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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MMO Games Feb 22, 2024Is Last Epoch Worth Playing In 2024? - Last Epoch Review
Last Epoch has been accessible as an early access title for an extensive period. Initially launched with a single-player focus, the game underwent significant updates that introduced online multiplayer functionality and a plethora of additional content. This includes intricate dungeons featuring unique mechanics and fresh endgame challenges.
Nearly 5 years following its initial Early Access debut, Last Epoch has transitioned into a complete game with its robust 1.0 patch. So is Last Epoch worth playing in 2024?
Exploring The Appeal And Current Landscape Of The ARPG GenreUnderstanding the allure of Last Epoch requires insight into the ARPG genre's fundamental appeal and current trajectory.
Despite its recent surge in popularity, the genre remains largely shaped by diverse yet influential IPs. Some titles prioritize providing players with an exhilarating power fantasy, enabling them to effortlessly decimate hordes of foes, while others emphasize meticulous gear selection and skill tree optimization before achieving such prowess. Naturally, this endeavor necessitates a substantial investment of $1, thus it's essential to prepare an adequate amount beforehand.
In essence, ARPGs often inhabit a spectrum, ranging from offering an intense power trip to granting players extensive control over their character's development. Last Epoch finds its place comfortably amidst this spectrum, striking a balance between empowering players with fantastical abilities and allowing ample opportunities for intricate build customization. This middle-ground approach ensures players experience the best of both worlds within the genre.
Last Epoch OverviewThe game presents abundant opportunities for indulging in power fantasies, particularly as you progress into the mid-game and witness the synergies between your various abilities intertwine. Concurrently, Last Epoch fosters an environment ripe for experimentation with these synergies, employing one of the most ingenious methods of build customization I've encountered in an ARPG.
As you advance through your journey within Last Epoch, acquiring new abilities mirrors the standard progression in any ARPG. However, what distinguishes the experience is the individualized skill tree accompanying each ability. This feature allows for meticulous tinkering with the functionality of your skills. For instance, with the Necromancer specialization, you might opt to delegate your killing to summoned minions. Further customization can be achieved by enabling Summon Skeleton to summon archers and mages. These customization options extend to various skeleton types, each endowed with unique abilities such as Fire Arrows for archers and a poison blast for mages, while regular skeleton warriors inflict bleeding with each strike.
Such extensive customization permeates every class, subclass, and ability. For example, the Sentinel class offers the flexibility to specialize as either a weapons expert, embodied by the Forge Guard, or delve into Dark Magic as the Void Knight. Conversely, the Rogue class provides options like the pet-centric Falconer, the archery-focused Marksman, or the stealth-oriented Blade Dancer. Similar diverse choices are available for the Mage and Primalist classes, significantly impacting your character's build based on your preferred playstyle.
However, any comprehensive discussion about ARPGs today necessitates an exploration of their endgame systems. Fortunately, Last Epoch offers several engaging options to explore.
Endgame ContentThe central aspect of endgame content is embodied in the Monolith of Fate. Unlocked upon completing the main storyline, the Monolith of Fate guides players through a sequence of procedurally generated zones. Each zone offers the opportunity for players to target specific equipment slots for desired loot. For instance, players may opt for a zone that rewards them with a weapon or one that offers a new pair of boots.
Another significant component of endgame content is the Arena, providing a competitive avenue for players. In the Arena, players confront endless waves of increasingly challenging enemies. Upon defeat, players earn placement on relevant leaderboards, showcasing their skills, class, and the number of waves survived. These leaderboards are further categorized into solo, group, softcore, and hardcore divisions.
However, among Last Epoch's most captivating features are its dungeons, which transcend mere cavernous pathways. Drawing inspiration from popular MMORPGs, these dungeons boast unique mechanics. Whether navigating light mechanics to impede the growth of perilous plant-based adversaries or traversing between distinct time periods within a single dungeon run, each dungeon promises distinctive rewards alongside the anticipated randomly generated loot.
