What Exactly Are Oneiric Shards?
Think of Oneiric Shards as HSR"s “premium tier” currency. You can"t earn them through gameplay - they"re strictly pay-to-acquire. But here"s where it gets interesting: while they convert to Stellar Jade at 1:1 for pulls, they also unlock the Contract Shop"s exclusive items that free Jade simply can"t touch.
The Contract Shop isn"t just filler content either. You"ve got Herta Contract: Quest Sharing at 180 Shards (limit 2), Resource Supply V2 for 660 Shards (limit 5), and the big-ticket Trailblaze Aid at 1,090 Shards. That last one"s particularly valuable for progression-focused players.
This dual functionality creates what I"d call a “strategic currency layer” - something that goes beyond simple gacha conversion.
Breaking Down the Purchase Tiers
Let"s talk real numbers. Standard PC pricing shows some clear value scaling patterns:
The $0.99 starter gets you 60 Shards (60.61 per dollar). Not terrible for testing waters.
Jump to the $14.99 tier and you"re looking at 980 base + 110 bonus Shards - that"s 72.72 per dollar. Much better efficiency.
The $99.99 package? 6,480 base plus 1,600 bonus Shards, hitting 80.81 per dollar. That"s a solid 33% improvement over the smallest options.
For reliable transactions, BitTopup handles Honkai Star Rail Top Up with multiple payment options and 24/7 support. Just remember - PS5 players need to claim via PC or mobile due to platform restrictions.
First-Time Bonuses: The Reset Everyone"s Waiting For
Here"s where things get spicy. First-time bonuses literally double your base amounts:
$0.99 becomes 120 total Shards
$14.99 jumps to 1,960 total Shards
$99.99 explodes to 12,960 total Shards (that"s 81 pulls, folks)
The 3.5 reset will take place on August 13, 2025. Each tier will be reset independently—if you've previously skipped tiers, the rewards won't stack. The last reset was August 27, 2024, so we've been waiting a full year for this opportunity.
Shards vs Jade: The Strategic Breakdown
Both currencies offer identical gacha value at 160 units per pull, but the similarities end there. Shards unlock Contract Shop exclusives that Jade users can only dream about. Smart players actually save their Express Supply Pass Shards (300 monthly) specifically for character outfits while burning free Jade on pulls.
Your Stellar Jade comes from daily missions, events, battle pass rewards - the usual free-to-play grind. Oneiric Shards? Pure financial investment, but maximum flexibility.
New version event: August Carnival
Version 3.5 of Star-Metal (August 13, 2025) looks pretty good:
30+ free pulls from login events alone. Plus 1,600 Stellar Jades dropping straight into your mailbox.
The Golden Companion Spirit selector gives you a guaranteed 5-star choice between Ruan Mei and Luocha - not bad for anniversary generosity.
But wait, there"s more. The recharge activity lasts from August 13 to September 24, offering some serious milestone rewards:
Hit 18,000 Shards: Golden Companion Spirit (guaranteed 5-star)
Reach 25,000 Shards: Exclusive Personal Display Set
The Star Rail WORLD event throws in another 1,200 Stellar Jade plus the free 4-star Light Cone “The Great Cosmic Enterprise”.
Timing Your Purchases: August 13 is The Date
Look, I’ve been covering gacha economics for years, and August 13, 2025 represents a perfect storm of value:
First-time bonus reset across every tier. Cherished Recollection milestone rewards going live. New character banners with Castorice and Anaxa. Extended anniversary benefits running simultaneously.
The first half of the 3.5 card pool features the remasters of Heather (Physical Void) and Kafka (Thunder Void), and will run from August 13th to September 2nd, 2025 (UTC+8, Asia). The second half of the card pool, which begins on September 2nd and features the remasters of Cerydra (Wind Harmony) and Silver Wolf (Quantum Void), will run until September 23rd. This schedule also fits perfectly.
Regional Pricing Reality Check
Here"s something most guides skip - regional variations matter:
US players pay $99.99 for the top tier. EU gets hit with €99.99. Japan historically offers the best value at ¥12,000. Australia? AU$149.99, which typically works out as the most expensive option globally.
Without bonuses, that $99.99 package shrinks to just 8,080 Shards (50 pulls). This is exactly why reset periods matter so much.
Spending Strategies by Player Type
F2P Focus: Maximize those 30+ anniversary pulls, stay consistent with daily missions, save everything for meta characters. Anniversary events provide roughly 119 Special Pass equivalents - that"s substantial pulling power.
Low-Spender Optimization: Express Supply Pass at $4.99 monthly nets you 300 Shards plus 2,700 Jade. Add strategic first-time bonus usage and Nameless Honor selection ($9.99). You"re looking at ~143 pulls during anniversary period.
Whale Strategy: Complete bonus utilization, Cherished Recollection targeting, Light Cone Memory Shard accumulation. Expect ~151 pulls combining all premium options.
Express Supply Pass: The Value King
At $4.99, Express Supply Pass delivers exceptional value:
Immediate 300 Oneiric Shards
Daily 90 Stellar Jade for 30 days (2,700 total)
Rate of 60.12 Shards per dollar
Maximum 179-day duration
Community consensus? This beats even first-time bonuses for pure efficiency. It"s become the gold standard for light spending.
Don"t Make These Expensive Mistakes
Impulse Buying: Repeatedly purchasing small packages instead of efficient bundles. Converting Shards immediately rather than saving for exclusives. I see this constantly in community discussions.
Timing Failures: Buying after banner announcements instead of preparing during bonus periods. Missing anniversary events entirely.
The solution? Plan purchases around August 13 reset, maintain Shard reserves for Contract Shop items, focus on meta characters using free resources first.
When you"re ready to Buy Oneiric Shards, BitTopup"s competitive pricing and instant delivery ensure you won"t miss limited bonus windows. Version 3.5"s customizable gacha pools make calculated Honkai Star Rail Recharge decisions more impactful than ever.
Your Questions Answered
What"s the real difference between Oneiric Shards and Stellar Jade? Shards cost real money but unlock Contract Shop exclusives like character outfits. Jade comes free from gameplay. Both convert to pulls at 160 units each, but experienced players keep Shard reserves specifically for exclusive purchases.
When exactly does the first-time bonus reset in 2025? August 13, 2025 with Version 3.5’s launch. All tiers reset independently, so you get doubled Shard amounts again. The next reset probably won’t happen until 2026’s third anniversary.
How many Shards guarantee a 5-star character? Traditional pity caps at 28,800 Shards (180 pulls worst-case scenario). But here"s the thing - Golden Companion Spirit provides direct selection for just 18,000 Shards through the Cherished Recollection event. Much more efficient.
Should I buy before or after Version 3.5 changes? Definitely after August 13, 2025. Version 3.5’s customizable gacha pools combined with first-time bonus reset maximize both value and control over your pull outcomes. Patience pays off here.
