Dance With the Beast Before Moonrise is the Version 4.6 Trailblaze chapter in Honkai: Star Rail, continuing the story of Planarcadia and Astropolis. Following the events of the previous version, the Trailblazer must deal with the Voracity, visit the Life Sciences Institute alongside Pearl, uncover what Yabuli is really working on, and once again learn that leaving a giant Leviathan brain unattended is generally a terrible idea. In this guide, we'll cover all the chapter's main missions, story challenges, puzzles, and the battle against Blood of the Fallen God: Yabuli.
How to Start Dance With the Beast Before Moonrise
For the story in its intended order, first complete the previous chapter, Stakes in the City of a Thousand Stars. The first mission in the new chain will then appear in your journal automatically. If you haven't finished the previous quests yet, you can use Finality's Vision to start the Version 4.6 storyline early. In that case, however, parts of the story may feel like starting a TV series in season six: every character knows exactly what's going on while you simply nod along.Image unavailable
A full playthrough with dialogue and cutscenes takes around 2 to 2.5 hours. Skipping conversations makes the chain considerably shorter.
The Theater and Its Double
Head to the VIP room of the Upside-Down Restaurant and meet Nihilux. After the conversation begins, you can ask her several questions about the Trailblazer, the Aeons, and the situation surrounding Planarcadia. Choose the three options that interest you most. You won't permanently miss the remaining information, as it can be found later in Aha's Q&A Funbook.After the conversation, follow Nihilux to the World's End Tavern. Watch the preparations of the Masked Fools and Mourning Actors, then speak with the characters near the reception area and gather the necessary clues. Once the plan is ready, you'll unlock the story achievement Hunting of the Snark.
Knowledge, Silence, Passing By
The next part takes the group to the Life Sciences Institute. Take the shuttle to the scientific center in Astropolis. After meeting the IPC Guide, you'll need to calm down the local wispae.
How to Complete the First 2D Jump Challenge
Enter the marked portal and climb upward using the bouncing platforms. You can simply go around the large purple cube. Once you reach the area with the moving gravity sphere, look for the disappearing wall on the left. Behind it is an optional room containing Pixons and a Nameless Wispae. If you're aiming for 100% completion of the area, it's worth checking this room immediately.Image unavailableAfter that, jump into the altered-gravity zone and exit from its highest point. On the platform above, press the red button on the ceiling. There is also a basic treasure chest nearby. Collect it and leave the challenge.
Tour of the Machine Production Line
Continue exploring the Institute with Nihilux. Detective Ashveil and patrol officer Kuchiba will soon join the group. Reach the Phantasm production area and enter another 2D Jump portal. This time, the Trailblazer lands directly on the production line.This starts the Star City Life: Creating a Super Phantasm Machine challenge. Essentially, the game lets you personally experience the entire production process, from suspicious raw material to suspiciously finished product. First, wait for the sides of the cart to open, climb up, and press the button to neutralize the unknown material.Next, you'll need to configure the following in order:
the Phantasm's appearance;
its color scheme;
its core;
the final parameters before quality inspection.
Image unavailableDuring the component-selection stages, the right lever cycles through the available options, while the left lever confirms your choice. There is no critical failure state here, so feel free to pick whichever version you like.After the final stage, leave the conveyor by jumping onto the upper platform. Before exiting, don't forget to collect the Luxurious Treasure. Once the production cycle is complete, the group encounters Yabuli again. The scientist still refuses to cooperate properly and continues with her own experiment.
The Unselfish Gene
The story then switches to another group. Ashveil and Kuchiba move deeper into the complex, trying to discover what is really hidden behind the production line.
How to Infiltrate the Production Line
Once you're trapped inside the locked room, enter the nearest 2D Jump portal. Move through the corridors filled with spheres and platforms. You'll soon encounter stone barriers. Trying to break them yourself is pointless, so summon the small helper and direct it toward the rubble.Afterward, dodge the incoming projectiles and continue toward the next portal. Behind the locked doors is a room with two levers. Send the robot onto the spiked section, while the character can break the ice obstacles by jumping on them. Once the path downward opens, descend and board the cart.
How to Uncover the Institute's Secrets
During the ride, you can watch the entire production cycle running in the background. In the next section, use the helper again to destroy the stone blockage. Before leaving the dimension, make sure to collect the basic treasure chest. The exit portal is directly beneath it.Inside the secret room, examine the writing on the containers and any other available clues. This reveals information about the Leviathan's primordial material.Image unavailableAfter the next story scene, you'll unlock the Unforgivable Life achievement.
Artificial Hell and Paradise for the Brain
Communication with Yabuli suddenly cuts out. The group heads into the very heart of the Institute through the arterial corridor to find out who reached the researcher first. There, they discover that Asat Pramad has interfered with the experiment.The situation completely spirals out of control: the accumulated Leviathan remains are absorbed, and the giant brain begins transforming into a creature of the Voracity. Yes, this is the point where a normal person would probably suggest unplugging the laboratory. But this is Honkai: Star Rail, so instead, you get a boss fight.
How to Defeat Blood of the Fallen God: Yabuli
The boss has three Weaknesses:
Ice;
Quantum;
Imaginary.
The fight's main mechanics are Fallen God's Decay, Phantom Illusion, and Blood-Brain Barrier.Image unavailableYabuli and the summoned enemies apply stacks of Fallen God's Decay to your characters. The stacks decrease when affected characters use abilities, so keep them taking actions rather than allowing the debuff to build unchecked. Once the effect reaches its threshold, the character enters Phantom Illusion and temporarily drops out of normal combat. Don't ignore the debuff just because the character still has plenty of HP. This isn't an ordinary DoT that can simply be healed through.The second major problem is Blood-Brain Barrier. While it is active, Yabuli takes drastically reduced damage. Teams capable of attacking very frequently work best here, especially Elation setups and other lineups that can generate many separate hits. Don't try to solve the barrier with one enormous damage number. At this point, the game is asking for the number of hits, not the size of the hammer.Make sure to bring a reliable sustain character. The enemies act quickly and can put serious pressure on the party's HP. Once the barrier is broken, use your strongest abilities and try to remove as much of the boss's remaining HP as possible.After winning, watch the story scene. Kuchiba reveals important information about herself and helps stop Yabuli after the experiment completely slips out of control.Completing this stage unlocks the All the Best in Hell! achievement.
Good Hunting
After the events at the Institute, the situation in Astropolis begins to change. Together with Pearl, the group returns to Planarcadia, where Aha gathers the Supplicants and prepares the final Phantasmoon Games.Most of the walkthrough is over at this point. Follow the story markers, watch the remaining conversations, and complete the final scenes. Two more story achievements will unlock during the finale:
Return to Utopia: 1999;
Homo Ludens.
All Version 4.6 Story Achievements
Completing Dance With the Beast Before Moonrise unlocks five achievements:
Completing the entire story chain rewards a total of 460 Stellar Jades, 2,400 Utopia Coins, development materials, Credits, and several music records.It's also worth returning to the Life Sciences Institute after finishing the story. Some additional activities and collectibles only become properly accessible once the chapter is complete, so there is no need to squeeze every last item out of the map during your first story visit. Otherwise, you can easily spend half an hour standing in front of a locked door that opens two quests later. Very meditative, but completely pointless.
