What’s Actually Coming in HSR 3.6 (And That Free Archer Deal)
The Banner Lineup That’s Got Everyone Talking
So Version 3.6 launches September 23, 2025 (UTC-5), and honestly? This might be one of the most interesting patches we’ve seen in a while.
Phase 1 runs September 23 through October 15, featuring Evernight—she’s this Ice Remembrance character who scales off Max HP and summons this adorable memosprite called ‘Evey.’ Her team CRIT DMG buffs start at 60% and can ramp up to 125%. Not too shabby for team support.
Then Phase 2 (October 15-November 4) brings us Permansor Terrae, a Physical Preservation unit with some pretty unique mechanics. This guy provides stackable ATK-based shields, and his ‘Souldragon’ summon actually dispels debuffs while throwing follow-up attacks. As someone who’s been tracking the meta, sustain units with offensive utility are always worth watching.
Oh, and Castorice (Quantum/Remembrance) plus Anaxa (Wind/Erudition) are getting their first reruns during 3.6. More options never hurt.
About That Free Archer (Yes, Really Free)
Here’s where things get interesting. The Fate/Stay Night collaboration is dropping a completely free 5-star Archer (Quantum/Hunt) for anyone at Trailblaze Level 3+. You can claim him from July 11, 2025 until Version 3.6 ends, and they’re even throwing in materials to get him to Level 60.
But here’s the catch—his signature Light Cone ‘The Hell Where Ideals Burn’ requires you to spend 200 Star Rail Special Passes on any event banners between July 2-August 13, 2025. That’s 32,000 Stellar Jades worth of pulling. Not exactly free, but still a solid deal if you were planning to pull anyway.
Quick tip: if you need to top up for those 200 pulls, Honkai Star Rail Top Up through BitTopup has been pretty reliable with competitive pricing and instant delivery.
The collaboration banners run separate pity systems from regular limited banners, which is actually huge for planning. No 4-star rate-ups means all your resources go toward the featured 5-star.
Breaking Down HSR’s Pity System (Because Math Matters)
Hard Pity vs Soft Pity—What Actually Happens
Let’s get real about the numbers. Hard pity hits at 90 pulls for Character Event Warps and 80 for Light Cone Event Warps. But here’s what most guides don’t emphasize enough: soft pity is where the magic happens.
Starting around pull 75 for characters (65 for Light Cones), your odds start climbing significantly. Base rates are 0.6% for characters and 0.8% for Light Cones, but during soft pity? You’re looking at much better chances with each pull.
The 50/50 system on character banners means you’ve got a coin flip for the featured unit. Light Cone banners are more generous with 75/25 odds. Worst-case scenarios? 180 pulls for a guaranteed character, 160 for a guaranteed Light Cone.
And yes, pity carries over between banners of the same type. But—and this trips up newer players—it doesn’t transfer across different banner types.
Timing Your Pulls Like a Pro
Standard banners operate with their own 90-pull hard pity, but without rate-ups, they’re generally not worth your limited resources as F2P. The Departure Warp gives newcomers a discounted 50-pull banner guaranteeing one of seven standard 5-stars—decent value for new accounts.
Version 3.6 wraps up the Amphoreus story arc, which typically means substantial Stellar Jade rewards from story completion and exploration. Perfect timing for a major pulling session.
Your Step-by-Step Pity Calculator Guide
The Manual Method (Old School But Reliable)
Navigate to your Warp menu, hit View Details, then the Records tab. You’ll see your pulling history for the last 6 months. Count backwards from your last 5-star acquisition on each banner type—that’s your current pity.
For worst-case planning: (90 - current pity) + potentially another 90 pulls if you lose the 50/50 and don’t have guarantee status. Records update within an hour of pulling, so don’t panic if recent pulls aren’t showing immediately.
Community Calculator Tools (The Smart Route)
I’ve tested dozens of these over the years, and browser-based calculators are generally safer than those PowerShell tools floating around. Look for ones that factor in soft pity probability distributions rather than just hard pity calculations.
