Summary
Highlights
The Honkai: Star Rail Version 3.5 Special Program is introduced, welcoming guests Cerydra, Herta, and Screwllum. The new version will officially begin the second half of the Amphorean story, introducing new companions and showcasing familiar characters in new lights. Key plot points include the Trailblazer's promise with Phainon, the role of Amphoreus as a testing ground for Irontomb, and the efforts to delay its completion. The black tide's spread has been halted by the Deliverer, Phainon.
To save Amphoreus, the Trailblazers need to master the authority of Law before the Era Nova is complete. This involves traveling back to Okhema a thousand years ago, to a new cycle of Eternal Recurrence, to claim the Coreflame of Law. This era was when Aglaea's predecessor, Imperator Cerydra, who is the bearer of the Law Coreflame, still held power. The Trailblazer will also meet Knight Commander Hysilens, Tribbie, and Aglaea from a millennium ago.
The Trailblazer will face new challenges, particularly from Theoros Lygus, the Administrator of the Scepter. Lygus is no longer just an observer but intervenes personally. In combat, Lygus switches forms: one generates "Titankin" and applies HP-costing Ultimate buffs, the other spawns "Black Tide Creatures" and continuously enhances his Ultimate. To counter him, players need to quickly eliminate "Black Tide Creatures" in his second form to force him back to his first. Herta and Screwllum will become more deeply involved in Amphoreus to assist.
Hysilens, the sea siren princess and Knight Commander of the holy city, is introduced. Her tragic past involves the decimation of her people by the black tide and the silence of Phagousa, the Ocean Titan. Cerydra became Hysilens's 'light,' providing her with a purpose. In combat, Hysilens can inflict random DoT debuffs, increase enemy DMG taken, and create a Zone with her Ultimate that reduces enemy DEF and deals additional Physical DoT from her. Her Technique prevents enemies from initiating attacks and applies multiple random DoT debuffs upon active engagement.
Cerydra, the Imperator and bearer of Law's Coreflame, is portrayed as ambitious and ruthless, driven by a chess-like strategy to win at any cost for the future of Amphoreus. Despite being born outside Okhema, she became its ruler after saving the city from a devastating crisis. Her Skill grants a special buff to an ally that allows their Basic ATK or Skill to accumulate Charge, leading to a duplicated Skill. Her Ultimate builds Charge and deals damage to all enemies. Her Technique grants the buff to the character who initiates combat.
The Version 3.5 Warp Events are detailed. The first-half features the limited 5-star character Hysilens and her Light Cone "Why Does the Ocean Sing," along with the rerun of Kafka and her Light Cone "Patience Is All You Need." The second-half features the limited 5-star character Cerydra and her Light Cone "Epoch Etched in Golden Blood," alongside the rerun of Silver Wolf and her Light Cone "Incessant Rain."
The "Chrysos Maze Grand Restaurant" event debuts, where Trailblazers team up with Chrysos Heirs to run a restaurant in Aedes Elysiae, serving delicious food to fairies and gaining approval to become a 4-star Memchelin restaurant. Players will manage the restaurant, cultivate ingredients with the help of Anaxa, Hyacine, and field fairies, and make strategic decisions regarding ingredients, dish leveling, staffing, and facilities. Different fairy customers have unique preferences, and some may try to 'dine and dash'.
The "Old Brews & New Friends" event returns, with the Trailblazer acting as a special guest drinksmith at the Dreamjolt Hostelry. This time, familiar friends with their worries will visit, and players will mix magical drinks to lift their spirits. Players can also discover secret recipes that reveal new sides of their friends and invite them back for a special surprise drink.
In version 3.5, Herta will launch the "AI Herta Experiment." Trailblazers will train an AI Herta by completing assignments in the "Space Station Task Force" event to earn rewards. Additional updates include the return of "Gift of Odyssey," "Planar Fissure," and "Garden of Plenty" events for double rewards. "Shape of Sirens: Stagnant Shadow" will be available for Ice character Ascension materials. A new feature allows individual voice-over switching for collaboration characters (e.g., Saber and Archer's Japanese voices). Honkai: Star Rail will also participate in Gamescom from August 20-24.