Helldivers 2 released Patch 6.2.3 on May 6th. While the changes in this patch may seem minor, they are quite significant.

Helldivers 2 Patch 6.2.3 focuses on four main areas: an emergency numerical revert to the much-criticized Hive Guard, the addition of new planets and limited-time global missions, and the release of a series of unfixed bugs.

Player opinions on Helldivers 2 Patch 6.2.3 are mixed. Some players think the changes are great, while others feel they don't address the core issues. In short, let me explain the contents of Patch 6.2.3 in detail.

Hive Guard Adjustments

First, let's look at the most crucial change in Helldivers 2 Patch 6.2.3 - the numerical revert to Hive Guard. To understand this change, we must first look back at what happened in Patch 6.2.2.

In Patch 6.2.2, released on April 28th, Arrowhead made significant adjustments to Helldivers 2, adding two new biomes and modifying the balance of weapons, Stratagems, and enemies.

However, the changes to Hive Guard particularly enraged players. In Patch 6.2.2, Hive Guard's torso and leg armor were weakened, but its head and forearm armor were strengthened with Heavy Armor. This change seems harmless at first glance, but when attacked, Hive Guard uses the hunker down ability, raising its armored head and claws to form a solid shield wall.

Therefore, this change means that the commonly used Helldivers 2 Weapons with Medium Armor Penetrating effects will find it much harder to damage Hive Guard, significantly increasing the difficulty of defeating it.

This change immediately ignited player anger. Within just three days, over 3,000 negative reviews appeared on Steam, with nearly 2,000 on April 29th alone. Faced with this massive outcry, Arrowhead urgently promised on May 1st to address Hive Guard issue.

Thus, the changes in Helldivers 2 Patch 6.2.3 were made. However, Arrowhead didn't simply "nerf" or "buff" Hive Guard; instead, they took a very clever approach. They increased its health, strengthened the armor of its torso and forelegs, but slightly weakened its head armor and significantly weakened its claw armor.

The head armor nerf addressed players' biggest frustration, but it didn't make Hive Guard easier to defeat - because its torso armor and health were increased.

Meanwhile, these changes created a new weakness for Hive Guard - its claws. Before Patch 6.2.2, its weakness was its head, but Patch 6.2.3 didn't weaken its head back to its pre-Patch 6.2.2 state; instead, it made its claw armor weaker than its head armor. Therefore, players can now also defeat it by attacking its claws.

New Planets and Major Order

Besides the troublesome numerical adjustments, Helldivers 2 Patch 6.2.3 also added new planets.

In the game, Super Earth - a planet that prides itself on promoting "Managed Democracy" throughout the galaxy - released a video from its propaganda department that looked like a typical vacation ad, featuring two tropical planets.

That's right, those are Zygos and Fronteria, added in Patch 6.2.3.

To coincide with the release of the new planets, Arrowhead issued a new Major Order: Over the next six days, all players must work together to defend against two major attacks by Terminids on Zygos and one attack on Fronteria.

To complete this Major Order, you'd better bring enough Helldivers 2 Weapons and eliminate as many enemies as possible over the next six days. After completing Major Order, players will be able to explore a new, scenic jungle map.

However, this seemingly harmonious and positive content has been met with strong resentment from some players. The reason is that these two new planets didn't appear out of thin air; they directly replaced planets that had disappeared due to story missions.

Especially the outpost planet Meridia, where players had fought a fierce battle, has now been completely erased from the star map by Arrowhead, and a new planet has been forcibly placed on the site of Meridia. This makes some players feel that their previous sacrifices and battles have been meaningless.

This approach greatly weakens the narrative weight of the entire Galactic War. In simple terms: Do you remember the blood I shed to defend my territory? Forget it, you don't. Now it's a brand new, sunny resort.

Read More: Is MGX-42 Bullet Storm Worth Using in Helldivers 2? Full Weapon Breakdown

Bug Fixes

Finally, Helldivers 2 Patch 6.2.3 fixes some bugs. Thankfully, the boot problem that has been a headache for Linux system players and handheld gamers finally has a solution.

Previously, due to compatibility issues with the anti-cheat system in Helldivers 2, the game would crash immediately after the anti-cheat software's startup screen appeared if you logged in using a Linux system or a Steam Deck handheld.These issues have now been resolved.

In addition, Arrowhead has acknowledged the existence of several bugs in Helldivers 2, although they haven't provided solutions yet. Below, I will list some of the most impactful bugs on the gameplay experience; please be extra careful in the game.

First, Strataegms bug: Lumberer and Flame Sentry, two Strataegms newly added to the game in Exo Experts Warbond, cannot damage enemies at extremely close range.

Second, weapon animation anomalies: The muzzle flash effect of MGX-42 Bullet Storm may be misaligned with the actual firing direction, resulting in an inconsistency between the animation and the bullet trajectory.

Third, explosion physics anomalies: Explosives may cause players hiding behind cover to be inexplicably blasted into the air or rolled uncontrollably.

Fourth, online connectivity issues: In cross-platform multiplayer, players may not be able to hear their teammates' voice chat.

These are the main points of Helldivers 2 Patch 6.2.3. While many aspects are controversial, there are also positive developments, such as Hive Guard value reverts and bug fixes. Although many bugs remain unfixed, let's hope Arrowhead can fix all known bugs in Patch 6.2.4.

ARC Raiders Riven Tides update went live on April 28th, and Batting Down quest is one of the first quests released by Apollo on the new Riven Tides map. This quest requires you to patrol the coastline and document the damage caused by a hurricane.

Batting Down Quest consists of three objectives, which you must complete in three different corners of the map. You don't need to bring any items with you before setting off. The quest concept seems simple, but without clear instructions, it's easy to miss specific locations.

This article will guide you through how to complete this new Batting Down Quest.

About Batting Down

The quest's background is that a powerful hurricane has ravaged Rust Belt coastline, and Apollo needs to collect evidence of the damage. Your tasks are to photograph seawall cracks, sample shoreline seaweed, and fix a leaking oil pipe.

These three objectives can be completed in any order, and crucially, unlike Outstanding Balance Quest, it doesn't require you to complete them all at once; you can split them into three tasks. This flexibility makes it one of the easiest early quest to pick up on the new map.

Since you will be traversing the entire northern coastline, please carry sufficient Adrenaline Shots and Shield Rechargers to handle any unexpected situations along the way, and never let your guard down.

Objective locations

• Photograph seawall cracks are located near Wavebreaker POI in the northeast of the new map.
• Sample shoreline seaweed is located near Azzurro Beach in the northwest of the new map.
• Fix leaking oil pipe is located near the easternmost point of Wavebreaker in the northeast of the new map.

Note: Photograph seawall cracks and Fix leaking oil pipe are both located in the northeast direction and are adjacent to each other, while Sample shoreline seaweed is located in the northwest direction, opposite to the other two objective locations.

So, if you spawn on the east side of the map, complete Photograph seawall cracks first, then Fix leaking oil pipe,and finally cross the map to reach Azzurro Beach Sample shoreline seaweed. If you spawn on the west side, complete Sample shoreline seaweed first, then proceed east along Wavebreaker, taking photos and repairing the pipe.

How to complete it?

Battling Down Quest consists of three parts. How do you complete each one? Let's take a look.

Photograph the cracks

At Wavebreaker POI on Riven Tides map, you'll find a large defensive wall extending along the northern coastline, designed to protect the area from giant waves. Upon reaching it, you'll find a sunken container on the beach. Approach it, and you'll see an interactive prompt to take a photo. Press the button to take the picture. This objective is now complete.

Fix leaking oil pipe

After completing Photograph the cracks, don't rush off, stay in the northeast direction. Proceed along Wavebreaker to its easternmost point. Here, two large pipes extend from the sea, running downwards from the north. You need to go to the southernmost point where the pipeline connects to the seawall. This location is unmarked and often overlooked.

