Honkai Star Rail is a recently released turn-based RPG game created by the same developers who made Genshin Impact. It introduces fresh concepts and entertaining gameplay mechanics. Although gamers who have experience with Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact 3rd, and gacha games may already be aware of how these games work, Honkai Star Rail could be overwhelming for those who are new to the game.
Novice players may feel intimidated by the various choices, functions, and gacha system. For this reason, this guide aims to showcase the common beginner mistakes to avoid while embarking on their journey in Honkai Star Rail.
1. Completely ignoring starter units
Although it may be tempting to overlook and focus on leveling up the 5-star characters obtained through various in-game events and login bonuses in Honkai Star Rail, 4-star units will still play a crucial role in the game for a significant period of time.
Collecting gacha characters can be costly, so 4-star characters are a practical alternative for completing storylines and Cocoons.
One of the most impressive units is the protagonist, who deals significant physical damage. Moreover, the protagonist can receive Eidolon upgrades through the campaign, making them highly adaptable. Other units such as Dan Heng and Natasha are also noteworthy for their exceptional DPS output and support abilities.
2. Rushing exploration
Unlike its predecessor Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail does not primarily focus on exploration. Nevertheless, it offers a stunning pseudo-open world that players can fully immerse themselves in.
Exploration plays a crucial role in the game, as it helps to develop the narrative of the various worlds and allows players to collect resources to enhance their roster.
Furthermore, players who are observant and meticulous can locate numerous treasure chests and breakable objects scattered across the map. These provide various in-game items, including Stellar Jade, which will undoubtedly be valuable in their journey and during summons.
3. Not reading combat descriptions and enemy stats
The battles in Star Rail are thrilling and visually impressive, but in the midst of all the excitement, it can be easy to lose track of what's going on. While you may be able to use the auto feature to complete most battles by sufficiently leveling up your units, more complex challenges will be much more difficult.
Therefore, it is strongly advised that you become familiar with the battle system after the tutorial. You should read about your opponents and identify any flaws you find. On a PC, pressing Z will provide you access to the stats and immunities that are specific to each adversary. The in-game help menu is another helpful resource that offers further details on things like debuffs and enemy movesets.
4. Accidentally spending Stellar Jades on the Stellar Warp banner
Despite being obvious to most, some players may make wrong decisions in the excitement of the gacha, which can ultimately hinder the progress of their account.
One of the most common mistakes players make is accidentally summoning on the Stellar Warp banner instead of the Limited Warp banner. To clarify, the Stellar Warp banner features permanent characters that can be obtained at any point during the game's lifespan, while the Limited banners feature characters that do not return to the game's gacha pool - or at least until the developers decide to rerun the said unit.
While using Star Rail Passes on the Stellar Warp banner is a safe option, players should be careful not to waste their hard-earned Stellar Jades on this banner by mistake. Saving up for limited units is an excellent way to stay relevant in a live service game like Honkai Star Rail, and it will prolong the usefulness of your account in non-campaign content.
5. Ignoring the Store
The Store is likely the most overlooked feature of the game, particularly by new players.
While the in-game shop mainly offers in-app purchases using real-world currency, it also includes several items that players can purchase using Embers and Starlight. These currencies are obtained by rolling the gacha, and they are mainly used to purchase additional Star Rail Passes/Special Star Rail Passes and Light Cones.
In addition, the shop also provides ascension and EXP materials, although these items have lower priority.
Since the store is updated regularly, players should remember to exchange these rewards periodically and not miss out on them.
>>> Read more: Honkai Star Rail Gacha Explained: Stellar Jade, Passes, Pity System, And More!