HoYoverse is gearing up for a significant update in Honkai Star Rail, aiming to breathe new life into some beloved characters. During a recent livestream, the company announced that Kafka, Silver Wolf, Blade, and Jingliu are set to receive updates in the forthcoming version 3.4. Although the specifics remain under wraps, they’re addressing fan feedback to rejuvenate these once-dominant figures.
If everything goes as planned, you can expect to see the update roll out in early July 2025. Initially heralded as some of the strongest characters in 2023, these four have lost their edge over time. Kafka saw a resurgence in interest with the introduction of Acheron in 2024, but the subsequent lack of fresh damage-over-time allies has sidelined her. Jingliu demands a considerable investment yet still trails others in her category regarding damage. Meanwhile, the launch of Mydei presented players with an iteration reminiscent of Blade, adding little novelty.
The phenomenon of older characters falling out of favor, commonly known as “powercreep,” often occurs in games like Honkai Star Rail. However, HoYoverse typically maintains the relevance of its characters longer, as seen in Genshin Impact, where some early standouts still hold their ground in tier lists and perform well in late-game scenarios. Zenless Zone Zero even allows players to take on challenging bosses with the initial trio of characters, demonstrating a commitment to longevity without relegating anyone to obsolescence.
Despite these changes, other characters such as Bailu, Yanqing, Natasha, Hook, and Welt may not experience similar revamps anytime soon. However, fans do have something to look forward to with version 3.2, which offers the opportunity to add one of two free 5-star characters, Ruan Mei or Luocha, to their roster.
