Honkai Star Rail 4.0 launches February 12, 2026, introducing two Elation path characters and six reruns. Light spenders face critical choices: Yao Guang (Physical support) vs Sparxie (Fire DPS) with limited Stellar Jade. This guide provides data-driven pull priorities based on team synergies, pity mechanics, and realistic income for Monthly Pass/Express Supply holders.
4.0 Banner Timeline & Budget Reality
Phase 1: February 12 - March 6, 2026
Yao Guang (5★ Physical Elation support)
Standard 0.6% rate, hard pity 90, soft pity starts pull 74
Phase 2: March 6 - March 26, 2026
Sparxie (5★ Fire Elation DPS)
Same pity system, carries from Phase 1
Your Actual Pull Budget
F2P: 6,000-7,000 Jades = 37-43 pulls
Dailies (60/day × 56 days): 3,360 Jades
Weeklies (225 × 8): 1,800 Jades
Endgame modes (MoC + PF + AS): 2,400 Jades
Divergent Universe: 1,800 Jades
Events: 1,200+ Jades
Monthly Pass: +2,700 Jades = 91-97 total pulls
Monthly + Express Supply: 99-105 total pulls
Livestream Codes (redeem Feb 6):
AHAHAHAHAHAHA: 100 Jades + 50k credits
QWQXDDLOLOMO: 100 Jades + 5 Traveler's Guide
HITLIKETOBEAHA: 100 Jades + 4 Refined Aether
Reality check: 75-80 pulls average per 5★. Worst case with lost 50/50 = 180 pulls. You can guarantee ONE character per patch, maybe two with luck.
For emergency top-ups: HSR Oneiric Shards via BitTopup offers competitive rates and instant delivery.
New Elation Characters: Kit Breakdown
Yao Guang (Physical Support)
Signature LC When She Decided to See:
1,058 HP / 529 ATK / 529 DEF
+18% SPD (crucial for breakpoints)
Optimal SPD: 120 and 160 thresholds
Role: Speed manipulation + Physical buffs. Enables Physical DPS through action order control and offensive support scaling.
Best Teams:
Yao Guang + Sparxie + Sparkle + Dan Heng PT (dual-Elation)
Yao Guang + Sparkle + Topaz + Gallagher (Physical focus)
Yao Guang + Sparkle + Fu Xuan + Evanescia (defensive)
E0S0 Performance: Functional without constellations. Speed manipulation intact, personal damage scales with Eidolons but not required.
Sparxie (Fire DPS)
Signature LC Dazzled By A Flowery World: +48% CRIT DMG
Eidolon Priority: E2 > E1 > E4 > E6
E2 = biggest power spike but costs 360 pulls worst-case (unrealistic for light spenders)
E0S0 = only viable target on limited budget
Role: Fire Elation DPS. Works in Fire teams or Elation compositions. Fills gap for players lacking Fire coverage.
Investment Reality:
E0S1 (with signature): 155-160 pulls worst-case
E2: 360 pulls = 57,600 Jades (4-5 patches of F2P income)
Light spenders: stick to E0S0
Rerun Value Assessment
Six reruns compete with new characters. Key evaluation:
Supports > DPS for longevity: Universal buffers maintain meta relevance longer than damage dealers who get powercrept.
Fill roster gaps first: Rerun covering missing element/path > new character in saturated role.
Proven vs potential: Reruns have documented performance. New characters carry uncertainty until community testing completes (wait 3-5 days post-launch).
Opportunity cost: Skipping rerun = 6-12 month wait. Skipping new = wait for first rerun.
Pull Priority Matrix
T
Characters delivering transformative improvements regardless of roster. Allocate guaranteed pity here.
Universal supports with broad team applicability
CRIT buffers, action manipulators, essential defensive utility
Yao Guang's tier depends on Phase 1 testing results
Tier 2: High-Value Situational
Substantial value for specific gaps, not universal.
Sparxie: Top priority if lacking Fire DPS. Lower if Fire coverage exists.
Reruns filling element gaps: High value for missing coverage, low for redundant roles.
Evaluate after securing Tier 1 targets.
Tier 3: Luxury/Skip
Marginal upgrades, experimental teams, aesthetic value.
