Honkai: Star Rail to add new Divergent Universe, Apocalyptic Shadow game modes in version 2.3
With Honkai: Star Rail currently in the second half of version 2.1, we can expect version 2.3 to be released some time in mid-June.
Honkai: Star Rail developer HoYoverse has announced massive changes to the game will be coming in version 2.3 in the form of two new game modes: Divergent Universe and Apocalpytic Shadow.
HoYoverse announced the new game modes in a 'Voice of the Galaxy' blog post on Monday (22 April), where they shared details about Divergent Universe and Apocalyptic Shadow as well as other updates to existing game modes.
Divergent Universe, a quicker way to get Planar Ornaments
First off, Divergent Universe will be an update to the Simulated Universe that is separate from the base mode and promises grand overhauls to the gameplay.
Divergent Universe will be similar to the base Simulated Universe experience, where players have to fight their way through a number of stages and bosses in order to collect Planar Ornament relics. But in this upcoming mode, there will be more varied combinations and unique effects between Blessings and Curios to give players more strategic flexibility.
But what sets Divergent Universe apart from the base Simulated Universe experience is the addition of the Planar Ornament quick-claim function.
After clearing the Divergent Universe, players can enter the Blessings and Curios they obtained from that run into a save file that resets every week. They can then access their save file to use the Blessings and Curios they previously obtained in order to challenge different bosses and obtain their corresponding Planar Ornament relic rewards.
Applying that logic to the base Simulated Universe experience, we can think of an example where a player managed to easily defeat the Gepard boss in World 3 with a perfect combination of Blessings and Curios. They can then enter that combination in their save file to use against the Svarog boss in World 4 to quickly farm up more Planar Ornaments without having to redo an entire stage.
In addition, the Divergent Universe will also feature a 'Restart Challenge' function to allow players to easily restart a challenge similar to the one already found in Memory of Chaos and Pure Fiction. The Divergent Universe version will also automatically trigger the effects of any Techniques used previously.
Aside from Planar Ornament relics, Divergent Universe will also have its own set of unique rewards, including Stellar Jade. Completing Divergent Universe also nets players points that go towards claiming the weekly Simulated Universe rewards.
Apocalyptic Shadow, a new endgame mode
The other new game mode coming in version 2.3 is Apocalyptic Shadow, which will join Memory of Chaos and Pure Fiction as Honkai: Star Rail's endgame modes that will put players' skill and game knowledge to the test in order to earn various rewards.
In Apocalyptic Shadow, players must face "materializations of the Finality" in the form of boss enemies they previously faced in the story. The boss enemies players must defeat in Apocalyptic Shadow will have slight differences from their regular versions, which can be examined before the battle starts.
With Apocalyptic Shadow featuring boss enemies, we expect this mode will be tailored more towards Hunt characters and their single-target damage focus similar to how Pure Fiction is tailored more towards Erudition characters and their area-of-effect damage focus.
With the addition of Apocalyptic Shadow, the reset cycle for Memory of Chaos and Pure Fiction will also be shifted. Specifically, two weeks after Apocalyptic Shadow is updated, a new Pure Fiction phase will commence. Then, after another two weeks of Pure Fiction, a new Memory of Chaos phase will begin.
Each phase of Apocalpytic Shadow, Pure Fiction, and Memory of Chaos will continue to last for six weeks.
"We hope that Apocalyptic Shadow will bring new combat strategies and richer gameplay experiences to Trailblazers," HoYoverse said of the upcoming game mode.
"Mind your team setup and combat strategy, defeat formidable foes, earn high scores, and obtain your rewards!"
With Honkai: Star Rail currently in version 2.1, which was released back in 27 March, and assuming the typical 40-day duration for version 2.2, we can expect version 2.3 as well as Divergent Universe and Apocalyptic Shadow to be released some time in mid-June.
Honkai: Star Rail is currently in version 2.1, which saw the release of three new characters in Acheron, Aventurine, and Gallagher, reruns for Luocha and Jingliu, and two new areas in Penacony. Not only that, version 2.1 is also Honkai: Star Rail's first-year anniversary patch and as such will give players tons of rewards!
If you're still torn on whether you should pull for Aventurine or Jingliu in the second half's banners, then we can help you decide.
After version 2.1 comes version 2.2 in May, featuring two new 5-star characters in Robin and Boothill.
Yan Ku is a full-time dog parent, part-time (gacha) gamer, and part-time writer.
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