As Genshin Impact releases its 5.0 Version update, the wheels of Hoyoverse continue on. Honkai: Star Rail released its 2.5 version livestream earlier today. The version will feature the conclusion of the story arc that began during version 2.4. The version will also come with a trio of new characters to pull, four rerun banners, and a host of smaller events to keep players engaged.
First among the new characters is Feixiao, a five-star wind type character following the path of the Hunt. Her basic attack and skill both deal damage to the enemy, with her skill increasing her damage dealt for a few turns. Feixiao has a follow-up attack that triggers when one of her teammates attacks, but it can only happen once per Feixiao turn. However, Feixiao’s skills immediately launches her follow-up attack. Most of Feixiao’s damage comes from her unique ultimate. Similar to another character released earlier this year, Acheron, Feixiao doesn’t use energy to cast her ultimate. Instead, she gains charges for every two attacks the team performs, and once she has six charges she can cast her ultimate. She can hold a total of 12 charges but will only use 6 at once. During the ult, Feixiao will attack with either her axe or gunblades, which have different effects depending on if the enemy is weakness broken or not. During her ultimate, Feixiao’s strikes deal toughness damage whether or not the enemy is weak to wind, a trait also shared with Acheron.
Feixiao will also be a new weekly boss for players to fight, dropping materials necessary for some of the new characters being released this patch. Players can save their weekly boss runs for after maintenance in a few weeks.
Feixiao’s banner will also have the four-star hunt unit Moze on it, a lightning-type character. Moze’s basic attack deals lightning damage. However, his skill is incredibly unique. Moze marks an enemy target with the prey debuff and gains 9 charges before leaving the field and the action order. In this state Moze is unable to be hit by enemies, or selected as a target for buffs or healing by allies. For every attack against the enemy with Prey, Moze will lose one charge. For every three charges lost Moze will launch a follow up attack. When he loses all charges he will reappear on the field and action advance himself forward. His ultimate deals damage and immediately launches his follow up attack. Moze seems to be a strong sub-dps unit, likely for Feixiao or other units who want to attack as often as possible.
Finally Lingsha, a five star fire type character following the path of Abundance will run in the second half of the patch. Her basic attack deals fire damage, but her skill hits all enemies, heals the party, and summons a small cloud-like rabbit on the action bar. This rabbit launches a follow-up attack, heals the party, and cleanses a debuff when it acts. It can have a total of 5 charges, using one every time it acts. Lingsha’s skill advances this bunny by 20%, while the ultimate advances it by 100%. It can also act when a character falls below a certain percentage, but only every two turns. Lingsha’s ultimate also deals damage and provides a debuff to enemies. Lingsha seems to be a sustain for break teams, meaning she has to compete with the four-star Gallagher, who is much easier to obtain, but players need at least two teams to clear endgame content.
Besides the new characters, four characters are getting reruns. Kafka, Black Swan, and Robin are all getting reruns during Feixiao’s banner, with players choosing which of the banners they wish to roll on. Topaz will be returning alongside Lingsha’s banner. Kafka and Black Swan form the core of damage over time teams, Robin and Topaz have amazing synergy with Feixiao and other classic units. It’s going to be a tough patch for people looking to save their jade.
Besides the new story, characters, and boss, the main event of the patch will be a combat-based event centered on the star character Luka competing with a team of support from the player character against opponents. Some smaller events will also give players a chance to earn some premium currency to pull for limited characters.
Finally, there will be updates to the rogue-like Divergent Universe, new blessings and curios, and new relic sets to farm. What these relic sets do has not been revealed yet, but might be coming out sooner than later.
Overall, it’s a stacked patch coming out on September 10th, 2024, when Version 2.5 “Flying Aureus Shot to Lupine Rue” is released.