I've been watching the banner schedule like a hawk since February, and the latest whispers from the data miners have finally brought the news I've been hoping for. It looks like Black Swan, the elegant and deadly five-star Wind Nihility character, is finally getting her long-overdue rerun banner in Honkai: Star Rail's upcoming version 2.4. For players like me who missed her initial debut in the "Ripples in Reflection" event warp back in version 2.0, this is the chance we've been waiting for. Her absence from the roster has felt as long and empty as a forgotten melody, but now the symphony is about to begin again.
According to the leaks, Black Swan is slated to appear in the second phase of version 2.4. She won't be alone; she's rumored to share the spotlight with the new character Jiaoqiu, along with some four-star reruns. This is a significant piece of information because it contradicts some earlier speculation that suggested Seele might be getting another rerun instead. It's always wise to treat these leaks like a delicate soap bubble—beautiful to behold but potentially fleeting—until HoYoverse makes the official announcement. Still, the consistency of this particular leak gives me a good dose of hope.
The Banner Drought for Top-Tier Units
Black Swan's return highlights a broader trend in the game's recent update history. She's far from the only powerful character who's been gathering dust in the archives. Let's look at some other fan-favorites who've been waiting in the wings:
| Character | Path | Last Rerun (As of 2026) | Updates Without a Rerun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Wolf | Nihility | Version 1.5 | A staggering 5 updates |
| Kafka | Nihility | Version 2.2 | 4 updates |
| Blade | Destruction | Version 2.2 | 4 updates |
| Dr. Ratio | The Hunt | Version 2.2 | 4 updates |
| Dan Heng - Imbibitor Lunae | Destruction | Early 2025 | Recently Returned |
| Jing Yuan | Erudition | Early 2025 | Recently Returned |
This table shows just how selective the rerun schedule has been. It makes Black Swan's impending return feel even more special and urgent for team-building strategies.
What Makes Black Swan So Special?
For those who haven't had the pleasure of using her, Black Swan isn't just another damage dealer. She's a master of manipulation and delayed devastation, operating like a master weaver slowly threading fate into a tapestry of doom. Here’s a breakdown of her kit that makes her a cornerstone for many DoT (Damage over Time) teams:
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Path & Damage Type: Nihility / Wind.
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Core Mechanic - Arcana: Her Basic Attack and Skill inflict the Arcana effect on enemies. This not only deals Wind DoT but also reduces the target's DEF for three turns. Enemies suffering from Arcana take even more damage from her Wind DoT effects.
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Devastating Ultimate: Her Ultimate deals AoE Wind damage and applies Epiphany for two turns. Enemies with Epiphany take significantly increased damage during their own turn, turning their actions against them.
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Trace Power: Her traces are meticulously crafted to amplify her damage and make applying her Sacrament and Arcana effects more consistent and potent.
Gearing Up for the Memokeeper
To truly unlock her potential, her signature Light Cone, "Reforged Remembrance," is almost as important as the character herself. Its effect is a perfect match for her playstyle:
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It increases her Effect Hit Rate, crucial for reliably landing her debuffs.
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Its passive ability, Prophet, grants stacks whenever she damages enemies affected by temporary effects like Bleed, Wind Shear, or Burn.
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These Prophet stacks provide a dual benefit:
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A direct ATK boost for Black Swan.
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Allows her DoT damage to ignore a percentage of the target's DEF.
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This combination makes her not just a debuffer, but a DEF-ignoring damage powerhouse, especially in teams built around multiple DoT effects.
The Version 2.4 Landscape
The excitement for version 2.4 doesn't stop with Black Swan. The update is shaping up to be a major one for reruns and new faces alike. The first phase is rumored to feature the debut of Yunli and the rerun of the beloved sustain unit Huohuo. For Huohuo fans, this has been a wait since December 2023—her return is as welcome as the first cool breeze on a sweltering summer day. The second phase would then bring us Black Swan and Jiaoqiu. This structured approach gives players time to plan their Stellar Jade expenditure carefully.
If the leaks hold true, version 2.4 is scheduled to arrive in August 2026. This gives the community a clear timeline to start saving. For me, the strategy is clear: I'll be pulling for Huohuo in the first phase to ensure my teams have top-tier healing and energy support, and then I'll throw everything I have left at Black Swan's banner in the second phase. Her unique blend of DEF shred, enemy turn punishment, and scalable DoT damage is a combination too powerful and elegant to miss a second time. The wait has been long, but the stage is finally set for the Memokeeper's return.