Version 4.6 "Before the Moon Rises, Dance With the Beast" runs from 2026-09-28 to 2026-11-11 06:00, and the new five-star Pearl (Elation, Ice) is a defensive unit who spends Applause to shield the whole team and whose Ultimate advances one ally's action (source: HSR 4.6 update notice, 2026-09-28). This HSR character ranking-angled guide does not rank anyone; it answers how Pearl pulls the rotation together. If you only want tiers, the note on HSR character strength below explains how to read them.
| Item | Verdict | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Window | 2026-11-02 04:00 to 2026-12-14 03:59 | 4.6 update notice |
| Core buff | Ultimate = 5 Laughing Points; Aha turn counts 20 per cycle | Same |
| Key unit | Pearl (Elation, Ice): shield, advance, cleanse | Same |
| Team shell | Pearl + two fast-Ultimate DPS + buffer | Buff mechanics |
| Worth building Pearl | Build if you lack a sustain slot; skip with a mature shielder | Verdict section |
HSR 4.6 Natural Selection Snapshot
适用版本： 4.6 "Before the Moon Rises, Dance With the Beast" (launched 2026-09-28, ends 2026-11-11 06:00)
Timing and rotation rules
"Natural Selection" opens 2026-11-02 04:00 and closes 2026-12-14 03:59; the previous rotation "Crossing the River of Lives" ended at 03:59 the same morning (source: 4.6 update notice). If you play right after reset, confirm you are in the new rotation and not the old one.
The other two modes running now
"Apocalyptic Shadow: Dominion of Oblivion" runs 2026-10-05 04:00 to 2026-11-16 03:59: breaking the weakness of an enemy with Fortified Defense removes party crowd control, advances all allies, and grants Aha an extra turn worth a fixed 10 points, while enemies take 25% more Ultimate damage and 15% more Elation damage. "Pure Fiction: Image as Text" runs 2026-10-19 to 2026-11-30 and grants 1 extra Fighting Spirit whenever you apply a debuff, up to 10 times per enemy (source: same).
HSR Natural Selection Mechanics: Points and Aha Turns
Laughing Points are a resource, not a score
The buff is explicit: casting an Ultimate grants 5 Laughing Points, and every cycle Aha gains an extra turn worth a fixed 20 points that does not consume them (source: 4.6 update notice). Points drive extra turns here. Your job is to spin Ultimates faster, not to raise a single damage number.
A correction worth making: this is not "more damage wins", it is "more Ultimates wins". A fast-Ultimate support can be worth more than a higher-panel slow DPS.
What Pearl actually does
Pearl spends Applause to shield the party, her Ultimate advances one ally's action, and under conditions she grants that ally an extra turn loaded with Laughing Points and Applause, while healing the team and cleansing debuffs (source: 4.6 update notice). She covers sustain, action advance and cleanse in one slot, which is exactly what this rotation rewards.
Relics and light cones
4.6 adds two Cavern Relic sets and the light cone "Colors for Tomorrow (Elation)" (source: 4.6 update notice). Pearl scales on DEF and HP; exact set bonuses follow the in-game text. Prioritise light cones with DEF or Energy Regeneration rather than chasing a five-star.
HSR Natural Selection Team Compositions
| Team | Lineup | Logic | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pearl Elation | Pearl + Elation DPS + buffer + healer | Shields buy turns, points feed Aha | Floor 12 first half |
| Fast Ultimate | Two Ultimate DPS + Pearl + battery | Maximise Ultimate frequency | Floor 12 second half |
| Budget | Pearl + permanent DPS + two supports | Three stars only | Floor 11 and below |
Rotation for the Pearl team
Shield first, run one DPS cycle, then Pearl's Ultimate to advance the carry, who immediately bursts. The trade-off is advancing the DPS or the support; pick the DPS, since every extra Ultimate is another 5 points.
Why the fast-Ultimate team wants a battery
This rotation only counts Ultimates, and a battery shortens every cycle. It also keeps Pearl's shield uptime continuous, which lowers the survival pressure rather than raising it.
HSR Pearl Resource Budget
Character and light cone costs
| Item | Scale | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ascension | Six stages | Per in-game screen |
| Traces | Ultimate and talent first | Her value is the Ultimate |
| Relics | DEF and HP main stats | New 4.6 sets |
| Light cone | Four-star is fine | DEF or energy focus |
Exact material counts live in the in-game upgrade screen; the notice gives kits and new relic names only.
Free pulls still on the table
The 4.6 "Starhunt Gift" login event pays 10 Star Rail Special Passes across seven days, and "Subdue the Gluttony" unlocks 18 toy vouchers, 500 Stellar Jade and a commemorative medal (source: 4.6 update notice). These are fixed income that does not change who you pull, but it changes how many pulls you have left at month end.
Where do the new relics farm fastest?
The new sets come from the 4.6 stage "Corrosion Cavern: Path of the Ingenue" (source: 4.6 update notice). Farm Pearl's DEF set first, then the DPS sets, because she is the engine of this rotation's buff.
Is HSR Pearl Worth Building?
Verdict: build her if you lack a sustain slot and plan to push this rotation; borrow a friend's if you already run a mature shielder.
- No stable sustain: build. One slot covers shielding, action advance and cleanse.
- Mature shielder: skip. The rotation does not require Pearl, and the fast-Ultimate team clears without her.
- New account: build. Her kit is simple and forgiving, which makes her a good first five-star sustain.
HSR Natural Selection Combat Tips
Splitting Floor 12
Run the Pearl Elation team in the first half to absorb high-pressure waves, and the fast-Ultimate team in the second half to stack points. Do not try to use Pearl in both halves; the mode locks teams.
Spending Aha's extra turn
The extra turn does not consume points, so save it for a damage window. Triggering it on a broken or defence-shredded target is worth far more than firing it on turn one.
Common mistakes
- Treating Laughing Points as score and ignoring Ultimate frequency.
- Running Pearl without energy support, so shields fall out of sync.
- Reusing one lineup across both halves and clearing only half the floors.
HSR Natural Selection FAQ
When does Natural Selection end?
A: 2026-12-14 03:59, after opening on 2026-11-02 04:00 (source: 4.6 update notice).
Can I full-star it without Pearl?
A: Yes. The buff only checks Ultimate frequency, so the fast-Ultimate team clears without her, just with tighter survival.
How many points does one Ultimate give?
A: 5. Each cycle Aha also gets an extra turn worth a fixed 20 points that does not consume them.
What main stats does Pearl want?
A: DEF and HP. Her shield scales with Applause, so damage stats return very little.
Action Checklist
- Confirm you are in "Natural Selection" on the morning of November 2.
- Build Pearl's DEF set before farming DPS relics.
- Add at least one battery to shorten Ultimate cycles.
- Save Aha's extra turn for a break or shred window.
- Finish the seven-day login for 10 free Special Passes.
Version updates will be reflected in this guide; more current data and build sheets live in the GameHub guide section .