Honkai Star Rail’s Version 3.5, “Before Their Deaths,” is live. It pushes the Amphoreus storyline forward and drops fresh banners and events, with the usual maintenance rewards bundled in. If you’ve been idle since Penacony, this is a clean re-entry point, and an easy setup for 3.6. HoYoverse confirmed the 3.5 rollout on August 13 (UTC+8), with the update name and theme spelled out in the official notice and site post.
3.5 at a glance
- Release & maintenance: Version 3.5 maintenance began August 13 at 06:00 (UTC+8) and lasted about five hours. Standard compensation applied, and download sizes were noted for PC and mobile. If you’re late to the patch, claim the mail before it expires.
- Banners & headliners: 3.5 features new five-stars Hysilens and Cerydra across its phases, with supporting four-star rotations. Game8’s schedule tracks the NA (Aug 12) and EU/Asia (Aug 13) release split and Phase 1 details; HoYoLAB’s Special Program also highlighted the two characters.
- Story focus: 3.5 continues the Amphoreus arc, the “second half” per the official news post, so expect lore drops and boss encounters that reward up-to-date teams and light cones.
If you only have 60 minutes today
- Clear your 3.5 Trailblaze story beats for quick Stellar Jade and unlocks.
- Run the time-limited event tab once to activate the easy dailies.
- Spend the rest on targeted mat farming for your current banner pick.
Why 2.0 still matters in 3.5
Version 2.0 (“If One Dreams at Midnight”) cracked the game wide open with Penacony and the trio Black Swan, Sparkle, and Misha. It wasn’t just more content; it set the cadence for larger destinations, stronger banner identity, and broader event loops. If you missed it, that’s the baseline the game builds on now, bigger spaces, better rotation, less “queue a menu” and more “live in a world.”
What to pull (and how to decide)
- Hysilens vs. Cerydra: Read the kit, then look at your gaps. If you lack their path/element roles in endgame teams, chase the hole first. If you’re rich in that slot, consider banking more Jade for 3.6. Game8’s banner timing makes it easy to plan your pity across both phases.
- Light cones: Don’t knee-jerk. If you don’t own their signature cones, test the unit on alternatives you already have. The premium cones are excellent, but your net upgrade per Jade can be higher by finishing character traces and relic sets first.
Practical farming order
- Ascension mats for your chosen carry.
- Trace essentials that unlock the kit’s core loop.
- “Good enough” relics (on-set) before perfect sets.
- Cone later, when your baseline is solid.
Efficient weekly loop for 3.5
- Main story → events → bosses. Story first for stamina-free Jade and unlocks, events second for time-limited currency, bosses last when you actually need ascension parts.
- Relic sanity: Stop at usable lines. Chasing perfect subs too early is how accounts stall.
- Technique with intent: Enter fights with your skill points stacked and your ult order planned. 3.5’s boss pacing rewards clean openers more than brute stats.
What’s next: 3.6 prep you can do now
Version 3.6 is imminent, with Sept 23 (NA) / Sept 24 (EU/Asia) listed by multiple trackers. Expect new banners and a step toward wrapping the Amphoreus act. If you’re tight on Jade, plan your pulls around Phase 1 vs. Phase 2.
DBLTAP’s roundup flags two headline items: a free copy of Dan Heng – Permansor Terrae and a new endgame mode in 3.6. Treat these as prep signals: save general ascension mats for a Physical/Preservation build line, and keep some fuel for a potential challenge mode that wants broader team depth. As always, verify in-game when the patch drops.
3.6-ready checklist
- Jade budget: Set a floor for pity and don’t dip below it unless a banner is a must-have.
- Mat stash: Stock universal ascension mats and a few extra traces for a new Preservation front-liner.
- Relic bank: Keep any “almost right” pieces that fit Physical/Preservation or Ice/Remembrance shells; you can perfect later.
- Side quests: Clean your mission list so you can dive straight into 3.6’s story and events on day one.
Returning after a break?
Start with Penacony’s 2.0 story (if unfinished) to re-sync with the current narrative pace, then jump into 3.5’s Amphoreus leg. You’ll grab enough Jade and mats to test a 3.5 banner unit without wrecking your 3.6 fund. The official 3.5 posts and maintenance notices outline everything you need for a smooth catch-up, including timing and compensation.
3.5 is a “do the story, pick a banner, set the table for 3.6” patch. The Amphoreus push keeps the mainline fresh, Hysilens/Cerydra give real roster choices, and the schedule leaves room to bank Jade for late-September pulls. Clear your quests, farm with restraint, and let 3.5 fund your 3.6 plan. If you like planning a patch or two ahead, this is your sweet spot.