Helldivers 2 New Warbond Leak: Illuminate Missions, New Enemies, FRV Flamethrower, Mech & Meridia Black Hole Story Details
Boost Your WoW Midnight Gear: Unlocking Set Rewards and Special Effects
In WoW Midnight's new endgame content system, the importance of Set rewards has been elevated to unprecedented levels. This stems not only from the power boosts provided by Set attributes themselves, but also from the revolutionary Catalyst charges mechanic introduced in the new expansion.
The core of gold strategy revolves around how to efficiently utilize this mechanic to push character combat power to its peak at the beginning of the season. Understanding the operating logic of this system is the cornerstone for every player to succeed in Midnight.
Whether players focus on Mythic+, raids, PvP, or Delves, activating Set4 sets becomes the key to unlocking all subsequent resource cycles. With proper build planning, players can complete the leap from zero to four sets within the first month of the season and initiate a virtuous cycle of unlimited Catalyst charges.
Gear PhilosophyWoW Midnight's biggest adjustment to Set system lies in Midnight Season 1 Catalyst Unlocking achievement. Once a character completes their first four-piece set, all endgame content has a chance to drop additional Catalyst charges, a change that alters player strategy.
Previously, players had to carefully manage their resources, hoarding gear in their inventory and waiting for the optimal moment, especially when Catalyst charges were limited.
However, in the new environment, Catalyst charges are no longer scarce, rendering the previous hoarding strategy ineffective and allowing for more flexible gear selection.
Players can now freely catalyst any high-item-level belt they acquire into the corresponding slot of their class set. This means that a character's optimal gear configuration is no longer limited to the traditional five-piece set plus individual pieces, but can extend to any four of the best-attribute slots from an eight-piece set.
This build approach requires players to re-evaluate the attribute weighting of each set slot and selectively invest Catalyst charges into the most profitable individual pieces based on their specialization needs.
Since the maximum number of Catalyst charges is eight, and a base charge is gained every two weeks, players need to develop a clear understanding of resource management.
When your charge count is nearing the limit, even if you don't have any specific gear you want to convert, consider catalyzing decent gear pieces in your inventory first to avoid wasting charge points.
StrategyIn Season 1, all bosses except the final boss will drop specific class and slot sets of $1. The final boss drops Chiming Void Curios trinket, which can be redeemed for any class and slot. Since all difficulties are now available, players should try to complete weekly random raids, as the final reward far outweighs the time investment.
Every slot in Great Vault has a chance to contain Set pieces, regardless of the content the player is participating in when filling those slots. Completing Mythic+ dungeons (levels 10 and above) grants Myth Track Set option, completing Bountiful delves (levels 8 and above) grants Hero Track option, and even random raids or open-world content have a chance to yield Set pieces.
Therefore, before the weekly reset, players should fill all available slots in Great Vault as much as possible. More options mean a higher probability of obtaining set pieces, and the gear level gap between different difficulties can be compensated for through subsequent Catalyst conversions.
The core of Great Vault strategy is quantity over quality; players need to ensure they have enough options before selecting the pieces best suited to their current build needs.
In addition to the base charges every two weeks, players can earn extra Catalyst charges by completing specific achievements. Reaching a 1600 rating in PvP and a 2000 rating in Mythic+ are relatively easy goals to achieve. A 2000 rating is roughly equivalent to completing five level 10 Mythic+ dungeons plus several level 8-9 dungeons, which is not unattainable for most players participating in endgame content.
In contrast, defeating the final boss L'ura on Heroic or Mythic difficulties is extremely difficult and is not recommended as the primary path to obtaining Catalyst charges.
A sound strategy is to prioritize achieving a Mythic +2000 rating, while PvP players can simultaneously aim for a 1600 rating, thus gaining 2-3 extra charges early in the season and significantly shortening the time it takes to complete a four-set.
Visual EffectsMythic difficulty set and Gladiator set feature larger lighting effects and more pronounced helmet and shoulder animations. Previously, these effects were limited to the highest difficulty gear, but in WoW Midnight, completing specific achievements unlocks these additional animations for all colorways and difficulties.
To obtain Gleaming Sunmote mode, one must meet one of the following conditions: defeat the final boss Solora on Mythic difficulty, achieve a Mythic +2500 rating, or reach Elite in PvP.
Given the extremely high difficulty of Mythic Solora, most players should aim for a Mythic +2500 rating or PvP Elite. While a rating of 2500 is numerically higher than 2000, it remains an achievable goal for players focused on Mythic+, through proper key level planning and team coordination.
WarbandOnce one character obtains Gleaming Sunmote mode, all characters in the entire Warband will benefit. This means players can choose their preferred playstyle and focus on achieving the corresponding achievement, after which all class sets within Warband will automatically receive the visual effects.
In Transmog interface, the unlocked set piece will appear as two identical equipment entries. One has additional animation effects, and the other is the basic version.
Players need to manually select the version with effects to see the full visual effects. Furthermore, even after obtaining Gleaming Sunmote mode, the corresponding set's Transmog appearance still needs to be unlocked first.
The core value of WoW Midnight Gold lies in transforming set acquisition from passive waiting to active management. By understanding Catalyst's infinite charge mechanic, strategically planning weekly Great Vault and Mythic+ routes, and synergizing cosmetic unlocks with combat power upgrades, players can establish a gear advantage early in the season.
This build system is not only suitable for hardcore players focused on strength but also provides a clear path for cosmetic collectors. Mastering this methodology will allow you to maintain a competitive edge throughout Midnight final content.
Discover the Official Arc Raiders Map Condition Tracker: Live Events, Hidden Bunkers, and Tactical Intel
Embark has launched a dedicated Map Condition Tracker for Arc Raiders.
This long-awaited new feature helps you monitor map conditions in Arc Raiders, providing detailed information on various environmental events and resource hotspots to help you better formulate tactics and adapt to ever-changing battlefield situations.
While some players praise this feature for increasing player engagement and as a necessary addition to Arc Raiders, providing guidance for new players, others question its late release, noting that third-party applications and websites already offer similar functionality, sometimes even more convenient.
Important RoleMap Condition Tracker is a significant new feature in Arc Raiders. It allows players to gain a strategic advantage by predicting the impact of the environment on gameplay, understanding factors affecting vision, enemy behavior, and resource availability.
Events like Electromagnetic Storms, Hurricanes, and Night Raids can drastically alter the tactical landscape, making anticipation crucial. This is especially important given that some blueprints, such as Wolfpacks, are only obtainable in Night Raids.
Tracker also includes resource-related elements such as Launch Tower Loot and Hidden Bunker. After all, the fun of Arc Raiders lies in its dynamism and rapid-fire nature; you need to adapt to the ever-changing environment to obtain abundant $1.
How to Use?Arc Raiders has added a section to its official website where you can view the current situation and schedule on the map, and filter by map.
Main Filter Keywords Close Scrutiny Electromagnetic Storm Hidden Bunker Hurricane Locked Gate Night Raid Bird City Harvester Launch Tower Loot Lush Blooms Matriarch Uncovered Caches Map Filter Keywords Buried City Dam Battlegrounds Spaceport Stella Montis Blue Gate Similar Third-Party FunctionsSome players have pointed out that third-party websites already offer similar or even more comprehensive information, raising questions about the studio's development priorities and whether player expectations match the speed of game feature releases.
