Honkai Star Rail Version 4.4 Is Officially Live
HoYoverse officially launched Honkai: Star Rail version 4.4, titled "In Ravages Does the Whistle Sound," on July 15, 2026. This update continues the Planarcadia storyline as the region faces a threat to its very survival, picking up right after the previous chapter's ending, where Lord Ravager Asat Pramad revealed his true identity and shattered a peace that had held for years.
As the story develops, Himeko disappears after a direct confrontation with Asat Pramad, though she leaves behind a crucial clue tied to the Astral Express before vanishing completely. On top of that, this version introduces Himeko • Nova, an alternate version of Himeko and the fourth Astral Express member to receive one following Trailblazer, March 7th, and Dan Heng. Himeko • Nova is a Fire Erudition main DPS who scales off ATK and Ultimate damage, built around her unique "Starblazer" mechanic that grants an Assist Skill to the entire team.
Fate/stay Night Collab: Phase 2 Starts Today
One of the biggest highlights of version 4.4 is the collaboration with Fate/stay Night [Unlimited Blade Works. Phase 2 of the collab officially kicks off on July 24, 2026, with the Trailblazer joining Rin Tohsaka to recover scattered treasures and investigate the events known as the Imagenae: Holy Grail War.
Here's something important to know before pulling on the collab banner, pity/guarantee count on the Fate collab banner is completely separate from the regular warp pity, and this works both ways pulls on the collab banner don't add to your regular warp pity progress, and vice versa. This separate pool system mirrors the one used for Saber and Archer during Part 1 of the collaboration. So plan your Stellar Jade budget with these two separate "pity buckets" in mind.
How to Claim Gilgamesh or Archer for Free
This is the part most players are searching for:
Log in to the game during the collab period (from July 24, 2026, until before version 4.6 ends).
Players get to choose one free limited 5-star character: Gilgamesh or Archer, complete with a portion of their ascension materials.
Both the character and their Light Cone will remain available long-term, and the pity/guarantee count is shared between the Collaboration Character Warps and Collaboration Light Cone Warps across both collab phases.
If you want to expand your collection further, spending a total of 200 Star Rail Special Passes during version 4.4 lets you pick one of two limited 5-star collab Light Cones: "I Am As You Behold" or "The Hell Where Ideals Burn."
Tip: Since the free character only requires logging in (no gacha needed), make sure you don't miss the collab's start date so you don't run out of time to claim before the period ends in version 4.6.
Honkai Star Rail 4.4 Tier List: Who's Worth Building?
Based on performance in Memory of Chaos, Pure Fiction, and Apocalyptic Shadow, here are the characters currently sitting at the top of the 4.4 meta:
T0 Tier (Top Priority): Mortenax Blade, Evanescia, Silver Wolf LV.999, Sparxie, Yao Guang, and Hyacine. These characters stand out not just for damage, but also for team stability, debuffs, action advance support, weakness coverage, and survivability in high-difficulty content.
Strongest DPS overall: Phainon (Remembrance) is still widely considered the strongest DPS in the game, with an Ultimate form that makes him nearly unkillable while dealing massive damage. Castorice remains a top sub-DPS thanks to her health-draining team archetype.
Best supports: Sunday and Robin still hold the title for best support units, while Lingsha and Huohuo lead as the top offensive healers.
Current meta: Elation teams are dominating right now, since almost every enemy in Planarcadia is weak to Elation damage. Chrysos Heir teams and Castorice's health-draining squads also remain extremely strong for endgame content.
Recommendation for new players: focus on building 1-2 core teams first using free to play characters like the Trailblazer before spending Stellar Jade on limited gacha characters. You can also check the full, regularly updated tier list at https://uidgames.com/news so you don't waste pulls.
How to Farm Efficiently in Version 4.4
Prioritize clearing the main Trailblaze Mission first to unlock new farming areas.
Spend your daily energy on the relic domains that match your team's needs focus on your T0 characters before spreading resources to niche picks.
Take advantage of collab login events to stack up extra Stellar Jade without spending real money.
FAQ About Honkai Star Rail 4.4
Q. Can I get Gilgamesh and Archer for free without pulling?
A. Yes, both can be claimed for free simply by logging in during the collab period no Warps required at all.
Q. Does pulling on the collab banner affect regular banner pity?
A. No. Pity on the Fate/stay Night collab banner is entirely separate from regular warp pity, so progress on one doesn't affect the other.
Q. Who's the strongest character in version 4.4?
A. Phainon is still the overall strongest DPS, while among the new 4.4 characters, Mortenax Blade and Evanescia rank in the T0 tier.
Q. When does version 4.4 end?
A. Version 4.4 follows HSR's standard six-week update cycle, with the Fate collab banner running mid patch without a fixed end date within that window.
Read To : Honkai: Nexus Anima Evolution
Want to Push Further in Version 4.4? Top Up Stellar Jade at UIDGames
The free collab character definitely helps, but if you're chasing reruns like Castorice or Firefly, or building up Gilgamesh's Eidolons, you'll still need extra Stellar Jade. Instead of dealing with manual in game top ups, topping up Honkai: Star Rail directly at uidgames.com is a lot more convenient:
Fast & automatic - just enter your UID and server, and Stellar Jade lands in your account instantly without logging into your game account elsewhere.
Better pricing compared to topping up directly through the App Store/Play Store, which takes a platform cut.
Local payment methods - bank transfers and QRIS.
Secure transactions processed through official channels, so your account stays safe from ban risk.
Top up your Oneiric Shard/Stellar Jade for Honkai Star Rail now at uidgames.com and make the most of your progress before the Fate/stay Night collab period ends!
