The current state of the Astral Express is basically a fever dream. If you’ve been looking at the upcoming banners Honkai Star Rail schedule lately, you’ve probably noticed that things are getting weird. Fast. We aren’t just talking about a new character here or there; we’re looking at a complete overhaul of how HoYoverse handles its release cycle.
Honestly, the community is split. Some people are still trying to recover their Jade from the Fate/stay night collab, while others are already sweating about the massive 4.0 shift.
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It's a lot.
The 3.8 Triple-Phase Chaos
Right now, we are sitting in the middle of a very unusual Version 3.8. Usually, we get two phases. This time? HoYoverse decided to stretch it into three distinct windows, likely to bridge the gap before the massive "Planarcadia" expansion in 4.0.
Currently, we’re seeing Fugue (the Fire Nihility version of Tingyun) and Lingsha dominating the screen. But if you’re holding out, the next jump is where it gets spicy. Starting January 28, 2026, the banners flip to Aglaea and Sunday.
Yes, Sunday is finally back.
Phase 3: The "Must-Pulls" of Late January
- Aglaea (5-Star Lightning, Remembrance): She’s the first limited unit for the Remembrance path. If you’ve played the Simulated Universe, you know how broken Freeze and Dissociation can be. Bringing that into standard combat is a game-changer.
- Sunday (5-Star Imaginary, Harmony): People have been waiting for him since Penacony. He’s essentially the king of summons now. If you’re running Jing Yuan or anyone with a "pet" on the action bar, Sunday is your new best friend.
The 4-star lineup for this specific window includes Tingyun, Yukong, and Dan Heng. It’s a very "OG" feeling banner, but the power level of the 5-stars is anything but old-school.
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Why Version 4.0 Changes Everything
Everything we knew about team building is about to get hit by a freight train. Version 4.0, which drops around February 12, 2026, introduces the planet Planarcadia and, more importantly, the Path of Elation as a playable category for limited units.
This isn't just a minor update. It’s a mechanical shift.
The headline act for Phase 1 of 4.0 is Yao Guang. She’s a Physical Elation unit. If you’ve been paying attention to the lore, she’s one of the Arbiter-Generals of the Xianzhou Alliance. Her kit revolves around "Prosper," a mechanic that feeds into follow-up attacks in a way that makes Dr. Ratio look like he’s playing with toys.
The Sparxie Factor
Then there’s Phase 2. Sparxie.
She’s basically a Fire Elation variant of Sparkle. But don't call her a skin. She’s a full-blown new unit with a kit focused on "the stage." In Planarcadia, the world reacts to her performance. She’s designed to turn the battlefield into a literal comedy routine where the enemies are the punchline.
Upcoming Banners Honkai Star Rail: The 2026 Roadmap
Looking further out, the leaks are starting to solidify for the rest of the year. HoYoverse is leaning heavily into "SP" versions of existing favorites. These aren't just power-crept versions; they are Path-swapped reimagining of characters we’ve known since 1.0.
The Leaked 4.x Schedule (Tentative)
| Version | Expected Characters | Path/Element |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | La Mancha / Pearl | Elation / Unknown |
| 4.2 | Yae Sakura / Silver Wolf SP | Ice Elation / Erudition |
| 4.3 | Blade SP | Lightning Hunt |
| 4.4 | Himeko SP | Fire (Lore-heavy) |
La Mancha is a name that keeps popping up. As the head of the Galaxy Rangers, his arrival in 4.1 is supposed to settle a lot of the lingering questions from the Boothill era.
And then there's Blade SP. Rumor has him ditching the Destruction path for a Lightning Hunt kit. Imagine Blade, but instead of slow, punishing hits, he’s a high-speed samurai with multiple follow-up triggers. It’s a terrifying prospect for the meta.
Addressing the "Power Creep" Elephant in the Room
One thing most players get wrong is assuming these new Remembrance and Elation units will make your old teams useless. It’s not that simple.
HoYoverse is pivoting toward "vertical niches."
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Acheron is still the queen of Nihility. Firefly still owns Super Break. What these upcoming banners Honkai Star Rail are doing is creating new "playgrounds." If you want to play the Elation game in Planarcadia, you’ll want Yao Guang. But that doesn't mean your E2 Acheron can't still clear Memory of Chaos in two cycles.
The Strategy for F2P Players
If you're limited on Stellar Jade, 2026 is going to be brutal. My advice? Skip the 3.8 reruns. As much as people love Firefly and Lingsha, the mechanical shift in 4.0 is too significant to ignore. If you don't have a dedicated Elation or Remembrance lead, you’re going to feel the "content wall" when the new weekly bosses arrive in February.
Save for Aglaea if you like control/freeze, or hold everything for Yao Guang if you prefer the chaotic damage of follow-up teams.
Final Practical Insights
The transition from the 3.x era to 4.x is the largest the game has ever seen. We are moving away from the standard seven paths and entering a phase where "specialty" paths define the meta.
- Watch the Livestream: The 4.0 Special Program is set for January 30, 2026. This will confirm the exact 4-star rosters and the "Gift of Odyssey" login rewards, which are rumored to be higher than usual for the anniversary.
- Check Your Materials: Planarcadia units use entirely new Trace materials. Don't bother pre-farming the current Physical or Fire buds; you'll likely need the new "Elation" specific materials that drop once the 4.0 map opens.
- Priority Pulls: If you have Dr. Ratio or Topaz, Yao Guang is your #1 priority. If you are a lore enthusiast, Sunday is the one to grab before he disappears back into the vault.
The hype is real, but the Jade is limited. Choose your Path wisely, Trailblazer.