The Real Anniversary Timeline (And Why It Matters)
When Everything Actually Happens
April 26, 2025. That"s your date – exactly two years since global launch hit us all at 10:00 UTC+8. But here"s the thing: celebrations kick off way earlier with Version 3.2 dropping April 9th.
Now, I"ve seen too many players get confused about timing, so let me break this down properly. Version 3.2 launches at different times depending on where you are: Asia gets it at 11:00 AM (UTC+8), North America at 10:00 PM on April 8th (UTC-5), and Europe at 4:00 AM April 9th (UTC+1). There"s a five-hour maintenance window starting 6:00 AM UTC+8 – which means 300 Stellar Jades for anyone Trailblaze Level 4 or higher. Not bad for scheduled downtime.
The anniversary mail itself? That arrives precisely on April 26th based on server time, not your local time. You"ll get 1,600 Stellar Jades plus 10 Fuel, and here"s a nice touch – you can pick which character sends it to you. Your options include March 7th, Dan Heng, Himeko, Welt, Black Swan, Sunday, Kafka, Silver Wolf, Blade, or Firefly. Small detail, but it shows HoYo"s paying attention to what players actually want.
Why April 26th Became Sacred
HSR"s been consistent about this date since launch. Unlike some games that shift their anniversary celebrations around (looking at you, certain other gachas), they"ve stuck with April 26th as the official anniversary. The first anniversary in 2025 set this precedent with Version 2.1, and honestly? It works.
Quick editor note: early leaks suggest the third anniversary character in April 2026 might be Yae Sakura as an Ice element, Path of Elation character. Take that with the usual grain of salt, but the timing would make sense.
What"s Actually Happening During Anniversary 2025
The Event Lineup That Matters
Version 3.2 isn"t messing around with its celebration lineup. “Star Rail WORLD” runs from April 9 through May 19 – it"s a business simulation game that"ll net you 1,200 Stellar Jades if you stay on top of it. Then there"s “Seal Slammers,” a multiplayer mini-game running April 11 to May 19 that gives you 1,400 Stellar Jades and a pet called “Bubbles.” Yes, a pet. In Star Rail. I"m here for it.
“Morning Starlight” is your combat event (April 28 - May 19) worth 500 Stellar Jades, and the “Annual Trailblaze Report” web event gives you 180 Jades just for checking out your yearly stats. Easy money.
Oh, and “Star Rail LIVE 2025” is happening. Concert screenings in LA (May 10), Paris (May 10-13), Tokyo, plus a global livestream May 3rd featuring a 31-track setlist. If you"re into that sort of thing – and honestly, HoYo"s concert production values are pretty impressive.
The Triple Drop Events You Can"t Ignore
Here"s where things get serious for your account progression. Planar Fissure is getting 300% rewards from April 23 (04:00) through May 5 (03:59). That"s triple Planar Ornaments from Simulated Universe runs. Then Realm of the Strange gets the same treatment May 9 through May 19 – triple Relics from Caverns of Corrosion.
This is huge. Like, genuinely the most valuable farming opportunities you"ll see all year. Start saving your Trailblaze Power and Fuel now.
Breaking Down Your Anniversary Rewards
The Stellar Jade Breakdown
Let"s talk numbers. Free-to-play players are looking at roughly 19,150 Stellar Jades during Version 3.2 – that"s 119 pulls. Express Supply Pass bumps you to about 22,930 Jades (143 pulls), and both passes get you around 24,250 Jades (151 pulls).
Here"s how it breaks down: 1,600 from anniversary mail, 1,200 from Star Rail WORLD, 1,400 from Seal Slammers, 500 from Morning Starlight, up to 120 from social media campaigns, and roughly 14,330 from your regular daily grind.
Your 30 Free Pulls (And How to Use Them)
The anniversary gives you exactly 30 free pulls. Twenty Star Rail Special Passes come from the “Festive Gifts” 7-day login event, plus those 1,600 Stellar Jades from the anniversary mail convert to 10 more pulls.
These are targeting the anniversary banners – Castorice, Anaxa, or that triple rerun featuring Acheron, Jiaoqiu, and Fugue. Use them wisely.
The Golden Companion Spirit (Your Free 5-Star)
This is the big one. You get a Golden Companion Spirit token that lets you pick between Ruan Mei (Ice, Harmony) or Luocha (Imaginary, Abundance) for free. Completely free. One token"s provided automatically, and you can get a second through the “Cherished Recollection” top-up event if you"re willing to spend 18,000 Oneiric Shards.
My take? Unless you desperately need healing, Ruan Mei"s the play here. She works in basically every team composition.
Anniversary Banners: Who"s Worth Your Pulls
The Banner Timeline
Phase 1 (April 8-30): Castorice headlines with Quantum/Remembrance, alongside reruns of Acheron, Jiaoqiu, and Fugue. 4-stars are Pela, Lynx, and Gallagher. Her signature Light Cone is “Make Farewells More Beautiful.”
Phase 2 (April 30 - May 20): Anaxa takes center stage as Wind/Erudition, with Dr. Ratio getting a rerun. 4-stars include Dan Heng, Serval, and Moze. Signature weapon: “Life Should Be Cast to Flames.”
