Honkai: Star Rail's Version 4.0 brings players to the vibrant new world of Planarcadia, along with exciting banners, events, and generous rewards. One standout freebie is the Free 5-Star Character Selector event. By simply logging in during Version 4.0 (until the end of Version 4.2), you can claim one limited 5-star character from a pool of seven powerhouse options.
This is a game-changer for F2P players, new accounts, or anyone filling roster gaps. The choices are:
| Character | Element/Path | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Acheron | Lightning / Nihility | Main DPS (Ult spam) |
| Aventurine | Imaginary / Preservation | Sustain (Shields + Debuffs) |
| Sparkle | Quantum / Harmony | Buffer (DMG Amp + Action Advance) |
| Jingliu | Ice / Destruction | Hypercarry DPS (Break + Freeze) |
| Imbibitor Lunae (Dan Heng IL) | Imaginary / Destruction | AoE Hypercarry DPS |
| Kafka | Lightning / Nihility | DoT Sub-DPS |
| Jing Yuan | Lightning / Erudition | AoE DPS |
These are all E0 (no eidolons), but their base kits remain strong in the 4.0 meta, especially with recent buffs to DoT teams and Harmony supports.
Quick Breakdown of Each Character in 4.0 Meta
- Sparkle: The ultimate team buffer. Her Skill Point generation, CRIT DMG buffs, and action advances make her essential for hypercarries. Buffed in 4.0 for better SP economy and reliability in multi-wave content. Future-proof for Elation-focused teams.
- Kafka: Queen of DoT. Triggers massive Damage over Time with any ally attack, synergizing with Black Swan and upcoming units. Her E1 equivalent is huge for DoT clears in Pure Fiction and Apocalyptic Shadow. Fun and effective for farming.
- Acheron: Stacks debuffs for devastating Ultimates. Pairs perfectly with Sparkle. Great if you lack a strong single-target DPS.
- Aventurine: Top-tier shielder with blind debuffs and CRIT scaling. Excellent sustain for aggressive teams. Ideal F2P pick if you lack strong Preservation options.
- Imbibitor Lunae: High-damage AoE hypercarry, but SP-hungry. Needs heavy investment. Niche for elite-heavy content.
- Jingliu: Break Effect monster for Ice-weak foes. Solid but outshined by newer DPS.
- Jing Yuan: AoE farmer with Lightning Lord. Fun for casual play, weakest in endgame.
Tier List for 4.0 Endgame (MoC, PF, AS)
| Tier | Characters | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| S | Sparkle, Kafka | Versatile enablers; buffs/DoT meta-dominant; high E1 value. |
| A | Acheron, Aventurine | Strong niche fillers; reliable clears. |
| B | Imbibitor Lunae, Jingliu | Good with investment; situational. |
| C | Jing Yuan | Outdated; collection only. |
Who Should You Pick? Recommendations by Account Type
Your choice depends on your roster. Prioritize filling gaps:
- Best Overall: Sparkle - If you have sustain/DPS, grab her. Boosts any team 20-30% DMG; enables Acheron full potential; preps for 4.x Elation units. Most recommended in discussions.
- DoT Lovers or No Sub-DPS: Kafka - Unlocks powerful DoT teams cheaply (pair with free 4-stars like Sampo/Guinaifen). Excels in PF/AS.
- New/F2P/No Sustain: Aventurine - Shields let you ignore healers; contributes damage/debuffs. Easy clears.
- Acheron Mains: Acheron - For E2 if you have E1; otherwise Sparkle first.
- Others: Jingliu/DHIL for fans; skip JY unless waifu/husbando.
Pro Tip: Wait to claim until after initial 4.0 pulls to assess needs. All are limited, so no reruns soon.