【HSR 4.4】Banner Schedule & Pull Guide | F2P vs. Whales Strategy Matrix

I. HSR 4.4 Complete Banner Schedule

Version Duration: July 15 (after maintenance) – August 22, total of 5 weeks:

Warp Phase	Schedule	Featured 5★ Characters	Featured Light Cones	Key Notes
Whole-Version Warp	July 15 (after update) — Aug 22 (full run)	「Himeko • Nova」(Fire • Erudition)	「When a Star Lights Up the Night Sky」	Available throughout the whole version. No need to rush on day one; plan your resources flexibly.
Phase 1 Reruns	July 15 — August 5	「Sparxie」, 「Dan Heng • Wildfire」, 「Evernight」	Corresponding rerun Light Cones	Regular limited Warps. Consumes Star Rail Special Passes and Stellar Jades; pity/resources are not shared with the crossover Warp.
Fate Crossover Warp	Starts July 24	「Rin Tosaka」(Quantum • Erudition), 「Gilgamesh」(Lightning • Destruction)	Crossover exclusive Light Cones	Independent Warp pool with no carryover pity. Get a crossover 5★ Light Cone of choice for free at 200 pulls.
Phase 2 Reruns	August 5 — August 22	「Cerydra」, 「Anaxa」, 「Aventurine」	Corresponding rerun Light Cones	Late-patch Warp. Prioritize planning for core characters before committing resources here.

II. Character Pull Priority Tier List

1、T0 Highly Recommended for All Players｜Core DPS, Great at E0

1. 「Himeko • Nova」（SP Himeko, New Limited Fire Erudition）

The absolute highlight of Version 4.4, fitting for all account tiers—this patch's must-pull unit.

• Kit Highlights: Grants high team-wide DMG boosts via co-op mechanics, delivers massive AoE bursts with her Ultimate, and excels at both clearing mobs and boss encounters. Easy to build as a budget-friendly anchor for a third endgame team to meet the new three-team content requirements; enjoys special Astral Express faction synergy, fitting into Remembrance, Break, and traditional Fire comps alike.
• Pulling Recommendations:
  • F2P / Newbies (Stellar Jades ≤ 100 pulls): E0 is more than enough. Use Nameless Honor or Simulated Universe 5★ Light Cones instead of chasing her signature.
  • Dolphins (100–200 pulls): E0S1 is the sweet spot. Her signature Light Cone, 「When a Star Lights Up the Night Sky」, dramatically boosts DEF Ignore to overcome high-difficulty bosses.
  • Whales: E2 is a massive power spike, accelerating her stack generation and doubling her overall damage ceiling.
  • Skip If: You already run 3 fully built, max-star endgame teams, have zero need for more Erudition DPS, or simply don't care for her character design.

2. 「Sparxie」（Elation Fire Support, Phase 1 Rerun）

The absolute linchpin of Skill Point-heavy teams. E2 is a major power spike, though she is serviceable at E0.

• Best Comps: Elation-focused Follow-Up Attack (FUA) teams, Silver Wolf Lv999 setups, and high-SP burst rosters. Offers massive team-wide DPS increases and smoother skill rotations.
• Pulling Recommendations:
  • No Sparxie & Lack Elation Supports: Secure E0 to stabilize your roster, and wait for future reruns to aim for E2.
  • Already Have E0 & Maining FUA Comps: Focus on pulling E2, as the extra turn manipulation is her ultimate power spike. Grab her signature Light Cone, 「The Earthly Escapade」, if your budget allows.
  • Solid Rosters with No Interest in FUA/Elation: Skip entirely. E0 is a marginal upgrade for non-synergistic teams, making it not worth the Stellar Jades.

2、T1 Niche & Archetype Upgrades｜Must-Haves for Specific Teams

1. 「Evernight」（Ice Remembrance DPS, Phase 1 Rerun）

The premier DPS engine for Remembrance-based compositions. High value for Remembrance players, but otherwise has low versatility.

