HSR 4.0: The Path of Joy Finally Arrives! Character Analysis of SP Sparkle and Yaoguang

The Mysterious Strategist General "Yaoguang"

As the first 5-star character to debut in the first half of Version 4.0, Yaoguang's setting has been highly discussed since its reveal. Hailing from the Xianzhou Yuque, this "Strategist General" is not only one of the Seven Arbiter-Generals of the Cloud Knights but also possesses the little-known "Wingmaker" lineage— the peacock feather accents at the ends of her hair and the avian elements on her attire are distinct marks of this race. Moreover, the peacock symbol holds the special meaning of "angel" in Wingmaker culture.

In terms of personality, Yaoguang can be called the "mysterious prophet" of the Xianzhou. She has long served as the top military advisor behind the scenes, but upon observing a "great calamity" approaching the Xianzhou through her Hunt Vision, she resolutely ventured alone to the Simulated Universe as "Boss Yao," attempting to change Marshal Hua's fate. This trait of combining wisdom with radicalism sets her apart sharply from traditional Xianzhou military generals.

In terms of positioning, Yaoguang is generally speculated to be a Path of Joy support. Her skill mechanics revolve around the Eight Trigrams Array, combining team buffs and damage-dealing capabilities, perfectly fitting the main storyline of the new Version 4.0 map, the Simulated Universe. Notably, the kaleidoscopic eyes on her character art are the embodiment of the Arbiter-General's blessing, suggesting that her skills may have special effects related to prophecy.

SP Sparkle: Transformed into the Agent of Joy

As the SP form of the familiar Sparkle, "Sparkle" will debut as a Path of Joy DPS in the second half of Version 4.0.

From her character art, Sparkle retains her iconic theatrical style, with the black and white rabbit accessory at her waist adding more agility. Her cyberpunk-style appearance highly matches the absurd atmosphere of the Simulated Universe.

In the storyline, Sparkle's identity is the core of the version—she is the mysterious host of the Simulated Universe game scenario. To find a "scene partner," she personally planned this Aeon game led by Aha, the Aeon of Joy, and may even become Aha's direct agent.

In terms of gameplay, Sparkle's mechanics will be deeply tied to "Skill Points"—the exclusive relic "Paradise @ Live Studio" and curiosity "Winter Fish and Summer Grass" added in Version 3.8 both imply that consuming Skill Points can grant high Crit Damage bonuses. As a Path of Joy DPS, Sparkle will presumably achieve burst damage through efficient Skill Point consumption, forming a complete Path of Joy team with subsequent system characters.

The Path of Joy System: Core Value of the Two Characters

The core highlight of Version 4.0 lies in the official formation of the Path of Joy system. As a Path of Joy support, Yaoguang is expected to provide Skill Point circulation or buffs for the team, paving the way for Sparkle's damage output; while Sparkle will take on the role of main DPS, and the combination of the two may become a strong team composition in the new version.

It should be noted that the current specific skill data of the two characters are still community speculations, and the final positioning and strength are subject to official announcements. However, it is certain that with the launch of the Path of Joy, the gameplay logic centered on Skill Points will completely change the existing team building ideas, bringing pioneers a brand-new strategic experience.

In addition to new characters and systems, content such as the Version 4.0 Simulated Universe map and Aha's storyline are also highly anticipated. Pioneers may wish to hoard Stellar Jades in advance and prepare to embrace the era of Path of Joy~ Are you more looking forward to Yaoguang or Sparkle's debut?

Author Bio

Written by Avery Wilson, a long-time Honkai: Star Rail addict with over 800 hours of gameplay.Mostly plays MoC, occasionally cries over bad artifact rolls.

Contributor at KeyGold.gg, where I write about real gameplay, not hype.

If it’s in my article, I’ve tested it myself — no copy-paste tier lists here.