General News

WoW TBC Classic Anniversary 2.5.6 PTR has concluded its testing phase, and this PTR was a test version to prepare for the upcoming Phase 3 content update. While you can't see the core content of Phase 3, such as new raids, new gear, or consumables, on the PTR, you can get a glimpse of the new technologies and visuals that Phase 3 might incorporate. Let's explore all the hidden information about Phase 3.

Nameplates Completely Upgraded

A Brand New Settings Interface

In this PTR, the settings options feature a completely new Nameplates interface. Players can now adjust the appearance of their Nameplates in real-time through a visual preview window.

In addition to the previous ability to switch the names and Nameplates of specific NPCs and players, the new Nameplates menu includes multiple style options, including Classic, Retail, and Legacy. Furthermore, all style options can be previewed in the new Nameplates window, so you can ensure the nameplates display perfectly before entering the game.

In addition to style, the new Nameplates interface allows you to change the following settings previously only available through addons:

• Size: Adjustable from level 1 to 5
• Buff/Debuff Scale: Adjustable from 70% to 140%
• Nameplate Information: Toggle Health Percentage, Health Value, and Rarity Icon
• Cast Bar Information: Displays Spell Name, Spell Icon, Spell Target, and Highlight When Targeted By Enemy
• Aggro Display: Choose from Progressive, Flash, and Health Bar Color mode
• Enemy NPC Buffs/Debuffs: Toggle Mob Buffs, Personal Debuffs, and Shared CC separately
• Enemy Player Buffs/Debuffs: Toggle Enemy Buffs, Personal Debuffs, and Big Debuff
• Friendly Player Buffs/Debuffs: Toggle Personal Buffs, Enemy Debuffs, and Big Debuff. Debuff; Debuff Padding: Adjustable from 0 to 50
• Simplify Nameplates: Allows for simplification of Minions, Minors, Friendly Players, and Friendly NPCs
• Nameplate Distance: Adjustable from 20 to 41 yards

These new customizable options, especially Cast Bar Information, will greatly optimize the in-game experience for TBC Classic players.

Impact on Existing Addons

However, the arrival of these new features comes with a serious problem: these new Nameplate features currently break existing Nameplate addons.

In PTR, when players reported enabling Plater (a popular Nameplate customization addon), Nameplate failed to display at all, with only black squares appearing above NPCs' heads. Similarly, other Nameplate addons such as Threat Plates faced the same issue. Nameplate system only functioned correctly when players completely disabled these addons.

This phenomenon has caused widespread concern within WoW Classic community. On one hand, this might simply be because PTR version has just been released, and plugin authors need time to adapt and update; on the other hand, it could also indicate that the studio is moving towards reducing its reliance on external plugins. Considering they implemented a similar plugin restriction policy in Midnight, this concern is not unfounded.

Audio Assist

Function Overview

In addition to the significant update to the name tag system, PTR also added a complete Audio Assist module. This is an Accessibility feature that originally only existed in retail, but has now been ported to BCC PTR. Audio Assist mainly includes the following aspects:

• Text-to-Speech: Reads aloud in-game chat text
• Voice Chat Transcription: Converts what others say in the voice channel into text or reads aloud text chat content
• Combat Audio Alerts: AI voice announces various combat information

Based on information from the 2.5.6 PTR and retail versions, Combat Audio Alerts will announce messages like You're targeted (when the enemy switches their target to you) and Interruptible spell (when the enemy is casting an interruptible spell), like having an AI that alerts you to any changes in the match. Players can also choose different voices and independently adjust the audio assisted volume in Audio Assist settings.

It's worth noting that WoW TBC Classic Anniversary players are already accustomed to the voice alert functions provided by addons like Deadly Boss Mods (DBM) and BigWigs. The introduction of Audio Assist indicates that the studio is integrating some addon functions - players no longer need to rely on third-party addons to get basic combat voice prompts.

