Trailblazers face a tough choice with Honkai Star Rail’s version 3.7 second phase banners now live. With three powerful 5-star characters—Phainon, Cipher, and Mydei—competing for your precious Stellar Jade, making the right decision can significantly impact your endgame performance. Let’s break down who deserves your pulls.
Table of Contents
Honkai Star Rail 3.7 Second Phase Characters Overview
| Character | Path | Element | Role | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phainon | Destruction | Physical | DPS | S+ |
| Cipher | Nihility | Quantum | Debuffer/Sub-DPS | A+ |
| Mydei | Destruction | Imaginary | DPS | A |
| Banner Type | Rerun Selection | – | – | – |
| Duration | Second Half v3.7 | – | – | – |
The Clear Winner: Phainon
For most accounts, Phainon should be your top priority during this banner phase. Since his debut, this Chrysos Heir has established himself as one of the game’s most meta-defining DPS characters, rivaling even premium damage dealers.
Why Phainon Dominates:
His unique ultimate mechanic transforms combat dynamics. When activated, Phainon enters a specialized territory where he unleashes devastating Physical damage while simultaneously making all enemies vulnerable to Physical attacks—regardless of their natural weaknesses. This flexibility makes him invaluable across Memory of Chaos, Apocalyptic Shadow, and Pure Fiction.
If you recently pulled Cyrene but lack her optimal team composition, Phainon becomes even more essential. Their synergy creates one of the strongest damage-dealing combinations in version 3.7. According to HoYoverse’s official site, Phainon’s versatility positions him as a future-proof investment.
For more Honkai Star Rail guides and meta analysis, visit TechnoSports’ gaming section.
Alternative Options: Cipher and Mydei
Cipher (Quantum Nihility): If you already own top-tier Physical DPS characters, Cipher presents compelling value. Her kit combines respectable damage output with enemy DEF reduction, making her an excellent enabler for hyper-carry teams. She shines particularly in Quantum-weak scenarios and provides consistent debuffing support.
Mydei (Imaginary Destruction): While solid, Mydei occupies a crowded space in the Imaginary DPS department. His immunity to crowd control debuffs offers niche advantages in specific encounters, but he doesn’t revolutionize team compositions like Phainon does. Consider him only if you desperately need Imaginary coverage.
Resource Management Strategy
With limited Stellar Jade and Star Rail Special Passes, prioritization is critical. Here’s the recommended pull order:
- Must Pull: Phainon (universal value, future-proof)
- Conditional Pull: Cipher (if lacking debuff support)
- Skip/Low Priority: Mydei (replaceable with other Imaginary options)
Remember, the banner features a selection system—choose your desired character before pulling to avoid disappointment. For detailed character builds and team compositions, check out TechnoSports.
How to Maximize Your Pulls
Farm Stellar Jade: Complete all available events, exploration rewards, and daily missions during version 3.7 to maximize your pull currency. The second phase typically runs for 2-3 weeks, giving you time to accumulate resources.
Check Pity Status: Review your current pity count before committing. If you’re close to soft pity (70+ pulls) or guaranteed featured character (180 pulls), plan accordingly.
Consider Light Cones: Factor in signature Light Cone pulls if your budget allows. Phainon’s signature weapon significantly amplifies his damage potential, though he remains powerful with 4-star alternatives.
Team Synergy: Evaluate your current roster. Pulling for meta characters that don’t synergize with your existing teams wastes resources. Phainon’s universal compatibility minimizes this risk.
How to Access the Banners
In-Game: Launch Honkai Star Rail and navigate to the Warp menu. The second phase banners are located in the “Event Warp” section with a character selection interface.
Download: If you haven’t installed Honkai Star Rail yet, download it from the official HoYoverse website, App Store, Google Play Store, or Epic Games Store for PC.
Account Preparation: Ensure you’ve completed the required story progression to unlock banner access. New players must reach Adventure Level requirements before participating in limited-time warps.
Banner Duration: Check in-game timers for exact end dates. Second phase banners typically conclude before version 3.8 launches.
For real-time banner updates and gacha strategies, bookmark TechnoSports.
FAQs
Is Phainon worth pulling if I already have strong Physical DPS characters?
Yes, Phainon remains worth pulling even with existing Physical DPS units. His unique ability to inflict Physical weakness on all enemies makes him universally applicable regardless of enemy lineups. He essentially creates his own meta, functioning effectively where traditional Physical DPS characters struggle against non-weak enemies.
Should I pull for Cipher or save for future banners?
Save your resources unless you specifically lack debuff support or Quantum damage dealers. Cipher is strong but not essential for most accounts. With version 3.8 approaching, conserving Stellar Jade for potentially game-changing characters might prove wiser, especially if you’ve already secured Phainon.
