HSR 3.8 drops December 16, 2025 (10:00 PM UTC-5 for NA; December 17 EU/Asia), running a solid 42 days through January 27, 2026. F2P folks can grind out 10,405 SJ (that's 65 pulls) plus 31 passes for over 80 pulls total—just from 1-hour daily routines netting 60 SJ a pop. Hammer those shop resets for Special Passes in Currency Wars (4,000 SJ). Nail 80 pulls to lock in your Dahlia guarantee with dailies, weeklies, and smart pre-farming.
Diving into the HSR 3.8 Holiday Event Shop
Quick Event Rundown and Currency Lowdown
Phase 1 hits December 16/17, 2025–January 6, 2026—think Dahlia, Firefly, Boothill, and Rappa reruns. Currency Wars dishes out 4,000 SJ (Startup Guide 400, Ascension Lv80 1,200, Bond Link 1,200); stack on total events for another 3,900 SJ (Chrysos Awoo 1,150 SJ, Remnants of Twilight 350 SJ). Snag 600 SJ maintenance comp on Day 1. Crush the flagship events 100% for that full 4,000 SJ. Day 1 login missions? Another 600 SJ. And hey, laser-focus Currency Wars' auto-chess mode for those biweekly 225 SJ chunks.
Why Bust a Gut Prioritizing If You're a 1-Hour Grinder
Got just 60 minutes? You're pulling 60 SJ daily—dailies net 50 SJ in 15 minutes, then extras pile on. In v3.8, pure F2P grabs 10,405 SJ +15 Special/16 Rail Passes =80 pulls (Dahlia E0 soft pity around ~75). Shop resets are gold: Undying Embers weekly, January Medals (180=5 Special +5 Rail). Back in past 6-week runs, we saw 14,725 SJ +15 passes (~107 pulls); always hit shops post-reset for passes first, relics second.
Need a fast SJ boost? Grab cheap Honkai Star Rail recharge. BitTopup's got the lowest prices, instant delivery, full safety compliance, broad server support, 24/7 after-sales, and killer user ratings.
Breaking Down Event Currency and Max Farm Efficiency
The Currency Breakdown, No Fluff
Stellar Jades run 160 per pull. Currency Wars (4,000 SJ) and Snack Dash (1,180 SJ) straight-up fund passes. Nameless Honor and Gift of Odyssey? 10 Special passes from 7-day logins, plus 15 Special/16 Rail in v3.8. Codes drop 500 SJ (NT39WTKSCHHF=60, STARRAILGIFT=100); one-offs tally 1,945 SJ (maps 500, achievements 295). Redeem at hsr.hoyoverse.com/gift after A Moment of Peace; swap weekly Mondays at 04:00 for Undying Embers passes.
What a 1-Hour Daily Grind Really Yields
Daily Training at Equilibrium Lv10+: 50 SJ in 15 minutes (2,520 SJ over 42 days). Weeklies average 225 SJ (SU 1,350 over 6 weeks +6 passes). Bi-weeklies like MoC/PF/AS crank 800 SJ per cycle (2,400 over 6 weeks; PF from Nov 24, 2025–Jan 5, 2026). Cap dailies at 500 weakness break points (10 SJ per milestone). Renewables? They average out to 60 SJ/day.
Must-Buy Priorities: Ranked and Ready
#1 No-Brainer: Special Passes
Top spot goes to Special Passes—Undying Embers weekly, January's 180 Medals for 5 Special +5 Rail, Gift of Odyssey's 10 Special (80 F2P pulls total). Currency Wars Rank A8 equals 600 SJ worth; passes include 15 Special from v3.7 +15/16 v3.8 +6 Rail weeklies +5 Newbie. Dump event points on passes at reset. Save 'em for Dahlia in Phase 1 (Dec 16–Jan 6).
Ornaments and Light Cones Worth the Chase
Passes first, always—ornaments second. Never Forget Her Flame (Dahlia's sig LC) shines for E0 Break teams. Firefly wants 65 Raging Hearts +12 Lost Echo; Boothill, 65 IPC Work Permit. Universals? 100+ Tatters of Thought from Penacony Meme enemies. 14,400 SJ guarantees a 5-star (90 hard pity). Pre-farm 65 Radiant Prominence via Stagnant Shadow: Shape of Ashes (30 power per run).
