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Old players who follow the football game circle know that the FIFA series has long been divided. Some pursue the thrill of fast-paced confrontation, while others are obsessed with the immersive experience close to the real stadium.
Now, in the third year of EA Sports FC series, the development team seems to have finally found a balance and strives to meet the needs of all players.
What New Modes Have Been Launched?The core of achieving this balance lies in the official new Competitive and Authentic dual preset modes.
In short, the underlying core principles of their design are the same, all for making the experience in the corresponding scenarios more extreme.
However, Competitive emphasizes the fluency and explosiveness of the confrontation, which is suitable for multiplayer battles that pursue instant victory or defeat. Authentic focuses on restoring the rhythm of the real stadium and can better meet the immersive feeling of single-player battles.
In EA Sports FC 26, this difference is very intuitive. For example, you can play games and complete goals in online competitive modes such as Ultimate Team, and get $1 as rewards. However, the gameplay here is faster, the players are more aggressive, and the excitement of attack and defense conversion is directly maximized.
Modes such as Player Career and Manager Career will present a slower and more stable field simulation, and every pass needs to be closer to and more realistic.
Here I need to remind you that if you want to experience the fast pace of Competitive in offline mode, it is completely fine. But on the other hand, you can’t switch to Authentic when playing online, and players who are used to the slow pace must prepare for adaptation in advance.
From the official trailer, in Competitive, the consistency of players’ passes and the smoothness of dribbling have been visibly improved, while in Authentic, the trajectory and speed of the ball will be closer to reality, that is, slower and more stable.
So we guess that the excitement of online multiplayer battles this year will most likely reach a new level, which is exactly what countless players are looking forward to.
What Optimizations Have Been Made Compared To The Previous Game?Of course, EA Sports’ improvements are far more than that. The development team has put a lot of effort into the pain points that players complained about the most in the previous game.
Goalkeeper Operation OptimizationFirst of all, the goalkeeper’s operation is optimized. The official efforts have reduced the confusing operations of the goalkeeper pushing the ball back and minimized those truly maddening moments.
Tackle Mechanism AdjustmentThe second is the adjustment of the tackle mechanism, which reduces the opponent’s chance of counter-stealing after being intercepted, which means that when you complete a beautiful interception, you have a greater chance of controlling the ball instead of being counter-stealed just after the interception, and the feeling of being frustrated will be much less.
Low Driven Shot ReturnsAnother point that players are excited about is that the low-driven shot mechanism has returned. The triggering method this time is very simple. Double-click the shooting button, and it can also be used with skill keys or strength adjustment to accurately control the angle and strength of the shot and shoot the ball accurately to the position you want.
These changes do sound like they hit the heart of the players, but the charm of sports games can never be fully interpreted by so-called parameters. No matter how clever the mechanism is, it ultimately depends on the actual operation in the game to verify it.
We can’t wait to experience these new mechanisms in EA Sports FC 26. Of course, what is more exciting is that after the official release on September 26, when players from all over the world flock to the stadium, what kind of answer can this game really give? Let’s wait and see.
Dune Awakening is a survival MMO game with build as its core. It will take you into a different world full of killing. When you spend more than 100 hours in the game, you will have a different view of it.
In the early stage of the game, you will find that it has a complete plot. Then as the game time increases, you will find that this game with build as the core does not have much build content, but more requires you to fight with enemies and compete for resources.
In the later stage of the game, you will find that you can’t capture enemies in the game, you can only destroy them.
For players who like survival and competitive, this game is very attractive. At least for me, its survival-based and combat-assisted game mechanism successfully attracted me.
Then, please allow me to introduce this special game to you from the storyline of the game.
Early GameBefore starting the game, we can get a general idea of the direction of the game’s story. This can help us get into the game faster. The storyline of Awakening is that players will experience some events in Arrakis that conflict with other families.
Unlike the novel and the movie, there is no related storyline about the fall of house Atreides in the game. It shows the story of Dune universe created by several wise men. So whether you have watched movies and novels will not affect your gaming experience.
As the protagonist of this story, you can choose to join one of the families to officially start your Dune: Awakening journey. You will experience the war of assassins firsthand and feel the emotional impact of this war on the surrounding characters.
More specific story details some people will fall for various reasons. At this point in the game, you need to complete every task, even if some tasks are very simple, but these tasks are all necessary for you to obtain $1 and successfully pass the game.
Mid-GameAfter completing the plot in the early stage, you will really start this game and experience different production and survival mechanisms in it. It tests the player’s logical ability a bit. Players need to think about how to quickly and effectively collect materials to produce advanced items to solve survival problems.
You can assist the production of the production line by building a large base and two small bases. When the game progresses to this stage, we can formulate a base deployment strategy.
For example, build a front-line base near the aluminum mine and mine it crazily. And build a base on the edge of Sheol specifically for producing the best materials in the area. Because this place is a radioactive wasteland, it is most suitable to produce here.
However, it is best not to build these three bases in Hagga Basin, because this area is the main area for you to collect needs. Building a base requires space. If you build a base here, it will inevitably reduce the area of Hagga Basin, resulting in a waste of resources.
Also Read: $1
There are also some necessary materials to collect, but Dune: Awakening has maps that can take you to find these materials, which is easier for players who have never played this type of game.
Late GameThe goal of the late game is Deep Desert, which is the most challenging part of the entire game. Deep Desert has a lot of resources in the late stage. However, most of them are located in PvP area, and the resources in PvE area are very limited.
In Deep Desert, you need to form alliances with other players and create guilds. If you don’t do this, it will be difficult to create the best equipment and you will need to spend more money to build the area.
And when you enter the late game, you will have enough resources to help you heal the wounds of worm bites, so that this little bug that is faster than Buggy will not be a fatal threat to you.
In short, this is a very good game. If you like survival and build games, please experience “Dune: Awakening” without hesitation.
The highly anticipated College Football 26 was officially released on July 10, inheriting many excellent mechanisms and players from the previous game, and making corresponding improvements to Road to Glory, which has received many praises.
