Characters are obtainable units in Honkai: Star Rail. They follow a specific Path, are aligned with an Element, and are able to be equipped with Relics and a Light Cone that aligns with their Path.
How to Obtain
Passes
Characters are primarily obtained by performing Warps using 
Star Rail Passes or 
Star Rail Special Passes. These can be:
- Purchased with
Stellar Jade. - Earned from Missions.
- Earned from reaching specific Trailblaze Levels.
- Exchanged with
Undying Starlight ×20 each in the Starlight Exchange shop.
Story
Characters can also be obtained through natural game progression. These are unmissable as long as story and other completion requirements have been met:
- Account Creation
-
Trailblazer (Destruction) is the only character at the start of the game who cannot be obtained elsewhere. Caelus is the male Trailblazer and Stelle is the female Trailblazer.
-
- Trailblaze Missions & Trailblaze Continuance
-
March 7th (Preservation) and 
Dan Heng are obtained automatically during Eye of the Storm. -
Herta is obtained by completing Simulated Universe: First Closed Beta. -
Natasha is obtained by completing Lying in Rust. -
Trailblazer (Preservation) is obtained by completing The Return. -
Trailblazer (Harmony) is obtained by completing Then Wake to Weep or through When Charmony Rings Out.... -
March 7th (The Hunt) is obtained by completing March to Mastery: A Star Is Born.
-
- Stellar Warp
-
Asta is a guaranteed character from the first tutorial warp.
-
- Simulated Universe
- Forgotten Hall
-
Qingque can be obtained by reaching Trailblaze Level 21 and completing Memory Stage 3 through Turquoise's Reverie. -
Yukong can be obtained by completing A Dragon Gallant, Its Ocean Distant and clearing Memory of Xianzhou Stage 1 through To Retire Upon the Perch.
-
- Pure Fiction
-
Lynx can be obtained by completing Youci's Clever Decor and clearing Pure Fiction stage 2 during any phase through Camping in the Snow.
-
- Apocalyptic Shadow
-
Xueyi can be obtained by completing Grim Film of Finality and clearing Apocalyptic Shadow stage 2 during any phase through Nether Puppet.
-
Events
Characters can also be obtained through both limited-time and permanent events. Most are unobtainable after the event period ends:
-
Serval is obtained through Mail: Honkai: Star Rail pre-registration and social media follower rewards. -
Sushang was obtained by reaching Prosperity Level 8 of the Guild during the event Aurum Alley's Hustle and Bustle. - The player could choose one of the following characters:
Serval, 
Hook, 
Pela, and 
Luka through 
Fateful Crossings: Aetherium Wars during the event Aetherium Wars. -
Dr. Ratio was obtained through Mail: Subscription Reply from Dr. Ratio, between the start of Version 1.6 "Panta Rhei" Event Warp to the end of Version 2.1. - The player could choose one of the following characters:
Guinaifen, 
Sampo, 
Asta, and 
Yukong through Fateful Crossings: Hanu's Prison Break during the event Hanu's Prison Break. - There was a low chance to obtain Sampo through
Sparkle's Wondrous Pack from Mail: Don't Open This!!!. - The player could choose one of the following characters:
Gallagher, 
Misha, 
Xueyi, 
Hanya, Guinaifen, Luka, 
Lynx, and Yukong through Fateful Crossings: Vignettes in a Cup during the event Vignettes in a Cup. - The player could choose one of the following characters: Gallagher, Hanya, Luka, and
Arlan through Fateful Crossings: Origami Bird Clash during the event Origami Bird Clash. - March 7th (The Hunt) Eidolons can be obtained through the events Saga of Primaveral Blade and Luminary Wardance.
Shop
- Starlight Exchange
- Two 4-star characters can be purchased from the monthly Starlight Exchange shop in exchange for Undying Starlight ×140.
