HSR 4.0 Yao Guang & Sparxie Guide: Path of Elation Meta
Buffget
2026/02/04
HSR 4.0 Path of Elation Overview: What Changes Everything
Version 4.0 launches February 12, 2026 (NA), February 13, 2026 (EU/Asia). Path of Elation introduces team-shared Punchline stacks that accumulate from Elation character actions. Stack limit scales with Elation character count.
At 20 Punchline stacks, Aha Instant triggers automatically—Aeon Aha appears with Speed scaling based on Elation character count, consumes stacks, cleanses crowd control, and unlocks each Elation character's unique Elation Skill. This creates Certified Banger state lasting 2 turns that snapshots Punchline count and boosts Elation damage.
For stellar jade reserves, Honkai Star Rail top up through buffget offers competitive pricing and fast delivery.
Understanding the Elation Path Mechanic
Path Resonance activates with 3 Elation Blessings in endgame modes. Spending 100 Energy triggers 3-5 follow-up attacks scaling with team offensive stats.
Aha's turn order appearance creates variable burst windows. Unlike traditional follow-ups, Aha's Speed adjusts dynamically based on roster composition.
How 4.0 Reshapes Meta
Path of Elation introduces All-Type RES PEN bypassing elemental weakness requirements. Yao Guang's ultimate provides 20% All-Type RES PEN for 3 turns; Sparxie's E1 grants 15% team-wide RES PEN plus 5 Punchline stacks.
Zone mechanic from Yao Guang's skill lasts 3 turns. Allies within Zone gain 15% of Yao Guang's Elation stat as bonus while generating 3 Punchline stacks immediately.
Sparxie's Engagement Farming triggers up to 20 times per activation, generating Punchline stacks and Skill Points simultaneously.
Why This Update Matters
Version 4.0 introduces Planarcadia map with exclusive relic sets:
- Magical Girl's Shining Medal: 16% CRIT DMG (2pc), ignores 10% DEF + 1% Elation DMG per 5 Punchline stacks, max 10% (4pc)
- Diviner's Extrapolation: 6% SPD (2pc), +10% CRIT Rate at 120+ SPD, +18% at 160+ SPD (4pc)
- Tengoku: 16% CRIT DMG (2pc), +32% CRIT DMG for 3 turns after consuming 3+ SP (4pc)
Yao Guang Complete Kit Analysis

Yao Guang: 5-star Physical Elation support, base 101 SPD. Requires 120 SPD for Amaze-In Grace trace granting 30% Elation baseline + 1% per excess SPD beyond 120—caps at 200 excess SPD for 230% total Elation.
Basic ATK Whistlebolt Sings Joy: 90% ATK Physical DMG to one enemy, 30% ATK splash to adjacent targets.
Abilities Breakdown
Skill Decalight Unveils All: Deploys Zone for 3 turns, increases allies' Elation by 15% of Yao Guang's total Elation, generates 3 Punchline stacks. Costs 1 SP. At 230% Elation, allies gain ~34.5% Elation bonus.
Ultimate Hexagram of Feathered Fortune: Generates 5 Punchline stacks, triggers Aha extra turn at 20 Punchline total. Provides 20% All-Type RES PEN for 3 turns.
Elation Skill Let Thy Fortune Burst in Flames: Activates during Certified Banger. Deals 80% Physical Elation DMG to all enemies plus five 20% damage instances to random enemies. Applies Woe's Whisper debuff for 3 turns, increasing damage received by 10%.
Unique Mechanics
Technique Untethered Glimmer Sails Far: Triggers Skill at battle start without consuming SP. Players receive 8 Red Envelope items per Earth Week for 8 technique uses.
Poised and Sated trace: +60% CRIT DMG, recovers 1 team SP after using Elation Skill.
E1 Chuckle Chimes Where Jade Falls: Reduces Aha threshold from 20 to 30 Punchline stacks, increases Elation Skill DMG to 140% of base values.
Trace Priority
- Ultimate > Skill > Elation Skill > Basic ATK
- Unlock Amaze-In Grace trace immediately (30% base Elation + scaling)
- Activate Poised and Sated for SP recovery and +60% CRIT DMG
Endgame Role
Memory of Chaos floor 12: All-Type RES PEN and Zone buffs enable 2-3 cycle clears. Woe's Whisper stacks with vulnerability effects.
