With the implementation of the major Arc Raiders update, Riven Tides, the weapon durability mechanic underwent a controversial adjustment.

The official statement clearly indicates that the core goal of this change is to address the excessively high maintenance costs of higher-tier weapons, while simultaneously allowing higher-tier weapons to have a longer lifespan than lower-tier weapons.

However, following the update's release, numerous discussions quickly emerged within the community regarding the imbalance in the weapon economy system, particularly the surge in the durability consumption rate of lower-tier weapons, causing concern among many players.

The following will examine the true impact of this Arc Raiders change on the weapon durability system from three dimensions: the adjustment logic, actual test data, and potential errors.

Adjustment Logic

Arc Raiders patch notes emphasize that higher-tier weapons should have a longer battlefield lifespan than lower-tier weapons.

This premise aligns with the typical Arc Raiders Items progression curve; players who invest more resources to acquire legendary or Epic weapons should logically receive a positive return in terms of durability.

However, Arc Raiders didn't simply increase the durability of high-tier weapons; instead, it significantly accelerated the wear and tear on low-tier weapons.

This dual-track adjustment led to a sharp increase in the repair frequency of both Common and Uncommon weapons in actual combat, sparking community-wide questioning of the weapon economy system.

According to test data, Common-quality weapons like Stitcher require approximately 10.24 sets of light ammunition to be completely destroyed, Kettle 9 sets, and Pharaoh 3.1 sets of heavy ammunition.

Anvil, a weapon that performs well in both PvE and PvP, now only requires 215 rounds to become completely unusable.

This means that in a relatively intense encounter, a player might run out of weapon lifespan before even retreating. For novice players or those with limited resources, this penalty significantly increases the cost of maintaining combat effectiveness.

Test Data

Based on the highest durability level four, the following data represents the test results for each weapon level from full durability to zero.

Among Common-tier weapons, the number of ammunition required for complete destruction varies significantly, mostly ranging from several hundred to over a thousand rounds.

Uncommon and Rare-tier weapons also exhibit considerable fluctuations, with some models requiring only a little over a hundred rounds to deplete their durability, while others exceed a thousand.

Epic-tier weapons range from extreme values ​​of over two thousand rounds to rapidly depleted models requiring only a little over two hundred.

Comparing community test records before and after the update reveals that the actual durability adjustments to almost all weapons were less than stated in the patch notes.

This phenomenon may stem from a conversion error between the underlying calculation formula and the percentage representation, or maybe the development team temporarily used a unique set of parameters before the patch went live.

Nevertheless, when translated into actual gameplay scenarios, the majority of players will rarely fire enough rounds in a single deployment to completely degrade even the most fragile Common weapons, except for a few outliers like Anvil.

Potential Error

From a design logic perspective, only excessively high maintenance costs for higher-tier weapons was explicitly listed as an adjustment target. Therefore, imposing faster durability loss on Common, Uncommon, and even Rare weapons essentially addresses a non-existent problem.

These lower-tier weapons are inherently inexpensive to manufacture and easy to repair, their economic burden is not a major source of player complaints.

The collateral penalty imposed by Arc Raiders at this level actually reduces players' options during resource-scarce phases, forcing them to rely on high-tier gear earlier or endure greater logistical burdens.

The update specifically mentions that Arc Raiders Items looted from downed enemy players will reduce durability loss by 15%. This design attempts to create a more interesting loot and reuse cycle in PvP combat: enemy-dropped weapons are relatively newer, encouraging players to actively change gear and reduce reliance on fixed builds.

However, considering the high elimination rate and low survival rate in PvP, the actual trigger frequency of this benefit may be limited. Players can only enjoy the durability reduction benefit if they successfully extract with looted weapons.

Given the precedent of several instances of unexpected values from the official release, these durability figures will likely be corrected in subsequent weekly updates.

Based on actual testing results, the overall durability balance in the current version is not as extreme as the percentages suggest, but there are indeed several design flaws that significantly deviate from the average for low-tier weapons.

Riven Tides' adjustments to Arc Raiders Items durability appear on paper to severely penalize low-tier weapons and moderately reward high-tier ones. However, real-world testing shows the actual impact is much milder than the patch notes suggest, with some weapons even receiving unexpected buffs.

Visual assessments in terms of ammo stacks indicate that the vast majority of weapons are not completely destroyed during a normal extraction, but the vulnerability of a few models, such as Anvil, does warrant attention. Future fixes are more likely to focus on numerical discrepancies rather than overhauling the entire system.

In Diablo 4, the legend of Secret Cow Level has always captivated players. With the release of Lord of Hatred, a hidden questline has finally been revealed. It won't be updated in the logbook; players need to carefully record it.

This article will detail the entire process from starting the quest to approaching the secret level, based on the discovered complete walkthrough. All steps have been verified. As of the time of writing, the actual Cow Level has not yet been unlocked, but the prerequisites and key clues are complete.