Input your current pity count, Stellar Jade balance, and guarantee status for realistic projections. Pro tip: maintain a simple spreadsheet tracking banner type, current pity, guarantee status, target characters, and estimated costs. Update it after every pulling session—trust me on this one.
F2P Stellar Jade Income: The Real Numbers
Your Monthly Jade Sources Breakdown
Memory of Chaos drops 800 Stellar Jades per cycle, and you get two cycles monthly if you’re clearing it. Pure Fiction and Apocalyptic Shadow each contribute another 800 per cycle. Add in Daily Training, weekly Simulated Universe points, and various events.
Content-rich patches—like 3.6 promises to be—can net dedicated F2P players approximately 114 pulls (18,240 Stellar Jades) if you’re completing everything. That’s assuming you’re not missing dailies and you’re actually finishing the story content.
Event Farming and Achievement Hunting
Limited-time events typically offer 300-800 Stellar Jades through objective completion. Don’t sleep on achievement hunting either—those provide significant one-time bonuses that add up.
Version updates introduce new achievement categories and exploration areas, creating those periodic income spikes that make or break your pulling plans. Time your major pulling sessions around content releases for maximum resource availability.
Daily Grind Optimization Tips
Never let your Trailblaze Power cap. Reserved Trailblaze Power regenerates at one-third the normal rate (1 per 18 minutes vs. 1 per 6 minutes)—that’s inefficient resource management.
As F2P, avoid Stellar Jade refreshes entirely. Every jade should go toward banner pulls for character acquisition. The math just doesn’t work out otherwise.
Character vs Light Cone Strategy for 3.6
Evaluating the Character Banners
Evernight’s looking solid as Sub-DPS/Support with strong Remembrance synergy—especially valuable if you snagged Castorice. Permansor Terrae addresses sustain needs with some unique shielding mechanics that could shake up team compositions.
Here’s how I assess priorities: evaluate your roster gaps first. If you’re lacking support or sustain, prioritize accordingly. If your support game is comprehensive but you need DPS, plan differently.
Light Cone Investment Analysis (The ROI Question)
Light Cone banners require 80-pull hard pity with 160-pull worst-case scenarios. ‘To Evernight’s Stars’ provides 30% Max HP plus memosprite damage bonuses. ‘Though Worlds Apart’ offers 24% ATK, 24% Shield Effect, and team damage buffs ranging 24-36%.
As F2P, prioritize character acquisitions unless you already own the featured character and lack suitable weapons. The character impact on your account progression typically outweighs weapon upgrades.
If you’re considering a small investment, Buy Oneiric Shards strategically during double bonus periods for maximum value when you’re just short of guarantee thresholds.
Advanced Planning: The Math Behind Multiple Targets
Probability Calculations That Actually Matter
Want both Evernight and Permansor Terrae? You’re looking at worst-case 360 pulls (57,600 Stellar Jades) without guarantee status. Expected value runs closer to 75-80 pulls per 5-star when accounting for 50/50 losses and soft pity timing.
Three or more 5-star targets? That exceeds typical F2P resources without exceptional luck. Plan accordingly.
Building Your Worst-Case Scenarios
Conservative planning assumes maximum resistance: losing every 50/50, consistently hitting hard pity. I recommend building 10-20% resource buffers above minimum requirements.
Early 5-star acquisitions can accelerate your timeline, but they might also disrupt your pity planning unexpectedly. Have backup plans ready.
F2P Decision Framework: Skip vs Pull
The Rating System That Works
Rate potential targets on three factors: role necessity (1-10), existing team synergy (1-10), and personal preference (1-10). Skip anything scoring below 7/10 or when pulling would compromise higher-priority guarantees.
Pull for critical account gaps, exceptional synergy opportunities, or limited-time availability. With free Archer potentially satisfying Hunt DPS needs, you might focus more on support and sustain options.
