Like most gacha games, Honkai Star Rail has a majority of its character roster locked behind Banners, or Warps as they’re called here. That means you’ll have to pull them and hope the odds are in your favor to get the character you want. Thankfully, you can put together a couple of teams’ worth without needing to test your luck. We explain how to get all of the free characters in Honkai Star Rail.
How to Get All of the Free Characters in Honkai Star Rail
The Trailblazer
The Trailblazer is the protagonist that the story revolves around. You don’t have to use this character and are free to swap them with anyone else you unlock, but they’ll still pop in for any dialogue moments as well as any cutscenes. Their type is Physical, and their path is Destruction.
They’re unlocked right after the combat tutorial. You’ll have to make a choice between two versions as well as provide a name for them. They’re canonically named Stelle and Caelus, but you’re free to name them as you’d like. If you’re curious about which one to choose, we can help with this selection guide.
March 7th
Screenshot by GameSkinny
March 7th is a member of the Astral Express, and if you’ve seen any marketing for Honkai Star Rail at all, you’re sure to recognize her. She’s a free support character who can use her bow to freeze enemies. Her type is Ice, and her path is Preservation.
It’s impossible to miss her since she’s introduced very soon after the Trailblazer is. The latter doesn’t even get a chance to fight without her, so they effectively become playable at the same time.
Dan Heng
Screenshot by GameSkinny
Another member of the Astral Express that you’ll meet early on is Dan Heng. Unlike the previous two characters, all of his attacks are single-target only. His type is Wind, and his path is The Hunt.
Although Dan Heng is introduced along with March 7th, he doesn’t join the party just yet. You’ll need to go through a few battles as you walk through the Herta Space Station. Once you encounter a non-functioning elevator, he’ll appear and join the party.
Asta
Screenshot by GameSkinny
Coming in a little bit later is Asta, the lead astronomy researcher who manages the Herta Space Station. She’s a support who buffs allies. Her type is Fire, and her path is Harmony.
This is another free character you can’t miss since soon after meeting her, you’ll be thrown into a tutorial for the Warps gacha system. You’ll need to try out one, and she’s the guaranteed pull.
Serval
Screenshot by GameSkinny
The next available character is Serval, who could possibly be a limited-time offer. She uses electric attacks to hit multiple enemies at once. Her type is Lightning, and her path is Erudition.
Serval is a character that’s free to claim from a message in your mailbox, along with other rewards from the pre-registration campaign, HSR codes, and Twitch Drops. Although an end date has not been provided for these rewards, the mail does only last a year. It’s probably best to check the game out soon and add her to your team.
Herta
Screenshot by GameSkinny
Coming back to characters you can’t miss, we have Herta. She’s also focused on hitting multiple enemies and can buff herself. Her type is Ice, and her path is Erudition.
Herta is mentioned plenty at first, especially because you’re on a space station named after her. Soon after she’s been seen for the first time, you’ll have to enter her Simulated Universe as part of the Trailblaze Mission “Simulated Universe: First Closed Beta.” She’ll be unlocked after completing it.
Natasha
Screenshot by GameSkinny
This is another free character that you’ll be unlocking eventually. Natasha is a doctor in Belobog, and keeping with her own lore, she plays a healer role. Her type is Physical, and her path is Abundance.
Natasha will be unlocked as you complete quests on the planet Jarilo-VI. To be more exact, she’s unlocked after completing the Trailblaze Mission “Lying in Rust.“
Qingque
Screenshot by GameSkinny
Rounding out the free characters is Qingque, although it might be a while until you unlock her. She’s the only free character to have the Quantum type, while her path is Erudition.
Qingque is unlocked through the Forgotten Hall game mode, which challenges players with tough battles. You’ll need to have reached a Trailblaze Level of 21 and then clear Forgotten Hall – Memory Stage 3 to unlock her.
There could be more permanent or limited-time free characters added in the future, but for now, these are all the free characters to unlock in Honkai Star Rail. For other burning questions you may have on your space train adventure, including every character’s skills and ultimates, check out our Honkai Star Rail guides.
Featured image by GameSkinny.