The New Characters Worth Knowing
Castorice introduces something genuinely new – a “near-death state” mechanic. Her Ultimate summons “Netherwing” that burns HP for massive damage, and her passive lets allies who take fatal damage enter a saveable near-death state instead of just dying. Even when she"s not on the field. That"s… actually pretty revolutionary for team survivability.
Anaxa messes with weakness mechanics. She can apply random weaknesses through her skill, and her Ultimate “Sublimation” instantly slaps all seven weakness types onto every enemy. Pair that with the new event Light Cone that gets stronger based on enemy weakness types, and you"ve got some interesting synergy potential.
How to Actually Prepare (Beyond Just Saving)
Resource Management That Works
You want 180 pulls saved (28,800 Stellar Jades) for guaranteed characters – that"s the golden rule. But also stockpile 2,000+ Trailblaze Power for those triple drop events, and keep 40+ Fuel on hand for extended farming sessions.
Pre-farm Quantum and Wind ascension materials if you"re planning to pull for Castorice and Anaxa. Trust me, you don"t want to be scrambling for materials when you pull a new character.
Team Planning Strategy
Here"s where strategy matters. Pick Ruan Mei from the free selector if you"re running break effect teams (Boothill, Firefly) or just want universal support. Luocha"s your choice if healing"s been a problem in endgame content.
Also, check your 4-star Light Cone collection – the new Mass Superimposition function is coming, so you might want to prepare for some inventory optimization.
Your Pre-Anniversary Checklist
Make sure you"re at least Trailblaze Level 4. Complete current story content so you can access Amphoreus when it drops. Plan your pull distribution across both phases. Decide on your Golden Companion Spirit selection. Prep upgrade materials for immediate character building.
And clear your schedule for those triple drop events – seriously.
Community Events Worth Your Time
The Social Media Game
Social media campaigns can unlock up to 120 Stellar Jades through collective goals, with individual participants getting 90. There"s also a massive giveaway distributing 150,000 Express Supply Passes across X, Facebook, Discord, and Reddit.
The Annual Trailblaze Report isn"t just stats – it"s 180 Stellar Jades for looking at your yearly gaming habits. Easy participation, decent reward.
How HSR Anniversary Stacks Up
Compared to the Competition
Let"s be honest about this – HSR"s anniversary blows Genshin Impact"s out of the water. Thirty free pulls versus ten. A guaranteed limited 5-star selector versus… nothing. March 2025 revenue data showed HSR pulling in $118.3 million, substantially out-earning Genshin. Coincidence? I think not.
The total anniversary value per player exceeds $200: those 30 free pulls ($45-60 value), the free limited 5-star ($150-300), event Light Cone plus materials ($20-30), plus the triple drop events that save you weeks of farming time.
Version 3.2 Features You"ll Actually Use
Quality of Life That Matters
“Stellar Convergence” shop and “Custom Non-Featured 5-Star” warp function are coming. That custom function? It lets you modify the 50/50 system by customizing your non-featured character pool. You can include standard characters and rotating limited ones like Seele, Blade, and Fu Xuan.
Auto-salvage for low-rarity relics, Smart Discard based on your stat preferences, Mass Superimposition for 4-star Light Cones, and direct Material Synthesis access from character screens. These might sound small, but they"ll save you hours of inventory management.
Your Optimal Anniversary Strategy
Pull Priority Framework
Fill account gaps first – DPS, support, sustain in that order. Prioritize meta relevance (Acheron for DPS, Ruan Mei for support). Consider Castorice"s unique mechanics if you"re interested in new playstyles. Use that free selector strategically to minimize total pulls needed.
Secure guaranteed pity for your highest priority character first, use those 30 free pulls before touching your saved resources, and consider Phase 2"s Dr. Ratio if you need Erudition team options.
Making the Most of Events
Daily priorities: Star Rail WORLD progression, Seal Slammers participation, regular missions, and social media engagement. Weekly focus should be on triple drop preparation and execution, Morning Starlight challenges, and Express Supply Pass optimization.
Don"t forget the anniversary-specific tasks: pick your character for the anniversary mail, complete the Annual Trailblaze Report, and maybe catch that concert livestream if you"re into it.
Quick Answers to What You"re Actually Wondering
When does everything start?
Celebrations begin with Version 3.2 on April 9th at 11:00 AM UTC+8. The actual anniversary is April 26th. Events run through May 19th.
Exactly how many free pulls?
Thirty. Twenty Special Passes from the 7-day login, plus 1,600 Stellar Jades (10 pulls) from anniversary mail.
Ruan Mei or Luocha from the selector?
Ruan Mei for most players – she"s universally useful. Luocha only if you"re struggling with healing in endgame content.
What are these triple drop events?
300% rewards for farming. Planar Fissure (April 23 - May 5) for Ornaments, Realm of Strange (May 9 - May 19) for Relics. Most efficient farming you"ll see all year.
✅ Official direct recharge, 100% secure
✅ No waiting – top-up arrives in 7 seconds
✅ Big discounts, low prices to save more
✅ 7×24-hour customer service, ready to assist anytime
