Honkai: Star Rail Version 2.2 "Then Wake to Weep" Special Program

What's up, dear audience!? I missed y'all!

Let's celebrate the Astral Express' birthday!

What beautiful memories!

And what's a celebration without a little sing-song?

Don't forget about me!

Happy birthday to you,

happy birthday to you,

happy birthday dear Astral Express...

Happy birthday to you

News flash!

Penacony's Charmony Festival

has entered its countdown phase.

The singer Robin, famous throughout the Cosmos,

has announced in a recent press conference

that she will release a new album for the festival...

It's for Mikhail,

and for the future of Penacony.

Come with me, everyone.

Let's deal with these thugs first,

and then we'll talk about how to deal with you,

Here's your final reward!

Everyone, are you ready?

Finally, you've arrived.

Everything is ready.

It's time to step on stage.

And this is our final hope.

Prisoners!

This is my order! Learn the essence of freedom

and teach your fellow prisoners to fight for their lives!

Like fireflies to a flame, life begets death.

Brother, do you think...

the stars will fade away?

So, whether or not your world has a day-night cycle —

Ahem!

A—As I was saying

good morning, good afternoon, and good evening!

Allow me to extend my sincere greetings to all our viewers!

Welcome to the Version 2.2 Special Program... "Then Wake to Weep"!

Long time no see, Owlbert!

I heard you had a nice vacation?

Ah! As a matter of fact I did

The IPC offers wonderful employee benefits.

Word on the street is you managed

to save the universe during your break?

Oh, Director Aventurine, you flatter me!

I just helped out a little

It was nothing really.

Why not reward yourself with an extra day or two?

And abandon this wonderful audience? Never! I missed them too much...

Let's do some introductions, shall we?

Greetings, viewers, it's a pleasure to be here on the Special Program.

I am Black Swan

a Memokeeper from the Garden of Recollection.

Hello everyone

I'm Aventurine from the IPC's Strategic Investment Department.

Hi guys,

I'm Robin!

So happy to see everyone here!

A warm welcome to each of our special guests~

Aww, thanks Owlbert

There sure were a lot of interesting details in that trailer!

It's a pretty big lineup, isn't it?

That dashing gunman at the beginning

Wonder what his deal is?

Not to mention a certain brother and sister!

Glad to see Sunday and Robin after everything that's happened!

There was also a place that looked like an opera house.

Is that where the Charmony Festival is being held?

Uh! Uhh... maybe.

So many guests from so many places!

What will the story bring us next?

Perhaps we'll gain some insights in today's program

Can't wait!

Hold on, Owlbert.

Who exactly is being referred to in the Version 2.2 title

Then Wake to Weep?

Doesn't sound like a version filled with sunshine and rainbows...

Don't get too hasty now~

After experiencing two versions of Penacony,

I'm sure everybody is eager to uncover the truth behind the sweet dream.

Since Miss Acheron split The Family's screen in Clock Studios Theme Park,

it's obvious things aren't quite as safe

as The Family made them out to be.

Did anyone really believe them in the first place?

Hehehe... no...

Meanwhile, things seem to be heading in a more favorable direction

for Mr. Aventurine.

There's a secret within The Family that goes deeper than any murder mystery.

But... with the clues we have so far,

things don't really add up, right?

How do you mean, Miss Robin?

For example, Firefly and I were attacked,

but when we came to our senses we didn't have a single scratch.

What happened exactly...?

You know,

Dr. Ratio once told me that in a dream,

it's not "Death" that's impossible,

but "Dormancy."

A thought-provoking idea...

And let me remind you,

Himeko deciphered a secret passage in the invitation to the Charmony Festival

"...Witness the impossible in the realm of dreams,

find the legacy of the Watchmaker,

Father of Penacony, and thus the answer to the question: Why does life slumber."

So in other words,

you need to enter an impossible "Dormancy" within a dream

only then can you pull back the curtain

and get closer to the Watchmaker's legacy!

"Dormancy" within a dream...

Is that like "a dream within a dream"?

I think there's another possibility...

Could it be referring to the other side of the dream?

Just like Miss Acheron said at the end of Version 2.1: Penacony, the true Land of the Exiles.

