The new endgame mode, Apocalyptic Shadow, is coming to Honkai: Star Rail, starting with version 2.3. Here’s everything you need to know about this mode.
Honkai: Star Rail introduced a new permanent game mode during the 2.3 livestream of the game called the Apocalyptic Shadow. This guide delves into the Apocalyptic Shadow, a challenging game mode introduced in the Version 2.3 update. We’ll cover everything you need to know, from participation requirements to gameplay mechanics and rewards.
Apocalyptic Shadow Overview
Apocalyptic Shadow is a high-difficulty mode where players face off against powerful materializations of bosses encountered in previous battles. This mode tests your strategic prowess and combat skills, offering substantial rewards for those who succeed. Dr. Edward has struck a deal with a member of the mysterious Creed Exequy, seeking traces of the shapeless prince in your deadly struggles.
This game mode will be permanently available starting version 2.3.
Apocalyptic Shadow
How to Participate
- Equilibrium Level: Players must be at Equilibrium Level 3 or above.
- Early Access: This mode can be experienced in advance through the Finality’s Vision function.
Gameplay Mechanics
![Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (1) Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (1)](https://i0.wp.com/www.levelpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Apocalyptic-Shadow-3.png)
Gameplay Mechanics
Boss Challenges
![Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (2) Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (2)](https://i0.wp.com/www.levelpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Core-Traits-Apocalyptic-Shadow.png)
- Materializations: Each phase introduces two boss materializations with unique core traits and increasing difficulty.
- Structure: Each phase of Apocalyptic Shadow features two bosses, presented across four difficulties.
- Boss Core Traits: Each boss has unique core traits that affect their behavior and strategies for defeating them. The Core Traits are the key to defeating the boss.
- Consultation: Players can consult the Boss Guides before and during battles for strategic insights. This guide provides tips and tactics for overcoming each boss’s specific traits. This can be seen at the upper right of your screen.
- Victory Conditions: To clear a difficulty, players must defeat both bosses. Points are awarded based on the percentage of the boss’s remaining HP and the remaining action value.
- Refresh Cycle: Bosses and rewards are regularly updated.
Gameplay Mechanics
Stage Effects and Buffs
- Ruinous Embers: Each period introduces unique stage effects that impact the current battle phase. These effects vary and add a layer of strategy to each fight.
- Finality’s Axiom Buffs: Players can select buffs for their team before challenging a boss. These buffs are updated with each new phase, providing different strategic options.
Gameplay Mechanics
Points System
![Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (3) Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (3)](https://i0.wp.com/www.levelpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Action-Value-Points-Apocalyptic-Shadow.png)
- Action Value Timers: Points are deducted based on actions taken by allies and enemies. Managing these timers efficiently is crucial for maximizing points.
- Calculation Factors: Final points depend on the boss’s remaining HP and the action value left at the end of the battle. Higher HP and action values yield more points.
- Node Challenges: Each difficulty level consists of two battles (Node 1 and Node 2). Your final points are the sum of points earned in both nodes.
![Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (4) Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (4)](https://i0.wp.com/www.levelpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Scoring-System-Apocalyptic-Shadow.png)
Gameplay Mechanics
Retry Challenges
- Team Recording: The team composition is recorded for future attempts upon stage completion.
- Restrictions: Team members, Light Cones, and Relics cannot be changed when retrying a node, though their levels and stats will update to the latest state.
- Replace Lineup: Players can re-edit their team lineup before retrying nodes, resetting the points for those nodes but preserving the historical record.
![Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (5) Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (5)](https://i0.wp.com/www.levelpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Replace-Lineup-Apocalyptic-Shadow.png)
Gameplay Mechanics
Quick Unlock
- Highest Difficulty Record: The highest difficulty passed with three stars is recorded.
- Immediate Unlocks: Upon a new period start, past difficulties cleared with 3-stars are immediately unlocked.
- Direct Challenges: Players can directly challenge the highest recorded difficulty to receive all prior rewards.
