waves | In-game Models |
Wave 1: Fictional Ensemble (Lordly Trashcan, Memory Zone Meme "Heartbreaker", Automation Beetle) | |
Wave 2: Lady of Crashing Waves (Furiae Philosopher, Servant of Tides) | |
Wave 3: Cocolia (Ichor Memosprite: Pheasant, Dreamjolt Troupe's Bubble Hound) | |
| Recommended Types | |
Recommended Teams
| Team Name | Team Lineup |
| Hysliens /w Kafka | |
| Castorice | |
| Evernight | |
| The Herta /w Jade |
With the DoT buffs and Grit mechanic, the Hysliens team excels in both nodes, being easily capable of full clearing either side. With the Cinnabar Inscription buff, Remembrance teams are also very strong in this Pure Fiction with either Castorice or Evernight as the Main DPS.
The Herta is a premier unit for Pure Fiction, but for this version, a slightly different lineup is recommended. Jade is on-element for Cocoila, which makes her a strong partner for The Herta. Tribbie is highly recommended due to her reducing Cocoila's Ice RES, which is very high at 60%. Lingsha is an on-element sustain that can help The Herta reach her maximum damage.
Node 2: First Genius, Entelechy, Zandar
Enemy Information
| Enemy Waves | In-game Models |
Wave 1: Fictional Ensemble (Lordly Trashcan, Wraith Warden, Black Tide's Decrepit Bow) | |
Wave 2: The Ascended (Disciples of Sanctus Medicus: Ballistarius, Black Tide Council) | |
Wave 3: First Genius, Entelechy, Zandar (Black Tide's Decrepit Bow, Black Tide's Corroded Axe) | |
| Recommended Types | |
Recommended Teams
| Team Name | Team Lineup |
| Hysliens /w Kafka | |
| Castorice | |
| Evernight | |
| Phainon |
Because of the Grit mechanics and buffs available on this Pure Fiction, the teams that are effective on Node 1 will also perform very well on Node 2. It is Recommended to run a Remembrance team on this stage due to Zandar's mechanics, making him switch phases faster and take more damage.
The Phainon team is also strong if he has been invested into, being on-element and being able to advance enemies, to take more damage from "Echo Enigma", in combination with the "Cinnabar Inscription" buff. Phainon can also take advantage of Zandar's boss mechanics to use his ultimate repeatedly when it ends or if his HP drops to 0 in combat, meaning Cyrene is not necessary to extend his ultimate, but still remains a best-in-slot teammate if she is available.
Pure Fiction Rewards
Story Rewards
If you earn 12 stars across all four stages of Pure Fiction, you can claim the following Story Rewards:
| In-game Model | Reward | Quantity |
| Stellar Jade | 800 | |
| | Jade Feather | 600 |
| Credits | 120,000 |
Falsehood Rewards
For clearing all 4 stages, you can obtain these items from Falsehood Rewards:
| In-game Model | Reward | Quantity |
| Traveler's Guide | 24 | |
| Refined Aether | 12 | |
| Lost Crystal | 24 | |
| Lucent Afterglow | 96 | |
| Credits | 120,000 |
Camping in the Snow
Completing Stage 2 of Pure Fiction for the first time rewards you with the 4-Star character, Lynx.
| In-game Model | Reward | Quantity |
| Lynx (★★★★) | 1 |
Conclusion
Pure Fiction is a unique and challenging endgame mode in Honkai: Star Rail, requiring specific characters that can do large amounts of AoE damage to burn through bosses' large HP pools. However, with the right team set-ups, you'll have a great chance at earning 3 stars and obtaining valuable in-game rewards such as Stellar Jades and Jade Feathers! If you're looking to obtain new characters or 5-star Light Cones to improve your Pure Fiction performance, top-up Honkai: Star Rail through Lootbar.gg!
