Honkai: Star Rail 4.0 Preview – The Crew Is Back

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I first discovered HoYoverse through their game Teyvat, but I quickly fell in love with Honkai: Star Rail. As someone who enjoys turn-based RPGs, compelling stories with both serious and funny moments, and beautifully animated character abilities, this game felt like a perfect fit. I’ve been following its updates closely, and while I really liked the recent Amphoreus storyline, I think Version 4.0 is a huge improvement over Version 3.0. It’s great to see the focus return to the core experience of traveling with the Astral Express crew.

Departing for Planarcadia

I had the chance to play an early version of Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.0 before it came out. I tested the two new characters, saw how the improved characters performed, and experienced the new story. I won’t reveal too much, but I’ll share some of the things I really enjoyed about it.

The past year presented a real challenge for the team at HoYoverse. Building a story that held together for so long and then giving it a satisfying conclusion is a huge accomplishment, and it was something new for everyone. I was initially unsure if it would work, but I have to say, the final product was truly impressive.

We know that Honkai: Star Rail‘s story arc starting with version 4.0 is planned to last about a year. Having played through the beginning of this new arc with Amphoreus, I’m confident that HoYoverse listened to player feedback and has significantly improved how they tell their stories.

Having experienced the launch of both version 3.0 and 4.0, I can share some thoughts on how they compare. The biggest improvement in ‘No Aha at Full Moon’ (4.0) is the pacing, which was a major problem with the original Amphoreus update. While 3.0 had a lot of great content, the way the story unfolded felt slow and clunky at times. Some of the puzzles were unnecessarily difficult, and the dialogue, though fitting for the world, was often confusing, particularly for players coming from Penacony.

Planarcadia offers a return to the core spirit of Trailblazing. The Astral Express arrives on this planet, governed by Elation, and quickly becomes involved in the Phantasmoon Games. Without giving away any spoilers, one of the best parts of this story is seeing the entire Astral Express crew working together on a relatively straightforward adventure.

The recent update to Honkai: Star Rail, version 4.0, feels stronger than the previous one. While the last update introduced a lot of completely new elements – characters, a new planet, and storylines – which became a little confusing, this version cleverly builds on existing plot threads. This approach really captures what makes the game special: a sense that everything is connected, with characters and groups overlapping and interacting. There’s still plenty to discover in this new area, Planarcadia, but so far, it’s a much more cohesive and enjoyable experience.

Let the Games Begin

I was really blown away by Planarcadia! It’s funny, it feels like the older, more straightforward maps we’ve gotten before, but it’s so much bigger and more detailed. The city style is amazing, and honestly, exploring it reminded me a lot of the vibes from Zenless Zone Zero – it’s that good!

The crew arrived just as the Phantasmoon Games began, and the planet is now full of energy and excitement. The streets are lively with all sorts of characters – some you’ll recognize, and many that are completely new. The map features fun, retro-style mini-games that act as puzzles, and there’s even a school for those who enjoy slice-of-life stories. Surprisingly, there’s also a trading card game that proved to be quite addictive!

Although this update was kept secret for a while, I’m really impressed with what the team has created for our new location. It feels like a significant improvement over the first version of Amphoreus.

Okay, so the Path of Elation is finally here and I’ve been playing around with it! I also got to test out Yao Guang and Sparxie together, and let me tell you, they’re a fantastic duo. I’m not going to dive into all the specific damage stats and team builds right now – I’d rather figure those out as I play the live version. But honestly, I was really surprised by how the new Path actually works. Basically, you build up something called ‘Punchline’, and when it’s full, you trigger ‘Aha Instant’ which is when your Elation characters start dealing damage.

Right now, Yao Guang seems like the better long-term choice because of her ability to support the team, but Sparxie is a fantastic damage dealer with a great set of skills. Since they’re the first two characters from the Elation line, it’s a good idea to get both to build a strong starting team, especially since they work well together. Luckily, you’ll have enough time to unlock Yao Guang and then save up for Sparxie when she becomes available later.

I also tested the recently improved characters, and both Sparkle and Black Swan are performing really well. Sparkle was already a great support character, but the changes have made her even better. Black Swan feels powerful and useful again, particularly in teams that focus on damage over time. I didn’t get Sparkle before, but I’m definitely choosing her as my free character when the update releases. I’m also planning to start using Black Swan in my regular team lineups again.

The recent gameplay changes – including updated modes, character tweaks, and the new Path of Elation – are really well done. Ideally, these updates would have launched with a new 4-star character from the Path of Elation so players could immediately experience the new gameplay. However, new characters are often available as trial characters during events, which is a good way to test them out before spending resources to unlock them.

An Elation-Fueled Journey

Okay, I’m seriously hyped about Honkai: Star Rail 4.0! It feels like we’re back to the early days of exploring, with a story that’s easier to follow but still has those cool mysteries that keep me hooked. The new Path looks amazing too, even if there aren’t a ton of characters on it yet. It’s already letting me try out some fun new team builds, and I know it’s going to get even better as they add more characters. Honestly, this is another fantastic chapter in the game, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes this year!

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2026-02-13 18:06