General News

ARC Raiders has recorded a major Steam player count rebound following the launch of its Frozen Trail update on October 8, 2026. The update adds a Spider-Man-style Grappling Hook, the snowy Pendola Pass map, new enemies and weapons, and expanded progression systems. A free weekend across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S has also helped bring players back to Embark Studios' extraction shooter.

ARC Raiders Hits 185K Concurrent Players on Steam

ARC Raiders reached a reported 24-hour Steam peak of 185,443 concurrent players following the Frozen Trail update, roughly 4.6 times its reported September peak of 39,900. Its September daily averages were around 21,000.

The game previously reached an all-time Steam peak of 481,966 concurrent players in January 2026, following its October 2025 launch. The latest rebound marks its strongest reported performance since March.

The timing is significant, but the update is not the only factor. Embark's free-play weekend runs through October 12, allowing players across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S to try the game without purchasing it.

The coming weeks will reveal whether Frozen Trail can sustain that momentum after the promotion ends.

The Grappling Hook Is Frozen Trail's Biggest Addition

The new Grappling Hook is the update's standout feature, giving players more ways to traverse the Rust Belt and reach elevated positions.

Raiders can use it to cross gaps, climb onto rooftops and ledges, and reposition during encounters. The community's Spider-Man comparisons reflect how dramatically the tool changes movement possibilities.

The tactical implications could be just as important as the visual appeal. Elevated positions are no longer limited to players who find conventional routes up buildings, while squads defending rooftops must consider additional approaches. The hook also offers more options when navigating exposed terrain or trying to escape a dangerous encounter.

For returning players who have grown familiar with the existing maps, this new movement tool creates opportunities to experiment with routes and combat strategies. Its long-term value will depend on how well it fits into the game's balance and whether it creates meaningful choices without making existing approaches obsolete.

Pendola Pass Adds a Snowy Map and New Challenges

Frozen Trail introduces Pendola Pass, a snow-covered region that expands the game's exploration and combat opportunities.

The update also adds Flash Freeze weather conditions, new ARC-related encounters, and content associated with the fallen ARC Emperor and the Frigate. These additions give players new locations to investigate and fresh challenges to tackle.

For experienced Raiders, the new environment offers a break from familiar routes and established strategies. Learning its layout, finding valuable locations, and understanding how environmental conditions affect each deployment will be central to mastering the map.

The update also introduces three new ARC enemies: the Bully, Skulker, and Hydra. Two new weapons, the Bantam and Stiletto, expand the available arsenal, while Amplified Weapons introduce a fifth weapon quality level.

New Quests, Skill Tree Changes, and Reward Pass

Frozen Trail includes several progression changes designed to give players more reasons to keep playing after exploring the new map.

Key additions include:

• 22 new quests offering additional objectives.

• A revamped Skill Tree that changes character progression.

• A new Reward Pass replacing the previous Raider Decks system.

• A Research Bench and Outpost additions that expand crafting and progression options.

• Increased stash capacity through two additional levels.

These systems give returning players more than a new location to explore. They also provide longer-term goals involving progression, rewards and more valuable ARC Raiders items.

However, the amount of new content alone will not determine whether players stay. Its value will depend on how rewarding these activities remain after the initial excitement surrounding the update fades.

Embark Studios Moves Away From Monthly Major Updates

Frozen Trail is an important test of Embark Studios' revised content strategy.

The developer previously abandoned its plan for monthly major updates, citing sustainability concerns. The studio has instead moved toward a schedule centered on two major updates per year.

Larger releases can give players stronger reasons to return, while a slower schedule gives the development team more time to work on substantial additions. The downside is that extended gaps between major updates can leave dedicated players with fewer new objectives.

Frozen Trail delivers a broad package of new content, but its success will ultimately depend on whether Embark can maintain engagement between releases.

Can ARC Raiders Keep Its Players After October 12?

The free weekend has helped bring attention back to ARC Raiders, but the end of the promotion will be the first major test of player retention.

Some newcomers may leave once free access ends, while others could purchase the game and continue playing with friends. Returning veterans may also move on after completing the new quests and learning Pendola Pass.

The Grappling Hook has the potential to keep combat and exploration fresh, while the new enemies, weapons, and progression systems provide additional reasons to return. However, sustained growth will also depend on gameplay balance, server stability, anti-cheat efforts, and the quality of future updates.

For now, the reported Steam rebound shows that Frozen Trail has successfully attracted renewed attention. Whether that interest translates into a lasting recovery remains an open question.

ARC Raiders has brought players back with its Spider-Man-style Grappling Hook and Frozen Trail update. The real challenge for Embark Studios is keeping them engaged long after the free weekend ends.

According to the roadmap previously released in Launch Update, FUT 27 Season 2 will begin on October 22nd and run until December 3rd. Season 2 is expected to feature four promos: Ultimate Scream, UEFA Road to the Knockouts, Hall of FUT Unleashed, and Black Friday Thunderstruck, three of which have appeared in previous installments.

While the official dates and content for each event have not yet been announced, based on past event traditions and current information, we can still glean some insights into the main highlights of the four promos.

Ultimate Scream: Halloween-themed Event

Ultimate Scream is a signature Halloween-themed event in FUT history, previously featured in the FIFA series and returning in FC 26. Based on leaked information and season updates, FC 27's Ultimate Scream is expected to launch on October 23rd, the second day of Season 2.

Regarding gameplay, early versions of FIFA used temporary attribute boosts during full moons or on specific dates, and later experimented with special mechanisms such as raising two player attributes to 90.

FC 26 employed a more unique design: players received permanent Role+ and Role++ upgrades during two full moon events, while one random attribute was temporarily boosted to 99 for 7 days.

Therefore, FC 27 is predicted to retain the concept of two-stage upgrades and temporary 99 attributes, but the specific dates, upgrade values, and character mechanics may still be adjusted.

In terms of player selection, it is expected to include current star players, players with obvious attribute weaknesses but useful after enhancements, and some Heroes; the player pool may be divided into Team 1 and Team 2, and will be paired with SBC, Objectives, and Evolutions.

