The True Villain of Honkai Star Rail Isn’t Who You Think It Is

Honkai Star Rail recently marked its one-year anniversary, and the tale of the galactic baseballer has evolved significantly since its launch. Amidst the diverse factions and intricate plotlines within the HSR universe, a crucial question lingered in my mind while immersed in the game: who truly embodies the role of the story’s ultimate villain?

In narratives like Genshin Impact, players are initially driven by the enigmatic god confronting the traveler and their sibling. While Genshin Impact’s storyline boasts complexity, pinpointing the primary villain has become increasingly challenging. Nonetheless, the story’s core motivation was clearly established from the outset. Thus, I delved into the depths of Honkai Star Rail lore, meticulously examining the array of villains and antagonist factions encountered throughout the timeline, all in pursuit of unearthing the genuine antagonist of Honkai Star Rail.

Antimatter Legion: The Universe’s Seekers of Destruction

Honkai Star Rail introduces us to two opposing factions right from the start: the Stellaron Hunters and the Antimatter Legion. The Trailblazers’ initial encounter with a formidable foe occurs when the Antimatter Legion launches an assault on Herta’s Space Station. Players are immediately acquainted with the imminent threat posed by the Antimatter Legion, led by the Aeon Nanook of Destruction. Their sole objective is the annihilation of everything in the universe.

The Antimatter Legion has a notorious reputation for decimating numerous worlds, leaving behind a trail of traumatized refugees. Backed by the formidable Aeon of Destruction Nanook, they stand as one of the primary contenders for the role of the central villain in Honkai Star Rail.

Stellaron: The Corruption of Cocolia Rand in Belobog

Cocolia Rand of Belobog emerges as the subsequent antagonist in Honkai Star Rail. The planet Belobog, designated as Jarilo-VI, remains perpetually frozen due to the presence of a Stellaron. These enigmatic entities, dubbed the “Cancer of All Worlds” by the IPC, are renowned for triggering significant transformations and destruction in civilizations and ecosystems. Despite their destructive potential, they also serve as a vital energy source and, presumably, the life force of the Trailblazer.

In Belobog, revelations surface regarding the corruptive influence of Stellarons on individuals. Cocolia falls victim to this corruption after her interaction with the Stellaron, becoming the primary adversary for the Trailblazer on Jarillo-VI. Furthermore, wherever a Stellaron manifests, the Antimatter Legion closely follows, indicating a profound connection between Stellarons and Nanook.

Stellaron Hunters: Devotees of Destiny’s Servant

Led by Elio, the Stellaron Hunters scour the universe in search of Stellarons. Setting them apart from other factions, they do not align themselves with any Aeon. While many factions in the Honkai Star Rail world view them as outlaws, they currently appear as a renegade band of heroes. The Trailblazers confront the Stellaron Hunters head-on in the Xianzhou Luofu arc, where Blade is believed to be tracking Dan Heng.

However, it is revealed that the Stellaron Hunters orchestrated the Astral Crew’s arrival in Xianzhou Luofu to thwart the Antimatter Legion’s scheme and forge alliances, all under the guidance of their leader, Elio.

Elio is portrayed as possessing the ability to foresee fate or the future, having scripted a narrative. The Stellaron Hunters’ mission is to ensure the realization of Elio’s script. Acheron intriguingly refers to Elio as Destiny’s Servant, while Sam/Firefly notes the absence of Acheron in Elio’s script.

Note – Notably, Elio’s script unveils a significant revelation: the Trailblazer will ultimately confront Nanook, the Aeon of Destruction. Elio has entrusted the Stellaron Hunters with aiding the Astral Crew in forming alliances in preparation for the impending showdown.

Hunt vs Abundance: Faction Conflict Driven By Aeons

A pivotal revelation in the Xianzhou arc unveils that Aeons are mortal, with many having perished or been assimilated in the past. This revelation sparks the debate of Hunt versus Abundance, becoming the focal point of the Xianzhou Luofu arc until the emergence of the Antimatter Legion.

Fundamentally, the Hunt Aeon Lan and the Abundance Aeon Yaoshi stand as eternal foes, leading their respective factions into enmity. Yaoshi seeks eternal life, a desire shared by the ancestors of the Xianzhou Alliance in the past, achieved with Yaoshi’s aid but resulting in a curse. In contrast, Lan, the Aeon of Hunt, intervenes to obliterate the Ambrosial Arbor, liberating the Xianzhou Alliance from the burden of eternal life.

Subsequently, an enduring conflict ensues across the galaxy, where from the standpoint of Xianzhou Luofu, the Abundance followers are viewed as adversaries, and vice versa. While the Trailblazer is likely to forge alliances with both sides eventually, the narrative complexity shines through as adversaries shift based on different factions’ perspectives.

Lord Ravager Phantylia: Emanator of Destruction

Lord Ravager Phantylia, an emanator of Destruction, orchestrates the Ambrosial Arbor incident in Xianzhou Luofu. Her scheme aims to decimate Luofu while attention is focused on the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, a faction aligned with Yaoshi.

