Honkai Star Rail 3.4 Update: Everything You Need to Know About the Fate/stay Night Collaboration and More

The long-anticipated Honkai Star Rail 3.4 Update, officially titled "For the Sun is Set to Die", has finally arrived—and it’s nothing short of a cosmic spectacle. With a gripping storyline continuation, new playable characters, a crossover with the Fate/stay Night franchise, combat upgrades, fresh Light Cones, and mini-events galore, version 3.4 is shaping up to be one of the game’s most ambitious patches yet.

Let’s dive deep into what Honkai Star Rail 3.4 Update brings to the table.

1. Release Date and Maintenance Schedule

The Honkai Star Rail 3.4 Update went live globally on July 2, 2025, following a five-hour maintenance window. The update rolled out across multiple platforms—PC, PS5, iOS, and Android—with maintenance compensation rewarding players 300 Stellar Jades. Maintenance times varied by region but generally concluded by the early hours of July 2 in Asia and late evening July 1 in the Americas.

2. Aedes Elysiae: The New Exploration Zone

Players can now explore a new area called Aedes Elysiae, which holds deep lore significance for one of the latest characters, Phainon. A small yet intricately designed zone, Aedes Elysiae consists of a serene village and an eerie forest, each filled with secrets that tie directly into the ongoing main storyline. Players journey here while attempting to save Amphoreus and uncover the truth behind the Chrysos Heirs.

3. New Characters: Phainon, Saber, and Archer

🟦 Phainon (5-Star, Destruction, Physical)

As the poster character of the Honkai Star Rail 3.4 Update, Phainon is a powerful main DPS who transforms using “Coreflames.” His transformation dramatically boosts his abilities but temporarily removes allies from combat (their passive effects remain). With his Territory active, Phainon can handle massive AoE challenges alone.

Signature Ability: Upon Ultimate activation, he transforms, gains new abilities, and increases Technique Point cap. His Technique can also defeat weaker mobs without initiating battle—great for efficient exploration.

🟨 Saber (5-Star, Destruction, Wind)

Saber, a beloved character from the Fate/stay Night universe, enters the battlefield in style. She gathers “Core Resonance” from allies’ Ultimates and her own actions, allowing her to perform an extra action. Her Skill converts all Core Resonance into damage and instantly charges her Ultimate, “Excalibur,” which deals devastating AoE Wind DMG.

🟥 Archer (5-Star, Hunt, Quantum)

Also from Fate/stay Night, Archer excels in rapid single-target damage. His Skill can be spammed without ending his turn when in the “Circuit Connection” state. His Ultimate, Unlimited Blade Works, unlocks a Special Charge, enabling follow-up attacks every time an ally attacks—ideal for synergy-heavy teams.

4. How to Get Archer for Free

From July 11 until the end of version 3.6, players can claim Archer for free by logging in and reaching Trailblaze Level 3. This marks one of the biggest giveaways in the game’s history, especially for fans of both Honkai Star Rail and Fate/stay Night.

5. Character Upgrades and Novaflare System

The Honkai Star Rail 3.4 Update brings the Novaflare system, which upgrades iconic characters such as:

• Silver Wolf – Now has AoE Ult instead of single-target

• Jingliu, Blade, Kafka – Receive enhanced kits and Eidolons

• Firefly – Gets a new outfit: Spring Missive

Players can test these characters in the Travel Log and earn free Stellar Jades while experimenting with the rebalanced builds.

6. New and Returning Banners

The banner rotation in version 3.4 is one of the most stacked lineups yet:

Phase 1 (July 1 – July 23)

• Phainon with 4-stars: Tingyun, March 7th, Yukong

Phase 2

• Firefly, Jingliu, Blade return with enhanced kits

Also, reruns for Tribbie, Sunday, and Sparkle give players another chance to secure limited units.

7. New Light Cones

Several new Light Cones have been added to complement the new characters:

⭐️ 5-Star Light Cones

• Thus Burns the Dawn (Phainon) – Boosts SPD, ignores DEF, massive post-Ultimate DMG buff

• The Hell Where Ideals Burn (Archer) – CRIT Rate + ATK scaling based on Skill Points

⭐️ 4-Star Light Cones (Nameless Honor Pass)

Includes:

• The Story’s Next Page

• The Flower Remembers

• See You at the End

• Holiday Thermae Escapade, and more

These new additions offer buffs across various paths: Remembrance, Nihility, Destruction, and more, allowing for flexible builds.

8. Trailblaze Mission: “For the Sun is Set to Die”

Available permanently after completing “The Fall at Dawn’s Rise,” this mission brings heavy narrative developments. Players uncover Phainon’s background, the fate of the Coreflames, and the foreshadowing of the Era Nova, a mysterious cosmic transformation that could reshape the galaxy.

9. Main Events of Version 3.4

📌 Fate/stay Night Collaboration Events

1. Sweet Dreams and the Holy Grail

   • July 11 – August 11

   • Battle through Penacony’s version of the Holy Grail War

   • Earn Self-Modeling Resin, Tracks of Destiny

2. Fate Contract

   • Obtain Archer and upgrade materials

3. Fate Gift

   • Warp 200x to unlock Archer’s signature Light Cone

📌 Mini Events

• Origami Bird Clash: Official Edition

  • July 2 – August 11

  • Unlock avatars, Stellar Jades, Self-Modeling Resin

• Gift of Odyssey

  • Log in 7 days = 10 free pulls

• Planar Fissure & Realm of the Strange

  • Boosted drop rates for relic farming

10. Quality of Life Improvements

• Skip Dialogue Feature

  • Players can now fast-forward through dialogue scenes, choosing their preferred story pace

• Flexible Combat Modes

  • Switch between classic and enhanced combat modes freely

11. Final Thoughts: Why Version 3.4 Is a Must-Play

The Honkai Star Rail 3.4 Update is more than just a content drop—it’s a celebration of crossovers, narrative progression, mechanical upgrades, and generous player rewards. With free access to Archer, new high-damage characters like Phainon and Saber, and valuable event loot, this update caters to veterans and new Trailblazers alike.

For those curious or returning, now is the perfect time to immerse yourself in the star-chasing universe of Honkai Star Rail.