This feature is indeed quite late; many third-party websites already offer similar functionality, often in a better way, and include information on trials, events, and more.
Since the second wave of events, third-party websites have been the go-to event timers for Raiders players. However, these websites occasionally malfunction because they are essentially guesswork, and if Embark makes any changes, they can only find out after the changes have occurred.
I would prefer Embark to focus more on developing new content and repeatable gameplay loops, rather than simply using existing tools. A detailed tracker within the game itself would be far more helpful for players.
Third-party mobile apps offer a wealth of resources for players of all skill levels and experience. These apps also include event timers, allowing players who want to know event details to avoid having to open a webpage every time.
The mobile apps allow you to set up notifications when events are about to start and search for events by type. For example, if you want to participate in Matriarch hunting event, you can set up notifications for that type of event, which will then pop up on your phone.
Impact on Other GamesEpic Games is collaborating with Disney on an Arc Raiders-like shooter, slated for release later this year. In the game, Disney characters will scavenge for resources, fight enemies, and then escape with their loot.
Other studios in the same genre will likely be watching closely to see if Arc Raiders' Map Condition Tracker will be successful and well-received, as they seek ways to differentiate their games and maintain player engagement.
You'll prefer to know about events before joining a game to better prepare your gear. Integrating this dynamic, real-time information directly into the game's user interface could become a key feature for this genre in the future.
Future Updates NeededIn its latest update, Embark quietly removed Cold Snap, Lush Bloom, Husk Graveyard, and Prospecting Probe from the rotation, causing discontent among some players. Players also expect Embark to develop Speranza into a social hub, allowing players to interact and communicate with merchants.
Players have also reported issues with game crashes and time limits, causing them to miss many events, a far cry from Marathon's random event allocation system. Some conditions, such as Electromagnetic Storm and Hidden Bunker, have such low drop rates that many players have never experienced them.
Map Condition Tracker provides players with a crucial, real-time, data-driven dynamic view of the battlefield, offering a low-barrier guide for newcomers and demonstrating the developers' final response to player feedback. However, its delayed arrival and relative functional lag reflect a subtle misalignment between development priorities and the community's real-time needs.
However, debating the merits of official tools versus third-party applications is not the point. For players in Arc Raiders, the key is to utilize existing intelligence, grasp environmental information, and gain an advantage in survival and success.
For developers, listening to player feedback and optimizing the game environment is crucial for a game's long-term success. Adhering to player demands and maintaining game vitality are essential to becoming an industry benchmark.
Pokemon Go Season of Memories in Motion Sustainability Week 2026 Guide | Don't Miss It!
Pokemon Go Sustainability Week is back in 2026! Players are about to embark on an unforgettable adventure in Season of Memories in Motion.
This year's event features several first-time appearances, as well as weekly rotating Raid Hours, Dynamax Battles, and Mega Raids. Here are the details.
This Week's Event Sustainability Week 2026This week's Sustainability Week will feature several new characters - Shiny Toedscool, Galarian Corsola wearing pink sunglasses, Silicobra, and Sandaconda. It will take place from 10:00 AM on April 14th to 8:00 PM on April 20th (local time).
Shiny Toedscool: If you're lucky enough, you might encounter Shiny Toedscool in the wild in some biomes. During this period, Toedscool will appear more frequently in the wild.
Shiny Toedscruel: If you catch a Shiny Toedscruel and have 50 Shiny Toedscruel Candies, you can evolve it into a Shiny Toedscruel!
Galarian Corsola wearing pink sunglasses (Costumed Galarian Corsola): Galarian Corsolas will appear in a rose-colored hue during this year's Sustainability Week event.
Players can encounter this Galarian Corsola while participating in routes on specific days, or find them in 7 km Eggs obtained during the event.
Silicobra: First appearing in Pokemon Go, Silicobras can be found in desert environments. During this period, Silicobras will appear more frequently in the wild.
Sandaconda: Players need one Silicobra and 50 Silicobra Candies to evolve a Silicobra into a Sandaconda.
It's worth noting that Galarian Corsola wearing pink sunglasses will be called a Costumed Galarian Corsola, not their actual clothing.
This Week's ScheduleMax Monday: Dynamax Drilbur
Dynamax Drilbur will appear in Max Battles on Monday, April 13th, from 6 PM to 7 PM local time, and from April 13th to April 19th.
Raid Hour: Groudon
Groudon will appear in Raid Hour on Wednesday, April 15th, from 6 PM to 7 PM local time.
Replay: Riolu Hatch DayReplay: Riolu Hatch Day will be held on Saturday, April 18th, 2026, from 11 AM to 5 PM local time. This limited-time event includes Riolu eggs with increased flash rate, special Timed Research missions, and Paid Timed Research.
Raids Five-Star RaidsKyogre will appear in Five-Star Raids from April 8th to April 14th.
Groudon will appear in Five-Star Raids from April 15th to April 21st.
Mega RaidsMega Aerodactyl will be available in Mega Raids from April 8th to April 14th.
Mega Alakazam will be available in Mega Raids from April 15th to April 21st.
Shadow RaidsOne-star and three-star Shadow Raids will be open daily, while five-star Shadow Raids will be held on Saturdays and Sundays.
Notably, Shadow Latios will raid five-star Shadow Raids during Memories in Motion, and lucky players may even encounter Shiny Shadow Latios.
GO Pass and GO Pass DeluxeMemories in Motion features a dedicated GO Pass. All Trainers will receive a free GO Pass upon logging in during the event. GO Pass Deluxe requires a paid subscription. Additional rewards will be unlocked during the event if Trainers reach certain levels. Unlocking GO Pass Deluxe will activate additional rewards.
GO Pass Bonuses:
Phase 1: 2 × XP for spinning a PokéStop Phase 2: 1/2 Egg Hatch Distance when Eggs are placed in an Incubator during the event periodGO Pass Deluxe Bonus:
Phase 1: 3 × XP for spinning a PokéStopIf Trainers reach certain ranks in GO Pass and/or GO Pass Deluxe, the following rewards will also continue until Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 10:00 AM (your local time):
Phase 1 (Level 25):
Up to 40 gifts can be opened per day. Up to 125 gifts can be received per day from spinning PokéStops and Gym Photo Discs. Up to 10 extra gifts can be carried in Item Bag.Phase 2 (Level 50):
2 × Daily Adventure Incense durationPhase 3 (Level 75):
Increased Stardust and XP from hatching EggsIf GO Pass is unlocked For Deluxe players, the following rewards will be available upon reaching level 25, ending Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 10:00 AM (your local time):
Phase 1 (Level 25): Open up to 50 gifts per day. Receive up to 150 gifts per day via the Spinning PokéStop and Gym Photo Discs. Carry up to 20 extra gifts in your Item Bag.
GO Battle League Season 26GO Battle League: Memories in Motion will begin Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 1:00 PM Pacific Standard Time (GMT-8).
During the initial season phase, end-of-season rewards will be available on Battle screen.
Players' GO Battle League rankings will be reset.
