Honkai: Star Rail Pure Fiction Guide

Pure Fiction is a new challenge mode in Honkai: Star Rail, which you can access in the Exalting Sanctum in Xianzhou Luofu. Though there are only a few stages, it can be surprisingly difficult.

Where do I find Pure Fiction in Honkai: Star Rail?

In order to start Pure Fiction, you must complete the “Youci’s Clever Decor” Adventure Mission first. You will automatically get this mission after you receive a message from Xiyan. Then, just go to the bookstore in Exalting Sanctum. There will be a strange birdcage there, which you can interact with. After you finish the cutscene and the tutorial, you can talk to Youci at any time.

To cut down on travel time in the future, you can Teleport directly to Youci. Remember that Pure Fiction is in front of the bookstore in the Exalting Sanctum. Forgotten Hall and Memory of Chaos is still accessible via the Parlor Car on the Astral Express.

How do I beat Pure Fiction stages?

Pure Fiction is similar to some of the past challenge battles in Honkai: Star Rail. You have endless waves of enemies to deal with and a turn limit. Killing enemies will earn you points, and you have to get a certain number of points to get stars. Like Memory of Chaos, you have to split into two teams. So even if one team gets under 30k points (you have to get 60k total for three stars), you can use your other team to try and reach that number.

Again like in Memory of Chaos, Pure Fiction has certain stage bonuses (Whimsicality). For example, the current bonus will give the enemy Shatter stacks every time you hit them with an Ultimate. These Shatter stacks can explode and deal damage. Even with unbuilt characters you wouldn’t take into Memory of Chaos or Simulated Universe, you can use the stage bonuses to give them a boost. You can also choose Cacophony effects, which play off Whimsicality. Each team can pick a different Cacophony, so make sure you pick according to your needs.

How you clear each Pure Fiction stage in Honkai: Star Rail really depends on your characters. On my end, I had a weird Argenti and Jing Yuan party in stage 3 to take advantage of the Whimsicality and enemy weaknesses. Meanwhile, my Jingliu hyper-carry team was strong and fast enough to get 30k points without needing to use the stage bonuses. Of course, these strategies may change in the future as we get new Whimsicalities.

What do I get for beating Pure Fiction?

Upon clearing Pure Fiction stage 2, you can get a free copy of Lynx. This is a permanent feature in the game, so you don’t have to rush Pure Fiction within Version 1.6 in order to get Lynx. You can also get Jade Feathers, which you can use to exchange for rewards in Jokes Come True. You can access Jokes Come True from either Youci or from Forgotten Hall. Rewards include Lost Crystals, Refined Aethers, Relic Remains, and Self-Modeling Resin.

Honkai: Star Rail is readily available on the PS5, Windows PC, and mobile devices.