General News

Since April 2025, after a long series of updates, RuneScape: Dragonwilds has finally reached Version 1.0. This does not mean the game has reached its end, but rather that its content has now reached the developers' initial vision for the game.

For beginners, the first time you enter the game, you will see an extremely large map, which can be quite overwhelming. Here is what you should do during your first few hours so that you can become familiar with the various game mechanics instead of spending hours getting lost in the valleys.

Follow The Main Quest

RuneScape: Dragonwilds is not a traditional MMORPG, but a 1–4 player co-op open-world Survival RPG. You may already be eager to chop down some wood and start building a house, but that is not what you should focus on first.

You should stay in Bramblemead Valley and follow the main quests. Do not rush off and explore randomly. The game encourages you to explore and find your own way from the beginning. However, following the quests will help you obtain tools, food, and various unlocks.

While you are in Bramblemead Valley, upgrade your Axe and Pickaxe as soon as the quests allow you to. Tools determine a lot in this game because anything you cannot gather without the proper tools cannot be used for construction.

Try to obtain every available tool upgrade and gather resources along the quest route whenever possible. This will make the early game much smoother.

Fast Travel

RuneScape: Dragonwilds has a huge map, so your real enemy is not the boss, but the long travel time between locations.

Therefore, whenever you enter a new area or find that two areas are far apart, activate a Lodestone before continuing with your quests. This will save you a huge amount of travel time later.

Lodestones do not unlock automatically. You first need to find a key item called a Vault Core.

Vault Cores can only be obtained from Dragonkin Vaults scattered throughout the world. Each vault usually contains multiple cores, which are placed on small pedestals.

Once you obtain your first Vault Core, the crafting recipe for a Lodestone will automatically unlock. You do not even need to defeat the final Boss of the vault. Once you have the core, you can return to your base and build it first.

In addition, they respawn after roughly three in-game days, so you can revisit previously completed vaults to obtain more cores.

After obtaining a Lodestone, you can place it almost anywhere in the Overworld, although you cannot build one inside dungeons or certain restricted areas.

It is wise to carry the necessary crafting materials with you while exploring; this allows you to drop a Lodestones as an escape point whenever RuneScape: Dragonwilds items in inventory is full or you encounter danger.

Combat Style

For combat, it is recommended that you choose one style and stick with it during the early game. Simply put, Melee uses swords, Ranged uses bows, and Magic uses staves.

Although you can experiment with different builds later, focusing on one style will make it much faster to train the corresponding skills. The game's progression system unlocks better Abilities and more efficient attacks as you progress with each weapon style.

Armor Upgrades

You do not need to craft every tier of armor. If your current progression is not being blocked and your armor is not noticeably holding you back, there is no need to constantly farm materials for every single tier.

Generally speaking, progressing from the starter set to Tier 3 in Fractured Plains and then upgrading your entire set once should be enough to handle many early-game battles.

The enemies you encounter early on are not particularly strong, and Skills and a good weapon are often more useful than armor obtained through extensive material farming.

You can use a decent set of equipment to take on enemies at slightly higher levels. When you see new equipment that is roughly two tiers higher than your current gear become available, that is a good sign that you can upgrade your armor for the next area.

Skills Upgrades

Skills and Experience are best gained naturally while completing quests, fishing, and crafting. There is no need to intentionally grind a specific skill because the time required is generally about the same. As you explore the world, Experience will gradually accumulate on its own. Let it come naturally instead of rushing to grind.

Managing Base And Inventory

The location of your Base is important. Ideally, it should be near a Lodestone, on relatively flat ground, and close to trees and a water source. Solve your Storage problems first, then worry about the appearance of your base.

Your inventory will fill up very quickly. Build Private Storage as early as possible, expand your storage capacity, and use armor stands to clear out your inventory.

If the roof is unstable, add supports and shorten the span. You will acquire a lot of Loot, so your storage system needs to be well organized.

For example, use one chest for food, another for farming materials, and another for old equipment and miscellaneous items. As a survival crafting player, this will make the overall experience much more enjoyable.

RuneScape: Dragonwilds is a very enjoyable game. Its main focus is survival and building, while the combat system is also decent. The main storyline takes roughly 40 to 60 hours, and hundreds of hours of gameplay is perfectly normal if you include building and side content. You can also enjoy the game together with your friends.

As an MMO, Aion 2 may have most players focused on dungeon runs and combat, but Life Skills are just as important. Just like in FFXIV, focusing on gathering and crafting can allow you to earn millions of Kinah.

This is not difficult to do as long as you have enough time. Of course, when trading on the market, there are a few things you need to pay attention to if you want to get better returns. Here are the things you should know before and after gathering.

Why Choose Gathering?

Gathering gemstones takes some time, but when you check the market, you will find that the returns can be very high. It is recommended to keep the eyes on the market values of Sapphire, Ruby, and Diamond.

These are materials used to craft various accessories and are highly demanded consumables. Pure gemstones can often be worth millions of Aion 2 Kinah, while even ordinary Ruby or Diamond can sell for thousands of Kinah.

Their demand fluctuates depending on the number of players online. However, keep in mind that every server has a different market because each server has its own independent economy.

The reason for their high demand is that if players want to level their crafting all the way to Professional 20, the most economical approach is usually to repeatedly craft lower-tier items.

One of the main goals of crafting is to create Legendary accessories as early as possible. Compared with making weapons first, Legendary accessories can fill multiple equipment slots more quickly, making them a better priority during the early game. Weapons are still important, but they can be handled later.

Gathering Skill Tree

Gathering is not as simple as walking up to a node and interacting with it because it has its own skill Tree. If you want to gather gemstones, you should unlock Gem Seeker, Plentiful Harvest, and Gem Appraiser.

You need to raise these skills to Professional and obtain additional points to fully invest in them. You can also allocate points toward options such as Proficient Hand, Lady, and Delicate Touch.

However, one of the biggest benefits is that once you obtain your first point early in your gathering progression, you can see all gatherable items on the mini map and even filter them.

Gathering Map

First, it is recommended to find an Interactive Map. Select Hide All, then scroll down to Gatherables and select gemstones. These are the areas you need to visit.

On the mini map, you will see small icons representing gathering nodes, allowing you to determine whether there are gatherable materials nearby. Walk up to a node, interact with it, gather the material, and wait for the result.

Success and failure are determined randomly. Each node can be gathered three times, and a durability bar similar to a health bar will appear at the top. You will also gain XP while gathering.

Professional Gathering

Once you reach Gathering Level 50 as a beginner, check the regional quests. There should be a quest that tells you how to advance to Professional. The quest requires you to gather a certain type of gemstone, which the author remembers being Sapphire. After completing it, you can advance to the next rank.

Afterward, you can continue searching for nodes around the map and gather other materials as well. For example, Odial can also be obtained from completing dungeons, and it has high demand for crafting, so it may be quite valuable.

While gathering, you also have a chance to obtain Legendary Materials, which are worth much more than Gray items. You can also obtain Blue and Green items. There are plenty of opportunities to earn Kinah here, while these materials can also contribute to your own gear progression and help you work toward the best possible equipment.