Hoho⁓! On that note,

perhaps we can uncover some clues in Version 2.2's new map!

"Dreamflux Reef..."

Can anyone guess what the connection might be?

Hmm, taking the name at face value, it's a reef that the Dreamscape flows past...

If the Dreamscape can flow like water,

then it should be flowing downhill...

Could there really be a deeper level

to the Dreamscape?

Could there indeed...

Trailblazers will have to discover the truth for themselves!

All I can reveal is that

entering this special domain will

require ways and means.

In Version 2.2's main storyline, "The Fool Always Rings Twice,"

Trailblazers will head to this new domain

and reunite with some unexpected friends!

And let's not forget,

the Charmony Festival has also entered the countdown phase!

The curtain will soon rise before guests from across the cosmos!

The Charmony Festival...

The Family's "guaranteed security" has fallen to pieces

Still, they've done a good job keeping the truth under wraps~

I'm curious to see what happens next.

They say

this Charmony Festival is set to be a grand spectacle,

and that a special talent show is gonna be held

to build up the hype.

The talent show, known as the Festivity Auditions,

is sponsored by SoulGlad™,

and will take place at the Moment of Scorchsand.

The Moment of Scorchsand is Penacony's most festive moment,

with guests partying all day long.

Add in some malt-flavored SoulGlad,

and the atmosphere is second to none!

That's right! This place was once devastated by the invasion of memes,

but became the sight of the Festivity Auditions after its reconstruction.

The Family holds these auditions here from time to time to select

Penacony's next Festive Superstar.

As you can see,

it comes with all the bells and whistles — lighting, stage effects, you name it!

We guarantee the most unforgettable experience

for all contestants and audience members!

In Version 2.2,

Trailblazers will need to join the contest with their companions

and earn the title of Festive Superstar!

Oh? So you have to win the contest

if you want to join the Charmony Festival?

Ehh, no pressure,

the renowned Galactic Baseballer is the center of attention no matter where they go!

So, how do the Festivity Auditions work exactly?

Pass all the audition stages

and earn the superstar title

for a chance to venture into the Charmony Festival's main venue —

the Penacony Grand Theater!

That's right! The Grand Theater is Penacony's most recognizable landmark.

If you win the title of Festive Superstar,

you can take center stage

and join The Family

in kicking off the Charmony Festival.

Really?

Does the winner get to perform on the same stage as you, Robin?

What do you say, Miss Robin?

Maybe... or maybe not? Hee-hee...

If I didn't have so much overtime I could attend myself...

Trailblazers, I'll be there with you in spirit

don't mess it up now!

Another thing — in the scene we just saw,

what were all those strange-looking characters in the theater?

Watch who you're calling strange-looking!

Those are official Charmony Festival personnel.

After all, the opening ceremony is just around the corner.

There's still a lot of preparation to do.

They're unique, I'll give them that.

Seems like some of them are holding glasses,

and others are carrying... knives?

Those are violin bows!

They're members of the Sweet Dreams Troupe,

and they'll be playing an important role in the Charmony Festival!

I see... They look a little on edge.

Uhh... perhaps they won the final of the auditions?

Stage fright is serious y'know.

Wait,

I thought the Trailblazer was supposed to win?

Ahahaha, Director Aventurine,

you're a sharp one alright.

Let's just say that anything is possible!

Ahem!

Next, let's introduce the leading roles who will feature at the Charmony Festival.

Firstly, we have the singer Robin,

whose beauty and talent are known throughout the cosmos!

I'm sure Miss Robin is no stranger to our viewers!

Her gentle elegance as a singer

has earned her countless fans from across the universe!

No need to flatter me, Owlbert.

I still have plenty to improve on.

Oh, don't be so modest!

And just so you know Miss Robin, I'm a fan too

I've got so many collector's edition vinyls I don't know where to put them!

Whenever I'm up burning the midnight oil,

your singing soothes my weary soul with a voice as soft as a feather~

I appreciate the fanfare, Mr. Owlbert.

But do you think maybe you're overworking yourself...

Oh, don't worry, hehe

the opportunity to see you here today

is worth all the overtime in the world!

