Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.6 gives players something the usual two-phase banner schedule does not: there is almost no reason to rush Pearl on day one. Version 4.6, "Dance With the Beast Before Moonrise," launches on September 28, 2026, and Pearl's limited Character Event Warp stays available for the entire version. Evanescia returns during the first half, while Mortenax Blade takes the second-half rerun slot.
That changes how you should budget Stellar Jade. If Evanescia is your priority, her Phase 1 deadline matters first. If you want Mortenax Blade, you can save through the opening weeks. Pearl gives you the most flexibility because you can wait for live testing, see how much she actually improves your Elation team, and still pull her later in the patch.
Honkai: Star Rail 4.6 Banner Schedule
Pearl is the only new limited 5-star in Version 4.6. Her banner and signature Light Cone continue across both halves, while Evanescia and Mortenax Blade rotate around her. The same three boosted 4-star characters are listed across the version: Qingque, Xueyi, and Misha.
| Period | Featured 5-Stars | Boosted 4-Stars | Featured 5-Star Light Cones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 Starts September 28 |
Pearl Evanescia |
Qingque Xueyi Misha |
Colors for Tomorrow Until the Flowers Bloom Again |
| Phase 2 Starts October 21 |
Pearl continues Mortenax Blade |
Qingque Xueyi Misha |
Colors for Tomorrow continues Reforged in Hellfire |
The boosted 4-star Light Cones are Planetary Rendezvous, Boundless Choreo, and Post-Op Conversation. Pearl and Colors for Tomorrow continuing into Phase 2 is the part worth remembering; do not treat the end of Evanescia's banner as Pearl's deadline.
Pearl Runs for the Entire Version — Use That Extra Time
Pearl is a 5-star Ice character on the Path of Elation. The official 4.6 showcase presents her as a sustain-support built around Certified Banger, Aesthetic Archetype, and Deep Learning. She can consume Certified Banger to reduce damage taken by allies, while her Enhanced Basic ATK heals the team and removes debuffs.
Her strongest reason to pull is not generic healing. Pearl's support becomes more valuable as the team includes more Elation characters: she can advance the selected Aesthetic Archetype, add Elation DMG to the team's attacks, and a full four-Elation lineup can give the Archetype an immediate extra turn together with additional Punchline and Certified Banger. If you already built around Elation, she lets the sustain slot participate in the same resource engine instead of simply keeping everyone alive.
The less obvious case is an account that already has a strong sustain. Early player discussion after the Special Program has focused heavily on that exact question: is replacing an established healer or protector with Pearl worth another limited 5-star? There is no need to answer it from previews alone. Her banner lasts the full patch, so waiting for live endgame testing costs you nothing unless you are also trying to manage an Evanescia pull during Phase 1.
The same logic applies to Colors for Tomorrow. If your plan is Pearl E0S1, secure the character first rather than treating the Light Cone as part of a mandatory package. Because both Pearl and her signature remain available throughout 4.6, you can test the character with the options already on your account before spending the second batch of pulls.
Phase 1: Evanescia Is the Time-Sensitive Elation Banner
Evanescia is a 5-star Physical Elation damage dealer. Unlike Pearl, she is already a released character, so her role is much less speculative: her kit rapidly builds Certified Banger, while Energy and Certified Banger feed into each other to accelerate her Ultimate cycle and increase her damage.
If you already own Evanescia and are happy with her damage, Pearl is the more relevant new decision in 4.6. The question becomes whether changing the sustain slot improves the team enough to justify a limited pull. You are not choosing between two characters that perform the same job; one is the damage core, while the other is designed to keep an Elation team alive while also feeding its mechanics.
If you do not own Evanescia but already have the supports for an Elation team and want her specifically as your main damage dealer, Phase 1 is your deadline. This is where Pearl's extended banner is useful: players who genuinely want both can deal with Evanescia first, then continue saving and decide on Pearl afterward.
Starting the entire archetype from zero is different. Pulling Evanescia and Pearl together gives you two pieces that clearly work with the same Path, but it also consumes two limited-character budgets before accounting for the rest of the lineup. For an F2P account with little Elation investment, I would first decide whether Evanescia is a carry you actually want to build around rather than pulling both simply because their banners overlap.
