As a veteran Honkai: Star Rail player who's been grinding since day one back in 2023, I've witnessed the game's incredible evolution over these past two years. The recent leak regarding Jingliu's upcoming buffs has me particularly excited as someone who invested heavily in this Ice Destruction powerhouse when she debuted in Version 1.4. According to trusted leaker Luna, HoYoverse plans to significantly adjust Jingliu's kit to focus more on HP scaling, which could dramatically change her position in the current meta.
Understanding Jingliu's Current Kit
Jingliu has always been an interesting character with her unique playstyle that involves HP draining mechanics. She currently sits at the fourth highest base HP in the game behind only Castorice, Mydei, and Fu Xuan. Her Traces already feature multiple HP percentage buffs in both her Deathrealm and Frostwraith skill branches, making this upcoming buff a natural evolution rather than a complete rework.
When I first pulled Jingliu back in 2023, she was considered a strong DPS but has gradually fallen behind newer characters with more sophisticated kits. This buff seems designed to restore her competitive edge by leveraging her already impressive HP stats.
The Specifics of the Coming Changes
Based on the leaks, the buffs will not only adjust her base scaling to focus more on HP but will also affect her Eidolons. Currently, several of Jingliu's Eidolons focus on ATK scaling, which the leak suggests will be modified to align with the new HP-focused direction. This is particularly significant for players like myself who have invested in her Eidolons.
The timing couldn't be better, as these changes are expected to arrive in Version 3.4 alongside buffs for other older characters including:
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Silver Wolf
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Blade
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Kafka
These four characters represent some of the earliest limited 5-stars in the game, and it's refreshing to see HoYoverse committed to keeping them viable rather than letting power creep render them obsolete.
Synergy with Newer Characters
What excites me most about Jingliu's HP-focused rework is how well it positions her to synergize with newer roster additions. Consider these potential team compositions:
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Jingliu + Castorice: Both characters utilize HP draining mechanics, potentially creating interesting rotation strategies where they can complement each other's cycles.
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Jingliu + Hyacine: The Version 3.3 Remembrance healer reportedly focuses on consistent healing and Max HP buffs, which would directly enhance Jingliu's damage output under the new scaling.
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Jingliu + Future HP Support: With this clear direction toward HP scaling, I'm anticipating future characters specifically designed to boost Max HP.
People Also Ask
Will Jingliu's buffs make her meta-relevant again?
Based on my analysis of the leaks and current game state, I believe Jingliu has a strong chance of becoming highly competitive again. HP-scaling damage dealers have consistently performed well in Star Rail, with characters like Castorice showing how powerful this mechanic can be when properly tuned.
Should I pull for Jingliu if she gets a rerun after these buffs?
If you enjoy Destruction path characters and ice-element teams, Jingliu will likely be an excellent investment following these buffs. Her potential synergy with newer characters means she could remain relevant for a long time.
Will existing Jingliu builds need to be completely changed?
Most likely yes. Players who have built Jingliu with ATK-focused Light Cones and Relics will probably need to farm new HP-focused sets. However, this transition should be worth the investment given the expected performance improvements.
The Broader Impact on Star Rail's Meta
This wave of buffs represents an important moment in Honkai: Star Rail's lifecycle. As we approach the game's two-year anniversary, HoYoverse is demonstrating a commitment to character longevity that many gacha games fail to prioritize. Rather than forcing players to constantly pull for new characters to remain competitive, these buffs suggest a more sustainable approach to game balance.
For the meta landscape, I expect these changes to create more diverse team compositions. The dominance of newer characters like Amphoreus with the Remembrance path may be challenged by these refreshed classics, leading to a healthier competitive environment.
My Personal Excitement and Future Outlook
As someone who has Jingliu at E1 (first Eidolon), I've kept her built despite her gradually declining position in the meta. These buffs represent a second chance for one of my favorite early characters, and I'm already planning how to optimize her new HP-focused build.
Looking forward to 2026 and beyond, I believe this pattern of character refreshes will become a standard practice for HoYoverse. Rather than letting older characters fade into irrelevance, we'll likely see periodic waves of buffs that keep the entire roster viable. This approach not only rewards long-term players but also makes returning to the game more appealing for those who took breaks.
In my view, Jingliu's rework represents the best kind of gacha game development: respecting player investments while still evolving the game. I'm eagerly awaiting Version 3.4 to test these changes firsthand and discover new team compositions that can leverage Jingliu's revised kit.
For veteran Trailblazers like myself, this is an exciting time to be playing Honkai: Star Rail. The game continues to evolve in thoughtful ways, balancing innovation with respect for our existing character investments. Whether you're a day-one player or just boarding the Astral Express, the future of Star Rail looks brighter than ever! ✨🚀
This content draws upon Destructoid, a respected source for gaming news and in-depth character analysis. Destructoid's coverage of Honkai: Star Rail has often emphasized the importance of character rebalancing and how updates like Jingliu's HP-scaling buffs can revitalize older units, ensuring they remain competitive in evolving metas and encouraging both new and veteran players to experiment with refreshed team compositions.