Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.3 Launches June 1 With New Character Qianye Blade
Qianye Blade is the first new variant of the existing character Blade, shifting his element and path to Fire and Nihility, which changes how he fits into team compositions and signals HoYoverse's continued willingness to reimagine established characters.
Reporting from 3 sources: 4Gamer.net, Game Spark, Inside.
HoYoverse announced that Honkai: Star Rail version 4.3, titled "The Living, Crossing to the Other Shore," will release on June 1. The update introduces a new 5-star character, Qianye Blade, a Fire-type unit following the Path of Nihility. In battle, his ultimate deploys a field that increases damage taken by all enemies and puts him in an enhanced state with new skills and a more powerful ultimate. Allies attacking enemies apply a debuff and build charge; when full, he automatically uses a skill and recovers energy. The story follows the Trailblazer and Qianye Blade entering a painted world, where Blade confronts his fate under pressure from the Emanator of Annihilation "Return to Silence" and the Aeon "Greed." The event warp features Jiaoguang in the first half and reruns of Cyrene and Phainon in the second half. Players who obtain Qianye Blade through the warp receive a free Trailblazer costume, "Blazing Fire of the Other Shore." A new Star Expansion Mode is added to Memory of Chaos, Pure Fiction, and Apocalyptic Shadow, allowing players to form three parties for three different stages.
Qianye Blade's ultimate is named "Bones as Fuel, Flesh as Firewood." In the enhanced state he enters after using it, he unlocks new combat skills that deal higher damage with a sword formation. Each time an ally attacks an enemy, they apply a debuff and gain special charge. When the charge is full, he automatically uses a combat skill and recovers energy.
The version event is called "First Land," set in the world of paintings. The Trailblazer acts as chief planner, designing routes and placing rides in themed areas to entertain the "Firsts." A new Star Expansion Mode is added to Memory of Chaos, Pure Fiction, and Apocalyptic Shadow. In this mode, players form three parties and challenge three different stages.
The story follows the Trailblazer and Qianye Blade splitting into two groups as they enter the painted world. Blade faces the final outcome of the fate he has carried for many years under pressure from the Emanator of Annihilation "Return to Silence" and the Aeon "Greed."
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.