Long-term Account Strategy
Develop 6-month planning horizons using leaked information and established resource rates. F2P players typically guarantee one featured 5-star per patch cycle. Balance immediate needs with collection goals.
Anomaly Arbitration requires three separate teams plus a final challenge team—keep diversity needs in mind for endgame content.
Emergency Planning and Backup Routes
Prepare contingency plans for luck deviations. Identify minimum acceptable outcomes per banner period. For light spenders, recognize scenarios where $5-20 investments could secure desired outcomes.
HSR Top Up Online through BitTopup provides competitive pricing with instant delivery when you need those last few pulls.
Tools and Resources for Better Planning
Tracking Apps Worth Using
Mobile apps should support multiple accounts, banner history import, and probability calculations. Browser-based calculators offer convenient access without installation requirements.
Spreadsheet templates provide maximum customization with probability calculations, resource tracking, and timeline planning features. Advanced templates include scenario planning for comparing different strategies.
Community-maintained options stay current with user feedback and game updates. Quality simulators incorporate accurate rates, pity mechanics, and guarantee systems that mirror actual implementation.
Common Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
Stopping Impulsive Decisions Before They Start
Establish clear pulling criteria before character releases. Create 24-48 hour waiting periods between decision-making and actual spending. Avoid single pulls except for specific pity timing—ten-pulls provide identical rates while reducing temptation for spending spirals.
Maximizing Limited-Time Events
Prioritize event completion over routine farming when events offer superior Stellar Jade rates. Plan your pulling timeline around event reward distribution—we’re talking 500-1000+ Stellar Jades from major events.
Collaboration events like this Fate/Stay Night crossover provide exceptional value through free acquisitions and unique rewards you can’t get elsewhere.
Balancing Progression vs Collection
New players should prioritize functional team completion over favorite character collection. Don’t spread resources thin—well-built teams of 4-5 characters outperform larger under-invested rosters.
Consider long-term investment requirements: each 5-star needs substantial leveling, trace materials, and relic farming. Plan accordingly.
FAQ
How does the pity system work in Honkai Star Rail 3.6? 90-pull guarantee for characters, 80 for Light Cones. Soft pity starts at pull 75 (characters) and 65 (Light Cones). Character banners use 50/50 system, Light Cone banners use 75/25 rates. Pity carries over between same-type banners but resets when you pull a 5-star.
What’s this free Archer event in HSR 3.6? Free 5-star Archer (Quantum/Hunt) for players at Trailblaze Level 3+, claimable from July 11, 2025 through Version 3.6’s end. His signature Light Cone requires spending 200 Special Passes on event banners between July 2-August 13, 2025. Total value approaches 32,000 Stellar Jades.
How many Stellar Jades do F2P players actually get monthly? Memory of Chaos provides 800 per cycle, Pure Fiction another 800, Apocalyptic Shadow 800 more—typically twice monthly. Content-rich patches yield roughly 114 pulls (18,240 Stellar Jades) for dedicated F2P players completing all available content.
Should I prioritize characters or Light Cones in 3.6? Characters provide greater gameplay impact generally. Light Cones require 80-160 pulls vs. 90-180 for characters, but characters unlock new playstyles. With free Archer covering Hunt weapon needs, consider Light Cone banners only if you own the featured character without suitable alternatives.
When exactly does soft pity start in Honkai Star Rail? Pull 75 for Character Event Warps, pull 65 for Light Cone Event Warps. Probability increases with each subsequent pull until reaching 100% at hard pity. Most 5-star acquisitions occur during these soft pity windows.
How do I calculate guaranteed pity in HSR banners? Check your Warp Records and count pulls since your last 5-star acquisition. Character worst-case: 180 pulls (90 + 90 if losing 50/50). Light Cone worst-case: 160 pulls (80 + 80 if losing 75/25). Multiply by 160 Stellar Jades per pull. Expect most 5-stars between pulls 75-85 (characters) or 65-75 (Light Cones).
