Ah, Sparkle. That chaotic little gremlin from the Land of Dreams who can turn any team into a skill point firehose. Even here in 2026, with all the shiny new characters Hoyoverse has thrown at us, Sparkle remains a top-tier support for comps that guzzle skill points like Imbibitor Lunae on a boba tea binge. If you just pulled her from a rerun banner or are building her from scratch, you'll need to dive into Penacony's farming grounds. Don’t worry—I’ve been there, done that, and I’m here to spill the Tuskpir-flavored tea.

Farming for Sparkle is a tale of two grinds: Ascension and Traces. Both will have you revisiting the dreamy (and sometimes nightmarish) zones of Penacony. Let’s break it down.

Sparkle’s Ascension Materials: Dream Flamers and Thought Fragments

Back in 2.0, when Penacony was fresh, all of Sparkle’s ascension materials were brand-new. That meant no pre-farming—ouch. But now, you lucky ducks have it easy. To ascend her, you’ll need to stockpile the Tatters of Thought, Fragments of Impression, and Shards of Desires. These drop from Memory Zone Memes, Sombrous Sepulcher critters, and other Penacony baddies. Grinding those mobs is basically a rite of passage; I still hear the Memes’ gurgling in my sleep. You’ll also need Dream Flamer, an item exclusive to Quantum characters obtained from the Stagnant Shadow: Dream’s Edge activity. When I first farmed Dream Flamer, the name felt like a prank—by the tenth run I was definitely flaming from boredom. Be warned: Trailblaze Power limits are still a thing, so it might take a few days unless you’re guzzling fuel like Sparkle gobbles candy.

The credit cost? Around 308,000 just to unlock thresholds, plus another ~580,100 if you level via EXP materials. That’s pocket change for a seasoned Trailblazer, but still worth a Calyx run or two. In 2026, you can laugh at those numbers while lugging 100 million credits around, but back in my day… okay, I’ll stop.

Trace Materials: Notes, Melodies, and the Dreaded Boss Drops

Upgrading Sparkle’s abilities is where the real grind begins, and your stockpile will evaporate faster than free primogems. Again, you’ll need those thought-based materials—so bring your strongest AoE team because those Memory Zone Memes multiply like cosmic cockroaches. Then comes the Harmony-specific gacha: Firmament Note, Celestial Section, and Heavenly Melody. These elegantly named items are farmed from the Calyx (Crimson): Bud of Harmony in Reverie (Dreamscape). Do not accidentally farm the old Stellaris Symphony stuff; it’s as useful as a broken Clockie for Sparkle. Use the Synthesizer to turn a thousand Notes into Sections—RNG won’t mock you there, I promise.

Ready for the real bottleneck? Higher Traces demand Past Evils of the Borehole Planet Disaster from the Echo of War, and those cursed Tracks of Destiny from the Simulated Universe (still a weekly ordeal, even with the updated modes we have now). If you haven’t been hoarding Tracks like a dragon’s treasure, prepare to wait. I recommend checking the Embers Exchange monthly—those two extra Tracks are a lifesaver when you’re one short.

Here’s a quick, non-exhaustive checklist to give you an idea of the madness (exact numbers vary by trace level, so check your in-game screen):

• Tatters of Thought: A truckload

• Fragments of Impression: Enough to wallpaper the Astral Express

• Shards of Desires: Don’t ask

• Dream Flamer: 12? 15? Just don’t lose count.

• Firmament Note / Celestial Section / Heavenly Melody: One Calyx run? Make it twenty.

• Credits: A million or three—budget accordingly.

Is Sparkle Still Worth It in 2026?

Absolutely. She’s still the undisputed queen of skill point generation, turning average Joes into temporary gods and making Dan Heng IL mains weep with joy. Even with the new wave of Harmony units that have dropped since Penacony, Sparkle’s unique forward-advance and max SP pool increase remain irreplaceable for many team comps. Building her is an investment in a future of never running out of skill points—and honestly, who doesn’t want that?

So grab your Trailblaze Power, queue up some Penacony jazz, and start farming. Just don’t forget to tip your local Memory Zone Meme for all the Tatters they’ll generously donate. If you’re low on credits, the Bud of Treasures Calyx now has so many flavors you can multitask. And for the love of the Harmony, remember to claim your weekly Simulated Universe rewards. Sparkle will thank you by printing skill points like it’s nobody’s business.