As leaders of Nanook’s Antimatter Legion, Lord Ravagers possess immense strength and a penchant for destruction. The confrontation between the Trailblazer and Phantylia marks a significant battle between Nanook’s forces and the player, hinting at more clashes to come in the imminent future.

Interastral Peace Corporation (IPC): Balancing Profit and Preservation

The Interastral Peace Corporation, known as IPC, functions as a blend of the galactic law enforcement and banking systems in Honkai Star Rail. Aligned with the Aeon of Preservation, Qlipoth, this intergalactic mega-corporation holds sway over the entire cosmos’ economy.

Driven by profit motives and business objectives, the IPC serves as the primary supplier for the Amber Lord’s Celestial Comet Wall, a project spearheaded by Qlipoth to safeguard the cosmos. The IPC exhibits both positive and negative aspects, warranting its mention in this discourse.

Within the HSR universe, numerous worlds have borne the brunt of devastation from the Antimatter Legion, the Swarm, or encounters with Stellaron entities. IPC agents frequently visit these worlds, offering deals that can be both beneficial and exploitative. These agreements typically involve restoring the planet in exchange for perpetual service to the IPC.

While some IPC agents genuinely prioritize assisting individuals alongside securing favorable deals, others focus solely on maximizing profits and exploiting the populace.

The Swarm: Unchecked Propagation

In Honkai Star Rail, players will inevitably encounter the Swarm, whether in the Simulated Universe or during Trailblazing missions. The Swarm comprises mindless entities driven solely by the urge to propagate, even at the cost of consuming everything in their path. Until the Aeon of Propagation, Tayzzyronth, was vanquished by a coalition of multiple other Aeons, the Swarm posed a significant threat to the Honkai Star Rail cosmos.

The Path of Propagation is believed to have originated from longlines for the championship. Tayzzyronth, also known as the Sand King, was the final member of the Coleoptera that reigned over the land. Transforming into a self-replicating horror, he sparked the new path of Propagation and ascended to become an Aeon. Even following Tayzzyronth’s demise, his progeny persist in duplicating and spreading throughout the cosmos, consuming everything in their wake.

Annihilation Gang: Corrupted Pursuit of Destruction

The Annihilation Gang consists of two families who venerate the Aeon of Destruction, Nanook. However, unlike the Antimatter Legion, Nanook regards the Annihilation Gang with disdain, deeming their inclination towards destruction impure.

Although the Annihilation Gang lacks the endorsement of the Aeon of Destruction, they possess expertise in annihilation and are documented to have obliterated multiple worlds. The primary disparity between the Annihilation Gang and the Antimatter Legion lies in the former’s destruction driven by pleasure (which, in my opinion, constitutes a greater evil), while the latter’s actions stem from their inherent nature within the cosmos.

The Trailblazer is destined to clash with the Annihilation Gang more in the future, and they can unequivocally be classified as one of the malevolent factions in the narrative.

Gallagher’s Revelation: Unveiling Enigmata’s Influence and Watchmaker’s Legacy

Gallagher was exposed as a potential mastermind behind the Balcony incidents in the ongoing Trailblazing mission arc. Sunday confronted him at the conclusion of the 2.1 missions, revealing him to be an amalgamation of various traits of the 52 family members in Penacony.

During their conversation, Sunday labels Gallagher as the Pawn of Enigmata, triggering a profound shift in his persona. While it may be premature to brand Gallagher as the primary antagonist of Penacony, it’s worth delving into Enigmata and its Aeon Mythus.

Enigmata represents the path of uncertainty and stands in direct opposition to Erudition. Mythus champions this path, wielding the Fog of Thought and the Rain of Sensation. This ideology refutes the notion that all things can be experienced and understood. Perhaps Enigmata’s interest in Penacony stems from the Dream’s constrained and confined world, which, in a sense, limits people from exploring the possibilities of the real world.

The True Villain?

Thus far, the principal adversaries in Honkai Star Rail seem to be Nanook and the factions aligned with the path of Destruction. They pose a clear and present danger to the entire universe, seeking its annihilation.

Yet, can they be deemed malevolent if destruction is inherent to their nature?

Groups like the Annihilation Gang can be unequivocally labeled as pure evil, as they derive pleasure from destruction rather than being driven by inherent nature. The same cannot be said for Nanook and the Antimatter Legion, as they adhere to the principle that anything created must ultimately be destroyed.

Similarly, the Swarm remains a significant threat to the cosmos of Honkai Star Rail, even following the demise of their Aeon. Their relentless urge to propagate and consume everything in existence is incompatible with other entities in the cosmos. If one were to speculate, the Swarm and Nanook are likely to emerge as the primary antagonists in Honkai Star Rail.

However, the true essence of the narrative lies not in the major adversaries, but in the minor ones. Inter-faction conflicts and skirmishes driven by trivial motives such as wealth or pleasure are the challenges the Trailblazer will confront over time, as the nature of villains evolves based on motivation.