The laughs are getting louder. HoYoverse has confirmed that Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.0, titled No Aha at Full Moon, arrives on February 13, ushering in a brand-new arc centred on The Elation.
As per the press release, this update introduces Planarcadia, kicks off the wildly unhinged Phantasmoon Games, and marks the beginning of a year-long Trailblazing journey where attention is power and amusement is everything.
Welcome to Planarcadia, Aha’s playground
Version 4.0 sends the Astral Express to Planarcadia, a once-flat “World in Canvas” that transformed into a bustling entertainment capital after IPC involvement. It is a world where clout reigns supreme and being forgotten is the ultimate fate.
The arrival is personal too. Planarcadia is Navigator Himeko’s homeland and the place where the Astral Express reignited its journey fifteen years ago. This time around, the crew is greeted not just by IPC hosts like Madam Pearl, but by unexpected fame. A hit comic based on the Express Crew is already being serialised, throwing the team straight into the spotlight.
From here, the journey will later continue to Astropolis, the Interastral Peace Entertainment headquarters, setting the stage for even more interstellar mischief.
Duomension City and the cost of being remembered
Much of the action unfolds in Duomension City, home to the imagenae. These strange beings live in symbiosis with the locals, sustained entirely by Wishpower and attention. If people stop caring, they fade away.
That idea shapes the entire city. Entertainment venues fill every street, laughter never stops, and hidden entrances lead to surreal sub-worlds. These include Dovebrook’s neon-lit commercial district, Graphia Academy, Himeko’s former art school, and even the secret Tavern of Elation, rumoured to be tucked away somewhere out of sight.
The Phantasmoon Games take centre stage
At the heart of Planarcadia lies the Phantasmoon Games, the most chaotic attraction of all. Designed by The Laughter themselves, this event has no fixed rules. The only goal is simple: attract the most attention.
Eight masks act as entry tickets, and only one winner earns an audience with THEM and the prize of becoming an Aeon for one minute. With the Astral Express, Masked Fools, IPC, Xianzhou Alliance, and even the Stellaron Hunters all circling, things are about to get messy. Silver Wolf and Blade are already making moves, and their motives remain very much unclear.
Combat gets the Elation treatment
In Version 4.0, combat itself becomes a spectacle. When Elation Path characters join the team, or when facing certain enemies, players earn Punchlines. Build up enough, and Aha will personally intervene with an “Aha Instant”.
During this phase, Elation characters unleash their skills in sequence, growing stronger with every Punchline gathered. Once it ends, Elation characters receive Certified Banger buffs, adding extra layers of strategy and synergy to fights.
Two new 5-star characters steal the show
Trailblazers will recruit two new 5-star Elation characters in Version 4.0.
First is General Yao Guang, the long-teased Seer Strategist of the Xianzhou Alliance. A Physical Elation character, she manipulates battle flow through Weal and Woe Lots, generating Punchlines, empowering allies, and even triggering extra Aha Instants through her Ultimate.
Joining her is Sparxie, a Fire-type Elation character and Planarcadia’s hottest streamer. Her combat kit revolves around livestream mechanics, Skill Point spending, random Gifts, and explosive damage payoffs. During Aha Instants, she unleashes massive multi-hit attacks, turning every fight into a full-blown spectacle.
Warps, rewards, and returning favourites
Version 4.0 also features limited 5-star Warp events across both halves of the update, alongside enhancements for Black Swan and Sparkle. These buffs strengthen DOT team damage and extend Sparkle’s support to Elation damage, making Elation teams even more potent.
Players logging in after launch can claim a 20-pull reward and Ruan Mei’s new outfit for free. The Yao Guang fortune event adds 1,600 Stellar Jades, with more bonuses rolling out over time, including new outfits, headwear, and even a free 5-star character selector.
New events and permanent updates
On the gameplay front, Version 4.0 adds new limited events like Cosmicon Collective, featuring card-based battles, and Furbobo Weekly, where players step into the role of magazine editors. Permanent modes also see updates, with Currency Wars expanding for the first time and the Divergent Universe gaining new depth.
Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.0 launches February 13 on all platforms. If you like your space operas loud, chaotic, and fuelled by applause, Planarcadia is about to feel like home.