However, Audio Assist function still has some known issues in the retail version, such as low volume and incorrect audio source channels. Whether these bugs will be fixed after testing in the 2.5.6 PTR and then porting to the Classic version remains to be seen.

Private Aura and Hidden Concerns in Add-on Ecosystem

Suspicious Changes Found in PTR

Private Aura can be understood as a marker that studios can set on certain spells or effects to indicate that the aura will not be automatically handled by add-ons. In The Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary, players heavily relied on add-ons for warnings and handling mechanics. However, as the mechanics became more complex, add-on functionality became highly customized, even evolving into an arms race.

Therefore, studios introduced Private Aura, forcing players to manually respond to complex mechanics, preserving player judgment and preventing excessive add-on manipulation.

Recently, data miners discovered that Private WeakAuras UI-related code was added to the game in the 2.5.6 PTR.

Community Reactions & Speculation

This unannounced addition sparked heated discussion in WoW Classic community. Some players believe this might be preparation for Classic+, porting the live server's UI framework to Classic engine ahead of time. Some players worry that this is a precursor to the official gradual restriction or even banning of third-party addons.

For the majority of BCC players, instead of being anxious, it's better to understand and adapt to these changes in advance. Especially with the upcoming new gear requirements in Phase 3, stockpiling gold in advance will allow you to cope more easily with the costs of raiding. Players who need it can choose to buy WoW TBC Classic Anniversary gold from IGGM.com to save time.

Currently, all of this is still in the early testing phase of PTR 2.5.6. Whether these features will eventually be implemented in TBC Classic, and whether all options will be retained when implemented, remains unknown.

However, one thing is certain: the UI of Classic server is converging with that of the retail version. Whether players welcome or resist this, this trend seems irreversible.

It has been about a month and a half since the launch of Diablo 2 Resurrected Season 14. While this represents only about half the duration of a typical D2R season, you might already be looking forward to the next one.

Compared to the current high-profile Diablo 4, Diablo 2 Resurrected sees less frequent and less extensive seasonal updates; however, since almost every update brings significant, detailed changes, loyal fans continue to place great importance on them.

So, when exactly will Season 15 launch, and what impact will it have on the game? Here is an overview and our predictions.

Season 15 release date prediction

Historical data shows that the duration of the last five Diablo 2 Resurrected seasons has been relatively stable, generally hovering between 90 and 100 days.

Season 14 launched on May 22, so we anticipate the current season will end sometime between late August and early September, with Season 15 likely kicking off shortly thereafter.

Given that Diablo 2 Resurrected typically rolls out updates on Fridays, the most likely launch dates for Season 15 are August 28 or September 4.

It is also worth noting that, even though D2R doesn't generate as much buzz as Diablo 4, the developers tend to stagger their update schedules; for instance, the launch of Diablo 2 Resurrected Season 14 was spaced about a month apart from both Diablo 4 Season 13 and Season 14.

Consequently, the specific start date for D2R Season 15 might undergo minor adjustments depending on the timing of the subsequent Diablo 4 Season 15 launch.

Will there be PTR for Season 15?

Typically, PTR precedes every Diablo 2 Resurrected season to test the viability of new mechanics or changes, unless the update consists solely of a Ladder reset with no other alterations.

Considering that the balance issues introduced by the new class and mechanics in ROTW expansion have yet to be fully resolved since Season 14's launch, further adjustments are expected for Season 15; therefore, 3.3 PTR phase is highly likely.

As for the PTR launch timing, it usually opens about a month before the new season begins and runs for one week. Based on the projected launch date for Season 15, 3.3 PTR is likely to open in late July.

Diablo 2 Resurrected should release an announcement regarding 3.3 PTR one or two weeks in advance; this will likely offer a glimpse into the full scope of Season 15. If you don't want to miss out on the latest news, be sure to keep a close eye on game updates.

Testing new changes via the PTR is essential; for instance, Mythic crafting introduced in Diablo 4 3.1 PTR sparked significant controversy, though fortunately, adjustments were made before the official launch of Diablo 4 Season 14.

