Lore FAQ for Honkai: Star Rail
The FAQ will be updated as new questions and answers are received. There may be various spoilers.
This FAQ is dedicated exclusively to H:SR and will minimally mention other games where it is needed.
If you are willing to know common terminology, feel free to read thesaurus.
Special thanks to AgentKsk for assistance.
- Lore FAQ for Honkai: Star Rail
- Common questions
- Do I need to play other games by MiHoYo to understand H:SR?
- Are all miHoYo games connected with each other?
- What do you mean by «different Worlds»?
- What is the Imaginary Tree?
- Why is there Honkai in the game's name?
- What is Honkai?
- Are the Astral Express and Cosmic Juggernaut the same train?
- What is the Sea of Quanta?
- Is the Aeon of Finality somehow connected with the Herrscher of Finality?
- Were the Stellarons really created by Nanook?
- What is Mara?
- Are the characters' game paths related to their actual ones?
- Is the Fate Atlas based on chronological order?
- What is the Spiritual Adam Welt is talking about to Acheron and who is the person associated with it?
- About characters
- Why Welt came to H:SR?
- Who is Elio?
- Who is Sam?
- Who is Welt and who are the other characters on his splash-art?
- Why are some characters similar to each other? Are they the same people?
- Who is Welt's blond companion? Is it Luocha?
- Will Himeko die?
- Is Tingyun dead?
- Are Robin, Sunday and Aventurine really dead?
- Is Acheron from H:SR related to Raiden Mei from HI3?
- Common questions
Common questions
Do I need to play other games by MiHoYo to understand H:SR?
No. The story is written keeping in mind that most players will not be familiar with most of the terms from other games. However, some terms may overlap one way or another, and therefore they will try to explain everything that they think should be explained.
However, if you want to dive into lore and learn more about Welt Yang and his blonde companion, you can always play HI3rd and read a manga/visual novel for a better understanding of the characters.
Are all miHoYo games connected with each other?
Not really. They all take place in the same Multiverse, but in different Universes. However, the stories in HI3rd, H:SR and GI games take place in different Worlds of the same Universe.
Evidence of H:SR being part of one Universe with HI3: Welt Character Story and his Lighcone
Evidence of GI being part of one Universe with HI3: V4.2 Battlesuit [Fallen Rosemary] Trailer - Honkai Impact 3rd
It is currently unknown to which Universe ToT, HG2 and ZZZ belong to.
If you wish to expand your knowledge about Universe, you can read more in the thesaurus.
What do you mean by «different Worlds»?
There are many Parallel Worlds within Imaginary Tree. Worlds vary in size and can be either a single planet or an entire galaxy.
According to MWI of Quantum Mechanics:
The world is a collection of macroscopic objects: stars, cities, people, grains of sand, etc. in a certain, classically described state.
What is the Imaginary Tree?
The Imaginary Tree is a theoretical visual interpretation of the structure of the Universe. Its leaves are the Worlds between which the Astral Express travels.
Why is there Honkai in the game's name?
At the moment, it is impossible to answer this question precisely. One can only assume that it is most likely due to the fact that two characters from HI3rd participate in H:SR - Welt Yang and Void Archives. Honkai itself is not present in the game.
What is Honkai?
It is an imaginary energy that serves as a corrective mechanism. The worlds destroyed by Honkai turn into data and "fall" into the Sea of Quanta.
If you wish to know more about what is Honkai, you can read information about it in thesaurus.
Looking ahead a bit: in the HI3rd World, Honkai has been usurped by the Cocoon of Finality and does not fulfill its corrective function.
If you need to clarify something about any of these two games, please contact the lore nerds mainly on the official discord server H:SR or HI3rd.
Are the Astral Express and Cosmic Juggernaut the same train?
Someone may confuse them due to the fact that these are two trains that are capable of moving in space. However, not only their creators differ, but also the ways of traveling, as well as other functions, too.
Astral Express was created by Akivili to travel between different Worlds of the Imaginary Tree, while Cosmic Juggernaut was created by scientists of the organization fighting Honkai in the HI3rd World.
Using Comic Juggernaut, one can travel between Bubble Worlds in Sea of Quanta, as well as observing them. One can also create a Bubble World, using Comic Juggernaut.
What is a Cosmic Juggernaut?
It is a Divine Key created from the Core of the Herrscher of the Void. The Key resembles a huge locomotive. It is a device for moving through the Sea of Quanta and Bubble Worlds. With it's help one can observe Bubble Worlds and Proper Worlds.
What is the Sea of Quanta?
The Sea of Quanta is not a real sea, does not belong to any particular World and does not consist of liquid water. It is filled with Ether - a special medium that fills the world space. Bubble Worlds are born in it.
— Visual novel Durandal; Schrödinger about SoQ in Chinese
If you wish to know more about it, you can read more information in thesaurus.