Pure Fiction: Technique usage provides immediate Zone deployment and Punchline generation. SP recovery sustains aggressive skill usage across 4-5 waves.
Apocalyptic Shadow: RES PEN maintains damage during elemental resistance phases.
Sparxie In-Depth Review

Sparxie: 5-star Fire Elation DPS, SP-focused Sparkle variant. Kit revolves around Engagement Farming triggering up to 20 times per skill, generating Punchline stacks and Skill Points.
*Skill Boom! Sparxicle's Poppin'*: Each Engagement Farming trigger contributes 1 Punchline stack. Full 20-trigger activation generates 20 stacks independently—enough for Aha Instant without teammates.
For both characters, consider buy Oneiric Shards through buffget's secure platform for competitive rates.
Skill Set and Energy Management
*Ultimate Party's Wildin' and Camera's Rollin'*: Scales Fire DMG with Elation stat rather than ATK. At maximum Elation investment, rivals traditional hypercarry ultimates.
A6 Trace Frenzy! Palette of Truth and Lies: +4% team CRIT DMG per Punchline stack, caps at 10 stacks for 40% total CRIT DMG.
E1 #GoingViral #WhoIsShe: 5 bonus Punchline stacks on ultimate + 15% All-Type RES PEN for entire team.
Break Effect Scaling
Three operational modes based on SP consumption:
- Mode 1: 4 SP, 100% DEF ignore, +10 BIKURI stacks
- Mode 2: 8 SP, AoE damage, +30 BIKURI stacks
- Mode 3: 12 SP, enhanced AoE at 50+ BIKURI stacks
BIKURI stacks amplify Fire damage. Mode 1's 100% DEF ignore deals true damage against high-DEF enemies.
Performance Across Game Modes
Apocalyptic Shadow: Fire-weak bosses enable elemental advantage + Elation mechanics. Non-Fire-weak requires E1 for consistent RES PEN.
Pure Fiction: Optimal environment. Multi-wave structure + AoE requirements exploit Engagement Farming. Properly built teams achieve 40,000+ scores.
Memory of Chaos: Requires specific compositions addressing SP economy. Recommended: Sparkle (SP generation), Huohuo (energy regen), Yao Guang (Zone buffs/RES PEN).
Direct Comparison: Yao Guang vs Sparxie

Yao Guang: Elation enabler elevating team damage through Zone buffs, RES PEN, Punchline generation.
Sparxie: Elation beneficiary converting Punchline stacks into personal damage via BIKURI mechanics and ultimate scaling.
DPS Output Calculations
Yao Guang: Elation Skill deals ~180% total damage multiplier per activation. E1 increases to 252%. At level 80 with proper investment: 150,000-200,000 damage per Elation Skill.
Sparxie: Mode 3 at 50+ BIKURI with 12 SP delivers 300,000-400,000 AoE damage with Tengoku relics and signature Light Cone. Mode 1's 100% DEF ignore enables 200,000+ damage at 4 SP cost.
Team Building Flexibility
Yao Guang optimal teams:
- Yao Guang + Sparxie + Sparkle + Fu Xuan (full Elation core)
- Yao Guang + Sparxie + Sparkle + Huohuo (energy-focused)
- Yao Guang + Traditional Hypercarry + Harmony + Sustain (hybrid)
Sparxie: Requires dedicated Elation support. Running without Yao Guang reduces Punchline generation and eliminates Zone synergy.
Investment Cost vs Returns
Yao Guang: Achieves 80% maximum potential at E0S0. Core functionality exists in base kit. E1 provides damage increases but doesn't alter support role.
Signature LC When She Decided To See: +18% SPD, Great Fortune state (+10% ally CRIT Rate, +30% CRIT DMG, +12% Energy Regen for 3 turns). Damage gap vs F2P options: 15-20%.
Sparxie: Performance scales dramatically with investment. E0S0 functional but lacks E1's RES PEN for resistant enemies.
Signature LC Dazzled By A Flowery World: +1 SP limit per Elation character (max +3), ignores 5% DEF per SP consumed (max 20% DEF ignore). Damage increase vs F2P: 25-30%.
