A series with such a defining aspect as its cosmic scope, its complex turn-based mechanics, and a constantly changing list of galactic heroes, Honkai: Star Rail started with its premiere. When the newcomers are flaunting it, we are apt to overlook the fact that the rerun of the right can be quite as effective to your account as to its duration, and sometimes more so. Entering the arc Planarcadia, the Honkai: Star Rail 4.0 Reruns characters is not only an opportunity to pick up what you missed, but also a recalculation of the floor in terms of power.
Whether you are the one grinding for the perfect Relic set or you’re just trying to survive the new Aha Instant mechanics, the line-up for this patch is devastating. Some characters are so potent that their return feels less like a second chance and more like a mandatory requirement for the new era of combat.
1. Rappa
The 460-Day Wild Card
Starting off with the biggest surprise of the patch, we have the Rappa rerun. Rappa was introduced in version 2.6 and has been offline since October 2024. To the number-counting type of person, that is a whopping 15-month drought. So far, she has been commonly considered a niche selection; however, the change in environment in 4.0 has made her an absolute monster.
Pros:
- Unmatched Break Efficiency: She obliterates the high-toughness shields found in Planarcadia’s new elite mobs.
- Dalia Synergy: The introduction of Dalia has provided the missing link for Rappa’s damage ceiling.
- Speed Scaling: She thrives in the new high-tempo action bar, punishing enemies before they can even act.
Cons:
- Specific Teambuilding: To see her true potential, you must commit to a dedicated Break-team core.
The HSR 4.0 Rerun characters are eventually providing Rappa with the exposure she needs. She does not merely cause damage, but ruins the playing ground of the enemy. She has been missed between the 2.x cycle, and you will be glad to find that her new performance is out of hand as compared to the time she was first released!
2. Sparkle
The Nova Flare Engine
Next up is Sparkle, but not as you remember her. While she has always been a top-tier Harmony unit, the Sparkle buff introduced via the second Nova Flare has transformed her into something much more dangerous. She is no longer just a Skill Point Generator; she has become the primary heartbeat for any team utilizing the new Elation Path.
Pros:
- Elation Conversion: Her new traces allow her to convert excess Skill Points into direct Elation DMG for the team.
- Aha Instant Manipulation: She provides a massive boost to the Aha speed coefficient, letting the Aeon act more frequently.
- Flexible Buffing: Her Crit DMG boosts now snapshot more effectively for the Certified Banger state.
Cons:
- Stiff Competition: You may find it difficult to slot her in if you are already running multiple Elation-path supports.
No matter how you look at it, the HSR 4.0 Rerun characters center around this version of Sparkle. She is a devastating killing machine in the right hands, turning your relatively weak SP economy into a relentless offensive.
3. Black Swan
The Arcana Anchor
While the Elation hype is real, we cannot ignore the consistency of the Nihility path. Black Swan is returning to ensure that DOT teams remain competitive in the face of the 4.0 powercreep. Her role in the HSR 4.0 Rerun characters is to provide a reliable alternative to the high-maintenance Elation setups.
Pros:
- Arcana Consistency: The second Nova Flare buffs have made her stack generation significantly faster.
- AoE Domination: She remains the queen of multi-target scenarios, which are prevalent in the Planarcadia story missions.
- Kafka Synergy: She still pairs perfectly with Kafka, creating a duo that ignores most defensive mechanics.
Cons:
- High Investment: To truly compete with Elation teams, you will need her signature Light Cone.
Black Swan’s presence in the HSR 4.0 Rerun characters provides a necessary balance. She is a pragmatic choice for players who prefer the slow and steady destruction of Nihility over the chaotic RNG of Aha’s path.
4. Hizelins
The Speculative Missing Link
Every major update has a wildcard, and for 4.0, that is Hizelins. While her rerun is still in the realm of prediction, her synergy with Black Swan makes her a logical inclusion for the later phase of the patch. She is the best weapon bar none for completing a modern DOT team.
Pros:
- Vulnerability Debuffs: She forces enemies to take significantly more damage from periodic effects.
- Full DOT Team Enabler: She fills the third slot in the Kafka-Swan core better than any other 4-star or standard 5-star.
Cons:
- Lower Personal Damage: She is a pure force multiplier, meaning she is only as good as the DPS units you pair her with.
If she appears in the HSR 4.0 Rerun characters, pulling for her will be a high-stakes decision. She is a beast of a support, but only if you’ve already committed to the Nihility lifestyle.
5. Yao Guang
The Contextual Queen
Although Yao Guang is a new debut, you must understand her as the lens through which all reruns are viewed. She is the Physical Elation engine that dictates the current meta. Every rerun in this patch—from Sparkle to Rappa—is being judged by how well they play alongside her.
Pros:
- Path Definition: She introduces the Aha Instant as a forceable mechanic.
- Stat Conversion: She turns Speed directly into Elation DMG, rewarding high-end gear.
Cons:
- High Learning Curve: You’ll need to master the Punchline Stack economy to make her viable.
The HSR 4.0 Rerun characters exist to support her dominance. She is the strongest offering in the series thus far for players who enjoy mechanical depth and theatrical combat.
6. Sparxie
The Fire Elation Payout
The final in the list is Sparxie, the Fire-type DPS that enjoys the confusion. Although technically a new unit, she is a much-polished rebranding of all that we loved about the 2.x days, brought into the 4.0 world. All the Payout of the Skill points that you get on your supports is paid out by her.
Pros:
- Snapshot Scaling: Her Certified Banger state provides some of the highest burst damage in the game.
- Element Diversity: She brings Fire-type Elation damage to a meta that is currently dominated by Physical and Imaginary.
Cons:
- SP Hunger: She consumes resources at an alarming rate, making a well-built support team mandatory.
In the hands of an experienced player, Sparxie will send your enemies into a different realm of existence before cutting them clean in half. She is the final, devastating punchline of the HSR 4.0 Rerun characters.
FAQs
Will pulling for Rappa's rerun help me clear the new Theater of War endgame if I lack Firefly?
Yes, because Rappa’s 4.0 tuning focuses on Universal Toughness Reduction. You will find her significantly more flexible than Firefly in the Planarcadia arc, where enemies often lock their specific elemental weaknesses.
Does the Sparkle buff apply to my older Seele teams or just the new Elation units?
You will find the buff is specifically Aha-coded. While Seele still benefits from the Skill Point generation, the new Nova Flare traces specifically multiply Elation DMG, making her a suboptimal choice for traditional Quantum hypercarries.
How many Punchline Stacks are required to make the Yao Guang and Black Swan hybrid team viable?
Hybrid teams are a trap in 4.0. You must commit to at least 15 stacks per Aha Instant to out-damage a standard DOT team. Combining these paths usually results in lackluster performance and uncoordinated turn-cycles.
To make sure you have enough Stellar Jades for these meta-defining reruns, consider a quick Honkai top up before the banners rotate. If you’d rather skip the grind and dive straight into the Planarcadia meta, you can also explore HSR accounts that already include these powerful characters.
