Marty's Honkai Impact 3rd Reading Order

My personal reading order for Honkai Impact 3rd!

Reading orders are important to understand how to place the events of the Honkai Impact story into a coherent narrative, and as such, over the years many great story order guides have been created. I highly recommend the guides available on Hoyostans, the Honkai 3rd Archives Wiki, and other guides available in the official Honkai 3rd Discord, who I owe a lot to my own journey.

This is my personal reading order that I’ve created to give what I feel like is a natural flow to the story.

The developers described the story of Part 1 of Honkai Impact as taking place over 3 distinct stages:

- a first stage ending after the Battle of Shicksal HQ in Chapter 9,
- the second stage ending after the Herrscher of Domination in Chapter 25,
- and the third stage ending after the end of Chapter 35.

Using this model, I’ve organized the story of Part 1 and 1.5 into 15 major story arcs. I’ve included an in-universe date to help place the context of the events.

I’ve chosen to use some of the names that correspond to the in-game arcs, however I’ve rearranged some of the chapters for the sake of narrative continuity. Be aware that this order is not necessarily intended to be a guide for new players. Some of the content is admittedly very poorly paced for a first-timer’s experience, and is best experienced after there’s a desire for more context. For a more streamlined experience intended for new players, I recommend checking out our new player's guide when that becomes available.

I hope that this guide can help you make the sequence of events and revelations in Honkai Impact 3rd more digestible.

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Non-Canonical content is marked with a ⁑

STAGE 1st (2016-2018) (Ver 1.0-2.7)

1. RETROSPECTIVE REBURN

(In-Universe February 2014 - Summer 2016)

Kiana Kaslana fights through a zombie apocalypse and makes friends with fellow survivors Raiden Mei and Bronya Zaychik. The mysterious Honkai power haunts the Earth, but the warrior Valkyries fight for tomorrow.

• Reburn CG⁑

• Guns GirlZ Chapter 1-8¹

• Escape from Nagazora (AE Invasion 01-06)

• CH 1 - Dusk, Girls, Battleship

• CH 2 - Voice in the Dreams

2. WHERE DREAMS BEGAN

Kiana and her friends join the Valkyrie training school St. Freya Academy, and learn more about the Honkai that threatens the world.

• Cherry Blossom Recall (AE Invasion 07-14)

• Chronicle: Everlasting Memory

• A1 Manga

• Secrets of the God Keys

• Chronicle: Chapter Xuanyuan

• Chronicle: Chapter Chiyou

• Book of Fuxi

• Chronicle: The Forgotten

• Kiana Plays Honkai ⁑

3. SAKURA SAMSARA

A look backwards into the cycle of suffering that is perpetually inflicted by the Honkai. First, the fall of the Previous Era of humanity. Second, the tragedies of Kallen, Yae Sakura and Otto Apocalypse 400 years ago. Third, Kiana fights to break the samsara of sorrow.

• Divine Key: Judgment of Shamash

• Divine Key: Key of Blankness

• Divine Key: Wings of Origin

• Divine Key: Jizo Mitama

• Elan Palatinus

• EX - Sakura Arc

• Gratitude Arc

• Sakura Samsara

• Kallen Fantasy VII ⁑

4. THE END OF DESTINY

(In-Universe Late December 2016)

The mysterious organization Anti-Entropy rears its head, threatening the happy days at St. Freya. But Anti-Entropy has a long history, and will reveal its secrets.

• AE Invasion

• Moon Shadow

• Azure Waters

• CH 3 - Poem of the Wind

• CH 4 - Betrayal Has a Silvery Smile

• Chronicle: Dilemma Dreamland

• Anti-Entropy Visual Novel

5. UNDER THE FALLING SKY

The aftermath of the battles against Anti-Entropy leave Valkyrie Squad 5 shattered. Kiana seeks to learn more about her family and is exposed to a great conspiracy. Former enemies become allies, and allegiances are tested. A final lesson is about to be learned.

• Second Eruption

• CH 5 - Tundra Reunion

• CH 6 - Babylon's Prisoner

• CH 7 - Lift the Sword of Rebellion

• CH 8 - Will of the Herrscher

• CH 9 - Journey for Tomorrow

• Cooking with Valkyries Season 1 ⁑

STAGE 2nd (2018-2021) (Ver. 2.8 - 4.9)

6. FROM THE DEEP OCEAN

(In-Universe Early 2017)

The vast Sea of Quanta holds an infinite number of possibilities, and an infinite number of secrets. The valkyries Bianka Ataegina and Rita once adventured there, and soon will Bronya Zaychik. Reason to hope for the future rests in the depths of the sea.

• Durandal Visual Novel

• ELF Manga

• CH 9 EX-1 - Arc Stalker

• CH 9 EX-2 - Dark Serpent

• CH 10 - Under the Deep

• Gemima Tales

• CH 11 - Deep End of the Sea

• CH 12 - Plain of Vigrid

7. A SHOOTING STAR STREAKING ACROSS THE SKY

The return of the Serpent is nigh. The inhumane Project Stigma is about to restart. A Void Drifter stands as the last hope of ARC City.

• World Serpent Manga

• CH 11-EX - Void Heaven's & Diane's Sojourn

• CH 13 - ARC Nocturne

• CH 14 - Dispel the Darkness

• London Holiday

• Second Key Manga

8. ELEGY TO YESTERDAY

The halfway point of Part 1. A desperate battle turns into heartbreak. Raiden Mei and Kiana return to where it all began, the ruins of Nagazora. And in their return, the meaning of sacrifice and duty is fought over.