What might Season 15 include?

Since the launch of Reign of the Warlock expansion this past February, the wealth of new features has attracted both new and returning players, revitalizing interest in the game.

Of course, the addition of new content inevitably disrupts the previously stable meta-game. The new Warlock class, in particular, proved to be overpowered, impacting the overall class balance in Diablo II: Resurrected.

Although Season 14 saw various adjustments and nerfs to Warlock skills, aiming to narrow the power and gameplay gaps between classes, there is still room for improvement. Season 15 will probably continue to refine this balance.

Furthermore, Season 14 did not introduce entirely new gameplay modes; instead, it tweaked existing mechanics introduced by ROTW, such as Terror Zones and Colossal Ancients.

To maintain freshness and replayability, and given that no new Diablo 2 Resurrected expansions are expected this year, we hope Season 15 introduces some engaging seasonal mechanics, even if they are innovative takes on existing content.

Finally, Season 15 will probably include the usual QoL improvements and bug fixes for issues that emerged during Season 14. Any new problems identified during 3.3 PTR will also likely be addressed in Season 15 launch.

How to prepare for Season 15?

Everything resets when the new season begins, so if you were planning to stockpile currency or gear for Season 15, you can put that idea aside!

However, characters from the old season will be transferred to Non-Ladder realm, and their assets will be moved to Withdraw Only set of Shared Stash tabs; if you don't want to lose these items, you must retrieve them before Season 15 ends.

Additionally, you might want to try out classes or builds you aren't familiar with during Season 14; this will help you adapt more quickly should the game's meta shift when Season 15 begins.

Predictions for the future of D2R

Although Reign of the Warlock expansion released earlier this year wasn't perfect, it certainly boosted Diablo 2: Resurrected's popularity compared to previous years. Consequently, a new expansion might launch next year, which would likely be teased in the second half of this year.

More importantly than expanding gameplay via expansions, D2R campaign hasn't seen an update in a long time, remaining stuck at Act 5. The campaign not only drives the story but also serves as a primary source for acquiring essential items like runes.

Players have long hoped to see Act 6, or even more, added to Diablo 2: Resurrected, extending the game through further main story content and expanded map areas.

Hopefully, we'll see news regarding Season 15, or at least the PTR, before July ends! Until then, keep focusing on climbing the ranks in Ladder Season 14!

Everything resets when D2R Season 15 launches; if you want to progress faster than the competition, you can buy D2R runes at IGGM!

This way, you can skip the long, tedious farming grind and save time to strengthen your character and enjoy endgame content, it's definitely worth it!

Dear Raiders, we're currently in the intense and exciting Expedition 4 era. To achieve excellent results or craft weapons early, many players will think of a Legendary item: Queen Reactor.

Whether it's the powerful Jupiter or Legendary Equalizer, Queen Reactor is an essential component for crafting them.

However, it's understandable that ARC Raiders won't let us obtain Queen Reactor so easily. Therefore, the strategy that players used to rely on by focusing fire on Queen's leg armor to obtain this valuable item is no longer as effective. We must rethink our efficient strategy for obtaining the Queen Reactor.

Acquisition Methods and Strategies

The probability of obtaining Queen Reactor simply from Queen's dropped leg armor has been significantly reduced by the developers through mechanic adjustments. Of course, their goal is also obvious: to reduce the number of shortcuts players can take in ARC Raiders, requiring players to completely defeat the boss to obtain the final reward.

Given this change in mechanics, our current ARC Raiders Queen Reactor farming strategy needs to shift from speed farming to a more methodical approach. First, we need to understand that the core source of Queen Reactor is Harvester event, as Queen appears as a guardian in this event. This clarifies the farming strategy for this Legendary item.

Primary Strategy

In ARC Raiders, Queen is so feared by players because of its terrifying 20,000 health points. Its weaknesses are its core and leg joints, which are heavily armored, making it extremely difficult to breach its defenses quickly.