You're certainly worthy of the limelight,

Miss Robin, but I can't help but feel that you're a bird in a cage,

or perhaps I should say — someone who's ready to spread their wings?

Aren't we all, Miss Black Swan?

Sometimes every bird is trapped in a cage,

yearning to fly free and soar into the—

Alright Owlbert,

we get the idea.

Ahem! Back to business.

From the letter Miss Robin gave to Mr. Sunday,

we learned that during the preparations for the festival,

she was the first to notice anomalies in Penacony,

and began to investigate the traitor in The Family.

In the process,

she suffered an accident and became a victim of "Death."

But seeing how Firefly has reunited with the Trailblazer,

I'm sure that "Death" isn't the end of the story for her.

Uh-huh!

Secrets are sure to unfold in the 2.2 story.

But for now,

let's take a look at Miss Robin's battle credentials!

About time! Well, I'm a Physical-Type character following the Path of Harmony.

My Technique allows me to create a dimension around myself.

Any enemies within this dimension

follow me without attacking.

After entering battle against enemies in the dimension,

I can also regenerate additional Energy.

Even enemies are captivated

by Miss Robin's star status!

My forte is working in sync with my team,

offering support and buffs to everyone.

Take my Skill for example,

which enhances the total damage inflicted by our team,

or my Talent, which allows me to regenerate additional Energy

whenever my allies attack enemies.

And as a cosmic songstress,

Miss Robin also integrates her songs into combat.

When using her Ultimate,

Miss Robin belts out a morale-boosting number

and enters a performative state.

This state allows all allies to immediately take action, while also providing buffs.

Everyone immediately takes action again?

Miss Robin is full of surprises!

And how about that song?

Now that's a tune I can fight to.

Hehe, what can I say

I love lifting spirits!

When my Ultimate is in play,

I inflict Additional DMG on the enemy after each ally attack.

Plus, I'm immune to Crowd Control debuffs!

There's no doubt

you fully embody the Path of Harmony,

Miss Robin.

Spreading Harmony has always been my mission.

As a Halovian,

I have the innate ability to transmit feelings

and resonate energy through my halo,

which aligns perfectly with my Path.

That song

are there other ways to access it?

I mean, we can't be asking you to go into battle every time we want to hear it!

As a matter of fact,

our audience is also very curious about Miss Robin's other songs

If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking, for instance.

Don't worry, don't worry

Miss Robin's upcoming album is right around the corner.

She even took the opportunity to put together a special video for her fans.

Play the tape...!

Hello everyone, this is Robin.

My new album INSIDE will be released on May 9.

I have three songs to share with you this time.

Life is filled with worries and sorrows,

but I hope that while listening to my songs

you can let go of them for a while.

Long time no see.

I'm Serval, the lead singer of the Belobogian band Mechanical Fever.

Miss Robin's new album is about to be released.

As a fellow musician,

I really look forward to seeing what kind of tunes she'll be releasing this time.

Finally, on behalf of all the Belobogian fans, I'd like to ask:

"Can you come to Belobog for your tour?"

Hello everyone, I'm Sunday,

representative of The Family in Penacony.

As a follower of the Harmony,

Robin's powerful singing spreads

harmonious melodies to all worlds.

She is The Family's pride and joy.

I am delighted that her new album INSIDE will be officially released on May 9.

And as her older brother,

I am very grateful for all the support that Robin receives. Thank you.

Tick-tock!

I'm thrilled to be chosen as the fan representative to announce Robin's new album!

Miss Robin's voice is the most beautiful in the universe!

The sound of her voice

is so empowering!

Let's all make sure to show our support for her newest album!

Hey Guilings, check this out!

Miss Robin's new album will be released on May 9.

Lil Gui is here to tell everyone that it'll definitely be amazing!

You do NOT want to miss out!

Oh, and don't forget to like and subscribe!

Hi everyone, I'm Lumi

Miss Robin's album will be released on May 9th!

Her sweet and gentle voice is lovely to hear, and her beauty is no less potent~

Let us look forward to the release of her new work!

What's up everyone,

Jake Miller here,

I heard Miss Robin's album is coming out soon, and I am so excited for it.

I know her song always bring many surprises,

so let's look forward to her album together, and I can't wait.

