Starlight Exchange Currency System
The Starlight Exchange converts Undying Starlight into exclusive Light Cones and characters. Version 3.8 Phase 1 launched October 27, 2025, featuring The Dahlia and Firefly banners.
Starlight conversion rates:
- 5-star Light Cone: 40 Starlight
- 4-star Light Cone: 8 Starlight
- 5-star character duplicate (2nd-7th): 40 Starlight
- 4-star character duplicate (2nd-7th): 8 Starlight
Star Rail Special Pass guarantees three 4-star items at 30-pull pity, creating predictable Starlight income.
For faster accumulation, top up star rail express supply pass through BitTopup offers competitive pricing and fast delivery.
Monthly Starlight Projections
- F2P players: 40-80 Starlight/month
- Light spenders: 80-120 Starlight/month
- Dedicated spenders: 200+ Starlight/month
Version 3.8 spans three phases (The Dahlia & Firefly → Fugue & Lingsha → Aglaea & Sunday), providing multiple accumulation opportunities.
But the Battle Isn't Over: Stats and Mechanics
Level 80 base stats: HP 1164, ATK 529, DEF 463
Passive effects by Superimpose level:
- S1: +10% Energy Regen, +30% damage buff, 1 SP regen per 2 Ultimates
- S2: +12% Energy Regen, +35% damage
- S3: +14% Energy Regen, +40% damage
- S4: +16% Energy Regen, +45% damage
- S5: +18% Energy Regen, +50% damage
S5 requires 2,400 total Starlight (600 × 4 additional copies). The 20% damage increase from S1 to S5 rarely justifies this cost—S1 is the realistic target.
Synergy with Sparkle's Kit
Sparkle's kit centers on CRIT DMG buffing, action advancement, and SP generation. Her Level 80 stats: HP 1397, ATK 523, DEF 485, SPD 101.
How the Light Cone helps:
- Energy Regen accelerates Ultimate availability for more CRIT DMG buffs
- SP regeneration offsets Sparkle's Skill-intensive playstyle
- +30-50% damage buff stacks multiplicatively with her CRIT DMG buffs
The damage buff timing is crucial: Sparkle uses Skill → Light Cone applies +30% damage → advanced ally attacks immediately with amplified damage.
Sparkle's Light Cone Requirements
Sparkle needs three core attributes:
- Energy Regeneration Rate for Ultimate uptime
- Team damage amplification effects
- Skill Point economy improvements
Energy Regen directly correlates with buffing frequency. But the Battle Isn't Over's +10-18% reduces energy thresholds, enabling more buff cycles per encounter.
The damage buff applies multiplicatively after CRIT DMG calculations, making percentage-based buffs exceptionally valuable. SP recovery (1 per 2 Ultimates) extends operational windows before resource depletion.
Performance vs Alternatives
But the Battle Isn't Over ranks SS Tier among Harmony Light Cones. It's compatible with Bronya, Sparkle, Robin, Sunday, Tingyun, Asta, Hanya, and Ruan Mei—broad flexibility improves long-term account value.
4-Star Alternatives
S5 4-star Harmony Light Cones provide 60-75% of 5-star performance. The gap narrows when comparing S5 4-star vs S1 5-star options. Star Rail Special Pass guarantees make 4-star refinement more accessible, partially offsetting lower base performance.
Memory of Chaos Performance
In hypercarry compositions, the +30-50% damage buff creates substantial DPS increases. When Sparkle advances a hypercarry after using Skill, the buff applies immediately, maximizing damage windows against single-target bosses.
Energy Regen enables additional Ultimate cycles within turn limits, helping teams meet DPS thresholds for 3-star clears.
When to Buy: Must-Buy Scenarios
Scenario 1: Sparkle as Primary Hypercarry Support
The Light Cone's value peaks here. The damage buff directly multiplies hypercarry output, while Energy Regen ensures consistent Ultimate uptime. SP regeneration allows more Skill uses before resource exhaustion.
Scenario 2: Multi-Harmony Teams
Compatibility with multiple Harmony supports creates transferability. Equip it on whichever support benefits most from Energy Regen in specific encounters, adapting to enemy mechanics.
Scenario 3: Budget Players
But the Battle Isn't Over offers guaranteed 5-star acquisition independent of RNG. However, weigh against character acquisition—if lacking core 5-star DPS or supports, characters provide greater account value.
For secure premium currency purchases, reload oneiric shards through BitTopup provides excellent customer service and fast delivery.
