Should you pull for Phainon, Tribbie, Sunday or Sparkle in Honkai: Star Rail Version 3.4 Phase 1 banner
Story Highlights
- Phase 1 Banners will go live on the 2nd of July, 2025 and will last till the 22nd of July, 2025!
- Tribbie has the most pull value out of the rest of the characters in Phase 1 banner!
- Sparkle has the least pull value as most Harmony units work better with other DPS characters!
In the latest update, Version 3.4 of Honkai: Star Rail, introduces a quartet of characters – Phainon, Tribbie, Sunday, and Sparkle, who are showcased on the initial banner. Just as before, HoYoverse has rolled out a four-character banner with one fresh face and three recurring characters.
In the upcoming game metagame, we’ll evaluate the abilities and traits of all characters. Based on our analysis, we’ll recommend which of the four playable characters you might want to choose. The first phase banners will be activated on July 2nd, 2025, following the completion of maintenance updates, and they’ll remain active until July 22nd, 2025.
Who should you pull for in HSR version 3.4
Star Rail, the banner introduces Phainon, Tribbie, Sunday, and Sparkle. Deciding which character to pick can be tricky, as it depends on your team’s needs for future content and personal priorities. Each character offers unique abilities, but some are more valuable in the short-term and long-term than others. Here’s a quick guide to help you choose.
1. Tribbie
In a more conversational manner,
Tribbie is undeniably one of the game’s most problematic support characters. Unlike other supports with flashy stats like Crit Rate or Attack Percentage, Tribbie’s strength lies in her unique abilities, particularly Resistance Penetration and Damage Taken Increase. These skills are less common among characters and scale exceptionally well for endgame content, making them harder to counter and more effective over time.
Beyond these qualities, she excels in skills, deals reasonable self-damage, and can utilize the “Dance! Dance! Dance!” Light Cone ability to progress actions more swiftly. What sets her apart from others on a day like Sunday is that her buffs don’t overly amplify characters similar to Phainon, who already benefits significantly from buffs provided by other support characters in terms of Critical/Attack rates.

As a gamer, I’m finding myself drawn to Sunday with his impressive synergy with the current DPS units, but let me tell you this: investing in Tribbie is a smart move for the long haul. Her kit is built to stand the test of time, and even when new characters enter the scene, she’s likely to remain a formidable choice.
Moreover, Tribbie complements Phainon exceptionally well, offering him a distinctive damage scaling that’s hard to replicate. If you don’t already have her, making Tribbie your top priority in your next pull is definitely worth considering.
2. Phainon
As a gamer, I’ve got to say, Phainon is an incredibly awesome, distinct character, and he’s definitely up there as one of the most potent single-target DPS (Damage Per Second) units we’ve encountered so far. This guy is like a one-person army, amassing points not just from himself but also his allies. Once he reaches his transformation phase, it’s game over for everyone on the field during his burst window. It’s an intriguing design, super stylish, and once you get the hang of controlling him, using Phainon is incredibly satisfying!

Phainon isn’t your typical “plug-and-play” character. Instead, he requires a particular team composition: three teammates who excel at scoring points, ideally Sunday, Bronya, and either Tribbie or Robin. It’s essential to note that Phainon doesn’t function with sustain, which means you’ll need to adjust to playing without healers or shielders – a departure from the playstyle many players are accustomed to.
Additionally, having him means that you might be preventing other teams from using popular characters such as Sunday or Robin, which could limit the versatility of your account. However, it’s important to note that his raw damage output is exceptional, and he has received significant marketing and support in Version 3.4. If you are looking for a DPS character that is relevant in the current meta and are willing to tailor your gameplay around him, Phainon is definitely worth considering.
3. Sunday
On the current scene, Sunday has gained significant popularity as a highly favored support character. Since version 3.0, every new damage dealer appears to have developed an affinity for him. His compatibility with hypercarry-style teams is exceptional, and he performs exceptionally well with Phainon, Mydei, Aglaea, among others. At the moment, his usage rate is at its highest.

Nevertheless, it’s important to note that he does have some restrictions. Initially, his boosts (Critical, Attack, etc.) are more prevalent, which could result in excessiveness if not properly balanced. Secondly, his position might be threatened in the near future as new units may emerge, either superseding or competing with him.
As a dedicated fan, I must say, Sunday is highly sought after by many teams right now, so using him for my Phainon squad might limit his availability in other places. He’s absolutely fantastic at the moment, but his worth could potentially decrease based on the performance of future units and changes in the meta. However, if you already have Tribbie and aren’t concerned about upcoming support units, he’s still an excellent choice for your team.
4. Sparkle
To put it plainly, Sparkle is primarily recognized for one outstanding collaboration – with Dr. Ratio. She truly shines in this partnership. However, on her own or with other characters, her worth significantly diminishes. It’s not advisable to assemble an entire support team solely for a single damage dealer like Sparkle, especially when that damage dealer (Dr. Ratio) is already losing ground due to the ongoing power shift.

Currently, Sparkle’s special abilities such as Self Power Point (SP) regeneration and action manipulation set her apart. However, with Ratio no longer being popular in the meta and no other characters gaining similar benefits from her kit, she isn’t a wise addition at this time. Her flexibility is limited unless future units are designed specifically for her synergy, which is uncertain. If you already own her, feel free to use her, but don’t go out of your way to acquire her, as it may not prove beneficial.
Guide for Honkai Star Rail Rerolling, Redeem Codes, and Tier List | Discovering Elements in Honkai Star Rail and Paths to Explore | Upcoming Updates on Honkai Star Rail | Diving into Fictional Worlds: Pure Fiction of Honkai Star Rail | Experiencing the Simulated Universe Swarm Disaster in Honkai Star Rail | Managing Gold and Gears in the Simulated Universe of Honkai Star Rail
Or, if you prefer a slightly different structure:
Honkai Star Rail Reroll Guide & Redeem Codes | Tier List for Honkai Star Rail Characters | Updates and New Content Coming to Honkai Star Rail | Exploring the Fiction and Paths in Honkai Star Rail Universe | The Simulated Universe Swarm Disaster in Honkai Star Rail | Managing Resources: Gold and Gears in Honkai Star Rail
Both versions offer clear, easy-to-understand information about various aspects of the game, while maintaining a natural flow for readers.
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2025-06-29 19:12