Honkai Star Rail v4.0 Phase 2: Should You Pull?

The super exciting Honkai Star Rail v4.0 Phase 2 update is dropping on March 3, 2026. Seriously, this banner cycle is one of the coolest updates we’ve seen in ages.

Phase 2 introduces the flashy new DPS Sparxie, alongside rerun banners featuring Cerydra and Rappa, giving players something valuable to pull for.

If you skipped earlier banners or you’re preparing for the new Elation meta, Phase 2 is where your Stellar Jades might finally get spent.

Let’s break down everything you need to know, from banners, Light Cones, events, and smart pull strategies.

Honkai Star Rail v4.0 Phase 2 Timeline Details

Version 4.0 launched on February 12, 2026, and like most updates, it follows the standard two-phase banner structure.

HSR v4.0 Phase 2 Schedule

• Duration: March 3, 2026 – March 24, 2026 (Server Time)

Phase 2 runs for about three weeks and introduces a brand-new limited character along with multiple reruns and Light Cone banners.

Patch 4.0 lasts 40 days instead of the usual 42, meaning banner timing matters more than ever. If you’re sitting at 60 pity from Phase 1, that pity carries over to Sparxie’s banner. Yes, planning matters, indeed.

See Also: Honkai Star Rail v4.0 Phase 1: Yao Guang or Rappa?

HSR v4.0 Phase 2 Event Details Breakdown

Phase 2 of Version 4.0 is where the second half of the update truly kicks into gear, bringing a brand-new character banner, multiple reruns, and fresh Light Cone banners.

This phase focuses on expanding the new Elation meta while giving players another chance to obtain powerful characters like Cerydra and Rappa.

Sparxie Banner Release

The biggest highlight of Phase 2 is the debut banner for Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.0’s newest Elation character, Sparxie.

• Banner Duration: March 3 – March 24, 2026
• Featured 5-Star Character:
  • Sparxie (Fire – Path of Elation)
• Featured 4-Star Characters:
  • Pela
  • Qingque
  • Hanya

Sparxie is one of the first major DPS characters built around the new Elation Path mechanics introduced in Version 4.0.

Her kit focuses on enhanced Basic Attacks, explosive burst damage, and Skill Point refund mechanics, making her especially strong in aggressive team setups.

For players planning to build Elation-focused teams, Sparxie is one of the most important characters in the entire patch.

Rerun Banner: Cerydra & Rappa

Phase 2 also includes rerun banners through the Indelible Coterie system, giving players another chance to obtain some valuable 5-star characters.

• Banner Duration: March 3 – March 24, 2026
• Featured 5-Star Characters:
  • Cerydra (Wind – Harmony)
  • Rappa (Imaginary – Erudition)
  • Sparkle (Quantum – Harmony)
• Featured 4-Star Characters:
  • Pela
  • Qingque
  • Hanya

Cerydra returns as one of the strongest technical supports in the game, capable of duplicating ally skills and enabling powerful burst rotations. She’s especially valuable for players running hypercarry teams or advanced damage setups.

Rappa also makes a comeback as a reliable AoE damage dealer. While she may not be the newest DPS option anymore, she still performs well in wave-based content like Pure Fiction and multi-enemy battles.

So, yeah, players who missed their original banners, Phase 2 offers a rare opportunity to add both characters to their roster.

HSR v4.0 Phase 2 Light Cone Banners

Alongside the character banners, Phase 2 introduces new and rerun Light Cone banners that run for the same duration.

• Banner Duration: March 3 – March 24, 2026
• Brilliant Fixation Banner: The Brilliant Fixation banner features Sparxie’s signature Light Cone together with Yao Guang’s Light Cone.
• Featured 5-Star Light Cones:
  • Dazzled by a Flowery World (Sparxie Signature)
  • When She Decided to See (Yao Guang Signature)

Sparxie’s signature Light Cone is designed specifically to boost her Elation-based damage and improve her Skill Point economy, making it a strong upgrade for players who plan to main her.

• Coalesced Truths Banner: The Coalesced Truths banner focuses on rerun Light Cones tied to the Phase 2 rerun characters.
• Featured 5-Star Light Cones:

• Epoch Etched in Golden Blood
• Ninjutsu Inscription: Dazzling Evilbreaker
• Earthly Escapade
• Featured 4-Star Light Cones:

• Planetary Rendezvous
• Resolution Shines As Pearls of Sweat
• The Story’s Next Page

These Light Cones are especially useful if you already own Cerydra, Rappa, or Sparkle and want to push their performance further.

See Also: Honkai: Star Rail 3.8 Banners and Release Date: Full Update Guide

Ongoing 4.0 Events During Phase 2 in HSR

Even though Phase 2 focuses on banners, the broader Version 4.0 events are still active during this period. You’ll still have access to:

Main Events Available in Phase 2

Several Version 4.0 events remain active during Phase 2, and most of them offer Stellar Jades, upgrade materials, and valuable progression rewards.

