Honkai: Star Rail Update 4.3 “The Lethe Below the Living” Arrives June 1 With New Story, Mortenax Blade, Events, and Rewards
HoYoverse has officially announced Honkai: Star Rail update 4.3, titled “The Lethe Below the Living,” and it is scheduled to launch on June 1 across all supported platforms. The upcoming version will push the Planarcadia storyline toward a dramatic turning point, introduce the new 5-star Fire character Mortenax Blade, add fresh events, and expand several endgame challenge modes with new rewards.
The centerpiece of Honkai: Star Rail 4.3 is the continuation of the Planarcadia arc. This update will follow both the Trailblazer and Mortenax Blade as they enter the World in Canvas, where they must face the looming threat of Lord Ravager Asat Pramad and the mysterious seal connected to the Aeon of Voracity.
At the heart of the new story is a long-hidden secret buried within Planarcadia. Beyond the beautiful painted realm lies the divine husk of the Aeon known as the Voracity, an ancient being tied to desire and devouring. This discovery becomes central to Blade’s personal journey, as he attempts to use the power of the Voracity to erase the Shuhu flesh inside his body and finally end the curse that has tormented him for ages.
Blade’s gamble is dangerous, and the outcome remains uncertain. Whether his choice leads to death, rebirth, or something even more unexpected is not yet written in Elio’s script. Players will witness this decisive moment through the eyes of the Trailblazer as the story unfolds.
The Trailblazer will also travel to Inkford Hermitage, a place that stands between the living world and the World in Canvas. Their mission is to warn Graphia about the threat posed by Asat Pramad. Graphia, known as the “Mother of Imagenesis,” is an ancestor of the Murata family and has existed for a thousand years.
Graphia’s role in the new update may be especially important for players invested in Honkai: Star Rail lore. Long ago, during Amber Era 2148, she used her brush to preserve Ahatopia within a canvas and defend it from the Demons From Beyond. However, this act came at a heavy cost, placing the “Weathering Curse” upon future generations of the Murata family.
With Graphia finally making her major appearance, update 4.3 may reveal new information about the Graphia family, Phantasmoon Games, and the mysteries surrounding Himeko. For lore-focused players, “The Lethe Below the Living” looks set to be one of the most important story updates yet.
Mortenax Blade will make his playable debut in Honkai: Star Rail 4.3 as a 5-star Fire-Type character following the Path of Nihility. Known as a swordsman once afflicted by mara, Blade eventually joined the Stellaron Hunters and spent years waiting for the death foretold in the script. In this new version, his destiny appears to reach a major turning point.
In battle, Mortenax Blade focuses on applying pressure through debuffs, enhanced attacks, and a powerful combat field. His Ultimate, “Fornax Ex Corpore,” creates a special Bounded Field and places him in an enhanced state. While the field is active, enemies take increased damage, making him a valuable damage amplifier for many team compositions.
Once enhanced, Mortenax Blade unlocks a special Skill that uses a Sword Formation to deal even more damage. He also gains access to a stronger Ultimate, giving him higher offensive potential as combat continues. In addition, whenever an ally attacks an enemy, they apply a debuff and build Charge for Mortenax Blade. When this Charge reaches full capacity, he automatically uses his Skill and recovers extra Energy.
This kit suggests that Mortenax Blade could work well in teams that attack frequently and benefit from enemy debuffs. His combination of Fire damage, Nihility mechanics, automatic follow-up-style skill activation, and teamwide damage support may make him one of the standout characters of version 4.3.
To celebrate his debut, the “Gift of Tempered Blade” event will go live alongside the update. Players who obtain Mortenax Blade through Warps will be able to claim a new Trailblaze Outfit piece called “Karmic Fire of the Distant Shore” at no extra cost.
The update will also include limited character reruns. Yao Guang will return during the first half of the version’s Warps, while Cyrene and Phainon will appear again in the second half. Players planning their Stellar Jade spending may want to prepare ahead, as version 4.3 offers several notable banners.
Honkai: Star Rail 4.3 will also introduce the “Wispae Amusement Park” event inside the World in Canvas. In this event, the IPC opens a new amusement park, and the Trailblazer takes on the role of “Chief Planner.” Players will design visitor routes, place amusement rides in themed zones, and attract wispae guests to enjoy the park.
For players who enjoy endgame challenges, version 4.3 adds a new “Starward Mode” to Memory of Chaos, Pure Fiction, and Apocalyptic Shadow. This mode requires players to create three separate teams and clear three different stages. Fully clearing each mode with all stars grants an extra 100 Stellar Jades per phase, for a total of 300 additional Stellar Jades across all three challenge types.
Beyond in-game content, Honkai: Star Rail has announced a collaboration with UGREEN. Special merchandise and online and offline events are planned for multiple countries and regions, with more information expected later.
HoYoverse also teased that the Holy Grail War will ignite again this summer, suggesting more major announcements are on the way.
Honkai: Star Rail is currently available on PC, iOS, Android, and PlayStation 5. Update 4.3 “The Lethe Below the Living” launches June 1, bringing a major Planarcadia story chapter, the debut of Mortenax Blade, new events, rerun banners, expanded challenge rewards, and more reasons for players to return to the Astral Express.