Time TravelNow, shifting gears to discuss time travel, let's delve into the narrative of Last Epoch. In terms of ARPG storylines, Last Epoch may not rank as the most captivating. However, it possesses a unique twist in the form of time manipulation.
As players progress through the narrative, they traverse various eras, including the Ancient, Ruined, and Imperial Eras. While the game incorporates intriguing attempts at environmental storytelling, particularly evident when revisiting locations across millennia, ultimately, the overarching plot simplifies to the pursuit of locating and defeating the primary antagonist.
Narrative Depth & GameplayThroughout the narrative, there are numerous enjoyable moments, as your actions contribute to significant events within the world of Eterra. Whether forging bonds with various NPCs or leading a campaign against an entire empire, these experiences add depth to the gameplay.
However, amidst these engaging moments, Last Epoch suffers from an excess of filler content. Players often find themselves traversing aimlessly through random zones, engaging in mindless combat until they must interact with an NPC to advance the storyline.
While the gameplay choices offer extensive customization and remain entertaining, certain decisions within the game's narrative introduce unnecessary padding. Nonetheless, the core gameplay maintains its enjoyment, particularly as players unlock advanced abilities that enhance the power fantasy characteristic of ARPGs.
In summary, Last Epoch strikes a balance among its peers in the ARPG genre, providing players with ample character customization while remaining accessible. Despite the meandering nature of its story, the endgame content proves enjoyable, with dungeons standing out as highlights within the game.
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WoW Series Feb 22, 2024The Best Strategies For Farming Gold Under The Level Cap Of 40 In WOW Classic SOD Phase 2!
Adventurers, welcome back! As I believe you have discovered, SoD Phase 2 is much more expensive than Phase 1. The mount costs 100 gold coins, the price of Warlock gear has tripled for no reason, and now just getting my epic helmet costs over 300 gold coins.
Regardless, I’ve embarked on an epic gold-making journey. In this guide, I’ll give you some of my best tips and tricks for farming gold in Season of Discovery. You’ll finally have a way to earn thousands of gold coins to buy all the epic items you’ve always wanted!
PVEWe’ll start with the best PVE methods. We will complete $1 farming with the best profession and large auction house. These methods got me over 800 gold in this phase, so you’ll definitely want to stick with jumping into PVE.
One of the most powerful gold makers we have right now is the utilization of double profession. TLDR is that you have to complete the entire Epic Helm questline. This questline unlocks the vendor page from Ziri “The Wrench” Littlesprocket in Gnomeregan.
You’ll probably want to have at least one crafting profession at level 200, but having two is even cheaper than buying Grime-Encrusted Salvage directly from Auction House. You may have seen this item dropped from bosses and trash mobs in Gnomeregan.
All you need to do is give Grime-Encrusted Salvage and 30 Silver to Salvagematic 9000 in the raid and salvage some new materials.
What you get from Salvagematic 9000 just got a major new update. From the new update, you will get an average of two materials per recycling. But based on my testing, it looks like that number has gone up to about 5 to 7 materials on average.
Assume that there are six materials in each recycling, and then these materials will be used for new helmet recipes, new belts, and new shields. Even better, having a double profession essentially gives you double the materials and double the profits.
Before you go all out, keep in mind that these items will be heavily nerfed since they have no deposit. So you have to keep an eye on the auction house.
Prices will also drop significantly during the 3-day lockout period. I will definitely continue this approach after prices stabilize. Very few characters will be Leatherworking and Blacksmithing at the same time, so it can still be very profitable.
Open World Gold FarmNext we have to talk about the large open world gold maker.
In my opinion, Uldaman is the most fun place to farm, where you always have a chance of getting crazy items like Pendulum of Doom. And there’s plenty to farm here, so they don’t feel like they’re wasting their time.
