I've been playing Honkai: Star Rail since it was available, a few weeks. One account is at level 33 and the other is at level 32. I haven't spent any real money to get them there.
Unfortunately, my experience with the Trial of the Equilibrium on the earlier one hadn't given me an easier path on the other. Having a 5-star character hasn't been an overwhelming advantage, either. Get your powerful Light Cones early and get them enhancements. You can begin with 3-star Light Cones but once you have them where you want them and realize that they're not as powerful as you had hoped, you'll be want better. This is likely the way they get people to pay real money--frustration. Genshin Impact is the same way.
There are a lot of ways to build the characters you need, so that you can switch between them. The Calyx challenges have been extremely helpful in returning valuable resources for raising team members. The only cost has been internal to the game. You must be patient or pay greatly.
That Trial of Equilibrium is a pain. I tried various characters, including one 5-star character, but the combination hadn't been enough. The good thing is that any Trailblazer experience you earn isn't limited just because you haven't passed the Trial of Equilibrium. Eventually, I passed both of them and when the second Trial arrived, it was much easier.
I finished Jarilo VI with a lot of effort, some frustration, and some inspiration. I continue to handle missions on the space station and Jarilo VI.
What's surprising is that I was inspired during combat by Epic Games' Battle Breakers. Those characters didn't move from their spots, but knowing how to assign characters, to balance abilities, was helpful. I was over level 500 on Battle Breakers and wasn't one to spend money.
Honkai: Star Rail is so different from Genshin Impact that I can't imagine that they're from the same company.
During the first week, I saw reviews stating that the author was at level 50. That must have taken a lot of money and time that I don't have to spend. I believe that I will arrive there, but in the next month or two. That's soon enough for me.
Update 2023.05.26: Version 1.1 arriving soon. Highlights page already online.
Update 2023.06.01: Level 40 on one account, 38 on the other. Trial of Equilibrium is once again a big issue. I'm seeing a message about relics needing to be at a higher level. Characters are at level 50 and Light Cones are also at level 50. Except for relics, things are the best that they can be.
Update 2023.06.04: Level 42 on one account, 40 on the other. I'm through the Trial of Equilibrium again. I used three 5-star characters and one four-star character. It wasn't easy, but I had to revive two characters after the battle with the Fridgid Prowler and bring up the HP on everyone. Consumables are good for that. I used Cosmic Fried Rice. The other battle was somewhat easier.
I still haven't spent any real money, but it looks as though it's going to be a lot more difficult without it. The future seems to be relics-related.
Warning: If you don't go into Stagnant Shadow and get supplies before Trailblaze level 40, you might not be able to do it at all. I keep seeing "Team is too underpowered message", even though I have three 5-star characters and all four characters are at level 50. You can set the difficult level lower, but your rewards won't be as good, and will take more tries to win.
Update 2023.06.06: There are about 5.5 hours until the new version will be available. I'm not sure it will make a difference but hopefully, bugs will be fixed and things will work more smoothly.
The Simulated Universe is up to level 58 characters, so I'm unable to play it too far, as most of my characters are level 50. I've got two characters on each account ascended, on their way to level 60.
It's interesting that I have so many 5-star characters when I see videos of people giving tips that don't have as much as I do.
One account has Yanqing, Bailu, Bronya, and Gepard, while the other has Himeko, Seele, and Clara. It's good to have such characters for the sake of progress. The set of four have been able to take on level 53 characters and win.
Tried the game on a Google Pixel 6a, which was miserable and an Apple 2022 iPhone SE, which was acceptable, but still not great. They've got issues to smooth out. My Windows laptop computer with 16 GB of RAM and Nvidia RTX 3050Ti works fine, though, producing a lot of hot air.
Update 2023.06.25: Trial of Equilibrium: Part 4 has been succeeded on both accounts. This took a lot of relic enhancing, a Kinetic Cannon, some Cosmic Fried Rice, and a disposable shield. Accounts are at level 53 and level 52.
Update 2023.07.30: I've surpassed the Trial of Equilibrium: Part Five and it was easier than expected. I have at least one character at level 80 on each account and a few others close to that. I'm filling every slot possible, and it's taking time but I'm doing it without using any real money. Trailblaze level 62 doesn't really look any different from the lower levels, but it isn't easy to finish characters at this level. Tasks are simpler, due to familiarity with the environments and characters' abilities.
All this has given me time to try Genshin Impact again. One account is at level 13, and the other is at level 9. Prior to playing Honkai: Star Rail, I was stuck at Adventurer level 6 in Genshin Impact.
