Honkai Star Rail 3.2 trailblazing missions are rich in lore, and we’re here to break it down. With the story focusing on Anaxa’s grand plan and Castorice’s past, many players, including myself, were left in tears by the end. As Anaxa executed his plan as the “Great Performer” and Castorice assumed her role as the demigod of life and death, numerous questions remained unanswered.
One big question that has left many in the community puzzled is whether Castorice is truly dead in Honkai Star Rail. In this piece, I’ve tried to decipher the subtle details from the mission to shed light on the answer.
Spoiler Warning: This guide contains major spoilers for the Honkai Star Rail 3.2 trailblazing mission. We recommend completing it first. You’ve been warned.
Castorice’s Past Explained in Honkai Star Rail
Castorice had a troubled past, which eventually tied into the conclusion of Honkai Star Rail 3.2. Her earliest memories trace back to her childhood in Aidonia, where she served as the Executioner delivering death to prisoners and those who sought it alike. In Aidonia, she was known as the “Maiden of War,” a title that earned her both fear and respect from the people.
Castorice was raised by Amunet, one of Aidonia’s elders who also served as a mother figure in her life. However, Castorice’s history stretches even further back, linking her to the last cycle of Amphoreus, the newest region introduced in HSR.
During the HSR 3.2 Trailblazing mission, it’s revealed that Amphoreus exists in a continuous loop of changing cycles, where the Chrysos Heirs of the last cycle became the Titans of the present and reshaped the world. Castorice was one of the twins chosen to ascend as the demigod of life and death in the previous cycle.
However, to obtain the coreflame of Thanatos, she was required to kill her twin sister, Pollux something she couldn’t bring herself to do. Instead, Castorice chose to give up her own life, allowing Pollux to become the Titan of Life and Death—Thanatos.
Rather than undertaking her Titan duties, Pollux revived Castorice in the new world. Pollux transformed into an evil dragon, retrieving Castorice’s soul from the River of Souls and trapping it in the new world. Using Castorice’s lifeless body, she obstructed souls from entering the River, leaving them in a state of unrest.
As Pollux’s twin, Castorice was cursed with Thanatos’ powers from birth; everything she touched would die, a consequence of Pollux’s blasphemy to preserve her life.
Castorice’s Ascension to Thanatos, Titan of Life and Death
Eventually, Castorice and the Trailblazer arrived in Styxia in search of Thanatos and to reclaim her Coreflame. There, they encountered Pollux the corrupted dragon and discovered she was obstructing the path to the Netherworld, causing the souls in Styxia to wander endlessly without finding peace.
Understanding what needed to be done, Castorice and the Trailblazer resolved to defeat Pollux and retrieve the Coreflame of Thanatos. After the battle, as the Trailblazer began to lose consciousness and their soul started to fade, Castorice made the decision to enter the Netherworld herself to confront Thanatos.
Realizing they must defeat Pollux to retrieve the coreflame, the Trailblazer engaged her, but began to lose consciousness. Understanding the Trailblazer’s soul was fading, Castorice ventured into the Netherworld to confront Thanatos.
In the Netherworld, Castorice met her Titan sister, Thanatos. After their conversation, she put Pollux to eternal rest and ascended to become the new demigod of life and death. We then see her revive the Trailblazer, showcasing her full power.
Is Castorice Dead in Honkai Star Rail?
Now, the main question: Did Castorice die at the end of the Honkai Star Rail 3.2 mission? The answer is both yes and no. Confused? Let me clarify.
After taking on Thanatos’ power, Castorice chose to remain in the Netherworld to ensure the proper passage of souls. In her last interaction with the Trailblazer, she confirmed her decision to stay in the Netherworld, transforming it into a haven for souls, while giving the Trailblazer Thanatos’ Coreflame.
This means Castorice will not return to the land of the living, as the Netherworld is accessible only to the dead. Thus, we can conclude that Castorice, as we know her, is dead and cannot return to life.
However, as Thanatos, she governs the realm of life and death in Amphoreus from the Netherworld. This opens the possibility that she isn’t entirely gone from the story and may reappear in the future.
Honkai Star Rail 3.2’s Trailblazing mission was emotionally impactful and revealed a wealth of information about Amphoreus. If you’ve experienced it, let us know what you enjoyed most about the mission and your thoughts on Castorice’s fate.
