Honkai: Star Rail 3.0 Paean of Era Nova | Everything you need to know

Trailblazers are in for a massive treat as Honkai: Star Rail is finally releasing one of its biggest updates to date with Version 3.0 Paean of Era Nova. A brand-new world, storyline, maps, two 5-star characters, and a bunch of gameplay improvements are coming. It can be quite a lot but don’t worry, we got you. Here’s everything you need to know about Honkai: Star Rail 3.0 Paean of Era Nova.

Everything we’re talking about here is based on an early access media build that was given for us to explore. Certain details may change once the final version comes out to the public.

Regardless of if you’re a new player, a regular, or someone who’s thinking of jumping back in, this huge roster of content might just be your sign.

The biggest story arc

Honkai: Star Rail is about to receive its most significant story update ever.

With Version 3.0 Paean of Era Nova, the Astral Express will say goodbye to the festivities of Penacony and sets its course for Amphoreus, a celestial enigma shrouded in mystery. From the outside, Amphoreus appears as a swirling vortex of chaos, its very existence elusive to comprehension. Unlike any other world encountered by the Trailblazers, Amphoreus’s inhabitants are oblivious to the greater universe and the Aeons who govern it. Instead, they revere powerful deities known as the “Titans.”

According to Amphorean legend, the world was shaped by twelve Titans, each holding dominion over a facet of creation. Three Titans wove fate, three shaped the heavens and earth, three molded life, and three brought calamity. Here, gods and miracles are not mere myths but tangible forces that directly influence the world. Yet Amphoreus’s divine origins are clouded by tragedy.

In ancient times, the arrival of three malevolent Titans — Strife, Death, and Trickery — ignited a devastating civil war among the gods. This conflict left the world vulnerable to a mysterious and terrifying phenomenon known as the “black tide.” This dark force consumes everything in its path, driving those it touches into madness, and not even the Titans are immune to its corrupting influence.

For centuries, the black tide has steadily engulfed Amphoreus, plunging the world into an endless night. Amid this turmoil, the gods’ wars rage on, leaving humanity teetering on the edge of annihilation. The last refuge of mankind, the Holy City of Okhema, is protected by Kephale, the Worldbearing Titan. As a beacon of hope and the final barrier against the black tide’s relentless advance, Kephale’s light is all that stands between survival and total despair.

The Trailblaze Mission will be released across eight versions (3.0-3.7) so players can have something to look forward to coming back to on a regular basis.

The writers are really trying to flex their creative muscles with what they have here. A fairly chunky narrative with a whole lot more lore to back it up. Those who are heavily invested in Honkai’s storyline will have a whole new host of material to lose themselves into.

What are the new areas in Honkai: Star Rail 3.0 Paean of Era Nova?

The journey through Amphoreus introduces a series of new regions, each containing significant lore implications regarding the Titans. If you want to come in completely blind to experience these new areas for yourself, maybe skip this part.

It all starts in the Abyss of Fate, a haunting wasteland that was once the domain of the Titans Time, Passage, and Law. Here, they made the fundamental rules of space and time for Amphoreus, but their work has long been erased. What’s left are silent ruins cloaked in eternal night, lost to history.

Players will encounter misty fog and abandoned temple grounds, finding Amphoreus’s storied past. The Trailblazer will ultimately meet Oronyx, the Titan of Time, whose power unlocks the Path of Remembrance. This newfound ability allows players to draw strength from the past, imbuing them with skills essential for both survival and exploration.

The Holy City of Okhema stands as a bastion of hope amidst the chaos, perched atop a mountaintop and illuminated by the radiant protection of Kephale, the Worldbearing Titan. Okhema serves as the Trailblazers’ central base of operations, offering moments of respite and strategic planning.

One of the city’s most iconic locations is the Marmoreal Palace baths, a hub of social activity where residents come together to foster a sense of community. As players navigate Okhema, they’ll witness the balance between its light and the ever-present threat of the black tide beyond its borders.

It’ll then lead to Castrum Kremnos, a city-state overshadowed by the Blade of Fury that looms above it. Home to the Strife Titan, this region is both a site of power and danger, housing the dormant Coreflame of Strife.

Players will be using the power of Oronyx to revisit Castrum Kremnos during its golden age. This blast to the past reveals the the Hand of Zagreus. Left behind by the Trickery Titan, this mechanism transforms exploration, enabling players to lift heavy objects, break barriers, and even crush enemies under specific conditions.

The return to the present brings a climactic battle against the maddened Strife Titan, as the Trailblazers and their allies, the Chrysos Heirs, fight to reclaim the Coreflame of Strife.

Each region in Amphoreus offers many opportunities for exploration, lore, and challenges. With the powers of the Titans and the ingenuity of the past at their disposal, players will uncover the secrets of this enigmatic world while forging a path toward its salvation.

New characters in Honkai: Star Rail 3.0 Paean of Era Nova

Madam Herta—#83 of the Genius Society—steps out from behind her iconic puppets to join the battle herself as a playable character. As an Ice-Type Erudition character, Herta thrives in area-of-effect combat, leveraging her signature Interpretation mechanic.

Each attack from Herta or her allies builds Interpretation stacks on enemies, amplifying her ability to deal big damage to both single targets and groups. Her Ultimate transfers the highest stacks to powerful foes like Elites before putting out Ice-based damage across all enemies.

Aglaea, a hero of Amphoreus, is the embodiment of the divine authority of “Romance.” Renowned as Okhema’s dressmaster and a prominent Chrysos Heir, Aglaea’s role as a recruiter for the Flame-Chase Journey is matched only by her usefulness in battle.

As the first limited 5-star Remembrance character, Aglaea wields a unique combat style that pairs her with her memosprite companion, Garmentmaker. Together, they perform synchronized attacks.

Finally, players will witness the evolution of the Trailblazer into the Remembrance Path, gaining the ability to “draw strength from the past.” Alongside this transformation, players meet a new ally: Mem, a mysterious yet adorable companion who communicates solely through “Mem” sounds.

Mem plays a crucial role in combat, gradually charging energy to deliver a powerful support ability. Once fully charged, Mem allows a chosen character to take immediate action and deal extra True DMG, potentially turning the tide in high-stakes battles.

Gameplay and systems improvements

The development team has taken community feedback to heart, refining core systems and adding new features that enhance both exploration and progression.

One of the standout changes is the increased Trailblaze Power cap, now raised to 300. This update allows players to tackle more content without worrying about running out of resources too quickly, making longer sessions far more rewarding.

In addition, the introduction of the “Flying Amphora” item significantly speeds up world exploration. Found across Amphoreus, these boosts make traversing large areas less time-consuming, letting players focus more on advancing the storyline.

For those eager to jump into the new chapter, the story’s accessibility has been improved. The “Journey to Amphoreus” begins immediately after completing the “Silent Galaxy” Trailblaze Mission in Belobog, ensuring that players can dive into the latest adventure without unnecessary delays.

To support player growth, Version 3.0 introduces a “Leveling Guide” system. This new feature offers tailored recommendations for optimizing your team, from leveling up characters and Light Cones to enhancing Traces and Relics. It’s a comprehensive tool that ensures players—both new and experienced—can efficiently strengthen their teams without the guesswork.

One of the most exciting additions is the inclusion of two new items, Wishful Resin and Variable Dice. These tools allow players to modify and redistribute a Relic’s Main and Sub Stats, offering unparalleled control over gear customization. For anyone chasing the perfect build, this change eliminates some of the frustration tied to RNG, making the process of fine-tuning characters far more approachable.

Are you planning on hopping on with Honkai: Star Rail 3.0 Paean of Era Nova?