It seems that level 44 to 45 elites are the only source of Pendulum of Doom, but other mobs also have great item drops, like Papal Fez. So they’re still worth your time.
Another interesting farm I did was Gut Ripper farming in Mauradon and Zul’Farrak. Many of the drops here are in the level 39 to 40 range, so you can definitely maximize your gold earnings within SoD Phase 2 level cap.
One of the more popular places right now is Ziata’jai Ruins, which definitely ticks all the boxes for gold farming. You’ll get a lot of stuff right away, such as tons of Cloth, Wildvine to sell immediately, and tons of Greens to disenchant.
Then the other place that everyone seems to be doing is Darkmist Cavern. Just like other level 30 monster farms, you will get a lot of Greens and Spiders drops.
This isn’t too fun for priests, but Spider Meat is indeed the easiest food to obtain in the game. And Spider Sausage can also be used in Waylaid Supply boxes, so the cooked food sells quickly, giving you a lot of SoD Gold income.
PVPLet’s talk about some really cool PVP gold makers. The biggest PVP gold maker is Gurubashi Arena.
Gurubashi Arena may seem like it’s only for the most serious PVP players, but savvy gold makers know that chests are one of the best sources of level 50 Greens and even Traveler’s Backpacks.
Our guild has taken out two Traveler’s Backpacks from chests. Just the other day, I got a level 36 Mystical Headwrap, which sold for over 350 gold and will be the second Pre-BiS for the next phase.
Auction House FlippingThese are all very profitable ways, but my actual income comes from the auction house. Unlike Phase 1, I’m not flipping BiS items and focusing more on flipping items that sell quickly, such as items that fill all Waylaid Supply boxes. Because they are now stacked up to 12 and have to be filled.
I also really enjoy flipping through all the high-volume items like Fadeleaf and Light Feather. For example, you could buy up the entire feather market and then raise the price.
I know a lot of people won’t be happy to hear something like this works. But ultimately, thousands of players do this every day with almost every item in the game. I just want to list the potential profits you can ultimately make. You can decide how much market manipulation you want to engage in, or if you want to avoid higher profit flips altogether.
Vendor FlippingNow that you understand this, let’s bring you more profit with my guaranteed vendor flip.
There are many crafted items with guaranteed reserve prices. If the price drops below a certain level, you can easily snipe and make something that goes directly to the vendor, with all the profitable vendor flips included.
One example is Greater Magic Essence. A Greater Magic Essence becomes a Greater Magic Wand, which can be sold immediately on Crusader track for 15 Silver. Typically, there are over 200 Greater Magic Essences available for less than 12 Silver, meaning you don’t have to rely on selling to players for a guaranteed 6 gold profit.
Another classic method is that any Thick Leather below 7.2 Silver can be turned into a Nightscape item, such as a Nightscape Headband or Nightscape Tunic.
Cooking is another good option, such as Jungle Stew or Mystery Stew. I recommend making a TSM set of all your favorite items to flip.
These are my tips and tricks for farming gold in SoD Phase 2. Hopefully this gold farming guide will ensure you do everything you can to get the maximum advantage.
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Diablo 4 Feb 21, 2024An Easy-To-Build Double Swing Twisters Barbarian You Can't Miss In Diablo 4 Season 3
I'm excited to present to you a Double Swing Twister Barbarian build. This iteration brings a fresh perspective for this Diablo 4 Season 3 - super fast and incredibly powerful. While there's a reduction in cooldown upon killing enemies, it doesn't significantly impact the build's effectiveness since we primarily rely on Double Swing with minimal skill casting.
How It WorksIn this build, there are absolutely no Uber Uniques included. If consider adding one, my choice would probably be a Shako. While a Ring of Starless Skies may seem appealing, Shako is the only option I would consider for this setup. Besides, we need the Tibault's Will. The reason being, it’s a lot harder this season to sustain unstoppable. So before we had Metamorphosis power, which would allow you to just continuously proc Tibault's Will.
