With the launch of the 2.3 version of Honkai: Star Rail (referred to as “Star Rail” below), acquiring a suitable set of Relics for the new character Stinger has become an essential and pressing need for virtually all players.
To achieve this, the so-called “Inner Circle Relics,” known as “Planar Trinkets,” are an obstacle that cannot be avoided. Prior to the new update, players had to repeatedly go through the “battle→run” cycle in the “Simulated Universe” mode until they reached the end to collect all Planar Trinkets.
For seasoned players with characters like Ruan Mei or Huangquan who excel in speed runs, this was hardly a concern. However, for many newcomers lacking characters and training, it created a vicious circle: new players need Relics to progress, but they need training and Relics to clear the Simulated Universe…
But now, with the introduction of the new “Differential Universe” mode, this is no longer an issue. Not only is it highly random and full of variety, but more importantly, while addressing the pain point of obtaining Inner Circle Relics, the Differential Universe significantly lowers the entry barrier, allowing new players to experience the thrill of fast-paced grinding right from the start – truly a considerate addition.
In terms of rewards, which can be daunting for beginners, the battles and reward acquisition in the Differential Universe are separate. Players simply need to save their weekly progress, then use the configuration from their save file to directly challenge the desired boss and quickly farm any needed Planar Trinkets, enjoying a swift “delivery service” experience.
The time needed to farm a set of Planar Trinkets is now comparable to farming Relic levels
Additionally, in terms of gameplay, the Differential Universe adopts a low-entry rogue-like system. Players choose their initial playstyle or genre and proceed through various random challenges such as combat, rewards, and events, acquiring “Blessings” and “Artifacts” for upgrades. They enjoy the magical synergy of these items while defeating monsters along the way and ultimately claiming their rewards. Rapid evolution and quick relic farming – you deserve it!
If you’ve experienced the Simulated Universe before, the core mechanics of the Differential Universe will be familiar
Building on this, let’s discuss some of the Differential Universe’s unique features. Firstly, players can enter the Differential Universe once their Exploration Level reaches 21, allowing newbies to enjoy the full experience right away; moreover, it introduces a Free Formation feature and a “Number Mapping” system. The former lets players swap out character combinations in their team on the fly, while the latter directly addresses the issue of new players lacking Relics and training.
In terms of design, the Differential Universe also offers more freedom.
For instance, it combines the Fate paths from the Simulated Universe into pairs, forming a bonus mechanism called “Equations.” Players only need to collect the required number of Fates to activate the bonus. This design provides more choices, and since multiple Equations can coexist and take effect simultaneously, it offers tangible strength during gameplay.
Moreover, by collecting certain specific items (Artifacts), players can grant their characters abilities from other Fate paths, creating unconventional playstyles like damage dealers acting as healers or tanks turning into damage outputs – something that would be absurd under normal circumstances.
New events such as reward chests, slot machines, and mini-adventures have also been added to the Differential Universe to provide assistance. The newly introduced “Artifact Tuning Table” thoughtfully allows players to switch rewards and in-game buffs. Even if your game starts poorly, with perseverance and adjustments to your team and bonuses, turning a losing situation around is not impossible.
Aside from first-clear and collection rewards, the Differential Universe also offers Starjade and rare cultivation materials. Unlike the Simulated Universe’s requirement to complete two rounds for full weekly rewards, the Differential Universe is more player-friendly – allowing direct boss challenges for Relics via “Cycle Computation” and completing weekly objectives in one go, providing substantial relief.
Condensed version: Full weekly rewards with just one playthrough
In summary, whether considering actual gameplay or the community’s positive response, Star Rail’s Differential Universe has truly achieved “innovative experience, enjoyment of freedom, multiple reliefs, and generous rewards,” making the game more relaxing to play.
Beyond this, the greater significance of the Differential Universe lies in the continuous adjustment and innovation of gameplay, as the developers strive to make the game more accessible and content more engaging. All these efforts are geared towards providing players with fresher, more captivating gaming experiences.
Therefore, we look forward to seeing even more possibilities in the future for the Simulated Universe mode.