Honkai: Star Rail 4.6 Pearl Banner and Free Rewards Guide

Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.6, "Dance With the Beast Before Moonrise," went live on September 28, 2026. The headline is Pearl, a 5-star Ice character who joins the roster on her own limited banner. This guide covers the banner schedule, the version's end time in three time zones, the reruns that come with it, and the compensation HoYoverse listed for the update.

Pearl and her light cone

Pearl is built around defense. Her kit lets her consume a resource called Certified Banger to block damage for every ally, restore HP, and dispel debuffs across the team. Her Ultimate can push a teammate forward in the turn order, and under certain conditions it grants that teammate an extra turn. For a team that struggles to survive long fights, she is a support character worth testing before you decide whether to spend on her.

Her signature Light Cone is Colors for Tomorrow, a 5-star Elation Light Cone. It is available through the Brilliant Fixation: Colors for Tomorrow Light Cone Event Warp. HoYoverse says the drop rates for Pearl and for this Light Cone are both boosted for the whole of Version 4.6, so this version is the window to watch if you want either one. Community posts on HoYoLAB suggest Pearl's banner stays open for the full patch, but that duration is not in the official update notes, so check the in-game warp screen before you pull.

Banner schedule and reruns

The first half of the version brings back Evanescia, and the second half brings back Mortenax Blade. Both are reruns, so they are a chance to pick up a character you missed earlier rather than a new unit. Because the two reruns sit in different halves, a player who wants one of them should plan the pulls around the switch rather than spending early.

The end time needs care. The Version 4.6 update details list the version as running until November 11, 2026 at 06:00 in UTC+8. That is 22:00 UTC on November 10, which is 14:00 Pacific time on November 10 and 23:00 on November 10 in Central European time. Some outlets list November 10 as the end date, so the in-game notice for your server is the figure to trust. Put the time in your calendar with the zone attached, because a date alone can mislead anyone in a different region.

The story and the new mode

Version 4.6 continues the Aha and Life Sciences Institute plot. Per the official site, the Trailblazer and Pearl head to the Life Sciences Institute deep within Astropolis to uncover a scheme to "weaponize the husk." The update also adds a co-op version of the institute and a way to mark frequently used teams on the lineup screen, which saves time for players who switch teams often.

Players who want the full story should read the main quest in order rather than skipping ahead, since the chapter builds on the previous version. Reading the Aha plot from the earlier versions first makes the Life Sciences Institute scenes easier to follow.

Compensation and claim deadlines

The version's update details list server maintenance compensation of 300 Stellar Jade, plus a further 300 Stellar Jade for bug compensation. The mail-claim deadline is October 28, 2026. Check your in-game mail, because the claim window is the one that matters for your account. Stellar Jade is the same currency used for warps, so claiming it before the deadline gives you more options on the banners.

Free rewards from a version can change quickly. If you are planning around the Pearl banner, use Honkai: Star Rail rewards as the hub for other claimable items, and read Genshin Impact 7.1 banners and free rewards if you also play the other gacha on your list.

Trailer and launch post

The official Version 4.6 trailer is on the Honkai: Star Rail YouTube channel. The companion post on X, dated September 20, 2026, labels the trailer as an event with rewards and links to the video. Both are embedded below so you can see the setting and the Pearl reveal without leaving the page.

Frequently asked questions