One nice thing about this build is that it’s movement speed capped while Berserking, which is absolutely insane. Another little cool thing that you can do with this build as well is just swing at thin air to keep your Berserk buff up. So every time I swing, I get 2 extra seconds, so I can just maintain it. I can keep my damage boost from wrath, and I can also maintain my movement speed as well.
GearSo let’s quickly go over our Diablo 4 Items. First, I really recommend the Tuskhelm of Joritz the Mighty, this is not necessary but definitely nice to have. I just kind of wanted to illustrate like Fortifiy damage reduction doesn’t actually do anything while you’re using a barrier. For the ring, I choose the Bold Chieftain's Circle, Ring of Unrelenting Fury and Windlasher Chain. They’re all really low item power, and the roles on some of these are excellent.
There’s a lot that can be improved, but the key component is urity. Your main DPS boost is Ramaladni's Magnum Opus, so this is really important. But check carefully as to the stat requirements because you know these are not the best representation for that, you want crit chance where you can get it, and damage while Berserking, and resource regen, and Maximum Fury.
Skill TreeThen as for skills again, you want to go for Furious Double Swing . This is what gives us our basically infinite Fury. We are using Strategic Rallying Cry. Now I know I said like fortified damage reduction doesn’t really apply from behind barrier and it doesn’t. However, we want the damage boost from counteroffensive. So just having this alone, one Rallying Cry will get you to the fortifier requirement in order to allow you to get this damage boost which we want. 1 point again in Charge, this is just for breaking CC. You can use it if you want to move faster.
Healing is very important to this build. And then of course we need Invegrating Fury, more healing but this is just passive. You know this you have to wait for Shouts. This every 4 Double Swing s, and we have insane attack speed, will just be a fat heal, which will keep you sustained forever. Unconstrained, this is a Berserk build.
Seneschal ConstructsAs for the pet, I didn’t use any of unique stones either. However, if you wanted to use some, you would definitely want to play Genesis on Flash of Adrenaline, and then you’d want to play Evernight on Tempest. It is up to you. And we can get a lot of resource from this, which is quite important for us, and then just damage and DR, which is very nice to have.
Paragon BoardThen the last part I just want to talk about is the paragon board. I have to compensate for my lack of resistances on those really low item power rings. There’s some sort of fundamentals that will remain. We’re going to have Blood Rage, lots of damage while Berserking. Then the glyphs we will get is still the Wrath. this is for Fury regen. Ambidextrous powers up all the blue nodes, also increases our damage of dual-wield weapons.
Exploit is our main, if not our only source of vulnerability, but nothing really ever flips over 3 seconds, that’s not a problem. A because it’s a Berserk build and Twister, which is just a really fun thing to use. So we get a nice little 133% multiplicative damage bonus after creating a Tornado or some others, but also it’s just a really cool like gimmick almost. It’s cool to see the Tornadoes go around and kill stuff. They do quite a bit of damage when you max this out, and I really like how it plays.
So other than that, Carnage, lots of attack speed with stacking that Decimator just for Flat Damage. We don’t have Warbringer in the build that you see will quite likely going to have Flawless Technique in it as well because that’s the one thing I would, take these points that are in resistances and I’d go get that legendary node.
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Other Games Feb 19, 2024These 8 3-Star Weapons In Genshin Impact Are Worth Saving!
Besides Artifacts, weapons are the most important part of good character building in Genshin Impact. Playable characters can fight using Catalyst, Bow, Sword, Polearm, or Claymore, but not all weapons are created equal. Weapon levels range from 1 star to 5 star. The 5 star weapons are the best and of course the rarest.
Getting good 4-star or 5-star weapons in Genshin Impact can be difficult, especially for new players. Luckily, there are plenty of great 3-star weapons available in the meantime.
In this guide, we’ll showcase 8 three-star weapons worth saving for every player. They are extremely useful and have great potential, especially once players upgrade, improve, and refine them.