Once you reach the destination, notice the colored oil stains on the water's surface near the bottom of the pipeline. Approach the leak point, press the button to weld the pipeline, and complete the repair.

Sample Shoreline Seaweed

This objective is located on the other side of the map. Head to the northwest corner and find Azzurro Beach, specifically the area north of Hotel Panorama Azzurro, where the beach meets the sea.

You need to find small clumps of seaweed washed ashore. An interactive prompt will appear when you approach them. Press the button to collect a sample. Here's a very interesting little detail: there's actually no water near the seaweed sample collection area, so don't doubt your judgment if the area looks drier than expected.

Completing these objectives doesn't require any advanced weapons, basic ARC Raiders Items are sufficient to minimize the risk of the operation. Generally, competition in the northern outer areas of Riven Tides is less than in the central areas, but this isn't always the case.

Rewards

After completing all three objectives, withdraw from Riven Tides and return to Speranza to speak with Apollo. Completing this quest will reward you with Riven Tides Hotel Keycard No. 107 and Smoke Grenade Trap (3x).

Hotel Keycard No. 107 is the most important reward for completing the quest; it grants access to a specific room in Riven Tides Hotel Panorama Azzurro. Smoke Grenade Trap is an extremely useful item for your next raid and could very well save you in a critical situation.

This concludes the guide on how to complete Batting Down Quest after ARC Raiders Riven Tides update. The path you choose to complete the quest will vary depending on your spawn point; hopefully, you can find a suitable path and method for yourself.

Raiders - ARC Raiders Trials Season 3 is coming to a close tomorrow, April 28th. Furthermore, the developers have officially unveiled the new rules for Trials Season 4. All players should note this, as the changes introduced this time are substantial. So, let's dive in and explore all the changes coming in Trials Season 4 together.

Trials Season 3 Rewards

After enduring a series of intense confrontations and striving to survive under various Map Conditions, as Season 3 draws to a close, you will be rewarded with a Torque Set based on your final ranking:

• Rookie II: Torque Set (Orange)
• Tryhard I: Jacket Outfit Variant
• Tryhard III: Headgear Outfit Variant
• Wildcard II: Shoulder Pad Outfit Variant
• Daredevil I: Torque Set (Yellow/Grey)
• Hotshot: Torque Set (Red)

Remember to equip your newly unlocked gear to be fully prepared for the Trials awaiting you in the upcoming season!

Trials Season 4 Changes

Almost entirely unexpectedly, Trials Season 4 introduces a host of major adjustments. These changes appear designed to foster a fairer environment for Raiders while adding an extra layer of fun to their challenges.

Launch Date

Riven Tides update launches on April 28th, followed immediately by the launch of Trials Season 4 the very next day - April 29th.

The start time for these Trials has been moved up, and crucially, there are no longer any restrictions on participating in Trials during Expedition window. Even while an Expedition mission is active, you can simultaneously continue to advance your Trials rank.

So, Raiders, the pace of the competition is picking up! Be sure to prepare yourselves thoroughly to face the challenges of both Expeditions and Trials.

Removal of Double Progress Bonuses

The first major change in Trials Season 4 is that players will no longer receive Double Progress bonuses when playing under major Map Conditions.

As previously mentioned, developers aim to create a fairer gaming environment for Raiders, and this specific adjustment certainly helps achieve that goal to a significant degree.

From now on, players will no longer have to scramble to queue up late at night just to enter specific maps and snatch up ARC Raiders blueprints. You are now free to select any Map Conditions you prefer to undertake your Trials, playing entirely according to your own schedule and preferences.

Not only does this reduce the competitive pressure among players, but it also grants you the freedom to choose exactly where you wish to undertake your Trials, offering a much more diverse range of options. For the majority of players, this change is undoubtedly something worth celebrating.

Trials Decoupled from Specific Map Conditions

Much like the first change, this is news that is sure to excite the player base.

Previously, Trials such as Disarm Mines or Get Hit by Lightning were tied to specific Map Conditions. Players surely felt - and rightly so - that this system prevented everyone from having a fair opportunity to complete these Trials. Consequently, the developers have now officially announced that such restrictions will no longer apply moving forward.

Players can finally look forward to a fairer environment for completing Trials. You will no longer have to sit glued to your screen just to ensure you don't miss a specific Trial objective. You can now successfully complete Trial missions without needing to satisfy any specific Map Conditions.

New Challenges

While the developers haven't revealed many specific details regarding the new challenges in the upcoming season, it has been confirmed that players will face a fresh set of objectives.

These may include, for instance, melee-focused challenges, objectives involving specific items or scoring mechanics, or tasks related to locating Unique Containers and general exploration.

Players have indeed been craving a more diverse and varied array of Trial challenges. Based on the hints provided by the developers, it seems likely that the challenges in Trials Season 4 will prove to be even more engaging and entertaining than those in previous seasons.

Trial System Improvements

The developers have also taken this opportunity to address player feedback regarding the game. They have acknowledged that they are now fully aware of the existing imbalances concerning squad sizes and competitive fairness within the leaderboards.

The immediate adjustment they have been able to implement is to minimize restrictions on when players can participate in game challenges - a change clearly reflected in Trials Season 4 updates. However, regarding more fundamental changes to the system, I suspect the developers will require a bit more time to implement them.

The willingness to confront these issues head-on - and to take that crucial first step toward change - is something that deserves the players' encouragement. Ultimately, everyone hopes that ARC Raiders will evolve to provide an even more ideal competitive experience.

Rewards for Trials Season 4

Raiders, are you itching to head out and explore the coastline? Trials Season 4 brings you a brand-new Recon Outfit, perfectly suited for your seaside adventures.

The base outfit can be unlocked simply by reaching Tryhard I rank. Furthermore, by reaching Hotshot and Cantina Legend ranks, you can unlock alternate colors for Recon Set.

Additionally, you can earn new backpack colors, backpack attachments, and cosmetic charms by upgrading your Badges. If you prove yourself truly exceptional, Daredevil rank will reward you with the brand-new River Dance emote.

That wraps up all the information currently available regarding Trials Season 4. As we can see, the developers have indeed implemented a number of changes that are highly beneficial to the players. So, let's look forward to the day the new trial goes live!

WoW Midnight Patch 12.0.5 has been released. While this is a mid-season patch, typically with limited content, this update includes a significant amount of new information.

These include new ways to upgrade character gear, a wealth of side quests, and Nebulous Voidcores for obtaining guaranteed epic gear from dungeons.

Let’s take a look at all the major and exciting updates coming soon.

Class Changes

A major highlight of this update is the extensive class changes. Almost all specializations and playstyles have received talent adjustments, and the healing class has also undergone some balance changes, primarily buffs and nerfs. Overall, this is a mid-season update.

Weapon Appearance and Sheathing Changes

A new system allows you to place one-handed weapons on your sides or back. Therefore, if you want a unique weapon sheath arrangement, such as one sword on your back and another on your side, you can now do so. You can also simply make these weapons disappear. You can create various combinations, adjustments, and placements to suit your preferences. You can truly customize weapon placement to achieve any effect you desire.

The sheathing function for one-handed weapons is also more flexible. Two-handed weapons aren’t well-suited for this operation because you can’t sheathe them by turning to the side like other weapons. However, if you want your weapon to automatically disappear when the character sheathes it, avoiding conflicts with Transmog, you can configure it accordingly.

Furthermore, they’ve added several other features and optimizations to Transmogrification, making it easier to use at any time.

New Content Update

Patch 12.0.5 adds new open-world invasions. These invasions will rotate regularly in Eversong Woods and Zul’Aman areas, providing players with a wealth of activities to help them acquire gear, as well as various types of WoW Midnight Gold.

However, if you don’t particularly enjoy open-world content but want to experience more specific dungeons, such as solo quests, you can try Ritual Sites. Ritual Sites are similar to dungeons, offering various challenges that you can unlock for additional rewards. You can challenge them solo or in a group to progress.

