Aniimo Helion or Lunara: Which Starter to Pick

The Aniimo starter choice comes down to Helion or Lunara, and it is the only decision in the game you cannot take back. Both are Holy-element DPS creatures, so the difference is not damage type. It is range, risk, and how much support your team has to bring.

This guide compares the two starters on the things that actually change how the first twenty hours feel, and it flags the one number most comparison posts get wrong.

The Short Answer

Media coverage of the choice describes the split the same way: Helion is the close-range melee burst option and Lunara is the ranged option. The official Aniimo index lists both as Holy DPS creatures, indexed as NO.99998 and NO.99996 respectively.

Why the Two Starters Are Not a Damage Question

A common claim is that one starter does more damage than the other. Published data does not support that framing, and it misses what makes the choice interesting.

Both creatures occupy the same element slot and the same role. Neither gives you coverage the other lacks, and neither is a healer, a BREAK unit, or a support. What separates them is how they deliver damage and what they need from the rest of your team.

Lunara: Ranged Pressure With an Energy Engine

Lunara's trait, Lunar Power, does two jobs. It adds 30% final damage whenever Lunara attacks without an advantageous element, and it grants four stacks of Silver Moon Mark whenever a skill or Ultimate is cast. Each basic-attack hit spends one stack for 100% extra damage and restores 0.5% HP.

The skill list reinforces the same idea:

Moon-Washed is the reason Lunara is the forgiving pick. A free 20 EP refund means a bad opener does not end your rotation, and the off-element damage bonus means you rarely have a matchup where Lunara contributes nothing.

The trade-off is that its damage arrives in many small hits. Lunara wants a full mark cycle to complete, which means standing in the fight for a while.

Helion: Committed Melee Burst

Helion asks you to close the distance and stay there. Coverage of the starter choice consistently frames it as the melee, burst-oriented option with the higher positioning requirement.

That has practical consequences:

• Helion spends more time inside boss attack ranges, so dodging and timing matter earlier.
• Its damage is concentrated into short windows, which makes buffs and stagger breaks worth more.
• It benefits more from a dedicated healer, because it does not have a self-sustaining skill rotation of its own.

If your plan is to build a BREAK companion early and use stagger windows to delete bosses, Helion is the more natural fit. If your plan is to explore, catch creatures, and let fights come to you, Lunara fits that play style better.

Team Fit Comparison

The pattern is that Lunara covers more of its own weaknesses, which frees the team slots for coverage elsewhere. Helion converts team investment into higher peaks.

Can You Get the Other Starter Later?

The starter pick is a one-time choice at character creation. Any additional Helion or Lunara has to come through the normal collection routes rather than a second starter selection, which is why the decision is worth a few minutes of thought.

If you are unsure, ask which failure state bothers you more: dying because you were standing in melee range, or killing something slowly because your damage is spread across a long rotation. Lunara suffers the second and Helion the first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lunara better than Helion in Aniimo? Neither dominates. They are both Holy DPS starters. Lunara is the safer ranged option with an EP refund and a small self-heal; Helion is the close-range burst option that rewards team support.

Which starter should a beginner pick? Lunara is the more forgiving choice for a first playthrough because it attacks from range and refunds its own energy. Helion is a good choice for players who already know they want a melee playstyle.

Are Helion and Lunara the same element? Yes. Both are listed as Holy-element DPS creatures in the official Aniimo index.

Does the starter choice affect the story? The choice affects your opening companion, not a branching narrative. The main story is shared.

Where can I compare their published stats? The official Aniimo index lists attributes, traits, and skills per creature. Starter comparisons in the press, including GameSpot's starter breakdown, describe the same melee-versus-ranged split.