Version 3.8 of Honkai: Star Rail titled “Memories are the Prelude to Dreams” will be the next step in Penacony's long journey. After the Charmony Festival storyline and the major conflict on Amphoreus, this update shifts the focus back to the Planet of Festivities while opening up another previously untapped side. The storyline revolves around Trailblazer's memories, which are not intact, and the emergence of Constance “The Dahlia” as a key figure in the memory hunt.
Continued Story of Penacony and the Mystery of Memory
Penacony, Land of Dreams, has been described as an interstellar vacation destination where visitors have fun in their dreams. In previous parts of the story, members of the Astral Express have helped to awaken those trapped in sweet dreams, giving them the chance to regain control of their own reality. On the surface, the story seems complete, but version 3.8 confirms that there are still many gaps that remain unanswered.
After the final battle on Amphoreus, Constance “The Dahlia” showed up and revealed an important fact: Trailblazer's memory was incomplete, with core parts having been stolen. From this point, the focus shifts to reconstructing the events of Penacony with greater clarity. This process of memory hunting is not just a flashback, but a reassessment of the sequence of events so that the player can understand what really happened behind the seemingly idealized journey.
The concept of “Memories are the Prelude to Dreams” is presented as an affirmation that before stepping into a “dream” or a new chapter, the remaining memories need to be questioned and straightened out. Version 3.8 serves as a story bridge that connects the conclusion of Penacony with Astral Express' next destination.
Firefly as a Story Point of View
The main story in version 3.8 doesn't just follow Trailblazer in the usual way. Players will be invited to follow the plot through Firefly's perspective. Details such as how Firefly first entered the dreamscape, how he met Trailblazer, and the battlefields he faced will be explained more clearly.
This approach opens up the opportunity to fill in the gaps in the chronology that previously felt vague. Firefly's background as a former Glamoth Iron Cavalry Knight is brought up, while also bringing back important elements from Penacony such as The Family and Dream of Gnawing Oak. Both are said to appear “from the depths of memory”, as if to suggest that the conflict in Penacony still holds new layers that were not visible when the initial story took place.
The use of Firefly's point of view gives a sense of reconstruction: the player is asked to revisit events already experienced, but now in a different context. The story is no longer just about rescuing people from dreams, but also about understanding what Trailblazer's memory is missing and how it affects the entire journey in Penacony.
Constance “The Dahlia” and the Role of the Path of Nihility
Constance “The Dahlia” was introduced as a new five-star character following the Path of Nihility. This figure came to Penacony even though the grand plan of her father, Duke Inferno, had been canceled. The Dahlia's main target is Remembrance, with powers closely related to memory manipulation and fabrication. She has a long association with the Garden of Recollection and the Black Swan, and is said to be used to dealing with betrayal.
Her role in the story is quite central. The Dahlia helps Trailblazer reclaim lost memories and complete the journey on Penacony. The memory she seeks is not only important to Trailblazer, but also has special meaning for herself. This dynamic has the potential to create tension, as the person who controls the memory and has a history of betrayal usually has a personal agenda.
On the gameplay side, The Dahlia is designed to collaborate with teams that rely on Break DMG. Her presence on the battlefield allows her to summon a dark Zone. As long as this Zone is active, each team member's Toughness Reduction can trigger a Super Break DMG even before the enemy's Weakness is completely broken. This approach allows Break teams to work more aggressively against enemies that usually take longer to break.
The Dahlia also designates one partner as a Dance Partner. After one of the two Dance Partners attacks the target, the attack triggers an additional Super Break DMG. When Ultimate is used, all enemies will be hit by each Dance Partner's Type Weakness, making the Toughness Reduction process more effective. This combination makes room for multi-element team compositions that focus on Break DMG without being too constrained by the enemy's original Weakness.
New Events: Chrysos Awoo Championship and Remnants of Twilight
In addition to the continuation of the main story, version 3.8 also brought two main events. The Chrysos Awoo Championship invites Trailblazer to take on the role of chimera trainer. Players will lead a small team of chimeras and steer them towards the title of champion. The concept is geared towards team management activities as well as lighthearted combat, which is in line with Penacony's image as the Planet of Festivities.
Remnants of Twilight offers a different feel. This event contains a series of battle challenges that demand more careful strategy selection and execution. Formats like these typically encourage players to test team compositions, optimize character synergies, and make the most of new mechanics like Super Break DMG.
Version 3.8 ultimately looks to serve as an additional conclusion to Penacony, as well as a space to recast the player's understanding of what has happened. Through a combination of a focus on memory, Firefly's perspective, the presence of The Dahlia, and layered events, this update forms a narrative transition to the next chapter of the Astral Express journey.