The fastest and most reliable way to farm Queen Reactor is to assemble a well-coordinated and well-equipped team, concentrating all your resources on Queen, attacking from the first phase of armor peeling until its complete destruction in the final phase.

Of course, this method will inevitably increase your time commitment and the risk of casualties, but it's the necessary path to align with the game's design philosophy and obtain this Legendary item.

Core Mechanics

While completely defeating Queen is our ultimate goal, every detail during the engagement with this behemoth directly determines the final rewards.

It's crucial to understand that the drop of Queen Reactor is inextricably linked to damageing specific parts of Queen (especially the armor plates on the leg joints). Shattered armor fragments will detach from Queen's body and scatter across the battlefield, becoming lootable containers that have a chance to yield Queen Reactor.

Therefore, even in team battles, we must remain vigilant throughout the intense combat, constantly monitoring and collecting these dropped fragments, rather than waiting until the battle is completely over to clean up the battlefield. By then, many high-value items, including Queen Reactor, may have already been claimed by other players.

Optimizing the Combat Flow

As mentioned earlier, a complete Queen encounter is lengthy, with players constantly exposed, increasing the danger. Therefore, we must think ahead about how to optimize the battle process against Queen.

First, set up Ziplines in key locations around the battlefield beforehand to create a fast route for collecting Queen's loot. This allows you to efficiently balance combat and loot collection.

Second, don't worry too much about the equipment you bring for this Queen encounter; essential tactical gear is a must!

Smoke Grenades and Lure Grenades are essential items to carry in your backpack: one to shield Queen's view while picking up fragments, and the other to briefly distract it. These two grenades, used together, will create a safe window for you to use Zipline to collect loot.

Finally, you need to accurately time the final stages of the battle - when Queen is completely collapsed. Its wreckage often contains coveted Core ARC Raiders materials.

You need to anticipate the situation and quickly secure a favorable position, but also be ready to draw your weapon at any time, as a PvP melee over Queen's loot is likely to erupt at this point.

Is a zero-equipment strategy feasible?

Because the key strategy is team-based, some players might try to infiltrate the battlefield with minimal gear and supplies, hoping to scavenge for valuable Queen drops amidst the chaos.

It's crucial to warn everyone that this zero-gear strategy is extremely risky and disrespectful; you might die on ARC Raiders battlefield before even getting any loot.

Only by fully equipping yourself with good gear and dedicating yourself to the fight against Queen, making tangible contributions to your team, can you secure a stable supply of loot and Queen Reactors.

Uses of Queen Reactor

The reason players risk everything to obtain Queen Reactor is that it's one of the rarest Legendary materials in ARC Raiders, useful for crafting high-quality equipment and for trading.

Successfully farming Queen Reactor and crafting Equalizers or Jupiters will not only greatly benefit your Expedition 4 progress but also significantly ease your later PvP battles.

In addition to crafting top-tier weapons, Queen Reactor itself can be a considerable asset. You can trade it with the trader Ermal in ARC Raiders for other scarce resources, or recycle it for high-level crafting materials to profit from the trade.

However, given how difficult it is for players to obtain Queen Reactor, you must be extremely cautious when deciding to recycle it, as successfully recycling it means forfeiting the opportunity to craft legendary weapons.

To acquire Queen Reactor as quickly as possible in ARC Raiders, what you need to do now is prepare good gear and assemble a reliable team to farm!

Can you speedrun 120 levels of The Pit in Diablo 4 Season 14 and tank all the super bosses without Mythic gear? That sounds like a fantasy, but that's because you haven't witnessed the power of Season 14 Whirlwind Barbarian.

Yes, the biggest highlight of Whirlwind Barbarian is achieving a balance of damage, survivability, and mobility without Mythic gear, and its two variants offer great flexibility.

Core Skill Mechanics

The skills in this build are interconnected, but the core damage skill is Whirlwind: not only is it the source of massive damage, but it also generates two Dust Devils for additional strikes.