Accolade Currency

Both new content updates will grant you a considerable amount of Accolade Currency, which can then be used to purchase items from various new merchants. Most players will probably use this currency to buy gear for characters who haven’t yet unlocked the Champion Track or Hero Track.

If you already own gear, you can also try your luck with Transmog Chests to unlock different class sets and matching weapons. If you don’t particularly like Transmog Chests but prefer mounts, you can unlock various pets and riding creatures through the reputation ranking system. If you’re more interested in the housing system, you can unlock the reputation-based housing system to obtain various Void Elf cosmetics to decorate your house.

Voidforge

After 12.0.5 patch goes live, you can visit your old friend Decimus in Voidstorm to help him rebuild or complete the construction of Voidforge. Once Voidforge launches, it will introduce a brand new system where players can obtain Nebulous Voidcores. Nebulous Voidcores can be used in raids, dungeons, and various other game content to obtain additional gear.

This is perfect for players still struggling to collect the best character sets and slot sets. So, if you don’t get the trinkets, weapons, or other raid items that provide extra bonuses, you can use these tokens for a second chance.

Therefore, be sure to repair your Voidforge first and collect Nebulous Voidcores, but use them cautiously afterwards. These Nebulous Voidcores can potentially yield an astonishing number of pieces of gear.

Ascendant Nilhammer

In Voidstorm, you’ll also receive a new quest to craft Ascendant Nilhammer. Crafting Ascendant Nilhammer allows you to upgrade some top-tier gear to higher levels.

However, this new upgrade system has some limitations. It only applies to fully upgraded items, i.e., items that are maxed out on Hero Track or Mythic Track, and only two specific slots, primarily weapons and trinkets. This allows you to maximize the power of key slots like weapons and trinkets without having to upgrade all slots in the game.

This system also applies to craft items. Therefore, if you possess top-tier weapons, you can also use this system to upgrade them, ensuring your main character continues to receive additional power boosts even after you’ve completed your gear upgrades.

Side Content

Hide-and-seek

In Hide-and-Seek mode, you can join a team hide-and-seek game in Silvermoon City using the team finder. You can choose to disguise yourself as various house decorations or search for other players disguised as decorations. This is a brand-new, fun mini-game where you can earn a large amount of currency, which can be exchanged for various rewards, including new mounts, weapon conversion trophies, and home decorations.

Abyss Anglers

Another side content is Abyss Anglers, where players can dive into the deep sea outside Zul’Aman's main area to hunt rare underwater creatures. As you dive deeper, the number of rare creatures increases, and you’ll also discover various treasures and interactive items. While engaging in these activities, players can earn points, which can be exchanged for currency.

You can use this currency to upgrade your diving suit. This allows you to stay in the water longer, swim further and deeper, find rare rewards, and earn more currency; or you can use this currency to buy cosmetics and other materials to further enhance your class rewards.

The above is a quick overview of the core updates in WoW Midnight Patch 12.0.5. This mid-game patch not only optimizes class balance but also injects a lot of fresh content into gear progression and adventure exploration. Whether you want to upgrade your gear or collect skins, you shouldn’t miss these new features.

Bone Necromancer has always been a powerful and unique class in Diablo 2 Resurrected, but over time it has lost popularity and is often considered one of the weaker choices in the game.

In many situations, the overwhelming power of Corpse Explosion overshadows the investment in Bone skills, becoming the primary source of damage, which has blurred the original characteristics of Bone Necromancer.

The crux of the problem lies in magic damage - unlike other damage types, the ways to increase magic damage are extremely limited, causing the strength of this class to be largely constrained by the base state of its skills.

However, with the release of Diablo 2 Resurrected S14 PTR, a batch of new items that can increase magic damage have been introduced into the game, offering the possibility of a complete upgrade for this class.

This guide will re-examine Bone Necromancer, making full use of these new D2 Resurrected items, and examine whether they are enough to revitalize this old class.

Original Build's Flaws

In the older version of Bone Necromancer build, a full offensive setup was used while maintaining a 125 faster cast speed. This setup allowed Bone Spear to be upgraded to level 50, with damage even exceeding that of Bone Spirit, representing the build's maximum damage output.

However, this damage was insufficient in 8-player mode. Despite prioritizing offense, the bone skills' damage was still inadequate for handling large groups of enemies, and Corpse Explosion effect was reduced, hindering efficient mob clearing.

Based on this situation, D2R S14 PTR enhanced Bone Necromancer. Because of Bone Necromancer's high reliance on the synergy of bone skills, significant investment was needed to maximize its potential. Therefore, the new build will focus on a pure Bone Necromancer.

Skills

• Burses Tree: Only a small investment in damage amplification is required.
• Bone Spear: Bone Spear is Bone Necromancer's primary skill. It attacks multiple targets simultaneously and deals more damage than Bone Spirit. It's your main skill from level 18 until you reach endgame. A straight-line penetration attack is crucial for clearing maps and fighting monsters, so it's recommended to max it out immediately.
• Bone Spirit: Bone Spirit is a synergy skill. Max it out with remaining skill points, as it significantly increases Bone Spear damage. Later in the game, it can also be used as an auto-tracking single-target burst skill.
• Bone Wall: Max it out. Bone Wall synergizes well with Bone Prison. It's a control skill that not only boosts Bone Spear damage but can also be used to gather monsters, block enemies, and protect yourself.
• Bone Armor: Bone Armor only needs one point to provide valuable defense. It's a shield that absorbs physical damage, ensuring your safety in chaotic battles. Its level is primarily increased through equipment.

Gear

The new Diablo 2 Resurrected Items introduced in Reign of the Warlock provide a significant boost to Bone Necromancer's magic damage. Bone Necromancer's primary need is to increase casting speed.

Currently, Bone Necromancer's fastest casting speed is 125. Therefore, with the new gear, we need to not only maximize casting speed but also increase damage as much as possible.

• Weapon: We choose Bone Shade and White Rune Word. Bone Shade enhances all our skills, and paired with White Rune Word, it works even better. Ideally, you can also prepare a bone staff as a base that adds 3 skill points to Bone Spear. This allows Bone Spear to gain up to 8 casting speed points, 3 more than Bone Shade.
• Shield: Darkforce Spawn provides 3 skill level bonuses and increases casting speed, making it the best choice.
• Runes: For Diablo 2 Resurrected Runes, we can choose those that increase resistances, such as Um Rune, to make your Bone Necromancer more well-rounded and balanced.
• Armor: If you're considering mobility and increased casting speed, choose Enigma with Teleport. If you want to increase the resistances that Bone Necromancer lacks, Chains of Honor is also a good choice.
• Helmet: One of the new equipment introduced in D2 Resurrected is Hell Warden's Will, which is very suitable for Bone Necromancer and is one of only two helmets in D2R that can increase casting speed. Not only that, it also provides an extra skill level and reduces enemy magic resistance, making it the best helmet configuration for Bone Necromancer build.
• Jewels: The best configuration is to socket Guardian's Light Jewel into Hell Warden's Will. This new jewel provides an extra 2 magic damage and reduces enemy magic resistance by 10.
• Gloves: The classic Trang-Oul's Claws provide 20% faster casting speed and frost resistance.
• Rings: There's an additional option (Sling Ring). One provides a 10-point reduction in enemy magic resistance, while the other increases our magic damage. Given that both increase casting speed, the 10-point magic resistance reduction is more significant.
• Amulets: Both Skull Scarar Amulet and Entropy Locket Amulet provide increased damage.
• Belt: Gheed's Wager Troll Belt is also a new item. The traditional Bone Necromancer would equip Arachnid Mesh, but now we have the optimal choice. This new belt provides an overall damage increase exceeding the +1 skill point from Arachnid Mesh. The only drawback is its high strength requirement.
• Footwear: Footwear doesn't have a special role in this set; it mainly compensates for insufficient resistances or provides other states. Classic footwear includes Sandstorm Trek Scarabshell Boots.

