The livestream has spoken, and the whispers among the crew were true. We're heading back to Penacony! After the spectacle of the Wardance Festival on the Xianzhou Luofu, I was starting to miss the dreamlike chaos of the Planet of Festivities. Version 2.6 is finally here, and while it might not be as heavy on the main story as some patches, it’s packed with new faces, fresh maps, and events that promise a truckload of Stellar Jade. I'm already saving up, not just for the new arrival, but for a chance at some of those incredible rerun characters too. It feels like a perfect patch to relax, explore, and build up my roster before whatever big story beats Version 2.7 has in store for us.
The update kicked off right on schedule on October 23rd, proving all those delay rumors wrong. HoYoverse is sticking to their reliable six-week cycle, and I, for one, am grateful for the consistency. It lets me plan my resource farming and pulls without any nasty surprises. Waking up to the update ready to download felt like a gift, especially knowing we'd be diving into a brand new corner of Penacony I’d only heard rumors about.
The Star of the Show: Rappa Takes the Stage
All eyes are on the new 5-star character, Rappa. She’s a Galaxy Ranger from Penacony, and her design alone had me intrigued. But her kit is what really sold me. As an Imaginary character on the Path of Erudition, she’s built to handle crowds. In a game where some battles can feel like a slog against multiple enemies, a dedicated AoE specialist is always welcome.
What makes her unique is her focus on Break DMG. Her Ultimate is the real showstopper. When she enters her 'Sealform' state, she doesn't just hit hard—she becomes a Toughness-shredding machine. The fact that she can reduce Toughness on enemies even if they don't have an Imaginary Weakness is a game-changer. It opens up so many team compositions. Her Talent then kicks in, dealing massive extra Break DMG when that Toughness finally breaks. I’ve been testing her with Ruan Mei for extra Break efficiency, and the results are explosive. She feels like a perfect Imaginary counterpart to characters like Firefly, offering a different but equally satisfying flavor of destruction.
Banner Strategy: A Feast of Choices
The banner lineup for 2.6 is honestly stacked, giving players like me some tough decisions. Here’s the breakdown:
Phase 1 (October 23 - November 13):
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New Character: Rappa (5★, Erudition, Imaginary)
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Rerun: Dan Heng - Imbibitor Lunae (5★, Destruction, Imaginary)
This phase is a dream for Imaginary DPS lovers. Imbibitor Lunae remains one of the most powerful strikers in the game. Yes, his Skill Point hunger is legendary, but paired with a good support like Sparkle, he’s virtually unstoppable. Choosing between pulling for the new hotness (Rappa) or the established king of damage (Imbibitor Lunae) is a classic gacha dilemma.
Phase 2 (November 13 - December 4):
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Rerun 1: Aventurine (5★, Preservation, Imaginary)
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Rerun 2: Acheron (5★, Nihility, Lightning)
Phase 2 is where my Stellar Jade is truly in danger. Acheron redefined what a Nihility character could be—she’s not just a debuffer, she’s a main DPS who nukes the battlefield with her devastating Ultimate. Aventurine, on the other hand, is arguably the best shielder we have. In a meta that sometimes favors prevention over cure, having him on your team is the ultimate comfort pick. The 4-star rate-ups here are great too, with March 7th (Preservation), Sampo, and Pela getting a boost.
Don’t forget the Light Cone banners! Each phase features the signature Light Cones for the featured 5-stars. If you're committing to a character, their signature LC is often a massive power spike.
Exploring the Halls of Paperfold University
The new Trailblaze Continuance quest brings us to Paperfold University, a whole new area within Penacony. Stepping into its ornate, paper-themed halls was surreal. The story has us attending an academic seminar, which sounds boring until you realize the guest list includes ninjutsu masters and the elusive Mr. Reca! Of course, it wouldn't be Penacony without chaos. The campus is overrun by mischievous Slumbernana Monkeys and new enemy types that kept me on my toes.
The quest also dropped some tantalizing hints about the future. There were subtle threads pointing toward Sunday, who’s been confirmed as a playable character coming in Version 2.7. It’s these little connections that make the world feel so alive and intertwined.
Events & Endgame: There's Always Something to Do
If there’s one thing 2.6 isn’t lacking, it's activities. The flagship event, "Sound Hunt Ninjutsu Inscription," is a blast. I got to live out my rockstar fantasy by managing a band, with Rappa heavily involved in the storyline. Gathering sound bits, composing music, and prepping for a live show was a fun change of pace from constant combat. The rewards were fantastic:
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A free 4-star Light Cone: Ninja Record: Sound Hunt (and all its Superimposition materials!)
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Tracks of Destiny
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Self-Modeling Resin
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A generous pile of Stellar Jade 💎
But that's not all! The event roster is full:
| Event Name | Description | Key Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Mr. Cold Feet’s Pop-Up Shop | Limited-time shop with rare items | Credits, Upgrade Materials |
| Shadow of the Ranger | Combat challenge event | Stellar Jade, Tracks of Destiny |
| Garden of Plenty | Double drops for Calyxes! | Farm efficiency boost |
| Gifty of Odyssey | Daily login bonus | Free pulls, resources |
For endgame players, the Simulated Universe gets its third major expansion: Unknowable Domain. This new mode introduces unique combat rules centered around "scepters" that you upgrade as you progress. It’s a fresh challenge that requires new strategies, which I always appreciate.
Quality of Life & Preparing for the Future
Beyond the flashy new content, 2.6 adds important groundwork. A new Stagnant Shadow activity now drops Chordal Mirage, the ascension material for Imaginary characters. This is a lifesaver for leveling up Rappa, Imbibitor Lunae, or Aventurine. Furthermore, two new Relic sets have been added, giving us more options to fine-tune our builds and experiment with new playstyles.
Sitting here in 2025, looking back at Version 2.6, it was a brilliantly paced update. It wasn't about universe-shattering revelations, but about deepening the world of Penacony, introducing a fun and powerful new character, and giving us a treasure trove of resources. It felt like a calm, content-rich breath before the storm that later patches would bring. The mix of exploration, story teasers, rewarding events, and a stellar banner lineup made it one of my favorite patches to just play in, without the pressure of a frantic, plot-heavy rush. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some monkeys to chase out of a university library.