Torchlight Infinite SS12 Lunaria officially launches on April 16 at 7 PM PDT. As always, this season is packed with content. In addition to balance adjustments and a new seasonal mechanic, we're also getting a brand-new hero.

Let's take a brief look at what Lunaria Season has to offer - its core mechanic, the new hero, and various balance changes across the board.

New Mechanic

Lunaria

The essence of Lunaria mechanic involves using a harp-like device within maps to shatter and awaken slumbering monsters, then dispatching them. It feels somewhat like a fusion of Expedition and Legion from Path of Exile.

As you navigate the area, you strum statues of enemies, causing them to animate into actual foes. Defeating them yields loot. More importantly, you gain a small amount of energy, allowing you to continue moving forward and repeat the cycle.

Creation Engine

Strictly speaking, Lunaria Season doesn't feature just one mechanic - it also introduces a new system separate from the seasonal mechanic called Creation Engine. Activating a Creation Engine in a map spawns crystals and enemies. Defeating foes charges the crystals, which then drop loot. The baseline rewards appear modest, but they scale significantly when combined with the talent tree and compasses.

As a new permanent core mechanic, it's similar to Cages in that it lacks an exclusive seasonal pet. That means it's either exceptionally friendly to free-to-play users or the complete opposite.

Vorax

Vorax gameplay from SS11 is moving into the core pool. This monster-hunting mechanic incorporates strategic elements and is quite engaging, though its transition to core brings some adjustments.

Vorax now has its own talent tree, and certain powerful card values have been reined in. The most notable change, however, is that acquiring Ultimate Potions is now semi-scripted. This means that once you secure a critical potion, you'll have much greater control over the flow of battle.

A significant nerf is that equipment obtained from Vorax can now only carry legendary affixes sourced from the same legendary item. Previously, you could merge affixes from two different legendaries onto a single piece of gear. Now, even with two affix slots available, they must originate from the same item. You can still transfer affixes to different equipment slots, but only multiple affixes from a single legendary item can be moved.

Scent Weaver | Sage

Sage is a fully independent hero. Her core playstyle revolves around Elixirs - a new skill form reworked from recovery skills and certain enhancement skills. Elixirs possess charges and occupy a skill slot. Sage specializes in empowering Elixirs and granting them additional effects. For example, her level 50 unlock, Scent Bottle, can bestow a combined offensive and defensive boost to an Elixir in a designated slot.

That said, Sage is not an ideal league starter. The primary reason is that most Elixirs seen so far lean defensive and lack offensive punch. During the early push into harder content, damage output is paramount, and she feels somewhat lacking in that department. She does have potential in the later stages, so it's recommended to revisit her after you've accumulated some currency.

Character and Skill Adjustments

Divineshot Carino | Lethal Flash

Previously, this hero was restricted to shotgun-style skills, limiting flexibility. After the rework, Lethal Flash is more versatile and no longer forced into specific mechanics. While the original shotgun bonuses have been removed, the base effect now directly provides 50% more damage and +2 to projectile skill levels.

It also introduces intriguing interactions, such as sacrificing projectile range for massive damage multipliers and Fortitude effects, or even enabling projectiles to bounce off the ground. Regarding the interplay between projectile speed and reload speed, early analysis suggests Carino 2 could very well spawn some top-tier, high-powered builds.

Chromatic Shot

The reworked Chromatic Shot skill is now restricted to elemental damage only, removing physical and corrosion components. Scaling it has become considerably simpler. The mechanic resembles Elemental Hit from Path of Exile, forcibly converting all damage into a random single element. Base damage has increased by roughly 40%, and a small explosion effect has been added. Note that it now carries Area tag, allowing it to benefit from a wider array of support gems.

The addition of Lightchaser (Magnificent) and Chromatic Shot: Splendor (Noble) is also crucial, greatly enhancing projectile tracking and target seeking, resulting in remarkably swift clearing capabilities.

Modalizations

For summoner enthusiasts, Modalizations mechanic has been introduced. Similar to Spectres in Path of Exile, players can defeat specific bosses and bind them, turning them into personal minions. These boss summons boast devastating area skills and impressive potency.

Ill Omen

The developers felt that DoT builds were not crisp enough when clearing packs, so they introduced Ill Omen mechanic. When you inflict DoT on a target, Ill Omen will eventually lop off a substantial portion of its life. It's important to note, however, that the former Reap Purification has been removed from the talent tree and relocated to hero memories obtainable much later in progression.

This means DoT builds have lost a key support tool. Furthermore, Ill Omen effects must be triggered by curse skills from Ominous line, delivering a heavy blow to DoT archetypes.

Renewed Memory

Every season brings a mechanism to inflate character power, and in SS12 it's Renewed Memory. In simple terms, you can enhance your hero memories using special items earned during the season. Enhancement methods include:

• Adding a special random affix to the random affix pool.
• Increasing base stat values.
• Raising the tier of inherent affixes.
• Adding an extra Revived affix. Using Lunar Phase materials grants a chance to directionally add a Revived affix.

The final method has a success rate of only 20%. If it fails (an 80% chance), your memory is not destroyed but becomes character-bound and untradable.

Given that high-quality memories are already exceedingly rare, and now they carry an 80% risk of becoming bound, it's foreseeable that these memories will carry astronomical value in the new season. If you're planning a build around such affixes, you might need plenty of Torchlight Infinite Flame Elementium.

Overall, the content volume this season is quite substantial. Even if Lunaria Season mechanic doesn't fully capture your interest, the Vorax core integration should keep you thoroughly engaged for the entire season. Pick your favorite build and get ready to dive in.

