A Herrscher God (German: lord, ruler or sovereign, Chinese: 律 Lǜ 者 zhě ) is a human that has merged with Houkai energy and has given into the will of the Houkai to destroy the current era of human civilization. They are exceptionally powerful, and wield otherworldly abilities- in such that S-rank Valkyrja rarely stand a chance of winning a fight against one.

Since a human body is needed to host them, they are nigh-immortal but can be killed if their physical form is destroyed or if their cores are extracted / destroyed from their bodies.





Background Concept

When Houkai energy in an area reaches 1000 HW (Houkai Welt) or higher, there is a small chance that someone may absorb sufficient Houkai energy to become a Herrscher. But to actually make a condensed Herrscher core, it requires at least 2000 HW or more.

A Herrscher accompanies each generation of humans. Each Herrscher has different abilities and is considered the midpoint between the human race and between the Houkai beasts. A Herrscher has abilities that far exceed human beings, even S-Rank Valkyrja can barely contend with one. The only thing all potential Herrschers have in common is higher than normal Houkai adaptability.

Herrschers are humans that have been corrupted mentally as well as physically to Houkai. Being near them will subject you to high levels of Houkai radiation. Under normal circumstances, humans with low Houkai adaptability will become akin to a zombie. Unlike normal Houkai zombies, Herrschers have partial human consciousness and have direct contact to the will of the Houkai. If the Herrscher is strong-willed, they can break free of the Houkai and become rogue.

The "Herrscher" title is temporary and may change in the future.

Number Title Character Core type Ability God Key 1 Herrscher of Reason Welt Joyce (New World) Welt Yang (New World) Bronya Zaychik (New World) Gem

DNA

Nanorobots Superhuman memory. Ability to reconstruct anything that has been thoroughly understood. Key of Revelation: Void Library 2 Herrscher of the Void Unknown Old World Herrscher Sirin (New World) K-423 (New World) Gem Spacetime manipulation. Key of the Void: Unnamed Locomotive 3 Herrscher of Thunder Unknown Old World Herrscher Raiden Mei (New World) Gem Electricity and lightning manipulation. Unnamed Rifle 4 Herrscher of Wind Unknown Old World Herrscher Wendy (New World) Gem Ideal fluid manipulation. Unnamed Satellite 5 Herrscher of Ice Unknown Old World Herrscher Ana Schariac (New World) Gem Decelerating molecular motion to the point that causing extreme cold. Unknown 6 Herrscher of Death Unknown Old World Herrscher (Seele lookalike) Gem The ability to control life and death. Black Abyss White Flower (Abyssal Flower in SEA / Global HI3 client) 7 Herrscher of Flame Captain Himeko (New World) Gem Accelerating molecular motion to the point that causing extreme heat. Key of Destruction series 8 Unknown Unknown Old World Herrscher Unknown Mind manipulation. Creating Dreamscapes. Key of Consciousness series 9 Herrscher of Rock Herrscher of Star Unknown Old World Herrscher Owl (New World) Unknown Gravity manipulation. Create Black Holes. Key of Devouring series 10 Herrscher of Domination Several (1000 individuals) 1000 Gems Control a specific element.

Hivemind through quantum entanglement. Key of Domination series 11 Herrscher of Binding Unknown Old World Herrscher Gem Energy flow manipulation. Key Of Binding series 12 Herrscher of Corruption RIN (Old World) Gem Self-aware lethal virus. Key of Corruption 13 Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown 14 The Final Herrscher The Chosen One (Real Kiana / Unidentified Old World Herrscher) Lots of gems (Exist in current world) Absolute control over Houkai energy. None

Herrscher Awakening Process

Keep in mind that these are all based on what has been observed and pieced together by the community, meaning that the following information you are about to read hasn't been confirmed by MiHoYo yet.

You have been reminded.

Phase 1 : The "Will of Houkai" will communicate with the eligible person, give birth to another personality called the "Herrscher consciousness" and will continue to invoke the negative emotions of the eligible person in their heart to bait them into hating humanity and submit themself to the Will of Houkai.

: The "Will of Houkai" will communicate with the eligible person, give birth to another personality called the "Herrscher consciousness" and will continue to invoke the negative emotions of the eligible person in their heart to bait them into hating humanity and submit themself to the Will of Houkai. Phase 2 : The eligible person will start undergoing a metamorphosis, early signs are flashes of exhaustion and illness. The candidate's phase 2 process depends on the "Herrscher consciousness" requirement of Houkai energy to form a core. Houkai power will attract the zombies and Houkai beasts in order to protect the eligible person before the "Herrscher consciousness" is fully dominant.

