When Exactly Is Yaoguang Coming? The 4.0 Timeline Breakdown
The Official Release Date (And Why It Got Pushed Back)
Yaoguang makes her debut as the featured 5-star Harmony Support in Version 4.0 Phase 1 on February 18, 2026. Originally slated for January 29, the release got bumped due to Chinese New Year scheduling—something veteran players have seen before with major updates.
The Version 3.8 Program broadcast on December 5, 2025 locked in this timeline. Early beta analysis suggests Yaoguang edges out SP Sparkle Hanami in SP-heavy team comps, which is saying something. If you're looking to top up for guaranteed pulls, Honkai Star Rail stellar jade top up through BitTopup has become the go-to for competitive pricing and instant delivery.
Here's your roadmap:
- Version 3.0: January 15, 2025 (Herta/Aglaea banners kick things off)
- Version 3.7: November 5 - December 16, 2025 (Cyrene, plus the Phainon/Mydei/Cipher trio)
- Version 3.8: December 16, 2025 - January 28, 2026 (Dahlia and those Firefly reruns)
- Version 4.0 Phase 1: February 18, 2026 (Yaoguang's big moment)
What About SP Sparkle Hanami?
She's coming right after in Version 4.0 Phase 2. Hanami's positioned as an Elation Path hypercarry DPS—think high-risk, high-reward gameplay built around SP consumption and BIKURI stack management. Her kit's loaded with DEF ignore and scaling CRIT DMG based on how much SP you're willing to burn.
The sequential releases work in your favor if you're a dedicated player. F2P folks, though? You'll need to pick your battles.
The Math Behind Guaranteed Yaoguang: 180 Pulls Explained
Breaking Down the Guarantee System
Let's be real about the numbers. Honkai Star Rail's guarantee system caps at 180 pulls for any featured 5-star—that's assuming you lose the 50/50 twice in a row. Total damage: 28,800 Stellar Jades (180 × 160 per pull).
But here's what actually happens in practice. Soft pity kicks in at pull 73, and rates spike dramatically through pull 90. Most players see their 5-star between pulls 75-85, putting realistic costs at 12,320-13,120 Jades.
Already sitting on some pity? Subtract from that 180-pull target. At 40 pity, you need 140 more pulls (22,400 Jades). At 70 pity, just 110 pulls (17,600 Jades). Remember—pity carries between character banners but runs separately for Light Cone banners.
Your Step-by-Step Yaoguang Acquisition Strategy
The Weekly Jade Grind: What F2P Players Can Expect
Consistent F2P players pull in 2,400+ Stellar Jades weekly (that's 9,600-10,400 monthly). From Version 3.0 launch through February 2026, you're looking at 13 months of accumulation time. Do the math: 124,800+ Jades total. More than enough for guaranteed Yaoguang, with plenty left over.
Daily grind breakdown (60 Jades): Your Daily Training missions, whatever limited events are running, and those weekly Simulated Universe objectives (105 Jades weekly).
Bi-weekly endgame content: Memory of Chaos full clears net you 800 Jades per cycle. Add Pure Fiction rotations and Apocalyptic Shadow for maximum rewards.
The Art of Strategic Banner Skipping
This is where discipline pays off. Post-December 2025, you'll want to skip:
- Version 3.7 Cyrene banner (November 5 - December 16, 2025)
- Version 3.7 Phainon/Mydei/Cipher banners (November 26 - December 16, 2025)
- Version 3.8 Dahlia and Firefly reruns (December 16, 2025 - January 7, 2026)
- Version 3.8 Fugue and Lingsha reruns (January 7 - February 12, 2026)
Each banner should pass a simple test: does this character provide significant account progression? If not, save your Jades.
Every Stellar Jade Source in the 3.0 Era
Your Daily and Weekly Bread and Butter
Daily Training missions are your foundation: 60 Jades daily (1,800 monthly). Weekly endgame content adds another layer—Simulated Universe (105 weekly), Memory of Chaos (800 bi-weekly plus 3,000 one-time rewards), and those rotating Pure Fiction and Apocalyptic Shadow challenges.
Combined weekly activities typically yield 600-800 Jades beyond your daily income.