The number of wins required to advance from rank 19 to rank 20 will be restored to 20.
All other upgrade requirements remain unchanged.
And don't forget to put your Pokémon in Gym and successfully control them to earn $1.
Active Cups and LeaguesApril 7–April 14
Ultra League Fantasy Cup: Great League EditionApril 14–April 21
Master League Spring Cup: Great League Edition Season of Memories in Motion Seven consecutive days of PokéStop spin bonus increased XP. Increased XP and Stardust, enabling seven consecutive Pokémon catches. Give an extra Candy when trading Pokémon face-to-face. Trainers level 31 and above will receive an extra Candy XL when trading Pokémon face-to-face.That's all for Pokémon Go Season of Memories in Motion Sustainability Week 2026. Go play with your Pokémon in the game!
Diablo 4 Season 12 Review: Fun Gimmick or Filler Season? Butcher Gameplay, Bloodied Items & Endgame Rewards Examined
Season 12 has been live for a few weeks, how's your gaming experience?
As the shortest season in Diablo 4 to date, Season 12 is expected to last about a month and a half. Its main purpose is to bridge the gap between the hugely successful Season 11 and the upcoming Lord of Hatred DLC.
Most players speculate that such a brief season will be quite thin in terms of content. Here are some player feedback points that Blizzard needs to address.
First, I want to talk about my most anticipated brand new season feature: Slaughterhouses.
Butcher and SlaughterhousesThe theme of this season is Butcher, whose image from Diablo 3 and his iconic physique make him one of the most iconic villains in the series. Butcher has several connections to Season 12.
When the season trailer was released, Butcher generated considerable excitement among players: you could wreak havoc on player homes, battling town guards and other humans. This gameplay revolutionized traditional ARPGs, placing you on the opposite side of conflict–monsters, evil, enemies, which allowing you to become a notorious villain, a monster incarnate–a refreshing experience.
In Season 12, you can transform into Butcher in several ways. The initial experience of entering Kyovashad with Butcher hook is indeed quite enjoyable.
Butcher's skills are fun, explosive, and easy to use. Mastering a few basic combos allows you to easily rack up kills, which is certainly enjoyable. However, most Diablo 4 players prefer to play as their own characters, using their own skills and abilities. Therefore, Butcher's popularity is destined to be short-lived.
You can obtain legendary items early in your character's journey through the new Slaughterhouses event. However, your novelty will quickly wear off, as the rewards from Slaughterhouses are not substantial later in the game. Once your character is fully leveled up and Torment 4 is unlocked, you'll need to farm Pit to upgrade glyphs and hordes to gain EXP and $1. Slaughterhouses, on the other hand, drop very few sigils.
Therefore, in the later stages of the game, you'll likely spend more time on hordes and dungeons rather than Slaughterhouses. A good brand new season feature must provide rewards and fit the game loop, but Slaughterhouses fail to do so.
Killstreaks and Blooded ItemsThe core mechanic of this season is Killstreak, essentially massacre bonuses from Diablo 3, which players can earn by chaining kills.
Killstreaks are maintained by killing and attacking monsters and disappear when your character dies. To complement Killstreaks, Blizzard has added Blooded Items, which provide buffs based on the current Killstreak, further enhancing your power.
Like Slaughterhouses, Killstreaks feel pointless. While Killstreaks and Blooded items are theoretically a good idea, they're insufficient for a full season, especially after two of the best seasons in the game's history.
Killstreaks are visually cluttered or appear in the center of your character, obstructing your view. I think this needs improvement. Killstreaks only work when paired with Blooded items.
Blooded items are gear with extra rolled affixes, which provide bonuses based on your current kill count, killstreak rank, etc. Any gear can potentially roll as blooded.
However, the biggest problem with these affixes is that they rely on kill counts, which are lacking in the early game. Accumulating a large kill count in Diablo 4 isn't difficult, but it still means some activities don't fully utilize these affixes.
Blooded items reward fast-paced builds with lots of area-of-effect damage abilities, offering little benefit to slower builds. Equipment only becomes effective after reaching a certain threshold if it provides a significant buff, and the buffs from Blooded items aren't particularly appealing.
Therefore, when creating new builds, Blooded affixes are merely a dispensable additional attribute, rather than a build-defining mechanic as they were in previous seasons. It's just a minor bonus that won't allow you to build a build around.
Lack of ObolsAnother issue many players have complained about this season is the shortage of Obols. Each season, the developers make it harder to obtain certain materials through randomness, thus hindering your progress. The drop rate of Obols through all means has been significantly reduced.
Hordes, Strongholds, and Nightmare Dungeons are all new obstacles to item acquisition. Nightmare Dungeons rework and the addition of Hordes were intended to be a primary source of Obols. However, even in Torment 4, monsters in Nightmare Dungeons only drop 5 Obols. You can only obtain 700 Obols per run of Strongholds. This approach is meaningless for short seasons.
Fresh MeatFresh meat is also worth mentioning. It's essentially a seasonal currency, obtainable in large quantities by participating in seasonal events like morphing into Butcher. You can then use fresh meat to gamble for items. After the new season update, you can gamble on dozens or even hundreds of items simultaneously without a limit.
The only drawback is the lack of a storage facility and blacksmith to disenchant items. The music next to the butcher was added in a later patch.
Diablo 4 Season 12 brought a brief sense of novelty, but as a short transitional season, its insufficient core gameplay rewards, weak mechanics, and unbalanced seasonal material acquisition made the overall experience fall far short of expectations. Hopefully, Blizzard can address these shortcomings before the release of Lord of Hatred DLC, making this transition feel less rushed and superficial.
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The Elder Scrolls Online Mar 07, 2024Mastering Builds In Elder Scrolls Online With Alpha Gear Addon
Are you interested in the concept of having multiple builds but find the process of swapping out your gear and skills too cumbersome? In this guide, I'll demonstrate how to utilize the Alpha Gear addon to seamlessly switch gear, skills, and appearance with just the push of a button. This addon provides greater control over your builds and enhances optimization in the Elder Scrolls Online.
With Alpha Gear, you can effortlessly adjust your gear and skills between encounters, enhancing your performance in various roles such as DPS, healing, tanking, and thieving. Let's grab enough $1 and explore Alpha Gear and its capabilities for managing multiple builds in the Elder Scrolls Online.
Intro To Alpha GearAs a default feature, Alpha Gear enables users to store gear and skills in various configurations.
Subsequently, users can allocate a gear configuration and two skill configurations to a specific build. Additionally, outfit assignment is possible for each build. Hotkeys can then be designated for each configuration, facilitating the instantaneous application of the associated gear, skills, and outfit upon activation.
Some individuals may inquire about the similarity between Alpha Gear and ESO's Armory system. While there are parallels, the vanilla Armory system permits the preservation and interchange of builds, albeit with some limitations. Access to the Armory station or an Armory assistant is required, and navigating through the dialogue swiftly, especially in group dungeons, can pose challenges.
Notably, Alpha Gear surpasses these restrictions by offering unrestricted build creation, allowing users to generate numerous configurations according to their preferences.
Alpha Gear SettingsLet's begin by delving into the settings.