AFK Gathering

If you remain AFK while gathering these nodes for an extended period, a CAPTCHA verification prompt may appear. If you fail to complete the verification, your account could be seriously affected. Therefore, do not risk leaving your character gathering AFK for long periods.

Market Tips

Materials often become more valuable when more players are online. If you log in early in the morning when fewer players are online, you may see gemstones accumulating on the market, with some less patient players listing them at lower values.

By the evening, when more players are online, those gemstones listed by impatient sellers may be quickly cleared out. Listing your gemstones at this time can therefore bring better returns.

After opening the market, if you want to list an item, enter the listing interface and double-click the item. Adjust the quantity, enter the unit value with your keyboard, and you will then see the total value for that quantity. Listing an item requires a small Registration Fee, and a 10% Tax is also charged after the transaction is completed.

Converting Kinah into Quna

If you have a large amount of Kinah and want Quna, you can make use of Kinah Chests. You can craft these chests through Substance Morph and then list them on the market to obtain Quna.

Quna is a Premium Currency that can be used in the shop. It is also used to unlock Planet’s Call, which allows you to obtain more Odyle Energy.

Gathering does not consume energy, so aside from the time it takes, your income from dungeons, expeditions, and other activities will not be affected.

Training your gathering level is still worthwhile. Even if you do not have much time to spend gathering every day, you can gather the materials you need yourself whenever you want to craft something, which can save you a large amount of Kinah.

If you are just starting out in WoW Forever, you might often feel a bit overwhelmed. You need to track quests, learn skills, manage your inventory, check dungeon loot, and memorize numerous locations.

The good news is that World of WarCraft addons can help you handle these hassles. Of course, you don't need to install a massive number of addons; just a few practical ones can save you a lot of unnecessary trouble while preserving the authentic feel of the game.

Here are 10 of the best addons for WoW Forever beginners, covering everything from class training, quests, maps, and bags to loot, navigation, and Auction House.

• What's Training?
• Leatrix Plus
• Leatrix Maps
• Baganator
• AtlasLoot Classic Forever
• TomTom + Paste
• Auctionator 
• Quest Master
• MoveAny
• Forever Cooldown Manager

However, before you get started, a quick reminder: when installing addons for World of Warcraft: Forever, make sure to select Forever version in your addon manager rather than automatically installing Classic or Retail versions. WoW Forever uses independent addon files, and compatibility can vary between versions.

1. What's Training? - Know What Skills You Can Learn

What's Training? is one of the most useful addons for WoW Classic+ beginners because it solves a simple yet annoying problem: knowing exactly which skills are available to learn from your class trainer.

Once installed, your spellbook will display skills that become available at future levels. This allows you to preview upcoming skills without having to constantly run back to the class trainer to check.

Furthermore, the addon includes weapon training information, showing you which weapon skills you can learn and the locations of the corresponding trainers. This is incredibly helpful whether you are a beginner starting your WoW Forever adventure or leveling an alt, as you won't have to struggle to remember which cities or trainers offer specific weapon skills.

2. Leatrix Plus - Optimize Your Gameplay Experience

If you only want to install one comprehensive addon to improve your gameplay experience, Leatrix Plus is an excellent choice. Instead of adding just one major feature, this addon offers a suite of small, customizable improvements that make your daily gameplay much smoother.

One of its most practical features is quest automation. You can configure it to automatically accept and turn in quests, thereby reducing the repetitive clicking required during the leveling process.

It also assists with tasks such as automatically selling junk items, repairing gear, handling specific NPC interactions, clearing unnecessary interface notifications, and more. The addon is highly customizable, allowing you to enable only the features you actually need.

This makes Leatrix Plus particularly suitable for new players who want a more convenient interface but do not wish to completely replace the native WoW Classic Plus UI.

3. Leatrix Maps - Making the World Map More Useful

The default WoW world map can sometimes leave new players unsure of where to go next. Leatrix Maps enhances the map by including more practical information.

One of its most useful features is displaying unexplored areas and providing details such as zone level ranges, boat locations, dungeon entrances, and other map data, giving you a clearer understanding of your surroundings.

If you are considering traveling to a different zone, you can quickly check its recommended level range and other useful information without having to travel there blindly.

For new players, this makes planning the leveling journey much easier.

4. Baganator - Easier Inventory Management

Managing items can become a hassle when your bags are stuffed with quest items, consumables, gear, crafting materials, and various pieces of loot.

Baganator addon keeps your bag layout neat and organized. You can choose from various layouts, including a single-bag view and categorized inventory slots. Items are sorted into categories such as consumables, quest items, gear, and other useful groups.

The addon offers extensive customization options, allowing you to adjust the bag layout, sorting, appearance, item display style, and character inventory information.

A particularly handy feature is the ability to view the inventory and bank contents of other characters after logging into them and recording their data. This means you can quickly check if another character already owns a specific item without having to constantly switch between characters.

5. AtlasLoot Classic Forever - View Dungeon and Raid Loot

Have you ever wondered which specific weapon or piece of gear a particular boss drops? AtlasLoot Classic Forever allows you to browse dungeon and raid loot tables directly within the game.

There is no need to search online every time you want to check loot details; simply open the addon to view the available loot lists.

Of course, AtlasLoot Classic Forever offers more than just dungeon and raid loot information; it also provides details on crafting, factions, PvP, item sets, world events, and other collectible items.

This addon is especially useful when you want to quickly make WoW Forever gold or prepare for an upcoming dungeon adventure.

6. TomTom + Paste - Never Get Lost Again

For players who frequently consult guides or receive coordinates from others, TomTom is one of the most practical navigation addons available.

It displays your current coordinates in WoW Classic+ and allows you to create waypoints. If someone shares a location via coordinates, you can use the "/way" command to set a waypoint. The addon then marks the destination on your map and displays an arrow pointing in that direction.

You can freely reposition the waypoint arrow on your screen or remove waypoints when they are no longer needed.

If you need to input multiple coordinates at once, you can pair the Paste addon with TomTom. Paste will automatically create multiple corresponding waypoints on the map. This is especially handy when following resource-gathering guides or routes that involve multiple locations.

7. Auctionator - Know Item Prices

For newcomers, Auction House in WoW Forever can be confusing—especially when you aren't sure whether to sell an item, keep it, or vendor it to an NPC.

Auctionator addon simplifies this process significantly. After scanning Auction House data, it provides useful price references for the items in your inventory.

This means that when you obtain an unfamiliar item while questing, you can quickly check its approximate Auction House value instead of guessing blindly. It is a good habit to scan Auction House regularly, as market prices fluctuate. It works especially well when combined with inventory addons like Baganator; this allows you to manage your bags while simultaneously viewing item values.

8. Quest Master - Find Your Next Quest

Getting stuck because you don't know where to go next is one of the most common issues new players face.

Quest Master aims to simplify quest navigation. The addon provides waypoints to guide you to quest locations and displays quest-related information directly on the map.

One of its most useful features is the ability to show quests you haven't discovered yet on the world map. This is incredibly helpful when a quest chain seems to have hit a dead end and you aren't sure where to pick up the next quest.

9. MoveAny - Customize Your UI

Not everyone likes the default placement of windows in WoW Classic Plus. MoveAny gives you full control over the game interface.