As a core component of MLB The Show 26, all programs can be broadly categorized into long-term, seasonal, and special event types, a classification designed to help you effectively plan your strategy for earning rewards.

Building on this framework, Multiplayer Program, one of the game's seasonal offerings, received its very first update just yesterday!

Multiplayer Program 1, which launched alongside MLB The Show 26, has now concluded; you can now begin working toward earning the rewards offered in Multiplayer Program 2!

In this guide, we will walk you through the missions and rewards featured in Multiplayer Program 2, helping you determine whether it is worth your time and outlining the most effective strategies for playing through it.

Multiplayer Program 2 duration

This program went live on April 14th. While an exact end date has not yet been confirmed, it is expected to follow the same monthly cycle as Multiplayer Program 1, concluding in mid-May, at which point the third installment in the series will probably launch to take its place.

How to complete this program?

Multiplayer Program 2 consists of 18 specific missions, each tied directly to the game's Multiplayer modes, hence the name of this program series.

Multiplayer experience centers around Diamond Dynasty, with specific sub-categories including Ranked Seasons (1v1, 2v2, 3v3), Battle Royale, Events, and more.

The 18 missions require you to complete specific objectives while playing through these various modes.

Upon completing each mission, you will earn a designated amount of XP; as your total XP accumulates and reaches new thresholds, you will unlock the corresponding rewards.

Below is a complete list of all missions included in Multiplayer Program 2. To avoid unnecessary frustration, it is highly recommended that you complete them sequentially, one by one.

• Capture 50 bases in any Multiplayer mode - 5K XP
• Capture 100 bases in any Multiplayer mode - 5K XP
• Capture 200 bases in any Multiplayer mode - 10K XP
• Capture 400 bases in any Multiplayer mode - 15K XP
• Record 10 strikeouts in any Multiplayer mode - 5K XP
• Record 25 strikeouts in any Multiplayer mode - 5K XP
• Record 50 strikeouts in any Multiplayer mode - 10K XP
• Record 100 strikeouts in any Multiplayer mode - 15K XP
• Hit 5 home runs in any Multiplayer mode - 5K XP
• Hit 15 home runs in any Multiplayer mode - 5K XP
• Hit 26 home runs in any Multiplayer mode - 10K XP
• Earn 15,000 PXP in any Multiplayer mode - 5K XP
• Earn 30,000 PXP in any Multiplayer mode - 5K XP
• Earn 50,000 PXP in any Multiplayer mode - 10K XP
• Earn 70,000 PXP in any Multiplayer mode - 20K XP
• Capture bases 15 times in Battle Royale - 5K XP
• Record 5 extra-base hits in Battle Royale - 5K XP
• Record 5 wins in a single Battle Royale run - 10K XP

All Multiplayer Program 2 rewards

This program features a total of 25 rewards, comprising various types such as stubs, card packs, specific player cards, and in-game XP.

Among these, MLB 26 stubs as the most versatile reward, the total number is 8.2K. You must earn at least 23 of the available rewards to collect the full amount.

Below is a list of all rewards and the program XP required to unlock them (listed in ascending order):

• 5,000 XP - World Baseball Classic Gold Player
• 10,000 XP - Craig Kimbrel
• 15,000 XP - The Show Pack x5
• 20,000 XP - Headliners Pack - Random
• 25,000 XP - 1,500 Stubs
• 30,000 XP - Deluxe Pack
• 35,000 XP - Gerrit Cole
• 40,000 XP - The Show Pack x5
• 45,000 XP - 1,500 Stubs
• 50,000 XP - Item Ivy
• 55,000 XP - Deluxe Pack (Random)
• 60,000 XP - Eddie Murray
• 65,000 XP - Ballin' is a Habit Pack
• 70,000 XP - 20,000 XP
• 75,000 XP - The Show Pack x5
• 80,000 XP - Deluxe Pack (Random)
• 85,000 XP - Jose Altuve
• 90,000 XP - Ballin' is a Habit Pack
• 95,000 XP - 2,500 Stubs
• 100,000 XP - 20,000 XP
• 110,000 XP - Premier Pack (Random)
• 120,000 XP - Anthony Santander
• 130,000 XP - 3,000 Stubs
• 140,000 XP - 20,000 XP
• 150,000 XP - The Show Pack x50

Combined, all the above rewards are worth at least 501.7K in MLB The Show 26; to unlock them all, you will need to earn 90K Program XP within a single month!

Reward value analysis

XP and stub rewards require no further explanation. As for the card packs, since the cards obtained from them are randomized, it is difficult to conduct an in-depth analysis; therefore, our evaluation will focus primarily on the specific player card rewards.

All rewards within Multiplayer Program 2 include five player cards: All-Star Craig Kimbrel, Gerrit Cole, and Eddie Murray; Postseason José Altuve; and Awards Anthony Santander.

Since these rewards are tied to specific XP requirements, meaning you can earn them simply by putting in the effort to play the game, there is absolutely no reason to miss out!

Furthermore, the card lineup is well-balanced, featuring a mix of elite pitchers and reliable power hitters; this allows you greater flexibility to optimize and enhance your existing roster by adding these players.

Moreover, as you work toward earning these rewards, you will naturally become more familiar with the gameplay mechanics of all multiplayer modes, an experience that will prove invaluable when you participate in future related programs.

That wraps up all the information regarding Multiplayer Program 2. Keep in mind that other programs are likely running concurrently within MLB 26, so be sure not to overlook those either!