Firstly, in the profile and builds section, I opt for a streamlined interface by disabling "Show Build Buttons" and "Show Equipped Build". While we'll configure hotkeys for our builds, if you prefer manual swapping via clicking, ensure "Show Build Buttons" remains enabled. As for the remaining settings, I leave them unchanged.
Moving on to the gear section, I deactivate all three options. I find additional interface icons unnecessary, and since I utilize the Auto Recharge (and repair) addon to mend my gear with repair kits, I prefer not to incur expenses on automatic repairs at stores.
Concerning weapons, I also disable both options. The weapon charge icon isn't essential for me, and my weapons already undergo automatic recharging. However, if you're not utilizing the Auto Recharge (and repair) addon, Alpha Gear can manage this task for you.
Regarding the equipment panel, I maintain the default user interface settings. Personally, I prefer to disable "Show UI Button" as I assign a hotkey for opening the window. Nonetheless, if you prefer using buttons for navigation rather than hotkeys, it's advisable to retain this option enabled. Additionally, the UI button is relatively small and blends well with the default interface, making it inconspicuous in my view.
KeybindsSo, those are the settings, but we need to configure keybindings.
I prefer to set up keybindings, or at least that's what I'd recommend. By default, Alpha Gear doesn't have any keybindings assigned, but I suggest adding some.
Personally, I utilize the "T" key to toggle the interface, and then I assign the numpad keys for each of my builds. If you prefer not to set up keybindings for each build, you can keep the UI button or build buttons enabled and simply click to swap.
Additionally, if you intend to use it, make sure to enable the Style Manager in Alpha Gear 2 Integrations.
Creating A Build With Alpha GearNow that Alpha Gear is installed and we've configured the basic settings to our liking, let's begin creating some builds.
For this character, I aim to develop three straightforward builds. One for swift traversal around town and the Overworld, one focused on maximizing AOE DPS for handling trash pulls and dungeons, and another tailored for optimal DPS during boss encounters. In both DPS builds, I intend to utilize five pieces of the Order's Wrath set. However, in the around-town build, I'll make space for the Ring of the Wild Hunt and adjust the sets accordingly. Though this entails carrying extra gear, the flexibility to switch builds seamlessly justifies the minor inconvenience.
To initiate a new build, it's necessary to equip all desired gear and skills. For instance, I'll equip the Order's Wrath set, five pieces of Swamp Raiders, and the two-piece Veiled monster set for the AOE-focused build. Using Alpha Gear, I'll right-click on the Gear bar to save the current gear set and repeat the process for the skill bars.
Alpha Gear facilitates the independent saving of gear sets and skill bars, allowing for effortless customization when creating new builds. After saving a gear set and skill bars, proceed to edit a build slot by selecting the gear set and assigning a name. Additionally, options for outfit or Alpha style customization are available, offering versatility in appearance customization.
Following this, let's adjust gear and skills for the second build. I'll maintain the Order's Wrath set and incorporate Sheer Venom as the second five-piece set, along with Arena weapons in lieu of another monster set. Once adjustments are made, save the updated gear set and skill sets, and create a new build accordingly. With both DPS builds established, switching between them during dungeon runs becomes effortless, optimizing performance for different encounters.
Moving on, let's establish the third build, tailored for enhanced movement speed during urban traversal. This build typically complements Legerdemain focus sets, ideal for thieving activities within towns. Incorporating Night's Silence and Night's Tear sets, along with the Ring of the Wild Hunt, enhances speed while Armor of the Trainee provides additional health and armor. Skills can be tailored for combat or enhanced movement as desired.
Similar to previous steps, save the gear set and skill sets and allocate them to the third build slot. Now, an optimized build is available for daily tasks, pickpocketing endeavors, or swift point-to-point travel.
What About Champion Skills?Initially, Alpha Gear does not include functionality for saving Champion Point loadouts. However, an extension called Champion Point Slots addresses this limitation.
While I've found the Champion Point Slots extension somewhat challenging to navigate, I rarely find the need to switch combat Champion Skills on the fly. Nevertheless, I highly recommend utilizing the Jack of all Trades addon developed by Cyber on ESO.
Jack of all Trades simplifies the process by automatically adjusting your green craft Champion Skills based on your current activity. This eliminates the need to create additional builds or manually swap craft skills.
I mention this addon because it complements Alpha Gear effectively. Particularly, it ensures your character remains optimized outside of combat, especially as you attain higher champion levels and unlock multiple slottable Champion Skills from the craft constellation. Unlike combat skills, I prefer having craft Champion Skills adjusted according to my activities, whether it involves thieving, crafting, gathering, or fishing, given their significant impact.
Build Suggestions For ESONow that you're familiar with Alpha Gear, your possibilities are virtually limitless.
I've personally saved 8 builds on my Warden. These include my Falinest Scout solo build, which adeptly combines speed and damage to swiftly defeat overworld mobs and facilitate travel.
There's also my Dark Ranger AOE poison build, optimized for clearing both trash mobs and dungeons.
Additionally, I have a Marksman build centered around the Relicin set, specifically tailored for maximizing single-target damage output.
Another build focuses on solo survivability, finely tuned for conquering Veteran Maelstrom Arenas.
My Battleground Warden PVP build is designed for intense player versus player combat.
Similar to the around-town build we previously discussed, there's also my Turbo Rogue build.
Additionally, there's my Forest Guardian tank build, equipped with 64 points in stamina and suitable tank gear and skills, making even this Bosmer proficient in tanking various content. For quick random normal dungeon runs, I utilize this build with great efficiency.
Lastly, there's my stamina healer build, which boldly combines stamina-based healing with group buffs, enabling effective healing in challenging situations.
Final Thoughts on Alpha GearAlpha Gear is particularly useful for experimenting with new builds since it allows you to save your work in progress, ensuring you don't lose track of the skills or gear you were using. While this approach may not suit everyone, especially newer players who are still refining their first build, it's only a matter of time before you find yourself considering whether one set might outperform another, or perhaps you're drawn to trying out a more thematic build or simply craving speed at times.
It's worth noting that there are alternative addons offering similar functionality. Although I recently made the switch from Dressing Room to Alpha Gear, Wizard's Wardrobe is another viable option. All three operate in a comparable manner, allowing for exploration of various options. My preference for Alpha Gear over Dressing Room stems from the latter's apparent lack of updates. While Dressing Room functions adequately in its current state, there's uncertainty about its future compatibility, unlike Alpha Gear, which continues to receive regular updates and maintenance, making it a safer recommendation.
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MMO Games Mar 07, 2024This Necromancer Build Stands Out In Last Epoch With The Unique Helmet - Wraithlord's Harbour
Hello, gamers! Welcome to this new build guide for Last Epoch! We’ll be diving into an amazing build centered around a unique helmet known as Wraithlord’s Harbour. I’m sure the in-game capabilities will be outstanding, and its playstyle will be equally engaging.
Playstyles OverviewHowever, there are a couple of different ways to playing this build. This playstyle is where you have 2 minions and have them fire necrotic beams in succession. You may encounter some difficulties against large groups of enemies because of the relationship between the casting attack speed and the number of projectiles he can actually fire or the number of targets he can hit per cast, making it easy to get surrounded by enemies or overwhelmed.
