Honkai: Star Rail is a gacha game, so you can’t really know which characters you will obtain in the game with Warps. Players that don’t want to spend money on this title have limited chances to get new characters using the Warp system, as their drop rate is not the highest. However, Honkai: Star Rail features eight free characters that can be obtained without paying anything by simply playing the game and progressing with the story.
Once unlocked, these free Honkai: Star Rail characters will be permanently added to your rooster. Most of them have good statistics and skills, so you will be able to build a balanced party without investing in Warps. You can check how to get them in this guide.
Honkai: Star Rail: free characters list
- Trailblazer – Adaptive (5-star)
- March 7th – The Preservation; Ice (4-star)
- Dan Heng – The Hunt; Wind (4-star)
- Asta – The Harmony; Fire (4-star)
- Serval – The Erudition; Lightning (4-star)
- Herta – The Erudition; Ice (4-star)
- Natasha – The Abundance; Physical (4-star)
- Qingque – The Erudition; Quantum (4-star)
Trailblazer
The Trailblazer is the first permanent character you obtain in the game and is the only 5-star free character in Honkai: Star Rail. When you unlock it, you can choose their gender and name. At the beginning of the game, they follow the path of Destruction and deal Physical damage. Later on, precisely as you approach the end of the Jarilo-VI storyline, you will unlock the Preservation path with Fire damage. The Trailblazer is a solid option for your team, especially at the beginning of the game, because they deal a fair amount of damage.
March 7th
Match 7th is unlocked quite early in the game, during the prologue. She is a valid support character, and her Skill provides a shield to an ally for three turns. She managed to obtain quite a good spot in our Honkai: Star Rail tier list, testifying to her excellent qualities in battle.
Dan Heng
You’ll unlock Dan Heng alongside March 7th during the game’s prologue aboard the Herta Space Station, and he will join your party. He can deal Wind damage to enemies and temporarily reduce the opponent’s speed, making a good addition to your team.
Asta
During the prologue, you will get introduced to the Warp system with a brief tutorial. You will obtain Asta as a guaranteed character by completing it, and she will permanently join your party. She is a good support, able to increase her allies’ speed and attack stats.
Serval
You will unlock your in-game Mailbox after completing the “A Moment of Peace” main story mission during the prologue, and that’s when you will get Serval. She has been gifted to all Honkai: Star Rail players for reaching a high number of pre-registrations. You do not need to have pre-registered for the game; you will receive Serval regardless once you get to this point in the story. Serval is a good DPS, great against enemies weak to Lightning.
Herta
You will meet Herta for the first time during the prologue, and she will join your party shortly after. In fact, you will get her after completing the first Simulated Universe mission. She mainly deals AoE damage, but her attack stats are not the highest.
Natasha
Natasha appears for the first time during the Jarilo-VI storyline, and you will unlock her soon afterward. She is a good healer and a solid option if you don’t want to rely on the gacha system. She can heal a single ally using her Skill or the whole team with her Ultimate.
Qingque
Unlike the other characters in this guide, you will get this free character quite late in the game. You will unlock her after reaching the Trailblaze Level 21 and clearing the Forgotten Hall – Memory Stage 3. She is a valid DPS and will make a good addition to your party.
Can you obtain other free characters in Honkai: Star Rail?
You can get every Honkai: Star Rail character for free if you are lucky enough, at least theoretically. However, players that don’t spend money on the game won’t unlock the entire roster anytime soon. More than 20 characters are available in the game, and the number will grow in the following months with new additions. The gacha system is unpredictable, and you could get duplicates as well as the character you wanted with a Warp. Most times, however, you will get Light Cones.
Every banner, either permanent or limited, indicates the number of Warps within which a character is guaranteed. For example, a 5-star character is guaranteed within 50 Warps with the Departure Warp. The best way to get new Warps for free is to exchange Stellar Jade for them. You can get it by completing missions, leveling up and talking to Pom-Pom, and completing your Daily Training activities. There are also some Honkai: Star Rail codes to redeem, which might reward you with Stellar Jade. New codes are out periodically, so you’d better keep an eye out for new ones. And if you need additional help with the game, check out our Honkai: Star Rail beginner’s guide.