See you, bye!

Hello, everyone, this is May'n

Miss Robin's upcoming album will be released on May 9th

Congratulations!

I received a message a while ago

asking me if I could give some suggestions from the perspective of a "Galactic Singer."

Actually, rather than having me give some suggestions,

I think what is more important, since I'm also a singer,

is the possibility of collaborating with Miss Robin someday.

I hope that Miss Robin will be open to letting me have this opportunity!

Hey, everyone, 宫奇Gon here.

I'm here to congratulate Miss Robin on the upcoming launch of her album, "INSIDE."

I hope that lots of people enjoy her album.

Aside from the three songs that will be first released on May 9th,

there is also a mysterious song that will only be unlocked in Version 2.3.

Let's keep our eyes and ears open for it~

Thank you all for your support!

Today, I brought some demos of the songs

for you to listen to first.

If you like the demos,

feel free to

leave me a comment~

I look forward to seeing you all officially on May 9~

I love it! I absolutely love it!

Can we fast forward to May 9th already?

I'm grateful for all the support!

To accompany the album,

I've prepared a creator invite web event,

which aims to gather lovely melodies from all over the cosmos.

Nice! Okay!

Alright! Now that we've introduced Miss Robin,

the next individual to take the stage is none other... than Boothill.

At the end of Version 2.1,

we heard this mysterious visitor's voice over the phone.

He's currently... *gulp*

on his way over.

Who is this Boothill, and where does he come from?

Glad you asked!

Allow me to introduce him. Boothill is a Galaxy Ranger with a pretty...

unique turn of phrase.

Like "muddle-fudger,

son of a nice lady..."

Ahem!

Aside from being a Galaxy Ranger,

Boothill is also a wild and unpredictable interstellar cowboy

a regular on the IPC's wanted list... Even so, there's talk that he also helped to resolve several serious incidents.

Sounds like he's someone who plays both sides

skirting the line between good and evil.

Precisely!

However, this dangerous gunslinging cowboy

was put in his place at Penacony's Reverie Hotel,

when the front desk told him he couldn't check in.

Galaxy Ranger...

I think I know why he wasn't allowed to stay.

Because Penacony already had another Galaxy Ranger checked in.

Exactly! Talk about an awkward situation.

That's why Boothill decided to visit the Astral Express,

hoping to get some help from the Nameless.

I see

But aren't Dan Heng and Pom-Pom the only ones currently onboard the Express?

Ooooh what's gonna happennnn⁓

*sigh* Owlbert's favorite part of the show is not telling us stuff...

Not true!

Let's take a look at what Boothill can do on the battlefield!

As a cowboy roaming the galaxy,

Boothill has his own combat philosophy.

He targets a single enemy with his Skill, and initiates a duel.

During the duel,

Boothill taunts the enemy,

thereby enhancing his own Basic ATK.

Both parties in the duel suffer increased damage from each other.

Wow, a duel?

I thought that only happened in the movies!

Boothill prefers a straightforward approach to resolving conflicts,

and this is reflected in his Talent.

Every time a duel target is defeated

or their Weakness is broken,

Boothill gains a stackable enhancement.

When Boothill uses his Ultimate,

he inflicts Physical Weakness on the enemy,

deals damage, and delays the target's action.

Such a cinematic Ultimate!

There's even a picture of the enemy on the wanted poster!

Locking onto the target and striking with precision —

— such a dashing cowboy.

Boothill's Technique allows him to

inflict Physical Weakness on the enemy

the first time he uses his Skill after entering combat.

Is this the power of a Galaxy Ranger?

This is the power of beating them at their own game!

Triumphing in duels makes Boothill stronger,

and annihilating enemies leads to an overpowering evolution.

Problems are dispatched in no time.

And by "problems" you mean people who present problems, right?

Meh, same difference.

When you're on every other wanted list,

you've gotta get things done by hook or by crook.

I see... So being a cowboy and all,

does Boothill order milk when he's at the bar?

Huh? Uhh...

I think you've taken the "cow" part too literally, Miss Robin.

Malt juice is more his speed.

But isn't malt juice bad for you?

The IPC's files suggest that

Boothill is prone to augmenting his fighting skills

with invasive mechanical upgrades.