This playstyle also offers some advantages compared to other styles. You can achieve a better layer of defense by using a one-handed weapon and a shield to compensate for the lack of a multitude of minions to block the enemy's aggro.
The other 2 playstyles involve using Aberrant Call. Aberrant Call is a rather impressive item. It allows you to have a maximum of 12 wraiths, potentially granting you 20 in total. While it provides some benefits, your minions will now lose 6% of their current life per second and gain minion melee damage following a recent nerf. The 2 playstyles involve summoning Flame Wraiths with this item.
The third playstyle is which I'm presenting today - Melee Necrotic. This build primarily focuses on minions. If your Wraithlord happens to perish, you can simply summon a new one, attach a new Dread Shade, and continue uninterrupted. The process is largely automated and provides a comfortable gameplay experience.
GearBefore diving into the in-game demonstration of this build, I'd like to address a few important points. Firstly, the Wraithlord’s Harbour helmet is an essential unique item that enables this build. Acquiring it is crucial. You can obtain it by farming in the Black Sun area, finding Ascendance runes, or through prophecies if you're playing Circle of Fortune. Alternatively, if you're adept at trading, you can just use your $1 to get it.
Given its significance, I recommend consulting a leveling guide before reaching the point where you can utilize it effectively. Additionally, I strongly advise to opt for a low-life approach with this build. However, this comes with its challenges. You'll need an Exsanguinous, preferably a good one. Obtaining a Frostbite Shackles would be advantageous, but it entails acquiring extra cold resistance to maintain the ward effectively.Having Last Steps of the Living or the Experimental gloves will enhance your survivability by converting health into the ward.
Nonetheless, acquiring Last Steps of the Living can be challenging and may require multiple attempts. Last of the Living has a 50% drop chance from Formosus, which is very easy to farm. And in the same area, you drop the Frostbite Shackles. In the same area, you farm the Exsanguinous.
While the gear isn't optimal and lacks complete resistance coverage, we need to focus on acquiring one modifier with the minion health region and prioritize minion health, minion damage or intelligence on other pieces, such as rings. However, it's crucial to consider health rolls on rings without compromising resistances, alongside incorporating crit avoidance modifiers.
Skills & SpecializationsTransplant: Adopt a generic approach with Reign of Blood, Doom Bringer, and Acolyte's Fervor. Prioritize haste and frenzy for improved clear speed, alongside cooldown reduction and Bone Armor for added protection.
Summon Wraith: Prioritize Covenant of Souls for +2 extra maximum wraiths, achieved by speccing into necrotic damage with Reapers. Ensure some leech for faster casting, with 1 point in Wraith Bringer being sufficient, followed by Fallen Reclamation investing in movement speed for adequate mobility. Focus on critical nodes to maximize crit chance for the wraiths, then allocate additional points into melee attack speed.
Redirect any excess points into the Grave Reality due to the Relic possessed, offering sustainable benefits every 2 seconds, albeit with a cooldown. While not tanky, this provides reasonable sustain, particularly beneficial for higher corruption levels despite subpar gear.
Bone Curse: This skill should focus on Necrotic Damage, including Armor Shred, additional damage, and a Kill Threshold.
Dread Shade: It serves as a straightforward buff for missing HP and AOE effects, with the lone watcher node being essential.
Harvest: It requires careful handling, avoiding direct confrontation with enemies. Emphasize investing 2 points in Finality and use Leigin of the Lich once you've crit with Harvest. Leverage shared minion crits and self-crit modifiers to empower minions with 250% crit chance, while directing them with the Undead Harvest to prioritize targets and inflict additional damage. This synergizes with gaining ward upon hitting enemies and enhanced crit chance for Harvest.
By carefully optimizing skill allocation and leveraging synergies, the build can effectively navigate challenging encounters and excel in combat scenarios.
Idols & BlessingsWhen it comes to idols, it's essential to prioritize those that grant 'mark for death on hits', considering the significant number of minions involved in combat. For stat distribution, prioritize HP, with the rest being allocated to HP and Ward Retention, particularly on this larger idols.
Having a secondary idol with 'mark for hit' is beneficial, but one should suffice. For the Stout Idols should prioritize double HP, albeit with superior stats.
Blessings are tailored to enhance Void Resistance, with the first one focusing on critical strike avoidance Reign of Dragons, alongside lightning and cold resistance, and increasing minion damage.
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Other Games Mar 06, 2024A Comprehensive Handbook For Conquering Skull And Bones
Greetings and welcome to our introductory guide on Skull and Bones. Whether you are a newcomer or embarking on your journey in Skull and Bones, you are in the appropriate location.
Within this guide, we will comprehensively explore all the fundamental elements necessary to commence your adventure, ranging from essential ship components to valuable trading strategies.
Skull And Bones OverviewBefore delving further, it's worth noting that some readers may not be familiar with Skull and Bones and may be curious about its premise.
Skull and Bones is an action-adventure pirate game developed by Ubisoft Singapore. In it, players navigate the treacherous waters of piracy, forging their own path to ascend from obscurity to the pinnacle of pirate dominance.
Ship BuildingInitially, upon embarking on your pirate journey and assuming command of your humble vessel, the Dauntless, following the game's introductory sequence, you'll gain the freedom to navigate around The Exeter Shipwreck.
This colossal wreck, marooned upon the rocky shores, presents a trove of salvageable materials including broken planks, salvaged metal, and weathered nails. While not particularly remarkable, these resources hold practical value. Upon reaching Sainte Anne, it's advisable to store them in your Warehouse for future utilization.
Now, let's delve into one of the game's focal points: ships.
At the outset of your pirate escapade, you'll find yourself aboard the Dauntless, an exceedingly modest vessel with limited offensive capabilities and customization options. Equipped solely with spears, this vessel lacks versatility. However, it boasts an endless supply of spears—a small consolation.
As you progress through the game's narrative, you'll embark on the journey of crafting a superior vessel. This entails exploring various ship options, such as cannons and furnishings. Take your time familiarizing yourself with shipbuilding, ensuring all available cannons are equipped to enhance your maritime combat prowess. Additionally, don't overlook the significance of furnishing your ship, as it can bolster specific statistics.
Furthermore, prioritize equipping ship armor, which provides a foundational armor statistic along with damage mitigation against specific threats like fire damage.
In addition to combat considerations, managing your ship's cargo is crucial. You can allocate cargo storage between your vessel and the Warehouse, with each ship offering a finite storage capacity. To avoid inventory congestion, carry only essential supplies such as food, repair kits, and cannonballs during voyages.
Reserve the Warehouse for bulkier crafting materials like planks and metal. It's advisable to conduct this inventory management routine upon docking at a den or outpost to prevent missed opportunities due to storage limitations while at sea.
Fast TravelWhen it comes to acquiring loot, it's important to remember: avoid sinking enemy ships.
I understand the temptation to unleash all your firepower and revel in the spectacle of ships ablaze, but in Skull and Bones, there's a more lucrative approach.
As an alternative, consider boarding enemy vessels once their health reaches a certain threshold. Boarding offers a guaranteed method to secure additional loot without risking any loss to the depths of the sea.
