Dear Trailblazers, the Honkai: Star Rail development team sends their long-awaited regards! We are thrilled to announce that a brand-new world known as Planarcadia will officially be unveiled in Version 4.0 No Aha at Full Moon. This prosperous world, renowned for its entertainment culture, is currently celebrating its unique Phantasmoon Games.

This is not only Himeko’s homeland but also the starting point for the Astral Express to set sail once again. This story of The Elation will likewise span an entire year, and the stage will not be limited to Planarcadia—the IPC’s key stronghold, Astropolis, will also make its debut later. Let us witness the convergence of The Past and Future, and join new companions Yao Guang and Sparxie in the Euphoria party of The Elation.

An arcadia where clout is king and people are amusing themselves to death

Following the journey to Amphoreus, and at Himeko’s suggestion, the Express charted a course for Planarcadia, kingdom of the Elation, to resupply and explore. Planarcadia was once a 2D World in Canvas, but under the IPC’s management, it has been revived from the flatness of a painting to become a vital territory. It is now overseen by Pearl, one of the Ten Stonehearts of the Strategic Investment Department. Today, all manner of local entertainment products have sprung up like mushrooms, with their fame spreading across the entire cosmos.

For the first stop on their journey, the Express Crew will arrive at Duomension City, situated in the heart of the arcadia. Unlike the solemn elegance of the Amphorean city-states, Duomension City is a vibrant metropolis defined by its sleek, modern aesthetic. By day, the streets are teeming with people, dazzling the eye with ubiquitous electronic screens and memetic projections. As nightfall descends, the waters of Dovebrook reflect the neon spectacle and bustling nightlife under the bright moonlight. Somewhere within the Dovebrook District lies the fabled World’s End, a tavern that serves as a vital social hub for the Masked Fools, though its exact location remains elusive. 

Furthermore, you will encounter all manner of bizarre creatures and objects active throughout the streets and alleys. Don’t be surprised, these are the local residents known as imagenae, beings born from painting and imagination. Whether it’s the towering, cool mechatron, the Meowton Station Master handling ground crew duties, or the thundercoil perched atop high towers amplifying the city’s network signals, they have long since integrated into the city’s daily life, becoming companions who live side-by-side with humanity.

Speaking of Duomension City, one highlight you can’t miss is Interplanar Jump! There are mysterious entrances scattered all over the place—just dive in to reach the marvelous Duomension. Inside, the art style of people and imagenae changes, letting you pull off moves impossible in reality, like double-jumping or walking on water. Once you enter the Duomension, you’ll transform into different forms of Trailblazemon, free to explore all the unique and fun content hidden in every corner of the city.

In Planarcadia, all conflicts and struggles are resolved through games, the most sensational of which is the Phantasmoon Games. Rumor has it that Aha personally established these games. The victor not only wins an audience with them, but also gains the authority of the Aeon of Elation for one minute. However, the games have no fixed rules—whoever catches Aha’s eye takes the lead. Thus, victory depends entirely on the participants’ capabilities and wit. A mask serves as the entry ticket for all participants, but only eight exist. 

The ferocity of the competition can be imagined. Not only are the locals of the arcadia, the Xianzhou Alliance, the Masked Fools, and the IPC getting involved, but even the Stellaron Hunters have arrived with their own agenda. Silver Wolf and Blade seem to have already made their move… Are they here for the Phantasmoon Games too? Who will obtain this incredibly precious invitation? Under the facade of Elation, is there some hidden conspiracy? It’s up to you to explore and find the answers.

Get a Charming Partner in the form of Aha Instants

In Planarcadia, even combat falls under the gaze of The Laughter. When characters of The Elation Path join the team, or when fighting special enemies, you will accumulate Punchlines. As Punchlines stack up and Aha’s excitement peaks, they will personally take the stage, triggering an Aha Instant. During this phase, Aha will lead the team’s Elation characters to unleash Elation Skills one by one. The more Punchlines you have, the stronger the skill effects. After the Aha Instant concludes, all Elation Path characters will receive their unique Certified Banger buffs, adding layers of strategy to your combat.