Attributes

For attribute allocation, simply invest enough Strength to meet equipment requirements. However, before allocating points, be sure to consider the attribute bonuses provided by Torch and Anni. Allocate the remaining points to Constitution.

Comparing the old and new builds, while both can reach the 125 Faster Cast Speed ​​threshold, the new build has 5 fewer skill points. This is mainly because we've replaced those skill points with attributes that reduce enemy magic resistance.

However, don't worry. The new rings and jewels added by D2R S14 PTR directly increase our magic damage. Although the level isn't as high as the old build, the damage dealt is no less. The real advantage of the new build is that we not only maintain damage and cast speed but also stack a 44-point reduction in enemy magic resistance.

Compared to its previous state, Bone Necromancer's improvement is significant. After reading this guide, you can try it out in the game.

Torchlight: Infinite SS 12 - Lunaria Season officially launched a few days ago, bringing new events, a progression system, gameplay optimizations, and a new hero. If you want to keep up with the season and not fall behind, a strong build is essential.

Therefore, I've carefully selected three of the top builds for this season, which will not only help you easily complete the story but also give you a significant advantage when facing various powerful bosses. They are:

• 1. Sage Starter Build (Chromatic Shot)
• 2. Thea Starter Build (Chain Lightning)
• 3. Unsullied Blade Rosa Build (Frost Spike)

1. Sage Starter Build (Chromatic Shot)

Torchlight: Infinite SS12's new hero, Sage, has the core trait of Licorice Note. Its gameplay revolves around Chromatic Shot skill, firing three arrows that deal frost/fire/lightning damage. Defeating an enemy has a chance to cause an explosion (Support: Jump, Multi-projectile, Elemental Projectile, Wind Projectile). Unique Mechanism: Upon activation, the second active skill slot becomes a basic perfume bottle, which can be filled with two materials to activate the potion skill, granting additional attack and defense.

Hero Traits and Memory Selection

• Level 45 Divine Prophecy: Increases potion uses, randomly preparing an enhanced or cursed skill upon activation (Memory of Origin +90 Intelligence).
• Level 60 Predicted Reincarnation: Converts excess health/mana into temporary values and increases damage (Memory of Discipline +330 Health).
• Level 75 Farewell Prophecy: Makes a portion of the maximum health/mana bonus apply to potion skill effects (Memory of Progress +30% Movement Speed).

Skill Selection

• Chromatic Shot: Fires three arrows that deal frost, fire, or lightning damage, with a chance to cause enemies to explode.
• Compound Tonic: Restores maximum health and mana.
• Swfitness Dew: Increases movement speed for a long duration.
• Mana Boil: Grants Ecstasy buff, providing additional spell damage for its duration.
• Timid: Curses enemies, causing them to take additional damage.

Auras

Summon Thunder Magus, Spell Amplification Swiftness.

Talent Tree

• God Tree: Goddess of Knowledge (Beacon and Burning Touch)
• Class Tree: Elementalist (Penetration: Elemental penetration and increased damage)
• Tree 3: Marksman (Gale: Projectile speed bonus)
• Tree 4: Steel Vanguard (Tailored Healing: Increased effect when equipping 2 Elixir skills)

Pactspirits

Dreamweaver (Elemental damage + penetration + casting speed), Elixir Fairies (Damage + movement speed)

Preserver of Eternity (Resistance + damage reduction + experience protection)

Gear

• Helmet - Rock Lizard's Skull
• Belt - Desire of Survival
• Necklace - Chain of Resistance
• Ring - Unholy Prayer
• Weapon - Fire Lord's Promise
• Boots - Grace Boots
• Gloves - Golden Touch

Lock Memory of Discipline after the final boss of the campaign. Prioritize projectile speed or elemental/spell rating for Divinity Slates. Prioritize Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence to maximize Chromatic Shot damage. The core strategy is to utilize potion skills for rapid movement, combined with Chromatic Shot to deal high elemental damage.

2. Thea Starter Build (Chain Lightning)

This talent build is specifically designed for Oracle Thea (Level 1) in Torchlight: Infinite's Season 12: Lunaria who wants a strong start, focusing on chain lightning and movement speed bonuses. Her core gameplay relies on blessings: With the level 1 trait Wisdom of the Gods, she gains a Wisdom of the Gods buff every 2 seconds, prioritizing Concentration Blessing.

Consuming all Concentration Blessings through God's Boon skill grants additional damage and other buffs. Therefore, you should focus on generating Concentration Blessings, delaying the other blessings.

Traits and Memories

• Level 45 Divine Prophecy - When all blessing stacks reach their maximum, Sia automatically activates Divine Grace, granting additional damage per stack. Under this trait, you may also gain additional blessing stacks. (Memory of Origin: +90 Intelligence)
• Level 60 Predicted Reincarnation: Each consumed Concentration Blessing stack reduces the cooldown of Divine Grace; consuming a full stack of Concentration Blessing at once deals additional damage. (Memory of Discipline: +525 Maximum Energy Shield)
• Level 75 Farewell Prophecy: Each consumed Concentration Blessing stack gained through Divine Grace doubles the damage dealt. (Memory of Progress: +30% Movement Speed)

Skills

This build revolves around Oracle Thea's God's Boon and Blessing of Concentration.

• Chain Lightning: Works with control spells, adds lightning damage, converts lightning to frost, and provides quick decision-making.
• Frigid Transmission: Faster movement + magical dash.
• Secret Origin Unleash: Preparation, Mass Effect, exhilarating combat, extended duration; while active, each stack of Blessing of Concentration increases casting speed and additional spell damage.
• Life Tonic: Superior metabolism, ensuring regeneration.
• Timid: Malicious terrain + extended duration, provides increased curse damage.

Auras

Aura selections include Precise, Electric Conversion, Frigid Domain, and Energy Fortress, all bound to Restrain-Aura Amplification-Increased Area. Energy Fortress also carries Seal Conversion to increase maximum energy shield.

Talent Tree

• God Tree: Goddess of Knowledge: Beacon and Burning Touch.
• Class Tree: Magister: Steady Strike: Cast speed bonus is converted into spell burst charge speed, and provides additional hit damage for burst skills.
• Tree 3: Assassin: Chance to deal additional damage when casting spells.
• Tree 4: Lich: Alternative Path: Increases the level of support skills.

Gear

• Helmet - All Magic Crown
• Necklace - Old Grudge
• Belt - Elder Sage Girdle
• Rings - Frozen Lightning, Everknight Darkness Ring
• Weapon - Southern Cross Staff
• Boots - All Magic Shoes
• Gloves - All Magic Grip
• Chestplate - All Magic Secret Robe

The core of this build lies in the synergy between skills and auras for lightning/frost damage amplification, especially relying on the legendary ring Frozen Lightning. It can be obtained in three main ways: by chance as a drop during dungeon runs, by opening legendary chests, and by trading with Torchlight Infinite Flame Elementium.

By quickly generating Focused Blessing and consuming it with God's Boon, this build balances devastating damage output with an energy shield for defense, making it a powerful spellcaster choice for early-season progression.

3. Unsullied Blade Rosa Build (Frost Spike)

The core gameplay of Unsullied Blade Rosa Build in Torchlight: Infinite Lunaria Season typically revolves around Rosa 2 (Unsullied Blade) hero trait. It achieves high damage and high survivability by stacking a massive amount of mana, combined with the hero trait, core unique items, and Cone of Cold skill.

Rosa 2 (Unsullied Blade)'s level 1 trait, Unsullied Blade, primarily revolves around Mercury resources. She can achieve Mystic Mercury or Realm of Mercury states through skill usage. The true core of this build lies in the combination of weapon and skill, which I will explain in detail below.