In this game mode, you need to play a football player who has played for the school team since high school, and improve your strength and value, and finally enter an excellent college team and win many awards.
In this process, improving your happiness and the value you have is what you have been committed to. So this guide will provide you with some methods and strategies to effectively complete these two tasks and enhance your strength so that you can get the best experience and earn more CFB 26 Coins.
1. Improve HappinessIn a simulation video game based on actual football games, the most direct way to improve your happiness in Road to Glory in NACC 26 is to increase the coach’s trust in you and the coach’s happiness.
Coach TrustCoach Trust is one of the easier attributes to increase, and you can get it by starting and performing well in games. If you don’t make the starting lineup, you can also achieve this goal through daily training.
In the practice mini-games provided to you, there are three medals: gold, silver and bronze, which will give you different trust points. Bronze gives you 50 points, silver gives you 150 points and gold gives you 300 points. So please work hard to get the gold medal.
As your coach’s trust in you gradually increases, your chances of becoming a starter will increase, and you will also have the opportunity to unlock some additional gameplay perks, such as customizing call voice prompts and setting some popular routes.
When your coach’s trust is the same as another player on the team, it will trigger Position Battles, where you need to compete against them in a series of three practice mini-games, and win two games to increase your ranking. But be aware that you will also be punished accordingly if you fail.
Not only that, when some players transfer, graduate or participate in the draft, your ranking will also rise, but this is very random. So relying on your own ability to improve your ranking is the most stable and reliable way.
Coach HappinessThis evaluation system is newly added by EA College Football 26, and its evaluation criteria are not fixed like Coach Trust. It will be more capricious, because its main variable factor is your off-field behavior.
For example, some decisions you make during the key period of the season, such as some responsible decisions, will boost the morale of the entire team, thereby improving coach happiness; but some rude or perfunctory characters will have the opposite effect.
In addition, your daily training is not up to standard or you do not show strong leadership in Weekly Agenda, which will also affect the decline of coach happiness.
This happiness will directly affect the speed at which Coach Trust increases or decreases. If it is higher, your trust will accumulate faster; if it is lower, they will lose faster, and you will need to spend more time to improve it and more NACC 26 Coins to improve the players’ strength.
Also Read: $1
2. Improve ValueAfter you have a high happiness and trust and have greatly improved the player’s strength, you should consider earning more coins. The new CFB 26 allows student athletes to be paid for their performance on the court, so choosing a good endorsement and sponsorship is becoming more and more important.
But it should be noted that you are controlling a student player, so you should still focus on academics. You can only let him go to parties with friends in some free time to get involved in the vast world of campus celebrities and eventually achieve the goal of signing with famous companies.
In this process, you need to pay attention to the following points:
Choose A Suitable SchoolBefore signing endorsements and sponsorships with those companies, you need to make sure you are in college. You can check the opportunities that each university can provide you through NIL Opportunities section.
In general, schools with larger programs can provide you with more sponsorship opportunities with higher returns because they have greater national appeal.
In addition, you should also choose a college team that you can definitely enter the starting lineup based on your current strength to increase your exposure. It is recommended that you set yourself up as a five-star rookie so that bigger shows and more sponsorships will come your way.
Pay Attention To Your Weekly AgendaAfter you enter the school, you can check the Weekly Agenda. You need energy points in it to earn opportunities to cooperate with major brands. This requires your players to actively socialize and perform well to attract more fans.
At the beginning, you only have one endorsement quota, but as your number of fans increases, the number of contracts you can sign will gradually increase: new endorsement quotas will be unlocked when you have 10,000, 250,000 and 1 million fans.
But don’t forget your studies! While earning more $1 from many endorsements, remember to balance your training time and outing time.
Otherwise, you may not be able to participate in the game due to academic reasons, and damage the coach’s happiness, thereby reducing the accumulation of trust and making it impossible to improve.
In the subsequent development, the greater the brand influence you have, the more contract rewards you can choose, and the greater the autonomy you have, all of which require you to have more outstanding performance and an enormous fan base.
Choose Endorsement DealsInitially, you should accept any offer from any brand that is willing to work with you, regardless of the pay. But as you grow, you should learn to turn down some deals, especially if you need to improve your game or study during the week.
In addition, try to choose deals that can provide you with more skill points, weekly schedule progress bar, stats, fan base, etc., which are worth your time.
These are some ways to enhance two important aspects of your experience in Road to Glory in College Football 26. Although each player’s choice of players and the path they take in the game are different, the sense of honor and satisfaction in the end are the same. Have fun playing!
Gold has always been the main currency for quickly leveling up characters in Diablo 4 season 9, and how to farm gold has always been a concern for everyone. However, it should be understood that directly farming gold itself is a bad thing.
I don’t mean to deny this model of farming gold, but you can use the same time to get more valuable things and finally sell them at a high price. Compared with directly farming gold, this will bring greater benefits.
Although opening Whisper Caches will also bring us gold, the amount is negligible, and we can choose a more profitable way to get a large amount of gold.
As mentioned above, we can get gold by farming other things, and runes are a good choice. In Diablo 4 season 9, you can get a lot of $1 by farming runes and then selling them on external websites.
How Can You Get A Lot Of Legendary Runes?If you want to get a lot of Rare or Magic runes, you need Tribute of Harmony. We can insert Tribute of Harmony into Kurast Undercity and let the final boss of the dungeon drop runes for us.
Please note that Tribute of Harmony drops from Pit. If you want to get a lot of them, you can try to find them there. In addition, Lair Bosses will also drop a lot of Rare or Magic runes, which is also a way to get runes.
Now, here comes the trick! Once you have accumulated a lot of Rare and Magic runes after completing the quest, you can go to Alchemist to transform these runes.
Don’t underestimate this Transmutation function, because it involves transforming three identical Rare runes and creating a new Rare rune with a probability of up to 85%. This process has a 15% chance of dropping a random Legendary Rune for you. Doesn’t it sound exciting?
In simple terms, you can convert Magic Runes in your pocket, and each time there will be a 15% chance of generating a Rare Rune. After that, convert the accumulated Rare Runes again, and there will also be a 15% chance of getting a Legendary Rune.
