It's been almost a month since the last in-game update for Honkai: Star Rail, and players are eagerly anticipating what new banners, events, and content the next version will bring. The developers seem to have heard the players' voices and recently released the latest HSR Version 4.0 to retain all players.
All content in this version is still released in two phases. To ensure you don't miss any milestones, EZG.com, your most loyal gaming assistant, has compiled a complete list of all the details regarding banners, characters, and events in version 4.0, including release dates and important notes.
Release Date
Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.0 was released on February 12. North American servers received the update first and officially went live at 10:00 GMT on 12th. Also, Phase 1 of 4.0 will last from February 12 to March 3; and Phase 2 of 4.0 will last from March 3 to March 24. The following are the release times for the new versions on other servers.
- European Servers: 4:00 AM GMT, 13th
- Asia Servers: 11:00 AM GMT, 13th
- Taiwan/Hong Kong/Malaysia: 11:00 AM GMT, 13th
It's worth noting that there's a server maintenance period before each new version release, lasting approximately 5 hours. Therefore, Trailblazers are advised to plan their time accordingly and avoid logging in or performing routine explorations during maintenance hours to minimize unnecessary losses.
New Characters
In this HSR Version 4.0 update, two new characters will be introduced: Yao Guang used Physical element, and Sparxie used Fire element, both of which are five-star characters belonging to Path of Elation. The former will be launched in Phase 1, while the latter will not be launched until Phase 2 on March 3.
With the release of these two new characters, Honkai: Star Rail also welcomes new 5-Star Light Cones: When She Decided to See for Yao Guang and Dazzled By A Flowery World for Sparxie. They are all located in Brilliant Fixation Warp Banner, but the latter will not be available until Phase 2.
Meanwhile, the standard Light Cone drop pool has added two 4-star Elation Light Cones, Today's Good Luck and Mushy Shroomy's Adventures, and two 3-star Light Cones, Lingering Tear and Sneering.
New Banners
Thanks to the addition of two new characters, HSR's banners have also been updated in version 4.0. Yao Guang's banner will be available throughout the new version, but Sparxie's banner will only be available in Phase 2. Below are the release dates of each banner and details it contains.
Yao Guang Banner - February 12 - March 24
- 5-Star: Yao Guang
- 4-Star: Pela, Qing Que, and Hanya
Phase 1 Indelible Coterie Banners - February 12 - March 3
- 5-Star: Evernight, Hysilens and Black Swan
- 4-Star: Pela, Qing Que, and Hanya
Sparxie Banner - March 3 - March 24
- 5-Star: Sparxie
- 4-Star: Pela, Qing Que, and Hanya
Phase 2 Indelible Coterie Rerun Banners - March 3 - March 24
- 5-Star: Cerydra, Rappa and Sparkle
- 4-Star: Pela, Qing Que, and Hanya
While acquiring these powerful characters through Gacha system certainly offers a superior gaming experience, it can lead to wasting a lot of Stellar Jade on unnecessary pulls. Therefore, it's better to simply buy Honkai Star Rail Accounts from EZG.com, which offer both four-star and five-star characters for you to choose from.
New Mission
With new characters and new Banners, how could there be no new missions? Honkai: Star Rail has added a new Trailblaze Mission called No Aha at Full Moon in this update, where you will join a game hosted by Aha, the Aeon of Elation.
Unlocking it is also very simple; just complete Memories are the Prelude to Dreams after the new version is released. If you haven't completed Penacony Storyline yet, you can also use Leap of Trailblaze Feature in Finality's Vision and complete The Voyage Continues Trailblaze Mission to unlock the new quest in Amphoreus.
New Planet - Planarcadia
To provide a fresher exploration experience for all Trailblazers in Honkai: Star Rail, the developers have added a new planet to the vast game world, Planarcadia, which is also the next stop for Astral Express. This planet has very prosperous cities and is famous for its entertainment culture, so the highly anticipated Phantasmoon Games will be held here.
You'll enter Planarcadia through Duomension City and complete tasks such as dealing with crimes or participating in duels in Dovebrook District business district; or recruit like-minded creatives in imagery creation for your use in Graphia Academy. When you're tired, you can also relax by listening to jokes at World's End Tavern.
New Events
Next up are all the new events introduced in HSR Version 4.0:
- Planarcadia Ultimate Elation League: Pre-register for version 4.0 and participate in the web event for a chance to win various in-game and physical rewards! - 2/6 - 2/13
- Cosmicon, Roll On!: Play against other opponents using cards and dice to win various rewards! - 2/13 - 3/23
- Ding! Arcadia Fun-Time Clock-In Essentials: Complete objectives around Planarcadia to earn limited-time rewards! - 2/13 - 3/23
- Free 5-Star Character Selector in 4.0: Log in during the event period and choose a free 5-star character to claim! - 2/13 - 4/2
- Free Ruan Mei Skin: If you log in during the 4.0 period, you can get Ruan Mei's new costume, Plum Blossom Letters, for free. - 2/13 - 3/25
- Gift of Arcadia: Log in during the 4.0 period to receive 10 Star Rail Special Passes, 3 Self-Modeling Resin, and 600 Lone Stardust. - 2/13 - 3/25
- A Flip of Fortune: Log in for five consecutive days to draw a fortune slip and win up to 1,600 Stellar Jades. - 2/13 - 3/25
- 4.0 Gift of Odyssey: Log in for 7 days and you can earn up to 10 Star Rail Special Passes. - 2/13 - 3/24
- Novaflare: Try out Sparkle and Black Swan's new buffs and earn Stellar Jades! - 2/13 - 3/25
- 4.0 Planar Fissure: Venture into Simulated Universe and get double the Planar Ornaments! - 2/23 - 3/9
- 4.0 Realm of the Strange: Venture into Caverns of Corrosion to earn double the relics. - 3/13 - 3/23
That concludes the overview of new characters, banners, planets, and events in the currently active Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.0. Compared to the previous update, 4.0 feels more like a celebration, filled with festive and fun content that's definitely worth playing. Enjoy the game!