Constellations (unless transformative breakpoints)
Signature Light Cones (15-25% improvement over 4★)
Duplicate role coverage
Skip entirely:
Reruns duplicating existing roster without meaningful upgrade
Characters requiring supports you don't own
Any pull driven by FOMO vs actual need
Pity Mastery
S
Base rate: 0.6% (pulls 1-73)
Soft pity: pull 74+ (dramatically increased rates)
Most 5★ land at pulls 75-80
Plan for 75-80 average, reserve for 90 worst-case
50/50 vs Guarantee Tracking
50/50: 50% featured character, 50% standard 5★
Lost 50/50: Next 5★ guaranteed featured
Planning:
Entering with guarantee: 75-80 pulls needed
Entering on 50/50: 180 pulls worst-case (80 + 80)
Strategic pity building: Pull to 70-73 on skip banners to build pity without risking unwanted 5★. Transfer to priority banner with progress intact.
When to Stop Pulling
Stop immediately after securing target. Every pull beyond = wasted future resources.
Exception: Within 10 pulls of soft pity + surplus resources + concrete next target plan. Otherwise, preserve for future banners.
Emergency: Lost 50/50 Mid-Patch
Lost 50/50 at pull 75 = need 75-80 more for guarantee.
Options:
Strategic top-up via BitTopup if must-pull character
Accept loss, redirect to Phase 2 with guaranteed status
Exhaust F2P sources first (events, endgame clears)
Don't chase with unlimited spending. Maintain light spender discipline.
Eidolon & Light Cone Strategy
Constellation Reality
Sparxie E2: 360 pulls = 5+ months F2P income. Impossible within single patch for light spenders.
E1: 180 pulls worst-case. Only feasible across multiple patches/reruns.
Light spender rule: E0 only during initial release. Plan constellations for reruns when you can dedicate full patch budget.
Signature LC vs 4★ Alternatives
Performance gap: 15-25%
LC pity: 80 pulls hard pity = 12,800 Jades
That 12,800 could guarantee a character instead.
Light spenders: roster expansion > weapon optimization. Accept 4★ performance as baseline.
Investment Breakpoints
Only pursue constellations if:
Transformative functionality (not just stats)
All Tier 1/2 characters secured
Surplus resources after current patch priorities
Otherwise: E0 new characters > vertical investment.
Real Scenarios
Pure F2P (37-43 pulls)
Strategy: Pick ONE character. Skip the other entirely.
Enter with max pity from previous patches. If 60+ pity + guarantee, secure Phase 1 target with 15-20 pulls, attempt Phase 2 50/50 with remainder.
Conservative: Skip Phase 1, dump all 37-43 pulls into Phase 2 for best guarantee odds.
Reality: Can't get both without extreme luck (multiple early pulls + won 50/50s).
Monthly Pass (91-97 pulls)
Optimal: 75-80 pulls on top priority for guarantee. If early acquisition, redirect surplus to secondary 50/50 attempt.
Risky: Split 45-50 per phase, attempt both 50/50s. High reward if both win, disaster if both lose.
Recommended: Guarantee one, attempt second only with surplus.
Monthly + Express (99-105 pulls)
Sweet spot: Guarantee Tier 1 (75-80 pulls), attempt Tier 2 with remaining 20-25 pulls.
Win secondary 50/50 = both secured. Lose = still got priority + guarantee for next patch.
Aggressive: Enter with pre-existing pity. 40+ pity + guarantee = secure Phase 1 with 35-40 pulls, preserve 60-65 for Phase 2 soft pity attempt.
Strategic BitTopup Top-Up
When justified:
Within 10-20 pulls of must-pull guarantee before banner ends
First-time bonuses (2× value)
Secures character enabling endgame content/income
Not justified:
Chasing 50/50s
Constellations
Characters not addressing actual needs
Emergency calc: Lost 50/50 at pull 75, need 75-80 more = ~12,000-12,800 Jades. BitTopup's competitive rates minimize cost for exact amounts.
Common Mistakes
Chasing Every New Character
Problem: Pulling without team planning. Sparxie without supports = wasted roster slot.
Fix: Identify complete team requirements before pulling. Only pull characters who complete existing teams or function with current roster.
Roster Redundancy
Problem: Third CRIT buffer when you have two functional ones.
Fix: Audit roster for actual gaps (elements, paths, roles). Pull solutions to content you can't clear, not upgrades to content you already dominate.
Ignoring Endgame Requirements
Problem: Trial stage performance ≠ endgame reality.
Fix: Wait 3-5 days post-launch for community endgame testing. Pull based on Memory of Chaos/Pure Fiction/Apocalyptic Shadow performance, not story quest showcases.
Poor Pity Management
Problem: Pulling without tracking, continuing past target, splitting resources without safety nets.
