the 4.6 Memory of Chaos cycle is now "Survival of the Fittest", running from November 2, 04:00 to December 14, 03:59. The field effect grants 5 Joke Points whenever an ally uses an Ultimate, and at the start of each cycle Aha gets a free extra turn that counts as a fixed 20 Joke Points (source: official 4.6 update notes, 2026-09-28).
Applicable version: 4.6 "Before the Moon Rises, Dance With the Beast" (live 2026-09-28)
Quick look at this cycle
| Item | Verdict | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Current cycle | Survival of the Fittest, 11/02 04:00 – 12/14 03:59 | Official 4.6 notes |
| Field effect | Ultimate grants 5 Joke Points | Same |
| Each cycle start | Aha gets an extra turn worth 20 fixed Joke Points | Same |
| Previous cycle | Life's Crossing ended 11/02 03:59 | Same |
| Do this first | Build Ultimate frequency, not Joke damage | Hands-on judgement |
How Joke Points work this cycle
Two lines, read separately. First, "when an ally uses an Ultimate, gain 5 Joke Points" — one-time value, any character, not tied to the Elation path. Second, "at the start of each cycle, Aha immediately gains one extra turn counting as a fixed 20 Joke Points, and that turn does not consume Joke Points" (source: official 4.6 notes).
What 5 points per Ultimate means
Joke Point income is now explicitly tied to Ultimate casts. That changes team building: instead of stacking Elation damage, stack Ultimate frequency, which means energy regeneration and action advance.
Aha's free turn is not worthless
It is 20 fixed points that cost nothing. The more cycles a fight runs, the more it pays. In a one-cycle clear you will barely notice it.
Correction: cycle economy, not Joke damage
The common misread is "this is an Elation patch, so stack Elation". The official text pays 5 Joke Points per Ultimate cast, which rewards cast count, not Elation DMG%. Unless your carry is Elation-path, prioritize energy.
Why Pearl is the core of this cycle
Pearl is the 4.6 five-star Elation/Ice defensive unit. She consumes "Good Show" stacks to shield the whole team, her Ultimate advances one ally's action, and under certain conditions grants that ally an extra turn loaded with Joke Points and Good Show, while also healing the team and cleansing debuffs (source: official 4.6 notes). Three keywords matter: shield, action advance, extra turn. The last two map directly onto this cycle's Joke Point income.
Pearl's slot
Her value is tempo, not damage. Action advance compresses the Ultimate loop, and the extra turn generates Joke Points directly. In Survival of the Fittest she is a tempo unit, not a DPS.
Without Pearl
Use any existing sustain or defensive slot and treat Ultimate frequency as priority one: energy ropes, action-advance Light Cones, self-charging characters. This cycle does not lack damage, it lacks turns.
Team shape
Standard shape is carry, sub-DPS, tempo unit, sustain. The tempo unit feeds Ultimates to the carry; the sustain keeps the team from being interrupted. With Pearl, she covers tempo and sustain in one slot, freeing slot four for pure damage.
Apocalyptic Shadow "Dominating Oblivion": clear it before November 16
Dominating Oblivion runs from October 5, 04:00 to November 16, 03:59. Its field effect: when an enemy with Fortified Defense has its weakness broken, the whole team is cleansed of crowd control, gains action advance, and Aha immediately gains an extra turn counting as a fixed 10 Joke Points. Additionally all enemies take 25% more Ultimate damage and 15% more Elation damage (source: official 4.6 notes).
Catching the break window
The trigger requires breaking Fortified Defense, so plan your toughness damage: who breaks, and who moves first after. The payoff is a team-wide cleanse plus action advance, essentially a free team turn.
Using the 25% Ultimate bonus
It is a separate multiplier and follows the same logic as Survival of the Fittest: this patch rewards Ultimates. Do not hoard them as a panic button.
Where do I farm the new 4.6 Relics fastest?
4.6 adds two Cavern Relic sets, "Thespian of the Star-Studded Dream" and "Heretic of the Devoured Fruit", farmed in the new stage "Corrosion Cavern: Path of the Minstrel" (source: official 4.6 notes). Pick that cavern, spend 40 Trailblaze Power per run, and expect two Relics per run (check in-game values).
Who should switch
Look at substats before set bonuses. If a character already has a well-rolled four-piece, re-farming can be worse than finishing the old set. The real candidates are characters whose current set effect does not match their path.
Farming rhythm
One run a day at 40 Power is 280 a week, seven runs, fourteen Relics. That is enough to find one usable base set. Do not dump a full Power bar in one day.
Resource planning: Stellar Jade and passes
Three confirmed freebies in 4.6: the seven-day check-in gives 10 Star Rail Special Passes, the outfit "Moonlit Blossom" is 2,680 Stellar Jade on discount and returns to 3,280 afterward, and the Devourer events unlock 18 Arcade Vouchers plus 500 Stellar Jade (source: official 4.6 notes).
Take the freebies first
10 Special Passes plus 500 Jade is roughly half a ten-pull in value, and neither requires pulling. Log in and play the events.
Is the 2,680 Jade outfit worth it
It is cosmetic with no stats. If you plan to pull in November, keep the Jade: a ten-pull is 1,600 Jade, so 2,680 is closer to 17 pulls of budget.
Is Pearl worth pulling?
Verdict: pull for tempo, skip if you lack damage
Pearl's entire value is action advance, extra turns and shielding. If your team stalls on turn count in floor 12, she is the direct fix. If your problem is damage numbers, she changes nothing.
Already full-star accounts
For accounts already clearing full stars, Pearl is a comfort upgrade, not a requirement. There is no leaderboard.
New and returning players
New players should fix carry and sustain first. Pearl is a defensive unit with cleansing and shielding, which helps low-investment accounts a lot, but only once you have damage to protect.
FAQ
When does Survival of the Fittest end?
A: December 14, 03:59. It starts November 2 at 04:00, about six weeks.
Is it 5 Joke Points per Ultimate or per hit?
A: 5 per Ultimate cast. The official wording is "gain 5 Joke Points when an ally uses an Ultimate", not per damage instance.
Does Aha's 20-point turn consume points?
A: No. The official notes say the extra turn does not consume Joke Points.
How many new Relics can I farm per day?
A: About 12. At 40 Power per run and a full bar, that is six runs, and 280 Power a week is seven runs.
What ends on November 11?
A: Two things: "Love, Ghosts and Robots" ends at 03:59, and the Devourer event at 06:00 (source: official 4.6 notes).
Action list for this week
- Before November 11, 03:59: clear the "Love, Ghosts and Robots" rewards.
- Before November 11, 06:00: finish the Devourer event for 18 Arcade Vouchers and 500 Jade.
- Before November 16, 03:59: wrap up Dominating Oblivion with a break-focused team.
- Relics: one 40-Power run a day in Path of the Minstrel, filter for crit substats first.
- Pulls: Pearl only if you need tempo; otherwise bank Jade for the next banner.
Field effects and character adjustments are tracked on GameHub's Star Rail section, and gghubs.com keeps past Memory of Chaos team sheets for comparison.