Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.4 Arrives July 15 – Here’s What You Need to Know
What’s the biggest change in Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.4? The update, titled In Ravages Does the Whistle Sound, launches on July 15, 2025, and brings a Fate/stay night Unlimited Blade Works crossover, a new Himeko form, and two new playable 5-star characters. It also continues the main story arc with a direct clash against the Lord Ravager Asat Pramad.
If you've been following the story, you know things got messy. At the end of the last chapter, Asat Pramad dropped his disguise and shattered the fragile peace in Planarcadia. Himeko vanished after confronting him, but she left behind a hidden clue tied to the Astral Express. Now, the Trailblazer must decode that hint, find Himeko, and stop the Lord Ravager's destruction game.
Quick Facts: Version 4.4 at a Glance
– Release Date: July 15, 2025
– New 5-Star Characters: Himeko Nova (Fire/Erudition), Rin Tohsaka (Quantum/Erudition), Gilgamesh (Lightning/Destruction)
– Collaboration Phase 2 Start: July 24, 2025
– Free Character Claim Period: From July 24 until Version 4.6 ends (choose Gilgamesh or Archer)
– Permanent Warp Guarantee: Collaboration character and Light Cone guarantees carry over between phases
## Himeko Nova: A Fire-Type Mech Pilot with a Territory Mechanic
Himeko returns in a brand-new form called Himeko Nova. She's a 5-star Fire-Type character on the Path of Erudition. From what we've seen in previews, her kit revolves around deploying a Territory at the start of battle. Once active, she summons her mech, Starblazer, to assist in combat.
When she uses her Ultimate, Himeko Nova pilots Starblazer alongside her teammates to unleash a massive wave of damage. The Territory also grants all allies an Assist Skill, letting them summon Starblazer to hit all enemies at any time. If a teammate belongs to the Express Crew, they get bonus effects. Out in the overworld, Himeko Nova can pilot Starblazer to aim and attack enemies from high above.
Her banner will run for the entire Version 4.4, giving players plenty of time to pull.
Fate/stay night Unlimited Blade Works Crossover: Phase 2 Details
The second phase of the Honkai: Star Rail and Fate/stay night Unlimited Blade Works collab begins on July 24. Here's how it fits into the story:
After the Fifth Holy Grail War ends, Rin Tohsaka accidentally stumbles into Planarcadia as her magical energy drains. Desperate, she borrows the Holy Grail from the Star Rail FEST showcase and tries to summon a Servant to escape. The region's overflowing Wishpower restores the Grail, and Gilgamesh's treasures scatter across Planarcadia. The Department of Aberration Defense asks the Trailblazer to team up with Rin to recover the items and uncover the truth behind the Imagenae: Holy Grail War.
Playable Characters: Rin Tohsaka and Gilgamesh
Rin Tohsaka is a 5-star Quantum-Type character on the Path of Erudition. Her combat style uses gems. She gains Gem Energy during fights and spends it to deal extra damage to random targets. The more Gem Energy she consumes, the more hits she lands. When teammates use or recover Skill Points, her CRIT DMG rises and she builds more Gem Energy.
Gilgamesh follows the Path of Destruction as a Lightning-Type character. Each ally action builds “Interest” for him, regenerating Energy and boosting his Ultimate's damage. Once Interest hits its cap, Gilgamesh unlocks his Skill: Gate of Babylon fires weapons from his treasury, hitting multiple enemies. His Ultimate summons Enuma Elish to nuke the whole field.
Free Collaboration Character: Claim Gilgamesh or Archer
Starting July 24 and lasting until Version 4.6 closes, players can log in and claim either Gilgamesh or Archer as a free 5-star collaboration character. You also get some upgrade materials for your pick. Collaboration characters and Light Cones are permanent additions, and their Warp guarantee counts carry over between phases. If you spend 200 Star Rail Special Passes during Version 4.4, you can pick one of the two collaboration Light Cones: I Am As You Behold or The Hell Where Ideals Burn.
Returning Characters, Events, and Quality-of-Life Changes
Version 4.4 doesn't stop at the crossover. Limited 5-star characters Sparxie, Dan Heng, Permansor Terrae, and Evernight return in the first half of the version. Cerydra, Anaxa, and Aventurine come back in the second half. Sparxie also gets a new outfit called Candy-Coated Waves. A new pet, Pentaflavor Emoti, and Trailblaze Fashion Fan-Made Lygus are added too.
Events to Watch For
– Login Bonus: Grab a 10-pull reward right after the version goes live.
– Fate/Star Rail Night: Play through the collaboration story event alongside Rin Tohsaka, tracking down the king's treasures.
– Antigraft Brickbuster: Help Aventurine investigate IPC corruption by stacking data bricks in this mini-game.
– Currency Wars: Zero-Sum Game: A permanent gameplay mode that gets expanded and updated this version.
Technical Details and Availability
Honkai: Star Rail is playable on PC, iOS, Android, Epic Store, and PS5. The game has now surpassed 150 million total downloads across all platforms. In 2023, it won Apple's App Store iPhone Best Mobile Game award. For the latest news, check the official site or follow @HonkaiStarRail on social media.
Tags: Android, Cognosphere, Epic Games, Honkai Star Rail, Honkai Star Rail Version 4.4, Hoyoverse, In Ravages Does Whistle Sound, iOS, MiHoYo, Mobile Games, PC Games, PlayStation, PS5
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.4 release?
Version 4.4 launches on July 15, 2025, and the Fate crossover phase 2 begins July 24.
Can I get Gilgamesh for free in Version 4.4?
Yes. From July 24 until Version 4.6 ends, log in to claim either Gilgamesh or Archer as a free 5-star collaboration character.
Do collaboration Warp guarantees carry over between phases?
Yes. Guarantee counts for both character and Light Cone Warps carry over between phase 1 and phase 2 of the collaboration.
Is Himeko Nova a limited 5-star character?
Yes. Himeko Nova is a 5-star Fire-Type Erudition character, and her banner runs for the entire Version 4.4.
What platforms is Honkai: Star Rail available on?
The game is out on PC, iOS, Android, Epic Store, and PS5. It has over 150 million downloads worldwide.
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