1. Thrilling Tales Of Dragon SlayersThe first weapon is pretty obvious and most of us know why. It’s Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers.
This weapon is one of the best secondary weapons in the game, providing a massive 48% attack power boost to the next character you switch to. While it does make your spin a little stiff, the huge attack boost is worth it.
In a team with a damage dealer with scalable attacks, 90% of the time this weapon will be the best choice of catalyst support.
You also don’t need to upgrade the weapon unless you need HP sub-stat. Just bring it to R5. I’ve saved 3 R5 copies of this weapon, 2 for each Spiral Abyss team, and one as an extra.
2. Harbinger Of DawnIf passive uptime is maintained, the next weapon will damage most 4-star weapons and sometimes even 5-star weapon options. It’s Harbinger of Dawn.
It provides a large amount of critical damage and an additional 28% critical chance if your health is above 90%. It does have lower base attack power, but its critical hit stats make up for that. For characters, like Albedo and Alhaitham, low base attack has little impact.
Although the passive may seem difficult to maintain, it’s an amazing weapon choice if you have a Shielder or a character on your team who can dodge enemy attacks.
This is great for low DPS characters since they spend most of their time on the sidelines, giving you 100% uptime on the passive side.
Corrosion and Furina are the weaknesses of this weapon. But you should save at least 1 R5 Harbinger of Dawn. I saved 2 just to be safe.
3. Black TasselThe next weapon we have is Black Tassel. This Polearm provides the highest HP in the game. The passive is useless, but the raw stats make it a splendid choice of characters like Zhongli, Thoma, who only need HP.
4. White TasselNext is Black Tassel’s brother, White Tassel. The critical hit rate of this weapon is astonishing.
Although its base attack power is lower since it is a 3-star weapon, the passive skill provides a 48% increase in basic attack damage at R5. This makes it a brilliant choice for carriers like Cyno who use normal attacks.
It’s even comparable to 5-star Polearms if you use its passive skill. So I recommend you keep at least 1 R5 copy of this weapon.
5. SlingshotNext we have R5 Slingshot. This weapon provides critical strike chance. It increases basic and charged attack damage by 60% if you’re close to an enemy.
Tighnari is the best candidate for this weapon because he relies on charged attacks, and low base attacks don’t affect him much.
6. Sharpshooter’s OathNext we have Sharpshooter’s Oath. This weapon doesn’t have much use so far, as its passive is situational and craftable bow-based. And Prototype Crescent is better suited to enemies like Ganyu, who are weak to ATK% DPS characters.
However, this weapon provides critical damage that the 4-star bow does not. This could make it a superb choice for future character stats. So I suggest you better save 1 copy of this weapon at R5.
7. Recurve BowThen we have Recurve Bow, which is the only bow that provides HP%. While the passive is useless, the raw stats may be useful in the future. Even now, if you don’t have Favonius Warbow, this weapon is great for Yelan.
8. Dark Iron SwordNext we have Dark Iron Sword. Although this weapon doesn’t have much use, it is a very rare sword. It can only be found in 2 places. The first one requires talking to Chen the Sharp, and the next one is in the chest in Wangshan Hall in Chenyu Vale. Even though it’s not that useful now, who knows you might need it in the future.
Other Weapons Worth SavingBesides these weapons, I recommend you keep a copy of the 3-star weapons. These weapons provide critical hit stats and stats rarely seen in 4-star weapon options like Def%, Hp%, or Elemental Mastery.
For example, Traveler’s Handy Sword provides Def%, while the only sword that provides defense is Cinnabar Spindle, which is an activity-limited weapon. So, being on the safe side, you should keep the sword.
Anyway, I hope this 3 star weapon guide is helpful to you. Be sure to share this guide with your friends so they don’t waste those valuable 3-star weapons.