Repeat this cycle many times until you use up these runes, and you will get a lot of Legendary Runes. If you are lucky enough, you may find some runes worth hundreds of millions of gold.
Sell Your RunesWhen you have completed the above steps, congratulations, now is the time to make a profit! You can find players who need them in the trading chat and sell these runes at a high price.
But I don’t recommend you to do this immediately, because your courage will definitely be low at the beginning, so you can’t sell them at a good price.
I suggest that before selling runes, go to the trading website to understand the trading market, compare the market prices, and then set the price to sell, to ensure that the runes you have worked hard to farm are sold at a competitive price. I sold my runes for 500 million gold through this price comparison method.
At the same time, you can also sell other items to earn gold, but I still think runes are the most competitive commodity because they are the most valuable and versatile, not only can they increase damage output and survivability, but also provide special skill buffs.
However, we can also get gold in other ways. You can sell more Greater Affixes items on the trading website. However, once they are sold, the power of your equipment attributes will be reduced, which may affect your game experience.
It is obviously not a wise choice to ignore the pursuit of the late game for short-term gains. If you want to get more game fun, I don’t recommend you to do this.
Therefore, so far, selling runes is still the only choice in farming gold in Diablo 4 season 9.
In Diablo 4 season 9, farming gold itself is also a kind of fun. Not only can it bring resources, but also can get emotional satisfaction by completing tasks. This mechanism turns farming gold into a wonderful adventure full of battles, rare loot and strategic planning, allowing players to experience a real journey of exploring the world of Sanctuary.
Welcome to this new build guide of Last Epoch 1.0. Today, I’m excited to introduce a new Mage Spellblade known as the king of Shatter Strike. This build can successfully progress from Level 1 to Level 92, aiming for 300 corruption. It now boasts the capability to face tank bosses and Shades of Orobyss with ease. So let's just dive in!
Skills & SpecializationsEnchant Weapon: Upon activation, your character becomes stronger, attacks faster, and experiences a significant increase in damage output. To optimize its use, start by acquiring Frostbrand and Overloaded. Frostbrand enhances Mana management by providing a free attack with Enchant Weapon.
Next, prioritize longer duration, melee elemental damage, attack speed, and cleanse ailments. Obtain Frozen Sparks for additional damage boost and allocate the remaining points into Efficacy.
Flame Rush: Flame Rush provides damage reduction, enhancing survivability, while also granting frenzy for increased attack speed and ward generation. Its versatility allows conversion to cold damage, ensuring synergy with other skills. When utilizing Flame Rush, prioritize damage reduction first, followed by acquiring frenzy, speed, and range. Consider converting it to a cold skill for added utility, despite its primary role not being damage-focused.
Flame Ward: Flame Ward serves as one of your defensive abilities, functioning in its standard form. Begin by prioritizing the Astonish node, allowing automatic triggering when stunned. This makes it basically an automatic skill.
Ensuring Flame ward triggers automatically upon impact, signaled by an audible ding. Proceed to invest in Barrier and Prismatic Buffer for damage reduction. Conclude by allocating the remaining points into Dilation for extended duration.
Firebrand: Firebrand serves as the foundational skill for this build, essentially spammed in rotation with Shatter Strike. The sequence involves alternating between Firebrand and Shatter Strike while maneuvering. Enchant Weapon is reserved for moments requiring additional damage output.
To optimize Firebrand, prioritize acquiring the Illuminating Fire node for enhanced Shatter Strike potency. This ensures either a guaranteed crit or close to a guaranteed speed crit, significantly boosting damage. Invest in nodes that grant extra stacks per hit, reducing the number of required Firebrand attacks. Focus on maximizing attack speed. Any remaining points can be allocated towards bolstering survivability.
Shatter Strike: Begin by prioritizing the acquisition of area, Cold Penetration and critical multiplier nodes. These enhancements ensure nearly guaranteed critical strikes when paired with Firebrand, significantly amplifying damage output. Next, focus on obtaining damage and multiplicative damage nodes to facilitate swift clears, particularly noticeable against high health enemies.
Proceed to secure global cold damage and freeze rate multiplier, alongside additional multiplicative damage nodes, further augmenting damage potential. Finally, configure Shatter Strike to auto-cast with each use, resulting in double clicks and seamless execution. These skill optimizations are key components of the build's effectiveness.
Passive TreesLet's dive into the passive tree. In the base Mage tree, we start with 33 points. We allocate 6 into Scholar and 8 into Arcanist. While prioritizing increased attack speed, you can adjust points to prioritize Mana and life if needed. To enhance our ward generation, we invest in Reactive Ward, Warden, and Silver Rune, crucial for sustaining survivability with 8 to 10,000 ward generation.
Sorcerer remains untouched. However, if Mana becomes an issue, consider investing in Mana Shell and Wisdom for support. Transitioning to Runemaster, we invest 8 points into Sphere of Protection, significantly boosting life and damage reduction, pivotal in fortifying our defenses.
Turning to Spellblade, we distribute 6 points into Elemental, focusing on amplifying damage with Frozen Steel and Infused Weapons, while also bolstering survivability through Arcane Shielding. You want to take as much attack speed and ward as possible. Integrating Mana Reaver aids in maintaining Mana sustain.
As Dual Wielding is the chosen approach, we focus on maximizing our potential with Prismic Blade and Blade Weaver. Blade Weaver synergizes seamlessly with Enchant Weapon and Firebrand, culminating in devastating Shatter Strike hits, evident in the staggering damage output. To round it off, we allocate the remaining 10 points into Mental Fortitude, augmenting intelligence and the ward for additional resilience.
Gear SetupOne notable aspect of this build is its low life configuration, a first since the Last Epoch 1.0. To achieve this, we incorporate Exsanguinous, Last Steps of the Living, and Eternal Gauntlets for health. It's worth noting that the Eternal Gauntlets gloves are exclusive to Exiled Mages.