For someone that's 90% machine,

I'd say malt juice is the least of his concerns.

Moving swiftly on. Aside from the two characters we've already introduced,

there's another special guest in Version 2.2 —

— one who's set to give a spectacular performance at the Charmony Festival.

It's the one and only "Harmonious Choir" The Great Septimus!

Uhh... You said they're also performing at the Charmony Festival?

Correct!

...Are we sure they're not aiming to sabotage the festival?

Ahahaha...

Well, that depends on who you're teaming up with!

Good thing our Trailblazer is an adaptable individual!

To ensure the show goes off without a hitch,

I've brought along some detailed intel on "Harmonious Choir" The Great Septimus.

Once in battle,

"Harmonious Choir" The Great Septimus charges

and unleashes Semichorus,

which allows all of its active summons

to inflict damage on a single ally.

In the second phase of battle, after charging up,

The Great Septimus uses Chorus,

dealing damage to all allies.

Plus, all of The Great Septimus' active summons

will also deal extra damage to all allies.

During the second phase, The Great Septimus casts a Shield on themselves,

decreasing the damage they take

and boosting the damage they cause to all allies,

while making their own Toughness impervious to damage.

Th—There isn't a third phase, right...?

In the third phase,

this formidable foe becomes even stronger,

unleashing defense-ignoring attacks

that deal massive damage to all allies...

Ohhh nice~

A challenging adversary indeed.

So, are there any tricks we can use to defeat it?

During battle,

Trailblazers need to quickly target

and break the Weaknesses of The Great Septimus and its summons.

Once all the summons' Weaknesses are broken,

the Great Septimus won't be able to use its Semichorus ability,

and the strength of Chorus will be significantly reduced.

Breaking The Great Septimus' Weakness will also grant a shared Shield to all allies!

Now that I think about it,

this version's promotional artwork gave some pretty strong hints on all this...

I see. It seems that this was meant to be the Charmony Festival's main act all along.

Poor Trailblazers,

did you think you were coming to Penacony for a vacation?

Is this what people mean when they say

"rules are made to be broken"?

Huh, why can't I see a baseball bat?

There's no Flaming Lance either...

just a hat.

Ahaha, what observant guests we have today... We've only covered the basics,

there's much more for Trailblazers to explore and get to grips with!

After completing the Version 2.2 Trailblaze Mission,

"Echo of War: Salutations of Ashen Dreams" will become available.

Complete this challenge to obtain

Boothill's advanced Trace level-up material —

"Lost Echo of the Shared Wish."

Trailblazers in need of new materials should remember

to save up on their weekly Echo of War rewards.

And heads up Trailblazers: Miss Robin's advanced Trace level-up material is

"Past Evils of the Borehole Planet Disaster,"

make sure you don't go chasing the wrong materials!

Next up, we've got banner information for Version 2.2!

In 2.2's first-half Warp Event,

Trailblazers can acquire the limited 5-star character Robin,

as well as the limited 5-star duo "Topaz & Numby."

Not to mention, the drop rates for the

limited 5-star Light Cone "Flowing Nightglow" and limited Light Cone "Worrisome, Blissful"

will be boosted.

In 2.2's second-half Warp Event,

Trailblazers can acquire the limited 5-star character Boothill.

The esteemed Master Diviner Fu Xuan

will also be available in this banner lineup~

At the same time,

the drop rates for the limited 5-star Light Cone "Sailing Towards a Second Life"

and the Light Cone "She Already Shut Her Eyes" will be boosted.

Looks like Boothill is in the middle of another mechanical upgrade...

And it seems like he already shut his eyes too...

Ah —

And I almost forgot to mention, the brand-new 4-star Nihility Light Cone "Boundless Choreo"

will also be included in this Warp.

Is that Acheron dancing with Black Swan?

Their outfits seem totally different this time,

what happened?

Some memories are better left unexplored~

Ahem! Time for a short break. In just a few moments

we'll be introducing Version 2.2's brand-new events~

Welcome back, everyone!

Time to dive straight into Version 2.2's events!

To kick things off, let me introduce "Clockie: Dreamjoy Memoir."

