HoYoverse has just announced some exciting news for Honkai Star Rail fans. During the latest livestream, the developers revealed that several well-loved characters are getting a revamp in the upcoming HSR 3.4 update. Characters like Kafka, Silver Wolf, Blade, and Jingliu are scheduled for some upgrades, addressing fan requests to bring back the prominence these characters once held. However, the details on what changes we can expect are still under wraps.
If the update schedule follows its usual pace, players can look forward to HSR 3.4 dropping in early July 2025.
Back in their heyday in 2023, these four characters were considered top-tier. Kafka even saw a resurgence in 2024 with the introduction of Acheron, but over time, their effectiveness in battles and team dynamics has waned. Jingliu, for instance, demands a lot of resources but still falls short in damage compared to her peers. Meanwhile, Kafka has been waiting for new damage-over-time allies, and the recent arrival of Mydei seems to be another version of Blade.
This phenomenon, often termed “powercreep,” is commonplace in gacha games like Honkai Star Rail, where older characters become less relevant as the game evolves. Interestingly, HoYoverse’s other titles usually don’t experience this drop-off as rapidly. For instance, Genshin Impact still features original characters who hold their own in top-tier lists, and in Zenless Zone Zero, players can tackle tough bosses using the same trio of starting characters without much trouble. Though these games have evolved, they haven’t sidelined their iconic characters.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like other characters will receive similar attention. Characters like Bailu, Yanqing, Natasha, Hook, and Welt haven’t kept up with the times, and there’s no indication of a comeback for them in the near future.
On a brighter note, version 3.2 will give players the opportunity to choose between two free 5-star characters: Ruan Mei or Luocha. So, for those who have been strategizing about expanding their rosters, this is something to look forward to.
