The universe of the Astral Express continues to expand in thrilling new directions as of 2026. 🚂 The Trailblazer's journey aboard the cosmic train leads them back to the intricate and conflict-ridden Xianzhou Luofu. Having previously navigated the perils of a Stellaron crisis, the crew now faces a different kind of threat—one born from ancient cosmic conflicts. The stage is set for the Xianzhou Wardance, a pivotal confrontation against the formidable borisin. These werewolf-like denizens of Abundance once held dominion, and their resurgence promises to test the mettle of every Pathstrider. Fans worldwide are buzzing with anticipation for the confirmed and rumored content that Version 2.5 will bring to the ever-evolving world of Honkai: Star Rail.

The New Crew: Feixiao, Lingsha, and Moze

The heart of this update lies in its new characters, each bringing unique abilities and deep lore connections to the forefront.

• Feixiao, the 'Merlin's Claw': As the formidable Arbiter-General of the Xianzhou Yaoqing, Feixiao commands the battlefield as a 5-star Wind-type character following The Hunt Path. Her reputation precedes her, and her arrival in the first phase of the version's banners is highly anticipated.

• Lingsha, the Vidyadhara Healer: Hailing from the Alchemy Commission, Lingsha offers a contrasting role. She is a 5-star Fire-type character walking the Path of Abundance, providing crucial healing and support to her allies. She is expected to headline the second phase of the character event warps.

• Moze, the Mysterious Messenger: The enigmatic messenger from the Xianzhou Zhuming joins as a 4-star Lightning-type character on The Hunt Path. His origins and motives are shrouded in mystery, adding another layer of intrigue to the Luofu's complex political landscape.

Accompanying these new faces are strong rumors of beloved characters making a comeback. The genius Dr. Ratio and the memokeeper Black Swan are heavily speculated to have their rerun banners, potentially pairing with Lingsha and Feixiao's releases, respectively. This gives players a chance to strengthen their teams with powerful existing units.

A Story of Returns and Revelations

The narrative of Version 2.5 is poised to deliver shocking twists. Leaks and community speculation point towards major story returns that could reshape players' understanding of past events.

Rumored Return	Context	Potential Impact
Tingyun 🦊	Believed to have perished against Phantylia.	Leaks suggest a reappearance in the main story with a new design, fueling theories of a future 5-star variant.
Silver Wolf 🎮	The galaxy-hopping hacker.	Said to be featured in an upcoming limited-time event, likely bringing her signature brand of digital chaos.

The potential return of Tingyun, in particular, has sent the community into a frenzy. Her fate has been a point of contention since the Luofu arc, and her reappearance would be a monumental story moment.

Gearing Up: New Light Cones and Relics

No new chapter is complete without powerful new tools for the Trailblazer's arsenal. Version 2.5 is rumored to introduce signature Light Cones for the featured characters and new Planar Ornament sets, enabling more specialized and powerful builds.

New Light Cones:

• "I Venture Forth to Hunt" (5-star, The Hunt): Focuses on boosting the wearer's CRIT Rate, perfect for damage dealers like Feixiao.

• "Scent Alone Stays True" (5-star, Abundance): Enhances the wearer's Break Effect, ideal for support characters like Lingsha who want to shield-break.

• "Shadowed by Night" (4-star, The Hunt): A more accessible option that increases Break Effect and SPD.

New Planar Ornament Sets:

• "Wondrous BananAmusement Park": A set that increases the wearer's CRIT DMG, likely obtainable from a new Simulated Universe domain.

• "Lushaka, the Sunken Seas": This set boosts the wearer's Effect RES, providing better protection against debilitating debuffs.

The Adorable New Companion: Tuskpir

One of the most exciting rumors for 2026 is the potential introduction of a pet companion system! 🐾 Leaks point to a creature named Tuskpir, a small, pink tapir that would follow the Trailblazer on their adventures. Its described functionality includes triggering "Combat Scenario Training," though it remains to be seen if Tuskpir will be a permanent companion like a living curio or a temporary story-based ally similar to Peppy. The mere possibility has players dreaming of exploring new worlds with a cute companion by their side.

Challenges Await: Formidable New Bosses

The path to victory will be fraught with danger. Version 2.5 is expected to introduce several daunting boss encounters that will push team compositions to their limit.

1. Borisin Warhead: Hoolay: A direct continuation from the conflicts introduced in Version 2.4, this borisin leader is expected to be a central antagonist in the main story, requiring strategic planning to defeat.

2. Feixiao: Interestingly, the new Arbiter-General herself is rumored to be a boss fight within the story. The reasons for clashing with this powerful ally are yet unknown but promise significant narrative weight.

3. Apocalyptic Shadow Candidates: The challenging endgame mode is likely to cycle in new foes. The Desperate Diceroller (Aventurine's empowered form) and the dreaded Phantylia the Undying are prime candidates to test the might of veteran players' teams.

Rewards for the Journey

As always, HoYoverse prepares a wealth of rewards for dedicated Trailblazers. For free-to-play players, Version 2.5 is rumored to offer a generous bounty of over 10,000 Stellar Jades 💎. These precious resources can be earned through:

• Main Story and Companion Missions

• Various limited-time events

• Daily and weekly training activities

• Exploration and puzzle-solving

This substantial haul will be essential for players aiming to summon the new characters like Feixiao or Lingsha, or to secure a rerun character for their collection. The update promises a perfect blend of gripping narrative, strategic new gameplay options, charming new features, and rewarding challenges, ensuring the Astral Express's journey remains as captivating as ever in 2026.