Rewards
Apocalyptic Shadow offers a variety of rewards to incentivize participation and successful completion of challenges. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the rewards you can earn:
![Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (7) Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (7)](https://i0.wp.com/www.levelpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Item_Jade_Feather.webp)
Jadefeather
![Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (8) Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (8)](https://i0.wp.com/gachahq.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Wuthering-Waves-Advanced-Resonance-Potion.png)
Lucent Afterglow
![Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (9) Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (9)](https://i0.wp.com/www.levelpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/travelers_guide-hsr.webp)
Traveler’s Guide
![Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (10) Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (10)](https://i0.wp.com/www.levelpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Item_Refined_Aether-hsr.webp)
Refined Aether
![Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (11) Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (11)](https://i0.wp.com/www.levelpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Item_Lost_Crystal.webp)
Lost Crystal
Rewards
Nether Puppet Event
After clearing Difficulty 2 for the first time, players are rewarded with:
![Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (12) Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (12)](https://i0.wp.com/www.levelpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Character_Xueyi_Icon.webp)
Xueyi (4✯ character)
![Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (13) Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (13)](https://i0.wp.com/www.levelpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Item_Stellar_Jade-hsr.webp)
300 Stellar Jades
![Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (14) Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (14)](https://i0.wp.com/www.levelpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Item_Self-Modeling_Resin-hsr.webp)
Self-Modeling Resin
Schedule
Schedule
Version 2.3
![Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (15) Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (15)](https://i0.wp.com/www.levelpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Apocalyptic-Shadow-Schedule.png)
The first Apocalyptic Shadow on 2.3 will start on June 18, 2024 (UTC-5), when version 2.3 drops and it will run until August 5, 2024 4:00 AM (Server time).
Schedule
Buffs (Version 2.3)
Stormwind Knight
When an enemy with Steadfast Safeguard is Weakness Broken, recover Skill Points for all allies and activate their Ultimates. Increases the Weakness Break DMG received by all enemies by 15% and additionally increases Super Break. DMG received by 25%.
Node 1 Buffs
![Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (16) Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (16)](https://i0.wp.com/www.levelpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Sundered-Paradise-Apocalyptic-Shadow.png)
Sundered Paradise
Increases all allies’ Break Effect by 50%. After dealing Super Break DMG to enemies, increases SPD by an amount equal to 40% of current SPD, lasting until the next action.
![Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (17) Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (17)](https://i0.wp.com/www.levelpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Moment-of-Termination.png)
Moment of Termination
Increases DMG dealt by all allies’ Ultimates by 50%. After defeating an enemy target, the attacker’s action is Advanced Forward by 25%.
![Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (18) Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (18)](https://i0.wp.com/www.levelpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Persistence-of-Decay.png)
Persistence of Decay
Before enemy units with Steadfast Safeguard are Weakness Broken, tally the amount of DoT they receive. When a unit is Weakness Broken, deal to this unit Additional DMG equal to 170% of the tallied DoT
Node 2 Buffs
![Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (19) Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (19)](https://i0.wp.com/www.levelpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Sundered-Paradise-Apocalyptic-Shadow.png)
Sundered Paradise
Increases all allies’ Break Effect by 50%. After dealing Super Break DMG to enemies, increases SPD by an amount equal to 40% of current SPD, lasting until the next action.
![Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (20) Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (20)](https://i0.wp.com/www.levelpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Ashen-Battleground.png)
Ashen Battleground
Increases DMG dealt by all allies’ Basic ATK and Skills by 50%. After defeating an enemy target, the attacker’s action is Advanced Forward by 25%,
![Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (21) Honkai: Star Rail Apocalyptic Shadow Guide - Level Push (21)](https://i0.wp.com/www.levelpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pursuing-Apocalypse.png)
Pursuing Apocalypse
Before enemy units with Steadfast Safeguard are Weakness Broken, tally the amount of follow-up attack DMG they receive. When a unit is Weakness Broken, deal to this unit Additional DMG equal to 200% of the tallied DoT
Cheska Deia Rodil
Cheska Deia Rodil is a Gaming News and Guides Writer at Level Push. She is a Computer Science graduate and has been into technology and gaming ever since. She usually plays casual games like Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail but she is also in for a challenge playing some PvP games like Mobile Legends and Teamfight Tactics. Get in touch with Cheska here: [emailprotected]