Version Events: The Real Jade Goldmines
Version 3.4 dropped 13,330 Stellar Jades plus 15 Star Rail Special Passes—that's 98 free pulls total. The breakdown looked like this: Daily Missions (2,520), Version Compensation (600), Character Trials (260), Collaboration Events (1,400), and miscellaneous sources (8,400).
This pattern scales consistently across Versions 3.0-3.8.
Express Supply Pass adds 3,600 Jades monthly. Nameless Glory Battle Pass contributes 680 Jades plus 4 passes per version. Strategic spenders can leverage buy Honkai Star Rail passes cheap through BitTopup's secure platform for Oneiric Shard top-ups.
SP Sparkle Hanami: Should You Pull Both?
Understanding Hanami's Kit and Meta Position
Hanami introduces the Elation Path as a hypercarry DPS built around BIKURI stack mechanics. Each stack consumes 2 SP for Follow-Up Attack sequences. Her skill modes scale dramatically: Mode 1 (4 SP, 100% DEF ignore), Mode 2 (8 SP, AoE plus 30 BIKURI), Mode 3 (12 SP, massive Fire DMG).
Build requirements get specific: 160+ SPD minimum, Tengoku 2-piece set (+16-32% CRIT DMG), Ultimate-first rotations.
Optimal team comps look like Hanami + Sparkle + FUA supports + Elation Trailblazer, or Hanami + Yaoguang + Abundance/Preservation + flex DPS. Advanced optimization can push 200+ CRIT DMG with proper synergy.
Yaoguang vs Hanami: The Priority Framework
Go Yaoguang first if: You're lacking Harmony supports, prefer versatile characters, running F2P, or have strong DPS units needing support.
Prioritize Hanami if: Your support roster's solid but you need DPS, you enjoy high-skill gameplay, or you've got resources for both characters.
Yaoguang's broader applicability across team archetypes makes her the safer pick for most accounts.
Smart Spending: Oneiric Shard Strategy
Strategic spenders should leverage first-time purchase bonuses across multiple tiers rather than one massive purchase. Need 13,800 additional Jades? That's roughly 8,625 Oneiric Shards, translating to $60-80 spread across multiple bonus tiers.
Express Supply Pass remains exceptional value: 300 daily Jades (9,000 monthly) for about $5. Over 13 months, that's 117,000 Jades—enough for guarantee plus Light Cone pulls.
Don't Make These Common Mistakes
Banner timing confusion: Character banners run 3 weeks per phase, not entire versions. Yaoguang's banner ends mid-March 2026, not at Version 4.1 release.
Light Cone banner waste: Separate pity systems don't contribute to character progress. Get your character first, then worry about their weapon.
Poor pity tracking: Always know your current character banner pity, 50/50 status, accumulated resources, and timeline.
Impulse pulling: Version 3.7's Fate collaboration and 3.8 reruns will test your resolve. Set firm criteria and stick to them.
When Plans Go Wrong: Backup Strategies
Yaoguang's first rerun hits 6-8 months post-debut (late 2026/early 2027) with identical mechanics. Failed pulls preserve pity progress for future banners. You can redirect resources toward SP Sparkle Hanami, Version 4.1+ characters, or strategic Light Cone acquisitions while planning better for next time.
FAQ
When exactly does Yaoguang's banner go live? February 18, 2026 in Version 4.0 Phase 1. The delay from January 29 was due to Chinese New Year scheduling.
How many Stellar Jades for the guarantee? 28,800 Jades for absolute guarantee (180 pulls), though soft pity usually kicks in around 75-85 pulls.
Can F2P players realistically save enough? Absolutely. 2,400+ weekly Jades over 13 months gives you 120,000+ total through consistent play.
Should I pull both Yaoguang and Hanami? Sequential releases make both possible for dedicated players. F2P should prioritize Yaoguang for broader Harmony utility.
What happens if I miss Yaoguang's banner? Her rerun's expected 6-8 months later (late 2026/early 2027). Your resources and pity carry forward.
Does pity transfer between banner types? Character banner pity carries between Character Event Warps but runs separately from Light Cone banners.
