HSR Version 3.6 Apocalyptic Shadow: Full Guide

Hey, Trailblazers! Every time a new “Apocalyptic Shadow” stage drops in Honkai Star Rail, I can't wait to dive. In this guide, featuring the familiar face and introducing a new boss, LDshop will combine environmental buffs and enemy mechanics to share dozens of recommended team compositions. The goal is to help as many Trailblazers as possible achieve full-star rewards this cycle~

I've taken a deep dive into the mechanics, Toughness break timings, buff synergies, and team builds, and put everything together in this complete guide! 

HSR 3.6 Apocalyptic Shadow Buffs

Ruinous Ember

When enemy units with "Steadfast Safeguard" are Weakness Broken, dispels control effects for all allies, activates Ultimates and restores HP.

All enemies take 10% more Memosprite Skill DMG, and 30% more Skill DMG.

Finelity’s Axiom

Node 1

Armed Up: Increases Physical DMG dealt by all allies by 50%, and decreases all enemies' Physical RES by 20%.

Obstinate Weed: When allies use Basic ATK or Skill to attack Weakness Broken enemies, all DoTs currently applied to the enemies will immediately produce DMG equal to 20% of the original DMG.

Rime Piercer: Increases all enemies' Break DMG taken by 10%. After Breaking an enemy's Weakness, increases all allies' SPD by 20% for 2 turn(s).

Node 2

Unstoppable Force: DMG dealt by memosprites ignores 20% of the target's DEF.

Innervation: Increases all allies' Skill DMG by 30%. At the start of their turn, if their current HP percentage is equal to or lower than 1%, restores HP equal to 15% of their Max HP.

Unstoppable Momentum: When a character uses Ultimate, increases their Weakness Break Efficiency by 100% and increases CRIT DMG by 40%, lasting for 3 turn(s).

In comprehensive consideration, the advantaged main DPS for this cycle are:

Saber, Archer, Phainon, Anaxa, Castorice, Mydei, Aglaea, The Herta, Feixiao, and Jingliu.

Node 1: Annihilator of Desolation Mistral

Composed of Cocolia and Gepard. Preferred weaknesses are 「Quantum > Fire = Lightning = Wind」. Note that Cocolia has 60% resistance to Ice and Imaginary damage, so avoid using DPS of these types unless necessary.

Strategy

When Cocolia's first health bar is depleted, Gepard will automatically leave the field—no need to focus on him. Throughout the battle, at the start of each phase, wait for Cocolia to summon "Chill of Bone" units. Then, break the summons one by one to transfer weaknesses back to Cocolia, additionally reducing her Toughness and increasing her damage taken.

Phase One: Insect Nest First Foray

Core Mechanic: The Boss gains Insect Eggs at the end of its turn, which are used to empower Swarm summons and grant them stacks of [Growth Hormone].

1. When the Boss has Insect Eggs, **prioritize defeating the summons**.

2. When a summon is defeated, its **"Entomon Eulogy" or "Decay Eulogy"** counter-attack will reduce the Boss's Insect Eggs by **1** if it hits the Boss.

Consequence of Empowerment: Empowered "Gnaw Stings" have increased ATK. At level 3 empowerment, their attacks have a chance to Entangle the target.

Phase Two: Misfortune Swarm Disaster

Core Mechanic: When the Boss's "Devoured by the Swarm" is triggered, it summons more units, including "Lesser Stings".

1. Prioritize defeating "Lesser Stings"to prevent them from using "Bursting Detonation" and entering the Outrage state.
2. Consequence of Empowerment:** Empowered "Lesser Stings" have increased ATK. At level 3 empowerment, they can act immediately.

Recommended Teams

BUFF Armed Up

Phainon+ Sunday / Trailblazer + Cerydra / Sparkle / Tingyun + Bronya

BUFF 2 Obstinate Weed

Kafka + Hysilens + Black Swan / Tribbie / Robin + Huohuo / Lingsha / Gallagher

BUFF 3 Rime Piercer

Archer + Sparkle + Cipher / Cerydra / Silver Wolf + Gallagher
Firefly / Boothill +Fugue + Ruan Mei + Lingsha / Gallagher
Aglaea / Saber + Sunday + Robin + Huohuo

 

Node 2: Guide of Withering and Decay

Preferred weaknesses are [Ice = Wind = Quantum = Imaginary]. Enemies have no special resistances, and breaking Toughness often relies on mechanics rather than skill-based Weakness Break, making attribute selection considerably more flexible than in the first half.

Strategy

Phase 1: Deathwish

Mechanic: Allies cannot drop below 1 HP. Excess damage becomes "HP Overload," which greatly reduces DMG Dealt & Weakness Break Efficiency**.

Strategy: Prioritize healing units with HP Overload.

Dispel Boss's "Fragrance of Death": Deal DMG to the Boss and its summons to reduce its HP and the "Desperate Bubble" gauge.

Dispel "HP Overload": Healing removes HP Overload first.

Phase 2: From Death, Comes Life

Execution Mechanic: Boss's "Death Wishes For More Death" instantly kills allies with HP Overload.

Counter-Strategy: Before the boss uses its execution, heal all allies to remove their HP Overload state.

During the battle, focus on attacking the two Long Arms on the sides. Dealing damage to them reflects a portion as Quantum DMG, accelerating the charging of the "Desperate Bubble." Additionally, breaking their Weakness further reduces the boss's Toughness and restores your party's HP.

Your units can delay death (the remaining turns are displayed above their heads). However, when a unit's HP falls below zero, their DMG dealt and Weakness Break Efficiency are significantly reduced. It is recommended to bring a healer to remove this negative effect.

Recommended Teams

BUFF Unstoppable Force

Castorice + Evernight/Trailblazer + Tribbie + Hyacine / Gallagher

BUFF Unstoppable Momentum

Mydei+ Sparkle/Trailblazer + Tribbie + Hyacine / Gallagher
Jingliu / Blade + Sunday + Tribbie + Hyacine

BUFF 3 Innervation

Saber + Sunday + Tribbie + Huohuo
Anaxa + Sunday / Trailblazer + Cerydra + Gallagher

 

Conclusion

This cycle's difficulty is moderate. For the phase 2, most teams can reliably score 3200~3500 points with environmental compensation. For the phase 1, even using the freely provided Archer as a baseline option to pick off summons one by one can easily score above 3300 points. When building teams, prioritize finalizing your second-half team first, then focus on the first half. That concludes all the content of this "Version 3.6 Apocalyptic Shadow: Gale of Netherveil" guide. The team recommendations above are for reference only; there are, in fact, many more teams capable of achieving full stars.

Don't forget to top up your Oneiric Shard at LDShop—grab tons of it at better prices and power up your squad faster. Ready to go? Let's get out there and crush it, Trailblazers!