In the new version, Trailblazers will welcome two powerful new 5-star characters to their roster. First up is the Seer Strategist of the Xianzhou Alliance’s Yuque ship: General Yao Guang. Previously a voice without a face in the storyline, she is finally making her official debut. As the senior soror to the familiar Master Diviner Fu Xuan, Yao Guang serves as a vital strategic advisor to the Alliance during dire straits. To the people of the Xianzhou, she is affectionately known as Madam Yao, a goddess of fortune capable of averting crises and divining weal through her calculations. 

As a Physical character following the Path of Elation, Yao Guang specializes in manipulating the tide of battle with Weal and Woe Lots. Drawing a Weal Lot boosts the team’s Elation and grants Punchline stacks when she uses her Skill. Conversely, during an Aha Instant, she casts a Woe Lot, increasing the DMG taken by enemies while recovering Skill Points for the team. 

Yao Guang’s Certified Banger buff allows teammates to deal additional Elation DMG with their attacks—and if those attacks consume Skill Points, the DMG is further increased. Furthermore, her Ultimate not only provides Punchline stacks to the team but also immediately triggers an extra Aha Instant, boosting All-Type RES PEN for all allies.

Another mysterious 5-star character following the Path of Elation is Sparxie. Bearing a striking resemblance to the Masked Fool players know as Sparkle, she’s the hottest streamer in Planarcadia. In the storyline, Sparxie and Sparkle will appear together to bring the Trailblazer a unique surprise. During combat, Sparxie taps into her streamer persona, opening a livestream room to engage in a PK upvote battle against enemies. 

Players can continuously consume Skill Points to send random Gifts to Sparxie, regenerating varying amounts of Skill Points or Punchlines for the team. The more Skill Points consumed, the more Punchlines the team gains, resulting in higher final DMG. During an Aha Instant, Sparxie initiates a chaotic lucky draw, dealing massive DMG to all enemies with multiple bounce attacks. Under the Certified Banger state, every time a Gift appears during the PK, Additional Elation DMG is dealt to a random single enemy target during settlement. Additionally, Sparxie’s Ultimate also deals extra Elation DMG.

It’s worth mentioning that the limited 5-star characters Black Swan, Evernight, and Hysilens will be featured in the Warp events during the first half of Version 4.0, while Sparkle, Cerydra, and Rappa will appear in the second half. Furthermore, the old partners Black Swan and Sparkle will be receiving buffs. They’ll continue to be your reliable allies in the upcoming journey to Planarcadia.

New events galore

Alongside the massive Main Story update, Version 4.0’s new events are just as hyped. When taking a break from exploring the arcadia, Trailblazers can invite friends to join the lighthearted Cosmicon Collective battle formidable foes through card duels and strive for the pinnacle of cosmic combat power! Another unmissable event is the operation of Furbobo Weekly.  In this event, you’ll experience the busy yet fun life of a magazine editor-in-chief and get a taste of a whole new walk of life. Furthermore, Currency Wars is expanding for the first time, adding new characters and mechanics. The Divergent Universe has also been updated — look forward to the extra fun they’ll bring.

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Gaming experience optimization

Finally, this update will optimize daily system functions for all Trailblazers: Assignments will no longer be restricted by fixed times or characters, allowing Trailblazers to claim rewards and dispatch characters at any time. Additionally, the Relic and Team Lineup systems will also be optimized and upgraded to provide a more convenient gaming experience.

After the version update, simply log in and check in to receive 20 Warps, plus claim a free new Outfit for Ruan Mei and a 5-star character of your choice! At the same time, Yao Guang’s Weal Sign event will bring everyone a bonus of 1600 Stellar Jades may the Blessings of Good Fortune be with every Trailblazer on their journey in the new version! In addition, new Trailblaze Attire including a new Outfit and headwear for the Trailblazer will also be unveiled, which is sure to make your journey even more spectacular. Stay tuned for more game details.