Honkai Star Rail's Version 3.8 runs 8 weeks (December 17, 2025 - February 12-13, 2026)—33% longer than standard patches. Stack up to 6 Express Supply Passes for 18,000 Stellar Jades. F2P players get 13,500 Jades (79 pulls); with passes: 22,500 Jades (135 pulls). Each $4.99 pass delivers 3,000 Jade-equivalent over 30 days.
Understanding HSR Patch 3.8: The 8-Week Advantage
Version 3.8 launches December 17, 2025, ends February 12-13, 2026—creating unprecedented 8-week resource accumulation window.
Standard patches run 6 weeks with two banner phases. The 8-week structure adds a third phase:
Phase 1: The Dahlia + Firefly reruns (Dec 17 - Jan 7)
Phase 2: Fugue + Lingsha (Jan 7-28)
Phase 3: Aglaea + Sunday (Jan 28 - Feb 12)
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Why 8 Weeks Instead of 6
Extended duration accommodates three banner phases (six limited 5-stars) while maintaining standard 21-day banner durations.
Additional two weeks = 14 extra days of Daily Training = 840 additional Jades. Combined with extended events and endgame resets, 8-week format significantly boosts F2P income.
Resource Accumulation Impact
F2P players accumulate 13,500 Stellar Jades in Version 3.8:
Daily Training: 3,480 Jades (58 days × 60)
Maintenance Compensation: 600 Jades
Special Program Codes: 200 Jades (PS3QWS3ACGDK, RSJ9EB2TDGC7)
Endgame Modes: 3,200 Jades (Memory of Chaos, Pure Fiction, Apocalyptic Shadow)
Divergent Universe: 1,800 Jades
Chrysos Awooo Championship: 1,200 Jades
Character Showcase: 120 Jades
Events/Quests: Remaining balance
13,500 Jades = 79 pulls. Soft pity starts at 75 pulls, hard pity at 90—F2P players approach one guaranteed 5-star.
Express Pass and Nameless Honor Mechanics
Express Supply Pass operates independently from Nameless Honor battle pass. Understanding the distinction clarifies value calculations.
Express Supply Pass System
Costs $4.99, delivers dual-structure rewards:
Immediate: 300 Oneiric Shards (converts 1:1 to Stellar Jades)
Daily: 90 Stellar Jades × 30 days = 2,700 Jades
Total: 3,000 Jades = 18.75 pulls
Stack up to 6 passes (180-day validity). Critical for 8-week patches—purchase multiple passes to maximize extended timeline value.
To purchase: Store → Oneiric Shards section → Express Supply Pass. Daily rewards auto-trigger on login.
Nameless Honor vs Express Pass
Nameless Honor = traditional battle pass (50 tiers via missions). Free track provides basic rewards; premium track offers enhanced Jades, materials, exclusive light cones.
During 8-week patches, mission availability extends proportionally. Players completing all objectives max out tiers well before February 12 deadline.
For Jade-focused players, Express Supply Pass delivers superior pull-per-dollar efficiency vs premium Nameless Honor.
Complete Express Pass Math for 3.8
Single Pass (30 days):
Immediate: 300 Jades
Daily (30 days): 2,700 Jades
Total: 3,000 Jades = 18.75 pulls
Three Pass Stack (optimal for 8-week):
Investment: $14.97
Total Jades: 9,000
Total pulls: 56.25
F2P + Three Passes:
F2P: 13,500 Jades (79 pulls)
Three passes: 9,000 Jades (56 pulls)
Combined: 22,500 Jades (135 pulls)
135 pulls guarantees one limited 5-star (90-pull hard pity) with 45 pulls toward second guarantee—sufficient for players at 50/50 pity to potentially secure both Fugue and Sunday.
Strategic Purchase Timing
Staggered approach for full 8-week coverage:
First purchase: December 17 (launch) - expires January 16
Second purchase: December 27 - expires January 26
Third purchase: January 6 (before Phase 2) - expires February 5
This ensures daily 90-Jade claims span entire patch. Players targeting only Phase 3 Sunday can delay, though early purchases provide flexibility.
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Stacking Strategy: Is 3.8 Optimal?
Standard 6-Week Patch:
Duration: 42 days
Max effective passes: 2
Total pass Jades: 6,000
F2P + passes: ~16,500 Jades (97 pulls)
Extended 8-Week Patch (3.8):
Duration: 56-58 days
Max effective passes: 3
Total pass Jades: 9,000
F2P + passes: 22,500 Jades (135 pulls)
8-week format delivers 50% more Express Pass value while F2P income increases only ~35%. Version 3.8 = optimal patch for Express Pass investment.
