Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.6, “Dance With the Beast Before Moonrise,” will bring a new chapter of the Astropolis story alongside Pearl, several new events, and a fresh gameplay feature. The latest Special Program also revealed new outfits, a Razer collaboration, and an early look at what is coming later in the 4.X storyline.
Pearl naturally takes the spotlight as the update’s new 5-star character, but plenty more awaits players who want to explore beyond the next Warp banner. From the Life Sciences Institute and its mysterious husk to Astral Imagea and the newly announced Zenless Zone Zero crossover, Version 4.6 has several different pieces worth keeping track of.
Here is everything officially revealed during the latest Honkai: Star Rail Special Program. Looking for the latest HSR 4.6 livestream codes? Use the Quick Access section above to jump straight to the codes and rewards.
Honkai: Star Rail 4.6 release date
Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.6 will launch on September 28, 2026.
The update is officially titled “Dance With the Beast Before Moonrise,” with HoYoverse using the September 20 Special Program to showcase Pearl, the upcoming story, new events, and other additions arriving with the update. Because the official announcement currently gives September 28 as the Version 4.6 release date without publishing a separate server-by-server maintenance schedule in the information reviewed here, that date is the safest one to use for an international audience.
Version 4.6 story: The Life Sciences Institute
The next chapter takes the Trailblazer and their allies to the Life Sciences Institute, where they will investigate a dangerous scheme involving the mysterious husk. Following the previous story, Nihilux has revealed her identity as Aha, the Aeon of Elation. Pearl then joins the Trailblazer and Nihilux as they attempt to uncover what is happening inside the Institute and stop the plan to “weaponise the husk.”
The Institute itself has an important place in Astropolis lore. It serves as the source of the region’s imagenae and was established under Madam Yabuli, the head of the IPC’s Technology Department. According to information revealed in Version 4.6, Yabuli’s plan could put everyone in Planarcadia’s lives at risk and may also be connected to a mysterious faction that worships the Voracity.
Pearl’s investigation will also involve Leviathan Essence, which she intends to use as a cover for sending Kuchiba and Ashveil into the Life Sciences Institute. They will work alongside the Trailblazer and Nihilux as the group attempts to bring the conspiracy to an end.
With the story tying together Pearl, the Institute, the husk, and the forces surrounding the Voracity, Version 4.6 appears to push the Astropolis storyline into another major stage while leaving some of its biggest mysteries for players to uncover in-game.
Pearl is the new 5-Star character
The headline addition is Pearl, a 5-star Ice character who follows the Path of Elation.
As the CEO of Planarcadia, Pearl is already closely connected to the events unfolding in Astropolis. Her involvement goes beyond the story, however, because her combat mechanics are also built around the Elation system introduced in the game’s current storyline.
Pearl’s gameplay revolves around Certified Banger and Deep Learning. She can consume Certified Banger to offset part of the damage received by her allies, while Deep Learning allows her to study the combat data of a designated teammate and gain a corresponding Enhanced ATK.
The interaction becomes more specialized when that teammate is an Elation character. Pearl’s Enhanced ATK can then deal additional Elation DMG, while a full Elation team unlocks another layer of the mechanic, allowing the designated teammate to gain an extra turn along with a large amount of Punchline and Certified Banger.
Rather than presenting Pearl as a generic Ice support, HoYoverse has therefore tied much of her combat identity to the Elation system and the teammates she works alongside.
Honkai: Star Rail 4.6 banners
The Special Program has now confirmed the full 5-star character lineup for Version 4.6.
Phase 1
- Pearl
- Evanescia
Pearl will receive her limited character Warp during the first half, while Evanescia returns in the same phase. The limited 5-star Light Cone Colors for Tomorrow will also have an increased drop rate during the update.
Phase 2
- Mortenax Blade
The second half will then bring Mortenax Blade back to the character Warp lineup.
With the official lineup now confirmed, players no longer need to rely on the banner predictions that circulated before the Special Program. The 4.6 schedule is now clear enough to plan Stellar Jade and Star Rail Special Passes around the characters that matter most to each account.
Love, Ghosts & Robots
One of the main events arriving with the update is Love, Ghosts & Robots, which puts the Trailblazer in charge of a very different kind of challenge.
In this event, the Trailblazer will help the resurrected Skott run a mechatron workshop. Players will assemble and sell mechatrons while gradually developing the workshop into a project with a five-star rating.
