There are still a few weeks left before Honkai: Star Rail drops its latest update, but many fans are already looking forward to new content. Honkai: Star Rail is currently in a transition phase before the next major planet is revealed, and it has prepared some exciting stories to keep avid players entertained.
After spending some time in Xianzhou Luofu, Honkai: Star Rail Version 2.6 is likely to bring the Astral Express Crew back to Penacony. Speculation began after the upcoming 5-star banner character Rappa was revealed, as she’s said to be a peculiar Galaxy Ranger who suddenly appeared in Penacony. Meanwhile, there are more rumors about Honkai: Star Rail Version 2.6 that may give more hints and hype up many fans.
Honkai: Star Rail Version 2.6 Leaks and Rumors to Keep an Eye on
Rumored 5-Star Character Reruns
Honkai: Star Rail Version 2.6’s limited-time banner is interesting because Rappa is the only new character in it, which is a first for the gacha game. This would mean that Version 2.6’s banner will mostly be 5-star rerun characters, who are rumored to be Imbibitor Lunae, Acheron, and Aventurine. There’s still a chance that the banner might change, so fans should take the information with a grain of salt until Honkai: Star Rail makes an official announcement.
First phase: Rappa (Imaginary, Path of Erudition) and Imbibitor Lunae (Imaginary, Path of Destruction)
Second phase: Acheron (Lightning, Path of Nihility) and Aventurine (Imaginary, Path of Preservation)
Leaked Rappa Details and Mechanics
As an Erudition character, Rappa will likely have AoE abilities that can inflict damage on multiple enemies. According to rumors, she’s said to have the ability to reduce enemies’ toughness and also increase her Break Effect efficiency, which could be a boon for Honkai: Star Rail‘s current meta. But the most interesting part about Rappa’s design is that she can allegedly skate around the overworld map while rapping an original song, which would be a first for any character in the game.
New Penacony Location
Honkai: Star Rail leakers claimed that Penacony’s Paperfold Academy might open up in Version 2.6. The location was mentioned in a readable paper that can be found in Penacony, which states that the academy is said to be haunted and has a Memory Zone Meme trapped in the library.
Another leak also showed how big Paperfold Academy will allegedly be, which is rumored to have a wide courtyard space and the main university with a library in the middle. It’s possible that most of Version 2.6’s story might take place in the academy, and that the Trailblazer might face the powerful Memory Zone Meme there.
Rumored Character Appearances
Apart from Rappa, Version 2.6’s main story is said to feature Boothill and Robin, who are rumored to accompany the Trailblazer to Paperfold Academy. There are speculations that Dr. Ratio might show up because he fits the academy setting as an educator. Sunday might also show up, especially since there are rumors that he might become playable in Version 2.7.
Boothill: A Galaxy Ranger who helped the Trailblazer to take down Sunday, and likely Rappa’s colleague.
Robin: A popular singer who grew up in Penacony, and Sunday’s younger sister.
Additionally, Genius Society member Polka Kakamond is said to make her first in-game appearance in the Simulated Universe’s new expansion. It’s still unknown if she will be playable in the future, but it’s possible that she’ll remain an NPC like fellow Genius Society member Stephen Lloyd.
Possible New Items to Farm and Save Up For
As mentioned, Honkai: Star Rail Version 2.6 will reportedly debut a new Simulated Universe expansion, which could mean that there will be a new domain to farm Planar Ornaments in. It’s also possible that the expansion might be similar to Swarm Disaster and Divergent Universe, where players can farm materials and Stellar Jades.
Leaks claimed that there might be new Relic sets in Version 2.6 called “Sacerdos’ Living Appeal” and “Scholar Lost in Erudition.” Both sets could be used by Rappa and other DPS characters who might need CRIT buffs.
Sacerdos’ Living Appeal: Increases holder’s SPD and CRIT DMG
Scholar Lost in Erudition: Increases holder’s CRIT Rate and buffs Ultimate and Skill damage
Another exciting rumor is that Herta’s Shop will start selling Light Cones that were originally event-exclusive. The leak listed “Before the Tutorial Mission Starts,” “Hey, Over Here,” and “For Tomorrow’s Journey,” but these are still subject to change.
Initial List of Limited-Time Events
Honkai: Star Rail always gives players more opportunities to farm materials through limited-time events. One leak revealed an initial list of limited-time events coming to Version 2.6, which are said to focus on the Galaxy Rangers, Boothill and Rappa, and feature a special merchandise shop that’s run by Sampo.
Introduction of Kick Currency could attract new viewers and incentivize existing ones, potentially challenging Twitch.
Kick is allegedly working on a program that could pay viewers for watching streams. The news comes courtesy of a major streamer on the platform.
Amid Twitch still not being profitable, other streaming platforms are trying to take the platform’s place as the biggest streaming service. While Twitch is still extremely popular, some streamers have branched out to services like Kick and YouTube. Some streamers depart Twitch due to being banned, while others have received lucrative contract deals for leaving their usual streaming services. In any case, it seems Kick isn’t done yet trying to make its service the most appealing for streamers and viewers alike.