From a squad value perspective, the most noteworthy players aren't simply those with high OVR, but rather those who can obtain a Role++ in a key position, possess multiple usable positions, or whose performance can be improved through temporary attribute enhancements. If the official design continues the approach of FC 26, some players who were originally weak in speed, shooting, or defense may become short-term hot commodities due to special mechanisms.

If you want to acquire these potential players in time, FC 27 coins for sale can help you quickly replenish resources, lock in your desired cards, and further enhance your squad strength.

UEFA RTTK: Dynamic Upgrade Cards Remain a Core Feature

UEFA Road to the Knockouts is the most suitable of the four events for analysis in conjunction with real-world football matches. This event first appeared in FIFA 22 and has continued in subsequent versions.

Looking back at past events, RTTK usually releases special player cards in batches, paired with player SBCs, limited-time objective missions, and other event rewards. Upgrade conditions may involve team wins, advancement to the knockout stage, or tournament rankings. Therefore, a player's initial attributes, team strength, and the UEFA schedule are all important factors in evaluating a card's potential.

FC 27's UEFA RTTK is expected to launch on November 6th. If the dynamic upgrade design continues this year, players can focus on players in UEFA who perform consistently, have good advancement prospects, and have useful initial card art.

For trading and investment, the appeal of RTTK lies in early acquisition of potential cards, but the uncertainty of team performance also means investment risk. Compared to blindly chasing popular players, a more prudent strategy is to consider the schedule, upgrade conditions, and market prices.

Hall of FUT Unleashed: The Future Development of a New Card Type

Hall of FUT Unleashed is a brand new event for FC 27. Unlike traditional promos, Hall of FUT's basic cards are obtained through FUT Gallery's token store, while special editions will be released during different campaigns throughout the year.

In conjunction with this mechanism, Hall of FUT Unleashed may serve to further expand the Hall of FUT card roster. On one hand, the official team may release enhanced versions of existing Hall of FUT players, improving their attributes and practical value; on the other hand, it may also provide players with more collection and team composition options by adding new players.

The core of FUT Gallery is completing collection sets, upgrading ratings, and earning Gallery Tokens, with the token shop updating rewards as the season progresses. Therefore, it's worth noting whether the launch of Unleashed will simultaneously adjust the supply of basic Hall of FUT cards in the shop, or introduce event-related collection rewards.

Overall, the focus of Hall of FUT Unleashed may be to expand the collectible value of Hall of FUT through special Campaign cards, while complementing the long-term progress of Gallery.

Black Friday Thunderstruck: Dynamic Upgrades and Black Friday Benefits

FUT 27's Black Friday Thunderstruck is expected to launch on November 27th, coinciding with the Black Friday period. Looking at past installments, Thunderstruck's biggest feature is the dynamic upgrade system for current players and icons.

FC 25's upgrade conditions involve the club's wins and goals in the upcoming league matches, with enhancements including OVR, PlayStyle, and Player Role. FC 26 further uses wins or draws, and goals as conditions, offering upgrades like PlayStyle and Role++.

Therefore, FC 27 is expected to continue the design of linking real-world league performance with special card enhancements.

For players, the highlight of this event is the potential roster changes brought about by special player cards. Popular stars, practical midfielders, powerful strikers, and defensive reinforcements are all worth paying attention to.

From a market perspective, Black Friday Thunderstruck's appeal lies mainly in the upgrade potential of dynamic cards and the concentrated release of special cards and bundles during the event. However, the promo launch does not mean all players will see price reductions; the final trend will depend on actual card supply and market demand.

Overall, the four promos for FC 27 Season 2 each have their own highlights, covering special attribute mechanics, dynamic tournament updates, new card types, and Black Friday benefits. Players can focus on the new card lineups, upgrade conditions, and market changes, but the specific details are subject to official announcements.

Have you noticed the formidable build appearing on Diablo 4 Season 15 Barbarian leaderboards? It's Bugged Infinite Ancients build - so powerful that it's immediately obvious it stems from an exploit, the kind developers usually patch quickly.

Turning temporary Ancients into permanent companions? That's right - Infinite Ancients Barbarian build makes it possible. By using specific methods to stack them into a massive army, you can strike fear into your enemies!

Core Mechanics

Rallying Cry (specifically with Madawc's modifiers) is the key to executing this strategy in Diablo 4.

Normally, Ancients exist on the battlefield only briefly. However, if you move back and forth near Bridge of The Eye while repeatedly casting Rallying Cry, Ancients' mechanics glitch out, preventing them from despawning.

Just imagine: by repeating this process, you can continuously add new Ancients to your squad. That is precisely why we labeled this build a bug at the start.

With this setup, Barbarian's personal damage output matters less; simply stacking Cooldown Reduction to cast Rallying Cry frequently is enough to achieve the desired result.

Gear

However, beyond Cooldown Reduction, specific Diablo 4 items - such as a ring imprinted with Aspect of Apogeic Furor and Arreat's Bearing - can also provide Infinite Ancients Barbarian build with the powerful bonuses you need.

Don't underestimate that ring; it synergizes with your Ultimate Skill (Mighty Throw) to help you manage your cooldown cycles more effectively.

Another vital piece of gear is the five-piece Bul-Kathos' Pride set, as the full set bonus grants you additional Ancients and a massive boost to Ancients skill damage.

For players already maining a Barbarian, switching to Infinite Ancients build isn't too costly, as it usually requires swapping out only a few pieces of gear.

Finally, Nemesis Bracers are a key component of this build - they trigger Elite encounters after you activate a Shrine, driving your progress in Tower challenges.

Skill Rotation

In addition to the previously mentioned Rallying Cry and Mighty Throw, Infinite Ancients Barbarian build in Diablo 4 Season 15 also relies on Iron Skin and War Cry.

Rallying Cry is used to summon and stack Ancients, while Iron Skin - paired with Endure node - protects your health, making you virtually invulnerable while running The Pit.

Combining War Cry with Mighty Roar grants Infinite Ancients Barbarian four seconds of Berserking, further boosting your survivability.

Although you need to maintain the skill rotation for Infinite Ancients Barbarian in Season 15 - particularly the uptime of Iron Skin - you don't need to execute complex, high-precision combos like other builds to achieve invincible performance.

How to Stack an Army of Ancients?

To summon an army of Ancients in Diablo 4, head to Temis, cross Bridge of the Eye from the town side, and move until you reach a spot where the skill becomes usable.