- Two 4-star characters can be purchased from the monthly Starlight Exchange shop in exchange for
Progression
Leveling
Characters gain Character EXP primarily by using Character EXP Materials, as well as negligible amounts of experience for defeating monsters.
Ascensions
Characters can be ascended to their next ascension phase once they reach their current max level and the player has the required Equilibrium Level. Characters can be ascended up to 6 times (up to Lv. 80).
To ascend a character, go to the character screen and click on the Ascend button at the bottom-right of the Character Menu. A box will appear, showing which Character Ascension Materials are needed, and the Credit cost required to ascend the character. If there is an item missing, click on it to see various ways to obtain it. See each character's page for the materials needed for each ascension.
Ascending characters to their 1st, 3rd, and 5th phase will reward the player with one Star Rail Pass.
| Ascension Phase | Max Char. Level | Required Equilibrium Level (Trailblaze Level) |
 Credit Cost |
Unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None |
Lv. 20 | EL 0 (TL 0+) |
— | — |
| 1st ✦ |
Lv. 30 | EL 0 (TL 15+) |
4-Star Character: 3,200 5-Star Character: 4,000 |
Talent, Skill, Ultimate Lvl. 2 Stat Bonus Star Rail Pass ×1
|
| 2nd ✦ ✦ |
Lv. 40 | EL 1 (TL 20+) |
4-Star Character: 6,400 5-Star Character: 8,000 |
Talent, Skill, Ultimate Lvl. 3 Basic ATK Lvl. 2 Bonus Ability 1 Stat Bonus |
| 3rd ✦ ✦ ✦ |
Lv. 50 | EL 2 (TL 30+) |
4-Star Character: 12,800 5-Star Character: 16,000 |
Talent, Skill, Ultimate Lvl. 4 Basic ATK Lvl. 3 Stat Bonus Star Rail Pass ×1
|
| 4th ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ |
Lv. 60 | EL 3 (TL 40+) |
4-Star Character: 32,000 5-Star Character: 40,000 |
Talent, Skill, Ultimate Lvl. 6 Basic ATK Lvl. 4 Bonus Ability 2 Stat Bonus |
| 5th ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ |
Lv. 70 | EL 4 (TL 50+) |
4-Star Character: 64,000 5-Star Character: 80,000 |
Talent, Skill, Ultimate Lvl. 8 Basic ATK Lvl. 5 Stat Bonus Star Rail Pass ×1
|
| 6th ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ |
Lv. 80 | EL 5 (TL 60+) |
4-Star Character: 128,000 5-Star Character: 160,000 |
Talent, Skill, Ultimate Lvl. 10 Basic ATK Lvl. 6 Bonus Ability 3 Stat Bonus |
Playable Characters
60 Characters match the category selection:
Announced Upcoming Characters
These characters have been announced as upcoming playable characters by HoYoVerse.
2 Characters match the category selection:
| Character | Rarity | Path | Combat Type |
|---|---|---|---|
 Fugue |  |  Nihility |  Fire |
 Sunday | |  Harmony |  Imaginary |
Non-Playable Characters
For a full list of NPCs, see Category:NPCs.
Notable Characters
Non-playable characters that either:
- Have a major role in the game's story.
- Are mentioned in playable character's stories and/or voice-overs and have enough information available to be able to generate a general profile.
Change History
- The following characters were released:
- 5-Star Characters:
- The following characters were released:
- 5-Star Characters:
- 4-Star Characters:
- The following characters were released:
- 5-Star Characters:
- The following characters were released:
- 5-Star Characters:
- 4-Star Characters:
- The following characters were released:
- 5-Star Characters:
- 4-Star Characters:
- The following characters were released:
- The following characters were released:
- 5-Star Characters:
- 4-Star Characters:
- The following characters were released:
- 5-Star Characters:
- 4-Star Characters:
- The following characters were released:
- 5-Star Characters:
- 4-Star Characters:
- The following characters were released:
- The following characters were added:
- The following characters were added:
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