Honkai Star Rail 4.3 Banner Guide: Mortenax Blade, Yao Guang, Cyrene and Phainon Pull Priority
Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.3, “The Lethe Below the Living,” ran from June 1, 2026 after maintenance until July 15, 2026 at 06:00 (UTC+8). The patch introduced Mortenax Blade as the new limited 5-star character and brought reruns for Yao Guang, Cyrene and Phainon across two banner phases.
Because Version 4.3 has already ended, this guide now works as an archive and rerun-planning reference. If any of these characters return in a future banner, the pull advice below can still help you decide whether they fit your account.
Honkai: Star Rail 4.3 Banner Schedule
Version 4.3 had two Character Event Warp phases and matching Light Cone Event Warps.
Phase | Dates | Featured 5-Star Characters | Boosted 4-Star Characters | Featured 5-Star Light Cones |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Phase 1 | June 1, 2026 after update – June 24, 2026 11:59 server time | Mortenax Blade, Yao Guang | Sampo, Luka, Tingyun | Reforged in Hellfire, When She Decided to See |
Phase 2 | June 24, 2026 12:00 – July 14, 2026 15:00 server time | Cyrene, Phainon | March 7th (Preservation), Arlan, Yukong | This Love, Forever, Thus Burns the Dawn |
Mortenax Blade was the only brand-new 5-star character in Version 4.3. Yao Guang, Cyrene and Phainon were rerun characters.
Version 4.3 Character Overview
Mortenax Blade
Mortenax Blade is a 5-star Fire character on the Path of Nihility. His kit revolves around a special Zone that strengthens his own combat flow while helping allies apply DEF-reducing and Vulnerability debuffs. During the Zone, he can also trigger additional Skill Follow-Up ATKs.
Pull value: strongest for accounts that already want a Nihility follow-up or debuff-focused sub-DPS. He is less urgent for new players who still need a broad main DPS, sustain or universal support.
Yao Guang
Yao Guang is a 5-star Physical character on the Path of Elation. Her banner, “Gleam of a Thousand Plumes,” ran in Phase 1 alongside Mortenax Blade.
Pull value: best for players building around Elation-focused teams. She is not the same kind of universal support as older Harmony staples, so evaluate her based on whether your account actually uses Elation units.
Cyrene
Cyrene is a 5-star Ice character on the Path of Remembrance. She returned in Phase 2 on the “Ripples Rejoined” banner.
Pull value: strong for accounts invested in Remembrance and related team structures. She is less important if your account lacks basic foundations such as a reliable DPS, sustain or general support core.
Phainon
Phainon is a 5-star Physical character on the Path of Destruction. He returned in Phase 2 on “To Evermore Burn as the Sun.”
Pull value: best for players who need a powerful damage dealer and have the supports to enable him. For many accounts, a strong DPS rerun can be more immediately useful than a niche sub-DPS.
Character Event Warp and Light Cone Warp Rules
Character Event Warps and Light Cone Event Warps have separate pity counters. Pulling on a character banner does not build pity for a Light Cone banner, and pulling Light Cones does not help you guarantee a character.
Within the same banner type, pity carries between Event Warps of that type. For example, Character Event Warp pity carries to later Character Event Warps, while Light Cone Event Warp pity carries to later Light Cone Event Warps.
Version 4.3 also used the Celestial Invitation system for selectable 5-star characters in Character Event Warps. Because this affects the pool of obtainable 5-star characters, players should always read the in-game Warp Details before pulling rather than assuming older banner rules apply in every detail.
Pull Priority by Account Type
New Players
Newer accounts should prioritize characters that solve immediate progression problems. If you do not have a reliable main DPS, Phainon has the clearest value among the 4.3 reruns. If you already have damage covered but lack team depth, Cyrene or Yao Guang may become more attractive depending on your roster.
Recommended priority: Phainon first if you need a DPS, then Cyrene or Yao Guang only if their team archetypes match your account.
Free-to-Play Players
F2P players should choose one target and avoid splitting pulls across multiple banners. Version 4.3 had four limited 5-star characters, but trying to chase all of them without a large saved stash would be unrealistic.
Recommended priority: pick the character who fixes your biggest team gap. Do not pull Light Cones until the base character is secured.
Low Spenders
Monthly pass or light-spending players can usually plan around one major target per patch, with a small buffer depending on pity and 50/50 status. If you were not already close to pity, Version 4.3 was not a good patch for chasing both phases.
Recommended priority: one E0 character first. Consider a Light Cone only if you already have the character, have leftover pulls and know the Light Cone is a major upgrade for your account.
Veteran Players
Veteran accounts should pull based on team specialization rather than general hype. Mortenax Blade is more appealing if you specifically need his debuff and follow-up profile. Yao Guang fits Elation-focused rosters. Cyrene supports Remembrance-oriented accounts. Phainon is valuable if you still need another Physical DPS or enjoy his playstyle.
Recommended priority: pull for team completion, not collection pressure.
Should You Pull Mortenax Blade or a Rerun?
For most accounts, rerun value depends on existing team gaps. Mortenax Blade is the new character, but “new” does not automatically mean highest priority.
Pull Mortenax Blade if:
You already have strong core teams.
You want a Fire Nihility unit with follow-up and debuff value.
Your roster can use DEF reduction and Vulnerability support effectively.
You enjoy his playstyle after testing him.