Immediately cast Rallying Cry and keep moving across the bridge without stopping.

Remember to cast Rallying Cry repeatedly throughout this process until you reach the fields on the other side; then, turn around, cross back to Temis, and repeat the cycle.

If you maintain this routine for 15 to 20 minutes, your Barbarian will summon a massive army of Ancients.

Patience and consistency are key here, as the repetitive back-and-forth on the bridge can feel tedious, tempting you to abandon the strategy.

However, the number of Ancients grows through this repetition. Teleporting or changing zones won't clear the army, but dying will cause all Ancients to vanish instantly.

If you die, you must return to Bridge of the Eye and start the process all over again.

Therefore, it is best to avoid unnecessary combat risks in Diablo 4 both while building up your army and after it is fully formed.

How to determine if your Ancient army is fully formed?

So, how can you tell if you've summoned enough Ancients? A unique way to gauge this is by bringing along your mercenary, Subo.

As most players know, Subo marks nearby enemies on your mini-map. However, once the number of Ancients reaches a certain threshold, this display effect stops working, meaning enemy markers will no longer appear on the mini-map.

When this happens, it usually indicates that your Ancients army in Diablo 4 is massive enough to instantly obliterate enemies and bosses.

You can test this in open-world areas or observe the effect after entering The Pit; essentially, if Subo's enemy-tracking stops working but your Ancients are rapidly clearing out groups of monsters, it's your signal to go on the offensive.

Of course, if the mini-map is still marking enemies normally, you should keep summoning Ancients on the bridge rather than rushing into high-difficulty challenges.

The Risks Involved

The biggest weakness of this Infinite Ancients build is that you cannot afford to die; if you do, the entire army vanishes, and you have to start the process all over again.

As long as you stay alive, you can lead your army into The Pit, The Tower, and other zones, letting Ancients continue to clear the field for you.

Finally, since this Barbarian build relies on a bug in Diablo 4 Season 15, the developers will probably patch it quickly once it starts affecting the leaderboards.

If the current version of the game still allows for this strategy, enjoy the jaw-dropping speed at which your Ancients clear out enemies!

Following the ARC Raiders Frozen Trail 2.0 update, many players have noticed Weapon Amplification system. It allows you to fundamentally transform your weapons and customize your loadout in much more personalized ways.

Weapon Amplification is essentially an endgame weapon system, so you are unlikely to encounter many players using amplified weapons during the early game. Let's take a closer look at how to modify your weapons once you reach the later stages of the game.

What Does Weapon Amplification Do?

Weapon Amplification effectively adds a fifth upgrade tier on top of the existing weapon quality levels. Unlike standard upgrades, Weapon Amplification focuses primarily on changing how a weapon functions rather than simply increasing its stats.

Amplification does improve a weapon's base attributes, but more importantly, it introduces a branching progression path. You can choose different Modules to modify and enhance your weapon's behavior in different ways.

For example, you can transform Burletta into a fully automatic pistol, choose an alternative modification path, or equip Renegade with a scope to change its effectiveness at long range. The possibilities depend on your playstyle, allowing you to decide what you want each weapon to become.

One example mentioned by the development team involves equipping Rattler with a Drum Magazine, giving you 65 rounds to unleash on your enemies. However, you still have to reload the traditional way. Once the magazine is empty, you will still need to take a considerable amount of time reloading.

Currently, only 15 weapons support amplification, and the official team will continue expanding the available content:

1. Hairpin
2. Kettle
3. Rattler
4. Burletta
5. Il Toro
6. Anvil
7. Canto
8. Osprey
9. Rascal
10. Renegade
11. Bettina
12. Hullcracker
13. Aphelion
14. Equalizer
15. Jupiter

How To Upgrade Your Weapons?

First, complete Sheltered Retreat project to unlock your personal Outpost. Then, upgrade both Gunsmith and Research Station at your Outpost to Level 4.

After upgrading your chosen weapon to Tier IV through the standard progression system, you must find an Amplification Module that matches the weapon's original rarity.

These Modules can only be obtained from the interior areas of Frigate and Fallen Emperor on the new Pendola Pass map. They come in five tiers, ranging from Mk. I to Mk. V.

Once you install the module on the corresponding Tier IV weapon, you can access its dedicated amplification upgrade tree. You can then permanently unlock your preferred enhancement branches by consuming Research Points and materials.

Amplification Modules

Amplification Modules are distinguished entirely by their tier or rarity, ranging from Mk. I to Mk. V. They are not further divided by weapon category or function. You simply need to farm the appropriate tier of Module based on the rarity of your target weapon.

Each Amplification Module can only be consumed once to unlock the amplification upgrade tree for a specific weapon. You cannot recover a Module after using it and then reuse it on another weapon.

However, you can use two Amplification Modules to unlock different enhancement paths for two identical weapons. If you want to use the same weapon type for both PvP and PvE, you will need multiple copies of that weapon and the corresponding Modules.

Research Points

Research Points are another currency required by Weapon Amplification. Besides being consumed when upgrading weapons, they allow you to directly unlock the weapon blueprints or amplification enhancements you want instead of relying on random drops.

You need to search for special items such as Frigate Diagnostic Nodes and ARC Data Modules on the game map. You must successfully extract with these items to convert them into usable Research Points.

Since earning Research Points depends on searching during raids and successfully extracting, accumulating them can take considerable time. A single Weapon Amplification research project can cost as much as 5,000 points. There are many ARC Raiders items for sale, and you can save your remaining Research Points for Weapon Amplification.

The Trade-Offs of Weapon Amplification

You can build your Research Station, take some time researching the upgrades you want, and head out to search for rare materials.

Once you finally amplify a weapon and select the modules that best suit your playstyle, you still have to take it to the surface. This makes the weapon even more valuable to you and can make every encounter feel more stressful.

Every amplified weapon represents a significant investment of time and effort. However, if you are killed while carrying one, you can still lose it, which can make the loss feel even more punishing.

Amplified weapons have 200 durability, compared to 130 for standard weapons, representing a substantial improvement. However, if you use them frequently, you will still notice their durability gradually decreasing.