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WoW Series Feb 19, 2024How To Obtain The 6 Newly Introduced Rogue Runes In WOW Classic SOD Phase 2?
In Phase 2 of WoW Classic Season of Discovery, several new Rogue runes have been introduced, including Shadowstep, Master of Subtlety, Rolling with Punches, Shuriken Toss, Poisoned Knife and Waylay. Next is a comprehensive guide aims to provide you with information on where to locate these 6 runes.
Rolling With PunchesTo obtain this rune, you need to journey to Thousand Needles to Camp E’thok. Inside the big tent, you'll find a chest that needs to be looted. Inside the chest, you'll find a smaller lockbox that requires multiple lockpicking attempts. A lockpicking skill of 125 is sufficient. Upon opening the final chest, you'll receive a debuff that prevents you from stealth for 5 minutes. Additionally, you'll obtain the rune.
The rune significantly increases your durability, providing tankiness in challenging situations. When the rune expires, your health percentage remains the same, which can be inconvenient for healing. To mitigate this, manually right-click the buff to remove it or create a macro for quicker removal. Removing the buff before healing reduces the amount of health you need to restore. Alternatively, using a macro ensures prompt removal of the buff, preventing health percentage discrepancies upon expiration.
Master Of SubtletyStart by heading to Kurzen's Compound in Stranglethorn Vale. Inside the Compound's broken tower, you'll find a captive who needs to be freed. He informs you that high-ranking cursion mobs hold the key to his cage. Enter the nearby cave where the elite mob is located. Pickpocket Kurzen Elite to obtain the key. Inside the cave, you'll also find a supply crate, which contains Kurzen Fighter's Uniform.
If you're unable to defeat the mobs guarding the supply crate, you can wait for other players to clear them out so you can loot it. Exit the cave and return to the tower to give the key to the prisoner. Then, provide him with the Kurzen's Fighter's Uniform as a disguise, allowing him to escape.
Once the prisoner escapes, he instructs you to speak with Captain Aransas in Booty Bay. The captain can be found under the Inn near the fisherman. She expresses gratitude for saving her crewman and rewards you with the rune and Jani's Charm. If you don't see the prisoner in the cage, it means someone else has already freed him. You'll need to wait for a short respawn period before attempting again.
Shuriken TossPossess the Disarm Trap ability or wait for someone else to deactivate the trap. Travel to the Swamp of Sorrows. Find a chest which is trapped with a poison dart. You must disarm the trap to loot the chest. Remove the trap and then loot the chest to acquire the ability. The ability allows you to throw Shurikens and costs 30 energy to use. Despite the ability's cool factor, its damage output is relatively low. Unfortunately, the ability does not proc with Blade Flurry, which would have been a desirable feature.
ShadowstepThe first thing is that you need to be at least Level 30 to start the quest. Upon entering any major city, you receive mail from a person named C, who offers you a new job. He instructs you to go to a hut next to Shadowfang Keep. At the hut, you find instructions for the next stealth mission. You're tasked with finding a disguise on the monastery grounds and entering the Scarlet Monastery to retrieve an artifact. Locate the stables west of the monastery and loot a disguise from the chest. You may need Lockpicking skills.
Enter the Scarlet Monastery and head to the leftmost dungeon, which is the Graveyard. Pickpocket the Scarlet Scryer in the Chamber of Atonement for a key. Proceed to the Library and put on a disguise of a human Mage. Navigate the dungeon without attacking anyone until you reach a personal letterbox. Use the key to loot the chest, obtaining confidential messages. Exit the library and enter the Graveyard. Follow instructions to reach the Forlorn Cloister and interact with benches to trigger flavor text. Loot the stone cipher from the north crypt.
Return to the Library, and then head to the Gallery of Treasures. You will find the final quest item in the first small room on the left. Back to Shadowfang Keep to turn in the quest, but you won't receive rune rewards yet. Return to your Capital town and wait for a message from C directing you back to the hut for your reward.