As you may remember,

in the 2.1 storyline,

the screen at Clock Studios Theme Park was split in two.

To restore the park to its former glory,

trailblazers must take on the crucial task of repairing the screen.

But... it wasn't the Trailblazers who broke the screen!

And if I'm not mistaken, the screen wasn't the intended target,

was it, Mr. Aventurine?

Ahem! A-Anyway, the Nameless should be congratulated

on their admirable screen-fixing spirit...

In the Clockie: Dreamjoy Memoir event,

Trailblazers are tasked with directing and editing films.

Films that do well in test screenings will

increase the park's box office revenue and attract investment.

This money will go towards fixing the screen that was damaged.

Can we try filming the whole thing in a single shot?

Miss Robin, I'm afraid

not every actor is cut out for that approach.

As a professional Interastral Peace Media host,

I'm of the opinion that skillful editing can

enhance a film's pace and emotional impact.

In this artistic undertaking,

the key to editing

is the effective use of the Time Dice.

By allocating the Time Dice to different scenes,

it will bring about changes in the audience's emotional responses:

Thrilling, Comedic, or Dramatic.

Each film must achieve certain key objectives to pass the Internal Screening.

As they gain more recognition,

Trailblazers will also have the opportunity to create Commercials.

Plus, they'll have the chance to explore the spin-off stories of supporting characters.

Exactly! Successfully editing a Classic Ending

grants you side character spin-off reels,

thereby revealing their corresponding Extra Stories~

From mixology to directing,

the Trailblazers have once again unlocked new skills in Penacony~

But isn't this

more like editing than directing?

Well, I wouldn't put it that way.

During the editing process,

Trailblazers have the chance to experiment with different plot directions,

and might end up with an ending that's completely different from the original storyline!

Great stories often originate

from notable historic events,

you could even regard movies as a type of visual memory.

Weaving together threads of memories to create one complete tale.

It's quite impressive~

Agreed!

And after finishing the specified missions,

Trailblazers will be rewarded with the event Light Cone,

"For Tomorrow's Journey."

It looks like a story that took place at some point on the Express...

That's Pom-Pom — they're toasting and celebrating with Nameless of the past!

Yesterday's memories still linger,

and while the conductor's companions may have changed,

the trailblaze never ceases.

Moving on,

let's delve into the domain of the Galactic Baseballer!

Funded by Giovanni, "The Legend of the Galactic Baseballer" is set to undergo an exciting round of testing in Version 2.2!

The same Giovanni from Aetherium Wars?

That's right. After the success of Aetherium Wars,

Giovanni has decided to sponsor a brand-new game project in Penacony...

It is said that deep within the vast Cosmos,

the strongest baseball bat lies hidden.

To find this bat,

the Galactic Baseballer decides to leave home,

embarking on an extensive search to locate the treasure.

There are many factions interested in this bat,

and the Galactic Baseballer must endure many challenges

and defeat many foes

in order to progress onward.

It seems that in every battle wave,

the Trailbl— ...the "Galactic Baseballer" —

needs to defeat as many enemies as possible,

gain experience,

and level up their team.

Precisely!

After the team levels up,

they can choose one of three random weapons or accessories.

The weapons help our Baseballer defeat enemies,

while the accessories grant buffs to weapons or characters.

Every weapon has a corresponding resonant Accessory.

My advice is to focus on leveling up weapons first.

After achieving max level with the weapon and if in possession of its resonant Accessory,

the weapon can be leveled up to a "Legendary Weapon,"

which greatly increases the Galactic Baseballer's fighting capabilities.

Complete each planet's challenges,

earn Raccoon Tokens to enhance your fighting skills,

and accumulate Cosmic Reputation which can be exchanged for rewards~

Aww, the little raccoons in this event are so cute,

and each planet has its unique charm.

Just looking at them makes me want to join in the fun~

How about our three guests make a prediction —

will the Galactic Baseballer get their hands on the ultimate baseball bat?

I think the name "Galactic Baseballer"

might be a giveaway...

Hehehe— ahem! Moving on,

our next event is called "All About Boothill..."

Oh? And how exactly

will everything be showcased?

In this segment,

we've adopted a character profile approach!

You won't see Boothill,

but you'll hear