And Bubble Worlds are..?
In short, these are reflections of the Worlds of the Imaginary Tree. The further the Bubble World is located from the original one, the less similarities there are between them.
Is the Aeon of Finality somehow connected with the Herrscher of Finality?
This question arises because of their similar names in English localization, but in Chinese their names are different:
终末 used for the title of the Aeon of Finality, means finality/final.
末王王 is used as the name of the Aeon of Terminus, meaning the end.
终焉 used for the title of Herrscher of Finality. Means the end/final.
In addition, they are two different entities with different goals.
Terminus moves backward in time and presides over the Path of Finality. The apparition travels across the universe while murmuring a prophecy that is destined to be fulfilled.
Herrscher of Finality is born from Cocoon of Finality in order to determine whether civilization is ready to become a single being. If not, the HoFin erases 50000 years to start a new cycle.
Were the Stellarons really created by Nanook?
At the moment, it is unknown who is the creator of the Stellarons, but the characters assume that the Aeon of Destruction Nanook is behind it. It cannot be said that this does not seem to be true, because often creation and destruction go hand in hand. And creating something for the purpose of bringing destruction does not contradict the Path of Destruction.
What is Mara?
This is the curse that is generated in immortals who received their immortality from Yaoshi. It is the result of the accumulation of bad memories over many years, leading to more volatile emotional states and eventual loss of self.
Are the characters' game paths related to their actual ones?
Not always. Game Paths are primarily the mechanics of the game and it does not have to reflect lore. So, for example, Serval has a Path of Erudition in the game, when all the belobogians follow the Path of Preservation.
Is the Fate Atlas based on chronological order?
No.
What is the Spiritual Adam Welt is talking about to Acheron and who is the person associated with it?
Spiritual Adam is part of Project STIGMA. Project STIGMA puts all humans' to sleep and using Hare's power of [Dream Catching] it merges ordinary humans with their stigma space where their dreams are shared with one another to create a perpetual cycling perfect day of their wishes, which led to the creation of Spiritual Adam.
This project is associated with Kevin Kaslana, since it was his last mission.
About characters
Why Welt came to H:SR?
His home planet was threatened by interstellar pirates, the Sky People. After learning that they have set their sights on other Worlds, Welt becomes eager to go to other Worlds and save them. And also to prevent the threat from a more advanced civilization that would engulf the Sky People.
— Alien Space manga in Chinese.
However, he got here by accident, having passed through the Stargate with Void Archives, not knowing where he would end up.
— Welt's description from the official website + APHO in HI3
Who is Elio?
He is the leader of the Stellaron Hunter who is able to see endless variations of the future. He uses his abilities to guide the Stellaron Hunters to their desired future.
— Loading screen about Elio.
Who is Sam?
One of the Stellaron Hunters.
The Molten Knight, Sam, is reportedly a remnant of Glamoth's Iron Cavalry - a genetically engineered warrior. He possesses superhuman perception and acts decisively - he'll leave no margin for error. This individual is every bit as dangerous as Kafka and Blade.
— Welt during Penacony story
Who is Welt and who are the other characters on his splash-art?
Why are some characters similar to each other? Are they the same people?
Some characters may be similar to each other, because the imaginary energy contains information about all the Worlds, and one way or another, characters who are similar to each other appear in different Worlds. But they are still different people.
This was mentioned by Welt Yang in Luocha's Companion Mission:
Who is Welt's blond companion? Is it Luocha?
His blond companion is Void Archives, you can read more about him here.
Although they do look similar, they are two different characters. In Luocha's Companion Mission, Welt confirms that.
Will Himeko die?
Such information is unknown at the moment. It is impossible to say what plans the writers have for Himeko and her future fate.
For those who don't know: a similar question arises because of the false idea that all Himeko in the games by MiHoYo died. In reality, Himeko only died in HI3rd.
Is Tingyun dead?
No, she is alive.
Are Robin, Sunday and Aventurine really dead?
No. People who were killed are actually thrown out of the borders woven by the family into the treacherous part of the dream where the watchmaker's legacy is located.
Is Acheron from H:SR related to Raiden Mei from HI3?
No. "Mei" we see with horns is not Acheron herself but "someone" related to Acheron. Shaoji, Honkai series story writer, said it during the live :
"In the trailer for version 2.1, there are a lot of scenes that will definitely catch our players attentions, including the scene where there is a girl who looks like Acheron but has horns on her head and seems to have strong connection to Acheron's past. Those horns might ring a bell too for fans of the Honkai series.
But let me remind you, take a closer look. Those horns are actually different.
And, if you happen to, for example, have played Honkai Impact 3rd, then you might uncover the little surprises we prepared for you that might make you experience familiarity or nostalgia with a knowing smile."
—Shaoji during Version 2.1 Livestream