Alternative Starlight Investments
Limited 5-star characters occasionally appear in exchange rotations. Character acquisition generally provides greater value than Light Cone optimization, as characters enable new team compositions while Light Cones enhance existing setups.
Version 3.8's three-phase structure suggests extended rotation windows. Reserve Starlight until confirming full rotation lineup before committing.
Exchange Rotation Patterns
Rotations refresh every ~6 weeks. Harmony Light Cones appear regularly due to broad applicability. Players delaying purchase might access alternative Harmony options better suited to specific needs.
Endgame Mode Testing
Memory of Chaos: Damage buff and Energy Regen address turn limits and damage optimization. SP regeneration prevents resource depletion during extended boss fights.
Pure Fiction: Energy Regen maintains value for AoE scenarios by accelerating Ultimate availability. Action advancement + damage buff enables AoE dealers to execute additional attacks within turn limits.
Apocalyptic Shadow: Excels in single-target boss encounters. SP regeneration proves particularly valuable in extended fights where Sparkle's Skill usage risks depleting team resources.
Common Mistakes
Overvaluing Base ATK: Sparkle's damage comes from CRIT DMG buffs and action advancement, not personal damage. Evaluate Light Cones based on effect synergy, not stats.
Misunderstanding SP Regeneration: The mechanic grants 1 SP after every 2 Ultimates (0.5 SP per Ultimate average), not 1 SP per Ultimate. Budget resources anticipating delayed recovery.
Refinement Trap: S1 to S5 requires 2,400 additional Starlight for 20 percentage points damage increase. Prioritize S1 acquisition across multiple Light Cones over high refinement on single Light Cones.
Expert Verdict and Action Plan
But the Battle Isn't Over earns SS Tier ranking through exceptional Sparkle synergy and broad Harmony compatibility. The 600 Starlight cost is significant but provides deterministic acquisition.
Buy if you:
- Main Sparkle as primary Harmony support
- Lack premium 5-star Harmony Light Cones
- Completed core character roster requirements
- Accumulated 600+ Starlight through natural pulling
Skip if you:
- Have incomplete rosters needing character acquisition
- Possess comparable 5-star Harmony Light Cones
- Use Sparkle casually
- Anticipate better rotation offerings
Decision Flowchart
- Check Harmony Light Cone inventory → Other 5-stars decrease priority
- Assess Sparkle usage frequency → Casual users should skip
- Review Starlight reserves → Project accumulation timelines
- Compare upcoming rotations → Wait for full lineup confirmation
- Consider progression stage → Early: characters; Mid: balance; Late: Light Cones
Resource Optimization
- Focus pulls on desired characters; accept 4-star duplicates as Starlight income
- Monitor rotations every ~6 weeks for comparison
- Prioritize S1 across multiple Light Cones over refinement
- Avoid dedicated Starlight farming—conversion rates make it inefficient
Future-Proofing
Compatibility with 8+ Harmony characters ensures relevance across meta shifts. Version 3.8's Sunday (Harmony, Phase 3) indicates continued Path development, potentially introducing new synergies.
Power creep resistance: Percentage-based damage buff (+30-50%) scales automatically with improving damage dealers. Multiplicative scaling maintains value regardless of DPS power creep.
New Harmony characters typically emphasize Ultimate usage and team buffing—mechanics synergizing naturally with Energy Regen and damage buffs.
FAQ
How much does But the Battle Isn't Over cost? 600 Undying Starlight in Version 3.8. Requires fifteen 5-star Light Cones (40 each) or seventy-five 4-star Light Cones (8 each).
Is it the best Light Cone for Sparkle? SS Tier with exceptional synergy, but competes with other premium 5-star Harmony options depending on team composition and resources.
Can Sparkle work without 5-star Light Cones? Yes. S5 4-star alternatives offer 60-75% of 5-star performance, viable for budget players prioritizing character acquisition.
Does refinement matter? S1 to S5 improves damage buff from +30% to +50% and Energy Regen from +10% to +18%, but requires 2,400 additional Starlight. S1 is priority; refinement is luxury.
How long to accumulate 600 Starlight? F2P: 7-15 months. Light spenders: 5-7 months. Dedicated spenders: 3 months. Assumes consistent pulling without dedicated farming.
Light Cone or limited characters? Prioritize characters if roster lacks core 5-star DPS/supports. Once core roles fill, But the Battle Isn't Over provides excellent value for Sparkle mains lacking premium Harmony Light Cones.