Cost Efficiency
Cost per pull (3 passes): $0.266 ($14.97 ÷ 56.25 pulls)
vs Direct Jade purchase: ~$1.00+ per pull
Value multiplier: ~3.75x efficiency
Extended patch allows purchasing additional pass that fully matures before patch end—18.75 bonus pulls unavailable in shorter cycles.
Fugue Banner Planning
Fugue debuts Phase 2 (January 7-28, 2026) as 5-star Fire Nihility. Banner shares phase with Lingsha rerun.
Phase 2 = 21 days, providing 1,260 Jades from daily missions plus active events. 4-star rate-ups: Sampo, Natasha, Arlan. Signature light cone: Long Road Leads Home.
Pity System Calculations
Soft pity: Pull 75
Hard pity: Pull 90
50/50 mechanic: First 5-star = 50% featured character
Guarantee: Losing 50/50 guarantees next 5-star is featured
Worst-case Fugue acquisition:
Lose 50/50 at 90: 14,400 Jades
Win guarantee at 90: 14,400 Jades
Total: 28,800 Jades (180 pulls)
Average scenario: ~19,200 Jades (120 pulls)
22,500 Jade total (F2P + 3 passes) covers average-case with buffer.
F2P Strategy
13,500 Jades = 79 pulls—sufficient for soft pity but short of double-pity guarantee.
F2P tactics:
Carry pity from Version 3.7 (40+ pity reaches guarantee)
Skip Phase 1 entirely
Selective Phase 3 skipping (sacrifice Sunday)
Accept 50/50 risk
F2P targeting both Fugue and Sunday requires winning consecutive 50/50s at early pity or sacrificing one character.
Sunday Rerun Strategy
Sunday returns Phase 3 (January 28 - February 12, 2026) as 5-star Imaginary Harmony, sharing banner with Aglaea.
Phase 3's late positioning provides maximum accumulation time. Players skipping Phases 1-2 enter with full 13,500 F2P Jades plus passes.
Dual Banner Management
Option A: Guaranteed Resources (360 pulls)
Required: 57,600 Jades
Available: 22,500
Shortfall: 35,100 Jades (~$550)
Whale-tier only
Option B: Statistical Risk (240 pulls)
Required: 38,400 Jades
Available: 22,500
Shortfall: 15,900 Jades (~$250)
Moderate spender with 50/50 risk
Option C: Selective Guarantee (180 pulls + skip second)
Required: 28,800 Jades
Available: 22,500
Shortfall: 6,300 Jades (2 additional passes = $9.98)
Light spender optimal
Option C = mathematically sound for light spenders: guarantee one priority character, accept second's absence or future rerun.
Priority Framework
Prioritize Fugue if:
Running Fire DPS teams (Firefly, Himeko)
Lacking Nihility debuff support
Seeking break-effect optimization
Prioritize Sunday if:
Building Remembrance teams (synergizes with Aglaea)
Lacking premium Harmony supports
Prefer versatile characters
Pulling Aglaea in Phase 3
Sunday's Harmony role provides broader account value; Fugue excels in Fire/break strategies.
Player Archetype Strategies
F2P Optimization
Total Resources: 13,500 Jades (79 pulls)
Optimal approach:
Enter 3.8 with 40+ pity from previous patch
Skip Phase 1
Target Fugue OR Sunday—not both
Complete all dailies, events, endgame modes
Redeem codes immediately
Accept 50/50 risk or plan guarantee with carried pity
Avoid:
Weapon banners
Just one 10-pull on non-priority banners
Pulling for 4-star rate-ups
Light Spender ROI
Total Resources: 22,500 Jades (135 pulls) - $14.97
Optimal approach:
Purchase three passes (Dec 17, Dec 27, Jan 6)
Target primary character with guarantee safety
Use remaining 45 pulls on secondary (50/50 acceptance)
Consider 5th-6th passes ($9.98) only if approaching guarantee
ROI: $0.266 per pull vs $1.00+ direct purchase = 3.75x efficiency
Whale Efficiency
Total Resources: F2P + six passes (31,500 Jades) + direct purchases
Optimal approach:
Purchase max six passes at launch ($29.94)
Secure all Phase 2-3 characters (Fugue, Aglaea, Sunday)
Pull signature light cones
Supplement with direct purchases for weapon guarantees
Even whales benefit from pass purchases before direct top-ups: $29.94 for 18,000 Jades (112.5 pulls) at $0.266/pull beats direct rates.
Common Mistakes
Myth: Passes Carry Over Between Patches
Reality: Passes operate on 30-day timers independent of patches. Purchasing February 10 (3 days before 3.8 ends) starts 30-day cycle into Version 3.9, with daily claims through March 12.