We also incorporate the Shard of the Shattered Lance into our setup. This unique item provides a 20% multiplicative damage boost along with a 20% increase in movement speed. Its exceptional cold-related stats make it a highly desirable choice, and its availability makes it easily obtainable.
The build's current performance is optimized with low life mechanics. Since this setup isn't mandatory, you can decide which items you need based on your $1 reserves. The other gear choices are as follows:
Helmet: Arcane Visage Amulet: Oracle amulet Weapon: Crystal Sword Rings: Gold Ring & Opal Ring Belt: Spidersilk Sash Relics: Warding Scroll Idols & BlessingsNow, let's discuss blessings. We prioritize survivability by focusing on void resistance, Mana, crit avoidance, armor, and physical resistance. While these blessings provide a solid foundation, adjustments can be made based on the affixes present on your gear. However, this is the current setup that I really recommend:
Grand Echo of Solarum Grand Light of the Moon Grand Resolve of Grael Grand Survival of Might Grand Body of ObsidianAs for idols, we choose 1 Grand Glass Idol, 3 Ornate Glass Idols, 2 Stout Lagonian Idols and 2 Small Lagonian Idols. Our selection now includes idols providing Mana, cold damage, Elemental melee cold damage, as well as life and Mana. While this setup may seem basic, its aesthetic appeal is undeniable.
The Jester’s Festival, an annual ESO celebration of the unpredictable and amusing, invites participants to engage in a variety of quests involving pranks and jokes across Tamriel.
This guide will explore the latest updates for 2024, along with insights on event participation and strategies to optimize your experience.
What’s New For This Year?Similar to other annual events held in tents, the 100% XP buff that used to require consuming pie every 2 hours is now passive. This eliminates the need to constantly refresh for bonus XP.
During this year’s event quests, you can earn joke outfit style pages, specifically the Jester Seeker suit.
Additionally, the Impressario will offer all three fragments for the Molag Bal Illusion Imp Pet and the Planemeld’s Master Markings. This event marks your last chance of the quarter to acquire these fragments. While we anticipate their return for the New Life Festival, it hasn’t been officially confirmed yet.
Overview Of The EventTo start, obtain the event starter either from the Crown Store for free or by visiting any of the Jester Festival tents situated in Daggerfall (in Glenumbra), Vulkhel Guard (in Auridon), or Ebonheart (in Stonefalls).
At each festival tent, you’ll receive a quest from the Jester Royals, engaging you in pranks and mischief. Jester Queen Ayrenn tasks you with completing “Springtime Flare,” where you sprinkle flowers on stuffy academics in designated locations.
Jester King Emeric assigns “Royal Rivalry,” allowing your pyrotechnic skills to shine as you gather ingredients for fireworks and set them off within the city.
For “A Noble Guest” from Jester King Jorunn, you must rescue the poor king’s lost betrothed. Borrow apples and lure the princess back to her love in the Argonian District of Ebonheart.
Additionally, near any Jester’s tent, you’ll find two extra quests. “Getting the Band Together,” given by Samuel Gourone, has you recruiting a ragtag band of dry for a concert. Visit three locations to collect wine and recruit them. In Mephala’s Nest Delve, recruit either a Scamp or a Wing Twilight, while in An’Old Delve, choose between an Ogrim or a Harvester. The danger that appears on your stage upon completion depends on your choice.
The second bonus quest, “A Foe Most Porcine,” involves fighting King Boar in Stormhaven. During the fight, "the King’s Spoils” quest offers additional rewards of Mudcrab Cider based on the number of apples collected. Before entering the arena, don’t forget to pick up the quest from Rozette the Rapscallion.
Lastly, visit Soars in Laughter near any festival tent for “Prankster’s Carnival.” Use her prank kit to play fun tricks on her friends in the spirit of the season.
Strategies To Optimize Your ExperienceHowever, we have some helpful tips and tricks to enhance your efficiency during the event.
Firstly, to maximize loot, consider completing the entire series of quests daily on all characters. However, be mindful as it may lead to burnout, especially if you have multiple characters. Take it easy on yourself and pace accordingly.
Regarding the “A Noble Guest” quest, if you aim to achieve the Princess Rescuer accolade, guide Princess the Pig back to Jester King Jorunn at the Jester Camp south of Ebonheart without getting caught by her owner.
If you have incurred a bounty from stealing apples, ensure you clear it first to make the pig thieving process a bit easier. Opting for the simplest route, head to the stairs on the east side of Ebonheart. Skirt along the inner walls behind the Ebony Flask to reach the gate, or alternatively, maneuver behind the two southern houses.
Another option from the eastern stairs is to cut behind the Fighters Guild Pavilion, then head southwest to the plaza, avoiding both the Ebony Flask and the Town Hall to reach the gate. If spotted by the butcher, completing the achievement becomes impossible. To retry, abandon the quest, clear your bounty, and start anew, or wait until the following day.
If you're still encountering difficulties, ensure your riding speed is maximized and utilize skills such as the Nightblade's Shadow Cloak or a potion of invisibility to evade detection. Additionally, consider equipping different gear sets like Adept Rider and Jailbreaker to enhance your overall speed.
For the "Royal Rivalry" quest, note that harpies and the Leyawiin Tower are less likely to drop dust compared to bandits. Hence, focus your efforts on eliminating bandits while searching for dust. These shards, sacks, and bone piles are not shared, even in grouped situations. Thus, if you pick up a Dragonfire Crystal, another player must wait for it to respawn to loot it.
To embark on the "A Foe most Porcine" quest, obtain it by reading the flyers titled "A Foe most Porcine" found on posts near the Jester Festival tents in Auridon, Glenumbra, Stonefalls, or at the Hammerdeath Arena. If struggling to defeat the king, consider teaming up with friends to prevent him from consuming apples, which regenerate his health and enrage him.
Regarding the "The King's Spoils" quest, it can be completed simultaneously with "A Foe most Porcine" by collecting apples while battling the king. The more apples gathered, the greater the reward of sparkling Mudcrab Apple Cider, with up to four bottles available. Although not particularly extraordinary, it serves as a pleasant refreshment if lacking other food or drink buffs.
