Honkai Star Rail A Bottle of Draconic Tears Guide: Introduction
Honkai Star Rail A Bottle of Draconic Tears is a unique 3-Star mission item, tied to a hidden questline on the Xianzhou Luofu. While it may seem like a minor collectible at first, this item plays an important role in a short but rewarding side quest involving several NPCs and a bit of exploration. Described as a mineral formed from drakons’ tears, the item carries a bit of flavor lore that adds some charm to the worldbuilding, making it a fun discovery for players who enjoy digging into the game’s hidden content.
This item isn’t handed out through a marked mission—instead, you’ll need to follow a sequence of interactions that aren’t tracked by the quest log. The chain begins with Pawnbroker Handian, who will point you toward the Spare Time Book Shop located in the Exalting Sanctum. From there, you’ll need to collect an Old Iron Box (also referred to as an Old Tin Box) from a character known as the Frowning Young Man, and deliver it to the Sad Woman nearby. In return, she’ll give you the Bottle of Draconic Tears.
Once you’ve received the Honkai Star Rail A Bottle of Draconic Tears, you’ll have a couple of options for how to proceed. You can report back to Pawnbroker Handian and tell him about the trade, which will prompt him to direct you to an IPC aficionado located near the pawn shop. Alternatively, you can skip ahead and take the item directly to Howard, the IPC Specialist, who can be found sitting on a chair in Central Starskiff Haven, just north of Starwatcher Avenue. Giving him the item will complete the quest and grant you a reward.
Overall, this side quest is a quick but satisfying detour that rewards players who take time to explore and interact with their surroundings. While the item itself is part of a small chain, completing it adds a bit more depth to the world and gives you an extra reward for your effort. This guide will walk you through each step so you can pick up Honkai Star Rail A Bottle of Draconic Tears and finish the hidden quest with ease.
Honkai Star Rail A Bottle of Draconic Tears Guide: How to Obtain
To obtain Honkai Star Rail A Bottle of Draconic Tears, you need to follow a specific sequence of steps tied to a hidden questline.
First, you need to initiate an unlisted daisy-chain quest from Pawnbroker Handian. Pawnbroker Handian will direct you to the Spare Time Book Shop.
At the Spare Time Book Shop, you’ll encounter an NPC who is interested in purchasing an old Iron Box from Yinshu. You’ll need to obtain the Old Tin Box from the Frowning Young Man and then head to the Spare Time Book Shop at the Exalting Sanctum in The Xianzhou Luofu. There, you should listen in on the conversation between the Sad Woman and Yinshu.
Once that’s done, you can trade the Old Iron Box (or Old Tin Box) to the Sad Woman at the Spare Time Book Shop to receive Honkai Star Rail A Bottle of Draconic Tears in return.
Honkai Star Rail A Bottle of Draconic Tears Guide: How to Use
To use Honkai Star Rail A Bottle of Draconic Tears, there are a couple of different paths you can take after obtaining the item.
One method involves first acquiring the item and then speaking with Pawnbroker Handian. Choose the dialogue option “I swapped it for a jar of Draconic Tears”. After this exchange, Handian will direct you to an IPC aficionado, a character said to have ties to the IPC. You can find this person almost directly across from the pawn shop, seated at a table.
Alternatively, after getting Honkai Star Rail A Bottle of Draconic Tears, you can head to Central Starskiff Haven and look for Howard, the IPC Specialist. He’s located north of Starwatcher Avenue, sitting on a chair. When you speak with him and hand over the item, he’ll reward you for it.
To acquire the item in the first place, you’ll need to trade an old Iron Box (also referred to as an Old Tin Box) to the Sad Woman in the Spare Time Book Shop, located in the Exalting Sanctum of The Xianzhou Luofu. The box comes from the Frowning Young Man—implied to be Yinshu. It’s also recommended to listen in on the conversation between Yinshu and the Sad Woman before handing the box over.
Once you have Honkai Star Rail A Bottle of Draconic Tears, you can choose either route—Handian’s lead to the IPC aficionado, or a direct visit to Howard—to complete the quest and earn your reward. Both options represent valid ways to use the item and progress.
