Ellen and Astra Yao Join HSR 4.8: Character Details and Events

Ellen and Astra Yao in HSR are now officially introduced. Over two days, the official Honkai: Star Rail account revealed both guests from the Zenless Zone Zero collaboration with new key art, character profiles and their 5-star rarity, ahead of their arrival in Version 4.8. At gamemarket.gg, we broke down what each reveal shows, what is still unknown about their kits and every upcoming HSR event to plan around before the collab lands.

Ellen and Astra Yao at a Glance

• Collaboration: Honkai: Star Rail × Zenless Zone Zero
• Arrives in: Version 4.8 (official)
• Expected 4.8 release: around December 22 to 23, 2026 (estimate based on the usual 6-week cycle)
• Ellen: 5-star, Ice, revealed on October 27
• Astra Yao: 5-star, revealed on October 28
• Still unknown: kits, Light Cones, Eidolons and banner phases

Ellen: The Shark Maid Bodyguard

Ellen's reveal introduces her in her own words: a "subpar employee of Victoria Housekeeping" who will make omurice, cast a "deliciousness spell" on your coffee or clean out some pests.

Her profile paints her as a diligent slacker who is "punctually late," still doing holiday homework in another world and often falling asleep standing up, even though she works as the tour group's bodyguard. The warning comes at the end: do not mess with her, because along with that languid tail, she has razor-sharp shark teeth.

What the key art shows:

• Rarity: 5-star
• Element: Ice, shown by the snowflake icon
• Path: the Path icon on her art is widely read as Destruction, though the official post does not name it in text

Astra Yao: The Idol on Vacation

Astra Yao introduces herself as "a singer from New Eridu" who is confident she can win you over with just one track.

Her profile describes her as New Eridu's most dazzling voice, the star whom "the stars take their seats for." Offstage, she spends her vacation drifting like a cloud beneath the clear sky, and she closes with a message for every fan: "this song is dedicated to the one and only you!"

What the key art shows:

• Rarity: 5-star
• Path: the Path icon is read as Harmony
• Element: the gold-styled element icon is read as Quantum, but this is less clear from the art and should be treated as reported until the full kit reveal

What Is Still Unknown

The reveals confirm who is coming and in what rarity, but several details are still missing:

• full kits, including skills, Traces and Eidolons
• signature Light Cones
• whether they get standard banner phases or a special collab banner format
• exact release dates for each banner
• any free rewards tied to the collaboration

For a full look at what HoYoverse has confirmed about the crossover so far, and which leaks to ignore, our HSR x ZZZ collab breakdown covers the announcement in detail.

Upcoming HSR Events Before the Collab

Ellen and Astra Yao are still a version away, so here is everything on the calendar between now and Version 4.8.

Version 4.7 Special Program: October 30

• Title: "Now, Lay Laughter to All Stars"
• Time: October 30, 19:30 (UTC+8), on the official YouTube and Twitch channels
• Story theme: "The Death of Aha!", teased through the "The Laughter Outsmarts miHoYo" web series
• Special Programs usually bring redeem codes and the full Version 4.7 reveal, so it is worth tuning in

Version 4.7 login bonus

• Log in during Version 4.7 to claim the new Trailblaze Fashion headwear "Elation Proxy"

Interastral Peace Gala: One Take

• The current audition event still runs until November 11, with Tracks of Destiny and Stellar Jade among its rewards. Our Interastral Peace Gala guide covers every reward.

Version 4.6 Phase II warps: until November 10

• Pearl (Elation: Ice) and Mortenax Blade (Nihility: Fire) are on their limited banners until November 10, 15:00 (server time)
• If you are deciding between them and saving for the collab, our Pearl pull or save analysis can help

Version 4.7 release

• Version 4.7 is expected to follow right after the 4.6 banners end on November 10, with the exact date set to be confirmed in the Special Program

Version 4.8: Ellen and Astra Yao

• Expected around December 22 to 23, based on the usual patch cycle

How to Prepare for Ellen and Astra Yao

1. Watch the 4.7 Special Program on October 30 for codes and the next version's plans.
2. Save your Stellar Jade through Versions 4.6 and 4.7. Our F2P Stellar Jade guide shows where to find every free source.
3. Finish Interastral Peace Gala before November 11.
4. Log in during 4.7 for the free Elation Proxy headwear.
5. Wait for the kit reveals before deciding between Ellen and Astra Yao.

Ellen and Astra Yao are officially on their way to the Astral Express. Keep your Jade safe, catch the 4.7 livestream on October 30 and get ready for the collab in Version 4.8.

If you want an account with more 5-star characters already unlocked, you can explore trusted Honkai Star Rail Accounts, keep your daily training and events on track with reliable Honkai Star Rail Hourly Services, or clear tough endgame content faster through dependable Honkai Star Rail Boosting.

GameMarket.gg is a trusted digital marketplace for everything gaming-related. We serve the gaming community by providing secure access that enhances every gaming journey.