If you loot an amplified weapon from a dead enemy, its durability will immediately drop to 10 out of 200. You must repair it before you can use it properly, and doing so also requires Research Points and Modules. Therefore, picking up amplified weapons from dead players is not an easy shortcut to obtaining fully functional ones.

For players who regularly use amplified weapons, Looting Mk. 3 (Safekeeper) Augment may be the only viable option. It allows you to store a weapon in your Safe Pocket, ensuring that you do not lose it even if you die.

That covers everything you need to know about Weapon Amplification. Many players may never engage deeply with this system or even try it, as the prerequisites are extensive and the rewards may not be worthwhile for everyone.

However, for hardcore players who complete projects and reach the level cap within a week or two of a wipe, this system offers additional long-term progression to fill the gap once the rest of the game has been completed.

In World of Warcraft Forever beta, the fishing system has unexpectedly gained popularity. It's not just a casual gameplay element, but also a primary way to obtain cooking ingredients, make gold, complete quests, and replenish materials for certain consumables.

This article will introduce you to 6 of the best fishing spots in WoW Forever. Let's take a look!

Stranglethorn Vale

Stranglethorn Vale has been around for a long time. Here, you can fish for Tier 3 and Tier 4 trunks - Tier 3 trunks are in the northern area, and Tier 4 trunks are in the southern area. In the rivers of Stranglethorn Vale, you can fish for Greater Sagefish, a food that restores both health and mana, making it an excellent choice for players who need to maintain their mana through fishing.

In the southern part of the area, even at lower levels, you can fish safely because the coastal velociraptors, tigers, and crocodiles cannot enter the water. Even if you accidentally anger them, it's okay; just jump into the water and you're safe - they are afraid of water.

In addition, Stranglethorn Vale hosts a weekly Sunday fishing tournament, a fun-filled event where many participate, fishing, competing, and winning great rewards. It features some of the best fishing rods in the game, as well as fish-shaped accessories that allow you to transform into a fish and breathe underwater.

Riverglades

Riverglades is a brand new area, offering both beautiful scenery and a place to fish for Tier 4 Mythicalbound Trunks, currently the highest-level chest in WoW Forever, attracting countless players to relax, fish, and explore.

The coastline and rivers are great fishing spots, but be careful - many fishing spots are near enemies, including large numbers of murlocs and pirates. There's also a special fishing spot with a huge shipwreck pool guarded by an enemy. You'll need a high enough level to kill it, and you'll also need Water Walking skill to reach it.

Tamaris Coast

Tanaris Coast involves running back and forth along the coastline, fishing in fish ponds and shipwreck pools, where shipwrecks also drop Tier 4 Mythicalbound Trunks. More chests may be added in the future, with loot levels likely around 35-40.

Heading south along the coastline, half of the area is relatively safe, frequented only by turtles, which won't attack unless provoked. Further south, near Pirate Bay, it becomes much more dangerous - especially at lower levels. Pirates have a very large aggro range and will relentlessly pursue their prey, solely focused on killing.

Aside from these pirates, the area is generally a safe and relaxing fishing spot. Many players relax on Tanaris Coast, fishing and making WoW Forever gold. There are rumors online that after the fishing rack buff was improved, the harbor is a great place to catch Bloated Fish, which may drop jewelry and even rings.

Ratchet

In my opinion, Ratchet is the best fishing spot for WoW Classic+ beginners. The coastline is much shorter, and there are fewer enemies - unless you swim too far or get too close to the pirates on the shore.

Ratchet is very popular with players; many will fish at the dock while waiting for their boat to Booty Bay. A new fishing chair, complete with a fishing rod and a bucket of fish, has been added. The developers clearly know how much time players spend fishing at Ratchet.

Sometimes luck will smile upon you: if you're at the southern end of the coast, a little further into Dustwallow Marsh, you'll find a pool where Tier 3 trunks drop. But be careful - going too far south will expose you to level 30+ murlocs that will kill lower-level characters, especially in Hardcore mode, so don't venture that far.

Darkshore

Darkshore is one of the best places in WoW Classic Plus to obtain Tier 1 Tightly Sealed Trunks, which can yield gear around level 10-20. While it might have ranked slightly lower in Classic WoW, the visual updates in WoW Forever make Darkshore breathtakingly beautiful. Fishing here all day is a feast for the eyes.

Most importantly, you can complete a quest nearby called The Family and the Fishing Pole. In this quest, you need to catch six Darkshore Groupers for a man named Gubber Blump. He'll reward you with Blump Family Fishing Pole, a fishing rod alone that would make any fishing enthusiast want to do the quest.

It's worth noting that schools of fish can spawn along the long coastline of Darkshore and travel quite a distance. Some schools are right next to the fishmen, so you might need to be vigilant and prepared for a fight.

Stonetalon Mountains

In the northern part of Stonetalon Mountains lies Mirkfallon Lake. It's a great place for any player undertaking Fish-Locked challenge.

There are always two active fishing spots in the lake. After you finish one, a new one will almost immediately spawn elsewhere in the lake. The lake isn't large, so you can run around it repeatedly to fish. The chests here are Tier 2 Watertight Trunks, which drop medium and heavy leather, wool, and silk, as well as level 20-25 gear.

If you're wondering what the downside is, it's probable that it's incredibly popular, attracting a huge number of players and leading to competition for fishing spots. While the scenery isn't the most stunning, it's one of the most practical fishing spots within its level range.

This concludes our detailed analysis of the top 6 fishing spots in WoW Classic+. If you enjoy fishing, be sure to read this article. Choosing the right location will maximize your resource gathering efficiency. And of course, enjoy the scenery along the way!

Dragon's Dogma 2 Dark Arisen has been released, bringing a brand-new Norgan region along with a major new feature: Relic System.

In Norgan, most drops are no longer specific pieces of equipment tied to fixed locations and drop rates. Instead, enemies and exploration activities yield Spoils, which can contain Relic Weapons, Relic Armor, and other rewards. Let's take a closer look at how this system works.

Relic System

Relic Weapons and Relic Armor do not become usable equipment immediately. You need to visit Jiera, an NPC in Norgandian Settlement, and use Rift Crystals to appraise them. Until the appraisal is complete, you cannot know exactly what equipment a relic will become.

