Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.0 is giving every player a free limited 5‑star character selector plus a stack of login rewards, including around 20 free pulls, 1,600 Stellar Jades, and a free Ruan Mei skin during the “No Aha at Full Moon” update on PC, PlayStation, iOS, and Android. You unlock the selector just by logging in at any point during Version 4.0 and can redeem it any time before Version 4.2 ends, so there’s no rush to decide immediately. The selector pool is made up of older limited 5‑stars like Acheron, Aventurine, Sparkle, Jingliu, Imbibitor Lunae, Kafka, and Jing Yuan, giving newer or F2P players a way to patch big holes in their rosters.
| Unit | Role | Best Pick If You Need… |
|---|---|---|
| Acheron | Nihility DPS | Top meta damage; have debuffers |
| Aventurine | Sustain | Strong shields & buffs |
| Sparkle | Harmony | SP & Crit buffs for hypercarries |
| Kafka | Nihility DPS | To enable DoT teams |
| Jingliu | Destruction | An easy-to-build Ice carry |
| Imbibitor Lunae | Destruction | High burst damage (SP hungry) |
| Jing Yuan | Erudition | Lightning AoE clearing |
If your main question is “who should I pick,” the simple answer is this: grab a unit that unlocks a full team for you. Kafka or Acheron are ideal if you already own the supports they need, Aventurine is great if you’re short on sustain, Sparkle is a premium offensive buffer, and Imbibitor Lunae or Jingliu work well if you just want a hard‑hitting carry. You can also treat the selector as an Eidolon if you already own your favorite and want to push them further, but that’s usually a luxury choice for veterans.
How to get the free 5‑star in Version 4.0
Here’s the short version of how the free character works in Honkai: Star Rail 4.0.
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Update your game to Version 4.0 once the patch goes live on February 12–13, 2026 (regional times vary slightly between NA, EU, and Asia servers).
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Log in at least once during Version 4.0 to unlock the “Free 5‑Star Character Selector” in the event/rewards section.
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Open the selector screen to view the available 5‑stars (Acheron, Aventurine, Sparkle, Jingliu, Imbibitor Lunae, Kafka, Jing Yuan).
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Check your existing roster and decide whether you’re filling a role you lack (DPS, sustain, support) or finishing a specific team.
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Confirm your choice; the character is added to your account with materials to level them up.
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If you’re unsure, you can wait, because the selector stays valid until Version 4.2 ends, well after 4.0 is over.
The key thing is that you only get one pick, but you don’t have to lock it in on day one. You can try new banners first, then decide which gap the free unit should fill.
Free 5‑star selector explained: dates, pool, and rules
Version 4.0 is a full region update running from mid‑February to late March 2026, and the selector is tied to that window but redeemable for much longer.
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Release window: HSR 4.0 goes live on February 12, 2026 for NA servers and February 13, 2026 for Europe and Asia, on all platforms.
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Selector availability: logging in at any time during Version 4.0 adds the free selector to your account; you can use it until Version 4.2 ends.
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Selector pool: Acheron (Nihility), Aventurine (Preservation), Sparkle (Harmony), Jingliu (Destruction), Imbibitor Lunae (Destruction), Kafka (Nihility), and Jing Yuan (Erudition).
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Character type: these are older limited banner units, not standard pool 5‑stars, which makes the selector much more valuable than the Version 2.7 standard selector.
Expert insight: because the redeem window runs through 4.2, you can wait for Sparxie, Yao Guang, and future 4.x units to release, then pick the selector 5‑star that best complements whichever new teams you end up building.
Best free 5‑star picks for most players
The “best” choice depends heavily on your existing box, but some patterns are pretty clear across current content and community testing.
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Acheron: top meta Nihility DPS for players running debuff‑heavy teams; excels in endgame modes with consistent debuff uptime.
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Kafka: great for DoT enjoyers who already have units like Sampo, Luka, and good Lightning supports; shines in multi‑wave content.
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Sparkle: premium offensive Harmony support who boosts skill points, speed, and damage; fits into many hypercarry teams.
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Aventurine: durable Preservation sustain who also brings strong offensive buffs; ideal if you lack top healers/shielders.
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Imbibitor Lunae: single‑target Destruction carry who eats skill points but deletes bosses when properly supported.
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Jingliu: powerful ice Destruction DPS with strong AoE and ST damage, but demands careful HP management and supports.
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Jing Yuan: solid Erudition AoE DPS who pairs well with follow‑up and Elation‑style setups, though less “must‑pull” than others.
If you’re a newer player with no premium sustain, Aventurine is often the safest all‑round pick because he stabilizes many teams while still adding damage. If you already own good sustain and supports, Acheron, Sparkle, or Kafka tend to offer the biggest account power spike.
Free 5‑star options at a glance
Here’s a compact view of what each selector 5‑star actually does for your account.
| Character | Role / Path | Best for players who… |
|---|---|---|
| Acheron | DPS, Nihility | Want a top meta debuff‑based main carry. |
| Aventurine | Sustain, Preservation | Need a tanky shielder that also buffs damage. |
| Sparkle | Support, Harmony | Want a universal offensive buffer and SP battery. |
| Kafka | DPS, Nihility | Enjoy DoT teams and already own DoT supports. |
| Jingliu | DPS, Destruction | Need a strong Ice carry for both AoE and bosses. |
| Imbibitor Lunae | DPS, Destruction | Want a single‑target hypercarry for boss fights. |
| Jing Yuan | DPS, Erudition | Want easier AoE clearing and follow‑up synergy. |
This isn’t a strict tier list, but if you’re completely undecided, Sparkle or Aventurine are usually the most flexible long‑term investments for general content.
All the free login rewards in Honkai Star Rail 4.0
On top of the free 5‑star, 4.0 stacks several login campaigns and cosmetics that are worth planning around if you’re saving for future banners.
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Gift of Arcadia: log in during Version 4.0 to claim 10 Star Rail Premium Passes, 3 Self‑Modeling Resin, and 600 Lone Stardust in your mailbox.
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Gift of Odyssey: the recurring 7‑day login event returns, giving another 10 Special/Premium Passes for checking in over a week.
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A Flip of Fortune: a 5‑day event where you reveal one “fortune slip” per day for 320 Stellar Jades each, up to 1,600 total; there’s a small chance to win 100 Premium Passes on top.
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Ruan Mei free outfit: the “Plumblossom Letter” skin is available as a time‑limited cosmetic reward during 4.0 via an in‑game event.
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Pre‑register rewards: signing up for the Planarcadia/4.0 web event grants an extra 120 Stellar Jades.
Across the whole patch, that adds up to roughly 20 free pulls in tickets plus 1,720 Stellar Jades from events alone, not counting regular quests and maintenance compensation.
Is the 4.0 free 5‑star worth it, and who should wait?
For almost every account, this is a “do not skip” reward. Limited 5‑stars usually sit behind pity and banner planning, so being able to pick one outright is a huge power bump, especially if you missed earlier patches. The selector is also generous on timing, so you have room to take things slow.
You should consider delaying your choice if you’re eyeing new 4.x characters like Sparxie or Yao Guang and want to see how your luck goes first. In that case, let the 4.0 and 4.1 banners play out, see which teams you end up building, then use the free selector in 4.2 to plug whatever role you’re still missing.