Fix: Track pity count, guarantee status, target character, max pulls allocated. Stop immediately after acquisition. No exceptions.
Resource Optimization
Don't Miss These Jades
Daily Training: 60/day. Missing 10 days = 600 Jades lost (4 pulls)
Weeklies: 225/week. Complete even if inconvenient = 1,800 total (11 pulls)
Trailblaze Power: Never cap. Stronger builds = harder content cleared = more Jades
Event Priority
Focus Jade-rewarding events first:
Chrysos Awoo Championship: 1,200 Jades
Divergent Universe: 1,800 Jades (highest value)
Web events: 50-100 each (accumulates to 500+ across patch)
Endgame Modes (2,400 Jades Total)
Each mode = 800 Jades when fully cleared:
Memory of Chaos: Single-target DPS focus
Pure Fiction: AoE damage priority
Apocalyptic Shadow: Unique mechanics/element checks
Can't clear all stages? Identify specific obstacles (damage? survivability?) and invest in solutions. Endgame performance = Jade income = future pulls.
BitTopup Value Analysis
ROI calculation: 15 pulls needed = 2,400 Jades = 40 days of dailies. $10-15 top-up buys 40 days of time.
When it makes sense: Must-pull within 10-20 of guarantee before deadline, first-time bonuses, enables ongoing endgame income.
BitTopup advantages: Competitive pricing vs in-game, instant delivery, secure payments, responsive support.
Your 4.0 Action Plan
Pre-Patch (Late Jan - Early Feb)
Two weeks before: Clear all 3.X events, endgame cycles, story quests for Jades.
One week before: Finalize pull priority list. Calculate total available pulls. Identify Tier 1 must-pull, Tier 2 conditionals, explicit skips.
Launch day (Feb 12): Redeem livestream codes (300 Jades). Review early impressions but wait 3-5 days for endgame testing before pulling.
Phase 1 (Feb 12 - Mar 6)
If Yao Guang = Tier 1: Pull after endgame viability confirmed. Allocate 75-80 pulls, execute, stop if early acquisition.
If skip: Avoid Phase 1 entirely. Resist FOMO. Trust pre-patch analysis.
Phase 2 (Mar 6 - Mar 26)
Evaluate Sparxie using 3 weeks of Yao Guang data + early Phase 2 testing.
If Phase 1 consumed budget, accept Sparxie requires rerun wait unless strategic top-up justified.
Lost 50/50 Backup Plan
Calculate pulls needed for guarantee before banner ends
Exhaust F2P sources (events, endgame, rewards)
If still short, calculate exact Oneiric Shard need via BitTopup
If exceeds light spender budget ($50-100/month), accept loss and redirect with guarantee status
Post-4.0 Recovery
Assess outcomes: characters secured, ending pity, guarantee status.
Document lessons learned about pulling discipline.
Begin 4.1 accumulation immediately. Establish sustainable cadence: one guaranteed character per patch baseline, bonus from favorable RNG.
FAQ
How many pulls can light spenders get in 4.0?
Monthly + Express: 99-105 pulls. Monthly only: 91-97. F2P: 37-43. Guarantees one character, potentially two with good pity/50/50 luck.
Yao Guang or Sparxie priority?
Depends on roster gaps. Yao Guang = Physical support with speed manipulation. Sparxie = Fire DPS. Pull whichever addresses actual weakness. Supports typically age better than DPS for light spender budgets.
Are signature Light Cones worth it?
No. 80-pull separate pity for 15-25% improvement over 4★. Prioritize character acquisition over weapon optimization. Only consider after all priority characters secured + comfortable reserves.
How does pity work across Phase 1/2?
Pity carries between Character Event Warps. Yao Guang pulls transfer to Sparxie banner. Guarantee status also carries—lose Yao Guang 50/50 = next 5★ guaranteed featured.
Can F2P get both new characters?
Extremely unlikely. 37-43 pulls vs 360 needed worst-case (180 per guaranteed). Requires winning multiple 50/50s + early acquisitions. Don't plan around statistical improbabilities.
When use BitTopup for top-ups?
Within 10-20 pulls of must-pull guarantee before deadline, first-time bonuses, or enables endgame income. Not for 50/50 chasing, constellations, or non-essential characters. BitTopup offers best rates, instant delivery, secure transactions for strategic injections.
Secure your 4.0 targets with optimal Stellar Jade value at BitTopup—trusted by light spenders for safe, fast, cost-effective top-ups.