Phase 2: Mortenax Blade Is the Flexible Alternative
Mortenax Blade returns in Phase 2 as a 5-star Fire Nihility character. He should not be treated as a niche character that only works inside one fixed composition. His official kit revolves around deploying a special Zone; while it is active, allies can repeatedly apply DEF reduction and Vulnerability to enemies while also triggering Mortenax Blade's additional Skill Follow-Up ATK.
That makes his rerun relevant outside Elation. If your account already has damage dealers that benefit from stronger enemy debuffs, he can improve teams without asking you to rebuild around a new Path. This is the key difference from Pearl: Pearl's most distinctive value rises with Elation investment, while Mortenax Blade's debuff package can be considered for a broader set of existing teams.
He is also an easier character to evaluate than Pearl because his live kit has already been available since Version 4.3. If you skipped his first banner and now have a clear team that wants DEF reduction, Vulnerability, and his personal follow-up damage, you are making a decision with established gameplay rather than pre-release expectations.
Players saving specifically for him should be careful with Phase 1 impulse pulls. Pearl will still be there when Mortenax Blade arrives, so spending heavily on Pearl early and then discovering that you also want Phase 2 removes the biggest advantage of the unusual 4.6 schedule.
Who Should You Pull in HSR 4.6?
There is no useful universal ranking for these three banners because they solve different account problems. Start with the team you are actually trying to finish, then work backward to the banner rather than pulling a character first and inventing a team afterward.
| Your Account | 4.6 Pull Approach |
|---|---|
| You already use Evanescia or another developed Elation core and want a Path-specific sustain | Consider Pearl, but use her full-version banner to wait for live testing if your current sustain already works. |
| You have Elation supports but need a Physical Elation damage dealer | Evanescia is the time-sensitive target. Deal with her Phase 1 banner before deciding on Pearl. |
| You want both Evanescia and Pearl | Prioritize the shorter banner first. Evanescia leaves before Pearl. |
| You want a debuffer that can contribute across several existing teams | Evaluate Mortenax Blade. His Zone provides DEF reduction and Vulnerability rather than locking his value to Elation. |
| You are F2P and would be starting Elation almost from zero | Do not assume Pearl + Evanescia is a required package. Decide whether you actually want the archetype before paying for both the carry and sustain. |
| Your current teams already clear the content you care about | Saving is valid. Pearl's long banner gives you extra time to avoid a preview-driven pull. |
For most undecided accounts, the safest order is not "Pearl first." Check whether you need Evanescia before Phase 1 ends, watch Pearl's live performance in the content you actually play, then make the Pearl-versus-Mortenax decision with the rest of your Stellar Jade visible. Version 4.6 gives you enough time to do that without guessing on launch day.
Honkai: Star Rail 4.6 Banner FAQ
When does Honkai: Star Rail 4.6 release?
Version 4.6, "Dance With the Beast Before Moonrise," is scheduled for September 28, 2026. The exact local time can differ with server region and maintenance timing, so use the in-game update and Warp countdown for the final local deadline.
Does Pearl's banner last for all of Version 4.6?
Yes. Pearl's limited 5-star rate-up continues throughout Version 4.6 rather than ending with Phase 1. Her signature 5-star Light Cone, Colors for Tomorrow, follows the same extended availability.
Who reruns in HSR 4.6?
Evanescia returns in Phase 1, while Mortenax Blade returns in Phase 2. Pearl is the new limited 5-star character for the version.
What are the boosted 4-star characters in HSR 4.6?
The Version 4.6 banner lineup lists Qingque, Xueyi, and Misha as the boosted 4-star characters. They remain the featured 4-stars across the two banner periods.
Can I wait until Phase 2 before deciding whether to pull Pearl?
Yes, and that is one of the most useful parts of the 4.6 schedule. Waiting lets you see Pearl's live sustain performance, compare her with the supports already on your account, finish any Phase 1 Evanescia decision, and still choose between Pearl and the Phase 2 Mortenax Blade rerun before Pearl leaves.