• Role Profile: HP-scaling Remembrance DPS relying on Memoria entities to stack Memory Imprints for high DoT/sustained output. Pairs excellently with Xilian to form a Triple-Xi comp, which outpaces traditional Xiadie Remembrance teams; E1 boosts Memoria's independent multipliers, and E2 massively improves Memory Imprint generation.
• Pulling Recommendations: Dedicated Remembrance mains with Xiadie/Xilian should aim for E0S0 to E2S1. Skip entirely if you do not play the Remembrance archetype; she does not perform well as a standalone, non-synergistic carry.

2. 「Rin Tosaka」（Quantum Erudition, Fate Crossover Limited）

A specialized AoE Sub-DPS for Quantum setups. Available for a limited time during the event—highly recommended for Quantum team loyalists.

• Strengths: Applies native Quantum Vulnerability to targets, effectively patching up the lack of AoE in traditional Seele + Silver Wolf Quantum teams. Possesses balanced single-target/multi-target coverage, and can even flex into Break teams. Note that her Energy regeneration can feel sluggish at E0; E4 mitigates this issue.
• Pulling Recommendations: Excellent E0 pickup for established Quantum teams; grab her signature Light Cone, 「Spark of Silence」, if resources permit. For collectors or casual players, pull E0 for the codex entry and skip further Eidolons.

3. 「Aventurine」（Imaginary Preservation, Phase 2 Rerun）

One of the game's finest general-purpose Preservation units. Excels in open-world exploration, Memory of Chaos, and Simulated Universe alike. Highly recommended if you lack premium sustain units.

• Strengths: Offers high-frequency shield refresh, team-wide DMG reduction, and solid personal FUA output, making him a perfect fit for almost any team. Game-changing for newer accounts struggling to survive; E0 is fully functional, with Eidolons mostly boosting his offensive ceilings.
• Pulling Recommendations: Grab E0 immediately if your roster lacks top-tier sustains and your characters often get knocked out. Skip or wait if you already have Fu Xuan or Gepard highly invested.

3、T2 Specific Husbando/Waifu & Whale Flexes｜Low Priority

• 「Dan Heng • Wildfire」: Can be obtained for free through version events. E0 is perfectly fine for daily content; only heavy spenders looking to squeeze out personal damage should chase his Eidolons. F2P players should avoid spending pulls here.
• 「Gilgamesh」 (Crossover): Available as a free 5★ pick. At E0S0, his performance is relatively average. Only recommended for whales with high-investment Saber or Archer lineups who want to push his Eidolons for maximum synergy; average Trailblazers should save their passes.
• 「Cerydra」 & 「Anaxa」 (Phase 2 Rerun): 「Cerydra」 is a Wind Harmony support strictly tailored for Break-specific teams, making her overall versatility quite low. 「Anaxa」 struggles to keep up with the current meta-scaling. Unless they are your absolute favorites, skip both.

III. Pulling Strategy Matrix for All Players

Summary of Version 4.4 Pitfalls

1. Splitting Passes on Crossover Pools: The crossover pool uses a distinct ticket type. F2P players must secure reliable limited DPS units first rather than over-investing in **「Rin Tosaka」** or **「Gilgamesh」**.
2. Recklessly Chasing Low-Value Eidolons: Support units like **「Sparxie」** and niche DPS like **「Evernight」** require E2 for their core mechanics to truly transform. Sinking pulling currency into awkward middle-tier Eidolons (like E1) is a poor use of resources.
3. Prioritizing Reruns over New Limited Units: **「Himeko • Nova」** is uniquely equipped for the new version's three-team endgame requirements, boasting vastly higher versatility than most rerun characters. Make her your top priority.
4. Pulling Niche Units Without Teams: Characters like **「Evernight」** and **「Rin Tosaka」** require highly specific setups. Chasing them without their premium partners will leave them gathering dust in your inventory.