Which Character Fits Your Roster
Pull Yao Guang if:
- Own established hypercarry DPS (Acheron, Jingliu, Seele)
- Lack versatile support characters
- Prioritize long-term flexibility over immediate damage
- Plan gradual Elation team building
Pull Sparxie if:
- Lack Fire DPS for Pure Fiction/elemental coverage
- Already own or plan to pull Yao Guang
- Enjoy high-skill-ceiling characters
- Have SP-positive supports (Sparkle, Tingyun)
Skip both if:
- Current roster clears all endgame content comfortably
- Saving for leaked future characters
- Lack resources for complete Elation teams
Optimal Team Compositions
Elation teams maximize effectiveness with 3-4 Elation characters for Punchline stack limits and Aha Speed scaling.
Yao Guang Best-in-Slot Teams
Premium Elation: Yao Guang + Sparxie + Sparkle + Fu Xuan
- Sparkle: CRIT DMG buffs, action advance, SP generation
- Fu Xuan: sustain, CRIT Rate sharing, damage mitigation
- 3 Elation characters for Path Resonance activation
F2P Elation: Yao Guang + Sparxie + Asta + Gallagher
- Asta: ATK% buffs, SPD increases for 120 SPD threshold
- Gallagher: sustain, Break Effect synergy
Hybrid Hypercarry: Yao Guang + Acheron + Pela + Aventurine
- Yao Guang's RES PEN stacks with Pela's DEF shred
- Demonstrates flexibility outside pure Elation compositions
Sparxie Synergy Partners
Optimal Core: Sparxie + Yao Guang + Sparkle + Huohuo
- Huohuo: energy regen for frequent ultimates
- Sparkle: SP generation offsets high consumption
- Achieves SP-neutral/positive states despite 4-12 SP mode costs
Budget: Sparxie + Yao Guang + Tingyun + Lynx
- Tingyun: energy regen, ATK% buffs (4-star)
- Lynx: sustain, cleanse capabilities
Skill Point Economy
Opening rotation:
- Yao Guang Technique (0 SP)
- Sparkle Skill on Sparxie (1 SP)
- Sparxie Mode 1/2 based on enemy count (4-8 SP)
- Yao Guang Ultimate at ~20 Punchline (generates 5 stacks, costs 3 SP)
- Aha Instant → Certified Banger → Elation Skills
During Certified Banger: Prioritize Elation Skills over basic attacks. Yao Guang's SP recovery returns 1 SP after Elation Skill.
Build Optimization: Relics, Light Cones & Stats
Best Relic Sets for Yao Guang
Optimal: 4pc Diviner's Extrapolation

- 2pc: +6% SPD
- 4pc: +10% CRIT Rate at 120+ SPD, +18% at 160+ SPD
- Enables aggressive CRIT DMG substat prioritization
Alternative: 4pc Magical Girl's Shining Medal
- 2pc: +16% CRIT DMG
- 4pc: Ignores 10% DEF, +10% Elation DMG at max Punchline
- Better for dual-DPS structures
Planar: Tengoku
- 2pc: +16% CRIT DMG
- 4pc: +32% CRIT DMG if 3+ SP consumed in 3 turns
- Total 48% CRIT DMG from set bonuses
Main stats: Body (CRIT Rate/DMG), Feet (SPD), Sphere (Physical DMG%/Elation DMG%), Rope (Energy Regen/ATK%)
Substats: SPD (to 120+) > CRIT Rate (70%+) > CRIT DMG > ATK% > Elation stat
Target stats at level 80:
- 120-160 SPD
- 70%+ CRIT Rate
- 150%+ CRIT DMG
- 2500+ ATK
- 150%+ Elation stat
Sparxie Relic Recommendations
Optimal: 4pc Tengoku
- Perfectly aligned with high SP consumption modes
- 48% total CRIT DMG enables 200%+ total CRIT DMG
Alternative: 4pc Magical Girl's Shining Medal
- 10% Elation DMG scales ultimate directly
- DEF ignore stacks with Mode 1's 100% DEF ignore
Main stats: Body (CRIT Rate/DMG), Feet (SPD), Sphere (Fire DMG%/Elation DMG%), Rope (Energy Regen/ATK%)
Substats: SPD (to 120+) > CRIT Rate (70%+) > CRIT DMG > ATK% > Elation stat > Break Effect
Target stats at level 80:
- 120-140 SPD
- 70%+ CRIT Rate
- 180%+ CRIT DMG (200%+ with Tengoku active)
- 2800+ ATK
- 180%+ Elation stat
Light Cone Comparison
Yao Guang SignatureWhen She Decided To See: +18% SPD, Great Fortune state (+10% ally CRIT Rate, +30% CRIT DMG, +12% Energy Regen for 3 turns). Damage increase vs F2P: 15-20%.