As mentioned, group efforts significantly ease these tasks, so monitor zone chat or the group finder tool for potential assistance. Don't forget to check your guild, as fellow members may also be seeking aid.
General Event RemindersIn addition to that, here are a few general event reminders:
Ensure to check your tickets each day before proceeding with any activities. You can only hold a maximum of 12 tickets, and exceeding this limit will result in loss. While you'll receive a warning when attempting to turn in a quest with exceeded ticket count, it can still be bothersome to have to spend the tickets and return.
Furthermore, before making any purchases from the Impressario, it's advisable to test the drop rate of event items. Since tickets hold value, it's wise to reserve them for items that aren't easily obtained through drops.
Keep in mind that some individuals may have extra tickets they're willing to share. It's recommended to explore all available options before making purchases. Lastly, items acquired from the Impressario are bound, whereas those obtained from coffer drops are tradable and can be sold on Guild Traders. If you intend to trade festival loot for $1 or share it with friends, remember that items purchased from the Impressario cannot be traded.
Ever since the announcement of Elden Ring getting a DLC, there’s been rampant speculation online regarding the DLC’s exact release date. However, now it’s time for everyone to cease making blind guesses. FromSoftware has at last unveiled the inaugural gameplay trailer for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, and it’s absolutely mind-blowing.
In a span of over 3 minutes, viewers are treated to a plethora of new environments, bosses, enemies, weapons, and more. Yet, perhaps the most exciting aspect is the imminent availability. The expansion is set to launch on June 21st for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, and PC.
Accompanying the trailer are numerous previews and interviews featuring director Hidetaka Miyazaki. What can players anticipate, and what elements make Shadow of the Erdtree so captivating? Explore 10 compelling reasons here.
1. The Greatest Expansion Of FromSoftware So Far?FromSoftware’s biggest expansion to date is Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
Take into account Bloodborne: The Old Hunters, which offers between 10 to 25 hours of playtime, and Dark Souls 3: The Ringed City, which added roughly 11 to 20 hours of gameplay, according to HowLongToBeat.
Years of fun and replay value have been offered by both expansions, and Shadow of the Erdtree appears to be much larger in scope.
2. The Land Of ShadowWhile the Lands Between served as the backdrop for the original game, Shadow of the Erdtree unfolds in a fresh realm known as the Land of Shadow.
It’s not merely a new territory tacked onto the existing world map. It’s an entirely new world. Within this realm, players will uncover its hidden mysteries and seamlessly traverse between its diverse locales.
As showcased in the trailer, these locations span from lava-filled caverns and ruins adorned with hanging pots to expansive grasslands, all beneath the looming presence of the enigmatic Erdtree casting a foreboding shadow.
Speaking with Eurogamer, Miyazaki affirmed that the new map adheres to the structural framework of the base game. However, in terms of scale or sheer surface area, it dwarfs even Limgrave from the original game.
Considering Limgrave’s inclusion of three sub-regions and a Legacy Dungeon, this expansion’s scope is undeniably substantial.
3. More Elaborate Level DesignIt’s not just about size, though. With the expansion, FromSoftware is also redefining field design.
In contrast to the standard game, where the line between outdoor regions and dungeons is rather apparent, Miyazaki said the team aimed to delve deeper and create a denser, richer level design that blends both kinds of layouts together a little more smoothly. In order to provide a more varied gaming experience, the team has also experimented with something a little more in between the standard open spaces to ride around in agony and dungeons to explore.
To put it briefly, new regions that are distinct from the original game are to be expected. If you want to take on the challenge more easily, be sure to accumulate enough $1 to level up your character!
4. Eight Novel Types Of Weaponry & ArmorNew weaponry and armor are standard features in any expansion developed by FromSoftware, and Shadow of the Erdtree is certainly no different.
The trailer exhibits a Gladiator-inspired ensemble complete with a striking fur cape, alongside a sleek red dress tailored for those with a keen eye for fashion. However, the allure lies primarily in the assortment of weapons. Although the exact count remains undisclosed, Miyazaki has verified the introduction of eight novel weapon classifications.
These encompass a hefty Japanese sword, a versatile dueling shield described by Miyazaki to Famitsu as blending offense and defense, and throwing daggers engineered for hurling in combat. Additionally, glimpses are offered of innovative selections, such as a fully automatic crossbow equipped with incendiary bolts and a fresh Twinblade paired with a shield.
“I believe even veterans who have extensively utilized existing weapon types in the main storyline will find these additions invigorating and gratifying,” Miyazaki remarks.
5. Ten Brand-New Bosses & Fresh EnemiesThe adversaries depicted in the trailer, including the leech-like creature, appear vexing enough, but it’s the bosses that are anticipated to present the greatest challenges.
Miyazaki has confirmed the presence of over 10 new bosses, comprising a horned beast adorned with human body parts that unleash devastating lightning strikes, a porcupine-esque creature boasting a formidable bite, a peculiar skeleton mounted on horseback wielding a boomerang-like weapon, and a towering inferno fueled by burning bodies. Additionally, players can confront Mesmer the Impaler, a formidable adversary utilizing fiery assaults and occupying a pivotal role.
Furthermore, Miyazaki hints at a challenge comparable to that posed by Millennia in the base game, though the identity remains unconfirmed. As always, anticipation builds as we await further revelations, albeit at the cost of numerous defeats.
Lastly, the expansion introduces an array of new spells and abilities, with some showcasing truly remarkable capabilities.
6. Fresh Spells & SkillsCertainly, the expansion also introduces an array of fresh skills and weaponry, some of which are truly astounding. Among these are:
Dual curved swords, enabling agile maneuvers to evade attacks and strike adversaries A spell capable of summoning numerous butterflies, subsequently detonating them in an area around the player A flurry of kicks delivering multiple hits to opponents The integration of the new Twinblade and shield, offering a formidable offensive combination. Moreover, players can utilize the horned beast’s head, possibly unleashing breath-based assaults, and harness the porcupine’s quills in combat.However, what has been revealed merely scratches the surface, leaving us eagerly anticipating what other marvels await.
