How many free Star Jade does the 3rd anniversary of HSR actually give in 2026?
The short answer: At least 2,400 + Star jade from confirmed sources onlyThis is equivalent to about 15 spins only through in-game mail and login. Below is a detailed analysis of all sources.
Confirmed sources of free awards
| Source: | Award | Equivalent to jump |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance to the game "Holiday Gifts"(7 days) | 20 Special Star Trek Misses | 20 jump |
| Letter to "Those Who Lead the Way"(April 26) | 1600 Star Jade +10 Fuel | ~ 10 jumps |
| Web event "Space data roaming" | Up to 800 Star Jade | ~ 5 jump |
| Promocodes (3 active prior to launch) | ~ 300 NOs each/~ 900 NOs total | ~ 5 - 6 jumps |
| Annual Pioneer Report Event | 180 SN + Fuel | 1 jump |
| The "Akhi's Chosen" event | Up to 11 attempts (ZN + materials) | Variable Value |
The overall total calculated by the community for the entire patch: 117 - 120 + cool. This figure includes standard event missions, weekly Virtual Universe awards and the passage of Pure Fiction/Apocalyptic Shadow-not just exclusive anniversary sources.
Web event is where most players lose jade
Having tracked all Star Jade sources during the 1st and 2nd anniversaries of HSR, I found that players who completed web events in the first 48 hours consistently received 200 - 400 more jade than those who waited. phazami - If you skip the early phase window, you won't get retroactive rewards. Go through HoYoLAB, link your HoYo account and complete tasks. This takes less than 10 minutes per phase. Don't miss your chance.
Promocodes: fast money, fast expiration date
Three codes were confirmed as active before the launch after the April 10th stream. Activate them on the site hsr.hoyoverse.com/gift Immediately-usually expire within 12 - 24 hours of the announcement. Each of them gives approximately 300 Zs, so all three together is about 6 cool. Community testing confirms that there are no massive failures with delivery of 3rd anniversary awards, so if the code does not work, first check its validity before sending the error report through the in-game menu.
Will Honkai: Star Rail give you a free 5-star character for its 3rd anniversary?
Yes, it's officially confirmed. Gold Spirit of the Satellite can be exchanged for either Х о ho, or at З а р я а н к уThis offer is one of HoYoverse's most generous 5-star character gifts. You get a token by completing the Mastering 4.2 mission and then exchange it in a time-limited store.
Comparison of anniversaries awards by year
| Anniversaries | Free pass | Free ZK (mail) | Free choice of 5-star character | CC for web event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st anniversary | ~ 10 missed | ~ 800 LC | Yes (Limited List) | ~ 400 LC |
| 2nd anniversary | 20 missed | 1,600 LC | Yes | ~ 600 LC |
| 3rd anniversary | 20 missed | 1,600 LC | Yes (Hoho/Zaryanka) | Up to 800 ZK |
The 2nd and 3rd anniversaries are structurally identical in terms of major mail and entry awards-HoYoverse has not cut anything. Limit of Web Events (increased from ~ 600 to 800 ZN) and Quality of the selectorHoho and Zarianka are actual meta characters, not outdated heroes who are quietly taken out of the game.
Which character to choose?
The opinion of the community is unanimous, and I agree with it:
- З а р я н к а - The best choice for teams on bonus attacks; its action promotion and buffs attack forces perform perfectly in endgame content.
- Х о ho - The top character of Abundance, simultaneously heals and restores energy; indispensable if your roster lacks a reliable healer.
Choose based on who is missing in your roster. If you play through bonus attacks (Feixiao, Topaz, etc.), Zaryanka is the obvious choice. If you die in Hall of Forgetfulness or Apocalyptic Shadow, Hoho will close that gap. In my experience, F2P accounts more often require survival-Zaryanka is easier to replace with 4-star characters, and Hoho is much more difficult.
Is the 3rd anniversary of HSR more generous than previous ones?
The basic package (20 passes +1600 ZN + free 5-star character) exactly matches the 2nd anniversary, which itself was a significant improvement over the first year. What makes the third year better is this Quality of Characters in the Selector and Extended Web EventNot structural processing.
The community response was positive. The awards were better than observers expected, suggesting HoYoverse could shorten the list of available characters. Instead, Hoho and Zarianka were included-both characters came out after release and are still relevant in the meta.
Especially for returning players: 120 + cool in one patch is a good reason to come back. If you've been absent from version 3.x, you've also accumulated the Energy of Mastering, and you may have missed the weekly Virtual Universe rewards that are reset-log in early to start the timer. Only a free 5-star selector closes a gap in the roster that could have taken months of savings to fix.
If you're thinking about replenishing your account to guarantee you get a character on the banner, you should pay attention to the Best offers for Honkai: Star Rail 2026. - Especially considering that the first replenishment bonus is reset after the 4.2 update, which makes early donations in the patch especially profitable.
How to pick up all the awards of the 3rd anniversary of HSR 2026 and not miss anything?
Here is a priority order of action, ranked by the speed of expiration, not by the size of the reward.
Step 1-Join the game daily starting April 22 (expires after 7 days) Open the Events tab → Holiday Gifts. The 7-day entry runs on a strict timer from the moment you first receive the award. Skip the first day and you will forever lose one pass. This is the highest priority action in the entire anniversary window.
