Honkai Star Rail What to Buy First: Smart Spending Guide 2026

New players face a critical first-purchase decision. The Express Supply Pass at $4.99 delivers 3,000 Stellar Jades over 30 days (18+ pulls)—the highest value-per-dollar option. Direct Oneiric Shard bundles offer immediate pulling power with first-time double bonuses, while Nameless Honor battle pass ($9.99-$19.99) provides exclusive materials and Star Rail Special Passes. Understanding the 1:1 Oneiric Shard to Stellar Jade conversion and 160 Jade cost per pull is essential before spending.

Author: BitTopup Publish at: 2026/01/21

Understanding Star Rail's Currency System

Oneiric Shards (premium currency) convert 1:1 to Stellar Jade (in-game currency). Each Warp costs 160 Jades, meaning 14,400 Jades reach hard pity at 90 pulls for characters, or 12,800 Jades for 80-pull Light Cone pity. Soft pity begins at 73-74 pulls (characters) and 63 pulls (Light Cones).

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Star Rail Pass vs Special Pass

Star Rail Passes work only on permanent Standard Warp (no limited characters). Star Rail Special Passes unlock limited Character/Light Cone Event Warps. Nameless Glory provides 4 Special Passes—one of few sources outside direct Jade conversion.

First-Time Buyer Bonus

Every bundle ($0.99-$99.99) doubles Shards on first purchase. The $99.99 tier jumps from 8,080 to 12,960 Shards (81 pulls). This bonus applies once per tier and resets during major updates. Version 3.2 (April 9, 2025) will reset all bonuses, letting previous buyers claim doubled Shards again.

50/50 Guarantee System

Securing a specific limited 5-star requires up to 180 pulls (28,800 Jades) if you lose the coin flip. This reality shapes optimal strategy—small purchases rarely reach meaningful pity thresholds.

Top 3 Purchase Options for New Players

Option 1: Express Supply Pass ($4.99)

Honkai Star Rail Express Supply Pass purchase interface screenshot

Grants 300 Oneiric Shards instantly, then 90 Stellar Jades daily for 30 days. Total: 3,000 Jades (18.75 pulls) at $0.27 per pull—best value in the shop.

Limitations: Requires daily manual claiming. Missed rewards don't roll over. Max 180-day validity; stack up to 6 passes.

Option 2: Nameless Honor Battle Pass

Unlocks at Trailblaze Level 13 after Long Wait for the Blade's Edge mission.

Nameless Glory ($9.99):

  • 680 Stellar Jades
  • 4 Star Rail Special Passes (640 Jade value)
  • 1 self-selected 4-star Light Cone at Level 30
  • Credits, EXP materials, Tracks of Destiny

Total value: ~1,320 Jade equivalent. Second-best efficiency after Express Pass.

Nameless Medal ($19.99): Adds 10-level boost + 200 Jades. Only worth it if you're falling behind on progression.

Option 3: Oneiric Shard Bundles

Range from $0.99 (60 base Shards) to $99.99 (8,080 base Shards). Without bonuses, these have worst cost-per-pull ratios.

First-time bonuses transform value:

  • $99.99: 12,960 Shards (81 pulls) at $1.23/pull
  • $49.99: 6,560 Shards (41 pulls) at $1.22/pull
  • Standard $99.99: Only 50.5 pulls at $1.98/pull

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Cost Per Pull Efficiency

Honkai Star Rail cost per pull comparison chart

  • Express Supply Pass: $0.27/pull
  • Nameless Glory: $0.75/pull
  • $99.99 First-Time: $1.23/pull
  • $99.99 Standard: $1.98/pull
  • $0.99 First-Time: $0.83/pull

Express Pass dominates efficiency but requires 30-day commitment. First-time bundles offer immediate value for urgent needs.

Express Supply Pass Deep Dive

30-Day Rewards Breakdown

Day 1: 300 Oneiric Shards instantly. Days 1-30: 90 Stellar Jades daily via Store interface (manual claim required). Total: 3,000 Jades. Missing one day loses 90 Jades.

Real-World Value

18 pulls advance pity by 20% toward 90-pull hard pity. Three consecutive months ($14.97 total) = 9,000 Jades (56 pulls), reaching 62% of hard pity or surpassing 63-pull Light Cone soft pity.