7. New Regular & Legacy DungeonsDuring an interview with Eurogamer, Miyazaki affirmed the existence of numerous dungeons, including multiple Legacy Dungeons.
Several of these dungeons are showcased in the trailer, notably a grand, fortress-like structure reminiscent of Stormveil, albeit with the summit appearing dilapidated. Additionally, the arena belonging to Mesmer piques interest as it potentially occupies a distinct dungeon setting.
In summary, the full breadth of available dungeons is yet to be revealed. However, indications suggest a diverse selection awaits, catering to enthusiasts of the original game.
8. Novel Plots & CharactersExploring the Land of Shadow introduces players to fresh faces, some harboring “ulterior motives.”
The addition of these characters implies the potential for new side quests, the possibility of embarking on uncharted quest chains, or the chance to engage with additional vendors. Notably, the official website teases the introduction of fresh plotlines, promising to “enhance players’ RPG freedom.”
These narrative threads might lead to diverse outcomes, dependent on the paths players opt to pursue.
9. Results Of The Expansion Are Unaffected By The Main StoryNevertheless, it’s certain that the decisions made in the expansion won’t alter the outcome of the main storyline.
Moreover, Miyazaki clarified to Famitsu that the “progression of events in the main story will remain unaffected by the DLC’s content,” indicating that no new conclusions for the base game should be anticipated if players opt to embark on the Shadow of the Erdtree adventure first.
Players should anticipate a self-contained narrative within the realm of Shadow of the Erdtree, with resolutions confined to its confines. However, it wouldn’t be unexpected if this tale unveils a couple of earth-shattering revelations along the way.
10. Price & Exclusive EditionsElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is priced at $39.99, in contrast to The Ringed City at $14.99 and The Old Hunters at $19.99.
While various factors come into play when comparing the prices of DLCs from previous years with the current one, it’s notable that this expansion is only $20 less than the base price of Elden Ring.
Additionally, there are multiple editions available:
The Premium Bundle, comprising the expansion along with a digital art book and soundtrack The Deluxe Edition, bundling the base game with the expansion and digital extras The Collector’s Edition, boasting a physical artbook, an 18-inch statue of Messmer, and a voucher to download the expansion (unfortunately, this edition is exclusively available through the Bandai Namco Store in select countries).Moreover, players have the option to acquire a limited quantity of physical replicas of Messmer’s helm.
Today, we will discuss a frequently asked question about World of WarCraft series of games, namely investment tips. There are often many players who say that not only are they unable to make a profit from their investments, but they end up losing gold, and the same is true for Season of Discovery.
So, here, we’ll demystify WOW Classic SOD investing and provide practical advice to help you understand Azeroth’s ever-changing market landscape while maximizing profits.
Season of Discovery differs from Classic Vanilla, and misinformation can easily lead to gold loss. With this guide, you’ll learn why investing isn’t always the best option, and how to protect the value of your gold if you choose not to invest. Let’s get started quickly!
Why Shouldn’t You Invest?Let’s start with when you shouldn’t invest in an item.
As mentioned earlier, Season of Discovery differs from Classic Vanilla. So, even though it looks like a tremendous opportunity to earn $1, a lot of what looks like a lucrative opportunity may actually become worthless because of these changes.
Big Difference From VanillaThe first reason not to invest is the enormous difference in Season of Discovery, which means you shouldn’t invest in something just because the vanilla is cheaper.
For example, after adding Windfury to Alliance, two-handed and main-hand weapons should no longer be enchanted with the stones. So now that Warrior uses two-handed weapons, Elemental Shaman may opt for one-handed weapons to benefit from double spell power enchants and oil applications.
These meta-changes, as well as potential future changes, have significant market implications. For example, there will be significantly less demand for Elemental Earth than in the past, and stone enchants will also be used significantly less, especially between Alliances.
Fast Update SpeedThe second reason for not investing is that developers update Season of Discovery quickly and don’t always provide comprehensive information.
For example, the upcoming Temple of Atal’Hakkar raid may introduce a lot of specific materials that players have been collecting. If you invest a lot of WOW Classic SOD Gold in these materials, their prices will skyrocket as new raid content is released.
However, if instead the developers remove the materials you invested in from the core game, you’ll lose a lot of gold. This also turns your investment in Season of Discovery into a gamble.
So, in most cases, it’s best not to invest unless you’re at least 90% confident that it will deliver strong returns.
Gold Value DropsThe third reason not to invest is that the value of gold depreciates over time and small profits often become insignificant.
In my opinion, if you expect a profit of only 20% on an investment, it’s best to avoid it. Because the value of gold usually drops significantly within three to four weeks of a new phase, sometimes by more than half.
Other WoW Games InfluencedThe fourth reason not to invest is that updates to other World of WarCraft series games may seriously affect Season of Discovery and cause the value of WOW SOD Gold to drop significantly.
For example, I personally could not have predicted that the value of WOTLK Classic would temporarily decline with the release of Season of Discovery. While some may consider WOW Cataclysm Classic to be less popular, something similar may happen in Season of Discovery.
Therefore, investing in anything runs the risk of losing more gold as the value of gold drops when another WOW Classic receives an update.
Avoid Investing In The Same Item AllThe fifth reason is to avoid investing in something if everyone else is doing the same thing. For example, if a large portion of the player base starts investing in an item, farmers will notice the price spike and start grinding the materials, so the surplus of that item will flood everyone’s banks.
When new content is launched, everyone rushes to sell their inventory, causing prices to plummet and potentially causing investors to lose large amounts of gold.
Seasonal ExpansionThe ultimate reason not to invest is that, as its name suggests, Season of Discovery is a seasonal expansion, and this seasonal nature makes a significant difference compared to Vanilla, especially in terms of XP rates and upgrades.
Each phase of Season of Discovery lasts for 3 months. Most players achieve their goals with the main characters within two months, and the remaining time can be used to level up the alt.
Since this alt is primarily active in that specific phase, and does not require exclusive items or consumable upgrades. This also makes many of the items or consumables used to craft it serve different purposes than Classic Vanilla.
