Version 4.3 Starts Today — Blade Returns, Transformed
Honkai: Star Rail version 4.3 "The Lethe Below the Living" begins maintenance today, May 31, 2026, at 3:00 PM PDT (6:00 PM EDT). Servers are expected to be back online approximately five hours later.
The headline addition is Mortenax Blade — a new playable 5-star character using the Fire element and Nihility path, representing a transformed version of the existing Blade. This version drops on an unusual Sunday/Monday schedule rather than the typical Tuesday/Wednesday, which extends the version duration to approximately six weeks to keep the end date close to the normal cycle.
Everything New in Version 4.3 — Quick Reference
| Content | Details |
|---|---|
| New 5-star (Phase 1) | Mortenax Blade — Fire / Nihility |
| Phase 1 rerun 5-star | Yao Guang |
| Phase 1 4-stars | Sampo, Luka, Tingyun |
| Phase 2 5-stars | Cyrene, Phainon (rerun) |
| Phase 2 4-stars | March 7th, Arlan, Yukong |
| New Light Cone | Reforged in Hellfire (Nihility path) |
| New Trailblaze Mission | "The Lethe Below the Living" |
| New area | Inkford Hermitage |
| New relic sets | 2 new sets |
| Free outfit | Karmic Fire of the Distant Shore |
| Mobile feature | Home Screen widget (iOS & Android) |
Who Is Mortenax Blade?
Blade has been one of Honkai: Star Rail's most iconic characters since the game launched. His story arc — an immortal swordsman cursed never to die, driven by a desperate need for rest — has resonated deeply with the community. Version 4.3's story continues that arc in a new direction.
The name "Mortenax" appears to combine the Latin "mortal" and "tenax" (tenacious), pointing toward Blade's internal contradiction: he is both unkillable and desperate to end. After absorbing Shuhu's essence in the events of 4.2, this new form emerges.
Key distinction from the original Blade:
- ▶Original Blade: Wind element, Hunt path — high personal damage dealer
- ▶Mortenax Blade: Fire element, Nihility path — entirely different game style, likely debuff/DoT focused
Players who already have Blade can collect Mortenax Blade as a separate character with a distinct playstyle.
Pull Mortenax Blade during Version 4.3 to unlock the "Karmic Fire of the Distant Shore" outfit for free through the Gift of the Tempered Blade event. The event itself is open to all players, but the outfit specifically requires owning the character.
New Story: "The Lethe Below the Living"
The new Trailblaze mission continues the Phantasmoon Games storyline on Planarcadia, following Blade's transformation in the aftermath of 4.2's events.
""A passerby seeking a final resting place, a traveler bearing admonitions — people journey to the end of the painting where the ancient Lethe flows, stand witness to past joys and sorrows that emerge from within..." — Version 4.3 Story Description
- ▶The Inkford Hermitage area unlocks through this quest
- ▶Two new enemies appear: Murata Graphia, Founding Artist and God-Devourer Offspring
- ▶Phase 2 continues with Cyrene and Phainon's narratives
The Lethe (river of forgetfulness in classical mythology) framing is intentional — the entire version is built around the theme of memory, forgetting, and choosing to move forward.
Two New Relic Sets
Version 4.3 adds two new relic sets obtainable from the Path of Insight Cavern of Corrosion:
| Relic Set | Notes |
|---|---|
| As Navigator Isee Sees It | New set, full stats revealed at launch |
| Divine-Querying Master Smith | New set, full stats revealed at launch |
New character development materials are also being introduced:
- ▶Sneering Harlequin
- ▶Cosmic Sandpit Series
- ▶Omnicolor
- ▶Fool's Own Series
Events: Pixel Plane Rumble & Wispae Amusement Park
Pixel Plane Rumble
A shooter mini-game where you pilot a fighter jet and take down enemy aircraft. Earned buffs upgrade your jet progressively, rewarding both skill and strategic buff selection.
Wispae Amusement Park
A route-planning puzzle event where you design paths for Wispae to accumulate maximum points. It rewards careful forward planning over reflexes.
Both events reward Stellar Jades, Credits, and additional character development resources.
Version 4.3 runs on an unusual schedule, starting Sunday/Monday instead of the usual Tuesday/Wednesday. This extends the version to roughly six weeks (Mortenax Blade's banner runs until June 24, 2026). Plan your Stellar Jade spending accordingly — Phase 1 has slightly more time than a standard 3-week phase.
Quality of Life: Mobile Home Screen Widget
A small but welcome addition: starting with 4.3, players on iOS and Android can add a home screen widget to check Trailblaze Power (stamina) and other game status at a glance without opening the app. This brings Honkai: Star Rail in line with other HoYoverse titles that have offered this feature.
Community Reaction
""Blade as Nihility is genuinely surprising. I was expecting Hunt or even Destruction for a second form. This opens up so many new team comps." — Reddit r/HonkaiStarRail
""The 4.3 PV is one of the best HoYo has made. The imagery is stunning and the lore implications hit hard if you've followed Blade's story." — HoYoLAB
""Cyrene and Phainon reruns in Phase 2 is a real gift for anyone who missed 4.2. Phase 2 is looking stacked." — Honkai: Star Rail Discord
Maintenance Times (Global)
| Region | Maintenance Starts | Ends (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| PDT (UTC-7) | May 31, 3:00 PM | May 31, 8:00 PM |
| EDT (UTC-4) | May 31, 6:00 PM | May 31, 11:00 PM |
| UTC+8 (KST/CST) | June 1, 6:00 AM | June 1, 11:00 AM |
| JST (UTC+9) | June 1, 7:00 AM | June 1, 12:00 PM |
GamePeak will follow up with a Mortenax Blade kit analysis and recommended team compositions once the full kit details are available in the live version.