If you want to maximize Whirlwind's effectiveness, you can choose a modifier that consumes extra fury but increases damage, and you should also select Channel Damage Bonus node.

The support skill system comprehensively enhances Barbarian's combat capabilities: Rallying Cry provides movement speed, resource generation, and fortify; Iron Skin provides a barrier based on maximum life, an unstoppable status effect, and weakens attackers.

War Cry directly increases damage, while Challenging Shout is used to taunt enemies, gain damage reduction, and increase damage against taunted targets.

The ultimate skill, Wrath of the Berserker, is the core of Barbarian's burst phase, providing a massive damage boost and an unstoppable status effect.

If you find resource cycling difficult in Season 14, you can temporarily replace Challenging Shout with Lunging Strike to alleviate energy pressure.

Equipment Configuration

Equipment is the cornerstone of this Whirlwind Barbarian build; all Diablo 4 items used should be Masterworking to maximize their attributes.

Helmet

Tuskhelm of Joritz the Mighty is an excellent choice for Whirlwind Barbarian. It allows you to enter the enraged state when you regain Berserking while already in Berserking state, providing a 50% damage increase, 6 fury regeneration per second, and 10% cooldown reduction, making it the engine of your damage rotation.

Gloves

Using Gohr's Devastating Grips directly increases Whirlwind's damage by nearly 90% and pulls enemies towards us every 2 seconds, greatly improving output efficiency and crowd control.

Pants

Tibault's Will Unique Pants provide an 18% damage increase and 50% resource regeneration speed for Unstoppable state and the following five seconds.

If you're under high survivability pressure, you can replace it with legendary pants that provide a significant amount of maximum life.

Boots

You need to ensure your boots' core aspect is dealing 90% increased damage and continuously gaining Berserking when Primary Resource is above 50, ensuring high Berserking uptime.

Weapons

The two-handed blunt weapon aspect, which grants a 130% damage increase when using Fortify, combined with the permanent Fortify state, makes Whirlwind Barbarian extremely beneficial.

For one-handed weapons, one uses an aspect that provides up to 57% damage increase based on Primary Resource, while the other uses Ancestral Unique Sword Ramaladni's Magnum Opus to provide damage increase based on total fury.

Amulets

Whirlwind Barbarian amulet should use an aspect that increases Dust Devils' damage by 90%.

Runes

We need to socket Whirlwind Barbarian's helmet with Igni and Que rune combination to gain a barrier when casting non-basic abilities, enhancing survivability. The chest armor should be socketed with Cir and Gar rune combination, significantly increasing critical strike chance after casting five abilities.

Gems

The rest of the armor in this Whirlwind Barbarian build needs to be inlaid with rubies to increase power.

Weapons need to be socketed with a Skull Gem to increase the build's physical damage, while amulets need to be socketed with a Diamond Gem to supplement resistances, and rings should be chosen according to the specific single resistance gem required.

Paragon Board and Glyph Strategy

Whirlwind Barbarian's Paragon Board layout has been meticulously optimized to further enhance the build's damage and survivability. Below is a breakdown of the key nodes used in this build and their functions.

Carnage

Carnage provides Whirlwind Barbarian with a 15% attack speed and a 45% bonus to fire and physical damage. Players can also combine it with Glyph Challenger to enhance damage against elite monsters.

Warbringer

If you attack consecutively with the same weapon, Warbringer increases your critical hit chance by 5% and critical hit damage by 50%. Glyph Wrath further increases critical hit damage and restores energy on critical hits, which is crucial for Whirlwind Barbarian's energy regeneration mechanism.

Flawless Technique

Similarly, by continuously using the same weapon, this Flawless Technique node also increases your critical strike chance by 5% and critical strike damage by 50%. This, combined with Glyph Exploit, further enhances Whirlwind Barbarian's vulnerability damage and helps apply vulnerability.

The entire Paragon Board for this Whirlwind Barbarian build requires prioritizing nodes that provide maximum health, armor, and resistances to build a solid defensive foundation.

