Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.1 livestream reveals a pared-back, four-week update as HoYo plays catch-up

A new Honkai: Star Rail Special Program has concluded, which means some fresh news about the game’s upcoming major update. Version 4.1, unveiled today as Unraveled for Daybreak, is the action RPG’s next moment, kicking off on March 25.

Unraveled for Daybreak is the next chapter in the ongoing story of Planarcadia, with the Astra Express Crew now invited to a fan fest inspired by their own past journeys. The aptly named Star Rail Fest is ostensibly hosted to allow more of the citizens of Arcadia to experience the Trailblaze.

As everyone’s eyes is fixated on the grand Star Rail Fest, the Phantasmoon Games continue to be in full swing, as does the war with the Supplicants. Star Rail Fest is, however, the big focus of this update, in case it wasn’t obvious.

The event is made up of three large-scale zones, each themed around past excursions of the Astral Express. You’ll get to explore the Belobog Zone, Xianzhou Luofu Zone, and Penacony Zone. Later on, you’ll also be able to visit Pearluxe Tower, the headquarters of Pearluxe Corp.

Each area will feature its own attractions, such as the balloon figures of Supreme Guardian Cocolia and the Destruction Engine, the duel against the Lord Ravager Phantylia at Scalegorge Waterscape, and the Pearluxe Tower’s Alloy King Pom-Pom model.

The hot new arrival is bumbling noirish detective Ashveil whom we’ve met in Version 4.0, and who becomes a playable character with this update. Ashveil is a 5-Star Lightning-Type character, on the Path of The Hunt. You’ll be able to pull for him throughout 4.1’s runtime, which is slightly reduced at four weeks instead of the usual six, in order to rebalance the schedule after the extra-long Version 3.8.

In combat, Ashveil is capable of increasing Crit Damage of all allies. He can also mark an enemy as Bait, which reduces the Defence of all enemies on the field so long as this tag holds. If Ashveil uses his Skill on the baited target, he will deal extra Damage and regain Skill Points for the team.

Ashveil can bully that baited target even further by launching Hounding Pursuit. If any of his teammates attacks the Bait, he can further deliver a follow-up attack that gradually accumulates Gluttony for as long as he’s in combat. Gluttony can later be consumed to boost follow-up attack damage.

If he lands a kill, Ashveil continues to deal damage to the next enemy he attacks. That buff is transferred if that enemy is killed. Even in map exploration, Ashveil can be deadly, capable of inflicting Stunned upon enemies within a specific range.

Returning characters this patch will be Hyacine in the first half, and Boothill in the second half. Once again, due to the reduced runtime, their banner reruns will be slightly shorter than normal, at just two weeks each instead of three — so be sure to take that into account if you’re planning on pulling for either of them.

Version 4.1 also adds the Wispae War Saga, a new activity where you can practice your leadership skills by commanding different types of Wispae Soldiers in the Graphia Academy. You can upgrade each one, use spell cards to alter their effects, and later face other champions. You ultimately want to play this to unlock new Wispae Companions, not to mention complete the challenges within.

Finally, Version 4.1 marks the start of a new Arcadian Chronicles phase in the Divergent Universe. You’ll be able to use Waypoint Pass cards to explore the different areas. HoYo is also bringing back Planar Fissure and Garden of Plenty with double rewards. And as ever, if you log in for at least seven days after downloading the new patch, you’ll earn 10 premium banner pulls.