In the ever-evolving world of Honkai: Star Rail, the year 2026 finds the Trailblazers' journey increasingly defined by a single, persistent thorn in their side: the game's relic system. What was once a core progression mechanic has become a source of widespread player frustration, with the community voicing loud concerns over its perceived lack of rewards and restrictive nature. The core of the issue lies in the two pillars of endgame gear: Cavern Relics and Planar Ornaments. While both are essential for maximizing a character's potential, the grind to obtain perfect pieces has been described by many as a soul-crushing endeavor, akin to searching for a specific grain of sand on a beach the size of Belobog.

🔍 The Relic Breakdown: Cavern vs. Planar

Let's break down the system that has everyone talking (and sighing).

Relic Type	Primary Slots	Key Features	Acquisition Source
Cavern Relics	Head, Hands, Body, Feet	- Boost main stats (HP, ATK, etc.) 💪 - Have powerful 4-piece set effects 🎯	Cavern of Corrosion
Planar Ornaments	Planar Sphere, Link Rope	- Provide rare, additional stats ✨ - Serve as supplementary gear	Simulated Universe

Cavern Relics are the backbone of any build. Their 4-piece set effects can dramatically alter a character's playstyle. For example:

• Passerby of Wandering Cloud: Increases Max HP and regenerates a Skill Point at battle start – a healer's dream! 🩹

• Musketeer of Wild Wheat: Boosts ATK and SPD – perfect for your main DPS to act faster and hit harder! ⚡

Planar Ornaments, found in the Simulated Universe, are the finishing touches, offering coveted stats like Effect Hit Rate, Break Effect, or Energy Regeneration Rate.

😤 The Player Uproar: A System in Need of Repair

The frustration isn't just anecdotal; it's a chorus echoing across platforms like Reddit. The core complaint? An abysmally low yield of usable relics after exhausting stamina (Trailblaze Power).

• Player Swift311 shared a tale that resonates with many: after completing a triple-reward Planar Ornament event, they walked away with only two useful pieces out of a mountain of loot. Their plea to the developers (affectionately known as the HoYo team) was clear: add a stat re-roll or alteration system.

• Player DailyMilo had an even more disheartening experience, reporting that after spending all their daily runs, they couldn't secure a single useful relic piece. This feeling of wasted time and resources is a common thread.

Many in the community argue the system needs a fundamental rework. It's not just about bad luck; it's about the system's design feeling unrewarding and restrictive. The current farm is like trying to tune a radio with your eyes closed, hoping to land on the right frequency by chance alone 📻.

💡 Proposed Solutions from the Community

Players aren't just complaining; they're brainstorming solutions! The most popular ideas include:

1. Expanding Self-Modeling Resin Use: This precious item currently lets you choose a relic's main stat. Players want to go further, suggesting it could also be used to:

   • Re-roll one sub-stat on an existing relic.

   • "Lock" a desired sub-stat to protect it during enhancement.

   • Reforge a relic's entire sub-stat lineup (at a high cost).

2. Implementing a "Pity" System: Similar to the warp gacha, after farming a certain number of relics without a Crit Rate/DMG sub-stat, the game could guarantee one. This would soften the blow of relentless bad RNG.

3. Adding More Targeted Farming: Allow players to spend extra resources to focus farm relics for a specific slot or with a higher chance for a desired set.

🏔️ The Grind: Where to Farm Relics

Acquiring these contentious items is no walk in the park. There are only two primary endgame sources, both unlocked through story progression:

• Cavern of Corrosion: The home of Cavern Relics. These are combat gauntlets against formidable enemies, demanding strong teams to clear efficiently.

• Simulated Universe: The roguelike mode where you challenge yourself and the Aeons to earn Planar Ornaments. It's a test of strategy and build creativity.

These modes are intentionally challenging, but the reward often doesn't match the effort, leading to the current discontent.

🆕 A Glimmer of Hope: New Relics on the Horizon

Despite the system's issues, the game continues to evolve. Recent leaks (which should be taken with a grain of salt, as always!) have hinted at two new Cavern Relic sets slated for a future update. While their exact mechanics are subject to change, early descriptions suggest:

• Set A: Focused on increasing the wearer's Crit DMG by a significant value. This could be a game-changer for hyper-carry DPS units.

• Set B: Designed to boost all DMG dealt for a limited number of turns, potentially enabling new burst-window strategies.

If these sets follow the typical release pattern, they would be farmable in a new Cavern of Corrosion. New gear always brings excitement, but for many players, it also highlights the existing problem: getting the new relics is one thing; getting good ones is an entirely different battle.

✨ The Bottom Line in 2026

As Honkai: Star Rail sails into its third year, the relic system stands at a crossroads. It is a core, non-negotiable part of the endgame, yet its current implementation feels like it's holding the player experience back. The community's feedback is a clear signal: the joy of building a character is being overshadowed by the tedium and frustration of the gear chase. Whether through expanded uses for Self-Modeling Resin, a pity system, or another innovative solution, players are hopeful that the developers will listen and implement changes that make the pursuit of perfection feel less like a futile chore and more like a rewarding journey. After all, in a game about trailblazing new paths, the gear system shouldn't feel like a dead-end maze 🧩.