Every relic has a level, which determines the resulting weapon's attack power or the armor's defensive stats. Higher-level relics also have a greater chance of unlocking more additional skill slots.

Each relic level also comes with different rarity tiers, which affect the quality of your potential rewards:

• Base
• Superior
• Singular
• Majestic

If a relic's name includes the prefix Ancient, it generally indicates a higher chance of obtaining high-quality equipment, making it a better candidate for appraisal. However, this does not guarantee the highest possible quality, which is somewhat similar to the system in Diablo 4.

Relic Active and Passive Skills

Relic equipment provides both passive bonuses and active skill enhancements. Armor only grants passive bonuses, while weapons can offer both passive effects and active skill upgrades. Active skill enhancements always improve existing skills available to a particular vocation.

Weapons

These enhancements are rolled randomly during appraisal. A weapon can have up to four special effect slots, and it is possible for all four to be Custom Skill EX enhancements.

Each vocation has approximately five possible active skill upgrade options, with different effects. These typically provide increased damage, additional hits, improved utility, or even entirely new mechanics.

It is worth noting that certain passive effects appear to be exclusive to higher-level relics, although they may simply have a higher chance of appearing on them.

Some exceptionally high-level Relic Weapons can also roll powerful innate elemental properties, adding another layer of strength for players pursuing the perfect endgame weapon.

Armor

Armor passives are generally more straightforward, commonly providing resistance to specific damage types, elemental damage, or status effects.

Some armor pieces can increase Grimoire damage and allow Grimoire enchantments to affect every party member.

Leg armor can also increase jump distance, with some effects activating when there is a tailwind. Additional effects may increase damage dealt while airborne, which can be particularly valuable for certain vocation-specific skills. Other bonuses may also be available, such as enhanced jumping attacks.

Relic Types

The main way to obtain relics is by defeating enemies and exploring Norgan. The developers have also explicitly stated that party composition has a significant impact on the types of relics you find. Weapon relics fall into four categories:

• Long Weaponry: Associated with Warriors, Sorcerers, and Mystic Spearhands.
• Bow Staff: Associated with Archers, Mages, and Magic Archers.
• Light Weaponry: Covers Fighter main-hand weapons, Thief daggers, and Trickster weapons.
• Aegis: Exclusive to Fighter shield relics.

In theory, if your party consists entirely of Archers and Mages, while your Arisen is a Magic Archer, your drop rate for Bow Staff relics should be significantly higher than average. This makes it easier to obtain weapons that your party can actually use.

The second factor is Obelisk. Each vocation's Obelisk can be activated using an Offering Flame, and one available option is Vocation Spoils Spawn Rate Boost.

This boost significantly increases the chance that weapon Spoils will correspond to the selected vocation's relic type. Although it is not entirely clear whether this also affects the appraisal process, appraisals do appear more likely to produce equipment wearable by your own vocation while the boost is active.

How to Get High-Level Relics?

Every enemy in Norgan has a chance to drop relics, and their levels depend on the surrounding region. If you enter an area before the main quest directs you there, enemies will be stronger because they belong to the next tier.

If you enter Norgan before reaching Level 40, the monsters may be too powerful for you to handle. That doesn't mean you can't explore the region early, but it's best to buy Dragon's Dogma 2 gold to upgrade your equipment before heading in, as this will improve your chances of survival while exploring.

Enemies that drop Tier 2 Spoils are considerably harder to defeat than those that only drop Tier 1 rewards. However, if you can locate and defeat them, you can obtain Tier 2 Spoils ahead of the usual progression curve.

Exploration also offers plenty of rewards without necessarily requiring combat. The map contains numerous caves, and piles of items on the ground, along with treasure chests, can provide additional Spoils. Their levels always correspond to the region where they are found.

Similar pickups can also appear throughout the open world, so keep an eye out while traveling. Boss-type enemies, meaning those with dedicated health bars, generally drop Spoils of a slightly higher level or at least a higher rarity.

Bosses usually drop several relics when defeated, making them well worth the effort. If you manage to reach a high-level region and defeat a boss, you can obtain Tier 3 relics early, even if the fight takes a long time. From there, it comes down to RNG and whether you receive the equipment suited to your vocation.

The power of Relic Weapons in Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen can ultimately surpass the equipment available near the end of the base game. When their randomly rolled additional effects are taken into account, some relics can even outperform base-game items. You can start exploring Norgan for relic equipment at around Level 40.

Built upon a skill-leveling system, the open world of RuneScape: Dragonwilds features a massive array of items, ranging from armor sets and tools to runes, scattered across various regions.

While this variety greatly enriches character progression and the joy of exploration, the sheer volume of items can lead to a common pitfall: the belief that once a new recipe or level milestone is unlocked, you must complete it entirely before moving on to the next stage.

This somewhat rigid, linear mindset can cause you to waste significant time during the early-to-mid game farming unnecessary resources, thereby delaying your overall progress or preventing you from acquiring the items you actually need.

To address these potential misconceptions and the specific nature of character growth in RS Dragonwilds, we have put together a guide on farming priorities that offers genuine value.

Approach skill leveling rationally

Before hitting the level cap of 99, XP is another resource that demands a significant amount of your farming time. If you are aiming for level 99 to secure specific rewards or simply for the satisfaction of maxing out a skill, then dedicating time to leveling makes perfect sense.

However, if your primary goal in leveling up is to strengthen your character so you can experience more of what RuneScape: Dragonwilds has to offer, then pushing for the level cap may not be the most efficient choice.

This is because the game's XP curve is not a smooth, linear progression; instead, level 93 serves as a critical turning point. In fact, the total XP required to go from level 0 to 93 is less than the amount needed to go from 93 to 99.

Therefore, if you have already unlocked the practical features, you need for your current stage of the game, it is often better to stop there and return to leveling later if the need arises.

Of course, if a specific spell or crafting recipe you urgently require is locked behind a higher level, do not hesitate to pursue that goal immediately.

Should you encounter obstacles due to insufficient character strength along the way, you can also buy RuneScape Dragonwilds items to instantly boost your combat power and help you achieve your goals sooner.

No need to force a full set collection

When you unlock a new tier in RuneScape: Dragonwilds, the game often implies that you need to collect all the pieces of the newly unlocked set to effectively explore further content.