: The eligible person will start undergoing a metamorphosis, early signs are flashes of exhaustion and illness. The candidate's phase 2 process depends on the "Herrscher consciousness" requirement of Houkai energy to form a core. Houkai power will attract the zombies and Houkai beasts in order to protect the eligible person before the "Herrscher consciousness" is fully dominant. Phase 3 : "The Herrscher consciousness" will try to suppress and eradicate human consciousness. Upon full control, it begins to absorb massive amounts of Houkai energy and summon Houkai beasts to spread radiation, As it gains more Houkai energy, it will develop exclusive abilities. This is the sign that the eligible human is at the verge of being a true Herrscher.

: "The Herrscher consciousness" will try to suppress and eradicate human consciousness. Upon full control, it begins to absorb massive amounts of Houkai energy and summon Houkai beasts to spread radiation, As it gains more Houkai energy, it will develop exclusive abilities. This is the sign that the eligible human is at the verge of being a true Herrscher. Phase 4: Tearing the human heart and completely abandoning the goodness in humanity, leaving endless hatred, revenge and become true Herrscher. At this time the Herrscher is completely born, then it will control Houkai beasts and hordes of human zombies. It can maximize the potential of its Herrscher core and create custom Houkai beasts.

Note: Phase 2 and Phase 3 can be reversed, provided that the eligible person who has very high adaptability and strong will, they can surpass their "Herrscher consciousness".

Note: If a Herrscher comes in contact with the "Will of Houkai" it can gain enhanced abilities.

Methods of control / destroy a Herrscher

These are few known methods of control / destroy a Herrscher.

Self-control

It was known for 1st Herrscher are capable of self-controlling themselves and betray the Will of Houkai quite easily.

Body containers

Some characters (known with 12th Herrscher, K-423 and Wendy) are capable of storing cores without turning into a Herrscher. However having a core inside them still able to trigger Herrscher awakening progress and resulting into Herrscher.

Body destroy

Since most Herrscher requires a body to be working, destroy a body is one of most commonly used method of preventing Herrscher from destroy the universe.

Core drain / extract / destroy / trap

Some Herrscher will require drain, extract, destroy or trap the core to prevent them from being working.

1st Herrscher: Core of 1st Herrscher which is fragmented (not fully destroyed) still able to work.

Herrscher having 6th core: Can self-revive themselves when get killed if owning the core.

12th Herrscher: Can infect other during gas state, required to trap inside a container (Fire Moth using a purple box as the container).

Known Herrschers

1st New World: Herrscher of Reason

Characters: Welt Joyce, Welt Yang, Bronya Zaychik

Welt Joyce, the 1st Herrscher of Reason

The symbol of Anti-Entropy (former heir to the bishop of Otto's Destiny), the ability to reproduce anything physical he understands. This kind of reproduction can even become a kind of "muscle memory" - but it has been copied by the first Herrscher. The "blueprint" of the thing will be preserved and copied more efficiently the next time it is used. When the first Herrscher reached Master Reconstruction Mastery, he can cast some skills without even needing the weapon on the hand. (Even if it is the God Key, as long as he knows how it works and how it can be used, it can be reproduced easily.)

When Welt Joyce became the first Herrscher in 1952, he unconsciously destroyed Berlin and killed 300,000 people, including Carl Gustav, Einstein's first mentor.

Because Welt's human consciousness overcomes the Herrscher consciousness, he doesn't have the ability to control Houkai beast without obeying the Houkai. Welt become a symbol of Houkai renegade.

Welt Yang, the 2nd Herrscher of Reason

Born Joachim Nokianvirtanen, he inherited the name of "Welt" and the 1st Herrscher's core from the dying Welt Joyce. He later became a part of the new generation of Rule-abiding people; a guardian of mankind and human responsibility. The real lord of Anti-Entropy, the image of Welt is presented to the world.

Bronya Zaychik, the 3rd Herrscher of Reason

Bronya came into possession of the core of the 1st Herrscher in the Sea of Quanta after going through several bubble universes created by Welt Yang. The core grants Bronya the powers of Reason, and allows Welt Yang's conciousness to reside in her mind. Bronya later lost the core in an altercation with Kevin Kaslana, forcing Welt Yang to recreate his body around the core to protect it. After escaping the Sea of Quanta with Seele Vollerei, Welt Yang offers the core to Bronya once again, promising to instruct her on how to use it.

2nd New World: Herrscher of the Void

Character: Sirin, K-423

Sirin, the 1st Herrscher of the Void

Sirin, Herrscher of the Void. Accompanied by the Houkai beast Benares. At present, it is only clear that Schicksal has a plan named after her (Sirin's Plan).

