HoYoverse has officially announced the Honkai Star Rail 3.0 banners, and the excitement is palpable. Fans will finally see Herta, not just as her puppet version but in her human form, making a grand entrance alongside Aglaea, the inaugural character from the Amphoreus region. Additionally, players had anticipated the return of the Remembrance Trailblazer, but what caught many by surprise is the inclusion of six reruns on these banners. This announcement creates quite a challenge for free-to-play players and those who occasionally spend on the game, especially with the annual Shard top-up still months away.
If you missed the latest updates, particularly on Sunday regarding Fugue, it might be wise to conserve your Jade and focus on clearing any ongoing event objectives first.
The Herta – Phase 1 of Honkai Star Rail 3.0 Banners
The initial phase of these banners is set to launch on January 15, 2025, coinciding with the release of HSR 3.0, and will run for three weeks. Herta, as the first new 5-star character in this update, embodies the Ice Erudition archetype similar to her puppet counterpart. Notably, she introduces a battle feature akin to the Brain In A Vat from the Simulated Universe. Herta can inflict Interpretation stacks on her enemies, amplifying the damage they receive based on the number of stacks applied. This mechanic adds a new layer to Erudition gameplay, moving beyond simple team-wide attacks.
Alongside Herta, players can expect:
- Exit
- Feixiao
- Lingsha
This marks Robin’s second rerun, while Feixiao and Lingsha are making their return since their debut in 2024. Lingsha significantly contributes to break team strategies, whereas Feixiao is recognized as one of the most powerful characters from the 2.X series, comparable to Firefly and Acheron.
As a new combat path emerges, the relevance of break teams will likely be scrutinized in the upcoming months. Although HoYoverse is implementing measures to mitigate power creep—a common concern in live-service games where older characters lose their edge—new characters can reinvigorate existing strategies. For example, Jade has revitalized Blade’s viability, while Sunday enhances Jing Yuan’s potential as a support character for Remembrance builds.
Nevertheless, featuring four 5-star characters within a mere three-week window raises the stakes considerably.
Aglaea – Phase 2 of Honkai Star Rail 3.0 Banners
Commencing on February 5, 2025, Phase 2 introduces Aglaea as the first 5-star Remembrance character. Notably, Aglaea brings her creative dressmaker’s dummy into combat, which can act independently under specific conditions. Her skill set emphasizes speed manipulation, allowing her to enhance both her abilities and those of her summon—offering a fresh dynamic not yet seen in Honkai Star Rail.
Joining Aglaea on this banner are:
- Silver Wolf
- Boothill
- Robin
Silver Wolf’s effectiveness as a debuffer has decreased over the past year, making her an interesting addition to this lineup. Boothill perfectly complements Fugue if you happen to acquire her, while Robin stands out as a character likely to maintain her value despite new releases due to her capacity for providing impressive support buffs and party-wide action advancements.
It’s essential to keep in mind that HoYoverse is likely to reintroduce these characters in future events, and the Remembrance meta may gain traction in subsequent patches post-HSR 3.0. With so many prominent characters available simultaneously, it can be overwhelming, but it’s advisable to strategize your team composition. Rest assured, like in HoYoverse’s other titles, most endgame content can be tackled with a free team.
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