1. Cosmicon, Roll On!

Continues to be one of the major events of the patch.

This mode combines card and dice mechanics into a competitive minigame where you challenge opponents to earn rewards. It runs until late March, making it one of the most reliable sources of Stellar Jades during Phase 2.

2. Ding! Arcadia Fun-Time Clock-In Essentials

Encourages players to explore Planarcadia by completing daily and event objectives. By finishing tasks around the new planet, you can claim limited-time rewards, including upgrade materials and currency.

Login-based rewards are also a big part of Phase 2. Gift of Arcadia and Gift of Odyssey provide Star Rail Special Passes and other valuable items simply for logging in during the event period.

These passes can go directly toward Sparxie or rerun banners, making them extremely valuable for free-to-play players.

Another important reward source is A Flip of Fortune, where logging in for several days lets you draw fortune slips that can grant up to 1,600 Stellar Jades. It’s one of the easiest ways to earn pulls without grinding.

Farming Events During Phase 2

Phase 2 also includes limited-time farming bonuses that help you upgrade characters faster.

Planar Fissure temporarily doubles planar ornament drops in Simulated Universe worlds. If you’re building new characters like Sparxie or upgrading rerun units, this event can save a huge amount of Trailblaze Power.

Later in Phase 2, Realm of the Strange provides double relic rewards from Caverns of Corrosion.

This is the best opportunity in Version 4.0 to farm relic sets efficiently, especially the new relic sets introduced with Planarcadia.

These farming bonuses are easy to overlook, but they can dramatically reduce the time needed to finish character builds.

Major Version 4.0 Rewards Still Available

Even if you join Phase 2 late, several of Version 4.0’s biggest rewards are still available.

Players can claim a free 5-star character selector during Version 4.0, allowing you to pick a powerful unit to strengthen your roster.

This reward remains available until Version 4.2 ends, so it’s a huge bonus for anyone planning future teams.

There is also a free outfit for Ruan Mei, which can be claimed just by logging in during the patch period.

Between the free pulls, Stellar Jades, and farming bonuses, Phase 2 provides enough resources for most players to reach at least one pity cycle, which can make the difference between missing or securing Sparxie.

See Also: Cyrene Honkai Star Rail Build Guide: Skills, Ultimate, and Eidolons Explained

Understanding the Banner System in HSR v4.0 Phase 2

Before you start spending Stellar Jades in Phase 2, it’s important to understand how the banner system actually works.

In Honkai: Star Rail, every limited banner follows a predictable structure. Once you understand the math behind it, planning your pulls becomes much easier and far less stressful.

Basic 5-Star Drop Rates

Character Event Warps have very low base drop rates for 5-star characters, usually below 1% per pull. That means getting a 5-star early is mostly luck.

However, the system includes built-in protection known as pity.

Most players begin to see increased drop chances around the mid-70 pull range, which is commonly called soft pity. During this stage, your odds improve significantly with each pull.

If you still haven’t obtained a 5-star by 90 pulls, the game activates hard pity, guaranteeing a 5-star character. This means:

• Lucky players may get a 5-star in 10–40 pulls
• Most players obtain one around 70–85 pulls
• 90 pulls guarantee a 5-star

Because of this system, 90 pulls is considered the realistic maximum cost for a single 5-star drop.

The 50/50 System Explained

Getting a 5-star doesn’t always mean you’ll obtain the featured character. When you pull a 5-star from a limited banner:

• There is a 50% chance it will be the featured character
• There is a 50% chance it will be a standard banner character

This is commonly known as the 50/50 system, and it’s the reason players often save large amounts of Stellar Jades before a banner arrives.

If you lose the 50/50 and receive a standard 5-star instead, the system gives you a major advantage: your next 5-star on a limited banner is guaranteed to be the featured character.

This guarantee carries over between banners.

So if you lose the 50/50 in Phase 1, your next 5-star in Phase 2 will be guaranteed to be Sparxie, Cerydra, or Rappa, depending on which banner you choose.

Worst-Case Pull Cost

Because of pity and the 50/50 system, there’s a clear maximum cost for any limited character. Worst-case scenario looks like this:

• 90 pulls → First 5-star (lose 50/50)
• Another 90 pulls → Guaranteed featured character

Total maximum cost: 180 pulls for one guaranteed limited character.

This is why experienced players usually plan their Stellar Jade savings around the 180-pull mark.

Pity Carries Between Banners

One of the most important mechanics many players overlook is pity carryover.

If you make pulls on one limited banner and stop before getting a 5-star, your progress transfers to the next banner. For example:

• You pull 60 times in Phase 1
• No 5-star appears
• Sparxie banner arrives in Phase 2

Your next pull starts at 60 pity, meaning you’re already close to soft pity.

This makes banner timing extremely important in Version 4.0. Even partial pull sessions help reduce the cost of your next target character.

Typical Pull Expectations

While guarantees exist, most players fall somewhere in the middle of the probability curve. And what does a realistic expectation look like?