You can freely move various on-screen elements—such as bags, the map, profession windows, the spellbook, menus, and other interface frames—and even resize certain windows by clicking and dragging.

This addon is highly practical if you use a small monitor, prefer a specific layout, or simply want to position important windows closer to the center of the screen.

MoveAny isn't about adding new information; it's about arranging the existing interface exactly how you want it.

10. Forever Cooldown Manager - Master Your Ability Timing

Forever Cooldown Manager addon lets you track important spells and buffs directly on your screen. You can customize their position and size using Edit Mode, making it easier to monitor the status of key abilities during combat.

For many players, not having to manually track basic cooldowns means better execution of ability rotations and the ability to reach their full potential.

The best WoW Forever addons aren't necessarily those that completely overhaul gameplay. For beginners, the most valuable addons are often those that eliminate minor annoyances during daily play.

Try starting with a few addons that suit your needs, get familiar with their features, and then gradually refine your addon setup. This keeps WoW Forever easy to pick up while preventing the interface from becoming cluttered with unnecessary information.

Recently, FC 27 released a new developer update for The Grounds mode, summarizing player feedback, current issues, and planned improvements for both The Grounds and Clubs modes.

Although small-sided football has rapidly become one of the most popular features in The Grounds, the development team has identified areas requiring improvement—including Kickabouts matchmaking, win streaks, menu performance, long-term fatigue, and various gameplay and user experience optimizations.

Let’s take a closer look at the details of this update for The Grounds and how the mode is set to evolve.

The Grounds Small-Sided Football Is Extremely Popular

Since the launch of The Grounds, developers have observed immense player enthusiasm for various small-sided football formats, including 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, and In-World Rush.

These activities have become the most frequently played content within The Grounds. However, this popularity has created a new issue: players sometimes struggle to gather enough participants for other activities, particularly Kickabouts mode.

Consequently, preliminary data indicates that Kickabouts is a key area in need of improvement.

The issue, however, does not lie with the gameplay design itself. According to officials, once a Kickabouts match actually begins, players generally find the experience quite enjoyable. The real challenge lies in gathering enough players to launch the match in the first place.

Improving Kickabouts Matchmaking

FIFA 27 team is currently exploring several potential solutions to make it easier for players to participate in Kickabouts activities.

One proposed solution allows players to signal at specific pitches that more participants are needed. This would make it easier for players exploring The Grounds to discover and join activities that are waiting for a full roster.

Furthermore, the team is exploring ways to connect players across servers while maintaining an immersive game world experience. They are also considering the introduction of regular Kickabouts-themed events to attract a larger number of participants simultaneously. However, as these proposals are still in the research phase, the developers have not yet finalized the specific implementation methods or a timeline in this update.

Winner Stays & Win Streaks May Come to The Grounds

Regarding The Grounds mode, one of the most requested features by the community is the inclusion of Winner Stays and Win Streaks mechanics.

Most players want a system where the winning team doesn’t have to leave the court after a match but can stay on to play the next one. Fortunately, the developers have noted that players and streamers are already tracking win streaks and organizing competitions around this style of play; they believe it is entirely feasible to support this directly within The Grounds mode.

They have stated that they are exploring specific designs for Win Streaks experience. The concept might allow players to remain on the court after a victory, accumulating and visibly displaying their win streak until they eventually lose a match.

However, no specific launch date or exact operational details have been announced yet. IGGM will share the latest updates as soon as the plans become clearer.

Long-Term Fatigue Returns to Clubs 11v11

Clubs 11v11 mode is also seeing a significant adjustment.

Feedback previously indicated that infinite stamina could give large clubs an unfair advantage over smaller ones; in response, the developers have reintroduced a degree of long-term fatigue in FUT 27.

This change is included in the recent Title Update v1.0.1. The developers state they will continue to monitor player feedback and game data to determine if further adjustments are needed. The overall goal is to strike a fairer balance between large and small clubs while ensuring the penalties associated with long-term fatigue are not overly harsh.

Performance Issues with The Grounds Mode Menus

Some players have recently reported slow menu loading or temporary unresponsiveness while playing The Grounds mode. Fortunately, the developers are actively investigating these issues and working on improvements. 

Additionally, players have encountered specific menu and matchmaking issues in FC 27 Clubs mode—such as Advanced Search option disappearing when attempting to find the next league match.

While leaving and rejoining the substitutes’ bench can sometimes resolve these issues, an official, permanent fix has not yet been released.

Bug Fixes and Known Issues

Beyond major systemic adjustments, fixes or investigations are underway for several specific issues.

Five-Star Skill Moves in Small-Sided Matches

Certain 5-Star Skill Moves were failing to trigger correctly in The Grounds small-sided football matches; however, a fix for this issue is currently in the works.

High Ping in Cross-Region Clubs Matches

Issues involving abnormally high ping during certain cross-region Clubs matches have been addressed.

Incorrect Archetype Point Costs

A major issue currently under investigation concerns the point costs required for Archetype upgrades.

Point costs for specific attributes can vary by Archetype. This means a key attribute might be expensive for one Archetype but unusually cheap for another, leading to imbalances between different builds. A timeline for a definitive fix has not yet been determined.

Erratic Goalkeeper Behavior in 1v1

Reports of erratic goalkeeper behavior in 1v1 Classic have been acknowledged by the developers; while they are investigating the matter, no specific details or fix schedules have been announced.

Fast Travel to Stadium and Clubhouse

Another potential quality-of-life improvement being considered is the addition of a fast-travel function to Stadium and Clubhouse entrances.

Currently, players must traverse The Grounds area to reach these specific locations. Encouragingly, developers are exploring ways to make these destinations more accessible—such as through fast travel or direct warping—to streamline player movement.

11v11 Drop-In Preferred Position

Additionally, a potential fix is ​​being tested to resolve an issue where a player’s preferred position is not correctly applied in 11v11 Drop-In matches. This aims to ensure players more consistently secure their chosen position when entering a game. 

World Map Access While Queued

Another issue currently being addressed is the inability to open the world map while queued for certain activities; a fix is currently undergoing testing.

Map Input Triggering Season Pass

An issue where certain map inputs in FC 27 cause Season Pass to open unexpectedly is also currently being investigated and fixed.

Future Plans for The Grounds

Clearly, this developer update marks just the beginning of improvements for FC 27 The Grounds mode.

As more players engage with this mode, the development team will continue to monitor player data and community feedback, implementing further optimizations and improvements.

For players looking to get the most out of Clubs and other content, now is an excellent time to prepare squads, tactics, and in-game resources for upcoming updates. If you plan to upgrade your Ultimate Team squad or recruit key players, having a healthy reserve of FIFA 27 coins will give you greater flexibility when facing market fluctuations or the release of new content.

For players who dedicate significant time to The Grounds and Clubs modes, keeping a close eye on these adjustments will help you plan your time and resources more wisely, ensuring you are well-prepared for your next steps.

As everyone knows, Frozen Trail—the major ARC Raiders update arriving after a nearly five-month hiatus—launches on October 8. It brings a wealth of new content, including Research Bench, Amplified Weapons, new ARC threats, Ascension materials, a reworked skill system, and the mysterious Frigate.

