Honkai: Star Rail's upcoming Version 4.4 is generating massive hype as a major content drop. It introduces Himeko's powered-up form (Himeko Nova / Himeko SP) alongside a second wave of the Fate/stay night collaboration featuring Gilgamesh and Rin Tohsaka.
Recent closed beta updates (particularly V3 and the fresh V4 adjustments) have brought noticeable kit tweaks to all three limited 5-star characters. These changes aim to refine their performance ahead of the patch's expected mid-July launch and the July 3 livestream.
All details remain subject to further changes before official release.
Himeko Nova Receives Mixed Adjustments
Himeko Nova stands out as the patch's flagship character: a 5-star Fire Erudition unit with a unique Starblazer resource system and strong synergy with Astral Express teammates.
In V3, she received clear buffs, including a massive increase to her self crit damage (reportedly doubling from 50% to 100% in key traces) and new team-wide energy utility that improves rotation comfort for the whole squad.
However, the latest V4 beta introduced damage-focused nerfs, particularly to her ultimate multipliers. Some compensatory buffs appear elsewhere in her kit, creating a more balanced but less explosive profile.
Community feedback describes her as still strong overall, especially in teams built around her Assist Skill mechanics and Navigator-themed relics.
Gilgamesh Sees Energy Overhaul and Later Refinements
Gilgamesh (5-star Lightning Destruction) benefits from flashy Fate-inspired animations and a high-damage ultimate playstyle.
V3 delivered one of the patch's biggest quality-of-life improvements: his ultimate energy cost dropped sharply from 600 to 360. This change dramatically improves his uptime and makes him far more accessible in longer fights.
V4 brought additional adjustments, including some damage or joint attack tweaks that have left parts of the community disappointed. Testers note he remains viable but may require specific supports to reach peak performance.
Rin Tohsaka Gets Balanced Down Then Slight Uplifts
Rin Tohsaka (5-star Quantum Erudition) brings skill-point hungry mechanics and strong single-target/bounce damage with her Fate collab identity.
V3 applied nerfs to her skill-based damage and bounce multipliers, which some players felt made her E0 version feel undertuned compared to expectations.
The newer V4 changes delivered slight buffs across parts of her kit, helping restore some of her earlier power while keeping her balanced. She continues to shine in compositions that leverage her synergy with Archer.
What This Means for Players
These beta tweaks show miHoYo actively iterating on the new characters to hit the right power level before launch. Himeko Nova and Gilgamesh received the most dramatic shifts across versions, while Rin saw more incremental balancing.
Version 4.4 looks set to be one of the most stacked patches in recent memory, combining a beloved original character’s upgrade with a high-profile collab.
Important reminder: All information comes from beta data mining and tester reports. Kits can (and often do) receive last-minute changes. Official details will drop during the Version 4.4 livestream.
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