Star Rail’s 5-Star Herta Deserves a Crossover Moment

Upon journeying through the world of Honkai: Star Rail, players often encountered Herta’s many puppet forms, but come Version 3.0, the Trailblazer will finally encounter her true self. Known officially as The Herta, this intriguing character will be a 5-star Ice Erudition, believed to reside at the far edges of the cosmos while overseeing Space Station activities. Her imminent appearance likely hints at some issue that demands her direct intervention.

Visibly striking in her splash art, The Herta presents herself as a tall, enchanting figure draped in a long dress paired with a witch’s hat. Fans of the game have keenly observed her unique weapon—a staff shaped like a colossal key—that bears a resemblance to Sora’s Keyblade from the Kingdom Hearts series.

Just like her 4-star counterpart, The Herta delights in delivering AoE damage, following the Path of Erudition. Speculations around her abilities suggest that the 5-star version might lack follow-up attacks in her kit but could potentially apply Clue stacks to weaken enemies. Her skills and ultimate moves are anticipated to showcase thrilling animations featuring her unique staff.

Although the significance of her key-shaped staff remains shrouded in mystery, it could get explored in the upcoming story of Honkai: Star Rail Version 3.0. This also opens up delightful possibilities for a crossover with Kingdom Hearts, where a collaboration might result in a decorative Keyblade-style weapon for Herta. While some fans may meet this idea with skepticism, it’s worth remembering HoYoverse’s history of inventive collaborations, like introducing Aloy from Horizon Zero Dawn into Genshin Impact, or having a crossover discussion between creators of Zenless Zone Zero and Street Fighter 6. Partnering with Square Enix and Disney for a Keyblade theme might not be too far-fetched, and it could serve as a clever marketing strategy for the release of Kingdom Hearts 4.

Furthermore, there are notable parallels between HoYoverse and Square Enix in player experience, with both featuring open-world exploration, diverse combat styles, and involving party systems. The whimsical ambiance of Kingdom Hearts could pair well with Honkai: Star Rail, especially amid Penacony’s cartoonish inhabitants and surreal backdrops. Both narratives dissolve into profound themes of overcoming darkness and restoring balance, echoing the Trailblazer’s journey in Honkai: Star Rail.

For HoYoverse, enhancing players’ experiences with customizable weapon skins might be the next innovative step, drawing from their successful venture into character skins in games like Genshin Impact. Unique weapon skins inspired by iconic themes like the Keyblade, coupled with special combat perks, could enrich gameplay even further.

Realistically speaking, a Square Enix and Disney collaboration might take time, especially with HoYoverse gearing up for its next big storyline in Amphoreus. However, Honkai: Star Rail’s ongoing success and determined narrative progression offer plenty of room to fine-tune the experience and prepare for exciting future crossovers.