HSR 4.2 Banners: Silver Wolf SP & Evanescia – Release Dates, Leaks & Pull Tips

Trailblazers, Version 4.2 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated patches in recent memory. With a fan-favorite character getting an SP upgrade and a brand-new Physical DPS entering the spotlight, your Stellar Jade savings are about to be tested. Here's everything currently known about the Honkai Star Rail 4.2 banners.

Version 4.2 Overview

Content	Details
New 5-Star Characters	Silver Wolf SP (Lv.999), Evanescia
Free 5-Star Character	Elation Trailblazer (Lightning)
Rerun Characters	TBA (not yet confirmed)
Character Buffs	Firefly, Huohuo, Seele, Welt

HSR 4.2 Banner Release Dates

Version 4.2 follows the standard two-phase structure. Based on HoYoverse's historical 6-week patch cadence:

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Phase 1: Silver Wolf SP (Lv.999) — Apr 21 – May 13, 2026 (NA) / Apr 22 for EU & Asia

Phase 2: Evanescia — May 13 – Jun 2, 2026

Official release dates have not been confirmed at the time of writing. Check the in-game notice board or HoYoverse's official channels once Version 4.2 goes live.

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HSR 4.2 New Characters

Silver Wolf SP — Lv.999 (5★ | Imaginary | Elation)

This is a full SP form — not just a skin — making it one of the rarest character upgrades HoYoverse offers. Silver Wolf transitions from her original Nihility debuffer role into a main DPS on the Elation Path.

Role: Main DPS (Elation Path)

Element: Imaginary

Story Significance: HoYoverse is positioning her as the centerpiece of 4.2's narrative. Her SP status and prominent promotional framing strongly suggest an anniversary-level spotlight. The Stellaron Hunters are stepping back into the main plot after a quieter arc during Amphoreus.

Best For: Existing Silver Wolf fans, Elation team builders, and anyone who missed the meta boat on her original form.

Evanescia (5★ | Physical | Elation)

Evanescia is the Phase 2 headliner — a new Physical DPS with a clear Yae Sakura expy aesthetic that's already got the HI3 community buzzing. Her weapon of choice is a utility knife with ruler markings, which is peak Elation energy.

Role: Main DPS (Elation Path)

Element: Physical

Kit Overview: Positioned as a potential core carry for the entire Elation system — she could redefine Physical/Elation the way past meta-defining DPS characters rewrote their Path.

Recommended Team: Evanescia + Yao Guang + Elation Trailblazer (EMC) + Huohuo

Best For: Physical DPS enjoyers, Elation team investors, and Yae Sakura fans.

Free 5-Star: Elation Trailblazer (Lightning | Elation)

The Trailblazer's new Path form — Lightning / The Elation — is the first new free 5-star form of the 4.0 era. Expected to fill a support/enabler role within Elation teams, pairing naturally with Evanescia. You'll unlock them through Version 4.2's main story content.

Character Buffs in Version 4.2

The following characters are receiving enhancement buffs this patch — no additional pulls required:

Firefly (Destruction: Fire)

Huohuo (Abundance: Wind)

Seele (The Hunt: Quantum)

Welt (Nihility: Imaginary)

Returning Characters in HSR 4.2

Rerun characters for 4.2 have not been officially confirmed or leaked. Community-discussed candidates include:

Seele — Receiving a buff this patch, which historically correlates with a rerun. Flagged on r/HonkaiStarRail_leaks as a strong candidate.

Huohuo — Also buffed and fits directly into Evanescia's recommended team. Convenient timing, though no confirmation exists.

Original Silver Wolf — Reddit's r/AcheronMainsHSR community noted that "if older characters are getting new SP versions, it's unlikely they'll rerun the original form soon."

⚠️

All rerun candidates above are community speculation. No official confirmation or reliable leak data exists for 4.2 reruns.

Light Cone Banner

Light Cone details for 4.2 have not been confirmed yet. Phase 1 and Phase 2 are expected to feature Silver Wolf SP's and Evanescia's signature Light Cones, respectively. Wait for the official kit reveal before pulling — some signatures are near-mandatory, others are modest upgrades over strong 4-star alternatives.

Banner Leaks & Anniversary Intel

Reddit Leak Sources:

A post via Mortis Leaks on r/HonkaiStarRail_leaks points to Version 4.2 being a designated anniversary patch, with Silver Wolf SP as the "main push" character — HoYoverse's internal marketing priority for the version.

Separate intel via full_stop_chan revealed upcoming standard banner pool changes for 4.2.

Content Creator Intel:

Multiple banner prediction videos call 4.2 a pivotal version for long-term Elation team building.

The Reddit 4.2–4.7 roadmap lists upcoming SP releases (Blade SP, Himeko SP, Robin SP, Aventurine SP, Sampo SP), pointing to a sustained wave of SP forms.

Story Content:

Both Silver Wolf and Evanescia are heading to Planarcadia, the new 4.x world region

Version 4.2 marks the Stellaron Hunters' return to the main narrative

Elation Trailblazer confirms a deeper exploration of The Elation in the main story

Should You Pull in Version 4.2?

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ — Strong pull value, especially for Elation team builders.

Priority Pull: Silver Wolf SP — SP forms are rare and tend to be significant power upgrades. Anniversary-level positioning makes her hard to skip.

Strong Pull: Evanescia — Cornerstone Elation carry who slots naturally with free EMC and buffed Huohuo. The synergy is hard to ignore.

Free: Elation Trailblazer — Just play the story.

Skip If: You're saving for future patches and have no interest in Elation or Silver Wolf.

Stellar Jade Tip: If you can only hit one pity, prioritize Phase 1 — anniversary banners historically carry stronger promo rewards.

FAQ

Q: I can only guarantee one character — SW999 or Evanescia?

A: If you already have strong Imaginary DPS options (e.g., built Sunday hypercarry teams), Evanescia offers more unique value as a Physical/Elation carry with fewer direct competitors. If you're a Silver Wolf fan or want the anniversary hype rewards, SW999 is the safer emotional and resource investment. Reddit consensus on r/StarRailStation leans toward picking based on your weaker element coverage rather than raw hype.

Q: Does Elation MC (EMC) fit better with Evanescia or SW999?

A: Based on early beta discussions, EMC's support kit synergizes more naturally with Evanescia's team — the recommended comp is Evanescia + Yao Guang + EMC + Huohuo. For SW999, players on r/SparkleMains have noted that Sparkle or Sparxie may be stronger partners, since SW999's enhanced basic attack extends buff durations and cycles differently from Evanescia's rotation.

Q: How many F2P pulls can we realistically expect across 4.1 and 4.2?

A: Based on community Stellar Jade calculations (r/StarRailStation), Version 4.1 is estimated at ~85–95 F2P pulls, and 4.2 as an anniversary patch could push ~100–120 pulls. Combined, that's potentially enough to guarantee one limited character and have a shot at a second — but only if you've been saving. Express Pass holders can add roughly 20+ pulls per patch.

Q: I missed Yao Guang in 4.0 — can I still build an Elation team in 4.2?

A: Yes. Yao Guang is the dedicated Elation support and appears in both SW999 and Evanescia's optimal teams, but since the banner has already ended, you'll need to wait for a future rerun. In the meantime, community theorycrafters on r/StarRailStation suggest using Sparkle or Sunday as substitute supports — both can extend buffs and cycle well with Elation DPS rotations, even if the ceiling is slightly lower than with Yao Guang. You can still clear endgame content with these alternatives while waiting for the rerun.