Honkai Star Rail A Bottle of Draconic Tears Guide: Lore and Story
The lore and story surrounding Honkai Star Rail A Bottle of Draconic Tears center on its legendary origin and its connection to a small, unlisted quest line involving several characters.
The item itself is described as a mineral deposit believed to be pearls solidified from the tears of ancient drakons living in the sea. This rumor makes it popular among Outworlders who appreciate such legends. The flavor text, “Drakon in the ancient sea, centuries long they may live. Tears shed dry into pearls, fat burns in lamps of old,” reinforces this mythical origin story. It paints a world where powerful sea-dwelling creatures like drakons exist, and even their sorrow leaves behind something tangible and treasured.
The story of how to obtain Honkai Star Rail A Bottle of Draconic Tears unfolds through a mini-narrative involving several inhabitants of The Xianzhou Luofu. It begins with Pawnbroker Handian, who sends you on an unlisted daisy-chain quest that leads to the Spare Time Book Shop in the Exalting Sanctum.
There, you’re introduced to an old Iron Box (or Old Tin Box) held by the Frowning Young Man (Yinshu). By listening in on a conversation between Yinshu and the Sad Woman, you’re drawn into a quiet subplot. You’ll need to obtain the box from Yinshu and trade it to the Sad Woman, who in return gives you “A Bottle of Draconic Tears”. This small interaction hints at personal stories hidden in the background, adding subtle emotional depth to the exchange.
After you’ve obtained the Draconic Tears, you’re given a couple of ways to proceed. You can either speak with Pawnbroker Handian and let him know you traded the box for the item, after which he will point you to an IPC aficionado nearby, or you can skip ahead and head to Central Starskiff Haven to find Howard, the IPC Specialist. Howard is seated just north of Starwatcher Avenue, and handing him the item will net you a reward.
All of this suggests the Interastral Peace Corporation (IPC) holds a fascination with rare and legendary items like the Draconic Tears—whether for their history, value, or mystery. The fact that a collector came “all the way from the IPC” to possibly acquire it speaks volumes about its perceived worth. In the end, this small, quiet side quest offers a bit of lore, some character-driven storytelling, and a taste of the broader universe’s obsession with the mythical and the rare.
Honkai Star Rail A Bottle of Draconic Tears Guide: Conclusion
Honkai Star Rail A Bottle of Draconic Tears is more than just a 3-Star Mission Item—it’s a subtle piece of worldbuilding wrapped in a hidden questline. The idea that these are pearls formed from the tears of ancient drakons gives the item a sense of wonder and mystery, tying into the lore and legends that Outworlders find so fascinating. Even its flavor text feels poetic, hinting at a time when mythical creatures roamed the seas and their sorrow became something rare and beautiful.
What makes this quest stand out is its quiet storytelling. There’s no glowing marker or mission prompt—just a trail of dialogue and a bit of curiosity. From Pawnbroker Handian’s tip to the emotionally charged exchange between the Sad Woman and Yinshu, the whole process feels more like uncovering a hidden story than completing a standard fetch quest. It rewards players who take time to explore and engage with the environment, which is always a satisfying experience in a rich setting like The Xianzhou Luofu.
Once you’ve obtained the item, the quest gives you a choice in how to wrap things up. Whether you follow Handian’s lead and visit the IPC aficionado, or go directly to Howard in Central Starskiff Haven, both paths feel equally valid and lead to the same result—a quiet sense of completion and a small but meaningful reward. It’s a nice touch that adds replay value and makes the world feel responsive to player decisions.
Overall, Honkai Star Rail A Bottle of Draconic Tears serves as a great example of how even minor items can hold weight in the broader narrative of Honkai: Star Rail. It may not unlock major content, but it adds depth to the setting and gives players a reason to pay attention to the world’s quieter details. For those who enjoy piecing together stories and uncovering hidden threads, this little quest is definitely worth the detour.
For more in-depth guides like this Honkai Star Rail A Bottle of Draconic Tears Guide, visit Theria Games [Honkai: Star Rail].