Step 2-Get the April 26 letter immediately The "To Those Who Burn" letter contains 1600 ZN +10 Fuel on the anniversary day. Check the in-game mail on April 26. Fuel will be useful to restore the Energy of Development during the bonus farm relics (during the anniversary triple awards confirmed).
Step 3-Complete the web event within 48 hours of each phase Access through HoYoLAB → Link HoYo account → Complete Tasks. Each phase has its own window. Don't put everything off until the end-you'll miss the early phases.
Step 4-Activate the codes immediately after the April 10th stream Go to hsr.hoyoverse.com/gift, enter each code, confirm in the game. Codes from the stream expire quickly. If you miss the stream, check HoYoLAB and official social networks HSR-codes are always published there within minutes.
Step 5-Complete the Mastering Mission Version 4.2 to unlock the selector token The Golden Spirit of the Satellite token is issued only after the plot is completed. Do not delay it if you want Hoho or Zaryanka-the exchange window will close along with the patch.
Step 6-Decide on Banner Strategy Before You Spend Even One Jade Version 4.2 is presented The Silver Wolf, 999, Э в а н е с и яas well as the second stage banners, including Castoris, Dahlia and FireflySet your target before the patch comes out. Impulsive twists are the main cause of jade loss I have seen in two anniversary cycles.
Short checklist of priorities
| Priority | Award | Exfoliate |
|---|---|---|
| 🔴 Urgently | 7 days of entry pass | 7 days from the first entrance |
| 🔴 Urgent | П р о м о к о д ы | 12 - 24 hours after the stream |
| 🟠 within 48 hours | Web event, phase 1 | Step by step |
| 🟡 Up to 26 Apr. | Letter from Z + Fuel | End of patch (better pick up right away) |
| 🟡 Middle patch | Mission of exploration to selector | End of patch |
| 🟢 Flexible | Ahi's Chosen One, Report of the Masculation | End of Patch |
Is it worth rolling HSR 3rd anniversary banners or better to save Star Jade?
Spin only if you have a clear need for a meta that doesn't close the anniversary selector. Here's honest math cool.
F2P torsion accumulation during version 4.2 (community calculation):
- 30 points confirmed for entry + post
- ~ 5 - 6 cool per web event + codes
- ~ 80 + cool for patch events, weekly content, and missions
- Total: ~ 117 - 120 steepts for the entire patch
That's enough to achieve a soft guarantor (~ 73 twists) on one banner with the remainder-but not enough to guarantee a 5-star character on two banners without much luck. The selector gives one 5-star character for free. So the main question is whether you need to. Second 5-star character from the banners of this patch?
Silver Wolf Ur. 999 and Evanesia are new characters in version 4.2. If one of them fits into the slot of the main command, which you lack, spin makes sense. If your roster is already functional, save for a future patch is a more reasonable solution, because the anniversary selector has already given you one metunit.
For players who are close to the guarantor and who only need a few twists to be guaranteed to get the goal, Buy Honkai: Star Rail Cheap for Anniversary - This is a great option, as the bonus for the first replenishment is reset with version 4.2, which makes this period one of the most profitable for the Donat.
Frequently Asked Questions About 3rd Anniversary Awards of HSR 2026
How many free Star Jade can I get during the 3rd anniversary of HSR 2026?" Confirmed sources give a total of at least 2,400 + Zs only from mail, web events and codes. Community calculations, including all patch missions, estimate the total amount of 117 - 120 + cool over the entire period of version 4.2.
Will Honkai: Star Rail give you a free 5-star character for its 3rd anniversary? Yes-officially confirmed. The Golden Spirit of the Satellite token (received for completion of the Exploration mission) can be exchanged for Hoho or Zarianka in a time-limited store. Both characters are relevant in the meta.
What are the promotional codes for the 3rd anniversary of HSR 2026 ? Three codes have been confirmed as active before launch after the April 10 stream , each giving approximately 300 Ns .hsr.hoyoverse.com/giftCodes expire within 12 - 24 hours - check the official HSR social networks immediately after any stream .
When does Honkai : Star Rail 's 3rd anniversary begin ? Version 4.2 is released on April 22 , 2026 . The anniversary date itself - when the letter with the reward will arrive and the entry bonus will begin - April 26 , 2026 .
How to activate Honkai : Star Rail Anniversary Gift Codes ? Go to hsr.hoyoverse.com/gift , log in to your HoYo account , enter the code and confirm . The rewards will appear in the in-game mail in a few minutes . You can also activate via Settings → Account → Promocode in the game itself .
Should I go back to HSR for the 3rd anniversary awards ? Yes , definitely . The free meta 5 - star character plus 120 + cool per patch is a stronger package for returning players than most game services offer . If you 've been absent from version 3.x , log in before April 29 to get through the login window - skipping the first day of 7 - day entry is the only way to lose rewards forever .
Bottom line : What about the free 3rd anniversary awards of HSR 2026 ?
3rd anniversary gives 30 confirmed free spins for entry and mail only, Free 5 - star character to choose from (Hoho or Zaryanka), to 800 CVs for Web Events and in total 120 + cool This corresponds to the generosity of the 2nd anniversary and even exceeds it due to the stronger pool of characters in the selector and increased limit of the web event .
Three things to do right now : Receive rewards immediately for 7 - day admission (It is fast running out) Activate all codes from the stream within 24 hours and Determine the goal on banners before you spend at least one jadeThe selector for free will close your biggest gap in the roster - everything else will be a nice bonus .