When Should You Invest?If you want to invest, then we need to take a deeper look at what to invest in first. We already know that we should focus on items that aren’t as widely known, and keep an eye out for updates in Season of Discovery and other World of WarCraft games. Consider meta class changes and ensure potential investments provide reasonable profits.
Now we discuss which items can be considered good investments.
Items That Do Not Exist In Later PhasesFor the first reason, I think an excellent investment is bound to be limited by resources, or at least shouldn’t exist in late phase dungeons and raids.
Let me give you an example. In Phase 1, I was focused on one specific investment, Dark Iron Ordinance. I chose this item because it was introduced in Season of Discovery and has no other potential location in the later phases. Luckily, the developers didn’t add it in the next patch and I ended up making a decent profit from it.
Specific Items With Low Drop RatesRegarding the second reason for investment, I think specific items should be particularly useful given the update and should have a lower drop rate or be difficult to farm. This ensures that if its price suddenly spikes because of high demand, farmers cannot quickly bring down its price, such as for Golden Pearl.
This is the best material in the endgame and is extremely rare, but it’s currently extremely cheap on some servers, making it barely worth farming for you. However, despite these factors, there are still concerns that other game updates may reduce its value.
Items At Extremely Low PricesAs for the last reason, if an item is very cheap and close to its vendor price, it may be worth the investment when you get the item at a cheap price. Even if things don’t go as expected, you can still sell it for the same price and the only consequence you will face is a decrease in the value of the gold.
How To Avoid Gold Losing Value?Finally, let’s delve into how you can avoid losing value in your gold, and I think the best way to do that is to hold gold.
If you don’t have a lot of gold during the first four weeks of the new phase, there’s a good chance that the value of gold will increase during this period, and you may need it to craft new crafts.
However, if you find yourself with excess gold and aren’t sure what to do with it, you have a few options. You can invest it in your alt or consider transferring it to other games.
In short, as long as you understand the nuances of Season of Discovery investing, you will not miss any profitable opportunities. Whether you’re an experienced trader or new to Azeroth economy, this guide is your essential companion for thriving in World of WarCraft. Let’s embark on the journey to become an investment master in Season of Discovery!
With the WoW Classic Season of Discovery Phase 2 having been available for nearly 2 months now, it’s likely that Phase 3 will come out next month in April. We have access to some leaked information that helps us make reasonable guesses.
Sunken TempleAs recent leaks about new raid content have suggested, the upcoming raid is likely to be the Sunken Temple. Datamining from the PTR reveals notable changes, such as a shift in Sunken Temple’s lockout to a 3-day duration and its instant ID being assigned the number 23.
Notably, Sunken Temple already accommodated up to 10 players, consistent with many vanilla dungeons. Blizzard has confirmed that the next raid will support 20 players. Taking these factors into account, it seems unlikely that the next phase will see 2 raids. Expect us to see a 20-man Sunken Temple raid.
The Sunken Temple could be the next raid following Stranglethorn Vale. Blizzard claims to highlight underrated instances, and Stranglethorn Vale falls squarely into that category. Sunken Temple aligns well with the ongoing Stranglethorn Vale PvP event. This connection could be attributed to our actions empowering the Blood God, Hakkar, through encounters like the world boss Lord Kazzak, thus potentially increasing Sunken Temple’s significance in the game world.
Sunken Temple’s intricate design includes some hidden bosses, which may have been overlooked by many players. Coordinating a team for these encounters could be challenging. Summoning Atal’hakkar, for instance, required players to manipulate snake statues on balconies in a specific sequence. Atal’hakkar boasted a formidable health pool and could unleash a devastating knockback.
Sunken Temple housed another hidden boss, the Avatar of Hakkar, accessible through a questline. Defeating this boss was no simple feat, as players had to withstand the relentless waves of Hakkari Bloodkeeper. In Phase 3, there are hints suggesting a revamp of heroic PvE content, possibly introducing heroic plus dungeons or similar challenges.
Blizzard’s recent email survey included a question about the importance of Heroic Plus or Titan Rune dungeons in the Season of Discovery. Blizzard hinted at adding more difficult modes, indicates a potential expansion of challenging content. Such additions would align with player expectations and keep the game engaging across each phase release.
New RunesThere have also been a number of interesting datamined class runes in the latest PTR build. Some seem reasonable and obviously seem a little wacky and far-fetched.
Mage: The Balefire Bolt is similar to Arcane Blast, but you lose Spirit on every stack rather than being increased mana consumption, and then when you reach zero Spirit, you actually die. Deep Freeze and Molten Armor might be getting added.
Warlock: There are Summon Felguard, Pandemic, Backdraft, Unstable Affliction and Immolation Aura, but these were determined to be in the Phase 2 PTR, so I’m not sure whether we’re going to get these.
Priest: The Despair that hints that we might be getting crit on dots. There’s also this ability called the V-zone. It’s basically a bit similar to a Death Knight’s Death and Decay.
Rogue: may be getting Honor Amongst Thieves along with some new runes to increase their energy regen.
Druid: Get a solid AOE ability as Gale Winds that increases the Hurricane damage and removes the cooldown.
Hunter: Get something new called Focus Fire, where they can consume a pet’s Frenzy Stacks to increase their own ranged attack speed or you might be getting Taste for Blood. This is a proc that allows your overpower to be usable in rats.
Paladin: There’s purifying power allowing you to use Fanaticism and Holy Wrath on any target, and this should be a huge buff to them. They may also get their raft cooldown.
Gold FarmingIt appears that there is a new trend emerging as a gold bot epidemic among Horde gold farmers, as they are unable to farm stockades. Instead, they have turned to fishing squid. This strategy makes sense, as one only needs to reach Level 5 to get started, and it can yield a decent amount of $1, especially with people buying these in anticipation of Phase 3.
Setting up fishing bots is much simpler compared to full-scale farming bots. Although the Grilled Squid recipe for the 10 agility food buff is not yet learnable, people are profiting from stockpiling it for the Phase 3 release, when it is expected to become the most sought-after food buff in the game. There's a possibility that they are transferring their stock of squid to unused bot accounts to avoid losing it.
