Honkai: Star Rail

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Video game fandom
NameHonkai: Star Rail
Abbreviation(s)Star Rail, HSR
Developer(s)miHoYo/Hoyoverse
Release dateApril 26, 2023
Platform(s)Windows, iOS, Android, PlayStation 5
External link(s)https://www.honkaistarrail.com/en
See alsoHonkai Impact, another RPG in the series
Related articles on Fanlore.

Honkai: Star Rail (崩坏：星穹铁道) is a strategy RPG game published by miHoYo. It is the fourth installment in the Honkai series, designed with newcome players in mind. Honkai: Star Rail is a gacha game, meaning it relies on a regular cycle of character releases that are available for purchase with in-game currency that can be partially gained through gameplay or bought with actual-life currency.

With the way gacha games' monetization model is built, each character is designed to be very bright, attractive, and fitting a character archetype. These characters are easy to build fandoms around.

Background

HSR follows a player character on a journey across a space fantasy world. The main cast travels on the Astral Express, a train that works like a space ship. The Astral Express's goal is to trailblaze across the galaxies and cultures, bringing worlds together. In the process, the crew stops at different planets or space ships, interacts with different species, and frequently participates in regions' politics or conflicts. The story is supplemented by extensive world-building, including a pantheon of Aeons that represent their respective values. Out of those, playable paths (value alignments) are Preservation, Abundance, Hunt, Nihility, Harmony, Erudition, Destruction.

The game has four regions so far (April 2024); Herta's Space Station; Jarilo-VI, represented by Belobog; Xianzhou Luofu; and Penacony. Of the regions, Xianzhou Luofu and Penacony are clear fan favourites, and Penacony has had many vocal fans.

Fandom

MC (Stelle/Caelus)

Like in the other Hoyoverse games, players can give the main character a custom name, and the character can be either male- or female-presenting. Stelle and Caelus (the default names for the female and male MC respectively) have the same gameplay mechanics and conversation choices, but there are some differences in attack animations. Based on those animations, fandom often characterizes Stelle and Caelus slightly differently. The MC, unlike in other gacha games, tends to be very well-liked, with most fans appreciating the MC's chaotic personality as well as the fact that the MC is a powerful character (rare in gacha games).

Other Playable Characters

There are 58[1] playable characters available, divided by faction or role:

  • Astral Express - released April 2023
    • Caelus or Stelle
    • Dan Heng
    • Himeko
    • March 7th
    • Welt Yang
  • Herta Space Station - released April 2023
    • Arlan
    • Asta
    • Herta
    • Ruan Mei
  • Belobog - released April 2023
    • Bronya
    • Clara
    • Gepard
    • Hook
    • Luka
    • Lynx
    • Natasha
    • Pela
    • Sampo
    • Seele
    • Serval
  • Xianzhou Alliance - released in April 2023
    • Bailu
    • Dan Heng (Vidyadhara form)
    • Feixiao
    • Fu Xuan
    • Fugae
    • Guinaifen
    • Hanya
    • Huohuo
    • Jiaoqiu
    • Jing Yuan
    • Jingliu
    • Lingsha
    • Luocha
    • Moze
    • Quingque
    • Shushang
    • Tingyun
    • Xueyi
    • Yanqing
    • Yukong
    • Yunli
  • Penacony - released February 2024
    • Gallagher
    • Misha
    • Robin
    • Sunday
  • Stellaron Hunters
    • Blade
    • Firefly
    • Kafka
    • Silver Wolf
  • Interastral Peace Corporation

Shipping

Because of the regular new character release cycle, the cast is always growing, and fandom switches attention between emerging ships again and again. No list can be exhaustive, but below are some popular pairings.

Dan Heng and Jing Yuan in particular are the fandom bicycles. Many characters are popular.

Dr Ratio is often compared to Alhaitham from Genshin Impact. He was given as a free character for a limited time, a move that was very popular with fans.

Statistics and aggregates

Dan Heng/Blade

Dan Heng and Blade, also known as renheng and hengren ("ren" being Chinese for "blade"), emerged as a ship prior to HSR release date because of promo materials.

Jing Yuan/Yanqing

Jing Yuan and Yanqing also emerged as a pre-release ship and remain popular across international HSR fandom.

Interaction with fans

Fan Activity Around Gameplay

Many players enjoy the strategy, gameplay, and other non-story/non-character focused content in HSR.

Examples of streamers/video guide makers

Gameplay Guides

For example, speed, and the idea of speed tuning. Speed determines how many actions a player can take in a turn, and Action Value (AV) order the turns appear to be taken in in game. Many, many guides have been created for this purpose. Speed boots has been said so often it has become trite (as speed can only be the main stat on boot equipment).

Example Fanworks

Fanfiction

Fanart

Vids

Zines

Links

References

  1. ^ AS of October 2024; this number changes with each new release
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