If you want to dive straight into the new content after the update—rather than spending your first few raids scrambling for basic resources—now is the time to prepare. While not every crafting requirement has been fully revealed, developer previews have given us a good idea of which resources, blueprints, weapons, and gear will become highly valuable once the update goes live.

1. Start Stockpiling Resources

The safest preparation strategy right now is simple: don't sell off all your ARC Raiders items before the update.

Since the new Research Bench will be used to craft and upgrade Amplified Weapons, early previews suggest that these upgrades may require Research Points and specific ARC-related materials.

However, the exact requirements for each upgrade remain unclear, making it difficult to predict which materials will become the most valuable. Consequently, stockpiling supplies is a wiser move than selling off excess materials for a small amount of extra credits.

You don't necessarily need to stuff your inventory with every single item in the game. However, holding onto a supply of rare ARC components could save you a significant amount of resource-gathering time once Frozen Trail launches.

Hold Onto Fireball Burners and Rocketeer Drivers

While we aren't certain of the specific materials needed for every weapon, two items have clearly emerged as focal points following the developer previews.

Previews of Research Bench show that Fireball Burners can be used for weapon amplification; additionally, upgrading Kettle requires Rocketeer Drivers in addition to Research Points. This doesn't mean every amplification will require these materials, but it is a compelling reason to hang onto any Fireball Burners and Rocketeer Drivers you currently own.

Instead of selling them off before October 8, hold onto them and wait for the new crafting system to fully go live. 

Stockpile ARC Components

Frozen Trail update for ARC Raiders focuses on new ARC-related content, including new amplified weapons and Frigate.

Since several new systems appear to rely on ARC materials, stockpiling a supply of ARC components will give you greater flexibility on the day the update goes live.

High-rarity ARC components—such as Queen Cores and Matriarch Cores—are particularly worth keeping. You may need them for Research Bench upgrades, crafting amplified weapons, or meeting other new crafting requirements.

Before the update drops, it is a good idea to run raids specifically to gather ARC components, rather than simply extracting with the most obvious loot.

Hold Onto Your Anvil Splitters

As you may have heard, Frozen Trail update is changing Anvil Splitter; it will no longer function as it did before but will instead be integrated into the amplified weapon system. There has also been discussion about converting existing Anvil Splitters into materials needed for amplified crafting.

Since the specific conversion rates and final changes depend on the live release, the safest approach is simple: do not sell or discard your Anvil Splitters before the update. Keep them in your stash until the new system launches and their specific use is clarified—you might just make a huge profit from this decision!

Stockpile Assorted Seeds for Celeste

Frozen Trail update will also expand Celeste's inventory. Since this trader is closely linked to the new Ascension materials, it is well worth stockpiling plenty of Assorted Seeds.

Acquiring seeds in ARC Raiders is relatively easy—especially when scavenging on Stella Montis map—and a haul of significant value can often be gathered in just over an hour.

Of course, we aren't suggesting you spend all your time farming seeds, but stocking up a bit before the update will give you more options when Celeste's new items become available.

2. Acquire as Many Useful Weapon Blueprints as Possible

Blueprints are another top priority leading up to Frozen Trail update. This update introduces Amplified versions for 15 different weapons; the more weapon blueprints you own, the sooner you can experience this new system.

Weapons featuring Amplification mechanic that have already been showcased or mentioned include Burletta, Renegade, and Rattler.

Not all crafting requirements have been officially revealed, so you don't necessarily need to own every single blueprint. However, acquiring the blueprints for the weapons you wish to upgrade beforehand will put you in a more advantageous position when the update goes live.

Additionally, the introduction of new content makes certain utility gear and weapon blueprints particularly valuable, such as:

• Snap Hook Blueprint: This is especially useful for traversing complex terrain and reaching hard-to-access areas. You can find this blueprint during Electromagnetic Storm map conditions across various maps—most commonly in residential area loot zones.
• Powered Descender Blueprint: This is one of the most crucial blueprints for dealing with the new Frigate threat. Powered Descender enables vertical movement when facing this flying ARC threat. It can be obtained via Hurricane Raid missions or on Riven Tides map.
• Looting Mk. 3 (Survivor) Blueprint: This augment offers extra security when carrying valuable loot. Although it is rarer than some other recommended gear, it proves incredibly useful during high-risk Raid missions.
• Jupiter & Equalizer Legendary Blueprints: Both of these legendary weapons can be obtained through Harvester Event. If you want to stock up on powerful weaponry for high-difficulty ARC encounters, keep an eye on map rotations and seize the opportunity when Harvester event is active.
• Hullcracker Blueprint: If you still have the chance to acquire this blueprint from the current Credits shop, it is definitely worth considering before the system changes.

3. Spend Your Credits Before the Changes

Another important step in preparing for Frozen Trail update is checking your ARC Raiders Credits. Officials have clearly stated that Credits will be completely removed following October 8th update—they won't simply be reset to zero for continued use. Therefore, it is recommended that you spend all your Cred before the update; any rewards unlocked using Cred will not be revoked.

Shani is currently the primary Cred vendor. If you still have a large amount of Cred on hand, check Shani's inventory before Frozen Trail goes live. Depending on your current gear, items worth investing in include:

• Hullcracker Blueprint
• Burletta Blueprint
• Trigger ‘Nade Blueprint
• Medical supplies
• Augments
• Weapon attachments

If items you desire are still available for exchange, do not let a large amount of Cred go to waste.

4. Level up before Frozen Trail launches

If you have recently completed Expedition missions or reset your progress, leveling up before October 8th should be one of your main goals. This is due to the upcoming overhaul of the skill system.

ARC Raiders: Frozen Trail will introduce a vastly different skill system to players; having more available skill points means you can immediately experiment with various builds and playstyles, rather than spending the first few days after the update just grinding for levels.

High-level characters are also better equipped to handle challenging endgame content, such as Frigate encounters.

Therefore, if you are currently at a mid-range level, use the remaining time to push your character level higher and work towards the level cap.

5. Prepare for Frigate's vertical gameplay

One of the biggest additions in Frozen Trail update is Frigate. It is not merely another ground-based ARC enemy but a massive flying vessel; this means that standard horizontal ground gameplay will no longer suffice, and we must shift our focus to vertical, high-altitude assaults.

This implies that mobility gear will probably skyrocket in value after Frozen Trail update. Consequently, try to acquire mobility equipment—such as Snap Hook and Powered Descender—before the update drops.

Having reliable methods for vertical movement can make a huge difference when dealing with airborne ARC units and the hazards surrounding these encounters. High mobility translates to a higher chance of success.

In reality, you don't need to know every single detail about ARC Raiders: Frozen Trail to start preparing. The most important thing is to avoid unnecessarily selling or discarding rare resources before the update. 

Craft your ARC materials, gather useful blueprints, spend your remaining Creds wisely, and ensure your character is sufficiently leveled and geared to tackle the new Frigate content.

This way, once Frozen Trail launches, you can dive straight into using Research Bench, experimenting with amplified weapons, exploring Celeste's new offerings, and figuring out how Frigate encounters work—without having to spend those first few days rebuilding your inventory. Good luck!