Best For

Players who:

  • Log in daily/near-daily
  • Prefer steady accumulation over instant gratification
  • Plan acquisitions months ahead
  • Want max efficiency on $5-15 monthly budgets
  • Engage with endgame dailies

Skip if you can't commit to regular logins or need immediate pulls.

Nameless Honor Analysis

Nameless Glory Rewards ($9.99)

Honkai Star Rail Nameless Glory battle pass rewards guide

  • 680 Stellar Jades across 50 levels
  • 4 Star Rail Special Passes
  • Self-selected 4-star Light Cone (choose from full catalog)
  • Credits, Character/Light Cone EXP, Tracks of Destiny, ascension materials

The self-selected Light Cone allows targeted acquisition—popular picks include But the Battle Isn't Over (supports) and In the Name of the World (debuffers).

Leveling Requirements

Level 50 needs ~10,000 BP experience. Daily missions (100 pts), weekly missions (500-1,000 pts), seasonal missions (1,500-3,000 pts). Completing all dailies/weeklies across 6 weeks = 12,000-14,000 pts, providing comfortable margin.

Missions align with normal activities: Calyx challenges, Trailblaze Power usage, Simulated Universe runs, Forgotten Hall stages.

Oneiric Shard Bundles Strategy

First-Time Bonus Priority

Maximize absolute Shard gains on largest bundles:

  • $99.99: 4,880 bonus Shards (30.5 extra pulls)
  • $49.99: 2,680 bonus Shards (16.75 extra pulls)
  • $29.99: 1,720 bonus Shards (10.75 extra pulls)

The $99.99 first-time bonus delivers more free pulls than an entire $49.99 standard purchase.

When Direct Purchase Makes Sense

Despite poor efficiency, justified when:

  • Within 10-20 pulls of guaranteed pity, banner expires in 24-48 hours
  • Meta-defining limited character appears unexpectedly
  • Already exhausted Express Pass and battle pass
  • First-time bonuses remain unclaimed

This should be emergency spending, not standard practice.

Decision Framework by Goal

Goal 1: Securing Specific Limited 5-Star

  1. Calculate gap to guarantee (180 pulls = 28,800 Jades worst-case)
  2. Subtract current pity + saved Jades
  3. Prioritize $99.99 first-time bundle if gap exceeds 80 pulls
  4. Add $49.99 first-time if needed
  5. Buy Express Pass only if banner duration exceeds 20 days

Goal 2: Long-Term Progression

  1. Purchase Express Pass immediately, maintain continuous coverage
  2. Buy Nameless Glory each season
  3. Save first-time bonuses for future characters or reset
  4. Accumulate free Jades from events/dailies/story

Generates 6,320-7,320 Jades monthly (39-45 pulls) for $14.98. Over 4 months, guarantees one limited 5-star.

Budget Recommendations

$5/month: Express Pass only (25-30 pulls/month)

$15/month: Express Pass + Nameless Glory (35-40 pulls/month)

$50/month: Express Pass + Glory + one $29.99 first-time every 4 months (40-45 pulls/month avg)

$100+/month: Express Pass + Medal + strategic first-time bundles (60-80 pulls/month)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Buying Raw Shards Without Bonus

Paying $1.98-2.64/pull after exhausting bonuses when Express Pass offers $0.27/pull.

Solution: Never buy standard bundles except emergencies (within 5 pulls of guarantee, banner expires in 24 hours).

Mistake 2: Ignoring Express Pass

$15 on $14.99 standard bundle = 6.8 pulls. Same $15 split between Express Pass + Nameless Glory = 26 pulls (4x value).

Solution: Make Express Pass mandatory first purchase.

Mistake 3: Not Understanding Pity

Spending $50 expecting guaranteed 5-star, discovering worst-case needs 180 pulls ($220+ in standard bundles).

Solution: Calculate exact requirements:

  • First limited 5-star: 90 pulls max (14,400 Jades)
  • Guaranteed featured: 180 pulls max (28,800 Jades)
  • Subtract current pity progress

Mistake 4: Poor Purchase Timing

Buying Nameless Glory before Level 13 (can't access). Buying Express Pass before vacation (waste 7 days).

