New Faces and Familiar Favorites: Limited & Rerun Banners

Patch 3.3 is bringing two highly anticipated limited-time characters to the forefront: Hyasin and Cipher.

Hyasin

Prepare to welcome Hyasin on May 21st (Asia & Europe servers) and May 20th (America servers). Recent beta kit adjustments have been minimal, suggesting a well-designed and powerful sustain unit right out of the gate. Whispers even hint that she might just become the top-tier sustain in the game! While her Eidolon 6 received a slight buff, her base kit already looks incredibly strong. Get ready for a potential game-changer for your team’s survivability.

Cipher

The wait for the adorable and formidable Cipher will conclude in the second half of Patch 3.3, likely around June 11th for all servers. Unlike Hyasin, Cipher has undergone significant buffs in the latest beta cycle, much to the delight of her (and my!) many fans. Her Ultimate damage has seen a massive increase, with the initial hit multiplier doubling from 120% to a whopping 240% Quantum damage (scaling off her ATK). The blast damage has also tripled, jumping from 40% to 120% Quantum damage. But the buffs don’t stop there! Her Follow-up attack multiplier has been boosted from 250% to 300% Quantum damage, adding significant weight to her overall damage output. Perhaps the most impactful change is to her first Eidolon (E1), which now grants a colossal 200% ATK boost for two turns after using a Follow-up attack. Considering her E1 already provided a substantial Ultimate damage increase, these recent buffs solidify it as one of the best E1s in the entire game. Cipher is shaping up to be an incredibly valuable and potent addition to any roster.

Rerun Banners

But that’s not all! Patch 3.3 will also feature some highly anticipated rerun banners:

• Hera: Just two patches after her initial release, Hera will be making her first rerun alongside Hyasin’s banner in the first half. This might surprise some, but it suggests a potential shift towards blast and single-target focused gameplay in the near future, making this a prime opportunity to grab or enhance this powerful AoE damage dealer while the meta still favors her. Interestingly, Hyasin is poised to become Hera’s new best sustain partner.
• Aglia: Joining Cipher in the second half is Aglia, making her first rerun as well. While they might not have direct synergy, Aglia remains a formidable standalone DPS unit. Many players will be eyeing her often-coveted E1, which provides a significant boost to both her damage and utility.

Stockpiling Stellar Jades: Pulls in Patch 3.3

Planning your pulls is crucial! Here’s a breakdown of the estimated number of limited pulls you can acquire in Patch 3.3:

• F2P (No Passes): Approximately 88 limited pulls, with 60 of those available in the first half of the patch.
• Monthly Pass Only: This significantly boosts your total to around limited tickets (the exact number depends on the duration of the pass within the patch).
• Monthly Pass + Premium Battle Pass: For those willing to spend a bit, you can expect a respectable total of around 120 limited tickets.

Interestingly, Patch 3.3 marks the lowest number of pulls available in a single patch since Version 2.4, which also offered 88 limited tickets. Stay tuned for a more detailed breakdown of all the Jade sources in an upcoming video!

Gear Up: New Relic Sets Incoming

Prepare to optimize your builds with two brand-new relic sets:

• DPS Focused Set: This set screams damage dealer! The two-piece effect grants a solid 16% Crit DMG boost. The four-piece effect is where things get exciting, offering a massive 96% ATK boost for a single turn after two allies use a single-target ability on the wearer and grant them HP stacks. This set appears tailor-made for Fäon, making it a must-farm if you plan on adding him to your team.
• Abundance Sustain Set: Designed with sustain units like Hyasin and Ling Shaw in mind, the two-piece effect provides a useful 6% Speed boost. The four-piece effect offers a universal benefit: your sustain will grant a 15% Crit DMG boost to the entire team whenever they heal an ally other than themselves. Additionally, the wearer gains another 6% Speed boost with the four-piece bonus. This set promises to enhance the offensive capabilities of your sustain units while improving their action economy.

Story Continues & New Challenges Await

As expected, Patch 3.3 will bring a continuation of the main storyline, promising new narratives and encounters. Alongside the story update, be prepared for a new weekly boss. If you’re specifically aiming for Hyasin, you can safely start pre-farming the Sunday boss materials. However, if Cipher is your target, it’s wise to hold off on pre-farming weekly boss materials until the official announcement.

A Shift in Currency: Transparency for Players

Due to a new regulation in Europe, Honkai: Star Rail might see a change in its currency and purchasing system starting with Patch 3.3. Instead of purchasing Onyx Shards, the game will likely display the direct pull equivalent for each purchase option. For example, the $100 pack might show that it grants 50 pulls instead of 8080 shards. This change aims to provide greater transparency, allowing players to better understand the value and cost of pulls, potentially highlighting the efficiency of the Express Pass. This is a welcome change that can help players make more informed decisions about their spending.

Final Thoughts: Excitement Builds for Patch 3.3

Patch 3.3 appears to be a well-rounded update, bringing exciting new characters, valuable reruns, powerful relic sets, story progression, and a positive change to the in-game currency display. While it might be considered a “normal” patch after the hype of 3.1 and 3.2, it’s packed with content that many players, including myself, are eagerly anticipating. I’m particularly excited about diving deeper into the Penacony storyline and, of course, adding Cipher to my team!

Now, I’m curious to hear from you! What are your thoughts on Patch 3.3? Are you planning to pull for Hyasin, Cipher, or any of the rerun characters? Let me know in the comments below! And if you enjoyed this breakdown, consider subscribing for more Honkai: Star Rail content. See you on the Astral Express!