In reality, however, the game never explicitly mandates this, and there is no need to sink a massive amount of time into crafting a set whose overall bonuses might not offer you any tangible benefit.

A better approach is to first evaluate the actual performance of your current gear. If your existing equipment won't help you handle the new enemies in the next area, then upgrading your set, or at least swapping out your armor, is indeed the right move.

But if your survivability is solid, your damage output is adequate, and you already meet the requirements to advance to the next stage, there is no need to grind for the new set.

Doing so is not only a waste of time, but you might also find that, just after finally assembling the set and moving forward, you are immediately faced with even higher-level challenges.

So, much like with maxing out your level, if there is a specific new set you really love, by all means, work towards it. However, if you are farming for a new set simply because you assume it must be better, you should think twice.

Accurately assessing your current status

This applies to more than just gear; if you hit a progression wall at a certain level, don't let impatience drive you to blindly farm specific RuneScape: Dragonwilds resources. Instead, take a moment to assess your character's overall status.

For instance, you can mine Rune and Luminite using an Adamant Greataxe. Therefore, assuming you need a Rune Greataxe to mine them would be a mistake.

The situation is different for Magic Logs, however; chopping them does require a Rune Logging Axe or a higher-tier tool. In that case, your choice of tool is crucial.

Even within the same stage of the game, your evaluation criteria and farming priorities can vary drastically depending on your specific goals.

In short, whenever you feel your progress in RuneScape: Dragonwilds has stalled, ask yourself: what exactly is holding me back?

If you can't gather materials, the issue lies with your tools; if you can gather materials but can't survive long enough to do anything else, the problem is your armor. The same logic applies to other scenarios.

Try challenging Kuldra directly

As the core boss of RuneScape: Dragonwilds 1.0, Kuldra is undeniably dangerous, so you might assume you need a full set of Rune gear before taking her on.

However, crafting a complete set of Rune gear is a tedious process that requires a significant amount of materials. Furthermore, even if you finish the set before starting the boss fight, success isn't guaranteed.

This doesn't mean Rune gear is useless or should always be skipped; rather, a full set isn't strictly necessary to challenge Kuldra.

So, before committing to farming a full set of Rune gear, why not give Kuldra a try and experience the fight firsthand?

Even if you get soundly defeated, it doesn't matter, at least you'll understand what's holding you back and can address the specific issues.

The problem might be your gear, or perhaps your healing capabilities are insufficient. Either way, you'll be upgrading your equipment to meet actual combat needs, rather than blindly farming just because a new gear set appeared in the crafting menu.

In fact, some players have completed all of Kuldra's trials without using Rune gear, proving that this strategy is well worth a try.

Weapons: A priority for upgrading

While we've discussed scenarios where immediately acquiring new gear isn't necessary, weapons are an exception.

Usually, when you reach a new level, your old weapon becomes underpowered, and the simplest solution is to replace it with a new one.

However, if you are using a weapon crafted from Masterwork recipe or a specific reward weapon, a better approach than replacing it is to upgrade the existing weapon using Ascension Cores in Mystic Forge.

In short, while RuneScape: Dragonwilds introduces more farmable items as you level up, be sure to prioritize unlocks based on your specific needs to make the most of your playtime!

We're getting closer to the October 15th launch of Wardogs Season 2. Even though the full patch notes haven't been released yet, the information available so far reveals major updates across the board - from weapons and vehicles to weather systems and factions.

Are you ready? Let's take a look at the new Season 2 content and see if it hits the mark for you!

New Weapons

The latest update for Wardogs is very thoughtful, providing a new weapon for each of the four main infantry classes:

• Assault: TCX Spear
• Recon: M14
• Medic: PP-19 Bizon
• Support: Evo-3 Ultra

These new weapons will not only align with the progression paths of their respective classes but also feature new attachments; however, players will probably have to wait for the release of next week's patch notes to learn the specific details.

Additionally, Molotov cocktail is joining the battlefield; it's perfect for hitting clustered infantry, blocking choke points, or flushing enemies out of cover.

New Vehicles

Wardogs Season 2 adds four new vehicles to the lineup.

T-72 arrives as a new Main Battle Tank (MBT), Flakpanzer Gepard handles mobile air defense, and two variants of Wolf-110 join the fray: one focused on infantry transport and another equipped with a roof-mounted machine gun.

The transport Wolf-110 is ideal for rapid squad deployment, while the machine-gun variant offers sustained suppressive fire for infantry support.

With the addition of air defense and MBTs, expect to see much more frequent air-ground coordination and anti-armor engagements in Wardogs!

Similarly, the four new vehicles will be incorporated into our progression tracks, and the development team will make adjustments based on player feedback regarding balance issues.

Players who enjoy driving or coordinating armored pushes will have a wider range of tactical options in Season 2.

New Rainy Weather

Forward Operating Base players can also look forward to new content in Season 2, with the addition of three buildable items: MG Nest, Large Shelter, and Wooden Step.

However, what deserves your attention even more is the new, harsh rainy weather - which doesn't just shift dynamically during a match but remains in effect for the entire round and is added to the pool of selectable weather conditions at the start of a match on the server.

Keep in mind that rain significantly reduces in-game visibility and interferes with your ability to judge sounds; however, the accompanying thunderstorms allow you to use the noise of the thunder to mask the sound of gunfire and movement.

Furthermore, raindrops falling through holes in roofs onto various surfaces create distinct sounds, swinging the atmosphere and tactical considerations on Wardogs battlefield.

Regarding FOBs, new structures allow for further fortification of strongpoints, though players must also weigh the visibility and auditory disadvantages brought on by the rain.

If you or your squad can effectively capitalize on the noise of thunderstorms, you can launch surprise attacks amidst the harsh weather and secure a victory.

Balance Adjustments

In Wardogs Season 2, you may see resolutions to the balance issues that previously caused frustration, as the development team has prepared a massive overhaul based on data and feedback from Season 1.

Combat roles are being redefined, and weapon damage, recoil, and suppression effects are being readjusted - all to ensure players derive a sense of accomplishment from every season.

The economic reset not only addresses certain exploits but also refines player progression curves; notably, XP accumulated across seasons is preserved and will eventually be applied retroactively to long-term systems like the player skill tree.

