Before the Tutorial Mission Starts: A 2026 Retrospective on Honkai: Star Rail's Free Nihility Light Cone

In the long history of Honkai: Star Rail updates, Version 1.1 remains a memorable turning point because it gave every participant a free four-star Nihility Light Cone called Before the Tutorial Mission Starts. The weapon arrived as a signature piece for Silver Wolf, yet its value stretched beyond a single character. It was built for Nihility heroes, which meant Silver Wolf herself, the highly awaited Kafka, and several other debuff-oriented characters could make use of it. It was never a five-star rival in raw power. It was, however, a remarkably generous F2P option. In 2026, the original event window is long closed, so the Light Cone is best understood as a legacy reward: accounts that claimed it still own a useful piece of history, while newer players cannot obtain it through the original Starhunt Game.

Version 1.1 did not extend the main campaign with new story missions. Instead, it leaned heavily on limited-time events, and the Starhunt Game became the centerpiece. That event offered leveling materials, Stellar Jade, and other rewards. It also served as the only route to Before the Tutorial Mission Starts. The arrangement made the Light Cone feel like an event souvenir with real combat value. It was not a permanent addition to a standard pool. Once the Starhunt Game ended on June 19, 2023, the weapon and its Superimposition materials became impossible to acquire through the original event. That time-limited design is important for anyone reading about the item in 2026. The guide below is therefore a historical record of how the reward worked, not a promise that the event remains active.

How the Free Light Cone Was Earned

The Starhunt Game was split into two distinct modes. Story Mode contained the missions that sent the Trailblazer through Herta Space Station. Arcade Challenge offered extra objectives and additional rewards. The Light Cone came exclusively from Story Mode. It was locked behind the collection of eight different graffiti pieces that appeared only during that campaign.

The chain began with a text message from Arlan. He wanted to thank the Trailblazer personally for helping him when the Antimatter Legion attacked Herta Space Station. The meeting took place in the Base Zone. After that, the Trailblazer returned to the initial starting zone to welcome Screwllum, who finally made his debut. Once Screwllum left to meet Herta, the Trailblazer spoke with Leonard and began investigating the digital graffiti that Silver Wolf had spread across the station.

The mission Punklorde Mentality then moved to Herta's Office. A short cutscene featured an angry Herta, and Screwllum explained that he needed a variant of the Simulated Universe to better understand Silver Wolf's motives. That activity was set at level 68. Players were advised to catch up with the campaign and bring characters closer to level 70 before starting. The fights inside the scripted Simulated Universe were not especially difficult, so the level requirement was more of a warning than a wall.

After the boss fight and the conclusion of the Simulated Universe sequence, the Story Mode reached its outcome. By that point, the Trailblazer had scanned all eight graffiti pieces while progressing through the quest. The final step was simple. The player opened the event page in the Travel Log, selected the Story Mode button, added the graffiti, and completed the requirement for Before the Tutorial Mission Starts. The Light Cone was then added to the inventory automatically.

Stage	Key action	Reward connection
Start	Answer Arlan's message and meet him in the Base Zone	Opens the Story Mode chain
Investigation	Speak with Leonard and scan digital graffiti	Builds toward the eight-piece requirement
Herta's Office	Talk to Screwllum and enter the scripted Simulated Universe	Advances Punklorde Mentality
Completion	Finish the boss fight and story sequence	Confirms all eight graffiti pieces
Claim	Use the Travel Log event page	Adds the Light Cone to the inventory

Upgrading and Superimposing the Weapon

Obtaining the Light Cone was only the first part of the event. Upgrading it used the usual materials, including Aether and other Light Cones. Superimposition was different. To reach the maximum Superimposition level, players needed an event-exclusive item called Lil' Twisty Bubble Gum. It could only be obtained during the Starhunt Game.

Players could buy up to four of these items. Each one cost 300 Always Smiling. That currency was also event-exclusive, and it came from completing goals in the Starhunt Game. Story Mode provided 300 Always Smiling, but that was not enough for all four Superimposition materials. The remaining currency had to come from Arcade Challenge objectives, which sent players around Herta Space Station to scan graffiti and other objects.

The event shop gave the surplus currency a second purpose. Players could spend what remained on 1x Tracks of Destiny, 15x Void Cast Iron, 10x Traveler's Guide, various Trace materials, and other items. The Starhunt Game was quick to max out, and the Light Cone sat at the center of its reward list. For a limited-time event, it was an unusually clean loop: explore, scan, clear challenges, buy the upgrade item, and walk away with a fully functional four-star Nihility option.

Why the Reward Still Matters in 2026

The 2026 perspective changes the framing. Before the Tutorial Mission Starts is no longer an active freebie. It is a closed chapter from Version 1.1. That does not make it irrelevant. For veteran accounts, it remains a practical F2P Light Cone for Nihility characters, especially when a player wants a dependable option without pulling for a five-star weapon. For newer accounts, it is a reminder of how early Honkai: Star Rail events combined story, exploration, and progression into a single limited-time package.

The event also showed how generous the game could be with path-specific rewards. Silver Wolf received a signature four-star Light Cone that many players could actually claim. Kafka's arrival made the Nihility path even more attractive, and the Light Cone's F2P status gave it lasting value. It was not the strongest weapon in the game. It was, however, one of the most accessible. That combination of modest power and broad availability is why Before the Tutorial Mission Starts still appears in retrospective discussions years later. ⏳