In Diablo 4 Season 15, there is a completely AFK method for farming Helltide Reputation and Loot Caches. You do not even need an AFK build. As long as you move occasionally to prevent disconnection, you can continue earning large amounts of Reputation and endlessly farm valuable caches.

If you have not yet fully completed all three Greater Evil Reputation Tracks, you can also use this method to farm Reputation at the same time. If you have enough Splinters to switch between different Reputation Tracks, you may even be able to complete all three Tracks in less than an hour.

Preparation

First, you need to wait for Helltide to become active. Helltide is available most of the time, so you do not need to worry too much about missing it.

Once it starts, do not choose a Teleporter that is outside Helltide zone but close to its border. Instead, choose a Teleporter located inside Helltide zone.

At the same time, try to avoid towns or small Settlements that require you to complete a Stronghold before you can enter them, as some of these locations may interfere with AFK Reputation farming.

It is better to choose a Helltide zone that contains Whisper Objectives, such as areas with targets like Blood Maiden. More players will gather in areas with Whisper Objectives, and the more players there are, the more frequently monsters spawn and get killed, which means more Reputation for you.

After teleporting to a town or small Settlement inside the zone, there is almost nothing else you need to do except stand still.

How To Gain Reputation?

The key to this farming method is that the game checks whether you are inside Helltide zone. As long as you are within the zone, you can also gain Reputation when other players kill Elites, Mini-bosses, Blood Maiden, The Butcher, and randomly spawned Elites.

Many players will take part in Breach events, which usually spawn groups of enemies with Elites. Since large numbers of players are doing these events at the same time, Threat Level rises rapidly, causing more Elites, Butchers, and Hellborne to spawn.

As a result, large numbers of enemies that grant Reputation are constantly being killed throughout the entire Helltide zone. Even if you simply remain AFK in town, you can gain the same or a similar amount of Reputation as someone actively fighting monsters.

In addition, Reputation-sharing range in Diablo 4 Season 15 seems to be much larger than in previous seasons, almost covering the entire Helltide zone. In previous seasons, you usually needed to stay closer to other players to share Reputation from kills or Bait rewards.

Difficulty and Reputation Gains

Although you do not need to fight, the difficulty still matters. Try to stay in Torment XII whenever possible. If you have not unlocked it yet, choose the highest Torment tier currently available to you. The higher Torment tier, the more Reputation you gain from each eligible kill.

Normal Elites can provide around 15 Reputation, Mini-bosses around 75, while some stronger enemies can give you 90 Reputation. Once you complete a Reputation Track, the infinitely farmable Reputation Caches require 50,000 Reputation, which seems higher than in the previous few seasons.

However, since this method can be done completely AFK and Helltide itself is highly efficient, the actual accumulation rate is still quite fast.

What Can Infinite Reputation Caches Drop?

These Caches offer very generous rewards. Common rewards include large amounts of valuable Crafting Materials, and they frequently provide Unique Materials and Legendary Materials.

They also drop Runes, mainly the new Unique Runes introduced this season, with a chance to provide Legendary Runes as well.

Caches almost always drop several Unique Items, and they seem to favor the new Unique Items introduced this season. There is also a small chance of receiving Mythic Items.

More importantly, in Torment XII, almost every Cache will provide at least one or several Diablo 4 items with Greater Affixes. Unique Items also have a relatively high chance of rolling Greater Affixes, making this potentially one of the best ways to farm Unique gear with Greater Affixes.

In addition, Caches consistently provide Nightmare Dungeon Sigils, especially the new Seasonal Sigils. These Sigils usually cannot be Salvaged, but the corresponding Nightmare Dungeons offer better rewards and provide more new seasonal items at the end.

Caches also provide Splinters with higher rarities. Legendary Splinters are very common, and Unique Splinters can also appear. These Splinters can be socketed into Jewelry, making this much more time-efficient than farming lower-tier Splinters and gradually combining them.

Greater Evil Splinters

One of the most appealing rewards from these Caches is Greater Evil Splinters. They can be used to switch between different Greater Evil Reputation Tracks and Seasonal Powers.

You can combine Splinters of Destruction, Splinters of Hatred, and Splinters of Terror in Horadric Cube to create coins, then travel to Tristram to start an Uber Boss encounter against Baal, Diablo, and Mephisto.

Each run of this battle rewards one Hellfire Torch, while also dropping some Mythic Items and Mythic Charms.

How To Prevent Disconnection?

If you do not move, you will be disconnected after at most 30 minutes. You can stand next to a Teleporter inside Helltide zone and then go do something else.

Every 10 to 15 minutes or so, switch back to the game, walk a few steps, or cast a skill to prevent the system from detecting you as AFK and disconnecting you.

Since Reputation Caches contain such a wide variety of rewards, you can obtain a large portion of what Diablo 4 Season 15 has to offer through this method. For players who want an easy way to farm loot without constantly fighting monsters manually, this method is well worth trying.

In Aion 2, Gladiator is classified as a tank, but with the right setup, it can deal extremely high damage. Because of its versatility, Gladiator is also a very popular choice among players.

However, Gladiator will automatically take on the tank role in all PvE content rather than DPS. You need to balance your choices between damage output and tanking, which is especially important in raids.

Should You Choose Gladiator?

In PvE, it is not recommended to run Gladiator together with Templar because some of their buffs cannot stack. In most cases, this means you will be the tank for your party.

However, Gladiator can deal very high damage and can even outperform some DPS classes in certain situations. But when everyone has similar skill levels and comparable gear, pure DPS classes will generally still deal more damage than Gladiator.

Therefore, if you only want to play a 100% pure DPS class, Gladiator is probably not for you. Its PvE role is closer to an off-tank that can both take hits and deal damage. If you like melee classes that wield a greatsword while offering both durability and strong damage, Gladiator can be a great fit.

Active Skills

Gladiator does not have Taunt, so the only way to hold enemy aggro/enmity is through damage. Fortunately, Gladiator has three skills with built-in increased threat effects, and they are also among your main damage skills:

• Keen Strike
• Rending Blow
• Overhead Slam

As long as you maintain normal damage output, the threat generated by these three skills is usually enough to tank all dungeons. No additional actions are required. Just focus on dealing consistent damage.

Keen Strike and Rending Blow

Keen Strike is assigned to LMB by default, while Rending Blow is assigned to RMB. Neither skill has a cooldown, so they can be used continuously. The difference is that Keen Strike restores MP, while Rending Blow consumes MP.

Since your other skills have relatively long cooldowns during the early levels, you will use these two skills frequently. For Keen Strike, prioritize the following Specialties:

• +20% MP Recovery
• +50% Multi-Hit

MP Recovery is extremely important because Rending Blow has a high MP cost. Otherwise, you will frequently run out of MP.

At Level 8, prioritize the mobile skill specialty for Rending Blow. This Specialty removes its animation lock, allowing you to move while using the skill. Without it, the skill can feel very sluggish. After that, you can choose the effect that increases damage when fewer targets are hit, which is extremely strong in Boss fights.

Overhead Slam

Overhead Slam cannot be used at any time. It can be triggered when an enemy is knocked down or through Rage Burst.

When fighting a Boss that cannot be affected by crowd control, each attack also has a 7% chance to trigger it.