• A Post-Honkai Odyssey²

• CH 15 - The Prodigal Girl Returns

• CH 16 - Imminent Storm

• CH 17 - Thunders Over Nagazora

• Cooking with Valkyries Season 2 ⁑

• CH 18 - From Beds of Everlasting Snow

• CH 19 - Into Earth Does the Water Flow

9. TAIXUAN DREAM

The Celestial has watched over humanity for 50,000 years, lost in the samsara of memories. A new sentience awakens and fights against Kiana’s determination to save her friends.

• Springfest

• Blade of the Empyrean

• Saga of the Shattered Swords Visual Novel

• CH 20 - Immortal Phoenix

• CH 21 - Wings of Reawakening

• CH 22 - Me and Myself

10. EVERLASTING FLAMES

A new foe has appeared and overwhelms our heroes with the oppressive will of domination. Kiana confronts her inner trauma and remembers the legacy of those who went before. A hero will burn brightly.

• Alien Space

• CH 23 - The Solo Stage

• CH 24 - The Legion Theater

• CH 25 - Set Tomorrow Ablaze

• Starfire Sonorant Concert ⁑

STAGE 3rd (2021-2023) (Ver. 5.0 - 6.4)

11. THUS SPOKE APOCALYPSE

(In-Universe May - July 2017)

For centuries, the Overseer Otto Apocalypse has chased his obsessions across the ages and against Gods to the suffering of many. His final plan commences, and the endgame begins.

• ★New Concept Trailer: [Elysian Realm]★ CG

• ER CH 1: In the Infinite Shadow

• ER CH 2: To the Other Me

• CH 25 EX - Immortal Blades

• CH 26 - The Birth of Tragedy

• CH 27 - Dusk of the Fool

• CH 28 - Beyond Will

• A Post-Honkai Odyssey 2

12. TO THE FLAWLESS - ELYSIAN REALM

Thirteen heroes once roamed the Earth, fighting for the hope of all humanity. Raiden Mei walks the road of the Flamechasers, and will return home fully knowing the meaning of sacrifice.

• ER CH 3: May Time Halt for this Moment and May Tomorrow…

• CH 29 - Tochter Aus Elysium

• CH 30 - Marcia Funebre

• CH 31 - Elysium Everlasting

• Golden Courtyard Anime ⁑

• Dreamy Euphony Concert ⁑

13. THE DAY OF TRANSCENDING FINALITY

(In-Universe December 2017)

The final days of humanity are here. The power of Project Stigma and the Honkai collide. An endless dream is weaved around the planet, and Kiana will fight for all that’s beautiful in the world.

• Midnight Chronicle Event

• CH 31 EX - Project Stigma

• CH 32 - End of the World

• CH 33 - In the Name of the Truth

• Honkai Salvation Log Event

• CH 34 - The Moon's Origin and Finality

• CH 35 - Toward a New Tomorrow

• Honkai Impact 3rd Documentary: The Story Left Behind ⁑

Part 1.5: Dance of Life and Death (2023) (Ver. 6.5 - Ver 7.2)

14. AT THE FINGERTIP OF THE SEA

(In-Universe 2018)

A bubble universe in the Sea of Quanta slowly creeps towards its inevitable doom. A dark force lurks in the depths of the Sea, consuming all in its wake. Seele and her friends will do everything necessary to bring this world from the brink of death.

• Part 1.5 Concept Trailer: Hailing from Nagazora and Falling into Abyss

• Meow Town Escapade Event

• CH 36 - Hailing from Nagazora

• CH 37 - Of Salt, Snow and Sand

• Perfect Performance Event

• CH 38 - Lone Tower, Fallen Star

• CH 39 - Daughters of the Sea

• Forest Capriccio Concert ⁑

15. BEYOND THE STARS

A planet deep in space has another uneventful day. Seven representatives, a detective, an interstellar traveler, a nemesis and a proxy will forever change the fate of this world.

• CH 40 - Seven Karma Phala

• CH 41 - Worldly Retribution

• Starry Voyage: Strike Back! Event

• CH 42 - Earthbound Order

• Journey Crisis! The St. Freya Special Event

• The Star Which The Moon Gazes Upon

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How long it takes to usually read a chapter

This is a table with usual runtimes for chapters, assuming text auto-play is on. If you’re streaming, or otherwise commentating, expect to add on an extra hour or more, depending on your comfortable pace.

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Many thanks to the many helpful longtime players who have done the legwork of archiving and organizing the game information previously. I myself wouldn’t have properly understood the course of events without the hard work done by the people of the Honkai Impact 3rd Archives Wiki, the official Honkai 3rd Discord server, and the team at Hoyostans.

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MartyPCSR is an artist and Honkai Impact 3rd Content Creator, and one of the admins of Hyperion Team. You can follow his social media at https://twitter.com/MartyPCSR.

1. I’ve included GGZ Chapter 1-8 because no canonical media has covered the crucial moments of when Kiana met Mei, and when they met Bronya. Most details remain similar between the way the story is portrayed in HI3 and in GGZ, so I feel like for the sake of completeness these chapters can provide a little background into these character interactions.

2. A Post-Honkai Odyssey is at this placement because this is where it appeared in terms of release schedule, rather than timeline. I feel that playing through APHO in line with the story becomes somewhat necessary to make some other later references make sense.