Patch 4.0 has reshaped the meta with the introduction of Ultimate Elation teams centered around Yao Guang and Sparxie. Most guides focus heavily on the new 5★ units — but not every Trailblazer can (or should) pull four limited characters to stay competitive.
That raises an important question:
Which 4★ characters are still worth building in Version 4.0?
With higher enemy HP pools, Punchline mechanics, burst-window optimization, and speed thresholds becoming more important, older 4★ units have shifted in value — some rising dramatically, others quietly falling off.
This guide delivers:
- A ranked meta breakdown
- Role explanations and Elation synergy
- F2P team recommendations
- Investment priority advice
- Budget relic and Light Cone optimization
If you’re building a “budget Elation blueprint,” this is the guide you need.
📑 Table of Contents
- What Makes a 4★ Worth Investing in 4.0?
- S-Tier 4★ Investments (High Meta Value)
- A-Tier 4★ (Strong but Situational)
- 4★ Characters That Fell Off in 4.0
- The 3.0 → 4.0 Value Shift Table
- Best 4★ for Elation Teams
- Best 4★ for F2P Players
- Relic & Light Cone Budget Optimization
- Final Investment Priority List
- FAQ
1️⃣ What Makes a 4★ Worth Investing in 4.0?
Before ranking characters, we need evaluation criteria specific to Version 4.0.
A 4★ is worth building if they provide:
✅ 1. Synergy With Elation & Punchline Mechanics
- Increase overall team action frequency
- Help teams reach 20-stack Aha Instant windows faster
- Amplify damage during 40-stack burst thresholds
✅ 2. Strong SP Economy
Sparxie-heavy teams are SP-hungry. Valuable 4★ units either:
- Generate SP
- Reduce SP pressure
- Deliver high value per SP
✅ 3. Universal Buffs or DEF Shred
With Planarcadia elites showing noticeable HP inflation, percentage-based amplification (DEF shred, ATK buffs) scales far better than flat damage.
Stacking DEF reduction becomes increasingly valuable in 4.0’s high-HP environment.
✅ 4. Sustain That Doesn’t Slow Tempo
Burst windows matter. A sustain unit must:
- Maintain uptime
- Avoid heavy SP drain
- Preserve team action rhythm
✅ 5. Endgame Scalability
A strong 4★ must remain viable in:
- Memory of Chaos
- Pure Fiction
- 4.0 high-HP boss encounters
✅ 6. Eidolon Efficiency
Some 4★ spike at E2, E4, or E6. Others perform well at E0.
Understanding investment efficiency is critical for F2P players.
🛠️ Optimization Note: The 160 SPD Benchmark
In 4.0, many supports (Asta, Hanya, Tingyun) are increasingly being built toward ~160 SPD breakpoints.
Why?
- Improves action cycling
- Helps teams reach Elation thresholds earlier
- Allows burst windows to occur before enemy second-turn mechanics
While not an official rule, this breakpoint has become a practical optimization target for high-tempo Elation teams.
2️⃣ S-Tier 4★ Investments (High Meta Value)
These characters remain elite investments even in a 5★-heavy patch.
🟢 Tingyun — The Evergreen Buffer
Why She’s Still Top Tier
- Universal ATK buff
- Energy funneling accelerates ultimate cycles
- Excellent synergy with burst windows
- Scales perfectly with hypercarry comps
In Elation teams, Tingyun ensures Sparxie and other DPS units hit burst windows more consistently.
Investment Priority
Very high — even at E0.
She remains one of the safest long-term 4★ investments in the game.
🟢 Pela — The DEF Shred Specialist
Why She’s So Valuable in 4.0
- Large DEF reduction on Ultimate
- Scales with all team damage
- F2P-friendly
- Stacks well with other DEF reduction effects
In Elation teams, her DEF shred compounds damage during 40-stack Punchline burst windows.
Why DEF Shred Scales So Well in 4.0
When multiple sources of DEF reduction are combined, overall damage amplification increases significantly. Against HP-inflated elites, percentage-based mitigation reduction provides far more value than flat ATK buffs.
This makes Pela one of the strongest budget amplifiers in high-end 4.0 content.
🟢 Gallagher — The Aggressive Sustain
Gallagher has quietly risen in value.
Why He Works in 4.0
- Ultimate grants 100% Action Advance (he immediately takes another turn)
- High action frequency
- Strong Break synergy
- Does not stall team tempo
His 100% action advance effectively gives him back-to-back turns. While this doesn’t directly create Elation triggers by itself, it increases overall team tempo and helps maintain stacking momentum during burst setups.
Why He’s Important for F2P
He enables aggressive comps without sacrificing sustain, making him one of the most practical 4★ investments in 4.0.
🟢 Hanya — The SP Stabilizer
Hanya has gained new relevance in SP-intensive team compositions.
Why She Matters in 4.0
- Skill applies Burden, allowing allies to recover SP when attacking the marked enemy
- Ultimate grants SPD and ATK buffs
- Helps offset SP-heavy rotations
In Sparxie-centric teams that consume large amounts of SP during burst windows, Hanya can help stabilize rotations without requiring premium SP support.