Consider a rerun instead if:
You need a primary DPS.
You are building Remembrance or Elation teams.
Your account lacks stable endgame team structure.
You only have enough pulls for one character.
The safest general advice is simple: pull the character who improves your active teams, not the one with the newest banner label.
Free Stellar Jade and Pulls in Version 4.3
Version 4.3 included several confirmed free resources, but exact total pull counts varied by account progress, endgame clear ability, event completion and login consistency.
Confirmed free resources included:
300 Stellar Jade from maintenance compensation
300 Stellar Jade from bug-fix compensation
10 Star Rail Special Passes from Gift of Odyssey
Stellar Jade from Aptitude Showcase trials
Event rewards from Pixel Plane Battle
Event rewards from Dustsprite Amusement Park
Rewards from Memory of Chaos, Pure Fiction and Apocalyptic Shadow rotations
Daily Training Stellar Jade
Simulated Universe or related weekly rewards
Achievement, quest and exploration rewards depending on account status
Because of these variables, it is better to treat any full-patch pull count as an estimate rather than a guaranteed number. A fully active account that clears endgame content earns much more than a casual account that skips events or cannot finish high-difficulty modes.
Best Resource Strategy for Version 4.3 Reruns
If these characters return in a future patch, use the same resource rules:
Check your current pity and guarantee status.
Pick one target before the banner starts.
Avoid building pity on banners you do not want.
Stop after E0 unless you have a planned Eidolon budget.
Do not pull Light Cones before securing the character.
Save if the character does not improve an active team.
The most common mistake is spreading pulls across multiple banners and ending the patch with no limited 5-star. A focused plan is almost always better.
Should You Skip Version 4.3 Characters for Future Banners?
Since Version 4.3 has already ended, the better question is whether these characters are worth pulling on rerun.
Skip them on rerun if:
Your current teams already clear endgame comfortably.
The character does not fit your existing archetypes.
You are saving for a confirmed future favorite.
You only have enough for one pity and are not guaranteed.
You would need to pull both the character and Light Cone to make the team work.
Pull on rerun if:
The character completes a team you already use.
You tested the character and enjoy the playstyle.
Your account has a clear role gap.
You have enough Stellar Jade or Special Passes to reach pity safely.
There is no need to frame Version 4.4 as an anniversary patch. Honkai: Star Rail’s anniversary is tied to April, while Version 4.4 launched after Version 4.3 in July 2026. Saving for future versions can still be smart, but the reason should be upcoming characters or account priorities, not a mistaken anniversary label.
Oneiric Shard Top-Up Notes
Honkai: Star Rail paid currency is Oneiric Shards, not Stellar Jade directly. Oneiric Shards can be exchanged for Stellar Jade at a 1:1 ratio in game and can also be used for eligible shop purchases.
If you choose to top up, Topuplist’s Honkai: Star Rail page lists UID-only direct top-up for global servers. The required information is your game UID and server region, with no game account login required. Delivery is listed as usually taking several minutes, so avoid saying it is always instant.
Use top-up only after you know your target and have checked your in-game pity. Buying currency before making a plan is how players overspend during multi-banner patches.
FAQ
When did Honkai: Star Rail 4.3 release?
Version 4.3 started on June 1, 2026 after maintenance and lasted until July 15, 2026 at 06:00 (UTC+8).
Who were the 4.3 Phase 1 characters?
Phase 1 featured Mortenax Blade and Yao Guang. The boosted 4-star characters were Sampo, Luka and Tingyun.
Who were the 4.3 Phase 2 characters?
Phase 2 featured Cyrene and Phainon. The boosted 4-star characters were March 7th (Preservation), Arlan and Yukong.
What were the 4.3 Phase 1 Light Cones?
Phase 1 featured Reforged in Hellfire for Mortenax Blade and When She Decided to See for Yao Guang.
What were the 4.3 Phase 2 Light Cones?
Phase 2 featured This Love, Forever for Cyrene and Thus Burns the Dawn for Phainon.
Was Xilian in Honkai: Star Rail 4.3?
The English character name is Cyrene. “Xilian” is a romanized rendering from Chinese and should not be used as the official English name in an overseas article.
Was Bai E in Honkai: Star Rail 4.3?
The English character name is Phainon. “Bai E” is not the official English name for overseas publishing.
How many free pulls did Version 4.3 give?
There is no single fixed number for every account. Confirmed rewards included 600 Stellar Jade from update compensation and 10 Star Rail Special Passes from Gift of Odyssey, plus event, daily, weekly and endgame rewards depending on account activity.
Should F2P players pull Light Cones?
Usually no. F2P players should secure the limited character first. Light Cones are optional upgrades and should only be considered if you have enough resources left after obtaining the character.
Is Topuplist HSR top-up no-login?
Topuplist lists Honkai: Star Rail as a UID-only direct top-up product for global servers. It requires your UID and server region, not your game account login.
Final Pull Advice
Version 4.3 was a four-banner patch with one new unit and three reruns. Mortenax Blade was the new Fire Nihility character, Yao Guang supported Elation-focused teams, Cyrene served Remembrance-oriented accounts, and Phainon offered strong Destruction DPS value.
For future reruns, do not chase all four. Pick the one that solves your account’s clearest problem, secure E0 first, and treat Light Cones as optional upgrades rather than mandatory pulls.