Solution: Time purchases around play schedule and account status.

Advanced Value Optimization

Battle Pass Material Value

Nameless Glory provides substantial Credits, Character/Light Cone EXP, Tracks of Destiny. A new 5-star needs:

  • 308,000 Credits for level 1-80
  • 246 Character EXP Materials (purple)
  • 65 Tracks of Destiny
  • 15-20 boss materials

Battle pass covers significant portions, reducing Trailblaze Power farming and accelerating endgame access.

Indirect Efficiency

Materials from battle pass free 400-600 Trailblaze Power weekly for Relic farming. Optimized Relics complete Memory of Chaos earlier, earning 600 extra Jades bi-weekly (3.75 pulls). Over a year: 97.5 extra pulls—more than a $99.99 standard bundle.

Safe Top-Up via BitTopup

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Account Security

  • Enable Two-Factor Authentication before purchases
  • Use strong, unique passwords
  • Verify purchase confirmation emails
  • Never share credentials
  • Monitor purchase history
  • Link multiple login methods

Payment Methods

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  • Credit/Debit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex)
  • PayPal (buyer protection)
  • Digital Wallets
  • Cryptocurrency

Choose methods offering buyer protection and transaction records.

Refund Policy

HoYoverse grants refunds only for:

  • Duplicate accidental purchases (within minutes)
  • Technical delivery errors
  • Unauthorized transactions with proof

NOT granted for buyer's remorse, gacha dissatisfaction, or wrong banner spending.

30-Day Action Plan

Day 1-7

Day 1: Buy Express Pass ($4.99), claim first 90 Jades, establish daily login routine.

Days 2-5: Evaluate Jade balance, pity count, banner expiration. If within 40 pulls of guarantee and banner expires in 2 weeks, consider $49.99 first-time bonus.

Days 6-7: Check Trailblaze Level. If Level 13+, buy Nameless Glory to start BP experience.

Week 2-3

Week 2: Review BP level (should be 10-15). If below 8, increase weekly mission focus.

Week 3: Assess if you'll complete level 50. On track = level 20-25. Falling behind = consider Medal or increase missions.

Week 4

Review total Jade accumulation (2,700 from Express by day 30 + BP + free sources). Calculate if trajectory reaches pull goals.

If short, decide: claim first-time bonuses now, wait for reset announcement, or target different banner.

Long-Term Routine

Monthly Baseline ($14.98):

  • Renew Express Pass day 1
  • Buy Nameless Glory first week of BP season

Quarterly ($30-50 every 3 months):

  • Claim one first-time bonus when desired character appears
  • Rotate tiers to maximize total bonus value

Annual Review:

  • Calculate spending vs. 5-star acquisition rate
  • Adjust if spending exceeds entertainment value

FAQ

Is Express Supply Pass worth it?

Yes. Best cost-per-pull at $0.27/pull, providing 3,000 Jades over 30 days for $4.99. Requires daily login—missed days waste value. Prioritize if you log in regularly.

Best first purchase for new players?

Express Pass ($4.99) for max efficiency with daily logins. Need immediate pulls? Claim $49.99 or $99.99 first-time bonuses (41-81 pulls instantly with doubled Shards).

Nameless Honor cost?

Nameless Glory: $9.99 (680 Jades, 4 Special Passes, 1 self-selected 4-star Light Cone, materials). Nameless Medal: $19.99 (adds 10-level boost + 200 Jades). Glory offers better value unless behind on progression.

Does Star Rail have monthly subscription?

Express Pass functions as monthly subscription: 300 Oneiric Shards instantly + 90 Stellar Jades daily for 30 days. Doesn't auto-renew—manual repurchase required. Stack up to 6 passes (180 days).

What's the first-time buyer bonus?

Each bundle tier doubles Shards on first purchase. $99.99 provides 12,960 Shards vs. 8,080 standard (81 pulls). Applies once per tier. Resets during major updates—next confirmed April 9, 2025 (Version 3.2).

How many pulls from Express Pass?

3,000 total Jades (300 instant + 2,700 daily claims). At 160 Jades/pull = 18.75 Warps, effectively 18 guaranteed pulls + 120 Jades toward next.

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