Mistake: Delaying Purchase Until Patch End
Pass bought January 28 (Phase 3 start) provides only 15 days before patch end (February 12), wasting half the 30-day value.
Correction: Purchase early. 180-day stacking limit and cross-patch validity eliminate wasted purchase risk.
Misconception: Battle Pass Speed Is Fixed
Nameless Honor progression depends on mission completion, not time. Players completing all objectives max tiers in 4-5 weeks regardless of patch duration.
8-week timeline creates 3-4 week buffer after completion. Doesn't apply to Express Pass—requires daily login for 90-Jade claim.
Action Plan: Maximizing 3.8
Weeks 1-2 (Dec 17-30):
Purchase Pass 1 (Dec 17)
Daily Training: 840 Jades
Redeem codes: 200 Jades
Memory of Chaos reset: 400 Jades
Purchase Pass 2 (Dec 27)
Cumulative: ~2,500+ Jades
Weeks 3-4 (Dec 31 - Jan 13):
Daily missions: 840 Jades
Pure Fiction reset: 400 Jades
Purchase Pass 3 (Jan 6)
Apocalyptic Shadow reset: 400 Jades
Cumulative: ~5,500+ Jades
Weeks 5-6 (Jan 14-27):
Daily missions: 840 Jades
Fugue banner active (Jan 7-28)
Memory of Chaos reset: 400 Jades
Divergent Universe objectives
Cumulative: ~8,500+ Jades
Weeks 7-8 (Jan 28 - Feb 12):
Daily missions: 900 Jades (15 days)
Sunday banner active
Pure Fiction reset: 400 Jades
Chrysos Awooo: 1,200 Jades
Apocalyptic Shadow reset: 400 Jades
Final: 13,500 F2P + 9,000 passes = 22,500 total
Decision Tree
Dec 17 (Launch):
Pulling any 3.8 character? → Yes: Buy Pass 1 | No: Skip all
Dec 27 (10 Days):
Maintaining daily login? → Yes: Buy Pass 2 | No: Pause
Jan 6 (Before Phase 2):
Want Fugue, Sunday, or both? → Both: Buy Pass 3 | One: Evaluate Jade count | Neither: Stop
Pull Timeline
Conservative (Guarantee Priority):
Accumulate 28,800 Jades before pulling
Pull within final 3 days of banner
Preserves flexibility if early 5-star
Aggressive (Early Pulling):
Pull immediately at banner launch
Extended time to accumulate if losing 50/50
Risk: Early guarantee leaves excess resources
Hybrid (Recommended):
Wait until banner midpoint (Day 10-11)
Assess resources
Pull with ~10 days remaining
Balances flexibility with time buffer
Alternative Resources
Daily Farming
Daily Training (60 Jades/day):
4 daily missions
8-week total: 3,480 Jades
Never skip—each miss forfeits 60 Jades permanently
Endgame Modes:
Memory of Chaos: 4 resets × 400 = 1,600 Jades
Pure Fiction: 4 resets × 400 = 1,600 Jades
Apocalyptic Shadow: 4 resets × 400 = 1,600 Jades
Combined: 4,800 Jades (if clearing all stages)
Event Optimization
Major Events: 3-4 per patch (300-500 Jades each) = 1,200-2,000 Jades Minor Events: Login, web, community (100-200 each) = 400-600 Jades Character Trials: 20 Jades × 6 = 120 Jades
Trailblaze Level 4 Compensation: 1,000 Jades + 10 Fuel. Reach this threshold before Dec 17.
FAQ
How long is patch 3.8? 8 weeks: December 17, 2025 - February 12-13, 2026 (56-58 days). Standard patches run 6 weeks.
Is Express Pass worth it in 3.8? Yes. Three passes ($14.97) = 9,000 Jades (56 pulls) at $0.266/pull—3.75x more efficient than direct purchases. 8-week duration allows full maturation of three 30-day cycles.
How many pulls can F2P get in 3.8? 79 pulls (13,500 Jades). With three passes: 135 pulls (22,500 Jades).
When does Fugue's banner start? January 7, 2026 (Phase 2), runs through January 28. Appears with Lingsha rerun, 4-stars: Sampo, Natasha, Arlan.
Can you guarantee both Fugue and Sunday? Dual guarantee requires 360 pulls (57,600 Jades). F2P + 3 passes = 135 pulls—insufficient without additional spending (~$550+ for dual guarantee).
Max Express Pass stack? 6 passes (180-day validity) = 18,000 Jades (112.5 pulls) for $29.94.
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