In Sirin's past, she was used as a lab rat for Schicksal. Abused and mistreated by the researchers, Sirin grew hugely hateful of all of them. Her friends were eventually killed or died due to experiments one by one, and her mother later passed away due to illness.

During the fight with S-Rank Valkyrja, Cecilia Schariac, both Cecilia and Sirin got killed by Schicksal's missiles. Her core, the 2nd Herrscher's, was obtained by Otto Apocalypse.

In Otto's plan, K-423 became Sirin's new human vessel to be returned into the world. Sirin's consciousness occupied K-423, and caused a large Houkai disaster. Benares returned to aid her and Schickscal Headquarters was attacked by it. After her reappearance, she was defeated in a tedious battle by Himeko, and injected with a serum that mitigated her consciousness's control. This allows K-423's consciousness to reappear, but at the cost of Himeko's death.

K-423, the 2nd Herrscher of the Void

3rd New World: Herrscher of Thunder

Character: Raiden Mei

Raiden Mei is the daughter of the former president of Massive Electric (referred to as ME), a second-grade student of Senba High School, and later the student of St. Freya Academy, B-Rank Valkyrja.



Note that this art is compromised and the actual character design is much diffrent than this

Her ability is to manipulate electromagnetic fields includes "electromagnetic field surrounding the body" and "electromagnetic pulses that destroy chemical bonds within the molecule".

She awakened during her last stand towards Husk-Nihilus by the Serprents and then became the Hersercher of the Thunder shortly after that. She also absorbed Benares that is once a Honkai Beast that is tamed by K-423 (Clone Kiana Kaslana). She then sergergated herself from K-423 after a long enduring fight (In that moment, K-423 becomes a Hersercher of the Void but neutralized by Raiden Mei). After the long enduring fight, she quickly joins the Serprents.

4th New World: Herrscher of Wind

Character: Wendy

Wendy is an A-Rank Valkyrja, and also Theresa's best student and has a high potential of becoming an S-Rank Valkyrja, but she got controlled by the Will of Houkai and became the Herrscher of Wind.

5th New World: Herrscher of Ice

Character: 5th Herrscher

Ana Schariac participates in the forces of Schicksal, however on a mission she was corrupted by the Honkai.

The recent alliance with World Serpent and Schicksal look for the 5th Herrscher to make sure that she will not create any serious impact while World Serpent needs her for Project: Stigmata.

She can form ice at her own will, using it however she likes.

6th Old World: Herrscher of Death

The 6th Herrscher of the Old World has no elaboration on who she is, however the manga "Divine Key" showed a panel of the 6th Herrscher with a girl who looks similiar to Seele, hinting that Seele's previous reincarnation in the Old World was the 6th Herrscher. Although the core was made into a God Key, the stigmata of herrscher goes on to be in Seele's reincarnation in the New World.

Note: Seele of the New World only has the stigmata of this Herrscher, she does not have a Herrscher core.

7th Old World: Herrscher of Flame

Character: Captain HIMEKO

The symbol of destruction. She is Himeko's parallel self in the Old World, and her becoming a Herrscher resulted in killing many present at the event. She was the most powerful physically destructive Herrscher, being more destructive than the ones before, and turned the entire continent of Australia into a sea of ​​fire in just one week of synthesis. Later on, she was killed by Kevin Kaslana and the Herrscher core was made into Judgement of Shamash.

Her ability is to freely manipulate fire however she likes.

8th Old World Herrscher

Core retrieved by Kevin Kaslana, formed into the God Key, Phoenix Down

9th Old World: Herrscher of Rock

The ability to control gravity, core retrieved by Kevin Kaslana, formed into the God Key, Eden Star.

10th Old World: Herrscher of Domination

The first 10th Herrscher was a chef working for Fire Moth, who was given the capability to turn invisible. She attempted to attack Dr. MEI however was quickly dismantled by Kevin. When Dr. MEI was studying this core, she discovered something quite peculiar with it, which was the fact that the core had a physical structure identical to a Herrscher, however it was incredibly weak.

Within 3 days, 15 more individuals were turned into this Herrscher-like being. In 10 days, it had become 92. In 4 months, it had stopped after reaching 1000 individuals. Fire Moth called her The Herrscher of Legion, numbered from L10-001 to L10-1000.

Each Herrscher, one after the other, would always be weaker than the one before. Not only this, the Herrschers would have a very simple ability from every other Herrscher, and are able to communicate to each other through mind, allowing many other individuals to attack Fire Moth. As simple their abilities seemed, all together they were incredibly powerful and with so many individuals corrupted, it was too difficult to stop.

Dr. MEI then lured all 1000 individuals into an abandoned island with the God Keys, and wore a battlesuit which had the Herrscher of Lightning's core, and used the Judgement of Shamash to defeat them all. It took less than 10 minutes to defeat the Herrscher.

