Honkai Star Rail 1.6: Release Date, Character Banners, and Other Changes
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Honkai Star Rail’s 1.6 update is just around the corner and it is an anticipated one as it’ll bring the highly anticipated Ruan Mei into the list of playable characters of the game. Also joining the fray will be Dr. Ratio and the first rerun banners of Blade and Kafka. Aside from new characters, the game will also be getting a new game mode called Pure Fiction featuring an endless wave of enemies alongside more updates to the Simulated Universe. Let’s take a look at the leaks and see what we can expect from Version 1.6 of Honkai Star Rail.
Honkai Star Rail 1.6 Release Date and Livestream
The Honkai Star Rail 1.6 update is expected to be released on 27 December 2023, with the official date to be announced during HoYoverse's Livestream on 15 December 2023. The Livestream promises exclusive insights into the new version, as well as codes for free Stellar Jades, giving an extra layer of excitement for supporters.
New Characters and Banners
According to the official drip marketing campaign, Ruan Mei will be a support character treading the Harmony Path. Alongside her, the banner is expected to showcase three formidable 4-star characters:
Xuyei (Quantum, Destruction Path)
March 7th (Ice, Preservation Path)
Tingyun (Lightning, Harmony Path)
According to the leaks, Ruan Mei’s banner will simultaneously feature Blade’s first rerun.
The second phase of the 1.6 update, set to commence on 17 January 2024, introduces the Imaginary DPS character, Dr. Ratio of The Hunt Path. Dr. Ratio's banner is rumored to include three 4-star characters:
Natasha (Physical, Abundance Path)
Hook (Fire, Destruction Path)
Sushang (Physical, Hunt Path)
The leaks also speculate that Kafka will also have her first rerun alongside Dr. Ratio’s Banner.
It's crucial to note that the information presented is based on leaks, and while leaks can be exciting for players, they are always subject to change.
New Game Modes and Features
The Honkai Star Rail 1.6 update adds the Pure Fiction game mode, which features constantly spawning enemies and rewards depending on high scores. Lynx a reward for completing stage 2 of any Pure Fiction game mode phase.
With 16 additional curios, a dice reroll feature, and a new game mode with a meter that determines the course forward based on finished rooms, The Simulated Universe receives significant changes. Argenti is also set to be the next boss in the Simulated Universe.
Universal Path Materials and Memory of Chaos Stages
The 1.6 update introduces Tears of Dreams, a new Universal Path material that can replace Path Materials required for leveling up Traces or Ascending Light Cones. Memory of Chaos, a popular end-game content, expands with the addition of the 11th and 12th stages, offering players more challenges and rewards.
Events in Version 1.6
The first event of the 1.6 update, 'Exotic Pets Expropriation,' features Ruan Mei alongside Asta and Screwllum. Players will engage in generating exotic new pets by matching and combining strange creatures from a new zone, promising both fun and enticing rewards.