Boarding ships may present some challenges, particularly if your vessel is sailing at high speeds, causing you to bypass your targets. However, perseverance pays off. When you're not engaged in plundering and destroying adversaries, I recommend prioritizing the discovery of fast travel points.
Skull and Bones boasts an expansive map, and unfavorable winds can significantly prolong voyages across its expanse. Unlocking fast travel points streamlines your travels, albeit at the cost of a nominal fee in silver with each use.
Stamina BarIn addition to the ship-related aspects we've discussed, it's important to monitor your vessel's stamina bar. Yes, your ship possesses a stamina bar, which is where food becomes crucial.
As you navigate the seas, your stamina depletes gradually. The swifter your journey, the quicker your stamina diminishes. To address this, consuming collected food items becomes necessary. However, there are strategies to optimize food utilization. Take the coconut, for instance. Even in its raw state, it restores a modest 10% of your stamina over 30 minutes.
Yet, grilling the coconut enhances its effectiveness. After grilling, you'll obtain a surprising outcome: a Grilled Coconut, providing a 30% stamina regeneration rate.
As a final food-related tip, I strongly recommend assigning any food items to your quick slot. This facilitates stamina replenishment with a simple click, ideal for moments when you're occupied with sailing or battling at sea.
Now, let's delve into the practice of scouting other vessels. While navigating, you'll notice the availability of a spyglass. This tool allows for closer observation of neighboring ships, enabling a rudimentary assessment of their capabilities and potential threats.
Analyzing factors such as the vessel's size, firepower, and perceived threat level can prove invaluable, preventing hasty engagements that may lead to unfavorable outcomes. Furthermore, this scouting method aids in identifying valuable cargo aboard rival ships, allowing for strategic decision-making regarding which vessels to engage or avoid.
ResourcesLet's delve deeper into the significance of resources. Understanding their role is paramount as they are integral to crafting, quest fulfillment, and silver acquisition.
Resources serve as the foundation for crafting armor, weapons, and tools. Accumulating these $1 enables the creation of stronger equipment, enhancing your effectiveness at sea.
Moreover, resources are essential for completing quests, which often involve gathering specific materials and delivering them to NPCs. By fulfilling these objectives, you not only earn rewards but also increase your Infamy, bolstering your reputation in the pirate world.
MailboxAs an additional perk, upon reaching Sainte Anne, proceed directly to the mailbox where you'll find a message from an anonymous Son of Liberty.
Along with a few other items, you'll receive 5 repair kits, which can prove instrumental in ensuring your ship's survival during intense battles. Remember to periodically check the mailbox as you level up for further rewards.
MultiplayerNow, let's explore how to maximize your gaming experience.
Skull and Bones places a strong emphasis on multiplayer gameplay. Based on personal experience, engaging with friends or fellow players in the world significantly enhances the enjoyment of the game.
Beyond the added fun, teaming up can mitigate the challenges of high-level contracts and allows for the sharing of loot among all party members.
InfamyWhen it comes to contracts, they serve as an excellent method for accruing experience, or as termed in Skull and Bones, Infamy. Accumulating Infamy is crucial as it unlocks various items, including weapons, ships, and other valuable resources.
Lastly, prioritize completing the main questline. While it may be tempting to wander and explore the vast seas initially, advancing through the John Scurlock story offers the swiftest route to boosting your Infamy rank and obtaining new ship designs.
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WoW Series Mar 04, 2024Everything You Need To Do To Maximize Your Leveling Speed In WOW Classic SOD Phase 2!
In this guide, I want to talk about everything I do to maximize leveling speed, and what you can apply with the new 100% XP bonus. Including how to maximize the world buff Sleeping Bag, how to maximize your enchantments, your gear, and how to take advantage of large open world quest changes.
If you follow this guide, you will be able to easily level up from level 1 to level 40 in 2 hours. So we’ll start by discussing everything you need to do to increase your leveling speed.
Best Buff StrategyLet’s get into an optimal buff strategy. In Season of Discovery Phase 2, buffs are a huge game-changer.
We have three main buffs: Spark of Inspiration, Boon of Blackfathom, and Darkmoon Faire.
Spark of Inspiration and Boon of Blackfathom will actually only drop during peak hours, so you have to make sure to plan accordingly. I think BFD Buff is the most valuable. So I usually put my Hunters in Thunder Bluff to get the buff more often. Darkmoon Faire 10% Buff is also reliable, but can only be obtained once every four hours.
Overall, my goal is to go from level 1 to level 20. Above level 20, I selectively decide when to buff based on the area. For example, I usually use buffs in places like Ashenvale. Also, Thousand Needles is one of my top choices, as I know I tend to be safer in Horde area.
Best Rune StrategyNext, let’s get into optimal rune strategies. This is truly the most important part of the upgrade guide. You must have at least three major runes that you are really sure of to increase your level to 40.
For my Hunter, I chose Master Marksman, Flanking Strike and Beast Mastery. Once you identify the three main runes you want to carry with you, you need to plan when to get them on your route.
Best Gear StrategyAfter all the runes are sorted, we have to discuss the best gear strategy. The first thing I did with my gear was head to the auction house and I got the full 12 slot bag to store all my quest items in Waylaid Supplies. I also bought the best gear I could find for different levels.
As a Hunter, I just go for maximum agility gear, and I also get new bows every few levels. Overall, I recommend checking Auction House every six to eight levels.
Then, for Enchant, you can get powerful enchants, like +5 Agility Gloves, all the way up to level 40. This feels great on the way to the level cap. Of course, don’t forget some less obvious enchants, such as Scopes on the bow to increase damage.
ConsumablesFor consumables, my chief priority is just Elixir of Agility that is a must for my Hunter. But you can go out and get Defensive Potions, Elixir of Ogre’s Strength, and Engineering Dense Dynamite. Everything you get increases your kill time and leveling speed.
The most important consumable you can get is from Sleeping Bag quest line. Student Fodder you get will give you 20% of Rested XP bar, but they do have a 30 minute cooldown.
Most people would recommend saving them until level 38. But honestly, basically every hour between level 35 and 40, you get a huge mental boost. So I’ll pop one in and it really helps me get to the top level all the time.
Don’t forget the agility potions, they can be helpful if you don’t have Aspect of the Cheetah.
Leveling TipsFinally, let’s talk about our leveling tips.
Complete Quests With FriendsI recommend completing the missions with friends to keep things fun and fresh. And you’ll both get a Rested XP bar until level 22, and then split it up from there.
One of the best reasons I level with friends is that I probably won’t be very strong until I get at least three runes. Having a partner to level with me really speeds up leveling. Then, when I became an unstoppable killing machine, I could also get back to solo leveling.
Using Rank SentinelAnother early leveling tip I have is to use Rank Sentinel to make sure you don’t mess up skill ranks. I’ve had some wrong ranks of abilities for a long time, but if you have this add-on, you’ll never let that happen.
Complete Sleeping Bag Questline As Quickly As PossibleI definitely recommend completing Sleeping Bag quest line at level 14 when you head to the historic areas. Most servers have someone who can summon you to each Sleeping Bag location for about 15 $1, which will save you almost an hour of travel time.