Regarding other balance adjustments, such as those for weapons and equipment, overpowered options will be toned down in Wardogs Season 2. These changes are not intended to eliminate your preferred tactics, but to make them more reliant on team coordination.

For logistics players, the constant task of running supplies in Wardogs Season 2 will no longer be a mere chore, but an activity that yields clearer, more tangible rewards.

Faction Adjustments

In addition to the new content and gameplay features mentioned above, Lonestar - one of the game's three major factions - will receive significant buffs in Season 2.

These include season-exclusive XP and Wardogs cash rewards, as well as a redesign of their uniform aesthetics, all aimed at improving the faction's performance after recording the lowest win rate in Season 1.

Another adjustment aimed at trailing players allows the team that is behind to receive vendor discounts; additionally, team switching is restricted to prevent players from jumping from the disadvantaged side to the advantaged side during a match.

All these major changes are coming in Season 2!

Furthermore, Bakurani map will feature new spawn point configurations to further address game balance issues.

Keep in mind that these adjustments will probably alter the tempo of early-game firefights, requiring you to be ready to adapt your offensive and defensive strategies on the fly.

Players who join low-population servers will receive extra benefits, and a soccer ball has been added to HQ - you can kick it around and potentially earn rewards for doing so.

These measures aim to bring the win rates of the three Wardogs factions closer together and provide tangible in-game rewards for players willing to fill needed roles.

We can expect more detailed patch notes from the developers before Season 2 launches on October 15, so be sure to keep an eye out for the latest updates over the coming days.

Coordinate roles with your teammates now and figure out how you'll tackle matches in Wardogs Season 2, taking into account the new weapons, vehicles, and weather conditions.

Future Stars Academy Evolution in FC 27 Ultimate Team is now officially live, marking the game's first large-scale free evolution chain. Unlike previous Evolutions that required completing numerous tedious tasks to unlock, this time players simply need to press the RB/R1 button a few times on Evolution interface to find the dedicated Future Stars Academy tab, where all stages are displayed.

The entire system's interface design has been optimized, and the operation logic is much clearer than in previous years. This evolution chain targets CAM and ST players, divided into four stages, ultimately upgrading eligible young players to 85 OVR. Silver and bronze players also have the potential to become mainstays.

Future Stars Academy Evolution Entry Requirements

Regarding entry requirements, players must meet the following criteria:

• Overall: Max. 80
• Position: CAM, ST
• Born After: October 9, 2003
• Max PlayStyle: 7
• Pace: Max. 86

This means that the available players are young, untapped attacking talents with ample room for growth.

This evolution chain is completely free and open until October 26th at 18:00 UTC. The deadline for completing all stages is November 2nd at 18:00 UTC. It's important to note that this Evolution is not repeatable; each club can only select one player to participate and cannot change them midway.

Four Stage Path Explanation

Future Stars Academy Evolution consists of four stages. Each stage, in addition to providing basic upgrades, requires players to choose a path from several options. This means that even if two players choose the same player, the resulting cards may be completely different.

Phase 1 (October 9th)

This phase's base upgrade directly raises the player's OVR to 81, while also providing comprehensive attribute improvements. The path selection is divided into three directions: Pace, Shooting, and Dribbling, each with an additional Weak Foot or Skill Moves upgrade.

Since Phase 1's upgrade raises any qualified player to 81 OVR, silver cards with 70 OVR and gold cards with 80 OVR will be on equal footing after this evolution.

Phase 2 (October 11th)

The base upgrade includes raising OVR to 82, with a focus on upgrading shooting and dribbling attributes. The path selection also includes three directions: Playmaker, Powerhouse, and All-Rounder.

Phase 3 (October 13th)

This phase's base upgrade only raises OVR to 83, with no shared attribute improvements. However, each selectable path (Rapid, Power Shot, or Technical PlayStyle) will provide corresponding attribute improvements.

Phase 4 (October 16th)

OVR increases from 83 to 85, with the base upgrade providing improvements to shooting and physical attributes. The final path selection is: shooting with Low Driven Shot or passing and stat round-out.

Notably, FIFA 27 adds a complete evolution preview function. Players can add cards to the evolution chain, click the next phase option, and directly preview the final result of the entire chain before deciding whether to confirm. This feature significantly reduces the risk of selecting the wrong player.

Player Selection Recommendations

Due to the entry requirements, a large number of young players have entered the selection range, many of whom are silver or even bronze cards. This is precisely the fun of this evolution chain - you can transform a card that is almost ignored into a starting-caliber player.

Kendry Páez

He is Chelsea's 74 OVR CAM, possessing five-star Skill Moves and four-star Week Foot, with very solid basic attributes. After evolving, his ability to create chances and hold the ball in the attacking third will be outstanding, making him one of the most promising options in this Evolution.

Antonio Nusa

He appears on multiple recommendation lists. As a CAM position choice, after the evolution bonus, he can become a key attacking player with both speed and shooting threat. Many players have high hopes for him, believing he could become a truly demon-level card.

Cavan Sullivan

A young midfielder from MLS Philadelphia Union, with an overall TOTW card rating of 80, speed of 86, and a four-star weak foot. As a rising star in American soccer, his growth curve in this evolution chain is very promising, especially suitable for MLS lineups or the chemistry of the US national team.

Other options worth considering include: Eli Junior Kroupi, Konstantinos Karetsas, Orri Óskarsson, Kento Shiogai, Dastan Satpayev, Brajan Gruda, and other young players. For FC 27 players who enjoy using bronze or silver cards to start their campaigns, this evolution chain offers immense creative freedom.

Market Opportunities Brought by Evolution

Since the entry requirements for this evolution chain cover a large number of silver and bronze cards, the silver card pack investment strategy becomes particularly noteworthy during this event.

If some young players become sought after in the market because they meet the entry requirements for Evolution, the price of their base cards may rise. Players can open silver card packs to find potential hot players and try to acquire cards with appreciation potential at a lower cost.

Even if you don't get a hot player, many silver cards are still base versions of young players and have some market value.

The logic of this strategy is that silver card packs are inexpensive, and the popularity of the evolution chain will drive demand for a group of specific players. Players can observe which young players' prices have risen significantly after the launch of Evolution and then target them with silver card packs. Of course, this method of making money requires a certain amount of patience and luck.

