Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.2 Arrives 22 April with Silver Wolf LV.999 and Evanescia

HoYoverse has announced that Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.2, titled So Laughed the Masses, will launch on 22 April, coinciding with the game’s third anniversary and raising the stakes of the Planarcadia arc considerably.

The anniversary brings back several returning traditions. The Festive Gifts check-in event returns, offering a total of 20 pulls across the login period. On the anniversary date of 26 April, Trailblazers can select a blessing card from a companion to receive 1,600 Stellar Jades as a special gift. The Stellar Convergence Store will also add limited five-star characters Huohuo and Robin, with a freely claimable Golden Companion Spirit available to exchange for a companion of choice.

The annual first-time top-up double bonus resets as well, and a new outfit for Castorice will be available alongside new arrivals in the Gift of Stardust Store. Beyond the in-game celebrations, HoYoverse is also running an online event called Aha’s Chosen: Spreading Elation Everywhere, where leaving a message enters players into a draw for prizes including a Silver Wolf LV.999-themed car. Offline celebrations including themed parades, street festivities and brand collaborations are also planned across Tokyo, Seoul and Los Angeles.

In the Version 4.2 main story, the Phantasmoon Games take a dramatic turn when it is announced that the ultimate prize has been escalated to something unprecedented: the victor will become the permanent Aeon of Elation. With that revelation, the Trailblazer finds themselves at the centre of scrutiny from every major faction in Planarcadia.

Two new five-star characters join the roster in Version 4.2. Silver Wolf returns in a brand-new form as Silver Wolf LV.999, bringing a redesigned kit built around her gaming domain fantasy. In combat, she accumulates Hidden MMR to activate her exclusive Cartridge and enter a Godmode Player state, pulling both teammates and enemies into her own gaming domain and unlocking a Reward Stage at the start of her turn.

From there, she can spawn in-game items that shake up combat dynamics while sharing buffs with allies. Her ultimate fires a game-crashing laser cannon dealing massive damage to all enemies, and she carries a passive that lets her hack into the battlefield even when she is not in the active party, granting temporary immunity to control effects whenever a teammate is afflicted.

Joining her is Evanescia, a five-star Physical character on the Path of Elation who has been watching the Phantasmoon Games as a Special Observer, with Version 4.2 set to shed more light on her true identity. Her kit centres on a resource called Certified Banger, which she accumulates through Energy regeneration, teammate charges and changes to Certified Banger on allies.

Gaining Certified Banger simultaneously regenerates Energy, keeping her damage rhythm consistent. As the resource builds, her damage scales up, and at certain thresholds it triggers an attack from Master Fox dealing damage to all enemies while regenerating her Energy. Her Elation Skill hits all enemies and boosts the team’s overall damage output.

The Elation Trailblazer also joins the team in Version 4.2, wielding a glow stick that serves multiple combat functions. It transforms into a lightblade for the Skill, dealing area damage and generating Certified Banger, or into nunchucks for a multi-hit flurry against surrounding enemies. The Ultimate lets the Trailblazer select a teammate to cheer for, granting them Certified Banger while immediately triggering their Elation Skill.

On the rerun front, the first half of Version 4.2 brings back The Dahlia, Castorice and Firefly, while the second half reruns Tribbie, Sunday and Feixiao. Four existing characters, Firefly, Huohuo, Seele and Welt, will also receive balance buffs this version.

New activities launching alongside the update include Cosmic Data Roaming, a streaming-themed event where Trailblazers build a career by showcasing combat highlights, and a major expansion to Currency Wars with additional gameplay options. Cosmicon Collective also receives a Version 2.0 update titled Cosmicon, Roll On Again, adding new decks, dice and a team challenge mode. Express Renovation Escapade and Relic Recon round out the anniversary content slate.

Finally, at the close of the Special Program, HoYoverse and MAPPA premiered the concept trailer for their co-produced original animation project, Death in the Afternoon.