Version 4.4 is still live, but the road ahead is already packed—and if you think the Fate collaboration was big, you haven't seen what's coming. From summer-themed alternate forms to a fully confirmed Zenless Zone Zero crossover and even rumors of an entirely new playable Path, the next six months of Honkai: Star Rail banners are shaping up to be one of the most demanding stretches for your Stellar Jade savings since the game launched.
This roadmap covers everything from Version 4.5 through Version 5.x—the confirmed banners and the leaks worth paying attention to.
Next Banners
HSR Version 4.5 kicks off on August 25, 2026 (NA servers) and runs through early October. Unlike typical patches that introduce brand-new characters, 4.5 is all about alternate forms—two familiar faces returning with completely new identities, Paths, and playstyles.
Phase 1: Robin • Summeretto (Aug 25 – Sept 16)
Robin swaps her Physical Harmony kit for a Wind Element following the Path of Remembrance. Her official artwork shows her in full summer beachwear, accompanied by a band of birds—which are confirmed to be her memosprites. According to leaked kit details, she can summon up to three Memospites; once all are on the field, she enters a special state where the birds fight in her place while providing continuous team support. Her low-cost ultimate lets her frequently battery the team's main DPS, while her buffs can switch between ATK and CRIT DMG depending on team composition. That kind of flexibility makes her a strong candidate for long-term relevance—universal supports have always aged well in Honkai: Star Rail.
Phase 2: Aventurine • Waveflair (Sept 16 – Oct 6)
Aventurine undergoes one of the most dramatic gameplay shifts we've seen for an alternate form. He trades his Imaginary Preservation role for a Quantum Element following the Path of Elation. Instead of remaining a shield-focused sustain as many originally expected, he has fully transitioned into an Elation follow-up attack DPS with his own resource system. Recent beta updates have reportedly given him several noticeable buffs, making him look much stronger than many players initially anticipated.
The real problem with Version 4.5 isn't whether these characters are good—it's deciding which one you can realistically afford. With only three weeks between banners, most free-to-play and light-spending players simply won't have enough Stellar Jades to comfortably pull both. Every pull spent here directly affects your ability to prepare for everything coming afterward.
4.5’s Unconfirmed Guest: Antares
Recent leaks from Sakiko Leaks suggest that Version 4.5 may involve an additional character named Antares, who reportedly serves as a vessel for an entity called Beatriz. According to the source, this information is still speculative and should not be treated as confirmed. Whether Antares will be a playable unit or a story NPC remains unclear, but if the leak holds any truth, it could add another layer to the patch's narrative—and potentially another banner to watch.
Version 4.6 – 5.x: The Full Roadmap Ahead
Before diving into each version, here's a quick overview of the upcoming banner schedule:
Version 4.6 – Pearl
Version 4.6 is expected to launch around October 28, 2026 and introduces one brand-new five-star character: Pearl.
Pearl's development has been anything but straightforward. Early rumors suggested she would follow the Preservation Path, then shifted toward Elation. Current testing places her as an Ice character following the Path of Elation, functioning primarily as a sustain/support built specifically for Elation teams. Her sustain style reportedly leans toward shields by default, though some speculation suggests healing may also be part of her kit.
Version 4.7 – Nihilux
Version 4.7 shifts the spotlight toward Nihilux, another Elation character who has already gained tremendous popularity thanks to the Plan Arcadia storyline. Even before becoming playable, she's managed to attract plenty of attention simply because of her role in the narrative.
Current information suggests Nihilux will receive a completely redesigned playable model rather than using her original NPC appearance. That's significant because playable redesigns often allow developers to create much more expressive animations and detailed visual effects than they could with story-only models.
When you combine all these factors—narrative popularity, visual redesign, and her connection to the Elation archetype—Version 4.7 starts looking like one of the safest long-term saving targets on the entire roadmap. If you enjoy the Elation playstyle or simply like Nihilux as a character, this might be the banner worth prioritizing over everything else.
Version 4.8 – The ZZZ Crossover
Version 4.8 brings one of the most anticipated events in Honkai: Star Rail history: the official crossover with Zenless Zone Zero.
Hoyoverse officially confirmed the collaboration in July 2026, with Pom-Pom—the conductor of the Astral Express—already spotted wandering around Sixth Street in New Eridu as a playful teaser. The studio has confirmed that a full collaboration is on the way, with a launch window set for winter 2026.
Early assumptions suggested the collaboration would arrive in Version 4.7. However, newer information now points toward it taking place one patch later in Version 4.8 instead.
The biggest remaining mystery revolves around which characters will actually participate. Current leaks suggest a three-character swap:
Ellen Joe / Astra Yao / Robin
It's not yet clear whether these characters would be fully playable or appear only as cameos. Collaboration characters are always difficult to predict because development plans can change quickly. Until official marketing begins, it's best to treat the expected roster with healthy skepticism—even if the collaboration itself is already guaranteed.
Version 5.x – New Path: Finality
Version 5.0 and beyond may completely reshape the future of Honkai: Star Rail. The biggest rumor surrounding the 5.x cycle isn't actually a specific character—it's the possible introduction of an entirely new playable Path known as Finality.
According to leaks from Seele Leaks, a source with a strong track record, the next playable Path after Elation will likely debut alongside the 5.x update. There's a chance it could debut as early as HSR 5.0—similar to how Elation became playable in Version 4.0.
Currently, Finality exists as a non-playable Path in the game's lore, closely tied to Elio, the leader of the Stellaron Hunters. According to the game's lore, Finality is connected to Time. If this Path becomes playable, it would mark one of the largest gameplay expansions since the introduction of Remembrance and, more recently, Elation.
Adding a new Path isn't just about releasing another character. It introduces fresh mechanics, new team-building possibilities, and potentially an entirely different way of approaching combat. Lore-wise, Finality is also incredibly significant—everything currently points toward strong connections with Terminus and the Stellaron Hunters, meaning this wouldn't simply be another gameplay update but potentially one of the central narrative developments for the entire game moving forward.
As for alternate forms during the Version 5.x cycle, nothing has been officially confirmed yet. Still, community speculation continues focusing on several characters whose stories naturally align with Finality. Welt, Kafka, and Firefly are consistently mentioned because each already has deep narrative connections that could justify entirely new versions of themselves.
Final Thoughts
The roadmap ahead is full of exciting banners, but the real risk isn't missing a character—it's spreading your Stellar Jades too thin across too many targets. Pick your priority now and commit your savings exclusively to that goal. Let the rest pass.
