Honkai: Star Rail - Game Review & Gacha Rates

Honkai: Star Rail is a new game from HoYoverse (Genshin Impact rings a bell?). The game starts with Kafka, a Member of the “Genius Society” searching for something called the “Stellaron”. After finding it, it will awake you from your deep sleep. You are the TrailBlazer (Female one called Stelle, Male one called Caelus) and even if you awake for some seconds, Kafka and Silver Wolf will leave you as soon as you wake up. There will be your first very companion waking you up after, March 7h and Dan Heng! They tell you your ship is being attacked by some invaders and they will wipe them out. it’s time for you to reach the Astral Express, an unique crew of heroes capable of traveling between the stars! Embark with new friends to explore the universe, fight great enemies and discover the story of the new Honkai: Star Rail!

What is Honkai: Star Rail?

Honkai: Star Rail is a new Turn Based RPG Gacha Game from HoYoverse. In this game you can control a maximum of 4 Characters in your team, spacing from different Combat Types (Physical, Fire, Ice, Lightning, Wind, Quantum, Imaginary) and also Path (Destruction, The Hunt, Erudition, Harmony, Nihility, Preservation, Abundance). The key of the game mechanic is the “Break System”, once you deplete the enemy Toughness, it will cause the enemy to enter the state of “Weakness Break” causing the enemy to take more damage, delaying their action and inflict them with debuffs based on the breaking element (Ex: Physical Break cause Bleed, Ice Break cause Freeze, etc). The game offers great PvE content such as Main Story, Bosses to fight, Daily and Weekly Quests, Dungeons, Events and much more! If you like Turn Based RPG, Honkai: Star Rail is the game to play!

Game Content

Main Story

The “Main Story” in Honkai:Star Rail will guide you in the game. Completing the main story rewards you with Trailblaze Exp, necessary to increase your Trailblaze Level, unlocking more content and higher levels for your characters. The main story will also give you New Characters for free, Credits, Summon Currency, Light Cones and much more.

Simulated Universe

The “Simulated Universe” is the first side content you unlock while exploring the Main Story. This game content is a “Roguelike Dungeon”. You will explore a simulated world, fighting different enemies and receive “first time” rewards and also commons. In the Simulated Universe you can collect buffs after each battle that will help you in fights. Complete Simulated Universe to also unlock Index files and collect additional rewards.

Calyx & Stagnant Shadow

The “Calyx” are monster encounters that reward you with different items based on their nature. Calyx: Golden will give you Trailblaze Exp, Character Exp material, Light cone Exp Material and Credits. Calyx: Crimson will give you material for ascending your characters. Calyx consumes Stamina and costs from 10 to 60 each battle. The “Stagnant Shadow” are bosses in the open world that you can fight for specific Character Items. They cost 30 Stamina.

Echo of War

The “Echo of War” lets you fight Weekly Bosses (3 Times x Week). Killing Bosses rewards you with great rewards such as Traces Materials, Light Cone etc.

Cavern of Corrosion

The “Cavern of Corrosion” lets you fight a mini-dungeon to farm Relics. They Cost 40 Stamina.

Characters & Light Cones

Characters

All “Characters” in the game can be developed in different ways to make them strong. Let’s see how to do it:

Types 

• Physical = Breaking Physical Resistance will cause Bleed effect (Physical damage over time)

• Fire = Breaking Fire Resistance will cause Burn effect (Fire damage over time)

• Ice = Breaking Ice Resistance cause Freeze (Unable to act for 1 turn)

• Lightning = Breaking Lightning Resistance will cause  Shock (Lighting damage over time

• Wind = Breaking Wind Resistance will cause Wind Shear (Wind damage over time)

• Quantum = Breaking Quantum Resistance will cause Entanglement (Delays the enemy’s action and deal Quantum damage at start of turn)

• Imaginary = Breaking Imaginary Resistance will cause Imprisonment (Delays action and SPD reduction)

Path 

• Destruction = Can deal great damage and also have high survivability

• The Hunt = Deal great Single Target Damage

• Erudition = AoE damage dealer

• Harmony = Apply Buffs to allies 

• Nihility = Apply Debuffs to enemies

• Preservation = Possess powerful defensive ability

• Abundance = Heal allies and restore Hp/Revive

Level Up

• You can use Exp items (Travel Encounters etc) to increase a character level. 

Skills

• Character’s Skill can be leveled up to increase it effectiveness 

Traces

• You can improve your characters with Traces Tree. Traces require different items you can farm in the game and also character Ascension level.

Relics

• Relics is the Equipment for your Characters. Get them in specific dungeons and upgrade to improve your Characters performance. 

Eidolon

• Each time you get a Character Dupe, you can unlock an Eidolon Level. A Maximum of 6 Level can be unlocked, increase your Character potential

Light Cones

The “Light Cones” are the “Weapons” for your Characters. Each Light Cones follow a Path (same as Characters) and also provide bonus Stats. If your Character and the Light Cones’s Path match, it will give you bonus ability. Same as Characters, Light Cones can be Leveled Up and Superimposed.

Level Up

• You can use low level Light Cones or Sparse Aether to increase Light Cones Level

Superimpose

• You can use Dupes to unlock Light Cones Next Level.

Gacha Rates

Departure Warp (Starter Warp)

The “Departure Warp” in Honkai: Star Rail is the first banner you will find in the game and also a limited one. You can only pull for 50 times in this banner, and you are Guaranteed to obtain at least 1 5 Stars Character between 50 Pulls. Each pull cost 1280 Stellar Jade (or 8 Star Rail Pass) discounted from 1600. Here’s the rates:

Characters

• 5 Stars Characters = 0.6%

• 4 Stars Characters = 5.1% (Shared with Light Cones)

Light Cone

• 4 Stars Light Cones = 5.1% (Shared with Characters)

• 3 Stars Light Cones = 94.3%

Pity

• Every 10 pulls, you are Guaranteed to obtain a 4 Stars Characters/Light Cone. 

