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

Honkai Star Rail 4.0 Phase 1, which brings Yao Guang & Rerun Rappa, is easily one of the most talked-about updates right now.

Version 4.0 introduces a powerful new 5-star support, long-awaited reruns, and meta-shifting team potential that could redefine how you build your comps.

If you’re deciding where to spend your Stellar Jades, this is the moment to slow down and look at the full picture.

With Yao Guang debuting as a Physical Elation support and Rappa returning in Version 4.0’s lineup, players are facing real pull decisions.

Do you invest early? Do you save for Phase 2? Or do you try to balance both?

Honkai Star Rail v4.0 Phase 1 Banners Schedule

Alright, let’s get straight to what really matters: the Honkai Star Rail v4.0 Phase 1 banners schedule.

If you’re sitting on Stellar Jades and debating whether to pull now or wait, this section is where your decision starts. Version 4.0 officially launches on:

• February 12, 2026 (UTC-5) for NA servers
• February 13, 2026, for EU and Asia servers

And from day one, Phase 1 goes live with multiple banners running at the same time. So yes, it’s stacked.

Yao Guang Banner (Limited Character Warp)

This is the headline banner of Phase 1. Yao Guang, the brand-new 5-star Physical Elation support, takes center stage here.

• Duration: February 12 – March 24, 2026 (Server Time)

What’s interesting? Yao Guang’s banner runs longer than the standard 3-week cycle, giving you more time to plan your pulls.

That’s great news if you’re pacing your resources or waiting to see early meta impressions before committing.

Indelible Coterie (Phase 1 Rerun Banner)

Alongside Yao Guang’s debut, Phase 1 also brings back some heavy hitters through the Indelible Coterie banner.

• Duration: February 12 – March 3, 2026
• Featured 5-star Rerun Characters:
  • Evernight
  • Hysilens
  • Black Swan.

• Featured 4-star Characters:
  • Pela
  • Qingque
  • Hanya.

If you missed Black Swan previously, this is your comeback opportunity.

The rerun banner overlaps with Yao Guang’s early window, meaning you’ll need to choose wisely, especially if you don’t want to test your luck twice.

Phase 1 Light Cone Banners

Characters are only half the story. The Light Cone Banners in HSR v4.0 Phase 1 are equally important, especially if you’re aiming for optimal builds.

1. Brilliant Fixation (Signature Light Cone Banner)

If you’re going all-in on Yao Guang, her signature Light Cone is designed to maximize her Elation synergy and team damage amplification.

This banner runs the same full duration as her character banner.

• Duration: February 12 – March 24, 2026
• Featured 5-star Light Cone:
  • When She Decided to See (Yao Guang’s Signature).

2. Coalesced Truths (Rerun Light Cones)

This banner mirrors the rerun character schedule, so if you’re pulling for Black Swan or another rerun unit, you might want to consider their Light Cone at the same time.

• Duration: February 12 – March 3, 2026
• Featured 5-star Light Cones:
  • To Evernight’s Stars
  • Why Does the Ocean Sing
  • Reforged Remembrance.

• Featured 4-star Light Cones:
  • Planetary Rendezvous
  • Resolution Shines As Pearls of Sweat
  • The Story’s Next Page.

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

Honkai Star Rail v4.0 Phase 1 Characters Overview

HSR Version 4.0 also brings a new gameplay direction centered around Elation mechanics, Punchline generation, and more aggressive team-wide amplification.

And at the center of Phase 1 stands one key unit: Yao Guang.

If HoYoverse continues expanding the Elation Path (which looks likely), she could age extremely well.

Lore-wise, she’s one of the seven Arbiter-Generals of the Xianzhou Alliance, commanding the Cloud Knights of Xianzhou Yuque.

Strategic, composed, calculating. And her gameplay reflects that personality perfectly.

Yao Guang – 5-star Physical | Path of Elation

Yao Guang is the headline unit of Honkai Star Rail v4.0 Phase 1, and she’s not just “another support.” She’s designed to anchor future Elation-based team compositions.

If you’ve been waiting for a character that boosts overall team damage without hogging field time, this might be your moment. And what are her roles?

• Team-wide damage amplifier
• Punchline generator
• RES Penetration enabler
• Extra turn trigger.

She doesn’t function as a main DPS. Instead, she acts like a battlefield conductor, quietly raising everyone else’s damage ceiling while keeping tempo under control.

