Version 4.0 just launched with the Planarcadia update, bringing two brand-new Elation Path characters alongside several powerful reruns. With eight five-star characters available in the banner rotation, choosing wisely becomes crucial for both your primogems and team composition. Let’s break down which characters deserve your hard-earned Stellar Jades and which ones you should skip.
Table of Contents
Honkai Star Rail Complete 4.0 Character Rankings
| Rank | Character | Element/Path | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yao Guang | Physical/Elation | S+ Tier |
| 2 | Sparkle | Quantum/Harmony | S Tier |
| 3 | Sparxie | Fire/Elation | A+ Tier |
| 4 | Evernight | Ice/Remembrance | A Tier |
| 5 | Black Swan | Wind/Nihility | A Tier |
| 6 | Hysilens | Lightning/Nihility | B+ Tier |
| 7 | Cerydra | Ice/Destruction | B Tier |
| 8 | Rappa | Imaginary/Erudition | C Tier |
The Top Tier: Must-Pull Characters
Yao Guang dominates as the clear winner of Version 4.0. This Xianzhou Yuque General combines devastating Physical Elation damage with All-Type RES PEN buffs for the entire team. Her Aha Instant mechanic summons Aha himself for substantial burst damage. Being brand new means minimal meta-shift concerns.
Sparkle received significant buffs that fixed her balancing issues. Her CRIT DMG buffs and 50% action advance work with most DPS characters. With Sparxie consuming massive Skill Points, Sparkle becomes essential for SP-positive team rotations.
Mid-Tier Considerations
Sparxie brings high-risk, high-reward gameplay through livestream mechanics that generate Punchline via Engagement Farming. She’s SP-friendly but requires specific team compositions to maximize her damage ceiling.
Evernight pairs beautifully with Remembrance teams, especially alongside her memosprite Evey for massive Ice damage. Her HP-scaling mechanics synergize perfectly with characters like Castorice for gacha RPG enthusiasts.
Black Swan’s 4.0 enhancement makes her significantly more viable in DoT teams. Pair her with Kafka and Hysilens for devastating damage-over-time effects.
Skip-Worthy Characters
Rappa sits at the bottom despite decent Break Effect damage capabilities. Other meta-defining DPS units simply outperform her across most endgame content. Unless you specifically need an Imaginary Erudition character, your Stellar Jades are better spent elsewhere.
For players diving into Honkai Star Rail’s endgame challenges, understanding these rankings helps maximize your account’s potential. The gacha game system rewards strategic planning over impulsive pulls.
Pro Tip: Version 4.0 offers a free five-star selector (available through Version 4.2) featuring Acheron, Aventurine, Sparkle, Jingliu, Imbibitor Lunae, Kafka, and Jing Yuan.
FAQs
Q: Should I pull Yao Guang if I already have strong Physical DPS characters?
A: Absolutely! Yao Guang isn’t just a DPS—her RES PEN buffs support your entire team, making her valuable even if you have Physical carries already.
Q: Is Sparxie worth pulling if I don’t have other Elation characters?
A: Not really. Sparxie’s kit scales heavily with mono-Elation team compositions, so she underperforms without proper support from the new Path mechanics.
