Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.2 "So Laughed the Masses" drops on April 22, and it's carrying the weight of the game's third anniversary alongside two new 5-star characters, a stacked free rewards calendar, and the Trailblazer picking up a whole new Path. This is one of the bigger patches HoYoverse has put out, and if you want to collect every pull and Stellar Jade on offer, you need to know exactly what's coming and when.
Silver Wolf LV.999 in action
What's the story in Version 4.2?
The Phantasmoon Games just got a lot more dangerous. According to HoYoverse's official announcement, the stakes have escalated dramatically: the victor will now become the permanent Aeon of Elation, which puts every faction in the universe on high alert and paints the Trailblazer as the biggest target in the room.
The action moves to Seafeld City, a holiday resort with a deceptively relaxed atmosphere. The local power player is Fulwish, leader of the Research Society of Happy Smiles and a media mogul who invites all Supplicants to his TV headquarters for a public debate. The question on the table: what future will the Phantasmoon Games bring to the world? Beneath the polished surface of that debate, the Trailblazer has to dodge traps, gather Wishpower, and figure out what deal Silver Wolf and Pearl have quietly struck in the background.
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The 4.2 story continues directly from the Planarcadia arc. Finishing earlier Phantasmoon Games content before April 22 will give you the most context going in.
Who are the new characters in Version 4.2?
Two new 5-star characters join the roster this patch, both following the Path of Elation.
Silver Wolf LV.999 (Imaginary, Path of Elation)
This isn't a rerun. Silver Wolf LV.999 is a distinct version of the Stellaron Hunters' resident hacker, representing what happens when she hits the theoretical ceiling and becomes a "Godmode Player." She's also the first Emanator of the Elation to appear in the Phantasmoon Games story.
Her combat kit works around a resource called Hidden MMR. Accumulating enough of it activates her exclusive Cartridge and triggers the Godmode Player state, which pulls teammates and enemies into her personal gaming domain. From there, she opens a Reward stage at the start of each turn, using her Cartridge to spawn in-game items that buff allies and shift combat dynamics. Her big damage moment is Aha Instant, which fires a game-crashing laser cannon at all enemies.
The most distinctive part of her kit is a passive that works even when she's sitting on the bench: if a teammate gets hit with a control effect, Silver Wolf LV.999 hacks into the battlefield from off-field and grants allies temporary immunity to that control. That's a meaningful defensive tool that doesn't require her to take up an active slot.
Evanescia (Physical, Path of Elation)
Evanescia has been watching the Phantasmoon Games across multiple iterations as a "Special Observer," which makes her one of the most lore-loaded characters in this arc. Her true identity gets revealed in the 4.2 story chapters.
Her mechanic centers on Certified Banger stacks. She gains them through energy regeneration, teammate charges, or changes to her teammates' own Certified Banger counts. Every time she gains a stack, she also regenerates Energy, creating a self-sustaining damage loop. As stacks accumulate, her damage output scales upward, and at certain thresholds she triggers follow-up attacks from her companion Master Fox, dealing AoE damage and recovering more Energy. Her Elation Skill hits all enemies and boosts the team's total damage output.
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Because Evanescia regenerates Energy each time she gains Certified Banger, building around frequent teammate interactions will keep her Ultimate cycling faster.
Elation Trailblazer
The Trailblazer also unlocks the Path of Elation in 4.2, coming equipped with a glow stick that transforms into multiple weapons. The Skill converts it into a lightblade for AoE damage while generating Certified Banger. It can also become nunchucks for multi-hit attacks on surrounding enemies. The Ultimate lets you select a teammate to cheer for, immediately granting them Certified Banger and triggering their Elation Skill.
Trailblazer glow stick forms
New character comparison table
What free rewards can you get in Version 4.2?
This is where the anniversary pays off for every active player. HoYoverse has confirmed the following through their official announcement:
- Festive Gifts check-in event returns, giving a total of 20 pulls across the event duration
- On April 26 (the actual anniversary date), log in and select a blessing card from a companion to receive 1,600 Stellar Jades
- Huohuo and Robin added to the Stellar Convergence Store, claimable with a free Golden Companion Spirit
- First-time top-up double bonus resets, meaning players who have already used it once get another shot
- New items arrive in the Gift of Stardust Store
- A new Outfit for Castorice becomes available
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The anniversary blessing card on April 26 requires an active login on that specific date. Don't miss it, because 1,600 Stellar Jades is roughly 10 pulls worth of currency.
The "Aha's Chosen: Spreading Elation Everywhere" online event also runs alongside the in-game celebrations, with prizes including a Silver Wolf LV.999-themed car called the Crown of Aha. Real-world anniversary activities are planned for Tokyo, Seoul, and Los Angeles, covering themed parades and brand collaborations.
Who's getting reruns and buffs?
Version 4.2 splits its Warp events across two halves:
First half reruns: The Dahlia, Castorice, Firefly
Second half reruns: Tribbie, Sunday, Feixiao
Four existing characters are also receiving buffs: Firefly, Huohuo, Seele, and Welt. If you've been holding off on investing in any of those four, post-buff is a reasonable time to reconsider their role in your roster.
First half Warp reruns
What new events are coming?
Beyond the anniversary content, 4.2 brings several new gameplay events:
- Cosmic Data Roaming: Build a streaming career by broadcasting your best combat moments
- Currency Wars expansion: Adds more gameplay options to the existing mode
- Cosmicon Collective Version 2.0 ("Cosmicon, Roll On Again!"): New decks, new dice, and a brand-new team challenge mode
- Express Renovation Escapade: A new limited event
- Relic Recon: Another limited event to help players farm and optimize their Relics
HoYoverse also premiered the concept trailer for "Death in the Afternoon," an original animation project co-produced with MAPPA, at the end of the 4.2 Special Program.
How do you redeem the 4.2 livestream codes?
The Version 4.2 livestream distributed three codes for free Stellar Jade and upgrade materials. According to Polygon's coverage of the stream, these codes were:
- HERESTHECODE
- SHAREANDSAVEIT
- HAPPY3RDANNIV
These codes expired on April 11, so they are no longer active. Livestream codes always have short windows, typically expiring within 12 to 24 hours of distribution.
For future codes, you can redeem them directly in-game by opening the menu, tapping the ellipses in the top right corner, and selecting the redemption code option. Alternatively, the official HoYoverse gift redemption website works if you select your correct server and log in with your account. Your account needs an active UID tied to it, so accounts that have never launched the game won't work.
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Bookmark the official redemption page before the next version's livestream. Codes move fast, and having the page ready saves time when the clock is ticking.
Version 4.2 at a glance
Version 4.2 is one of the more content-dense patches Honkai: Star Rail has shipped, stacking a major story beat, two mechanically distinct new characters, a full anniversary rewards calendar, and several new events into a single update. For players who've been saving pulls, this is the patch where that patience either pays off or gets tested hard by two new Path of Elation units. For more gaming guides and coverage, browse more guides on GAMES.GG.