The most important Specialty for Overhead Slam is Upward Strike Chain. After using Overhead Slam, you can follow it with Upward Strike, and Upward Strike can deal even more damage than the initial hit. During the early levels, you should try to follow up with Upward Strike every time. After the skill reaches Level 12, unlock critical hit specialty.

Rending Blow

Rending Blow is a high-damage skill that also grants a buff called Prepare for Battle, increasing your PvE damage by 20%. During the early levels, this is almost equivalent to gaining 20% additional damage directly.

For Specialties, prioritize:

• +20% Skill Speed
• Additional Hit Damage

Sword Aura Rampage

Sword Aura Rampage can only be used when a Boss is staggered. As long as the boss remains staggered, you can use the skill repeatedly instead of only using it once. This skill can be extremely powerful during the early levels.

For its Specialty, you can choose +5% Additional HP Absorption. This Specialty is not mandatory, but it is generally more practical than the other options.

Movement and Crowd Control Removal Skills

Gladiator has two movement skills:

• Leaping Slam
• Rush Strike

Both skills allow you to leap toward enemies. The difference is that Rush Strike requires you to press Shift to dodge first before it can be used.

It is recommended to level Rush Strike to Level 8 to unlock +10 meters of range, increasing its range to 20 meters, which matches the default range of Leaping Slam and provides a smoother experience.

Leaping Slam is also recommended to reach Level 8, unlocking a cooldown reset after killing an enemy. You do not need to kill an enemy with the skill itself. As long as you kill any enemy by any means, you can leap again.

Defiance removes crowd control effects from your character. After being controlled, a prompt will appear, and you can press Space to break free. It is recommended to level it to Level 8 to unlock a Specialty that additionally restores 20% HP.

Stigma Skills

Lunge Stance

At Level 1, Lunge Stance increases Combat Speed by 20% for 10 seconds. Combat Speed reduces the animation time of all skills, allowing you to use more skills in a shorter period. With only a 1-minute cooldown, it is extremely useful while leveling and is usually the first Stigma you should obtain.

Zikel's Blessing

Zikel's Blessing increases Attack and Accuracy for 10 seconds. Its 20% Attack increase is particularly strong and can significantly improve your damage. It has a 2-minute cooldown, and you can unlock this skill at Level 22.

Rage Burst

Rage Burst increases your Physical Damage by 10% and triggers Overhead Slam when it hits, lasting for 10 seconds.

However, Overhead Slam still has a 5-second cooldown during the early levels, so you cannot actually perform continuous slams yet. During the leveling process, simply use Rage Burst mainly as a PvE damage-boosting skill.

Focused Block

Focused Block is an active block skill. After activation, it gives you a 100% chance to block all attacks coming from the front for a short period, even when you do not have a shield equipped.

Passive Skills

There are two particularly important passive skills during the leveling process:

Experienced Counterstrike

Experienced Counterstrike first increases Front Attack Damage by 4%. This is why Gladiator should try to stay in front of the boss rather than behind it.

In addition, when you block an attack, it provides a damage increase to yourself and your teammates for 20 seconds. This effect can trigger passively or be activated manually through Focused Block.

Attack Preparation

Attack Preparation increases PvE Damage, Defense, and Accuracy, making it a straightforward and practical passive. During the leveling process, you mainly need to focus on these two passive skills.

That covers the key points of Gladiator's early PvE setup. You mainly rely on Keen Strike and Rending Blow to maintain both damage output and aggro while gradually unlocking your Stigmas and key passive skills. Once these fundamentals are mastered, Gladiator can provide consistent performance throughout the leveling process.

On WARDOGS battlefield, enemy vehicles are often among the biggest obstacles you face, but they are far from indestructible. Once you know their weak points and the best weapons to counter them, even heavily armored vehicles become easy targets.

The key lies in knowing where to aim, which weapons to use, and when to stop wasting ammunition. Some vehicles can be quickly disabled by targeting their engines or tracks, while others have specific sections that significantly reduce incoming damage.

Bringing the right loadout is also crucial. If you are planning your next setup using Wardogs Cash, prioritize weapons and gear effective against armored vehicles rather than simply maximizing raw firepower.

Here, we provide a detailed analysis of the major vehicles you will frequently encounter in WARDOGS—including Humvee, L2A6 Tank, MH-6 Little Bird, Z20 Lakota, Havoc Attack Helicopter, SPH-2 artillery vehicle, and Ural—along with strategies to defeat them. Mastering these tactics will help you destroy them rapidly and dominate the battlefield.

1. Humvee: Shoot the Tires or Use Explosives

Although dangerous, the Humvee is one of the easier vehicles to handle once you understand its weaknesses.

Destroying with Explosives

Explosives are always the most effective way to deal with this type of vehicle. If you have an RPG-7, just three direct hits are enough to quickly destroy a Humvee. Aim for the engine, cockpit, or rear of the vehicle.

However, landing three consecutive, precise hits with an RPG-7 is no easy task, especially against a moving target. In a team setting, coordinating attacks with multiple players is a more reliable and effective approach.

MAAWS is far more effective by comparison. As long as you avoid areas with damage reduction, a single shot is usually enough to destroy a Humvee.

Targeting Tires to Disable the Vehicle

If you aren't carrying explosives, Humvee's tires should be your primary target.

It takes approximately 5–8 rounds to damage a tire to the initial failure stage, and another 5–8 rounds to completely destroy it, leaving only the wheel rim. If using 5.56mm Armor-Piercing rounds, it takes approximately 10–11 shots to completely destroy a tire.

You do not necessarily need to blow out all four tires. Depending on where you hit, destroying just two tires can severely restrict the Humvee's mobility, thereby significantly reducing the threat it poses.

Do not waste ammunition

It is worth noting that attempting to destroy a Humvee with standard ammunition is futile—like trying to shake a tree with an ant's strength.

A single 60-round magazine might only deplete 5% to 10% of its health, meaning you would expend a vast amount of ammo for negligible results.

Therefore, when facing a Humvee, try to use MAAWS or coordinate with teammates to destroy it with an RPG-7. If you only have standard ammunition, aim for the tires to reduce its threat level or simply retreat; do not waste your magazines.

2. L2A6 Tank: Always aim for the rear.

Due to its active armor, engaging the tank head-on is extremely difficult. Infantry players should avoid attacking the front.

The engine is a critical weak point

The rear of the tank is your primary target. A hit to the engine area from the rear with an RPG-7 deals enough damage to destroy the tank in about three hits.

More importantly, a single RPG-7 hit to the engine can immobilize L2A6. Once the engine is disabled, the tank becomes a stationary target unless someone exits to repair it.

Consequently, targeting the engine is highly valuable, even if you lack the firepower to destroy the tank completely at that moment.

Attacking the tracks

If you cannot attack the rear, the tracks are the next best option.

Aim primarily for the lower half of the tank's mid-to-rear section or the large rear road wheels; attacking the front tracks is usually inefficient because the front of L2A6 is protected by active armor.

Damaging the tracks prevents the tank from repositioning, buying your team more time to strike its vulnerable points.

