Another new character has been unveiled for Honkai: Star Rail following the release of a second batch of drip marketing. Following yesterday’s announcement of Yunli, a 5-star Physical Destruction unit and the granddaughter of the Xianzhou Zhuming’s General, today Hoyoverse have revealed Jiaoqiu to be the second new 5-star arriving in Version 2.4 of Star Rail.
Jiaoqiu’s drip marketing has him listed as the game’s first 5-star Fire Nihility unit, the second character of that Path and Element combination after Guinaifen. He’s also our first playable male Foxian, a race from the Luofu which has received several female additions including Tingyun, Yukong, and Huohuo.
As for Jiaoqiu’s personality and playstyle, his drip marketing mentions that he is both a skilled healer and a talented chef, adept at a type of alchemical study which views food as medicine. Interestingly, Jiaoqiu doesn’t belong to the Path of Abundance, Star Rail’s healer and support classification, which may hint at him having some healing baked into his Nihility or Burn-heavy kit. It also mentions that he enjoys experimenting with spicy food, likely meaning that he, like Guinaifen, will have something to do with Burn.
“A foxian healer from the Xianzhou Yaoqing and a counselor. Often greets people with a smile, but is rather cunning. Born into a prestigious Alchemy Commission family, he once withdrew from practicing medicine due to a broken heart. However, he returned to the field to treat “the Merlin’s Claw,” General Feixiao. Skilled in the study of alchemical prescription that views food as medicine, especially those that induce a sensation of spiciness.”
Jiaoqiu Character Bio
Jiaoqiu the Alchemist, Fire Nihility
Jiaoqiu’s appearance seems to be another confirmation that the next leg of Star Rail’s space opera will take place on or be focused on the Xianzhou Zhuming, the sister ship to the Xianzhou Luofu. Not only is 2.3 set to be the end of the current Penacony story arc – 2.3 is titled “Farewell, Penacony” after all – but we now both a Foxian and the granddaughter of the Zhuming’s great General as playable 5-stars arriving in 2.4. What awaits us on the Zhuming is a mystery, though.
For those unfamiliar with the term, drip marketing usually refers to the promotional images released before a unit’s official reveal for a gacha game. When it comes to MiHoyo’s gacha titles – Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and likely the soon-to-be-released Zenless Zone Zero – drip marketing for new characters drops a full version before they launch, giving players time to plan their funds and savings accordingly.
Honkai: Star Rail’s Version 2.4 update is set to go live sometime in early August. Meanwhile, Version 2.3, which will bring both Firefly and Jade as playable units, begins on June 19th.
