Boothill vs Fu Xuan in Honkai: Star Rail 2.2: A Comprehensive Pull Guide

Choosing between Boothill and Fu Xuan during the Phase 2 banners of Honkai: Star Rail Version 2.2 presents a classic dilemma for players: invest in a powerful new damage dealer or secure a top-tier defensive support. The banners for these two 5-star characters are scheduled to run from May 29 until June 18, 2026, following the conclusion of the Robin and Topaz & Numby banners. Both characters offer immense value to an account, but their roles could not be more different, making the decision heavily dependent on a player's current roster and strategic needs.

Boothill, the much-anticipated Galaxy Ranger, makes his full debut as a playable character following his NPC introduction in Version 2.1. He is a 5-star unit following the Path of The Hunt, specializing in devastating single-target Physical damage. His unique kit revolves around a dueling mechanic that allows him to challenge a chosen enemy. When in a duel, both Boothill and his target deal increased damage to each other while taking reduced damage from other sources. This mechanic transforms his Basic Attack into a powerful tool for focusing down high-priority threats. A key strength is his Ultimate ability, which not only deals massive Physical DMG but also imposes a Physical Weakness on the target and delays their action, allowing him to exploit weaknesses even against enemies not naturally vulnerable to his element.

Building Boothill offers a refreshing twist on traditional DPS optimization. Unlike most Hunt characters, his damage scales significantly with his Break Effect stat in addition to ATK, reducing the absolute necessity for high CRIT Rate and CRIT DMG values in his initial builds. This can make gearing him more accessible. However, leaks from reliable sources in 2026 indicate that his potential will be fully unlocked with a new Relic set arriving in Version 2.3. This rumored set is said to increase the user's DMG and, with its four-piece bonus, allow Break DMG to ignore a portion of the target's DEF when the user's Break Effect reaches a certain threshold, a effect seemingly tailor-made for Boothill's unique scaling.

On the opposite end of the team composition spectrum stands Fu Xuan, the Master Diviner of the Xianzhou Luofu. As a 5-star Preservation character, she provides unparalleled team survivability through a unique form of damage mitigation rather than traditional shielding. Her core mechanic redirects and absorbs a portion of the damage intended for her allies, drastically reducing the incoming damage the entire party receives. This makes her an exceptionally durable tank. A major quality-of-life feature is that her Skill does not need to be used every turn, allowing for better Skill Point management for the team's damage dealers.

Fu Xuan's kit is packed with sustain tools. She possesses a powerful self-heal that triggers after absorbing a certain amount of damage, ensuring her own longevity as the team's protector. This consistent damage absorption provides incredible party sustain, often making a dedicated healer unnecessary. Her effectiveness in the game's most challenging endgame content, such as Memory of Chaos and Pure Fiction, has solidified her reputation as a top-tier sustain unit. She is frequently ranked alongside Aventurine as one of the best defensive options in the game due to her versatility and raw damage mitigation power.

Pull Decision Breakdown:

Consideration	Pull for Boothill if...	Pull for Fu Xuan if...
Team Role Needed	You lack a premier single-target Physical DPS.	Your account is missing a premium, SP-efficient sustain unit.
Account Progress	You have strong sustain options but need more damage.	You have strong DPS characters but struggle to keep them alive in endgame.
Playstyle Preference	You enjoy targeted, duel-style gameplay and breaking enemy Toughness.	You prefer a "set-and-forget" defensive support that enables your DPS.
Resource Priority	You are willing to potentially farm a new Relic set in the near future.	You want a universally powerful unit that fits into almost any team.

Ultimately, the choice hinges on a player's specific needs. Boothill is a flashy and powerful new DPS with a unique mechanic, but the role of damage dealer is crowded with many excellent alternatives. Fu Xuan, however, stands as a cornerstone defensive support whose value only increases with the difficulty of content. Her ability to enable squishy damage dealers and provide near-foolproof survivability makes her one of the most impactful pulls for long-term account strength. For players who do not have her, Fu Xuan often represents the higher-value choice, as a top-tier sustain unit fundamentally changes how teams are built and what content can be reliably cleared.