Yao Guang F2P: Memories of the Past (4-star Energy Regen main stat).
Sparxie SignatureDazzled By A Flowery World: +1 SP limit per Elation character (max +3), ignores 5% DEF per SP consumed (max 20% DEF ignore). Damage increase vs F2P: 25-30%.
Sparxie F2P: The Seriousness of Breakfast (4-star DMG% increase based on enemy count).
Priority for limited resources: Sparxie signature > Yao Guang signature. Sparxie's provides larger damage increases and enables high-cost modes through increased SP limits.
Eidolon Investment Priority
Yao Guang Eidolons
E1 Chuckle Chimes Where Jade Falls: Moderate value
- Reduces Aha threshold from 20 to 30 Punchline
- Increases Elation Skill DMG to 140% of base
- Damage increase: ~20-25% personal, 5-8% team
- Verdict: Nice for dual-DPS, skippable for pure support
E2 Blind Arrows Guided by Feathers: Quality of life
- Zone grants +12% ally SPD, +16% Elation
- Verdict: Valuable for min-maxing but not transformative
E6: Whale territory
- +20% ally Elation DMG, +60% Yao Guang Elation Skill multiplier
- Transforms into legitimate DPS while maintaining support
Recommended stopping points:
- F2P/Low-spenders: E0
- Dolphins: E1
- Whales: E2 or E6
Sparxie Constellations
E1 #GoingViral #WhoIsShe: High value
- 5 bonus Punchline stacks on ultimate
- 15% All-Type RES PEN for entire team
- Damage increase: 18-22% vs resistant enemies, 8-12% vs weak
- Verdict: Highest value eidolon, strongly recommended
Recommended stopping points:
- F2P/Low-spenders: E0
- Dolphins: E1 (transforms viability)
- Whales: E2+ (evaluate based on leaked details)
E0 Viability
E0 Yao Guang: Achieves 80-85% maximum potential. Core support capabilities exist in base kit.
E0 Sparxie: Achieves 65-70% maximum potential. Absence of E1's RES PEN impacts damage vs non-Fire-weak enemies.
Optimal dolphin allocation:
- Yao Guang E0 + Signature LC (if budget allows)
- Sparxie E1 + F2P LC
- Save for future Elation characters
Pulling Strategy & Resource Planning
Phase 1: Yao Guang banner February 12 to March 6, 2026 Phase 2: Sparxie banner (verify official announcements for confirmed dates)
Stellar Jade Calculation
Standard rates:
- Soft pity: 73 pulls
- Hard pity: 90 pulls
- Average to guaranteed featured: 80-85 pulls (accounting for 50/50 loss)
Costs:
- 160 Stellar Jade per pull
- 12,800-13,600 for guaranteed featured 5-star (80-85 pulls)
- 25,600-27,200 for guaranteed with lost 50/50
Total investment scenarios:
Minimum Elation Team (Yao Guang E0 + Sparxie E0): 25,600-54,400 Stellar Jade (160-340 pulls)
Optimized Dolphin (Yao Guang E0 + Signature LC, Sparxie E1): 48,800-80,000 Stellar Jade (305-500 pulls)
Whale (Both E1 + Signature LCs): 72,000-107,200 Stellar Jade (450-670 pulls)
Banner Priority Flowchart
New/Early-Game (Level <40): Skip both → Save for versatile hypercarries
Mid-Game (Level 40-60): Yao Guang > Sparxie. Enhances existing DPS investments.
Endgame (Level 60+): Both if resources allow, Yao Guang if limited. Full Elation teams dominate Pure Fiction and competitive Memory of Chaos.
Lacking Fire DPS: Evaluate Sparxie vs future Fire characters. Sparxie requires Elation support to maximize effectiveness.
F2P Optimization
F2P accumulation per patch: 70-80 pulls via dailies, Simulated Universe, Memory of Chaos, Pure Fiction, events, maintenance compensation.
F2P strategy for 4.0:
- Assess pity counter and 50/50 status
- If guaranteed: Pull Yao Guang, skip Sparxie
- If 50/50: Evaluate risk tolerance
- Consider skipping both if within 20 pulls of standard banner pity
Low-spenders with monthly pass: 88-98 pulls per patch. Sufficient for one guaranteed featured 5-star every 1.5 patches. Strategy: Guarantee Yao Guang in 4.0, save for Sparxie rerun.