Traits and Memories

• Level 45 Baptism of Purity: Grants bonus mana within Realm of Mercury. Casts Mercury Baptism on all targets, granting Mercury Points and dealing elemental penetration of the same type as the most severe damage (Recommended Intelligence +90 for Memory of Origin).
• Level 60 Boundless Sanctuary: Increases the area of Realm of Mercury by 10% based on Max Mana. Deals bonus elemental damage for each enemy within the area (Recommended: +330 Max Health for Memory of Discipline).
• Level 75 Born to Cleanse: Realm of Mercury and Mystic Mercury provide bonus mana regeneration and add elemental damage. Main-hand weapon deals bonus damage while Mystic Mercury is active (Recommended Attack Speed +36% for Memory of Progress).

Skills

• Frost Spike Skill: Deals additional weapon attack damage and fires 2 projectiles (maximum 5) in base state.
• Life Source: Quickly restores maximum health. Killing enemies accelerates recharge. Must be set to auto-recharge.
• Spiral Strike: Deals massive weapon attack damage multiple times. The higher the attack speed, the faster the damage frequency. Requires fast movement.
• Charging Warcry: Taunts enemies and increases the tracking range of Shadow Strike. Extends duration.
• Timid: Curses enemies within range, causing them to take additional hit damage.

Auras

Acuteness Focus: Deals additional physical damage and has a chance to inflict wounds when activated. Sharp Strike increases weapon attack damage.

Fearless: Increases the critical strike chance of melee skills and deals additional melee skill damage.

Talent Tree

• God Tree: Goddess of Hunting, significant talents Perception and Rushed grant buffs to Agility and deal additional damage while moving, respectively.
• Class Tree: Bladerunner, significant talent Joined Force increases the final damage of the main-hand weapon.
• Tree 3: Prophet, significant talent Extreme Coldness increases Max Frostbite Rating and deals only Frost damage.
• Tree 4: Lich, talent Off The Beaten Track increases the level of secondary skills.

Gear

• Legendary Helmet - Scarlet Decree
• Legendary Necklace - Despised Shadow
• Legendary Belt - Desire of Survival
• Legendary Rings 1 & 2 - Silver Frost
• Legendary Weapons 1 & 2 - Oathkeeper

Armor, gloves, and boots can be any rare item. Spirit of the Covenant and Divine Tablets are not considered in the campaign build.

In short, this Rosa 2 build doesn't prioritize maximum mana stats. Instead, it focuses on weapon attack power and battlefield mobility, utilizing Frost Spike Skill, Spiral Strike, and various synergies to achieve efficient map clearing and boss defeat.

These three builds are among the top three strongest builds in Torchlight: Infinite's Season 12. Using them in the game will allow you to achieve victory much faster.

ARC Raiders' Trials this week have officially begun. You'll need to complete a total of 5 trials: Get hit by lightning (Electromagnetic Storm), Destroy ARC enemies in Swamp (Dam Battlegrounds), Damage Bastions, Search Supply Drops, and Damage Comets.

The most dangerous of these is Destroy ARC enemies in Swamp, meaning you'll be fighting numerous ARCs. However, you first need to find the correct quest location. ARC Raiders often send you to a specific location without providing the exact spot, so going to the wrong place will waste the entire dungeon's time.

Don't worry, I've included my experience and advice in this guide. You can start with the basic-finding the quest location.

Specific Location

ARC Raiders' Swamp is located southwest of Dam Battlegrounds. It's not a specific point, but rather an area consisting of three different zones. The quest's requirement to eliminate ARCs refers to killing them within this area.

All three areas count towards the mission location, allowing you to move between them to eliminate ARCs instead of staying in one area. Since ARC respawn time is related to player distance, frequently changing positions can put pressure on ARCs and speed up mission completion.

Recommended Equipment

Equipment choices directly determine your efficiency and survivability in Swamp.

For core weapons, Anvil pistol and Ferro rifle are the most reliable basic choices. Anvil is a single-action pistol using heavy ammunition, performing excellently at close and medium ranges.

Ferro is a heavy-ammunition combat rifle with powerful stopping power and reliable accuracy, capable of tearing through ARC armor like butter, making it an absolute mainstay for players in the early to mid-game.

For close-quarters combat, Il Toro shotgun and Vulcano shotgun are the best choices. Il Toro, as a decent shotgun, deals extremely high damage at close range.

If you need mid-to-long-range suppression, Ferro remains a reliable primary option; however, if you prioritize maximizing the elimination efficiency against ARCs, Hullcracker is an excellent choice, its explosive power quickly dismantling ARC enemies.

Besides weapons, you'll also need to equip appropriate ARC Raiders Items, with grenade selection being highly targeted. Seeker grenade is specifically designed to counter flying ARC units like Wasp and Hornet; it's a single-shot homing explosive, one shot capable of destroying a Wasp, and two enough to take down a Hornet.

Trailblazer grenade focuses on area control; it throws a straight gas trail that explodes after a short delay, making it suitable for use in narrow passages in swamps or at building entrances, effectively blocking enemy movement routes and providing a safe window for elimination.

Finally, make good use of ARC Raiders' environment. Swamp terrain is your natural ally-luring ARC enemies into doorways, corners, narrow corridors, or enclosed rooms effectively limits their movement range and attack angles, maximizing grenade coverage and weapon output efficiency.

If you're still in the early stages of gearing up and resources are limited, Trailblazer grenade, combined with terrain, is a highly cost-effective option. While Seeker grenade's blueprint needs to be found on the map, once unlocked, its extremely low crafting cost and powerful effect against flying units make it an indispensable core item for PVE clearing.

ARC Types

Different types of ARC require different strategies. Below, I'll list some common ARC units in ARC Raiders for your reference. When completing missions, try to choose ARCs with lower difficulty to increase your efficiency in completing trials.

• Bastion: Attacking its yellow leg joints or back cylinder will cause stun and significant damage. It's recommended that one person in your team draw frontal fire while another flanks and attacks from behind.
• Bombardier: Prioritize eliminating Spotter drones next to it; during the gaps between its fire, focus fire on its upper chassis or core.
• Leaper: Lure it to narrow doorways or corners to limit its jumps, then concentrate fire to break one of its legs. Be careful to avoid the shockwave generated by its jumps.
• Wasp/Hornet: Shoot its Thrusters to crash it. Hornets have thicker back armor, requiring more damage output.
• Tick: Melee is a one-shot kill, conserving ammo. If attached, press the interact button to break free.
• Pop: Quickly shoot it before it charges and explodes; if too late, roll to dodge, otherwise you will be injured by the blast.
• Turret/Sentinel: Never stand directly in front of it. Turrets can be attacked during their reload intervals; Sentinels can take cover before their laser turns red, then counterattack while it reloads.

Core Gameplay

In swamp combat, the core strategy is speed.Other players are often active in this area, and delaying can easily invite enemy ambushes. Therefore, pay attention to the following:

• Actively lure ARCs into the area: Lure ARC enemies from the outer edge of the swamp, confirm they enter Swamp area before killing them, ensuring mission count is maintained.
• Prioritize small targets: Clear out high-spawn-rate small enemies like Ticks, Wasps, Pops, and Fireballs first to avoid wasting too much time on large enemies.
• Utilize Area-of-Effect (AoE) damage effectively: Enemies are densely packed in Swamp. Use explosive weapons or grenades to eliminate multiple targets at once, significantly increasing efficiency.

Destroying ARCs in Swamp grants experience points, which are required to increase star ratings. The more ARCs you destroy, the more experience points you gain, and the faster your star rating increases.

Achieving three stars will grant you the epic loot reward from ARC Raiders. Therefore, when doing this trial, it's best to stay in Swamp area until the time runs out to get all three stars, rather than leaving prematurely.

Finally, I hope everyone reading this guide can complete all trials with high stars and obtain the final rewards.

As a popular baseball game, MLB The Show 26 is attracting a growing number of players. Its exquisite graphics and diverse roster are widely praised. However, no game is perfect, and even such an excellent game receives a lot of criticism from players.