Rear of the turret

The rear of the tank's turret is also vulnerable to explosive attacks. Especially when you cannot directly target the engine, aiming for the turret with high-damage weapons—such as RPG-7, MAAWS, or C4 charges—is often a smart move.

3. MH-6 Little Bird: Focus fire on the pilot with small arms

Compared to the two heavy vehicles mentioned earlier, MH-6 Little Bird in WARDOGS has relatively weak defenses; a single hit from an RPG-7 or MAAWS is often enough to destroy it. However, the real challenge lies in actually hitting the target.

True to its name, MH-6 Little Bird is highly agile, making it difficult to score a one-hit kill that causes it to crash.

Therefore, rather than trying to destroy the helicopter outright with a launcher, it is more effective to use small arms to target the pilot, who is more exposed. Landing just a few shots on the pilot can force them to retreat for repairs.

This method offers better ammunition efficiency when dealing with MH-6 Little Bird, especially if you aren't confident about hitting it with explosives. If multiple players coordinate their efforts, concentrated small-arms fire becomes a highly viable tactic.

4. Z20 Lakota: Destroy the tail rotor

Destroying Z20 Lakota helicopter is not particularly difficult; it usually takes only two successful explosive hits.

We recommend using MAAWS for this task; it deals more damage than RPG-7, allowing you to take down the target with ease.

Another key point: aim for the tail section.

Hitting the area near the tail-mounted countermeasure launcher can destroy the tail rotor, potentially causing the helicopter to crash. While a skilled pilot might still manage to land and repair the aircraft, losing the tail rotor makes survival extremely difficult.

5. Havoc Attack Helicopter: The main rotor is the key target

Havoc is one of the tougher helicopters to deal with in WARDOGS, but its large size and relatively slow movement make it easier to hit than smaller aircraft. The helicopter's most critical weak point is its main rotor; a single, accurate hit from an RPG-7 or MAAWS is often enough to destroy it.

However, the challenge lies in actually hitting the main rotor directly. The best opportunity arises when Havoc Attack Helicopter is flying with a steep nose-up or nose-down attitude, as this exposes more of its upper structure.

Aside from the main rotor, destroying Havoc outright typically requires two MAAWS hits. Given Havoc's large size and relatively slow flight speed, it is advisable to have two players coordinate the attack to ensure continuous firepower.

6. SPH-2 Artillery Vehicle: Target the Rear

SPH-2 Artillery can be deceptive; if attacked from the wrong angle, it appears much more durable than it actually is.

The key is knowing the right technique: target the rear of the vehicle. Striking the rear damages the engine, preventing the vehicle from escaping. Destroying SPH-2 Artillery by hitting the rear takes approximately three RPG-7 rounds or two MAAWS rounds.

In contrast, attacking from the side or front might require four to five RPG-7 rounds to achieve a kill. Therefore, if time permits, always try to maneuver behind the vehicle before attacking. This is particularly useful when engaging the vehicle from a helicopter or another position that allows for safe, sustained fire.

7. Ural: Focus on the Side and Cargo Bed

Among all WARDOGS vehicles tested, Ural exhibits unique damage characteristics.

Attacking the Side

Even with high-yield explosives, a direct hit to Ural's front end sometimes fails to destroy it. Attacking the side is far more reliable. Whether you target the engine compartment, the cab, or the fuel tank area, a single MAAWS hit is sufficient to destroy the vehicle.

Eliminating the Driver

However, you do not necessarily have to destroy the vehicle immediately. A single RPG-7 round hitting the driver-side window or cab can kill the driver and disable the vehicle. Once the Ural comes to a halt, you can land a follow-up shot to extinguish it.

Don't shoot through the pallets

The cargo pallets carried by Ural are a crucial detail. These pallets can absorb incoming fire; in fact, if you are using an SMG, Ural's main body might remain completely undamaged while the pallets take the hits.

Therefore, if Ural is driving away from you and your shots seem ineffective, it is likely because the bullets are being blocked by the pallets. Instead of firing directly at the rear cargo area, look for opportunities to strike the engine, the cab, or the side of the vehicle.

To summarize, the most important lesson regarding vehicle combat in WARDOGS is this: sheer firepower isn't always the solution. Securing a favorable position and selecting the right targets often yields better results.

When dealing with a Humvee, try to disable the tires or use explosives. Against tanks, avoid the frontal armor and attempt to flank to the rear. When facing helicopters, look for chances to hit the rotors or the exposed pilot rather than blindly dumping ammunition. And when engaging vehicles like Ural, knowing which parts are resistant to damage can save you a significant amount of ammo.

Above all, don't feel compelled to see a fight through to the bitter end just because it has started. If your current weapon and position are yielding poor results, consider repositioning, switching targets, or waiting for a better moment. Knowing where not to shoot is just as important as knowing where to aim.

ARC Raiders Frozen Trail update will go live on October 8, and the official team will also launch a four-day free play period at the same time. Both new players and returning veterans are expected to join during this period.

The new map in ARC Raiders is not enough to fully solve the game's problems. What the official team urgently needs to address is the rampant cheating, which has become one of the main reasons many players have left the game.

On September 30, the official team also published an announcement on the official website, revealing another update to the anti-cheat system. The update strengthens detection capabilities and places tighter restrictions on the use of alternate accounts. Let's take a look at what the official team has actually done with the new anti-cheat system.

Anti-Cheat Philosophy

The official team stated that cheating undermines the challenge and enjoyment that the game is meant to provide, while also ruining the experience for players who play fairly. They take the issue very seriously and have continued investing significant time and resources into combating unfair gameplay.

The cheating market is constantly evolving. Cheatmakers profit by distributing cheating software to players, and they often bundle malware with it as well. Whenever the official team improves its defenses, cheatmakers adapt and look for new ways to bypass them.

The official team will continue adapting as well. Its growing anti-cheat team constantly detects and blocks new cheats, closes exploited pathways, and adds barriers that make cheating more difficult and less worthwhile. As long as the game remains active, this work will continue.

The official team acknowledged that it has occasionally shared updates in the past, but simply saying that the issue is being addressed is not enough. Sometimes, it deliberately avoids revealing too much because sharing excessive details about the anti-cheat system could make it easier for cheatmakers to adapt. In other cases, changes are tested in the background before being deployed.

Anti-cheat work is not like ordinary game development, where teams simply create content and fix bugs. Instead, it is a constant battle against an ever-present force. Cheatmakers are continually searching for new vulnerabilities, while anti-cheat developers work to counter them. Therefore, silence does not mean the issue is being ignored. The official team wants players to know that it is not overlooking the problem.

Detection Methods

The official team stated that its cheat detection system is becoming stronger month by month. In addition to the kernel-level protection provided by Denuvo Anti-Cheat and detection from Anybrain Anti-Cheat, the team is also using a growing number of in-house models.

The anti-cheat system does not operate completely autonomously. Human involvement remains part of the appeals process to ensure that sanctions are applied fairly.

Account Sanctions

The official team stated that it takes action when there is sufficient evidence proving that a player has cheated. In recent months, it has improved its ability to identify and sanction accounts using cheating software, while also strengthening its response to accounts involved in economic exploits. At the same time, it continues making it more difficult for repeat offenders to return to the game by creating new accounts.