Material Pre-Farming
Yao Guang: Extinguished Core (boss), Thief's Instinct (Silvermane Guard), Xianzhou Yuque ascension materials, Tracks of Destiny (weekly boss), Physical trace materials, ~3M credits
Sparxie: Fire ascension materials, Planarcadia enemy drops, boss materials, Tracks of Destiny, Fire trace materials, ~3M credits
Relic farming: 40-50 domain runs per character for acceptable sets (70%+ optimal substats)
Timeline:
- 2 weeks before: Accumulate ascension materials to level 80
- 1 week before: Farm trace materials and credits
- Banner launch: Immediately ascend to 80, unlock critical traces
- Week 1 post-pull: Farm relics with placeholder sets
- Week 2-3: Optimize relic substats
Endgame Performance
Memory of Chaos 12 Strategies
Optimal rotation for 2-3 cycle clears:
- Cycle 0: Yao Guang Technique (free Zone)
- Cycle 1: Sparkle skill on Sparxie → Sparxie Mode 2 (8 SP AoE) → Yao Guang Ultimate (5 Punchline) → Sustain skill → Reach 20 Punchline → Aha Instant
- Certified Banger: Yao Guang Elation Skill → Sparxie Mode 3 (12 SP) → Sparkle action advance → Sparxie follow-ups
- Cycle 2-3: Rebuild Punchline → Second ultimate rotation → Clear
Critical success factors:
- Maintain 70%+ CRIT Rate on both characters
- Time Certified Banger with enemy vulnerability phases
- Use Aha Instant's crowd control cleanse before burst windows
Pure Fiction Optimization
Strategy:
- Wave 1-2: Basic attacks, low-cost skills to build Punchline
- Wave 3: First Aha Instant, Certified Banger for elites
- Wave 4: Rebuild Punchline via aggressive skills
- Wave 5: Second Aha Instant + Certified Banger for final burst
Score optimization:
- Prioritize AoE damage (Sparxie Mode 2/3)
- Use Yao Guang's Elation Skill for maximum coverage
- Time Certified Banger for maximum enemy density
Expected performance: 40,000-42,000 points (E0), 43,000-45,000 points (E1)
Apocalyptic Shadow Boss Counters
High-DEF Bosses: Sparxie Mode 1 (100% DEF ignore at 4 SP). True damage bypasses defensive mechanics.
Elemental Resistance Phases: Yao Guang's 20% RES PEN + Sparxie E1's 15% RES PEN (if available) = 35% combined RES PEN approximates elemental weakness multipliers.
Crowd Control Heavy: Time Aha Instant to cleanse debuffs before critical damage windows.
Cycle Count Improvements
Memory of Chaos Floor 12:
- E0 + F2P LCs: 4-5 cycles per side
- E0 + Signature LCs: 3-4 cycles
- E1 + Signature LCs: 2-3 cycles
Pure Fiction:
- E0: 40,000+ scores
- E1: 43,000+ scores
Apocalyptic Shadow:
- E0: 6-8 cycles
- E1: 4-6 cycles
DPS benchmarks per Certified Banger:
- Yao Guang E0: 150,000-200,000
- Yao Guang E1: 250,000-300,000
- Sparxie E0: 300,000-400,000
- Sparxie E1: 400,000-500,000
Total team damage per window: 600,000-900,000
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Misconception: Whale Investment Required
Reality: E0 Yao Guang + E0 Sparxie with F2P LCs clears all endgame content. Difference manifests in cycle counts (4-5 vs 2-3), not clear viability.
F2P-viable team achieves 75-80% of whale performance at zero eidolon investment.
Stat Priority Errors
Error 1: Neglecting 120 SPD threshold on Yao Guang. Loses 30-40% Elation stat. Solution: Prioritize SPD Feet main stat, SPD substats to 120 minimum. Optimal: 140-160 SPD.
Error 2: Over-investing ATK% at expense of CRIT stats. Solution: Target 70% CRIT Rate minimum, 150%+ CRIT DMG, then optimize ATK%. Use CRIT Rate/DMG Body main stat.
Error 3: Ignoring Energy Regen on Yao Guang. Solution: Use Energy Regen Rope or Energy Regen LC. Target 130-140% Energy Regen for ultimate every 2-3 turns.
