Pearl is one of the most intriguing characters to emerge from Honkai Star Rail's Version 4.0 Planarcadia arc. A rank P45 senior manager within the Interastral Peace Corporation's Strategic Investment Department, she holds the distinction of being both a member of the elite Ten Stonehearts and an Intellitron — a mechanical lifeform originating from Planet Screwllum. She currently serves as CEO of Planarcadia and oversees the IPC's operations there.
Quick answer: Pearl is not playable as of Version 4.0 and was absent from the initial Planarcadia drip marketing cycle. She is expected to become playable sometime between Versions 4.5 and 4.7, likely during the Astropolis phase of the 4.x storyline.
Pearl's Role in the IPC and the Ten Stonehearts
Within the IPC's hierarchy, Pearl functions as secretary of the Strategic Investment Department. Like every Stoneheart, she carries a Cornerstone — an extension of Diamond's power granted to each of the ten members. Her first appearance came during the Myriad Celestia Trailer: Stoneheart's Oath Ring: Both Ends of the Scale, where she stood alongside her fellow Stonehearts. During that gathering to decide Aventurine's future, Diamond personally chose Pearl to preside over the proceedings, and she ultimately voted in Aventurine's favor.
Pearl also holds the title of Daikokuzō of Benzaitengoku and has announced that the third stage of the Worlds Reborn Initiative will focus on "artistic innovation" as part of that region's cultural revitalization. Her intellectual curiosity extends to historical conflicts — she reached out to Herta to use the Simulated Universe for gathering intelligence on the Mechanical Emperor's Wars and the Borderstar Trade War. Herta deduced Pearl's Intellitron nature because Genius Society member Screwllum had previously mentioned her.
Pearl's Involvement in the Planarcadia Storyline
Pearl is deeply entangled in the Phantasmoon games that drive much of the Planarcadia narrative. Her original plan was to obtain all the masks and control the entire event, but things went sideways when other Supplicants appeared without her knowledge. Left with only three masks, she pivoted by striking a deal with Silver Wolf, handing over one mask so Silver Wolf could enter the Phantasmoon games.
Whether Pearl will ultimately side with the Nameless or work against them remains unclear. Her pragmatic, calculating nature suggests she could shift allegiances depending on what serves the IPC's interests. The Planarcadia trailblazing missions are expected to explore her motivations in greater depth as the story progresses through the 4.x update cycle.
When Pearl Could Become Playable
Early rumors placed Pearl's playable debut in Version 4.1, but that timeline has been ruled out. The Planarcadia drip marketing campaign did not include Pearl among its featured upcoming characters, which strongly suggests she won't arrive before Version 4.4 at the earliest.
The second half of the 4.x cycle is expected to shift the story to Astropolis, the main hub of the IPC. Given Pearl's central role in the corporation, that phase represents the most logical window for her banner. A playable release somewhere between Versions 4.5 and 4.7 is the current best estimate, though no official confirmation exists.
Kit, Element, Path, and Rarity Expectations
No official details or credible leaks have surfaced regarding Pearl's combat kit, element, rarity, or Path. However, a few reasonable inferences can be drawn from her lore profile.
| Attribute | Status |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Likely 5-star, given her narrative importance as a Stoneheart |
| Lore Path | Preservation (confirmed in lore; all Stonehearts follow this Path) |
| Playable Path | Unconfirmed — could differ from lore Path |
| Element | Unconfirmed; hydromancy or cryomancy has been implied but not verified |
| Kit details | No information available |
Every Stoneheart released so far — Topaz, Aventurine, and Jade — has been a 5-star character, and Pearl's significance to the Planarcadia and broader IPC storylines makes a 4-star rarity extremely unlikely. Her lore Path is Preservation, consistent with the Stonehearts' connection to Diamond, though playable characters sometimes deviate from their lore-associated Path.
Pearl's Appearance and Design
Pearl's visual design leans heavily into aquatic and mermaid motifs. She has long beige hair styled in a hime cut with curtain bangs, a blue mussel shell-shaped headpiece on her forehead, and blue-and-pink fish-like ears. The mechanical seams characteristic of Intellitron bodies are visible on her legs but not on her hands or face, giving her a largely humanoid appearance at first glance. Shell-shaped knee joints are among the more distinctive robotic details in her design.
Her original appearance in the Stoneheart trailer featured a dark blue waistcoat over a white blouse with an ankle-length skirt and a matching coat — a professional, corporate look consistent with the other Stonehearts' formal IPC attire. Her in-game Planarcadia model swaps that suit for a flowing dress with mermaid-inspired frills, which has generated significant community discussion. Some leaked information suggests Pearl may have two models in the story, raising the possibility that her suit design could appear as an alternate outfit or skin.
Voice Cast
| Language | Voice Actor |
|---|---|
| English | Cat Protano |
| Chinese | Su Wan (苏婉) |
| Japanese | Yasuno Kiyono (安野希世乃) |
| Korean | Yeo Yoon-mi (여윤미) |
Cat Protano also voices Misha and Phagousa in Honkai Star Rail, as well as Skirk and Setaria in Genshin Impact. Pearl's Korean voice actor, Yeo Yoon-mi, notably also voices Sangonomiya Kokomi in Genshin Impact — a connection the community has latched onto given the visual similarities between the two characters' aquatic design themes.
Naming Trivia
Pearl is one of only two members of the Ten Stonehearts named after an organic gemstone, the other being Amber. It's an ironic choice for an inorganic Intellitron, though the association between pearls and water aligns neatly with her aquatic visual motifs. Her Chinese name, 真珠 (Zhēnzhū), uses the classical term for pearl, where 真 means "true" and 珠 means "bead."
As the Planarcadia storyline continues to unfold through the 4.x updates, Pearl's true allegiances and eventual playable kit should come into sharper focus. For now, she remains one of the most anticipated characters on the horizon — a Stoneheart with secrets to spare and a story that's only just getting started.