In this event, the Trailblazer will help the resurrected Skott run a mechatron workshop. Players will assemble and sell mechatrons while gradually developing the workshop into a project with a five-star rating.
Interastral Peace Gala: One Take
Interastral Peace Gala: One Take takes players back into a more combat-focused setting, with battles presented through the format of a large-scale combat reality show.
The event is presented as a large-scale combat reality show, putting battles and challenges at the center of its gameplay. HoYoverse revealed it alongside Love, Ghosts & Robots, giving Version 4.6 two major events with distinctly different themes.
New Cavern Relics
Version 4.6 will introduce two new Cavern Relic sets, giving players additional options when building their teams:
- Dreamlit Actor
- The Edacious Heretic
Dreamlit Actor
Dreamlit Actor focuses on SPD and Elation-related effects.
- 2-Piece: Increases SPD by 6%.
- 4-Piece: Using the wearer’s Skill or Ultimate on another ally increases the target’s Elation by 16% for 3 turns. When the wearer has at least 10 Certified Banger, the set also increases all allies’ CRIT DMG by 12% for 3 turns.
Its effects make the set particularly relevant to teams built around the newer mechanics introduced in Version 4.6.
The Edacious Heretic
The Edacious Heretic focuses more directly on ATK and Basic ATK DMG.
- 2-Piece: Increases ATK by 12%.
- 4-Piece: Increases the wearer’s Basic ATK DMG by 36%. After using a Basic ATK, the wearer also gains a 20% ATK increase for 2 turns.
This set provides a straightforward option for characters whose gameplay revolves around frequent Basic ATKs.
Both Relic sets will be obtainable from the Cavern of Corrosion: Path of the Secret Actor, adding two more gearing options to the Version 4.6 update.
Astral Imagea and Astral Slammers Squad!
Version 4.6 also introduces Astral Imagea, a new gameplay feature that expands what players can do outside the regular character progression loop.
Players will be able to obtain multiple Astral Imageas that can accompany them during their adventures. Alongside the new system, HoYoverse is adding Astral Slammers Squad!, a co-op challenge designed to let players team up with friends.
The co-op element is particularly notable because Honkai: Star Rail is primarily built around single-player turn-based combat. Astral Slammers Squad! adds a co-op activity to Version 4.6 while keeping the game’s main turn-based combat system intact.
Gift of Odyssey returns
The Gift of Odyssey login event will also return with Version 4.6.
By checking in for seven days, players can claim a total of 10 Star Rail Special Passes, giving them additional pulls that can be used on the update’s Character and Light Cone Warps. This reward structure has been used for previous Gift of Odyssey login events as well.
New outfits for Hyacine and Evanescia
Version 4.6 will also add two new character outfits.
Hyacine — Warm Cotton Skies
Hyacine’s new outfit is called Warm Cotton Skies, providing another cosmetic option for players who own the character.
Evanescia — Lunar Blossoming
Evanescia receives Lunar Blossoming, which arrives alongside her rerun during the first half of Version 4.6. Both outfits will be available through the game’s Outfit Show Window when the update arrives.
Honkai: Star Rail × Razer collaboration
Beyond the in-game content, Version 4.6 also brings a hardware collaboration between Honkai: Star Rail and Razer.
The collection is themed around Silver Wolf LV.999 and includes a gaming chair, keyboard, mouse, and headset. HoYoverse has announced that the peripherals are planned for simultaneous release across multiple regions worldwide, with additional details to be revealed later.
Honkai: Star Rail × Zenless Zone Zero collaboration
One of the biggest announcements came when HoYoverse looked beyond Version 4.6 and revealed an upcoming Honkai: Star Rail × Zenless Zone Zero collaboration.
Two ZZZ characters have officially been confirmed for the crossover:
- Ellen
- Astra Yao
Both characters are scheduled to join Honkai: Star Rail in Version 4.8.
The crossover is therefore not part of Version 4.6 itself. Instead, it gives players an early preview of a major collaboration planned for later in the 4.X storyline, adding another long-term point of interest beyond the current update.
Final thoughts
Honkai: Star Rail 4.6 brings Pearl, a new Astropolis story chapter, multiple events, new Relics, Astral Imagea, and several cosmetic additions. The update launches on September 28, 2026, while the Special Program also offered an early look at the Version 4.8 crossover with Zenless Zone Zero.
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