Honkai: Star Rail (HSR) Version 4.6 Guide: Pearl, Banner Schedule, Events & ZZZ Collab

Summary

Version 4.6 has been officially revealed and launches on September 28, 2026. It's a classic transition patch—much of the exciting content has been teased for later versions (the Currency Wars overhaul in 4.7 and the Zenless Zone Zero collab in 4.8), but 4.6 still delivers one key new character in Pearl and enough activities to keep you busy. If you're planning to pull for Pearl or save for upcoming banners, you may want to buy Honkai: Star Rail Top Up ahead of time to make sure your Stellar Jades are ready.

1. New Character: Pearl

Basic Info

Rarity: 5★

Element: Ice

Path: Elation

Role: Sustain/Support for Elation teams

Pearl is the fourth playable member of the IPC Strategic Investment Department's "Ten Stonehearts," following Topaz, Jade, and Aventurine.

Core Mechanics

"Certified Banger"
Pearl's core resource. Each point provides 200 Repellency, which Pearl can consume to block 60% of damage when allies are hit. Certified Bangers do not expire and cap at 50.

"Deep Learning"
After using her Ultimate, Pearl applies "Deep Learning" to one ally, making them the "Aesthetic Archetype." Based on the number of Elation characters on the team:

1/2/3 Elation characters: Advances the Aesthetic Archetype's action by 10%/15%/30%

4 Elation characters: The Aesthetic Archetype gains 1 extra turn, and at the start of that turn gains 30 Certified Bangers and 60 Punchline

While in Deep Learning, Pearl's enhanced Basic Attack, if used on an Elation character, deals additional Elation DMG based on the Aesthetic Archetype's stats.

Elation Skill
Based on the number of Elation characters on the team, allies' next attacks deal additional Elation DMG of the corresponding element:

1/2/3/4 Elation characters: 10%/15%/20%/40% additional Elation DMG

Build Recommendations

Light Cone: Signature "Colors for Tomorrow" is best in slot. At S1 it provides 48% DEF, heals the team for 10% of Pearl's DEF after using her Elation Skill, and increases enemy DMG taken by 10% for 3 turns. Four-star alternatives include generic Elation Path Light Cones.

Relics:

Preferred: 4-piece "Sacerdos' Relived Ordeal" or DEF/healing-focused sets

Main stats: DEF% Body, SPD Feet, DEF% Orb, Energy Regen Rope (or DEF%)

Target panel: 2400+ DEF (to trigger her key trace), 134+ SPD, ideally 160+

Key Traces:

Panoptic Vision: At 2400 DEF, gain 32% Elation. Every 100 DEF above that adds 3%, up to 3600 DEF

Sensory Latitude: Pearl gains 5 Certified Bangers at the start of an ally's turn

Aesthetic Firewall: At battle start and after Ultimate, if the Aesthetic Archetype is an Elation character, their next Ultimate refunds Pearl 90 Energy

Eidolon Recommendations

E0 is fully functional. E1 begins sharing Elation with the team (up to 60%). E2 provides 15% Elation DMG to the whole team and doubles the Certified Banger and Punchline rewards from the extra turn—a significant quality-of-life spike.

2. Banner Schedule

Version 4.6 features only three banners, with Pearl running for the entire patch (September 28 – November 10).

First Half (September 28 – October 21)

Second Half (October 21 – November 10)

A notable point: 4.6 only has three banners—no third rerun slot. Given HSR's current roster size, some players feel this schedule is light, though Pearl's patch-long banner is a partial compensation.

3. Version Events

Main Events

1. "Love, Ghosts & Robots"
Scott returns in ghost form and is forced into a marriage he doesn't want. Players help him run a mech workshop—assembling and selling mechs, gradually raising the workshop to a five-star rating. Rewards include Scott's Sunglasses (usable by the Trailblazer).

2. "Interastral Peace Gala: One Take"
A combat reality show event. You act as the "protagonist" following the director's script. Combat features "key frames" where you can summon "supporting characters" for powerful buffs. The better your performance, the higher your rating.

Permanent Content

"Comet Gift": Login to claim 10 free pulls

"Garden of Plenty" and "Planar Fissure": Double-drop events return

New Planar Ornaments: New inner relics to farm

NewSystem: Cosmic Pets

4.6 introduces the permanent "Imagea Astral" system. Players can collect various cosmic pets (Imagea creatures), carrying up to 3 at once during adventures. Pets can participate in a multiplayer mini-game, "Cosmic Bang Bang Clash."

Important note: It's currently unclear whether this system is entirely free. If paid gacha is involved, approach it rationally.

4. New Skins

Two new skins are available:

Hyacine: "Warmth of Clouds" — 1350 Oneiric Shards

Evanescia: "Moonflower Bloom" — 2680 Stellar Jades

Key difference: Evanescia's skin costs Stellar Jades (gacha currency), while Hyacine's costs Oneiric Shards (earnable through gameplay). For F2P and low-spenders, Hyacine's skin is far more accessible; Evanescia's is expensive.

5. Collab Preview: Zenless Zone Zero in 4.8

The stream officially confirmed that Zenless Zone Zero's Ellen Joe and Astra Yao will join Honkai: Star Rail in Version 4.8.

This is the first official collaboration between two HoYoverse titles. No further details (element, path, acquisition method) are available yet, but it's worth planning your Stellar Jades accordingly.

6. Story Summary

The story continues from 4.5's ending, where Nihilux reveals herself as Aha, the Aeon of Elation. She joins the Trailblazer and Pearl in traveling to the Life Science Institute deep within the Star City to investigate a dangerous "beast shell weaponization" program.

The institute is led by Yabuli, head of the IPC's Technology Development Department. She is prepared to sacrifice all Star City residents to advance the program and is suspected of ties to a mysterious faction worshipping Greed. Pearl plans to send Kutiba and Ashville undercover into the institute alongside the Trailblazer and Nihilux to dismantle the conspiracy.

7. Patch Review & Pull Recommendations

Objective Assessment

This is roughly a 6/10 transition patch. The core issues:

The genuinely exciting content (Currency Wars update, ZZZ collab) is in later versions

The banner schedule is conservative (only three banners)

The new event "Love, Ghosts & Robots" is lightweight mini-game content, not hardcore combat

That said, Pearl herself is a mechanically interesting, clearly designed Elation-team sustain/support.

Pull Recommendations

Pull Pearl if:

You already play or plan to build an Elation team (own Evanescia, or plan to pull future Elation characters)

You need a sustain who can block damage and provide action advance

You understand her value is maximized only in Elation teams and drops significantly elsewhere

Skip Pearl if:

You have no Elation system and no short-term plans to invest in one

You're saving for 4.7's Aha/Nihilux (the first playable Aeon) or 4.8's ZZZ collab

You already have stable sustains (Fu Xuan, Huohuo, Luocha, etc.)

On Evanescia's rerun: If you missed her in 4.5 and want to seriously play Elation, this is your chance. But Pearl runs all patch, so you have plenty of time to decide.

Conclusion

If you play Elation, Pearl is worth considering, and if you're planning to pull her, you can buy Honkai: Star Rail Top Up from trusted marketplaces—MMOEXP is a reliable option worth checking out for fast and secure delivery. If you're waiting for Aha or the ZZZ collab, skipping this patch is reasonable.