For HSR traces , the level matters a lot early on, but the value drops fast once you get past the cheap upgrades. A good rule is: level the traces that actually scale your character’s job, and stop when the next level starts costing too much for too little gain.

Practical rule

  • Most characters: stop around trace 6 first, because that covers the biggest power jump for a reasonable cost.
  • Main DPS: push their key skill/ultimate/talent traces higher, especially if they’re a core carry and you’re using them a lot.
  • Supports/healers: often don’t need max traces right away; utility matters more than perfect numbers.
  • Trace 9–10: usually the “luxury” zone, where the cost rises a lot compared to the gain.

What matters most

Not all traces are equal. Damage traces that directly boost a skill, ult, or talent usually matter more than small passive stat nodes, and some characters have a few especially important breakpoints or utility upgrades.

Easy takeaway

If you want a simple priority:

  1. Key traces on your main DPS.
  2. Important utility traces on supports.
  3. Finish low-impact traces later.
  4. Save maxing to your favorite or strongest endgame units.

Fast answer

So, trace levels matter a lot, but only up to the point where the upgrade is efficient. In practice, 6 is a strong stopping point for many units , while 8–10 is for mains, favorites, or characters whose scaling makes the extra levels worth it.