Related
Twitch Will Prevent Kick Streamers from Crashing Future TwitchCons
Twitch addresses TwitchCon San Diego incidents involving Kick streamers, reaffirming its commitment to a safe and enjoyable experience for all.
According to Adin Ross, Kick is working on a new currency that will be given to viewers who spend time watching streams. During a stream, Ross said that the Kick Currency will work similar to Twitch’s Bits, but viewers will be able to benefit, not just who they’re viewing. It’s an interesting difference, since users have to spend money to get Bits on Twitch, and they’re used to further boost streamers, not the other way around. Ross notes that he would be able to “give a Kick” that users could then “cash out.” However, he goes on to note that “not everyone” will be paid to watch, so it’s not clear what would net a viewer this currency.
Kick’s New Currency
While this sounds promising in theory, a lot of questions remain unanswered about it at this time. For example, there’s no information on how much the Kick Currency would be worth, how often a viewer could earn it, what the threshold would be to cash out, and so on. Aside from encouraging viewers to tune into channels, though, it could also help Kick to complete with things like Twitch Drops, which can reward viewers with in-game items for watching for a set amount of time.
Kick continues to seek out content creators for its platform, but it remains to be seen if Twitch will lose its top spot as a streaming service. Google is also continuing to host major content creators on its own service while also trying to compete with the likes of TikTok with YouTube’s Shorts vertical video content. It will be interesting to see if Kick Currency draws more viewers to watch streams on its service. For those who already watch their favorite streamers on Kick, it’s something that will likely keep them tuning in once it’s implemented, which is good for the streamers there. Whether it’s enough to draw viewers in who don’t usually use Kick, however, remains to be seen.
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero has a seemingly endless amount of content to pour through, and it can certainly become intimidating to new players. Developers recognized this concern, and have included a dedicated feature to make up for this. Dragon Wishes not only make use of the series’ namesake but are a core feature of progression in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero.
It would almost be strange if Dragon Ball‘s iconic MacGuffins didn’t find their way into Sparking Zero. Likewise, it’s certainly natural for their wish-granting abilities to lend any number of rewards. Dragon Wishes have a surprising amount of detail to unpack, and understanding the differences will help players get ahead in their journey to become the world’s strongest.
Related
All Shenron, Porunga, and Super Shenron Wishes in Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO
There are seven potential wishes in Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO, though players will first need to find the Dragon Balls before they can make them.
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero’s Dragon Wishes Boost Player Progression
Dragon Wishes Are a Limited Resource with Massive Potential
Dragon Wishes come in three different varieties, and this is perhaps the most important detail to delve into. After all, each host of the Dragon Wishes provides different rewards and demands different requirements. Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is not an easy game to complete, and though Dragon Wishes can take time to obtain as well, they’re more than worth the wait.
While Shenron is undoubtedly the most iconic of the Eternal Dragons, he’s not the only one to be featured in the game. Shenron is flanked by Porunga and Super Shenron, with each of them serving a different purpose. The three dragons do share a few wishes, but players should still think carefully each time they collect the Dragon Balls.
Shenron, Porunga, and Super Shenron Dragon Wishes in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero
For starters, it’s important to recognize the general Dragon Wishes that are shared among Shenron, Porunga, and Super Shenron. Although they may all grant a certain wish, the extent of the reward may vary wildly. As a rule of thumb, Super Shenron represents the maximum reward that players can obtain, though this naturally makes him the most difficult to reach.
Dragon Wishes shared by Shenron, Porunga, and Super Shenron:
I want more Zeni (Rewards players with a varying amount of in-game currency to spend in shops)
I want you to raise my Player Level (Rewards players with a sizable amount of experience)
I want more titles (Rewards players with cosmetic titles to use on their Player Cards)
Dragon Wishes available only to Shenron and Super Shenron:
I want new outfits (Rewards players with unique outfits exclusive to each dragon)
Dragon wishes available only to Porunga and Super Shenron:
I want ability items (Rewards players with a small selection of ability items to use in combat)
Increasing one’s Player Level is a universally positive wish, while the others mostly help to obtain exclusive cosmetics. Still, “I want more Zeni” perfectly illustrates the difference in rarity. Shenron offers 300,000 Zeni, Porunga only offers 120,000 Zeni, while Super Shenron rewards the player with a whopping 1,000,000 Zeni. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg, as exclusive wishes are by far the most enticing rewards in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero.
2:40
Related
How to Farm Dragon Balls and Proficiency in Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO
With this Dragon Ball farming method, Sparking! ZERO players will be summoning Shenron and Porunga in no time while also increasing their proficiency.
