Honkai Star Rail 4.3 Phase 2 brings back two limited 5-star characters at once: Phainon, a Physical Destruction main DPS, and Cyrene, an Ice Remembrance support. Both rerun banners run for about three weeks and close right before Version 4.4 arrives, so if your Stellar Jades only stretch to one guaranteed pull, the choice comes down to what your roster actually needs.
Quick answer: If you can only afford one and want the broadest value, pull Phainon. He clears endgame content largely on his own at E0, while Cyrene only reaches her ceiling alongside other Chrysos Heirs and generally wants E2 to feel comfortable.
Phase 2 banner window and characters
Phase 2 opened on June 24, 2026, the same day Phase 1 closed for Mortenax Blade and Yao Guang. Phainon and Cyrene’s banners run until July 14, 2026, which leaves a roughly three-week window before the version cycle changes over.
| Character | Element / Path | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Phainon | Physical Destruction | Main DPS, transformation carry |
| Cyrene | Ice Remembrance | Support, Chrysos Heir amplifier |
Note: these are reruns of limited 5-star characters, so they share the standard limited banner pity track. Any pity you built during Phase 1 carries forward.
Phainon pull value
Phainon transforms through his Ultimate into an enhanced state, where he unloads heavy Skill damage, becomes tankier, and temporarily sidelines his teammates for focused output. He has been a consistent meta DPS since his Version 3.4 debut, and he still ranks among the strongest damage dealers in the current cycle.
His AoE pressure can wipe most enemies in a couple of hits, and he shines hardest against foes weak to Physical. While his Ultimate Zone is active he recovers a portion of his HP, which lets him run sustainless teams. The catch is Coreflame generation: he needs partners like Sunday, Cerydra, Sparkle, or Bronya to keep that enhanced state running, and the free Remembrance Trailblazer slots in for budget setups.
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| High personal damage ceiling with strong Skill multipliers | Relies on Coreflame generation and good supports for full output |
| Self-sustaining and tanky in enhanced form | Enhanced state removes allies from combat in some scenarios |
| Performs well at E0 with accessible teammates | Signature Light Cone helps but is not mandatory |
| Reliable in Memory of Chaos, Pure Fiction, Apocalyptic Shadow, and Anomaly Arbitration | — |
For vertical investment, E2 is his big power spike and usually takes priority over his signature Light Cone, “Thus Burns the Dawn.” Free options such as “On the Fall of an Aeon” and select 4-star cones cover the basics. A premium team looks like Phainon, Sunday, Cerydra, and Huohuo, while an F2P-friendly version runs Phainon, Remembrance Trailblazer, Tingyun, and Lynx.
Cyrene pull value
Cyrene is an Ice Remembrance support built around buffing Chrysos Heirs, the faction that includes Phainon and several other Amphoreus characters. She delivers teamwide damage buffs, True Damage instances, full Ultimate charging on her first Ultimate, and strong Speed support. Her memosprite applies a different blessing to each specific Chrysos Heir, which is what makes her uniquely powerful inside that archetype.
The trade-off is setup cost. Her first Ultimate requires 24 Recollection stacks, which takes time to build, and her kit leans heavily on Speed investment of around 180 or higher. E0 performance can feel underwhelming next to E2, and her Zone effects can be dispelled. Outside Chrysos Heir or heavy Remembrance teams, her value drops sharply.
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Unique buffs tailored for Chrysos Heir teams | Niche outside Chrysos Heir or heavy Remembrance lineups |
| Enables True Damage and strong team amplification | Requires significant Speed investment (180+ recommended) |
| Excellent action economy at high Speed breakpoints | E0 can feel underwhelming compared to E2 |
| Full ally Ultimate charge on her first Ultimate | Zone effects can be dispelled |
If you pull her, E2 is the major upgrade, and her signature Light Cone, “This Love, Forever,” is a noticeable boost for Speed and team buffs. She fits best in Phainon hypercarry teams, as well as Castorice, Mydei, Anaxa, Hyacine, or Evernight lineups.
Phainon vs Cyrene: head-to-head
The core difference is independence. Phainon can carry endgame activities on his own and is built like a DPS, so his value holds even if the rest of your roster is thin. Cyrene cannot clear content alone; she elevates teams you have already invested in, and she only changes her buffs based on which Chrysos Heir she targets.
| Factor | Phainon | Cyrene |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Main DPS | Support / amplifier |
| Clears content alone | Yes | No |
| E0 viability | Strong | Underwhelming; wants E2 |
| Build difficulty | Higher (DPS stats, supports) | Easier, but Speed-hungry |
| F2P friendliness | Good | Conditional |
| Best context | Any account missing Physical DPS | Chrysos Heir / Remembrance teams |
How the two pair together
Cyrene and Phainon work exceptionally well as a pair. Because Phainon is a Chrysos Heir, Cyrene’s memosprite blessing directly raises his damage, feeds True Damage, and improves his team utility. Pulling both in this window lets you assemble a cohesive, high-performing team right away, which is the strongest case for spending heavily this phase.
Which one to pull by account type
| Your situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Missing a strong DPS | Prioritize Phainon |
| Already invested in Chrysos Heirs | Pull both if Jades allow, Cyrene especially at E2 |
| Limited Jades, F2P | Phainon is the safer single pick; skip Cyrene unless you own Phainon |
| Already have both at E0 | Pull only for Eidolons or Light Cones, otherwise save |
The decision ultimately tracks your roster and pity count. Phainon is the broadly valuable rerun that pays off on almost any account, while Cyrene delivers strong but conditional value that peaks beside Phainon and other Chrysos Heirs. Check what your teams are missing before the banners close on July 14, and weigh anything you want to save for later versions against the guaranteed pull in front of you now.