Sleeping Bag itself should be used during rest periods. Once you’re exhausted, just jump in for 3 minutes. You can simply jump in for 1 minute to refresh it though, so never let the buff wear off.
How To Apply Rested XP Bar?Once you reach level 22 or so, you can use Rested XP bar. We have three different options when it comes to applying this XP buff.
Option one is the one I chose. It’s pre-questing. you’ll probably get ganked about 30 times. But starting on Tuesday, completing quests does provide more gold. Also, Waylaid Supplies dropped by mobs are very profitable for me, especially when I start killing mobs at level 34 to 40. I usually get 12 gold boxes, which also gives me 3,400 XP.
The second option is to lock yourself in a dungeon, starting with Shadowfang Keep around level 22, and then either Stockade or Razorfen Kraul, depending on Alliance or Horde.
You will also need to have your BFD removed every 3 days. You originally earn 23,000 XP per clear, but this will be doubled on Tuesday, essentially maxing out every time you raid. The most important thing is that you have a high chance of getting the relevant Pre-BiS Gear.
The third option is to do quests while mixing SM spam at levels 22 to 40. Surprisingly, the gap between open world leveling and questing isn’t as big as I thought. The real benefit of doing this is that you’re a level or two ahead on the quest route and you can get everything done faster. In most cases, you can earn more XP per hour.
So I’m just saying quests and dungeons are not far off in XP. For example, I’ve been hit by Horde a lot more than other areas, mainly Hillsbrad Foothills and Stranglethorn Vale. So next time my quest route sends me to these two areas, I’ll replace them with dungeons.
So now you should have a pretty good idea of how to deal with all the new mission changes coming, and how to maximize your leveling speed and profits.
I’m wondering which upgrade method you prefer after the big changes to Waylaid Supplies and the 100% XP bonus. Do you still prefer dungeon leveling in those mind-numbing dungeons for 20 hours straight, or maybe you’re starting to get a kick out of some open world leveling?
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Path of Exile Mar 02, 2024These Chaos-Themed Builds In Path Of Exile 3.23 Are Crazy!
Today, we’re sharing a few chaos-themed powerful builds that can help you clear your screen of all enemies quickly. If you want to try any of them, don’t miss this guide. Without further ado, let’s get started.
Hexblast Mines SaboteurLet’s start with this explosive build that achieves massive single target damage at a low $1 investment, it’s Hexblast Mines Saboteur with Shadow class.
Hexblast Mines is a very interesting skill that does a ton of extra damage if the enemy it hits is already cursed. In addition to this, it also generates a huge pulse of damage that destroys all nearby monsters. This is why it’s important that our enemies are always cursed.
Pros & ConsTo list the advantages of this version, I would mention its low budget. It allows for cheap and easy-to-find items with a low investment.
Of course, this build is also very powerful and the boss will disappear with your mine chain reaction. Part of this is because Hexblast can naturally Shock, Freeze and Ignite enemies. If that wasn’t good enough, it also considers the enemy’s lowest resistance before calculating damage.
This build is also very fast and can cause a lot of area damage, making clearing the map very satisfying. Best of all, this way you can drop mines from a distance and stay out of harm’s way.
Now coming to the cons, I’m going to start by saying that the mines gameplay isn’t for everyone. Some players just can’t get used to Detonate mechanic, but trust me, it’s worth a try. Because Mines builds have huge potential.
Another problem is that this character is not very tanky. Therefore, you need to be aware of your position at all times, otherwise you may die.
BudgetAs for budget, this build is cheap and you can destroy early endgame maps for only about 70 Chaos Orbs. To easily enter Yellow Map, I recommend investing around 150 Chaos Orbs. To easily complete your Atlas, I recommend investing in about 4 Divine Orbs.
For this build, you only need one mandatory unique item, a Profane Proxy Unset Ring, which causes one of your Skitterbots to have a cursed aura. This way, enemies you hit with Hexblast Mines will always trigger large area damage, greatly increasing your clear speed.
Clear SpeedI would give this build a 9 out of 10 for clear speed. You’re very fast, and your mines will explode in a large area, killing many monsters at the same time. Therefore, it is very comfortable to clear the map with this character.
Boss DamageIts boss damage is also amazing, 9 times out of 10 worth it. You can stack a lot of mines and destroy the boss with a huge explosion. Even with a lower budget, this build has incredible single target potential.
SurvivabilityFor survivability, I would give it an 8 out of 10. Even though you have armor, evasion, and spell suppression, this build is still not very tanky. Because you need to stay still from time to time to deploy mines. That’s why it was deducted two points.
Toxic Rain PathfinderNext we have a beginner’s dream build, Toxic Rain Pathfinder with Ranger class. This build uses Pathfinder’s permanent flask and chaos damage to deploy many powerful pods, draining the enemy’s life.
Pros & ConsTo list the pros of this build, I want to start with how easy it is to assemble. Because you don’t need any mandatory unique items, and upgrading is very easy.
Another great feature of this build is that your flask will always remain active, even during boss battles. And your life flask will be eternal and the damage done over time will be like a joke to you.
This build is great for beginners as you end up with great clear, boss damage, and survivability for a low investment.
Now to list the cons, the main issue with this build is mana. Since we’re dealing damage over time, we can’t leech mana or life, so we need rare rings to reduce the mana cost of the skill.
Clear SpeedThis build scores 9 points for clear speed. Because as a Pathfinder, you get a lot of attack and movement speed 100% of the time. Additionally, you only need to deploy pods once and they drain the life of surrounding enemies, providing a smooth gameplay experience.
Boss DamageThe boss’s damage is also 9 points. Combined with your strength and Toxic Rain totems, even big bosses will melt before your eyes with ease.
SurvivabilityThis build also has a 9 rating for survivability. This is because this build has high evasion, high armor, and spell suppression, plus you can use Toxic Rain from a safe distance, which will seriously slow down enemies.
Poison Summon Raging Spirits GuardianFinally, we have a surprisingly powerful endgame build, Poison Summon Raging Spirits Guardian with Templar class.
This build takes advantage of the large number of Raging Spirits you can summon to stack massive amounts of poison on our enemies. Originally I tried to build it as a Necromancer, but with Guardian we only lost a little bit of damage and nearly tripled the survivability.
Pros & ConsTo list the pros of this build, everything will start with its boss damage. Once built, you’ll be able to kill even the largest bosses in just seconds. Its survivability is also amazing, as we can have all of Guardian’s defensive layers on top of an already very safe minion build.
Now to list the cons, I will start by saying that this build is not for everyone as it is very budget demanding. Also, because the duration of its Raging Spirits is so short, you have to stop and recast them frequently.
BudgetAs for budget, this build will require at least 10 Divine Orbs to put together. Additionally, it requires four mandatory unique items.
The first is United in Dream Cutlass, which gives us Envy aura, dealing massive amounts of chaos damage to our minions. This also gives them a 60% chance of being poisoned on hit.
We also need a Darkness Enthroned Belt with two Abyss Jewels so that we can apply poison to the minions.
Next we need a piece of Covenant Armor to provide level 29 Added Chaos Damage Support to our Raging Spirits. This means it does more chaos damage.
Finally, we need Ancient Skull, which gives our minions a massive damage and attack speed boost.