Newer than Genshin Impact and a bit outdated compared to Zenless Zone Zero, Honkai Star Rail is a bit awkward in the HoYoverse, but it still has its own unique game charm and has been steadily developing and updating.
Based on the first release date of April 2023, this means that Honkai Star Rail will soon celebrate its second anniversary, which is why the game recently released a 3.2 update trailer that is expected to be launched in conjunction with the second anniversary celebration. Not only will you experience more new content, but you will also have the opportunity to get more free rewards. Based on this, let’s introduce some of them.
Special Login Bonus
According to relevant information, Star Rail is expected to upgrade the game’s typical Gift of Odyssey login bonus in version 3.2, so that you can not only get 10 Star Rail Passes like in past updates but also get 20 more through a special anniversary patch. Not only that, the 3.2 login bonus update will also bring you 1,600 Stellar Jades and 10 fuel points, so that you can plan your existing Honkai Star Rail Oneiric Shards more flexibly to get more new characters in 3.2.
New Characters Will Appear
Regarding the new characters available, in addition to Castorice and Anaxa, which have been expected by players for a long time, more Amphoreus characters such as Phainon, Hyacine and Hysilens will also follow in the game.
And if you often pay attention to some game gossip, you may also know that Star Rail may hold a crossover event with Fate/Stay Night in the first half of the 3.4 update. Therefore, in order to pave the way for this event, the 3.2 version may launch related new gashapons in advance.
Related: Honkai: Star Rail And Fate/Stay Night Is A Fateful Collaboration
In fact, before that, I believe you have already discovered the new characters Tribbie and Yunli in the recently launched version 3.1. When they appear in the limited-time Gacha banner, they will also lead you to the next chapter of the main story of Amphoreus.
In addition, version 3.1 also includes multiple other limited-time events, such as the main event The Awooo Firm, and the new cycle mode Divergent Universe. This series of intensive update may indicate that Honkai Star Rail intends to show its strength in 2025.
New Explorable Area
Generally speaking, new areas also mean new stories and gameplay, and the mysterious new area expected to appear in version 3.2 is expected to be related to the story of Castorice, one of the new characters. Initially, Star Rail presented you with six different cities through the latest world Amphoreus, and the new story of version 3.0 led you to Castrum Kremnos and Janusopolis, and Herta and Aglaea were the first new characters here.
Although the 3.1 version currently in progress has also added new characters, they all belong to existing areas. Based on the launch time of 3.2 (the second anniversary of the game), it is not surprising that Star Rail chose to add a new area to this node.
According to the leaked information, the biggest feature of this new area in 3.2 is a broken moon in the sky, and water can be seen flowing out of the explosion area and hanging above a sea of purple and blue flowers. In addition, there is a strange ethereal door - players think this is likely related to the new S-level character Castorice that will debut in 3.2.
The reason why everyone has this speculation is that it is obvious that Castorice should be the core character in the story of the 3.2 update. She has an important connection with Thanatos, the god of death in the game, and through the gameplay information of Castorice that has been circulated on the Internet recently, she should play the role of DPS in the team.
Cute New Pets
Although Honkai Star Rail added a pet system to the game in version 2.0, there have been no new pets added to the system for a long time, except for the cute Tuskpir added in Luminary Wardance quest in 2.5, perhaps due to the lack of quest plots suitable for pets. However, on the occasion of the second anniversary, it is time to let more cute little animals celebrate the anniversary with you in the game!
The game is expected to add a new chimera pet companion to the pet system through the 3.2 update. This chimera named Bubbles always wears sunglasses, a float and a hat, and it can be seen that it likes water very much.
In Star Rail, chimeras are cute little creatures that live around Amphoreus. They are very popular. And perhaps to pave the way for Bubbles’ arrival, it is expected that version 3.1 will soon hold a limited-time event centered on this creature to provide you with more information about chimeras.
Although it is not yet clear how to unlock new pets in version 3.2, it should generally require you to claim them after completing related quests. In addition, you can now redeem a regular chimera with a mystery gift from Janus’ Steed in Amphoreus. The color and appearance of this chimera are randomly set, and it will be automatically placed in Trailblazer room in Okhema city after you obtain it. Unfortunately, this chimera cannot be brought along as a companion, which may make you look forward to Bubbles even more.
The above are the highlights of Honkai Star Rail’s 3.2 version update that we have summarized for you based on the known information. Let us look forward to the arrival of the game’s two-year anniversary celebration!
