Should Honkai: Star Rail Give Trailblazer a Skin? A Deep Dive into the Debate
The Missing Cosmetic Opportunity in Honkai: Star Rail
Honkai: Star Rail’s protagonist, the Trailblazer, is one of the most flexible and frequently evolving characters in the game. From the moment players begin their cosmic adventure, Trailblazer has wielded multiple elements and paths: starting with Physical Destruction and expanding to Fire Preservation, Imaginary Harmony, and Ice Remembrance. This ever-changing nature makes Trailblazer one of the most dynamic units in the game.
Yet, with all this versatility, there’s something noticeably absent: a dedicated alternate skin.
Why Trailblazer Deserves a Skin
Unlike other main characters in HoYoverse titles, Trailblazer hasn’t received any true cosmetic makeover. Their appearance does shift slightly with each Path — like acquiring a stylish hat in Harmony form — but these are subtle design changes, not full-fledged skins.
Compare this to Zenless Zone Zero, where even Belle and Wise (non-playable characters who act as Proxies) are getting fully realized skins in their upcoming updates. It raises an important question: if ZZZ can deliver meaningful cosmetics for its navigators, why not do the same for HSR’s central character?
Skins Could Add Lore & Regional Flavor
The Trailblazer’s journey spans multiple worlds, each with distinct cultures, aesthetics, and storylines. Imagine a Luofu-inspired outfit rich with celestial silks and jade, or a Greek mythology-themed design for the Amphoreus arc. Just like March 7th received a garb tied to Xianzhou, Trailblazer could also reflect each chapter’s lore through personalized outfits.
Even more compelling: Trailblazer recently became a demigod in the Amphoreus story arc, inheriting Oronyx’s Coreflame of Time. This transformation alone is enough of a narrative excuse to debut a skin worthy of their elevated status.
Trailblazer Skins Could Be Interactive
Another missed opportunity lies in gameplay immersion. What if the Astral Express received a wardrobe feature in Trailblazer’s cabin? A changing room would give players an added reason to visit and customize their experience. It would also mirror systems already beloved in games like Genshin Impact and Honkai Impact 3rd.
But Is It the Right Time?
While many players would love this addition, some argue it might not be the best timing. HoYoverse has limited development resources, and the studio appears laser-focused on expanding story content. Penacony and Amphoreus both introduced significant map and gameplay innovation, so it’s understandable that cosmetic systems might not be the top priority.
Additionally, Trailblazer already gets new combat styles via Paths. These variants change both their gameplay and their aesthetics in meaningful ways, somewhat reducing the urgency for alternate outfits.
A Look at HoYoverse’s Skin Philosophy
HoYoverse hasn’t been shy about implementing skins in its titles. March 7th and even Pom-Pom have gotten visual upgrades, while Genshin Impact slowly adds alternate outfits to its roster. But Trailblazer’s absence is notable, especially when other non-core characters are being given attention.
Zenless Zone Zero, in particular, is setting the bar higher with its upcoming skin system. As Belle and Wise receive cosmetic upgrades, it’s increasingly clear that HoYoverse has the infrastructure and willingness to make this happen across its games. Honkai Star Rail may just need to catch up.
Trailblazer’s first skin seems long overdue.
Looking to power up your Honkai: Star Rail team? Grab a high-tier account from SetsunaEpic and explore new paths with top-tier 5-star characters. You can also grab the latest Honkai Star Rail redeem codes to unlock even more rewards!