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is Hiding its Best Rewards Behind Exclusive Dragon Wishes
The Most Rare Dragon Wishes in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero
True to lore, Shenron might be considered the least powerful of the wish-granting dragons. Shenron’s unique wish, “I want to complete an Episode Battle,” rewards players with a Dragon Orb. Dragon Orbs can be spent to more easily beat a battle in the game’s story mode, but many players may not necessarily need to skip even Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero‘s most difficult battles.
Eagle-eyed fans may have noticed that Porunga’s Wishes are actually somewhat less potent than Shenron’s best wishes. This is meant to offset Porunga’s unique feature, which is the ability to grant three wishes at once. This is a straightforward mechanic, and it is more than rewarding enough for players who manage to track down Porunga’s Dragon Balls.
Players may have a hard time tracking him down, but Super Shenron’s Wishes are more than worth the effort. Aside from being the most potent in general, his exclusive wish is even more exciting. Super Shenron provides a wish called “I want more characters,” in which players can obtain either Goku Black or Fused Zamasu. This is not only a fun reference to Dragon Ball Super‘s Goku Black Arc but also one of the few ways to unlock these immensely powerful fighters.
Where to Find the Dragon Balls in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero
Shenron, Porunga, and Super Shenron are all accessed through a different set of Dragon Balls. Just as their wishes are different, the requirements to obtain these Dragon Balls vary as well. Players who purchased the Digital Deluxe Edition will receive Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero‘s Season Pass, as well as one free Shenron Summon. Meanwhile, players who purchased the Digital Ultimate Edition will receive both the Shenron Summon and a free Super Shenron Summon.
Past that point, players will need to work hard if they want to collect any given set of Dragon Balls. Dragon Balls will occasionally be obtained as rewards for completing battles, but these drop rates are hardly reliable. Thankfully, players who had early access to Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero have already managed to map out most of the best ways to meet this challenge.
Shenron will likely be the first Dragon Wishes players can access, as his Dragon Balls can be easily obtained by completing missions through Whis’ Stamp Book and Zen-Oh’s Orders. Porunga isn’t so easy, as battles seem to be the only way to unlock his set of Dragon Balls. That said, grinding through offline tournaments does help to fast-track this process. Super Shenron’s Super Dragon Balls can be obtained by completing a full playthrough of Goku’s Episode Battles, ironically making them the most reliable to obtain.
It’s important to remember that Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero will receive DLC, and is therefore still an ongoing game. It’s more likely than not that more ways to obtain Dragon Balls will be released or discovered in the near future. Until then, players should continue to weigh their options and ensure they’re getting the best use out of the game’s best road for player progression.
Released
October 11, 2024
Publisher(s)
Namco Bandai
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Engine
proprietary engine
ESRB
T For Teen Due To Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
Samsung is keen to incorporate AI across every facet of your life, but that could mean one major removal from Galaxy smartphones. A report from ETNews points to a future where the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE will have AI features but no Settings menu. The article says that Samsung believes the AI in its phones will be able to anticipate your needs without you having to make any adjustments, thus making Settings a redundant feature.
The concept is part of Samsung’s desire for the Galaxy smartphones to be fully AI-driven. Though the exact form of a Settings-free smartphone hasn’t been unveiled yet, there are already hints about how the device’s AI could use a combination of conversation with the user and the way they use the device to adapt its performance without requiring the kind of menu adjustments currently common. It would encompass many aspects of the smartphone’s performance. That means the basics, like notifications, brightness of the screen, and its layout.
The main focus for Samsung in using AI to replace Settings appears to be the camera and the keyboard, according to the report. That makes sense since they are used in the broadest number of ways. There are a lot of editing options for photos, but these days, your device handles a lot of the photo-quality enhancements before you do anything. Adding AI to the equation could extend that functionality in subtle but useful ways, like automatically switching to night mode or otherwise adapting to location and setting.
For keyboards, the AI could help personalize your typing. Auto-predicting words are usually about the most common phrases in general, but AI could fiddle with those elements to where they best fit your actual writing style and word preferences. Personalization and automation are Samsung’s watchwords.
AI anticipation
In some ways, smartphone makers have been moving in this direction for years. When was the last time you manually adjusted battery settings beyond standard and battery-saving? Of course, the question is whether AI can predict complex and ever-changing setting preferences. When do you want your phone to brighten? Which app should have your volume set low or high?
For the average user, having AI handle your settings could mean fewer distractions and not having to sort through menus every time you want to adjust a particular aspect of the phone. Automating tasks and anticipating needs might help Samsung’s AI features and devices stand out amid an increasingly crowded field. That said, how Samsung collects and uses the data needed for the AI to make these adjustments will likely be crucial for the company to explain. It could all happen on the device without a need for sharing private information, but if not, people might not be as excited to try it out.
Don’t expect your Settings menu to vanish immediately. There’s no timeline yet, but it could be part of Samsung’s next major software update when the Android 15-based One UI 7 comes out for the Galaxy S series.
Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.