Highlights

Of course, MLB 26 also has many good aspects that keep players hooked.

For example, Parallel Mods. Earning parallel points online is much faster than offline, making online matches more rewarding. Even players who only play online might not admit it, but they can actually feel the benefits of this design. Mini seasons are also fun.

Additionally, there are some patchwork-like fixes.

For example, Bear Down pitching mechanic and the hitting depth-of-field blur feature. Individually, these are outstanding features, but they seem more like attempts to mask deeper problems. For example, Pinpoint itself has too much randomness, and Bear Down only gives you a little more control; it doesn't solve the randomness problem.

Acceptable Issues

Graphics

In terms of graphics, MLB 26 has made small but real improvements every year. It's not just about making the grass look better, but also includes small animations, dust, shadows, and other details.

However, there have never been any major graphical overhauls.

It's not recommended to compare MLB 26 with Madden NFL, because the latter has far more company resources. Even the closest game, NHL, being an EA product, has the Frostbite engine and people familiar with it, while MLB 26 lacks this infrastructure.

Therefore, the graphics issues are currently acceptable to players.

Gameplay

Currently, the win rate for high-level players is around 75%. This is probably the lowest since MLB 17. In comparison, the win rate for high-level players in MLB 23 was as high as 95%.

While we know there's far more chance in the game than ever before, some players actually enjoy this uncertainty.

However, MLB 26 is extremely similar to its predecessors, perhaps even the most similar to them all – practically MLB 25.5. If the assessment that sports games don't change much from year to year is vague, then this year's MLB 26 will make it truly indistinguishable from MLB 23 and MLB 24.

Co-op Mode and Servers

Co-op mode frequently freezes, especially in 3v3, because of the six players connecting. 2v2 is mostly fine.

This issue is acceptable, considering that only a portion of MLB 26 players also play Diamond Dynasty, and only a portion of those play co-op, making it a niche within a niche.

While there were serious disconnections, login problems, and occasional poor server assignments during the first week, overall, the servers are better than before.

Unacceptable Major Issues

Rampant Cheating

MLB 26 cheating software has evolved significantly this year, leading to a substantial increase in the number of cheaters.

Many well-known players have encountered cheaters during their streams. OhChev has tweeted about it, and Adam Samuels has reportedly encountered them multiple times.

Players who previously couldn't even reach World Series level are now using cheating to climb into the top 50. The most outrageous cheating method is sim glitching, where players are matched and the game is simulated, automatically resulting in a win.

This will obviously have a real impact on legitimate players. Someone might be stopped by a cheater during a 6-0 winning streak, and various similar situations will occur. Your rewards, such as MLB The Show 26 stubs, will naturally decrease. This will become a major reason why players don't want to continue playing online.

Shrinkage Issue

The developers have broken their promise. Shrinkage still exists.

Before the game's release, the developers said in their promotional materials that shrinkage was back, which resulted in fierce criticism from players who said, "How can you be so heartless?" Under pressure, the official statement was later changed: "We heard the feedback, and the shrinkage has been removed."

But what actually happened? It wasn't removed at all. We might offer two possible explanations, but both are terrible.

First, no one on the development team was skilled enough to notice the shrinkage in actual gameplay. Second, they didn't know how to actually remove it from the code.

Both explanations make the game development team seem extremely incompetent.

This situation is like in Call of Duty, where the developers say, "We've removed Head-glitching, you'll never die from it again," only to find you still die from Head-glitching the next day. Doesn't that make you furious?

We still don't know if they can fix this problem.

Communication Channels Cut Off

After the server issues erupted, the official communication channels were immediately shut down.

Previously, they were very proactive, always saying, "We heard you," but this attitude quickly disappeared.

Now, in reality, the community can only criticize unilaterally; there's absolutely no back-and-forth dialogue. Players are constantly tweeting how bad the game is. Even some relatively neutral players have publicly criticized the game because it's so bad.

Silence is the most disheartening thing. For the official team, even just saying "We are investigating cheating allegations" or "We are looking at sim glitch" is far better than silence.

In short, MLB 26 urgently needs to address the rampant cheating problem and restore the gaming experience that normal players deserve. Hopefully, we will see a better MLB 26 in the near future.

MLB The Show 26 recently received a new patch update, featuring the return of the fan-favorite limited-time competitive mode, Weekend Classic 1; the official launch of 2nd Inning XP Path, which transfers your fans to April Showers Map; and other activities that allow you to earn player cards, stubs, card packs, and stubs.

This patch also adds many new player cards, including legendary players Victor Martinez, Bernie Williams, Randy Johnson, Babe Ruth, Carlos Correa, Jo Adell, Ryan Weathers, and Cody Bellinger. These can be obtained in-game using stubs or through missions and events without spending money.

Below, I will explain in detail several methods to obtain premium player cards and stubs for free in MLB 26.

Weekend Classic 1

Weekend Classic mode has made a grand return as a limited-time competitive mode in ranked play. In this mode, each player will receive six initial opportunities to play, unlocking generous tiered rewards by climbing the leaderboard.

The most anticipated top rewards in this mode are undoubtedly the legendary catcher Victor Martinez, with a playoff series overall rating of 92, and Yankees legend Bernie Williams, also with a 92 overall rating. Martinez is even featured as the cover legend for Weekend Classic 1.

Notably, Bernie Williams comes with six useful Quirks, including Road Warrior for excelling on the road, First-Pitch Hitter for boosting first-attack performance, and Dead Red for suppressing fastballs, making him extremely effective in actual gameplay.

This mode ends on April 14th, offering one of the few excellent ways to quickly acquire 90+ rating cards at the start of the season, and a competitive feast not to be missed by any player aiming for a Diamond Dynasty roster.

2nd Inning XP Path

2nd Inning XP Path is now live, introducing a brand-new cross-mode progression system to all modes of MLB The Show 26. Along this path, you can unlock powerful cards such as legendary catcher Rick Ferrell and Boston Red Sox legend Bobby Doerr.

Most excitingly, upon reaching the end of the path, you'll receive a Boss Choice Pack, allowing you to choose between legendary pitcher Randy Johnson and baseball icon Babe Ruth.

The fastest way to complete 2nd Inning XP Path is:

1. Follow a three-stage strategy: prioritize easy missions
2. Stack PXP
3. Proceed naturally.

In the first stage, prioritize completing Featured and Spotlight easy missions to quickly gain XP and free cards. In the second stage, use the aforementioned cards in Conquest mode to stack PXP, advance mission progress, and obtain map packs. In the third stage, maintain your roster and proceed naturally to gradually unlock all subsequent rewards.

After completing the main path, XP reward wheel will continue to spin, providing additional chances to win prizes. There are three types: Normal Wheel, Premium Wheel, and Legendary Wheel. Legendary Wheel costs at least 30,000 XP per spin.

The rewards are quite generous. Legendary Wheel can reward Diamond Player Cards, Boss Shards, and a large number of MLB The Show 26 Stubs. My suggestion is to save up XP to try and win Premium or Legendary Wheels, as Normal Wheel is less cost-effective.

Cornerstone Program

The brand-new Cornerstone Program is now officially launched, providing all MLB 26 free-to-play players with an excellent opportunity to acquire powerful infielders without relying on card packs.

This season's featured player is Carlos Correa, a cornerstone card with an overall rating of 91, enough to be a mainstay of your Diamond Dynasty lineup.

The core way to acquire Correa is by completing Cornerstone Program-exclusive Moments and challenges, divided into two phases.

• In the first phase, I recommend prioritizing player Moments to quickly gain progress points and a small amount of rewards.
• The second phase involves completing challenge missions in Conquest or Mini Seasons to accumulate mission progress and efficiently acquire main rewards.

At the start of the season, a free 91-rated shortstop is a timely boon. Correa not only bolsters your infield defense but also frees up valuable resources-allowing you to invest in gold that would otherwise be used to strengthen the shortstop position into the outfield or starting rotation, achieving a balanced upgrade to your roster.