Team Composition Pitfalls
Pitfall 1: Running without adequate sustain. Leads to deaths before critical damage phases. Solution: Always include dedicated sustain (Fu Xuan, Huohuo, Luocha, Gallagher).
Pitfall 2: Mixing incompatible SP economies. Sparxie + other SP-negative characters creates SP starvation. Solution: Pair Sparxie with SP-positive/neutral supports (Sparkle, Tingyun, Bronya). Maintain 3+ SP reserves.
Pitfall 3: Neglecting Elation character count for Path Resonance. Solution: Build toward 3-4 Elation character compositions for endgame.
Future-Proofing Investment
Long-Term Meta Outlook
Yao Guang's support kit ages gracefully. RES PEN, damage amplification, Zone buffs benefit any damage dealer. Historical precedent: support characters maintain meta relevance 2-3x longer than DPS.
Sparxie's DPS kit faces typical power creep. Future Fire DPS may outperform raw damage, but unique Punchline generation and team CRIT DMG buffs extend viability.
Synergy with Future Characters
Each new Elation character increases:
- Maximum Punchline stack limits
- Aha Speed in turn order
- Path Resonance effectiveness
- Team composition flexibility
Yao Guang's Zone buffs scale with team Elation stat—future characters with higher base Elation receive larger bonuses. Sparxie's team CRIT DMG buff benefits all future Elation DPS.
When to Skip vs Commit
Skip both if: Current roster clears all endgame comfortably, saving for confirmed future characters, lack resources for complete Elation teams, playing casually.
Commit to Yao Guang if: Seeking versatile support, building toward future Elation teams, lacking RES PEN sources, prioritizing long-term flexibility.
Commit to Sparxie if: Lacking Fire DPS, already own/plan Yao Guang, enjoy high-skill-ceiling characters, targeting top-tier Pure Fiction scores.
Commit to both if: Competitive endgame player, sufficient resources for E0 + F2P LCs minimum, planning long-term Elation investment, enjoy experimental compositions.
Safest approach: Pull Yao Guang, evaluate during her banner, then decide on Sparxie based on actual experience.
FAQ
Is Yao Guang worth pulling in HSR 4.0?
Yes for mid-to-endgame players with established DPS. Provides 20% All-Type RES PEN, Zone buffs granting 15% of her Elation stat to allies, team-wide damage amplification. Enhances existing investments while enabling future Elation teams. F2P should prioritize her over Sparxie due to better E0 viability.
What is the Path of Elation in Honkai Star Rail?
New character archetype in 4.0 built around team-shared Punchline stacks. At 20 Punchline, Aha Instant triggers—Aeon Aha appears, consumes stacks, cleanses crowd control, unlocks Elation Skills. Certified Banger state lasts 2 turns, snapshots Punchline count, increases Elation damage. Path Resonance activates with 3 Elation Blessings, dealing 3-5 follow-ups for 100 Energy.
Should I pull Yao Guang or Sparxie first?
Pull Yao Guang first. Achieves 80% effectiveness at E0 with F2P LCs, provides immediate value through RES PEN and buffs. Sparxie requires Elation support (ideally Yao Guang) to maximize kit, struggles at E0 against non-Fire-weak enemies without E1's RES PEN. Yao Guang banner: February 12 to March 6, 2026.
What are the best teams for Yao Guang?
Optimal: Yao Guang + Sparxie + Sparkle + Fu Xuan (full Elation core). Budget: Yao Guang + Sparxie + Asta + Gallagher (F2P). Hybrid: Yao Guang + Acheron + Pela + Aventurine (leverages existing hypercarry). Zone buffs and RES PEN benefit any damage dealer, allowing flexible construction.
Does Sparxie need her signature light cone?
Not mandatory but highly valuable. Dazzled By A Flowery World increases SP limit by +1 per Elation character (max +3), ignores 5% DEF per SP consumed (max 20% DEF ignore). Transforms SP consumption into damage scaling. F2P alternatives provide 70-75% of signature performance—functional but noticeably weaker.
How much stellar jade do I need for 4.0 banners?
Minimum Elation team (Yao Guang E0 + Sparxie E0): 25,600-54,400 Stellar Jade assuming one lost 50/50 (160-340 pulls). Optimized dolphin (Yao Guang E0 + signature LC, Sparxie E1): 48,800-80,000 (305-500 pulls). F2P accumulate 70-80 pulls per patch—sufficient for one guaranteed featured 5-star every 1.5 patches.