Early on, the official team was too cautious with first-time cheaters and only issued temporary bans, which caused considerable frustration among players. The team heard the community's complaints and acknowledged that the situation should have been handled better.

Permanent bans are now the standard response to all known cheating software. Any account found using cheats will receive a permanent ban, with no warning and no second chance.

The official team has also expanded its license restrictions to prevent another account associated with a sanctioned game copy from continuing to access the game.

It has also tightened restrictions on linked accounts. If an account has previously been linked to a banned game copy, it will also receive a permanent ban.

Steam Family Sharing was previously a major problem, as some players used it to rent out accounts to multiple people, allowing cheaters to obtain access to accounts at a lower cost.

Xbox Game Pass and Xbox game sharing have faced similar issues. The official team hopes to address these problems and reduce the supply of accounts that cheatmakers can rent or distribute.

Hardware Bans

Hardware bans are also part of the sanction system. When the official team has sufficient evidence that a particular machine has been used for cheating, it can prevent the game from running on that system.

The official team is continually strengthening its detection capabilities and has recently lowered the threshold for applying hardware bans. It is also actively researching solutions that could increase the number of systems covered by hardware bans. This should make it more difficult for repeat offenders to return on the same system.

The official team hopes to implement these measures later this year, potentially allowing sanctions to be deployed against nearly every system detected running cheating software.

However, the official team emphasized that hardware bans cannot completely solve the problem. Cheatmakers will continue looking for ways around these restrictions. The team's task is therefore to deploy fixes as quickly as possible and make hardware bans as reliable and effective as possible.

There are also many ways to spoof hardware information and bypass these restrictions. As a result, this remains a cat-and-mouse game and an ongoing battle between detection and evasion. Some people may think the official team does not use hardware bans, but it does. The challenge is that it must continually respond to new bypass methods.

Ban Transparency

The official team explained why some bans are not issued immediately. Players can understandably feel frustrated when they see hackers livestreaming or posting videos of themselves cheating without being banned right away.

There is also plenty of similar content on platforms such as TikTok. However, the anti-cheat system cannot simply issue an immediate ban whenever a behavior appears suspicious, as doing so could result in legitimate players being wrongly sanctioned.

The official team analyzes multiple instances of behavior until it reaches a high level of certainty that the fair-play environment has been compromised before issuing a permanent ban. Otherwise, this could lead to large-scale false positives.

Queue Teaming

Queue teaming refers to players coordinating in advance to enter the same solo lobby and then work together to attack raiders who queued alone.

The official team spent months developing detection capabilities and can now identify coordinated groups with a relatively high degree of reliability. It began separating known queue-teaming groups from one another through matchmaking.

However, encountering other players during a raid through proximity chat and cooperating with them is still allowed.

Cheating has been a persistent problem for ARC Raiders. Its impact may not be as noticeable when the player population is large, but as the player population declines, cheaters become increasingly visible, much like rocks emerging from a river as the water level falls.

The latest Monster Mash season brings a wealth of colorful, Halloween-themed content to Monopoly GO. Beyond collecting candy in Luck-O-Lantern event to win rewards with friends, you can also dive into the thrilling new Trick or Treat event—where you'll dodge ghosts while hunting for bonus candy rewards!

In addition to these fresh visuals and gameplay elements, Monster Mash introduces a new way for Tycoons to make decisions, collaborate, and share rewards. This feature—a new mini-game called Franken Paths—isn't about collecting candy or competing on leaderboards; instead, it requires players to work with teammates and make strategic choices whenever they make progress.

Unlike many Monopoly GO events where the primary goal is simply to earn points and advance a personal progress bar, Franken Paths introduces a simple yet crucial choice: Keep or Send.

After every spin, you must decide whether to keep the progress you've earned for your own path or send it to a teammate. Your choice affects not only your personal rewards but also the speed at which your team completes their paths and races toward the grand prize.

So, what exactly is Franken Paths? How does the Keep or Send mechanic work? And when should you choose to keep your progress rather than sending it to someone else? Here is everything you need to know about this mini-game.

How Does Franken Paths Work?

As a new team-based mini-game during Monster Mash season, the basic gameplay of Franken Paths is simple: you and your teammates advance along your respective paths, accumulating progress and unlocking rewards as you go. However, the progress you earn doesn't necessarily have to be used by you.

After every spin, Franken Paths presents you with a choice:

• Keep the progress to advance your own path.
• Send the progress to a teammate to help them advance their path.

This mechanic creates a team-oriented gameplay experience unlike previous Monopoly GO mini-games.

We no longer focus solely on how much progress we can gain; instead, we must consider another question: who on the team would benefit the most from this progress? Simply put, Franken Paths combines individual progress with team collaboration. Players must build their own paths while also helping teammates advance theirs, working together to aim for the ultimate grand prize.

Keep or Send: How Should You Choose?

In reality, there is no single correct choice that applies in every situation, as the core design philosophy of Monopoly GO Franken Paths is based on team decision-making.

The best choice depends on the status of your current path and the progress your teammates have made on theirs.

So, when should you choose Keep? It is valuable to keep the progress gained from a spin if you are close to securing a rare sticker or a large dice reward, if keeping the progress allows you to immediately unlock a milestone reward on your path, or if your personal progress is lagging significantly and needs priority attention.

Conversely, if a teammate is just shy of reaching a major milestone, or if your own path won't benefit immediately from this progress while another teammate is far behind, choosing Send to help them complete their path will contribute to the team's overall goal.

The choice between Keep and Send is crucial. The goal isn't necessarily to maximize your own progress at every opportunity—nor is it to simply give all your progress away—but rather to determine where allocating that progress will yield the best results.

Franken Paths Tips for Beginner

If you are playing Monopoly GO Franken Paths for the first time, you don't need an overly complex strategy. After each spin, simply check the following three points:

1. How far am I from the next reward?

If you are about to reach an important milestone, choosing Keep to speed up your progress might be a logical choice. Be sure to pay attention to the specific rewards associated with that milestone. For example, if the next reward includes valuable Monopoly GO stickers that could help you complete your current Monster Mash album, then the immediate value of keeping your progress might be greater than transferring it elsewhere.

2. How is my teammate's progress?

Check your teammates' progress before deciding whether to send yours. If a teammate is just one step away from a major reward, your progress could give them the boost they need.

3. Which choice drives the team forward?

This is the most critical question. Avoid reflexively choosing Keep or automatically sending the result of every spin. Instead, you should weigh your current progress against your teammates' needs.

Consequently, teamwork and coordination are crucial in Franken Paths event—far more so than in many traditional Monopoly GO events—because your decisions can directly benefit your teammates.

Conclusion

As an engaging new addition to Monopoly GO Monster Mash season, Franken Paths redefines teamwork. You are no longer merely contributing points toward a shared goal; you have the opportunity to decide how to utilize the progress you've earned.

Every spin presents a simple choice: Keep or Send? The key is to avoid viewing either option as the always correct move.

The goal is to combine both approaches to help the team advance together and secure the grand prize. There is no single best strategy; you must constantly monitor your teammates' progress, communicate when necessary, and prioritize the team's overall interests rather than simply keeping every spin for yourself.