Yao Guang’s Kit Breakdown

Let’s keep this simple and practical.

1. Basic Attack: Deals Physical DMG and generates energy. Straightforward, efficient.

2. Skill – Decalight Unveils All: Creates a special zone that boosts allies’ Elation effects and generates Punchlines. These Punchlines act like stored bonus triggers that enhance team damage output.

3. Ultimate – Hexagram of Feathered Fortune: This is where things get spicy. It:

• Grants additional Punchlines
• Provides an extra turn
• Increases teamwide RES Penetration

That RES Pen is huge. It means your entire team effectively ignores more enemy resistance, translating into consistent damage gains.

4. Talent Mechanic: Yao Guang converts allies’ attacks into bonus Elation damage. If an ally’s stat scaling is lower, her stats help compensate. That’s subtle but incredibly valuable for team balance.

Rappa Rerun, Planning in Version 4.0

While Rappa isn’t technically in Phase 1’s active banner rotation, her rerun in Version 4.0 makes her relevant to your pulling strategy right now.

If you’re budgeting Stellar Jades, you need to think ahead:

• Do you invest in Yao Guang immediately?
• Or save for Rappa’s return in Phase 2?

Rappa remains a valuable pick for players needing strong synergy options in certain compositions. If your account lacks her niche strengths, skipping her rerun might sting later.

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

HSR 4.0 Free Rewards

Yeah, banners are exciting, but HSR 4.0 free rewards might be the actual highlight of this update.

Honkai Star Rail Version 4.0 is practically showering you with pulls, Stellar Jades, and even a free limited 5-star.

If you’ve been low on resources, this patch feels like a reset button.

Below, everything you can claim in Version 4.0 and why you absolutely shouldn’t skip logging in.

Choose 1 of 7 Limited 5-Star Characters (Yes, Limited)

Between Version 4.0 and the end of Version 4.2, players can log in and choose one out of seven limited 5-star characters for free.

Not a standard banner. Not random.

You choose.

This is easily one of the most generous rewards Honkai Star Rail has ever offered. If you missed a previous limited unit that fits your team, this is your redemption arc.

Just make sure you follow official eligibility details so you don’t miss the selection window.

Free Ruan Mei Outfit – Plumblossom Letter

Log in during Version 4.0, and you’ll receive:

• Ruan Mei (Harmony: Ice) Exclusive Outfit
• “Plumblossom Letter”

Miss the event? It will later cost 1,680 Oneiric Shards in the Outfit Shop.

So basically, free cosmetics now, paid later. Easy choice.

Gift of Arcadia, Straight-Up Pull Value

During the event period, logging in grants:

• 10 Star Rail Special Passes
• 600 Lone Stardust
• 3 Self-Modeling Resins

That’s already solid value, especially the Self-Modeling Resins for relic optimization. If you’ve been min-maxing builds, you know how precious those are.

A Flip of Fortune

This daily login event gives:

• 1 Fortune Slip per day (up to 5)
• Each Slip = 320 Stellar Jade
• Total = 1,600 Stellar Jade.

That’s essentially 10 pulls just for showing up and clicking a button.

Not bad for zero effort, right?

Gift of Odyssey, More Free Pulls

Available until March 24, 2026 (server time).

Log in for 7 cumulative days, and you’ll receive:

• 10 Star Rail Special Passes

That’s another 10 pulls stacked on top of everything else.

Novaflare Event,  Extra Stellar Jades

Participate in the Novaflare event, test new buffs (including updates to Black Swan and Sparkle), and earn additional Stellar Jades.

HoYoverse is clearly encouraging experimentation this patch, and rewarding you for it.

See Also: Honkai Nexus Anima Guide: Characters, Creatures, and Gameplay Features

Then, is Honkai Star Rail v4.0 phase 1 worth it? It depends on you, guys.

Yao Guang feels like a long-term support you’ll still use months from now. The Light Cone Banners are tempting, the HSR 4.0 free rewards are generous, and with Rappa waiting in Phase 2… the pressure is real.

So plan smart. Claim every free reward. Manage your Stellar Jades wisely. And if you need extra pulls, top up Honkai Star Rail at Joytify can help you secure those Oneiric Shards quickly and safely.

Good luck with your 50/50. May Aha bless your tickets.