She’s especially valuable for F2P players who lack Sparkle or other high-end SP enablers.
3️⃣ A-Tier 4★ (Strong but Situational)
These characters are good — but team-dependent.
🟡 Asta — Speed Manipulator
Asta gains relevance in 4.0 due to:
- Teamwide SPD buffs
- Faster action cycling
- Earlier burst window access
However:
- Requires SP management
- Less impactful than DEF shred in HP-heavy content
She’s strong in Elation teams — but needs proper setup.
🟡 March 7th (Hunt) — The Shifu Synergy Pick
March 7th (Hunt) introduces a flexible sub-DPS dynamic.
Why She’s Relevant
- Can designate a “Shifu” to gain charge from their actions
- Gains enhanced attacks through charge generation
- Benefits from high-action teammates
When paired with high-frequency DPS, she cycles quickly and contributes consistent supplemental damage.
While not a primary burst unit, she functions well in tempo-based teams and synergizes with fast Elation rotations.
🟡 Lynx — Cleanse & Stability
- Reliable cleanse
- Solid sustain
- Useful in Memory of Chaos
She competes with stronger premium sustain options and doesn’t accelerate burst windows — but remains viable.
🟡 Sushang / Dan Heng (Hunt)
- Solid early and mid-game DPS
- Functional in budget comps
However, they lack scaling tools compared to burst-amplified 4.0 team structures.
Good stepping stones — not long-term centerpieces.
4️⃣ 4★ Characters That Fell Off in 4.0
This doesn’t mean they’re bad — just less efficient in the current environment.
Units that struggle now:
- Pure single-target DPS without utility
- SP-negative characters without burst payoff
- Characters lacking scaling buffs
With HP inflation and burst-window optimization dominating 4.0, raw flat damage no longer carries teams.
Utility > raw numbers.
5️⃣ The 3.0 → 4.0 Value Shift
| Character | 3.0 Role | 4.0 Role | Why the Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanya | Niche SP Support | SP Stabilizer for Burst Teams | SP-heavy rotations increased her value |
| Gallagher | Break Healer | Tempo Sustain | Action Advance improves cycling |
| March 7th (Hunt) | Sub-DPS | Tempo Sub-DPS | High action frequency synergy |
| Pela | Universal Debuffer | HP-Wall Breaker | DEF shred scales in high-HP meta |
This shift reflects how 4.0 prioritizes tempo, scaling, and burst amplification.
6️⃣ Best 4★ for Elation Teams
If building around Yao Guang and Sparxie, prioritize:
- Pela
- Tingyun
- Gallagher
- Hanya
- Asta
Example Budget Elation Team:
Yao Guang + Sparxie + Pela + Gallagher
- Maximizes burst amplification
- Maintains tempo
- Preserves SP economy
- Scales into high-HP content
7️⃣ Best 4★ for F2P Players (Priority Order)
If choosing carefully:
- Pela
- Tingyun
- Gallagher
- Hanya
- Asta
- Lynx
Universal utility scales better long-term than niche DPS.
8️⃣ Budget Relic & Light Cone Optimization
You do NOT need perfect relics.
Relic Priorities
- SPD boots for supports
- Energy Regen Rope for buffers
- Focus on breakpoint optimization rather than minor substats
4★ Light Cones Worth Using
- Past and Future
- Memories of the Past
- Shared Feeling
Consistency > raw stat chasing.
9️⃣ Final Investment Priority List
| Rank | Character | Priority | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pela | Very High | Universal DEF shred scaling |
| 2 | Tingyun | Very High | ATK + Energy synergy |
| 3 | Gallagher | High | Tempo sustain |
| 4 | Hanya | High | SP stabilization |
| 5 | Asta | Medium | SPD optimization |
| 6 | Lynx | Medium | Cleanse utility |
🔟 FAQ
Are 4★ characters still viable in HSR 4.0?
Yes. While 5★ dominate headlines, 4★ supports and debuffers remain extremely valuable — especially for F2P Elation teams.
Which 4★ is best for Elation teams?
Pela is currently the strongest universal amplifier due to DEF shred scaling during burst windows.
Should F2P players invest in 4★ over 5★?
Yes — especially universal supports. A strong 4★ support often provides more value than a niche 5★ DPS.
Which 4★ scales best into late game?
Tingyun and Pela remain relevant in high-end content.
Are Eidolons required?
Not required — but higher Eidolons increase consistency and buff uptime.
🎯 Final Verdict
Version 4.0 didn’t kill 4★ characters — it refined which ones matter.
If you’re building budget Elation teams, prioritize:
- Universal scaling
- DEF shred
- SP efficiency
- Action tempo
- Burst amplification
The smart investment isn’t chasing every 5★ — it’s strengthening the foundation around them.
📺 Video: 4.0 Elation Character Prep
This video provides a timely analysis of which characters to prioritize for the 4.0 Elation meta, helping you confirm which 4-stars are still viable in the current high-HP environment.
👉 Next recommended reads:
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