Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide

The new endgame mode, Apocalyptic Shadow, is coming to Honkai: Star Rail, starting with version 2.3. Here’s everything you need to know about this mode.

Honkai: Star Rail introduced a new permanent game mode during the 2.3 livestream of the game called the Apocalyptic Shadow. This guide delves into the Apocalyptic Shadow, a challenging game mode introduced in the Version 2.3 update. We’ll cover everything you need to know, from participation requirements to gameplay mechanics and rewards.

Apocalyptic Shadow Overview

Apocalyptic Shadow is a high-difficulty mode where players face off against powerful materializations of bosses encountered in previous battles. This mode tests your strategic prowess and combat skills, offering substantial rewards for those who succeed. Dr. Edward has struck a deal with a member of the mysterious Creed Exequy, seeking traces of the shapeless prince in your deadly struggles.

This game mode will be permanently available starting version 2.3.

• Equilibrium Level: Players must be at Equilibrium Level 3 or above.
• Early Access: This mode can be experienced in advance through the Finality’s Vision function.

Gameplay Mechanics

• Materializations: Each phase introduces two boss materializations with unique core traits and increasing difficulty.
• Structure: Each phase of Apocalyptic Shadow features two bosses, presented across four difficulties.
• Boss Core Traits: Each boss has unique core traits that affect their behavior and strategies for defeating them. The Core Traits are the key to defeating the boss.
• Consultation: Players can consult the Boss Guides before and during battles for strategic insights. This guide provides tips and tactics for overcoming each boss’s specific traits. This can be seen at the upper right of your screen.
• Victory Conditions: To clear a difficulty, players must defeat both bosses. Points are awarded based on the percentage of the boss’s remaining HP and the remaining action value.
• Refresh Cycle: Bosses and rewards are regularly updated.

• Ruinous Embers: Each period introduces unique stage effects that impact the current battle phase. These effects vary and add a layer of strategy to each fight.
• Finality’s Axiom Buffs: Players can select buffs for their team before challenging a boss. These buffs are updated with each new phase, providing different strategic options.

• Action Value Timers: Points are deducted based on actions taken by allies and enemies. Managing these timers efficiently is crucial for maximizing points.
• Calculation Factors: Final points depend on the boss’s remaining HP and the action value left at the end of the battle. Higher HP and action values yield more points.
• Node Challenges: Each difficulty level consists of two battles (Node 1 and Node 2). Your final points are the sum of points earned in both nodes.

• Team Recording: The team composition is recorded for future attempts upon stage completion.
• Restrictions: Team members, Light Cones, and Relics cannot be changed when retrying a node, though their levels and stats will update to the latest state.
• Replace Lineup: Players can re-edit their team lineup before retrying nodes, resetting the points for those nodes but preserving the historical record.

• Highest Difficulty Record: The highest difficulty passed with three stars is recorded.
• Immediate Unlocks: Upon a new period start, past difficulties cleared with 3-stars are immediately unlocked.
• Direct Challenges: Players can directly challenge the highest recorded difficulty to receive all prior rewards.

Schedule

The first Apocalyptic Shadow on 2.3 will start on June 18, 2024 (UTC-5), when version 2.3 drops and it will run until August 5, 2024 4:00 AM (Server time).