April Showers Map

The latest April Showers Map for MLB 26 is now fully unlocked, providing a rewarding and strategically valuable free acquisition route for Diamond Dynasty mode.

By conquering this challenging map, you can not only recruit Ryan Weathers (90 rating) from Topps Now series but also obtain a large number of card packs, stubs, and a strategically valuable Bullpen Bash Choice Pack, enabling a rapid and significant roster enhancement.

To efficiently secure all rewards on this map, consider the following strategy:

• Phase 1: Concentrate all initial forces and advance along the shortest route towards the enemy fortress, quickly reducing the enemy's turn count and securing victory.
• Phase 2: Manually engage only fortress attack and defense battles; simulate all other territory battles to maximize the use of limited time.
• Phase 3: After capturing all fortresses, return to clear out remaining territories to ensure complete reward acquisition and prevent omissions.

April Showers Map is not simply a player upgrade, but rather part of the mid-season operations of MLB The Show 26. Its strategic value lies in Ryan Weathers's high cost-effectiveness as a free 90 overall rating player, even though he's not a top-tier ace, effectively filling gaps in roster rotation depth.

Bullpen Bash Choice Pack is the cornerstone of building a solid defense, giving you more strategies for high-intensity ranked matches; the card packs and in-game currency included with the map provide valuable initial capital for subsequent Cornerstone Program or market operations.

In addition to the aforementioned events that allow you to obtain premium player cards and a large number of Stubs without spending any money, there are also Chase Pack 5, Challenge of the Week, and April Spotlight Drop 2 Program.

These events and missions can help you acquire players such as Cody Bellinger (93 OVR), Joey Wiemer, and Jose Fernandez, as well as a Spotlight Pack featuring tiered Diamond options like Sandy Alcantara and Miguel Vargas.

This guide covers everything you need to know how to obtain more premium player cards and Stubs in MLB 26 Diamond Dynasty without spending any money and build your preferred team.

It has been nearly two weeks since the launch of ARC Raiders: Flashpoint, and we believe the development team is already working in full swing to prepare for the upcoming release of Riven Tides. Currently, we have visibility on the update roadmap covering January through April. But what comes after April?

It is possible that shortly after Riven Tides officially goes live - likely sometime between early and mid-May - the developers will release the update roadmap for the May-to-August period. For now, let's explore the imminent Riven Tides update and potential future additions.

Confirmed New Content for Riven Tides

A Brand-New Map

We speculate that the new map is situated in the southwestern region of the world map, specifically along Buried City zone and close to the western coastline. This hypothesis stems from the fact that, following Flashpoint update, new post-it notes and other markers appeared on the left side of the map selection interface.

These markers point toward a piece of previously unused concept art depicting a coastal city. However, it remains unknown at this time whether the final in-game map will precisely match this concept art.

A New Major ARC

As of now, there are no specific details or official teasers regarding the new ARC unit slated for Riven Tides.

The community generally speculates that it could be Bishop, a draft-style ARC unit that previously appeared during the pre-alpha phase or in developer documentaries. Bishop is massive and possesses truly fearsome firepower.

Of course, this remains pure speculation based on the memories of veteran players, as there are currently no concrete clues to confirm it.

A New Map Environment

The new map environment will probably function similarly to the existing Matriarch or Harvester events; that is, it will serve as an independent, full-map condition that rotates across all zones, rather than being exclusive to the new map area.

While this specific map condition may be linked to the spawning of the new major ARC, the two elements are fundamentally distinct entities: one is a new event that rotates across all maps, while the other is a standalone new map area available for players to explore.

Expedition Window

Based on the patterns observed during the previous two Expedition Windows, it is unlikely that Expedition Window for Riven Tides will open simultaneously with the game update itself. Players will typically need to wait an additional one or two days.

We predict that Riven Tides will go live around April 28th; consequently, Expedition Window is expected to open on or around April 29th, remaining open for a period of 4 to 6 days during which players can choose to embark on an expedition.

The specific rewards for this particular expedition have not yet been announced. Embark has indicated a desire to overhaul the current system, in which Expeditions exclusively reward Skill Points. However, the exact timeline for implementing these changes remains unknown.

Other Common Content Accompanying Updates

New Missions

Each major ARC Raiders update typically introduces five or more new missions. The content of these missions is usually tied to the new ARC, map, or in-game events featured in the update.

New Crafting Parts

The introduction of a new major ARC inevitably brings with it new crafting components. Examples from previous updates include Matriarch Reactor, dropped by Matriarch. And Queen Core dropped by Queen.

Assessor Matrices and Vaporizer Regulators - items actually obtained during Flashpoint update - serve as useful precedents here.

Vaporizer Regulator is used to craft Dabra shotgun. To date, Assessor Matrices have not been utilized in any crafting recipes; it is possible they have been reserved specifically for the new weapons arriving in Riven Tides update.

New Weapons

Typically, each major ARC is paired with one or two Legendary weapon ARC Raiders blueprints.

For instance, Harvester and Queen previously offered blueprints for Jupiter and Equalizer, while Matriarch provided blueprints for Aphilion.

Consequently, the new major ARC featured in Riven Tides will probably drop core components for new weapons, which will then need to be synthesized at a new crafting station.

New Cosmetics and Raider Decks

The release of new cosmetic items is virtually guaranteed with every update.

Regarding Raider Decks, we can observe a distinct release pattern: Cold Snap included one, Headwinds did not; Shrouded Sky included one, Flashpoint did not. Based on this alternating pattern, it is reasonable to speculate that the upcoming Riven Tides update will indeed feature a new Raider Deck.

New Projects

Although Riven Tides teaser card does not explicitly mention a New Project, previous updates - specifically Headwinds, Shrouded Sky, and Flashpoint - each introduced a new Project progression track.

It is highly probable that Riven Tides will continue this trend by offering a new Project for players to pursue.

Future Plans

The current roadmap concludes in April 2026; a new roadmap will probably cover the period from May through August.

It is anticipated that the development team will first release Riven Tides update, and then - one to two weeks after the update goes live - announce their future plans. This approach mirrors their previous strategy, where the roadmap was released only after Headwinds update went live in January.

Based on the systemic changes the developers have already alluded to, the current model of exchanging real-world currency for Skill Points within Expedition system is merely a temporary solution. Future updates will introduce a wider variety of rewards, moving away from Skill Points as the sole form of compensation.

Additionally, the developers have acknowledged that the effectiveness of certain skills is currently lacking, and these skills are slated for adjustments or complete reworks.

All in all, players are undoubtedly looking forward to a faster pace of content releases, as well as a greater variety of ARCs and weapons. We hope that the future of ARC lives up to expectations, becoming ever more exciting!

Rustbitten Dirk is a unique dagger introduced in Diablo 4 Season 12. It can be equipped by Druid, Necromancer, Rogue, and Sorcerer classes.

It boasts balanced stats and an extremely powerful unique effect, dealing double damage to isolated enemies and 50% extra damage to melee enemies. This makes it highly effective against bosses and isolated elite enemies.

Rustbitten Dirk plays a crucial role in enhancing your character's combat abilities and overall strength, allowing players to effectively tackle various challenges in the game.

Next, this guide will detail how to obtain Rustbitten Dirk, its properties, unique effects, and builds that effectively utilize this weapon.

What is Rustbitten Dirk?

Rustbitten Dirk is a unique dagger in Diablo 4, introduced along with the new lair boss in Season 12. Its design aims to enhance the output of melee builds by increasing their damage against close and isolated enemies. It deals 297 damage per second and attacks 1.20 times per second, making it very fast.