• Early luck: 10–40 pulls
• Average range: 70–85 pulls
• Guaranteed: 90 pulls
• Full guarantee with 50/50 loss: 180 pulls

Planning around averages is risky. Smart players assume the worst-case scenario, so they don’t run out of pulls mid-banner.

Light Cone Banner Differences

Light Cone banners follow a similar pity structure but use a slightly different rate-up system.

• Hard pity: 80 pulls
• Featured guarantee works differently compared to character banners

If you’re pulling for Sparxie’s signature Light Cone, understand that it’s still an investment. Never assume you’ll get it early unless you’re ready for the full pity cost.

What This Means for Your Pull Strategy

If you:

• Have 90 pulls with no guarantee → You’re gambling the 50/50.
• Have 90 pulls with ga uarantee → You’re safe.
• Have 180 pulls saved → You control your fate.

Understanding the banner system turns gacha from emotional to strategic.

And in Honkai Star Rail v4.0 Phase 2 with Sparxie, Cerydra, and Rappa competing for your resources, planning is everything.

So before you click Warp, make sure to always check your pity and your guarantee status.

How Many Pulls Can You Get in Version 4.0?

Active players can typically earn:

• Daily missions
• Weekly activities
• Simulated Universe
• Events
• Story content

Most free-to-play players can collect roughly 70–100 pulls per patch. That’s usually enough to secure one limited character.

See Also: Evernight Honkai Star Rail V.36: Release Date, Profile, and Details

HSR 4.0 Phase 2 Pull Tips: Best Banner Strategy

Pulling in Phase 2 can feel overwhelming with Sparxie’s debut and multiple reruns happening at the same time.

Instead of guessing, a clear strategy will help you use your Stellar Jades efficiently and avoid wasting pity.

These simple pull tips will help you decide where to spend your resources in Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.0 Phase 2 without getting confused.

1. Check Your Pity and Guarantee Status

Before pulling on Honkai Star Rail v4.0 Phase 2, look at your pity counter first. If you’re already near 75 pulls, you’re entering soft pity range, which means your chances of getting a 5-star increase significantly.

If you previously lost your 50/50, then your next 5-star is guaranteed to be the featured character. That’s a massive advantage.

If you’re at low pity with no guarantee and limited pulls saved, understand that you’re relying purely on luck. Planning beats hoping.

2. Decide Based on Your Account Needs

Don’t pull just because Sparxie is new.

If you lack a strong DPS for Memory of Chaos or Pure Fiction, Sparxie is the most impactful upgrade in Phase 2. She brings immediate burst damage and fits perfectly into the new Elation meta.

If your DPS lineup is already strong but your teams feel inconsistent or skill-point hungry, the reruns might offer more value.

Sparkle improves the SP economy significantly, while Cerydra enables advanced double-skill strategies. Rappa is still solid for AoE break scenarios, though not the highest priority in 2026.

Pull for what your account is missing, not what social media is hyping.

3. Plan Around 90 to 180 Pulls

For free-to-play and low-spending players, always assume the worst-case cost. Ninety pulls give you a 5-star, but don’t guarantee the featured unit.

One hundred eighty pulls guarantees it, even if you lose the 50/50 first. If you can’t realistically reach at least 90 pulls, you’re gambling.

If you can’t reach 180, understand the risk before committing. Having a plan prevents regret later.

4. Prioritize Character Over Light Cone

Signature Light Cones are strong, but they are luxury investments. Secure the character first.

Only consider pulling for Sparxie’s Light Cone if you still have enough pulls left and you’re fully committing to building her long-term.

A character without a signature Light Cone is still usable. A Light Cone without the character? Completely useless. Always prioritize the unit.

5. Use Patch Rewards Before Deciding You’re Broke

Version 4.0 gives a large amount of Stellar Jades through events, login bonuses, Simulated Universe, and Memory of Chaos resets.

Before panic pulling or topping up, make sure you’ve claimed everything available. Sometimes you’re closer to soft pity, but you just haven’t finished the content yet.

6. Don’t Tilt Pull

Losing a 50/50 happens. Not getting early pity happens. That’s normal. The banner system in Honkai Star Rail is predictable long-term.

Emotional pulling after a loss is how players drain resources right before a future meta-defining character arrives. Stay calm, calculate your resources, and stick to your plan.

See Also: Phainon Build Guide in Honkai Star Rail 3.4 Meta

That’s it. In the end, when Honkai Star Rail v4.0 Phase 2 goes live, Sparxie and the rerun banners won’t stay forever. Running out of pulls at the wrong moment can mean losing your guaranteed 5-star, so top up HSR early at Joytify is often the safest move.

Through Joytify, you can quickly prepare for Phase 2 with options like the Free Express Supply Pass + 8080 Oneiric Shard (₱4,175.38), Guarantee Bundles (₱14,672), or the budget-friendly Express Supply Pass (₱196.30), perfect for reaching pity before the banners end.

Anyway, who are you planning to pull? Sparxie, Cerydra, or Rappa?