Maximizing Dan Heng Permansor Terrae’s Potential: Best Builds, Teams & Strategies
Honkai Star Rail is no stranger to exciting, ever-evolving characters, and the latest addition to the roster, Dan Heng Permansor Terrae, promises to be a game-changer—especially for free-to-play (F2P) players looking to build the ultimate Physical Preservation team. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into Dan Heng’s kit, abilities, best builds, team synergies, and lightcones. If you’re all about making the most of your F2P resources, you’re in the right place!
Who is Dan Heng Permansor Terrae?
Dan Heng Permansor Terrae, or as we’ll casually call him, Dan Heng, is a new addition to the Preservation category in Honkai Star Rail. What sets him apart from other Preservation characters is that he’s the first Physical Preservation unit since Aventurine, who appeared back in 2.1. With this shift, Dan Heng introduces a fresh new playstyle for players who love stacking shields while still dealing solid damage.
But wait—will he be free-to-play? There’s been a lot of buzz around the speculation that this version of Dan Heng will be handed out for free, but until Hoyoverse officially confirms it, we’ll treat that as speculation. However, the excitement is definitely there, and the prospect of adding such a versatile character to your team without spending money is enough to get any F2P player hyped.
Dan Heng’s Abilities: The Basics of His Kit
Let’s break down Dan Heng’s kit to see how his abilities can elevate your F2P team:
1. Skill: Shield and Bondmate Mechanics
Dan Heng’s Skill is what really defines him as a support-heavy character. Upon activation, he provides a shield to all allies, with the strength of the shield scaling off his Attack stat. The real kicker here, though, is the Bondmate system. One ally is designated as his Bondmate, and Dan Heng’s dragon summon attaches itself to that character.
This dragon isn’t just there for decoration. With a base speed of 165, it provides multiple benefits:
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Debuff Cleansing: Whenever it attacks, it dispels debuffs from all allies.
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Shield Stacking: It provides a shield that can stack with other shields from your team.
This shield doesn’t just give protection—it makes your whole team more durable, allowing you to take on high-damage bosses with ease.
2. Ultimate: AoE Damage and Dragon Follow-Up
Dan Heng’s Ultimate is a game-changer. It provides the team with a shield, scales off his Attack, and then enhances the dragon for two full turns. After this enhancement, the dragon goes into follow-up mode, attacking the enemy with a follow-up strike that deals damage based on your Bondmate’s Attack stat, not Dan Heng’s. This scaling adds extra value, especially if your Bondmate is a top-tier Attack-focused character.
In short:
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Team Shield: Boosts team defense.
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AoE Damage: Deals significant AoE damage scaling off Dan Heng’s Attack.
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Follow-Up Attack: Provides additional damage scaling from the Bondmate’s Attack.
3. Technique: Preemptive Bondmate Buff
Before combat even starts, Dan Heng’s Technique applies the Bondmate mechanic to the active character. As soon as the battle begins, Dan Heng uses his Skill without consuming a skill point. This effectively lets you start the battle with a shield already up and buffs ready to go.
4. Traces: Enhancements and Energy Regeneration
Dan Heng’s Traces add an extra layer of synergy to his kit. Notably:
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Bondmate’s Attack Buff: His skill increases the Bondmate’s attack by 15% of Dan Heng’s Attack stat.
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Energy Regeneration: When the Bondmate attacks, Dan Heng regenerates 5 Energy, and his dragon’s action advances by 15%.
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Action Speed: At the start of battle, Dan Heng’s action advances by 40%—letting him get his shield up and running even faster.
TL;DR? His skill, ult, and dragon summon all contribute to stackable shields, while his Bondmate mechanic boosts the Attack and energy efficiency for a more robust team setup.
Best Builds for Dan Heng
Dan Heng is an excellent choice for F2P players, and setting him up right can really help you dominate bosses. Here’s how to build him for max effectiveness.
Stats and Main Stats
For Dan Heng, you want to maximize Attack and Speed for quicker energy generation and damage scaling. Here’s what I recommend:
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Chest: Attack% to boost his overall damage output.
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Boots: Speed% boots are optimal in teams where you need to generate SP fast. If you’re using him in a more damage-centric setup, you can opt for Attack boots.
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Orb: Go for Attack% to push his offensive capabilities.
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Rope: Ideally, you’ll want Energy Recharge for his ult, but Attack% is also a solid option if you’re confident his ult cost will drop from 140 in future patches.
Relics
When it comes to relics, you have a few options to play around with:
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4-piece Sacerdos: Boosts Speed and Crit Damage for your Bondmate, making Dan Heng’s support even more effective.
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2-piece Attack/Speed: This is an adaptable setup based on your needs—if you’re lacking in Speed or Attack, this is a good fallback.
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New 4-piece Set: This set grants 32% Crit Damage and restores a Skill Point every wave. However, if you're looking for consistency, keep an eye on potential buffs in upcoming beta changes.
Planar Ornaments
Dan Heng is all about energy regeneration, so the Lushaka set is your best bet. It grants Energy and Attack, making it an essential choice for teams that need a consistent flow of resources.
For more flexibility, the Penacony set, which boosts damage and energy regen, can be great if you're pairing him with physical DPS characters like Phainon.
Dan Heng Team Synergies: Best Free-to-Play Boss Teams
So, how does Dan Heng fit into a free-to-play team that can take on high-level bosses? Let’s break down some key synergies and team compositions that will make him shine.
