He stared at his phone until the banner blurred—another 50-50 lost, another duplicate 5-star. I slid the phone back and pointed at the Celestial Invitation button, and his scowl softened. One tap later, the loss turned into a guaranteed pick and the room went quiet in a way that felt like winning.
At my kitchen table I watched a friend rage-quit a pull before he noticed the option; here’s what’s actually happening when you press Celestial Invitation
I’ll be blunt: Celestial Invitation is the banner’s safety valve. When you lose a 50-50 (the 50% shot at the featured 5-star), the system normally hands you one of the seven standard banner 5-stars. Celestial Invitation replaces up to three of those standard options with limited banner characters you can choose from instead.
Right now, Hoyoverse has Blade, Seele, and Fu Xuan available for selection through this mechanic. You change the list by tapping the Celestial Invitation button on limited banners; the Planarcadia pages and in-game banner preview show what’s selectable. If you value control over RNG, this is where you press.
How does HSR Celestial Invitation work?
Short answer: Lose a 50-50, and Celestial Invitation offers a selectable pool that can include limited characters in place of some standard 5-stars. Think of it like a safety net stitched into a gambler’s coat—only this one pays out the character you actually want.
Practical notes you’ll care about: the selector only appears on limited banners that have the mechanic enabled; it doesn’t retroactively change past pulls; and if you already own a character, you can still pick them (useful for Eidolons).
In ranked chat I heard three players argue for different names before someone typed them into the selector; here’s how to think about which to add
You should treat the selector as either insurance or an investment. If you want immediate power, pick a 5-star that fills a hole in your roster. If you aim for long-term value, choose characters whose Eidolons or team synergies age well—Fu Xuan and Blade often fall into that category.
Which characters should I pick for Celestial Invitation?
Below I’ve organized choices by in-game value and real-world payoff. The table preserves the roster and gives quick reasons so you can decide in 30 seconds.
| Name | Reason |
|---|---|
| Blade | Top-tier DPS with recent buffs and Eidolons that meaningfully raise output—great as a pick for players who want immediate, reliable carry power. |
| Fu Xuan | Exceptional sustain and team longevity; Eidolons scale her value further. Choose her if you run long fights or need a steady healer/shielder. |
| Bronya | One of the best supports for many metas. If you lack her, she’s worth picking; if you own her, her Eidolons are modest, so you can remove her from the selector. |
| Seele | Still serviceable as a DPS and a candidate for future buffs; a safe mid-priority pick if you want flexibility. |
| Himeko | Shines in Pure Fiction teams; otherwise situational. Pick only if you lack strong Pure Fiction DPS—she is like a spare key for a stubborn lock. |
| Welt | A versatile option who fits many comps but rarely dominates a niche—useful but not urgent. |
| Clara | Good damage that often needs Eidolons to hit peak performance; pick her if you want a crit-heavy playstyle. |
| Bailu | Solid revival and sustain, though limited by a lack of cleansing on heals; take her for niche utility. |
| Gepard | Strong shields tied to his Ultimate—valuable in specific fights but less reliable overall. |
| Yanqing | Lowest priority among the 5-stars here; avoid unless you want a novelty pull. |
Use the list as a decision map, not a rulebook. If you don’t own someone, their immediate roster value often outweighs chasing Eidolons you don’t need yet.
Can I change my Celestial Invitation selection?
Yes. You can swap selections before you confirm pulls on supported limited banners. The selector is flexible on the banner screen, but once a pull resolves into a picked character, that choice is final.
Pro tip from my own pulls: prioritize characters that fix a hole in your squad or deliver Eidolon value you actually plan to use. If you already have a character at 6-star or with high Eidolons, remove them from the pool and replace with someone you don’t own.
Want a final framing? Treat Celestial Invitation as insurance against garbage duplicates and a lever for guaranteed team upgrades. It reduces tilt, protects your pulls, and turns RNG into a calculated bet—no more staring at your screen wondering what could’ve been. Which of these would you choose — Blade, Fu Xuan, or a wildcard pick that completes your roster?