Two Variants

Tank Variant

This variation primarily adjusts the legendary aspect, changing the chest armor to use Juggernaut's Aspect for a significant armor increase; changing the pants to the Irrepressible Aspect; and using Aspect of Heavenly Strength on the amulet for damage reduction when wielding two-handed weapons.

Mythic Variant

If you already have Mythic Seals in Season 14, you can reduce the charm sets required for this Whirlwind Barbarian build and also allow multiple set effects to be activated simultaneously, taking attribute inflation to a new level.

With the equipment mentioned above ready, let Whirlwind Barbarian conquer all obstacles in your Diablo 4 Season 14!

With the release of Diablo 4 Season of Death Awakening, a series of new content and changes have reshaped every aspect of the game, but the rework of Mythic items has clearly become a focal point of community discussion.

While the arrival of Mythic Uniques 3.0 makes it possible for all players to collect a full set of BiS Mythic gear no longer a pipe dream, many veteran players have realized that what needs to be changed is not just Mythic items themselves, but also the long-standing flaws in the game's underlying itemization system.

The development team's initial intention was clearly to restore the glory of Mythics drops, but they inadvertently amplified the tedium of the game after the mid-to-late game builds were completed, putting the long-term character progression curve in an awkward position.

Late-Game Torment Difficulties Lead to a Stalled Progression Experience

For most fans, the most wonderful time of each Diablo 4 season is always concentrated in the early stages of the season. During that era, every piece of equipment dropped on the ground was full of unknowns and surprises, and players could intuitively feel the leap in power brought by replacing transitional gear.

However, this positive feedback abruptly ended once players reached higher Torment difficulties and completed their basic builds.

Compared to the long-term excitement of loot drops maintained through high-level runes, powerful rare gear, and even top-tier charms in its classic predecessor, Diablo II, the endgame experience in Diablo 4 was limited to minor adjustments to stats.

Therefore, farming at this point was no longer a journey of anticipating exciting equipment drops, but rather a tedious accumulation of materials. To conquer the final, stat-inflated boss, players' sole objective became simply chasing specific Mythic equipment with Greater Affixes affix. The once-fun dungeon challenges quickly degenerated into an extremely mechanical stat-stacking process.

If you're also exhausted from the long farming process, you can buy Diablo 4 Mythic items directly from IGGM.com for an instant, incredible power boost.

The Crafting System Takes Center Stage, Making Mythic Drops Mundane

Due to the rework of Horadric Cube in Season 14, players' focus on acquiring Diablo 4 Mythic items to enhance their combat power has shifted entirely from dungeon drops to the crafting system.

Now, in addition to crafting Mythic at Blacksmith and Jeweler, you can also upgrade unique items with item power of 850 or higher to Mythic you desperately need using Horadric Cube. Furthermore, the resulting gear's affix values ​​will be reset to their maximum values. In short, pursuing top-tier Mythic Uniques with the strongest modifiers is no longer just about endless farming and relying on the reforging system!

Of course, the biggest drawback is the overabundance of Mythic gear drops. They no longer possess a sense of scarcity. Rather than gambling on Mythic drops, many players tend to hoard large quantities of identical unique items, hoping to craft a single item with the perfect affix combination in Horadric Cube.

Legendary Aspect: From Gear Customization to Numerical Shackles

Even more tragic is the situation with Legendary gear, which has now been reduced to mere aspect carriers. Players typically pick them up only for the extractable aspect effect, while the gear's texture and base stats become irrelevant.

This design largely inherits and amplifies the problems left over from Diablo 3. While the aspect system gives players more freedom in customizing gear slots, it also introduces new constraints.

Once a player locks into their core build's aspect combination, any gear without higher critical strike damage, core primary stats, or skill level bonuses will be mercilessly melted down into crafting materials. This black-and-white choice turns every drop without a desirable affix into pure frustration, rather than a reward for exploration.

By the way, if you desperately need more materials to aid your crafting and gear refinement journey, don't miss Diablo 4 Lair Keys giveaway on IGGM Discord! Join now for a chance to be one of the lucky winners! 