Clear SpeedFor clear speed, I would give this build a 9 out of 10. Although we have a lot of fast minions that can destroy everything in seconds, they are short-lived and need to be resummoned all the time. That’s why I deduct a little.
Boss DamageThe boss damage is totally worth 10 out of 10 points. You can easily get over 30 million DPS, which is enough to take out every boss in the game.
SurvivabilityIn terms of survivability, this is definitely a 10 out of 10. As a minion build, you’re already out of danger. But with this, you can also count the many layers of defense from Guardian Ascendancy, which gives this build a staggering 250,000 effective HP.
That’s it for today. What do you guys think of these chaos builds? Have a great day.
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WoW Series Mar 01, 20244 AFK Gold Making Methods You Can't Miss In WOW Classic SOD Phase 2
Some players may not have the time to grind or start quests to make gold in WoW Season of Discovery Phase 2. But fear not, there are alternative methods to accumulate gold while semi-AFK. You can even get gold while you’re away from your computer. Next, we’ll explore 4 straightforward ways of AFK gold making.
Mining & EngineeringThe first method of semi-AFK gold making requires both Mining and Engineering skills, although they don’t necessarily have to be in the same character. Essentially, the process involves smelting Iron Ore with mining, crafting Heavy Blasting Powder with engineering, and finally, creating and selling Iron Grenades.
Recently, the prices of Iron Ore and Heavy Stone have significantly decreased because of hyperspawns for iron nodes and the availability of multiple layers on servers around the clock. During peak times, Heavy Stone can even be purchased for as low as 2 silver, and Iron Ore for approximately 3 silver. It’s possible that prices may continue to decline.
Understanding the profitability of this method is relatively straightforward. Each grenade craft produces 3 grenades, which vendor for 15 silver. Therefore, the craft cost needs to be under 15 silver to turn a profit. For instance, if Heavy Stone is bought for 3 silver, Iron Ore for 3 silver, and Silk Cloth for 4 silver, the total craft cost is 10 silver, resulting in a 5 silver profit per craft.
Scaling this up, if 400 crafts are completed in close to an hour, depending on factors like smelting time, the potential profit is substantial. It’s advisable to check the auction house for cheaper processed materials. Purchasing during peak times when the market is active can also yield better deals.
This method is currently effective and is likely to remain so in the future. To calculate profit accurately, it’s essential to perform the math yourself. However, as a reference, buying stacks of 20 materials and ensuring that Silk Cloth doesn’t exceed 40 silver, Heavy Stone doesn’t exceed 1.4 gold per stack, and Iron Ore doesn’t surpass 80 silver for 20 units, can lead to substantial profits: 40 silver from 10 crafts, 4 gold from 100 crafts, and 40 gold from 1,000 crafts.
Alchemy & Potions CraftingNow, let’s explore the next method, which I believe is currently the most lucrative option available. It involves Alchemy and crafting potions, which many players are leveraging to earn significant amounts of gold daily. Particularly in Phase 2, when no new raids were released, there’s been a surge in demand for consumables to aid in raid clearing.
Moreover, many elixirs are also utilized in the Waylaid Supply crates, with Blizzard announcing plans to introduce new rewards to these crates, likely driving prices up even further.
Elixir of Agility is a commonly crafted item, but since it’s a recipe available to all players, profit margins are slim. However, exploring less common recipes, such as Mighty Troll's Blood Potion, can yield more substantial returns. This potion requires easily obtainable ingredients like Life Root and Bruiseweed, which are relatively inexpensive to acquire. Crafting and selling these potions can effectively double your investment, as seen with the example of Papon, who managed to profit significantly by crafting and selling 7 stacks of 5 potions.
Another lucrative option is the Elixir of Greater Defense, which currently sells for a decent price of 53 silver per unit. Crafting this elixir requires Goldthorn and Wild Steelbloom, when compared to the selling price, result in a profit of 10 silver per craft.
Additionally, potions like the Lesser Elixir, which requires revered reputation with a Waylaid Supply, can fetch even higher profits because of their exclusivity. With a bit of investment in obtaining the necessary reputation, players can secure a steady income stream from selling these potions.
It’s essential to explore various potion recipes and monitor market trends on your specific server, as prices can vary widely. Despite not being utilized frequently, the Alchemy semi-AFK method has proven to be highly profitable for many players, with some earning hundreds of gold daily.
LeatherworkingNext method of semi-AFK gold making involves mass crafting with leatherworking, a strategy poised to excel in the future due to anticipated declines in leather prices. Thick Leather is essential for this method, with profitability hinging on purchasing it for under 1.2 gold per stack.
While prices may currently vary, factors like the introduction of Uldaman Hunter solo grind and the presence of multiple layers per server are expected to drive prices down, potentially to as low as 80 silver per stack.
We concentrate on crafting 2 specific items: the Nightscape Headband and the Nightscape Tunic. Crafting the Headband is advantageous if the aim is to disenchant for profit, as it requires fewer materials compared to the tunic, resulting in more disenchanting attempts.
Disenchanting the Headband typically yields 3 materials: 2 to 5 Vision Dust with a 75% chance, 1 to 2 Lesser Nether Essence with a 20% chance, and occasionally a Small Radiant Shard with a 5% chance.
Alternatively, crafting and selling Nightscape Tunics to vendors can also be profitable, particularly when leveraging discounts from city reputations and rank bonuses. Honored status with the city provides a 10% discount on silk and thread purchases, while achieving Sergeant rank 3 grants an additional 10% discount from vendors. This translates to an extra 2 silver profit per craft, equivalent to an additional 1.2 gold per hour.
Depending on the cost of Thick Leather, the potential profits vary significantly. Purchasing Thick Leather at 1.2 gold per stack could yield approximately 5 gold and 82 silver profit per hour, while buying it at 1 gold per stack could result in 10 gold and 2 silver per hour. Remarkably, acquiring Thick Leather at 80 silver per stack could lead to a staggering 14 gold and 22 silver profit per hour.
This method is anticipated to become even more lucrative on larger servers, once the auction house experiences increased activity from both bots and players. So whether you’re working from home, seeking a low-effort $1 making method, or simply prefer to avoid grinding, this strategy presents a promising opportunity.
Craft Heavy Silk BandagesThis last method is very simple. First, head to the auction house and purchase every Silk Cloth priced under 40 silver for a stack. Let’s say you have 957 gold and 78 silver. Buy all the Silk Cloth under that price point. Once you’ve obtained your Silk Cloth, consider crafting them into Heavy Silk Bandages, which can be sold for 80 silver a stack. This effectively doubles the price of the Silk Cloth stack, making it profitable.
After 9 minutes of AFK crafting, you’ve earned 40 silver. Now, you have 958 gold and 18 silver. This process can be completed within 10 minutes, earning you 50 silver every 10 minutes, which translates to 3 golds per hour. AFK can do entirely this, requiring only the time to purchase the cloth.
These prices and availability may vary depending on the time of day and server activity. With consistent effort, you can purchase thousands of stacks over the course of a day or multiple days, enabling you to craft and earn about 3 gold per hour. While it may not seem like much, it’s a profitable endeavor for minimal time investment, especially when you have spare time on your hands.