Finally, return to Shadowfang Keep once more to loot your rune of Shadowstep. This rune allows you to blink and gain a 70% movement speed boost for 3 seconds, even while rooted. It's especially useful against Druids and Mages, as using Shadowstep does not provoke combat.
Poisoned KnifeYou can begin in Desolace and pick up the quest from the Extinguished Campfire. Investigate the camp murder by visiting Kormek’s Hut where a goblin directs you to Booty Bay. In Booty Bay, find Tokal inside the Inn. Buy her a drink to obtain information about the assassin's whereabouts. Travel to Arathi Highlands. Take a boat from Thandol Sspan to the east coast of the Arathi Highlands. Proceed where a Night Elf will spawn after a few minutes. Engage her in combat to obtain a key.
Use the key to unlock a nearby chest, obtaining the Poisoned Knife rune. The ability costs 25 energy (20 with Improved Sinister Strike), deals full offhand weapon damage, and procs poisons on your offhand. The ability has a minimum range of 8 and a maximum of 25. It generates a combo point and is effective for solo content, allowing kiting and stunning tactics.
WaylayStart in Deadwind Pass and speak with the Dalaran Agent at the small camp. Equip the trinket she gives you to locate the Dark Riders. There are 7 Dark Riders spread across the world. The first is in Deadwind Pass. Defeat him to obtain The Dalaran Relic. Proceed to Raven Hill in Duskwood, Swamp of Sorrows, and Badlands to summon and defeat the Dark Riders. Encounter the Highlands Dark Rider, but be aware of competition from other players.
Head to the Barrens and Desolace to summon the Dark Riders. With all relics gathered, return to Deadwind Pass to turn them in. You will earn 11 gold and 60 silver from the quest, but the reward, the Waylay rune, is considered underwhelming. Suggestions for improving the Waylay rune include providing a backstab damage boost while using the rune, making it more useful and relevant.
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WoW Series Feb 18, 2024The 10 Things You Must Do After Reaching The Level Cap In WOW Classic SOD Phase 2!
Welcome back adventurers! WOW Classic SOD Phase 2 has been out for over a week, and you may have already reached level 40 in Phase 2. So, what do we do next?
In this guide, we’ll reveal the ultimate secrets of everything the best players do at level 40, and share the 10 things you need to do at level 40 to get that extra edge.
We’ll break this guide into three parts. This first part we’ll focus on PVE, discussing everything you need to do to get ahead and dominate Season of Discovery, some of which will ensure your success in the rest of the game.
Second, we’ll cover the best gold makers available right now. We all know this phase is very expensive, but I can still produce over 200 WOW Classic SOD Gold per day to offset the enormous expense. So I’ll tell you how to do it.
Finally, we’re going to talk about my favorite topic: PVP. Without further ado, let’s get started!
PVELet’s start with PVE now. Your focus should be on making Epic helmets. They are the first choice for PVE and PVP.
Helmet MakingStart with Grime-Encrusted Salvage, which you’ll find in Salvagematic 9000. My helmet cost over 400 WoW SoD gold to craft, but when the 3 day lockout comes the price really plummets. Therefore, my advice is to wait until the end of February before making the helmet.
Also, keep in mind that unlocked vendors sell new recipes like Retrocution or Enchants as well as the easy-to-throw Radiation Bomb. Even if you don’t get the helmet right away, you should still do the questline to get these recipes.
Get Cozy Sleeping BagHelmet crafting may be one you’ve already completed, but Cozy Sleeping Bag questline is a must-do.
Depending on whether you are Alliance or Horde, you will embark on a journey to Camp Taurajo or Westfall. You will then head to Stonetalon Mountains and Loch Modan, and finally to Arathi Highlands or Hillsbrad Foothills.
If you haven’t reached level 40 yet, a 3% XP bonus is insane. You also get eight Student Fodders, each of which will provide four Rested XP bars, which I plan to keep until Phase 3.