• You are Guaranteed to obtain a random 5 Stars Characters in 50 Pulls

Undying Starlight / Embers

• Each time you obtain a Character or Light Cone dupe, you obtain Undying Starlight / Undying Embers

• 5 Stars Characters between 2nd - 7th time = 1 Eidolon + x40 Undying Starlight. From 8th time onwards, 100 Undying Starlight

• 4 Stars Characters between 2nd - 7th time = 1 Eidolon + x8 Undying Starlight. From 8th time onwards, 20 Undying Starlight

• 4 Stars / 3 Stars Light Cone = 8 Undying Starlight / 20 Undying Embers

Butterfly on Swordtip (Character Event Warp)

The “Butterfly on Swordtip” in Honkai: Star Rail is the first Rate Up banner you will find in the game. In this banner you can obtain both Characters (5/4 Stars) and Light Cones (4/3 Stars) You are Guaranteed to obtain a 5 Stars Characters between 90 Pulls. If you don’t get the featured Character, the next time you obtain a 5 stars is Guaranteed to be it. Each pull cost 160 Stellar Jade or 1 Star Rail Special Pass. Here’s the rates:

Characters

• 5 Stars Characters = 0.6%

• 4 Stars Characters = 5.1% (Shared with Light Cones)

Light Cone

• 4 Stars Light Cones = 5.1% (Shared with Characters)

• 3 Stars Light Cones = 94.3%

Pity

• Every 10 pulls, you are Guaranteed to obtain a 4 Stars Characters/Light Cone. 

• You are Guaranteed to obtain a 5 Stars Characters (50% Chance to be the featured one) in 90 Pulls

Undying Starlight / Embers

• Each time you obtain a Character or Light Cone dupe, you obtain Undying Starlight / Undying Embers

• 5 Stars Characters between 2nd - 7th time = 1 Eidolon + x40 Undying Starlight. From 8th time onwards, 100 Undying Starlight

• 4 Stars Characters between 2nd - 7th time = 1 Eidolon + x8 Undying Starlight. From 8th time onwards, 20 Undying Starlight

• 4 Stars / 3 Stars Light Cone = 8 Undying Starlight / 20 Undying Embers

Brilliant Fixation (Light Cone Event Warp)

The “Brilliant Fixation” in Honkai: Star Rail is the second Rate Up banner you will find in the game. In this banner you can obtain both Characters (4 Stars) and Light Cones (5/4/3 Stars) You are Guaranteed to obtain a 5 Stars Light Cones between 80 Pulls. If you don’t get the featured Light Cones, the next time you obtain a 5 stars is Guaranteed to be it. Each pull cost 160 Stellar Jade or 1 Star Rail Special Pass. Here’s the rates:

Characters

• 4 Stars Characters = 6.6% (Shared with Light Cones)

Light Cone

• 5 Stars Light Cones = 0.8%

• 4 Stars Light Cones = 6.6% (Shared with Characters)

• 3 Stars Light Cones = 92.6%

Pity

• Every 10 pulls, you are Guaranteed to obtain a 4 Stars Characters/Light Cone. 

• You are Guaranteed to obtain a 5 Stars Light Cones (75% Chance to be the featured one) in 80 Pulls

Undying Starlight / Embers

• Each time you obtain a Character or Light Cone dupe, you obtain Undying Starlight / Undying Embers

• 4 Stars Characters between 2nd - 7th time = 1 Eidolon + x8 Undying Starlight. From 8th time onwards, 20 Undying Starlight

• 5 / 4 / 3 Stars Light Cone = 40 / 8 Undying Starlight / 20 Undying Embers

Stellar Warp (Regular Warp)

The “Stellar Warp” in Honkai: Star Rail is the Regular Banner in the game. You can pull both Characters (5/4 Stars) and Light Cones (5/4/3 Stars) and you are Guaranteed to obtain at least 1 5 Stars Character/Light Cone between 90 Pulls. Each pull cost 160 Stellar Jade or 8 Star Rail Pass. Here’s the rates:

Characters & Light Cones

• 5 Stars Characters / Light Cones = 0.6% 

• 4 Stars Characters / Light Cones = 5.1% 

• 3 Stars Light Cones = 94.3%

Pity

• Every 10 pulls, you are Guaranteed to obtain a 4 Stars Characters/Light Cone. 

• You are Guaranteed to obtain a random 5 Stars Characters / Light Cones in 90 Pulls

Undying Starlight / Embers

• Each time you obtain a Character or Light Cone dupe, you obtain Undying Starlight / Undying Embers

• 5 Stars Characters between 2nd - 7th time = 1 Eidolon + x40 Undying Starlight. From 8th time onwards, 100 Undying Starlight

• 4 Stars Characters between 2nd - 7th time = 1 Eidolon + x8 Undying Starlight. From 8th time onwards, 20 Undying Starlight

• 5 / 4 / 3 Stars Light Cone = 40 / 8 Undying Starlight / 20 Undying Embers

Should I Play It? Pro & Cons

Pro

• “AAA” Story Content

• High Quality Graphic and Animation

• Great Music

• Turn Based Gameplay

• Great Variety of Characters (4 Stars are good too)

• A great variety of upcoming Events and Content

Cons

• Low Stamina Regen

• Low “Free Gems” income (Same as Genshin Like)

• Pity 50/50 for first time you get a SSR

• Battle Pass goodies

• Required Dupes for Characters Awakening

• RNG Relics