Honkai: Star Rail version 4.7 will release with a range of new and exciting additions. One of these new additions includes Affinitive Eidolons also known by members of the community as Ex Eidolons. This new system provides select characters with an extra skill as well as new animations.
These Affinitive Eidolons are a new system in Honkai: Star Rail that provides players with what is essentially an “extra” eidolon. However, while these are Eidolons, they do not directly count as an “E7”. Instead, Affinitive Eidolons are their own seperate upgrade while still mainly acting as a “whale upgrade” with their primary method of aquisition being indirectly through purchasing.
When an Affinitive Eidolon has been activated, the skills menu will change to adjust to the new eidolon. The upcoming update will only feature 1 new Eidolon for 3 characters with more likely in future versions.
How do you Obtain Affinitive Eidolons in Honkai: Star Rail?
Affinitive Eidolons can be obtained in 2 ways that we know of so far. The first way is for free during the 4.7 update and the second is by spending a certain amount of pulls on the limited time skin banner. Although we do not currently know how many pulls will gain you the Affinitive Eidolon we can expect that you will gain a currency in order to unlock the new eidolon or will be given an option as to which one you want to unlock after a certain amount of pulls has been reached.
One thing to note is that the limited time skin banner gets more expensive each time you do a pull.
What Happened to Novaflares?
While Affinitive Eidolons are a new upgrade system to older characters, rumours indicate that they are expected to be an alternate type of upgrade to Novaflares but not entirely replacing the Novaflare system.
That being said, only time will tell whether Novaflares will actually be released for old characters still in the future or if future characters may recieve both at once with the Novaflare enhancing old skills and an Affinitive Eidolon providing a new skill.
Which Characters are Receiving Affinitive Eidolons?
There are currently 3 characters who will be receiving affinitive eidolons in version 4.7. Those characters include:
Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae Affinitive Eidolon
Moonset Stills the Deep [AoE] – Increases the Squama Sacrosancta limit by 1. For every 5 Skill Point(s) consumed by allies, Dan Heng • Imbibitor Lunae launches a Follow-Up ATK, increasing DMG dealt by this unit by 200%, lasting for 3 turns. Then, deals Imaginary DMG equal to 400% of Dan Heng • Imbibitor Lunae’s ATK to all enemies, and this unit gains 1 Squama Sacrosancta.
Acheron Affinitive Eidolon
A Glance Through Rime to Bone [AoE] – When a teammate attacks an enemy target with “Crimson Knot,” Acheron deals 1 instance of Lightning Additional DMG equal to 100% of this unit’s ATK to the target and launches a Follow-Up ATK, dealing Lightning DMG equal to 900% of Acheron’s ATK to all enemies, then gains 1 point(s) of Slashed Dream and inflicts 1 stack(s) of “Crimson Knot” on the enemy target with the most “Crimson Knot.”
This effect can trigger up to 1 time(s) per turn. The trigger count resets at the start of Acheron’s turn.
Jing Yuan Affinitive Eidolon
One Quiet Cup of Thunder [Enhance] – The Max Hits Per Action for “Lightning-Lord” increases by 20. When Lightning-Lord’s Hits Per Action reach the limit, it immediately takes action. At the start of combat and after every 1 time(s) Lightning-Lord takes action, Lightning-Lord is enhanced, granting Jing Yuan a 200% DMG Boost. When he uses his Skill/Ultimate, “Lightning-Lord” Hits Per Action increases by an extra 6/12, lasting for 4 turn(s).
Are Affinitive Eidolons Worth It?
With Affinitive Eidolons generally costing real money, its worth can be entirely subjective. Most players should consider this upgrade to be more focused around “whale” players who have already invested heavily into a character. This new upgrade can then further improve some of their favourite characters performance in terms of meta.
Depending on how an Affinitive Eidolon is balanced, a characters weapon, regular Eidolons or investment into new supports could be a more cost-effective upgrade both in terms of real money and stellar jades.
The other concern is powercreep, Honkai: Star Rail is notorious for its powercreep making you question if these upgrades are even worth buying if in a few patches they will fall behind again. For many players, the best overall account investment will be to invest in new units or whatever mechanics are currently being pushed (Elation), but that should not stop you from trying to utilise some of your favourites if they have an Affinitive Eidolon. After all, one this patch will be free from an event and future patches may have more!