More RunesWe also want to get all the runes you may already have, or three new key runes you may be researching.
Now for my part, I’ll rush out and get Empowered Renew and Dispersion Rune. But the best players have acquired all 18 runes, allowing you to switch to new ones as soon as they cool down.
For example, I can instantly swap Dispersion for Pain Suppression. Then when it cools down, I can instantly switch to Spirit of the Redeemer and it’s like having three super powers all the time.
Furbolg Medicine PouchAnother PVE thing to do is farm Furbolg Medicine Pouch. Just one hunter and one healer are enough to farm Furbolg, or you can form a full raiding party.
What’s more, this Pouch has been recently patched and is now actually usable. This makes it pretty crazy for any 1V1 or flag running, and you save time going to Exalted grind in the next phase.
Gold MakersNow that we’ve discussed PVE, let’s talk about our top gold makers in Phase 2.
Complete QuestsThis is an expensive phase. We need to make a lot of Classic SoD gold, and the first thing we need to do is complete quests. Because as long as the quests are within five levels, you will get the maximum gold reward.
There’s usually about two gold rewards per quest, which isn’t that crazy, but there are still over 100 quests you can do. Among them, many will also receive green rewards. But be careful, because if you plan on doing quests in Phase 3, you have a lot of big quests to avoid.
EnchantingIn fact, all professions have enchanting, even at level one. You can break down the blues and greens in the world and get materials like Nether Essence. They’re worth over three gold each on my server and take things to the next level.
I can usually spend double the money on enchanting materials. You can also use items like Icy Cloak to generate a Large Glowing Shard.
I’ve also made over 400 gold so far by checking out every BiS Tailoring recipe and stocking up on Auction House. Even now, items like Red Mageweave Pants usually make me over 5 gold per craft.
Waylaid Supplies For SaleAnother big gold maker I’m working on right now is selling Waylaid Supplies.
So now we need to completely fill a box before we can turn it in. This means that even low-level box items are still amazing gold makers.
My personal favorites are the cooking boxes like Spider Sausage. Practically every profession can make you money now, but the most important thing is to sell all the stacks in a box that fits.
Transmute AltsAnother profession gold maker is Transmute alts. Since several crafting recipes require Silver Bars, they cannot be smelted even with Advanced Mining Gloves.
Therefore, the best way to get bars is to convert Mithril Bars directly into Silver Bars every 48 hours. This way, you’ll earn three to four gold coins per character.
Run UldamanAnother gold maker I’m working on is running Uldaman. Running Uldaman can get you some decent BiS Gear, and it may even drop extremely expensive items like Pendulum of Doom.
There is currently mixed information on who drops pendulum, but it seems to be mainly elites at level 44 to 45. Even if you’re not lucky enough to get a pendulum, other items may fetch a few hundred gold coins.
PVPFinally, you’ll definitely want to do some PVP as well. Here are the tips you need to pay attention to when completing PVP activities.
STV Blood Moon EventThe big PVP related thing I’m doing is STV Blood Moon Event, which happens every 3 hours. We know the event is a free-for-all, meaning you can kill players from both factions. You can also get tons of PVP rewards.
It seems that once the event starts, Fight Master becomes hostile and doesn’t allow you to leave Stranglethorn Vale easily. This looks like a very interesting mechanic, especially for hardcore PVP fans who want to fully experience the thrill of bloodshed.
Arena Grand Master GrindAnother thing I’m doing is grinding Arena Grand Master, which is the ultimate PVP Trinket, second only to Tidal Charm.
Whenever Blood Moon starts, treasure chests will spawn, and if you get 12 of them, you’ll get a crazy PVP Trinket. We usually summon in groups, then we split into groups of five to compete for Trinket, and then a final PVP match.
I’m really curious what you plan to spend the most time on in Phase 2. No matter what, plan a simple goal. It will really save you more time.
