I'm Convinced This Leaked Honkai: Star Rail 2.7 Mechanic May Make Consumables Obsolete

A new mechanic from Honkai: Star Rail 2.7 has been leaked and I am certain that it may actually make some of the game’s consumables utterly obsolete for a portion of the players. Version 2.7 is the next major patch for HoYoverse’s turn-based RPG and it has already been confirmed that it will be the patch that will introduce Fugue and Sunday as playable characters in the game. While the developer has not officially announced other details, leaks are starting to emerge, like the possibility of a massive story spoiler in Honkai: Star Rail 2.7 that could change the campaign.

A large portion of the contents for Version 2.7 have already been leaked. This includes the gameplay kits and materials for both Fugue and Sunday, as well as a free selector that may be unlocked upon reaching certain requirements during the update’s flagship event. There have also been rumors of new map areas added to the Astral Express, as well as a possible customization mode in Honkai: Star Rail being added to those zones. Now, there’s a leak about a brand-new mechanic that has the potential to forever disrupt the usage of some of the consumable items in the game.

Honkai: Star Rail 2.7 May Add A Special Bathtub To The Trailblazer’s Rumored Room

Different Buffs Can Be Obtained Via The Leaked Bathtub Mechanic

The first aspect of the leak pertains to the rumors that the Trailblazer will get their own room on the Astral Express. As shown in leaked footage shared on Reddit, the Trailblazer’s room seems to be accessible from the previously leaked Party Car. These personal quarters for the main character are large and include several different zones – one of which is the bathroom. Inside this bathroom, players can find a massive bathtub, which apparently has some customizable features. The customization, however, seems to run deeper than merely cosmetic like the rest of Trailblazer’s room in Honkai: Star Rail.

Honkai Star Rail 2.7 Leaks Indicate Unexpected Character Will Get A New Skin

Honkai: Star Rail 2.7 may finally introduce new skins for characters, but the featured character in the leak may be an unexpected choice.

As can be seen in the leaked footage, the player can alternate the bath’s contents through a variety of options, which include warmer or colder baths, and different elements added to them. While they immediately show off a different cosmetic value, these different types of baths may actually have gameplay effects that buff team comps. According to information provided by the leaker known as HomDGCat, which was also shared in a post tagged as “Reliable” on Reddit, the different types of lotions used after taking baths can provide combat buffs to the player’s characters in Honkai: Star Rail.

As mentioned in the leak, there are seemingly four different types of effects that can be triggered by taking baths in the Astral Express. The first bath/lotion buff is rumored to be called Bath Efficacy, which increases the team’s ATK stat. The second one mentioned in the leak is called Clear Fragrance, and this one should boost the power of Ultimate DMG caused by the party. The third one, Mysterious Message, is said to increase the strength of Follow-Up Attack DMG, while the fourth buff, called Warm Current, enhances the power of DoT (damage over time) in Honkai: Star Rail.

For now, these are the only four effects mentioned in the leak. There is a chance more will be available at launch or added with future updates.

If the leak is true, these buffs from the bathtub in Version 2.7 should be beneficial to different types of team comps. The ATK buff serves parties led by traditional DPS units, such as Blade or Jingliu. The Ultimate DMG buff will likely enhance the power of characters that have that ability at the center of their kits, like Acheron. Mysterious Message should be useful for team comps led by characters like Dr. Ratio and Feixiao, while Warm Current will boost the power of playable units such as Black Swan and Kafka in Honkai: Star Rail.

Leaked Buffs In The Astral Express May Make Consumables Obsolete In Honkai: Star Rail

Using The Bathtub Seems Much Easier

The leaked buffs from the bathtub mechanic in Version 2.7 may be enough to declare the game’s consumables obsolete. Currently, players can obtain certain stat bonuses by consuming items. While they are beneficial, they often go forgotten before challenging activities in the game. Personally, I even forget that I have the option to consume certain items and gain important combat buffs that would make the battles I participate in much easier. This includes beating the Harmonious Choir boss in Honkai: Star Rail every week, for example. The fight could be smoother with buffs from consumables.

Honkai Star Rail's Jingliu pours liquid from a glass into space.

Honkai Star Rail 3.0 Leaks: New Enemies May Finally Play With Meta Team Comps

The order of characters in team comps may start to matter even more with the arrival of new enemies in Honkai: Star Rail 3.0 and beyond.

However, these items are easily forgettable. I often only use consumables when I need to quickly restore HP but, even so, it seems much more practical and less consuming to head to a nearby Space Anchor to restore the entire team’s HP effortlessly and then return to the battle I wish to challenge. Finding the item I need in the inventory can be tiring, even with the favorite option that brings the desired item to the beginning of the list. Overall, especially because I can complete activities without them, I find few reasons to use consumables in Honkai: Star Rail.

This behavior should get even worse if the leak about the bathtub buffs is true. While the leak does not state the duration of the buff, there is a chance it is permanent for as long as the bath type is selected in the Astral Express. As such, I’d only need to visit the location and change the bath type depending on the type of team comp I plan on using. Furthermore, the buffs provided seem to come at no cost whatsoever. Not only do consumables disappear upon usage, which requires more crafting afterward, but some come at a cost.

The Delusion Blocks consumable, for instance, increases the CRIT Rate of all allies for the next battle but reduces their SPD stat for the same duration.

Consumables Should Still Be Used If Bath Buff Leaks In Honkai: Star Rail 2.7 Are Real

Items Provide Unique Buffs In Combat

Despite the rumors regarding the practicality of the bathtub buffs in Version 2.7, this should not entirely dispense the usage of consumables. In fact, some items provide complimentary buffs that the leaked bathtub does not. By consuming certain items, you can raise the team’s CRIT Rate, Max HP, and SPD for the upcoming battle, something that is not contemplated by the leaked bathtub buffs. As such, the consumables are still retaining their worth, even if they are often limited to a certain number of battles.

Honkai Star Rail's Lynx and Xueyi pose next to each other.

Honkai Star Rail 2.7 Leaks: Which Free Characters You Can Get (So Far)

Leaks indicate that players will be able to unlock a free character selector in Honkai: Star Rail 2.7. Here are the characters and their strengths.

For now, the leaks about the bathtub buffs in Version 2.7 should be taken with a grain of salt. The information provided may be incorrect, incomplete, or subject to change. Nevertheless, I feel that its possible introduction may turn consumables obsolete for me – I already struggle to remember to use them, and with the buffs the bathtub is said to provide, I feel like I have even fewer reasons to open up my inventory in Honkai: Star Rail.

Source: Reddit (1, 2)