Stats of Rustbitten Dirk

Rustbitten Dirk boasts the following robust stats:

• +(1.4 - 50.0)% Damage to Close Enemies
• +(51 - 65) All Stats
• +(424 - 457) Maximum Life
• +(8.3 - 10.0)% Attack Speed
• +(40.0 - 50.0)% Vulnerable Damage

Rustbitten Dirk's greatest strength lies in its ability to deal up to 50% extra damage to melee enemies, significantly increasing the speed at which melee builds clear groups of enemies and elite monsters. Simultaneously, it increases the build's maximum life, enhancing its survivability against powerful foes and bosses. In addition, this unique dagger increases overall Vulnerable Damage by 50%.

Unique effect of Rustbitten Dirk

The unique effect of Rustbitten Dirk is simple yet extremely useful:

Deal [50 - 100]%[x] increased damage to isolated enemies. This means that when you attack elites and bosses or any isolated enemy, you will deal a multiplicative damage bonus of 50% to 100%.

While this effect may seem like just a damage buff, don't underestimate it. In close combat, it significantly increases melee damage, applicable to any build.

TO get Rustbitten Dirk

Having discussed so many advantages of Rustbitten Dirk, now, the important question is: how do we obtain it? Here are all the ways to acquire Rustbitten Dirk in Diablo 4 Season 12:

Butcher lair boss

Rustbitten Dirk is associated with the loot pool of the new lair boss. After defeating the boss, you can use Pound of Flesh lair key item to obtain his hoard. Meanwhile, Lair Boss Keys can be obtained by trading Diablo 4 Gold with merchants.

You can also effectively farm Pound of Flesh by completing quests in Slaughterhouses and Bloodied Sigils. However, be aware that the game uses a random drop system, meaning dropped items are randomly generated based on various factors. Therefore, the drop rate of Pound of Flesh is extremely low, and you may need to repeat these activities multiple times.

Random loot from enemies and world events

Like most unique items in Diablo 4, Rustbitten Dirk can also drop from any normal and elite enemy in the game, but the chance of dropping specific items is extremely low. If you want to take this approach, be prepared.

A better method is to farm monster-dense areas, as these areas require you to fight a large number of monsters consisting of normal and elite enemies, thus increasing your chances of obtaining unique items. For example, you can choose Nightmare Dungeons.

World events like Helltides, World Boss encounters, and Gathering Legions are also excellent ways to farm Uniques. In Helltides, you can use 125x Aberrant Cinders to open Tortured Gift of Light Weaponry, increasing your chances of obtaining Unique items.

Gamble for using Obols

Because Rustbitten Dirk has an extremely low drop rate, we generally don't recommend this method. However, if you have enough Obols, it's a viable option. You can gamble for gear at Purveyor of Curiosities; each gamble costs 50 Obols.

TO use Rustbitten Dirk

We previously mentioned that many classes can use the unique dagger Rustbitten Dirk, but only a few classes can fully utilize its effects and attribute bonuses. This dagger is particularly advantageous for Rogues and Necromancers. While we don't know if it will become the new mainstream gear for these classes, it's undeniably a very good choice.

Meanwhile, builds like Heartseeker Rogue, Penetrating Shot Rogue, Rapid Fire Rogue, and Bone Spear Necromancer are also well-suited to this dagger, increasing their damage against isolated and melee enemies. Some boss farming builds also benefit from Rustbitten Dirk's attributes.

This dagger is highly synergistic. Any skill that applies a sustained vulnerability effect will increase damage, while stacking attack speed will make the isolation effect more pronounced. In group combat, teammates can help pull enemies away from bosses, extending the duration of the isolation effect.

This concludes this guide. We hope it has deepened your understanding of Rustbitten Dirk in Diablo 4, enabling you to use it more effectively.

As a third-person extraction shooter game, ARC Raiders has been loved by many players since its official release. Its stunning tactical shooting experience, diverse combat, and the thrill of chasing rich resources have kept players investing significant time and energy. Undoubtedly, ARC Raiders has captured the hearts of players.

In ARC Raiders, every decision can determine victory or defeat. Therefore, mastering skills and finding hidden resource treasure troves will help you quickly accumulate resources and achieve ultimate victory.

Whether you are an experienced Raiders eager to hone your skills or a newcomer looking to stand out in the competition, the following content will introduce some influential professional tips and secret resource locations to help you dominate the battlefield.

Game Tips

Mastering certain game tips will improve your survivability, combat efficiency, and ultimate chance of winning in ARC Raiders.

Ping System

With the help of Ping system, you can use location functions to find enemy tracks.

Whether hidden in low-visibility smoke or dense vegetation, Ping system can highlight their exact location. Even if the opponent uses cover to conceal themselves, you can still spot them.

Gas Grenade

Gas Grenade not only depletes enemy stamina but also helps you quickly pinpoint their location. The generated gas forces enemies to cough loudly, a reaction unavoidable even with a gas mask.

More importantly, this gas can almost fill an entire room. If no coughing is heard in a room, it's safe.

Gas Grenade is expected to perform surprisingly well in ARC Raiders PvP mode.

Lure Grenade

Lure Grenade has a wide range of uses. On one hand, you can lay Explosive Mine, Trigger ‘Nade, or use Wasp Driver to create a dense minefield during combat, then use Lure Grenade to lure Arcs into the trap and eliminate them.

On the other hand, Lure Grenade can also distract enemies, making them focus on other areas. In this situation, Arc exposes its weaknesses, giving you an opportunity to launch an attack and secure victory.

More importantly, Lure Grenade is easy and cost-effective to craft. Players only need to consumeARC Raiders Speaker Components and Plastic Parts to create it, and it will play a significant role in combat.

Fourth State Of Awareness

Most players believe that Arcs only have three states of awareness, but I'm here to tell you that they have a fourth.

Besides white light indicating surveillance, yellow light indicating alertness, and red light indicating attack, you'll also encounter Arcs in a blue light state. This indicates that something within their monitoring range has piqued their curiosity.

Unlike Lure Grenade's active attraction of Arc's attention, this attention shift in the blue light state is entirely based on their own programming.

You can use this time to change your position to avoid being exposed to them. If you don't want to clash with Arcs, you can also use this time to bypass them.

Weapon Repair Before Upgrading

In ARC Raiders, weapon durability decreases over time, and the lower the durability, the slower the reload speed. When durability reaches zero, the weapon is unusable. This means you need to monitor your weapon's condition and repair it regularly.

Therefore, weapon repair is essential for players who crave thrilling combat. Furthermore, ARC Raiders Weapon level and performance also determine the player's gaming experience; higher-level weapons can inflict more lethal damage.

However, it's important to note that different weapon levels require different materials for repair. Higher-level weapons require more materials. Therefore, it's best to repair your equipment before upgrading.

Secret Loot Spots

Many players find the most exciting moment in shooting games like Arc Raiders to successfully obtain rich loot. However, rich loot often leads to battles. Here are some hidden areas with plenty of items. You'll likely be tempted by these low-risk, high-reward areas.

Ancient Fort In Blue Gate Map

On Blue Gate map, there's a basement full of supplies that can be unlocked by completing a simple puzzle.

All you need to do is collect three ARC Raiders batteries around Ancient Fort and place them in their corresponding separate fuse boxes. Two of the batteries are inside Ancient Fort. This task is quick and easy, yielding many ARC Raiders Items.

Power Generation Complex

Below Power Generation Complex is a mini keycard room that requires a Power Rod to open. It contains supplies such as guns and grenades.

This room is very easy to find. Furthermore, it's close to Extraction Points, allowing for a quick evacuation to safety in case of an emergency.

Hospital In Buried City Map

This area not only has abundant supplies but also Extraction Points. Once you've collected enough supplies, you can use a rope to slide down and then go up the stairs to reach the underground metro stations. This process is quick and safe.

In summary, the key to victory in ARC Raiders lies in the perfect blend of skill and strategy. Continuously adapt to the game and keep a close eye on hidden treasure locations. This will allow you to acquire more valuable resources, survive longer battles, and ultimately, victory awaits you.