Hello Trailblazers! Pure Fiction: Illusory Concepts has been updated in Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.2. In this guide, we'll bring you the full clearance strategy for Pure Fiction: Illusory Concepts of HSR Version 4.2. Let's check out the best team compositions to breeze through the challenge!

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Honkai: Star Rail Pure Fiction: Illusory Concepts Update 4.2 has officially launched as of May 11, 2026.
This stage has a special Elation Skill:
Upon entering "Surging Grit":

During "Surging Grit":


Wave 1

Mara-Struck Soldier+Furbo Journalist+Black Tide's Corroded
Mechanic: The Mara-Struck Soldier is a fast melee unit that deals high damage, applies Bleed, and grows stronger as allies fall. The Furbo Journalist grants +1 Punchline on death, accelerating your Grit gain to trigger Surging Grit faster, so always prioritize it. The Black Tide's Corroded applies stacking Corrosion that drains HP and reduces healing, requiring quick burst or toughness breaks to control.
Wave 2

Assistant Graffiti: Rusher+Silvermane Lieutenant+Silvermane Soldier
Mechanic: This wave includes the fast, aggressive Assistant Graffiti: Rusher that applies constant pressure, the elite Silvermane Lieutenant that uses counterattacks and commands allies to focus fire, and the standard Silvermane Soldier that deals steady ranged damage. To fight them, focus the Rusher first to reduce pressure, then take out the Soldiers to cut off the Lieutenant's support, and finally burst down the Lieutenant while using shields or heals to absorb its counterattacks.
Wave 3

Savage God, Mad King, Incarnation of Strife (Boss)+Assistant Graffiti: Demander+Voidranger: Reaver
Mechanic: In this wave, you face the boss Savage God, Mad King, Incarnation of Strife, supported by Assistant Graffiti: Demander and Voidranger: Reaver. The boss uses layered shields that grant your team buffs when broken, and enrages if not burst down quickly. Clear the Voidranger first to disable its damage reduction, then take out the Demander to reduce pressure, and focus the boss during your Surging Grit window before it enrages.
Wave 1

Lesser Sting+Grunt: Security Personnel+Furbo Journalist
Mechanic: This wave includes the Lesser Sting, a fast, aggressive melee unit that applies constant pressure; the Grunt: Security Personnel, which inflicts Shock DoT if killed by non-Elation damage; and the Furbo Journalist, which grants +1 Punchline on death to speed up your Surging Grit trigger. Prioritize killing the Furbo Journalist first, finish the Grunt with Elation damage to avoid debuffs, then burst down the Lesser Sting quickly.
Wave 2

Magical Girl Troupe+Daybreak Squadron: Azurewing+Autonomous Wand
Mechanic: In this wave, you'll face the Magical Girl Troupe, which buffs allies and debuffs your team, the bulky Daybreak Squadron: Azurewing with heavy AoE attacks, and the Autonomous Wand, which heals and supports enemies. Prioritize taking out the Magical Girl and Autonomous Wand first to cut off enemy sustain, then focus fire on the Azurewing while breaking its toughness to avoid its big attacks.
Wave 3

Ichor Memosprite: Judge of Oblivion (Boss)+Ichor Memosprite: Canine+Ichor Memosprite: Pheasant
Mechanic: In this wave, you face the boss Ichor Memosprite: Judge of Oblivion, supported by the Ichor Memosprite: Canine and Ichor Memosprite: Pheasant. The boss grows stronger by absorbing defeated allies, so clear the fast Canine and healing Pheasant first to cut its sustain and buffs, then burst the boss down during Surging Grit before it stacks too many buffs.
Remembrance Team: Castorice + Evernight + Cyrene + Hyacine
Castorice |
Evernight |
Cyrene |
Hyacine | Buff Option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Even though the Remembrance team gains almost no benefit from the stage effect, their raw strength still ensures an easy Full Star clear. The enemies have Quantum and Ice Weaknesses, perfectly matching Castorice's Quantum Type, as well as Evernight and Cyrene's Ice Type. |
Delirium | |||
The Herta Team: The Herta + Herta + Tribbie + Hyacine
The Herta |
Herta |
Tribbie |
Hyacine | Buff Option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The enemy lineup is quite well-suited for The Herta, as Herta's frequent follow-up attacks allow The Herta to regenerate Energy rapidly. However, The Herta team's damage output falls slightly short of the Remembrance team's; running a Sustain ensures a Full Star clear but makes it difficult to achieve a full score, while going without a Sustain boosts damage but compromises survivability. |
Delirium | |||
Elation Team: Silver Wolf LV.999 + Yao Guang + Sparxie/Trailblazer: Elation + Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae
Silver Wolf LV.999 |
Yao Guang |
Sparxie/Trailblazer: Elation |
Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae | Buff Option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The enemy lineup is quite well-suited for The Herta, as Herta's frequent follow-up attacks allow The Herta to regenerate Energy rapidly. However, The Herta team's damage output falls slightly short of the Remembrance team's; running a Sustain ensures a Full Star clear but makes it difficult to achieve a full score, while going without a Sustain boosts damage but compromises survivability. |
Delirium | |||
DoT Team: Hysilens + Black Swan + Kafka + Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae
Hysilens |
Black Swan |
Kafka |
Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae | Buff Option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The DoT team has its own exclusive sub-buffs, which are quite decent. However, the frustrating part is that the enemies only have Physical Weakness to match Hysilens; they lack Wind Weakness for Black Swan and Lightning Weakness for Kafka, so the damage output will suffer a bit. |
Improvisation | |||
If you don't have powerful characters like Castorice or Silver Wolf LV.999 yet, you can pull for them in the current Warp banners. If you are short on Stellar Jades, TOPUPlive offers a safe, reliable, and official HSR top-up platform with extremely competitive discount prices. All Trailblazers are welcome to visit!
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In this phase of Pure Fiction, running Remembrance in the first half and Elation in the second half is the most effective strategy. Other team archetypes all seem to struggle to some degree. So, which teams did you use for your run? How would you rate the difficulty?
Honkai Star Rail 4.3 Leaks: SP Blade Kit & Banners
Honkai Star Rail Version 4.3: New Characters and Warp Guide
Honkai Star Rail 4.2 Pull Guide: Silver Wolf LV.999 or Evanescia
Honkai Star Rail Express Supply Pass: An Ultimate Guide
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game writer
I focus on crafting guides, tips, and strategy content that truly resonates with players. Being deeply invested in Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, I love exploring every new map and character kit. I take my firsthand experience from the latest updates and turn it into simple, actionable advice to help fellow players navigate Teyvat and the Cosmos with ease.