Phainon + Dan Heng: The Ultimate Boss Killing Duo
Dan Heng is shaping up to be a fantastic sustain unit for Phainon. Phainon is known for his high-damage output and sustain mechanics, but his weakness is that his supports can sometimes get picked off by enemies before he can finish them off. This is where Dan Heng comes in. His shields, energy regeneration, and follow-up attacks make him a natural fit for Phainon’s team.
You’ll get both damage buffs and shields, which means you can focus on sustaining Phainon’s DPS while keeping the team safe.
Sunday + Dan Heng: Synergy That Hits Hard
Sunday is another character who benefits immensely from Dan Heng. Sunday’s skill boosts an ally’s damage by 30%, and if they have a summon (like Dan Heng’s dragon), that damage boost is increased by 50%. If this synergy works as expected, Dan Heng’s Bondmate will receive a massive damage buff, making this combination perfect for high-damage output in boss fights.
Jing Yuan + Dan Heng: Solid Support for Energy and Damage
Dan Heng also makes a solid support choice for Jing Yuan, as he provides both damage boosts and energy regeneration. Dan Heng’s Ult not only helps generate energy for the team but his follow-up attacks contribute to weakness breaking, which is a huge advantage in tougher battles.
For Jing Yuan, who thrives off attack and energy regeneration, having Dan Heng in his team can help you optimize energy economy while delivering solid AoE damage.
Tribbie and Hyacine: A Powerful Pairing for The Herta Team
If you’re running a Herta team with Tribbie and Hyacine, and you’re missing Hyacine or need a backup option, Dan Heng can step in to fill the gap. His attack buff and shield generation will make your team more resilient while dealing more damage to bosses.
Lightcones: The Best Options for Dan Heng
When it comes to Lightcones, there are a few standout options that will maximize Dan Heng’s potential:
Signature Lightcone: A Must-Have for Dan Heng
Dan Heng’s signature lightcone boasts the highest Attack stat of any Preservation Lightcone in the game at 582. This is essential because both his damage and shields scale off this stat. Additionally, the Lightcone provides:
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24% Attack
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30% Shield Effect
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HP Restoration and a damage buff for all allies upon using his Ultimate.
At S5, it also increases shield effect by 24% and boosts damage by 20% if the ally has a shield. This makes it a top-tier pick if you’re willing to invest.
Alternative: Journey Forever Peaceful (Battle Pass)
If you’re looking for something more accessible, Journey Forever Peaceful, available through the Battle Pass, increases shield effects and boosts damage when an ally has a shield. Even at S1, it provides a 12% damage boost, making it an affordable option for those on a budget.
Other Lightcones to Consider
If you're not planning on spending for the Battle Pass or the Signature Lightcone, Landau's Choice or We Are Wildfire can work as decent alternatives. These Lightcones focus on damage reduction, healing, and damage boosts, but they don’t quite match the efficiency of Dan Heng’s signature.
Is Dan Heng Worth Pulling?
If the rumors are true and Dan Heng ends up being free, you won’t need to worry about pulling him. But if you’re asking whether he’s worth pulling for F2P players, the answer is a cautious yes. He’s versatile and will fit well with almost any Attack-based DPS character. While he may not be the best in slot for every team, his shielding abilities and damage output can still make him an excellent addition to most squads.
For players who need a solid support, Dan Heng is certainly worth building.
Conclusion: Dan Heng—A Powerful Asset for F2P Boss Teams
With his strong shielding abilities, energy regeneration, and damage boosts, Dan Heng Permansor Terrae is shaping up to be an indispensable part of many F2P teams. Whether he’s the free unit we’re hoping for or not, his versatility makes him an exciting option for tackling bosses and high-difficulty content in Honkai Star Rail.
If you’re planning to build a team around him, Phainon, Sunday, and Jing Yuan are excellent synergies, but don’t be afraid to experiment with other setups. Dan Heng is a team player who can be adapted to different strategies, and his kit provides enough flexibility to make him valuable in a variety of team compositions.
FAQ: Dan Heng Free-to-Play Team for Bosses
Q: Is Dan Heng Permansor Terrae a free-to-play unit?
A: It's speculated that Dan Heng might be free, but Hoyoverse has yet to confirm it. Stay tuned for updates!
Q: How does Dan Heng’s Bondmate mechanic work?
A: Dan Heng designates one ally as his Bondmate. His dragon summon attaches to them, granting buffs and shields, and triggers follow-up attacks based on the Bondmate’s Attack stat.
Q: What are the best relics for Dan Heng?
A: The 4-piece Sacerdos set is excellent for boosting Speed and Crit Damage. For more flexibility, use Attack/Speed relics, or consider the new 4-piece set if it gets a buff.
Q: What are Dan Heng’s main strengths?
A: Dan Heng excels at providing shields, energy regeneration, and damage buffs. His Bondmate mechanic also boosts team damage and support.
Q: Can I use Dan Heng with physical DPS like Phainon?
A: Yes! Dan Heng is perfect for supporting Phainon by generating energy, stacking shields, and providing attack buffs to enhance Phainon’s damage.
Q: What are the best Lightcones for Dan Heng?
A: His signature Lightcone provides the highest Attack stat and boosts his shielding and damage output. If you’re on a budget, Journey Forever Peaceful is a solid alternative.
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