When Luka stepped out of Jarilo-VI's shadowy fighting circuits and into the rosters of Trailblazers across the galaxy, he arrived as a four-star Physical Nihility character in the second phase of version 1.2. His mechanical arm promised explosive punches, while his damage-over-time effects made him a natural partner for Kafka. Yet in Honkai: Star Rail, raw talent means little without careful preparation. The road to transforming Luka into a true contender ran through dusty mines, crimson calyxes, and one very familiar Stagnant Shadow.
The Ascension Road
For many coaches, the first task was straightforward: push Luka from level 20 to 80. That journey was split into six ascension phases, and each phase demanded more than the last. Automaton and Fragmentum enemies lurking in the Underworld supplied Ancient Parts, Ancient Spindles, and Ancient Engines. Meanwhile, the Broken Teeth of Iron Wolf came from the Stagnant Shadow: Shape of Spike challenge in the Great Mine area of Jarilo-VI.
| Ascension | Required Level | Mob Drops Required | Stagnant Shadow Drops Required | Credits Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | 4x Ancient Part | — | 3,200 |
| 2 | 30 | 8x Ancient Part | — | 6,400 |
| 3 | 40 | 5x Ancient Spindle | 2x Broken Teeth of Iron Wolf | 12,800 |
| 4 | 50 | 8x Ancient Spindle | 5x Broken Teeth of Iron Wolf | 32,000 |
| 5 | 60 | 5x Ancient Engine | 15x Broken Teeth of Iron Wolf | 64,000 |
| 6 | 70 | 7x Ancient Engine | 28x Broken Teeth of Iron Wolf | 128,000 |
A quiet rhythm developed over the grind. Early ascensions asked for only a few Ancient Parts and a handful of credits. By the third phase, the material demands shifted toward Ancient Spindles and the first Broken Teeth. By the final push, Ancient Engines and a mountain of Broken Teeth consumed entire afternoons. In total, preparing Luka for the highest levels required 12 Ancient Parts, 13 Ancient Spindles, 12 Ancient Engines, 50 Broken Teeth of Iron Wolf, and 246,400 credits.
Sharpening the Fists: Basic Attack Traces
Leveling was only half the story. Luka possessed four primary upgradeable traces: Basic Attack, Skill, Ultimate, and Talent. The Basic Attack trace had its own focused material list, pulling from Crimson Calyx rewards and mob drops alike.
| Level | Crimson Calyx Materials Required | Mob Drops Required | Credits Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2x Obsidian of Dread | 4x Ancient Part | 4,000 |
| 3 | 2x Obsidian of Desolation | 2x Ancient Spindle | 8,000 |
| 4 | 4x Obsidian of Desolation | 3x Ancient Spindle | 16,000 |
| 5 | 2x Obsidian of Obsession | 2x Ancient Engine | 36,000 |
| 6 | 6x Obsidian of Obsession | 3x Ancient Engine | 128,000 |
By the time the final Basic Attack level clicked into place, the tally stood at 2 Obsidian of Dread, 6 Obsidian of Desolation, 8 Obsidian of Obsession, 4 Ancient Parts, 5 Ancient Spindles, 5 Ancient Engines, and 192,000 credits.
Skill, Ultimate, and Talent: The Deeper Grind
The bigger investment came from Luka's Skill, Ultimate, and Talent lines. These three traces shared a demanding ladder of Crimson Calyx materials, mob drops, and eventually Cocolia's boss material, Regret of Infinite Ochema. A single Tracks of Destiny was required only at the very top.
| Level | Crimson Calyx Materials Required | Mob Drops Required | Cocolia Drops Required | Tracks of Destiny Required | Credits Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | — | 2x Ancient Part | — | — | 2,000 |
| 3 | 2x Obsidian of Dread | 4x Ancient Part | — | — | 4,000 |
| 4 | 2x Obsidian of Desolation | 2x Ancient Spindle | — | — | 8,000 |
| 5 | 4x Obsidian of Desolation | 3x Ancient Spindle | — | — | 16,000 |
| 6 | 6x Obsidian of Desolation | 5x Ancient Spindle | — | — | 24,000 |
| 7 | 2x Obsidian of Obsession | 2x Ancient Engine | — | — | 36,000 |
| 8 | 4x Obsidian of Obsession | 3x Ancient Engine | 1x Regret of Infinite Ochema | — | 64,000 |
| 9 | 8x Obsidian of Obsession | — | 1x Regret of Infinite Ochema | — | 128,000 |
| 10 | 11x Obsidian of Obsession | — | 1x Regret of Infinite Ochema | 1 | 240,000 |
The complete bill for these three traces reached 2 Obsidian of Dread, 12 Obsidian of Desolation, 25 Obsidian of Obsession, 6 Ancient Parts, 10 Ancient Spindles, 5 Ancient Engines, 3 Regret of Infinite Ochema, 1 Tracks of Destiny, and 522,000 credits.
Training Philosophy
A wise coach did not simply throw resources at every trace. The real strategy lay in deciding what Luka should excel at. Players who wanted stronger upfront burst favored his Basic Attack and Skill. Those who preferred longer battles leaned into his DoT potential and debuff-related traces. Several minor traces also offered bonus stats and passive benefits, making them worthwhile finishing touches.
The journey was not quick. Each completed trace felt like tightening the wraps before a decisive round. But once the final Regret of Infinite Ochema was spent and every credit accounted for, Luka stood ready under Jarilo-VI's pale lights. In Honkai: Star Rail, preparation was its own kind of battle, and Luka's preparation turned him into a genuine knockout artist.