Abilities:

Elemental Domination: Possesses the ability to control 6 elements: Lightning, Ice, Wind, Fire, Earth and Magic. However, it's far weaker than any Herrschers controlling a specific element.

Domination Supply: The core can split itself into 1000 copies which can either be planted into humans who will fall under the control of the original Herrscher. The replications have moderate control compared to the original. However, 1000 cores are only as strong as 1 original core.

Army of One: All who share the core can communicate through a hive mind.

As many cores as possible were salvaged by Kevin and M.E.I to create keys that can potentially be activated.

11th Old World: Herrscher of Binding/ Anti-Herrscher

This Herrscher can manipulate and weaken any kind of energy, including Houkai.

Core retrieved by Kevin Kaslana and formed into the God key: Oath of Judah which is given to S-Rank Valkyrja by Otto Apocalypse.

12th Old World: Herrscher of Corruption

Character: 12th Herrscher

12th Herrscher had the ability to project her own consciousness onto any object and control it freely. In reality, this Herrscher was actually a self-aware lethal virus which was coloured black and red, which infected everybody and turned them into zombies. Not only that, but she was also able to control machines, launching nuclear missiles and destroyed a part of the old world. Professor MEI had to seal it into the purple box before it managed to destroy the rest of human civilization.

The purple box later fell into Schicksal's hand, causing the Black Death. Eleanor Schariac injected a fragment of this Herrscher onto herself, becoming a large spider beast and later got defeated by Kallen and Otto. After witnessing the inhumane experimentation of Schicksal using Crystal Disillusionment, Kallen stole the purple box and ran away to Yae Village. She was later fatally wounded and discovered by a kindly Yae Sakura. However, Yae Sakura later unwittingly opened the box, releasing Higyokumaru and all her hate accumulated over the centuries, and possessed Sakura, turning her into a large fox beast that was later defeated and sealed by Kallen.

Higyokumaru currently resides in the Stigmata dimension after the events of the Sakura Samsara.

Abilities:

Self-aware lethal virus: infected everybody and turned them into zombies, also able to control machines too.

Herrscher Authority: Can control zombies and beasts unless there is another Herrscher controlling them.

Pseudo-Herrschers

In some cases, there are individuals who possess extremely high Houkai energy similar to a Herrscher but does not possess their own Herrscher core but with a stigmata instead.

Honkai Beast getting promoted also counted as Pseudo-Herrscher

Houkai energy from the stigmata can infect their mind at any time.

Pseudo-Herrscher with stigmata only

Yae Sakura: who was possessed by the 12th Herrscher of the old world. She given the stigmata to Theresa in Escape from Nagazora comic, destroying her body.

Theresa Apocalypse: Received from Yae Sakura.

Pseudo-Herrscher has condensed a crystal close to Herrscher core

Yu Nai: Killed by Theresa in Escape from Nagazora comic after Sakura given the Herrscher power.

Pseudo-Herrscher has been promoted

Benares: A Honkai beast has been promoted by Sirin

Herrschers "revived" by Sirin

The 3 Pseudo-Herrschers are the old friends of Sirin who died in the Babylon experiments, but were returned to existence after the 1st Herrscher's core was captured. They were then given fake cores constructed from Herrscher of Reason's power to become Pseudo-Flame, Pseudo-Wind, and Pseudo-Death Herrschers.

Aphora

One of 3 Babylon experimental subjects resurrected by Sirin, she was given pseudo-Herrscher core of "Eager Storm", possessing the ability of the Wind Herrscher, and was ordered to destroy in Finland-Oulu, bringing more power to Sirin.

Agata

One of 3 Babylon experimental subjects resurrected by Sirin, she was given the pseudo-Herrscher core of "Inflammation", possessing the ability of the Fire Herrscher, and was ordered to destroy in Kazakhstan-Astana, bringing more power to Sirin.

Galina

One of 3 Babylon experimental subjects resurrected by Sirin, she was given a pseudo-Herrscher core of "Silent Death", possessing the ability of the Death Herrscher, and was ordered to destroy in Russia-Novosibirsk, bringing more power to Sirin.

This core was later retrieved by Schicksal and was experimented on multiple Valkyrja, until Kiana Kaslana (K-423) took the core and temporarily gave Sirin access to Kiana's consciouness. However, she was quickly defeated by Fu Hua and the core returned to Schicksal.

As the 4th Honkai Impact begins, this core returns to the Herrscher of Void.

Benares

Benares was upgraded to Pseudo-Herrscher by Sirin on the moon with the lightning Herrscher's core.