Herta's 5-Star Form Leaks & Simulated Universe Tease: Coming in 2025?

Hey guys! So, Patch 2.6 is right around the corner, landing on October 23rd, and it's bringing us back to the dreamy world of Penacony. The big new area is Paperfold University, where we'll meet new faces like Mr. Reca and Rappa, and try to figure out what this whole 'graduating within a dream' business is about. Of course, there are events like Shadow of the Ranger and Garden of Plenty coming back, plus a free 4-star Light Cone up for grabs. But honestly, the thing that's got me most intrigued is the new Simulated Universe mode, the 'Unknowable Domain.' Rumor has it, this event might be dropping some serious hints about a character we've all been waiting for...

Herta's 5-Star Tease is Getting Real

Okay, let's talk about the puppet master herself, Herta. Her 5-star version hasn't been officially confirmed by HoYoverse yet, but the leaks are getting louder and more detailed. It seems she'll be a whole new unit, similar to how Imbibitor Lunae is a separate entity from Dan Heng, rather than just a Path-swap like March 7th. The artwork used for the new event? That's officially from HoYoverse, and leakers like Ubatcha on Reddit are saying it's a glimpse of Herta's 'true self' – basically, what her 5-star form might look like when she finally drops.

Looking at the design, there are some noticeable differences from her current 4-star puppet form. It's more... refined, I guess? A bit more majestic. It makes you wonder what she's been hiding all this time while we've been running errands for her in the Simulated Universe. The timing feels significant, you know? With the game teasing this art now, it feels like a classic HoYo 'pre-heating' move before a big reveal.

When Can We Expect Her? The 2025 Timeline

So, when is this glorious 5-star Herta gonna grace our pulls? Well, the leaks are pointing to a sooner release than some of us might have thought. A prominent leak on X (formerly Twitter) suggests that both 5-star Herta and the long-rumored character Aglaea are slated for release in Version 3.0. Let's do the math real quick:

• Patch 2.6 starts Oct 23, 2024.

• Each patch is roughly 6 weeks.

• That would put Version 3.0 around February 26, 2025.

Of course, this assumes no delays or schedule changes, but it's a solid estimate. Think about it: we're getting through 2.6, then 2.7 (which is bringing Tingyun's 5-star Fugue form, by the way!), and then 2.8. After that, the road to 3.0 and the potential Herta/Aglaea double feature isn't far off at all. The drip-feed of info is definitely accelerating.

Leaked Gameplay Kit: From Sub-DPS to Main Ice Queen?

Now for the juicy part: how will she play? According to the scattered leaks floating around, 5-star Herta is shaping up to be a powerhouse.

• Element & Role: She's still Ice, but her role seems to have shifted dramatically. The leaks indicate she might be transitioning from a follow-up attack sub-DPS to a main DPS character. That's a huge upgrade!

• Skill Mechanic: Her Skill is said to mark enemies. When marked enemies are hit, they detonate, dealing damage to themselves and adjacent targets. The cool part? This detonation can spread the mark to adjacent enemies, potentially creating a chain reaction of icy explosions. Sounds chaotic and fun!

• Ultimate & Synergy: Her Ultimate allegedly hits all enemies and grants her a buff for her Skill. Furthermore, she's rumored to restore Energy and gain an ATK buff whenever her allies use their Ultimates. This suggests she'll have great synergy in teams that spam Ultimates.

Just imagine the team comps... pairing her with supports that feed her Energy or buff her Attack after their Ults could make her damage output insane. It's a whole different vibe from her current 'wait for the follow-up' playstyle.

A Word of Caution & Final Thoughts

Alright, time for the standard disclaimer. All of this is based on leaks and rumors. Nothing is 100% confirmed until HoYoverse says so. Her design, her kit, even her existence as a 5-star could change or be entirely wrong. We've seen it happen before.

But man, the evidence is piling up. The official artwork tease in 2.6, the consistent leaks about her and Aglaea for 3.0, the detailed kit descriptions... it all points to something big brewing. The pattern is there: Imbibitor Lunae set a precedent, Tingyun's 5-star form is next in line, and Herta feels like the logical big reveal after that.

As we dive into Paperfold University in 2.6, I'll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled in that Simulated Universe: Unknowable Domain. Any little hint or cryptic message about Herta's true nature will have the community buzzing. 2025 is shaping up to be a wild year for Honkai: Star Rail, and if these leaks hold true, our favorite genius puppeteer might just become the star of the show. What do you guys think? Are you saving your Stellar Jades for her potential debut?

Remember: Speculate responsibly, and may your future pulls be ever in your favor! \ud83d\ude09