Meanwhile, the market for Future Stars Team 1 has already shown significant price fluctuations. For example, Vicky López's Future Stars card costs a whopping 5.7 million FC 27 coins (PlayStation), while some cards with an overall rating of around 85 range from 70,000 to 400,000 coins.

As Academy Evolution progresses and more players begin developing their own Future Stars, the prices of some basic cards may fluctuate further.

Future Stars Academy Evolution can be considered the most generous free content since FUT 27's launch. The developers clearly listened to community feedback that Evo shouldn't be too dominant and overwhelm other content, designing an evolution chain with reasonable upgrade levels, diverse path options, and great support for silver cards and low-rated players.

In short, whether you want to develop a favorite lower-league player or build a competitive attacking weapon in Ultimate Team, this evolution chain provides ample room for growth.

In Path of Exile 2 patch 0.5.5, Melting Maelstrom Shaman build, a revolutionary approach built around the Ultimate Mana Flask, is redefining damage output and survival logic in a unique way.

It doesn't rely on traditional main skill combos, but instead makes the flask the core engine of the entire build. It trades self-damage for damage and endless regeneration to sustain its mana, making it one of the most innovative builds in the current Forbidden Rites league.

Build Core: Melting Maelstrom

The core of this build is a unique mana flask called Melting Maelstrom, available from level 60 onwards, dropped by Kosis, The Revelation in T11+ Delirious map.

The unique aspect of this flask is that it deals Chaos damage to enemies within a 3-meter radius every 3 seconds during its effect. This damage is equivalent to 50% of your mana consumed during those 3 seconds. In other words, the more mana you consume, the higher the damage.

When the flask effect ends, it deals Chaos damage equal to 25% of your current mana to yourself. Normally, this would be a penalty, but in this build, this self-damage is cleverly transformed into a driving force for resource recycling.

Self-Damage Transformed into Recovery: The Brilliant Use of Forsaken Bangle

To turn self-damage into an advantage, a key item is needed: Forsaken Bangle Amethyst Charm.

This is a unique charm in Path of Exile 2, providing +18% Chaos Resistance and a crucial affix for this build: 50% of Chaos damage you prevent when Hit Recouped as Life and Mana during its effect.

Therefore, when Melting Maelstrom's self-damage is triggered, Forsaken Bangle converts half of Chaos damage into health and mana regeneration.

This means the more frequently you take self-damage, the faster your mana regeneration, allowing you to sustain higher mana consumption, and enabling Melting Maelstrom to unleash even stronger Chaos damage—a perfect positive cycle is thus formed.

Infinite Sustain Engine

To keep this cycle running, Flask's charges must be continuous. Melting Maelstrom Shaman constructs a sophisticated charging loop system through multiple pieces of equipment and gems.

First is Hollow Mask Hewn Mask, which grants you the Wildwood's Gifts ability, allowing you to see nearby Ancient Blooms. Collecting these grants charges to Melting Maelstrom and Forsaken Bangle Amethyst Charms.

Combined with support gems like Remnant Potency and Harmonic Remnants, it can provide you with near 100% Charm uptime.

Secondly, there are the Corpsesewade Iron Greaves, these unique boots grant you Decompose skill- every 1.2 meters you move consumes a corpse, creating a cloud of poison gas. This is the core of the entire charging engine.

Through Gorge support gem, each corpse consumed grants 10 charges to your mana and health potions. As you move throughout combat, corpses are continuously consumed, flask charges are replenished, and Melting Maelstrom can be used repeatedly, resulting in a relentless barrage of damage.

When facing bosses, there are often not enough corpses on the map to consume. This build solves this problem using Sacrifice spirit gem. Sacrifice's effect is that during its activation, your undead reviving minions can be consumed by abilities instead of corpses.

This means you can actively consume your summoned minions to trigger Decompose charging effect.

The build utilizes a large amount of Skeletal Cleric as sacrificial materials. These Cleric items are not only plentiful but can also resurrect each other. Combined with Corpse Conservation and related nodes on the talent tree, there's approximately a 75% chance of not consuming corpses.

This makes the summon engine extremely stable, maintaining Flask charge in almost any combat scenario.

Defense: Eldritch Battery and Mind over Matter

On the defensive side, this build takes a completely different path from traditional PoE 2 builds. Eldritch Battery talent tree converts all your Energy Shield into mana, doubling mana consumption.

Doubling consumption sounds negative, but in this build, it's a tremendous benefit. Melting Maelstrom damage is directly linked to mana consumption; the higher the consumption, the higher the damage.

With Mind over Matter, all damage is deducted from mana first, not life. With approximately 5000 mana, your effective life pool far exceeds the apparent 1400 life. With its extremely high mana regeneration rate, any non-lethal damage will be instantly recovered, making your character virtually invincible in most combat situations.

Since this build heavily relies on maximum mana, Chaos resistance, and Recoup, if you lack crafting resources while adjusting affixes, you can buy PoE 2 currency to replenish them quickly.

Other Gear and Passive Skill Choices

In addition to the core gear mentioned above, Melting Maelstrom Shaman also utilizes the Dream Fragments and Kalandra's Touch rings to stack maximum mana. Kalandra's Touch copies the attributes of the other ring, doubling the mana bonus of Dream Fragments.

Regarding the belt, Mageblood is not essential, but its affix 20% of flask recovery is applied instantly significantly improves mana sustain; Waistgate is another interesting option, allowing you to equip two Melting Maelstrom flasks simultaneously, theoretically doubling the frequency of Chaos damage triggers.

Regarding Shaman's Ascendancy passive skill selection, prioritize Sacred Flow, granting +40 Spirit per empty charm slot, resulting in 80 extra Spirit from two empty slots, used to summon more Skeletal Clerics.

Next, choose Wisdom of the Maji for the bonded affix bonuses to Runes and Idols, and finally invest in Avatar of Evolution for elemental defense.

In short, Melting Maelstrom Shaman is an extreme example of converting self-damage into damage. It uses Forsaken Bangle to transform self-damage into healing, Corpsewade and Sacrifice to convert corpses into potion charges, and Eldritch Battery to amplify mana consumption, ultimately creating a unique build where both damage and survivability are built upon mana cycling.