Your 1-Hour Farm Blueprint, Step by Step
Nail This Daily Routine
Kick off with 15-min dailies: 50-60 SJ. Stretch to a full hour? Add assignments (4 material sets, 4-20h). Here's the flow: 1 Calyx (Golden/Material); level 1 relic/character; hit 500 weakness breaks (10 SJ/milestone x3); Assignments + HoYoLab check-in (Days 5/13/20: 20 SJ each=60; makeup 3/month); Pom-Pom mail/codes (50-60 SJ). Weekly Mondays at 04:00: SU 6 worlds (225 SJ), shop reset, 3 Echoes of War, Nameless Honor.
Fuel Hacks to Stretch Every Drop
Split 90 Trailblaze Power: 3 Stagnant Shadows (2-3 mats/run). Overworld loop: Reverie Hotel → Grand Theater → Golden Hour (15-20 mats/run). Weeks 1-2: 100+ Tatters of Thought. Weeks 3-4: Shadows + bosses. Weeks 5-6: 20+ Break relics. Claim HoYoLab calendar daily (50-60 SJ).
Short on Jades? Opt for Honkai Star Rail jades purchase online. BitTopup delivers lowest rates, rapid crediting, secure transactions, all-platform coverage, reliable support, excellent reviews.
Shop vs. Banner ROI: The Numbers Don't Lie
Passes Crush Standard Banners—Here's Why
Shop passes outpace Standard Banner pulls; 80 F2P gets you Dahlia soft pity vs. 90 hard. ESP adds +3,780 SJ for 103 pulls.
Pure F2P: 10,405 SJ +31 passes =80 pulls.
ESP: 14,185 SJ +31 passes =103 pulls.
ESP+Newbie: 14,865 SJ +36 passes =111 pulls.
Skip Phase 2 (Jan 6-27: Fugue/Lingsha/Yunli). Track pity in Warp menu; hoard that v3.7 stash of 14,725 SJ. (Editor's take: These are based on historical data—your mileage varies with luck, but the math holds.)
F2P Grind vs. Whale Flex
F2P locks Dahlia E0 with 80 pulls. Whales chase E1 Super Break + sig LC (160 pulls per char). Firefly and Boothill? Solid at E0. Stick to 50/50 discipline, folks.
Traps to Dodge in Your Limited Grind Time
Don't Shoot Yourself in the Foot
Skip early weeklies? Kiss 225 SJ goodbye. Half-ass events? Lose 1,000+ SJ. Ignore codes/program? 400 SJ gone. No pre-farm? Dahlia demands 65 Radiant Prominence. Auto-claim logins and full events via mail. Use SJ counter (SJ/160 = pulls left).
Sneaky Misses That Sting
Forget shop reset swaps: 10+ passes vanish. Undercap dailies: sub-60 SJ. Bi-weeklies alternate (Week 1 MoC/PF, Week 2 AS). Track with in-game SJ counter + HoYoLab.
Timeline and Last-Minute Pro Tips
When Shops Refresh—Mark Your Calendar
Weekly Mondays 04:00: SU, shops, Echoes of War. January shop: 180 Medals for passes. PF wraps Jan 5, 2026; Category Mistake Dec 8, 2025; v3.8 ends Jan 27. Pre-farm before Dec 16 launch.
What Holds Value Post-Event
Passes carry to future banners. Dahlia Break teams? Meta staples long-term. One-offs stick (achievements 295 SJ). Stock 80+ pulls pre-launch.
FAQ
How much can I really farm in 1 hour daily for HSR events?
60 SJ/day: 15-min dailies (50 SJ) + extras/codes.
Best grabs in the HSR 3.8 Holiday Shop?
Special Passes from Undying Embers/January Medals/Gift of Odyssey (80+ pulls).
Worth the grind for F2P?
Absolutely: 10,405 SJ +31 passes =80 pulls (Dahlia guarantee).
Holiday Shop refresh time?
Weekly Monday 04:00 server time.
Ornaments or LCs first in the shop?
Passes every time; pre-farm Dahlia sig LC mats.
Missed a farm day?
HoYoLab makeup 3/month; rebound with weeklies (225 SJ).