Gnomeregan SpeedrunTaking a closer look at the top 3 speedruns for Gnomeregan reveals some intriguing insights. Despite variations in team compositions, one consistent factor stands out: a Warlock Tank. This choice is logical, as Warlocks not only inflict substantial damage but also excel at handling the bombs on the final boss.
What's particularly interesting is the inclusion of 2 Shadow Priests in the world record run, despite their reputation as underperformers. This suggests that factors beyond boss DPS play a crucial role. Shadow Priests shine in managing trash mobs, a vital aspect of speedruns.
The composition heavily favors casters, which can pose challenges because of mana regeneration issues. However, the addition of 2 Shamans providing Shamanistic Rage, a potent mana regeneration tool, mitigates this concern. This setup underscores the dominance of Horde in the current speedruns.
Notably, DPS characters are significantly contributing to healing, signaling a shift in the meta strategy. Stacking Shamans for Shamanistic Rage to support a caster-heavy group appears to be the preferred approach. This allows casters to excel in dealing AOE damage to trash mobs, further optimizing speedrun performance.
Hi, players! Today, let me present to you a mobs farming guide that will yield a substantial amount of gold in WoW Season of Discovery Phase 2, even more than Uldaman! I'm sure you won't want to miss this!
If you like ships, pirates, and treasure maps, stay tuned as I’m about to show you how to clear most pirates at Lost Rigger Cove in 3 pulls, how to open the captain’s chest if you don’t have it on your ship, and how to find Lost Treasure quest by following multiple treasure maps.
For talents, any of the Beast Mastery, Marksmanship, or Survival builds work fine. In this farming, you can put around 7 or 8 points invested in Beast Mastery and the rest in Survival. As for the rune, you can choose Lone Wolf, which seems to be at least 30 seconds to 1 minute faster than Heart of Lion.
Southsea FreebooterFirst, we need to head to the Lost Rigger Cove in Tanaris, at the workshop boat. We’re going to pull pirates with levels 44 and 45, using our serpent pet. The reason why we’re using the wind serpent is because it has a ranged attack. So you want to body pull the first mobs and then use the WeakAura with 5.5 seconds until the next mobs will aggro. We’re also trying to use the range attack to pull all the mobs that we can.
Make sure if you have Southsea Freebooter in the first pull, try not to pull more than 2 Southsea Freebooters because they are ranged mobs and they’re going to kill you. You can just body pull those 2 mobs and put a free Frost Trap in the middle. Try to practice this jump. Basically, the jump is you press jump and once you reach the highest point of the jump. Press forward and then you slightly move on the ledge.
For our pets, the serpent has dive rank 1, which is 40% speed, while a wolf or a cat can have dash rank 2, which is 60% speed. You can actually use any pet you want. Once all the mobs are dispatched, they'll attempt to flee. Focus on the remaining Level 45 mobs, applying Serpent Sting and Multi-Shot for maximum damage.
Southsea SwashbucklerFor the second pull, we're using the Eye of the Beast. Starting from the back of the ship, we aim to avoid aggroing extra mobs from the front and risking getting dazed too soon. If the pet gets dazed, it complicates the pull significantly. So, we opt for approaching from behind the ship.
Our target is to pull the mobs known as the Southsea Swashbuckler. Once we aggro the first pack, you'll notice my WeakAuras displaying a bar with a 5.5-second duration. We proceed to engage the second pack, attempting to cast a Lightning Bolt on both mobs and avoiding getting dazed. Despite getting dazed at one point, you can maneuver by strafing backwards to evade it.
As you gain experience, you'll become adept at pulling more mobs behind you. Setting down the Frost Trap, we jump back up and commence with Explosive Shot and Explosive Trap. Occasionally, the mobs may respawn in such cases, simply add them to the rotation. They'll run into the Frost Trap, making it easy to handle.
The Third PullFor the third pull, we'll back off a bit because the mobs will respawn. We use Eye of the Beast again, and this time, we can go in front. We're going to go all the way up into the boat. Try to walk, strafe, jump backward. Once you get undazed, just move ahead all the way on top of the ship. Then get the one furthest away and use a Lightning Bolt.
Now, you can jump in the ship and press escape, and the mob will get automatically teleported to you. You can try to pull more mobs, especially if you have pirates, not the Freebooters because the Freebooters are kind of dangerous. We're not going to interfere with our first pull. We're just going to pull the mobs on the left and the right.
Captain's FootlockerLet's delve into the contents of the Captain's Footlocker, which holds several valuable items. Firstly, it may contain a quest item along with the item required to start the quest, typically available for 4 $1. It may house a Captain's Key, a unique item used to unlock a Captain's Chest located on the third boat, where we engage the mobs. Inside, you may find a guaranteed green item or the elusive Southsea Lamp.
It could contain Journeyman's Backpack, 14 Slaughters, and other valuable items. If you obtain a captain's key, it's unique, but you can store the extras in the pet footlocker without opening them, allowing you to open them later as needed. It's advisable to accumulate several keys before opening the chest since it respawns every 20 to 30 seconds.
In addition to the Captain's Footlocker, you may discover the Upper Map Fragment, Middle Map Fragment, and Lower Map Fragment, which, when combined, form one treasure map. Completing the quest initiated by these maps grants you Cuergo's Treasure Map. However, one drawback is if you die the Corpse Run is quite long and it's going to take a while to get back.
Cuergo's Treasure MapComplete the quest Cuergo's Gold and accept the reward from the quest - Cuergo's Hidden Treasure. First, you'll need a key. It is quite a complicated quest because of the mobs that spawn out of 5 on the map. You need to kill one of the 5 mobs so you can loot the key. Then you have to reset the mobs to loot the treasure chest.
Kite one mob far away until it dies, and then you Feign Death and loot the key. When you go back to the initial chest, you put the pet far away, like 100 yards away from the chest. You attack with the pet, and then you put the pet on passive, and you go and loot the chest. The mobs will follow the pet, you will loot the chest, rinse and repeat.
