The second phase of Honkai: Star Rail version 3.4 is about to launch. Are you ready?This time, there are no new characters—only three legendary veterans making a comeback: Sparkle (Liuying), Jingliu, and Blade. For long-time players, that lineup might stir up memories of long grind sessions, burning through tickets, and maxing out weapons. But here’s the real question: In today’s power-crept, ever-shifting meta, are these old favorites still worth pulling? Or is this just a banner designed to tug at your nostalgia before moving on?
Let’s break it down together and figure out whether this throwback banner is worth your Stellar Jades—or better left untouched.
Sparkle: The Break Queen Whose Era Has Ended
Once upon a time, Sparkle was the queen of Break teams—a specialist who shattered enemy shields and unleashed devastating follow-ups. Her strength came from her synergy with the Break mechanic, favoring slow but high-impact gameplay. Back then, she felt like a precision bomb on the battlefield—every detonation exhilarating and satisfying.
But now? New DPS characters have arrived who don’t even need to break enemy toughness bars to deal massive damage. Sparkle’s team comp feels sluggish and overly conditional in comparison. Without ideal Break-oriented scenarios, her performance drops significantly. Even in a favorable setup, Break teams can barely keep up with current team synergies in terms of speed and damage efficiency.
To be blunt, enemies these days don’t even give you the chance to break their toughness. And if you can’t do that, Sparkle has no stage to shine. That once-brilliant shooting star has quietly faded into the night sky.
Recommendation:
- Base Character: Not recommended
- Signature Light Cone & Eidolons: While the stat gains are noticeable, the return on investment is too low given how little Break comps are used now
The Break meta has fallen out of favor, and so has Sparkle. She’s no longer a must-pull by any stretch.
Jingliu: Graceful as Ever, But Needs the Right Setup
Jingliu hasn’t fallen off completely. In fact, with the right teammates and build, she can still perform very well. The issue? She doesn’t scale simply or obviously.
Version 3.4 has made some small quality-of-life improvements—like smoother “Transcendence” uptime—but her core weaknesses remain: Crit damage dilution and lack of strong damage multiplier support. That leads to an odd situation where her power spike doesn’t come from her own signature gear, but from others’ Light Cones instead.
For instance:
- Luocha’s Signature Light Cone provides HP scaling and damage boosts when sacrificing HP—fitting perfectly with Jingliu’s current needs
- Huohuo’s Signature Light Cone helps her stack buffs like Moonshade and Dusk, significantly improving her consistency
So, if you already own Jingliu, your next best move isn’t pulling for her Eidolons or Cone—it’s upgrading the support structure around her.
Recommendation:
- Don’t own her? Skip unless you’re a diehard fan
- Already own her? Focus on support gear—it’s more impactful than her Cone or Eidolons
- Signature Light Cone & Eidolons: Low priority compared to synergistic team investments
She’s still graceful and stylish—but also a bit high-maintenance now.
Blade: Former War God, Now Middling
Blade was once the definition of a unique DPS—burning his own HP to trigger high-damage counters and skill chains. His enhanced basic attacks and signature follow-up mechanics made him a fan favorite, both in playstyle and lore.
But the meta has moved on.
Even though 3.4 gives him some buffs—like increased follow-up frequency and faster energy regeneration—they’re just not enough. Current DPS characters hit harder, faster, and more efficiently, especially when enemy HP pools have grown dramatically. Blade’s output just doesn’t keep up.
Worse, he’s still quite reliant on his signature gear and Eidolons. And for casual or budget-conscious players, investing in him just doesn’t make much sense anymore.
Recommendation:
- Base Character: Not recommended
- Already own Blade? You can redeem his Light Cone from the Light Cone store via currency earned from the Monthly Pass
- Eidolons: You can eventually get them through the “Stellar Warp” feature—no need to chase them
Blade still works—but the stage now belongs to others. He’s functional, just no longer exceptional.
Summary: A Nostalgic Banner, But Stay Rational
The second half of version 3.4 is a nostalgia-heavy rerun featuring three characters that each had their moment in the spotlight. But let’s be honest—the game’s ecosystem has changed. While they’ve received some buffs, none of them truly compete with the newest top-tier characters when it comes to utility, scaling, or team compatibility.
With phase 1 featuring high-value picks like Black Swan, Sparkle (Tibal), and the Saber/Archer collab, most players have already burned through their Stellar Jades. Pulling in phase 2 may offer less long-term return for your investment.
Of course, if you’re a longtime player who just wants to reunite with beloved units from earlier versions, there’s nothing wrong with going for it. But if you’re resource-conscious and prioritizing power, it may be smarter to save your Jades for version 3.5’s upcoming lineup.
Veterans returning to the banner may tug at your heartstrings—but don’t let emotion override value. Strength fades, but memories endure.
Recharge Recommendation: Pick the Right Platform — Try EnjoyGM
If you’re planning to gear up for future banners—or simply want a smoother top-up experience—then check out EnjoyGM, a trusted third-party recharge platform for Honkai: Star Rail.
Here’s why EnjoyGM stands out:
- Fast, efficient top-up process—get your Jades instantly
- New users get up to 8% off with welcome coupons
- Competitive pricing across all packages
- Supports multiple secure payment methods
- Responsive customer support—both pre-sale and post-sale
- Clean, user-friendly interface for easy navigation
- Global availability with localized support across regions
Whether you’re topping up regularly or gearing up for limited banners, EnjoyGM gives you a smooth, safe, and value-packed experience.
Ready to recharge? Access the official top-up page here:
HSR Top Up – via EnjoyGM
Will You Take a Gamble on an Old Friend?
This banner is both a celebration of the past and a challenge to your self-control.
Will you honor the legacy of a favorite unit, or will you hold out for the new era of powerhouses?
To pull or not to pull—that is the question.
But maybe, just maybe, the better question is:
Do you still remember the one who once carried you through Simulated Universe runs and story bosses?
Don’t let regret guide your choices. Make decisions you’ll be happy with, no matter who’s on the tier list next patch. The future of Star Rail belongs to you—not just the meta.