Phase One

The trigger point is located on the east face of Mount Hefaetrus. There, there's a strange interaction point with a strange diary and a bottle of alcohol. The inside back cover reads: "Blind are those that deny their own sins."

Burning Pride's Sin

In Kyovashad, go to the gatehouse, where Holy Cedar Tablet can be found. Choose to carve Pride and burn it. Note that the order in which you burn it is crucial.

Returning to the journal, a new text prompt appears: ... these machines make short work of even the vilest beast Hell can spawn, as though the Heavenly Father himself was hurling his mighty spears.

Obtain Amazonian Bolt

The only machine in Skovos capable of severely damaging Demon is Ballista. Go to Akarat's Bulwark, where there is a corrupted Amazon. Destroy Ballista to obtain Amazonian Bolt.

Cross the Hidden Rope

Open Skovos map. A manatee drawing is visible in the western sea. The nearby island of Philios has a partial outline resembling a bull's head. Go to Idyllic Reach on that island. Near the entrance, there is an unloaded Ballista. Use Bolt; it will launch a rope that leads to a secret area.

Defeat Jailer of Angels

At the end of the area is an Inarius statue. Interact with it to summon Jailer of Angels. Defeating them will drop Father's Chains. Head to Antia's Flame in the northern part of Philios Island and burn the chain with the brazier.

Phase Two

Collect a set of training armor and obtain new sacrificial items.

Burn Sin of Wrath

Return to the gatehouse of Kyovashad and burn Anger.

Journal Update: ... the lifeless effigy stood uncowed, but once battered by anger's relentless blows, it finally bowed its head, and Amazon earned the first piece of her panoply. Head to Temis training grounds and hit the dummies to obtain Amazon Training Helm. Equip it immediately.

Collect Armor

Return to Akarat's Bulwark and fight the corrupted Amazon. Rare Diablo 4 Items include: Amazon Training Tunic, Amazon Training Pants, Amazon Training Gauntlets, and Amazon Training Boots.

Equip each item immediately upon acquisition. After collecting all the items, find Elite Corrupted Amazon Captain southeast of the fortress and defeat him to obtain Mother's Rose. Go to Athulua and burn Temple of Courage with a brazier. You can then revert to your original equipment.

Phase Three

This involves areas where combat is not possible and the remains of key characters.

Burning Sin of Fear

Return to the gatehouse and burn Fear; the journal will update. Go to Ruins of Brocken Reason on Lycander Island. The enemies here will not attack unless provoked, but do not engage them.

There is a giant raven near the fountain in the southwest of the ruins. Interact with it, and it will fly away; follow it. If there is no raven here, it may be because you previously engaged in combat with an enemy.

This raven will cross some inaccessible terrain, so if you lose it, you can teleport back to Temis to start over. The raven will return to the starting point and drop a Skull; pick it up to obtain new clues.

Obtain the Key

Follow the new clue to Temple of Life on the same island. Interact with the brazier outside to obtain a special key.

Obtain Neyrelle's Hand

Go to Creaking Hulls, north of Hawezaar. Its ship's hull resembles a bull's head. At the end, where the original coffin was, is now a fishpond. Fish for the coffin. Use the key to open it and enter Rathma's Temple. Run to the altar where Elias's finger is located; find Neyrelle's Hand nearby. Pick it up to complete the questline.

Final Step

This requires combining the two prerequisite quests: Stamina Potion obtained from Cow Level quest in the main game, and Rusted Bardiche obtained from Lord of Hatred.

Crafting the Item

Place Stamina Potion, Rusted Bardiche, and Neyrelle's Hand into Horadric Cube. The recipe will display three question marks. Craft to obtain a Bull Skull Treasure Chest, namely the Trophy of the Faithful.

Rewards and Uses

Open the treasure chest to obtain Torn Page and complete the challenge for the title "MOO" and MOO emote.

Travel to Hidden Island and Unfinished Cow Level

Follow Torn Page's clues to the cow-head terrain area on Philios Island. Find Outcast's Boat and sail to the hidden island. The island features a Skeleton Horse, statues of humanoid cows, a dilapidated hut with a sign saying "Do not feed the animals," and a desolate cellar.

Inside the cellar, many seated human skeletons look at the altar at the end of the room which depicts a large cow, and twelve cows are arranged in a circle staring at a symbol.

The final room provides the biggest clue: a map of Skovos Highlands and Gonnagal's Guide to the Hecatomb, which depicts seven portal images, presumably the entrance to Cow Level. These are all the clues discovered so far.

Through this hidden questline, players can obtain rewards such as Hand of Neyrelle, Minotaur Skull Chest, MOO title, and emotes, which are not only symbols of status but also contain key clues to the true Cow Level.