Dear Trailblazers, greetings from the Honkai: Star Rail development team. It’s been a while, we’ve truly missed you. Today, we bring you the latest news from Version 3.4, “For the Sun is Set to Die,” arriving officially on July 2. As the trailblazing expedition reaches its dramatic peak in Amphoreus, the Chrysos Heirs are pouring their last strength into securing one final, precious moment — so that you, the Trailblazer, and Phainon may deliver the last Coreflame to the Vortex of Genesis. Now, the path ahead has been revealed. Only one final step remains before Era Nova.
Let’s pick up where we left off — the fog shrouding Amphoreus’s skies gradually clears, revealing a cruel truth: this world is far more complex than it seems. As unveiled at the end of Version 3.3, the root of Amphoreus’s tragedy lies in an “Emperor’s Scepter” enduring to the present. However, the events that follow have transcended Amphoreus’s borders. The waves of “Era Nova” may sweep across the cosmic shores, and amidst this torrent, every choice the Trailblazer makes could determine the fate of the entire universe.
A new ally ignites the Galactic Trail
In the upcoming main storyline, the long-awaited Phainon will finally become a playable character and join the Trailblazer’s team. A native of Aedes Elysiae, he was one of the first Chrysos Heirs in Amphoreus to extend a hand of goodwill to the Trailblazer. Even in the darkest hours, he stood tall to shield others from harm. But behind his calm and gentle demeanor lies the weight of countless hopes and expectations. In Version 3.4, players will venture deep into Aedes Elysiae as the Trailblazer to uncover Phainon’s past — how he set foot on the Flame-Chase Journey, how he rose to become a warrior, and how those trials shaped who he is today.
During combat, Phainon can accumulate “Coreflames” through various means. Once he reaches a certain number of “Coreflames,” he can unleash his Ultimate to transform and create a “Territory,” battling enemies in a powerful new form. His combat power greatly increases. While transformed, allies will be temporarily Departed, but their buff effects remain active. Upon transforming using “Coreflames,” Phainon unlocks new abilities, channeling the powers of the Creation, Calamity, and Foundation Titans. It’s worth mentioning that when Phainon is in the team, the team’s Technique Point cap increases. His Technique can instantly defeat normal enemies within a certain range without triggering combat. This will make exploring the map and adventuring across worlds much easier.
Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] collaboration event
Beyond Amphoreus, an extraordinary tale is about to unfold in Penacony. Recently, Trailblazer received a mysterious letter from Old Oti, head of the Alfalfa Family, an invitation to join a special entertainment program called “Sweet Dreams and the Holy Grail War.” This Holy Grail War will take place in Penacony, where seven invited participants will summon historical figures as Servants to fight alongside them. In addition to the Trailblazer, familiar names like Aventurine, Mr. Boothill, and Miss Robin will also appear as contestants. At the same time, three legendary Heroic Spirits will respond to the Holy Grail’s call: Saber, Archer, and Lancer. How will this dazzling and unpredictable “Sweet Dreams and the Holy Grail War” unfold? Who will form a contract with whom? The Trailblazer can uncover all these mysteries firsthand. The Honkai: Star Rail × Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works] collab special story — Trailblaze Continuance “Sweet Dreams and the Holy Grail” and the event “Fate/stay night” will officially go live on July 11. Stay tuned!
It is also worth noting that Saber will be joining as a playable character in this collaboration. Saber is a 5-star Wind-type character following the Path of Destruction. Her Ultimate, “Excalibur,” deals massive Wind DMG to all enemies and converts her Basic ATK into an enhanced Basic ATK that also targets all enemies. During combat, Saber can accumulate “Core Resonance” through her Technique, Basic ATKs, or when allies use their Ultimates. Once she accumulates enough, she will immediately gain an extra action. Using her Skill at this moment consumes all accumulated “Core Resonance,” increases the Skill’s damage, and instantly refills the Energy required for her Ultimate.
At the same time, Archer will also be available as a playable character to assist players in battling powerful enemies during the Holy Grail War and the subsequent cosmic adventures. Archer is a Quantum-type character following the Path of the Hunt, skilled at dealing sustained single-target damage through repeated Skill use. When his Skill is activated and he enters the “Circuit Connection” state, casting the Skill will not end his turn. He can continue to use it until all Skill Points are depleted. With each additional cast, the damage increases accordingly. Upon using his Ultimate, Archer will recite the classic chant to activate “Unlimited Blade Works,” unleashing a powerful strike against a single enemy and gaining Special Charge. As the battle continues, whenever an ally attacks, Archer can consume this Charge to trigger a Follow-up ATK and restore 1 Skill Point for the team.
Starting from July 11, once the collaboration event begins and until the end of Version 3.6, Trailblazers who log in will be able to claim Archer, the limited 5-star collaboration character, for free. It’s worth mentioning here that the character and Light Cone collab banners will be available long-term after the event starts.
Character re-run, existing characters enhancement, and system optimization
In the first half of Version 3.4, the limited 5-star characters Tribbie, Sunday, and Sparkle will make their return. In the second half, Firefly, Jingliu, and Blade will also re-run. Several popular existing characters — Silver Wolf, Blade, Kafka, and Jingliu — will get some serious enhancements. Some Eidolons of these characters will also tweaked to better match their revamped kits, making sure everything stays in sync. Notably, these four characters allow seamless switching between classic and enhanced modes, letting players choose their preferred battle style. Firefly’s new outfit, “Spring Missive,” will also launch soon.
And that’s not all. The long-awaited “skip dialogue” feature, which was previously announced, is finally going live in Version 3.4, letting players freely choose the pace of storytelling based on their own preferences. The much-loved minigame “Origami Bird” will make a strong comeback, adding a touch of lively fun to the update.
That wraps up our preview for Version 3.4. We hope it’s filled you with anticipation for the road ahead — and remember, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Even more surprises are already underway.
