Mark your calendars, Trailblazers! Yao Guang releases February 13, 2026 at 11:00 AM (UTC+8) in Honkai Star Rail Version 4.0 “No Aha at Full Moon.” Unlike typical three-week banners, her “Gleam of a Thousand Plumes” event warp runs the entire patch cycle until March 31—giving you almost six weeks to secure the Elation Path’s cornerstone support character.
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HSR 4.0: Global Release Times By Region
Due to time zones, American players actually get early access on February 12! The 5-hour maintenance begins at 6:00 AM (UTC+8) on February 13, with servers going live once completed. Here’s when you can start pulling:
| Region | Release Date | Release Time (Local) |
|---|---|---|
| Asia (UTC+8/CST) | February 13, 2026 | 11:00 AM |
| India (IST) | February 13, 2026 | 8:30 AM |
| Europe (CET) | February 13, 2026 | 4:00 AM |
| UK (GMT) | February 13, 2026 | 3:00 AM |
| US East (EST/UTC-5) | February 12, 2026 | 10:00 PM |
| US West (PST/UTC-8) | February 12, 2026 | 7:00 PM |
Maintenance Schedule & Preload
Maintenance starts February 13 at 6:00 AM (UTC+8) and lasts approximately 5 hours. NA players experience maintenance from 3:00 PM PST on February 12. During this window, you’ll receive 600 Stellar Jades as compensation—standard for major updates.
The preload is already available: 12.7 GB for PC and 4.9 GB for mobile. Download now to jump straight into Planarcadia when servers open! Make sure to claim Honkai Star Rail codes before maintenance for bonus Stellar Jades.
Banner Details & Companions
Yao Guang’s extended banner duration is unprecedented—she’s available all six weeks of Version 4.0 (February 13 to March 31). This gives F2P players extra time to accumulate pulls without feeling rushed. Phase 1 features three rerun banners running standard three-week durations:
- Hysilens (5-star Quantum Harmony)
- Evernight (5-star Ice Remembrance)
- Black Swan (5-star Wind Nihility)
These reruns end when Phase 2 begins around early March, introducing Sparxie (the second Elation Path character) alongside Cerydra, Rappa, and Sparkle reruns.
Why Pull Yao Guang Immediately?
As the first-ever Elation Path support, Yao Guang is irreplaceable for future meta teams. Her kit revolves around “Punchline” mechanics and Weal/Woe Lots—deploying a support Zone that buffs team Elation stats while generating Punchlines to amplify damage. Her Ultimate triggers “Aha Instant,” granting extra turns where all allies unleash Elation Skills simultaneously.
She pairs perfectly with Sparxie (releasing Phase 2) and future Elation DPS characters. Early adopters gain a competitive edge in Memory of Chaos and Pure Fiction modes. For detailed build guides and team compositions, visit TechnoSports gaming section after launch.
Version 4.0 Bonus Rewards
Alongside Yao Guang, HoYoverse is celebrating with massive login rewards:
- Free 5-star selector: Choose from Acheron, Aventurine, Sparkle, Jingliu, Imbibitor Lunae, Kafka, or Jing Yuan (available until Version 4.2)
- 20 free pulls via login events
- 1,600 Stellar Jades from Yao Guang fortune event
- Free Ruan Mei outfit: “Plumblossom Letter” skin
Download Honkai Star Rail now on PC, mobile, and PS5! Stay updated on patch notes, character tier lists, and event guides at TechnoSports.co.in.
FAQs
What time does Yao Guang’s banner go live?
Yao Guang’s banner starts February 13, 2026 at 11:00 AM UTC+8 (Feb 12 at 10:00 PM EST) after maintenance ends, running until March 31 across the entire 4.0 patch.
Is Yao Guang a limited or standard character?
Yao Guang is a limited 5-star event warp character. While her banner lasts unusually long (6 weeks), she won’t be added to the standard pool and requires event wishes to obtain.