How to Break Itemization System Impasse?

Faced with this deeply ingrained issue in Diablo series' itemization system, how can we make it truly effective and revitalize the equipment system? Here are some suggestions for developers:

Restore Gear to a Support Role

First, from a classic perspective, perhaps we should redefine the role of equipment, shifting it from defining builds to simply enhancing them. The development team could reduce ineffective random drops by introducing a true built-in item filter, or reintroduce universal affixes from Diablo 2, allowing players to experience the joy of unexpectedly acquiring good gear.

Separate the Aspect Mechanism

Another issue to address is the relationship between Legendaries and Aspects. Otherwise, Legendary gear will remain largely ineffective.

Developers could abolish existing Legendary tier items, making sets the primary armor set, and repackage Aspect functionality into a separate mechanism similar to Charms, supplemented by truly independent equipment.

Rebalancing Affix Pool

However, simply addressing the aspect issue cannot solve the problems caused by affixes. The current equipment system revolves around Horadric Cube, rather than treating it as a simple power-enhancing mechanism. Once the endgame arrives, most players' first action upon picking up new gear is to drop it into the cube to gamble, rather than immediately equipping it!

Therefore, perhaps only by adding reforged gear as a loot drop, instead of only being obtainable through Horadric Cube re-rolling, can players truly rediscover the excitement of looting gear. Furthermore, returning to Sanctification affixes from Season 11 would be a good option, giving players the opportunity to farm extremely powerful gear.

Only when players instantly gain incredible power upon picking up gear can the core fun of itemization be brought back from scrolling through stats in the cube to intense dungeon combat.

Ultimately, the Mythic rework in Diablo 4 Season 14 exposes a core contradiction: the current item system does not truly support long-term character progression. Short-term numerical tweaks can only be a temporary fix. If the developers want this action role-playing game to be revitalized, they may have to overhaul the entire itemization and crafting system in future updates, restoring the sense of accomplishment players feel when they get Mythic, rather than the numbness of focusing solely on numerical values.

In Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0, many players still struggle with crafting gear - and not merely the act of turning a normal item into a rare one with an Orb of Alchemy, but rather the process of adding the best possible affixes to a piece of equipment.

That raises another question, however: for each equipment slot, which affixes are worth chasing, and what combination turns an item into a truly top-tier piece?

Weapon

For attack-based builds, the three prefix affixes on a weapon are the most critical, and they should be rolled as close to their maximum values as possible, because they represent your primary source of base damage.

All damage scales from your weapon; every offensive modifier - whether increased damage, critical chance, or attack speed - is calculated using the weapon as the foundation.

Do not overemphasise suffix affixes. Suffixes are certainly nice to have, but in the early game, prefixes remain the absolute priority.

Caster Weapons

For casters, the desired affixes on a weapon are skill levels, cast speed, and critical strike chance. Overall, for caster equipment, you only need to secure a weapon with a few damage-related mods, and that suffices.

For players who are not running caster or minion builds, a crucial distinction is that attack critical chance is displayed directly on the weapon itself, whereas spell critical chance comes from the skill gem.

Rings

For attack builds, three flat damage prefixes (triple flats) are usually the ideal goal, but rolling all three is exceedingly difficult. Rings that have even two of these affixes command very high value.

Therefore, in many cases a ring with two flat damage mods plus a rarity affix is an acceptable option, and even a single flat damage roll can serve as a transitional piece in the early stages. For suffixes, you can look for resistances and item rarity.

Caster Rings

Because you can use essences to add some powerful modifiers, a six-affix, full-damage caster ring is not out of reach. That said, whether you craft it yourself or acquire it through trading, it will demand a vast amount of PoE 2 currency.

Gloves

For most attack builds, the affixes worth pursuing on gloves include projectile damage, projectile skill levels, melee skill levels, and attack speed - essentially any offensive attack-related mod.

Monks may have slightly different preferences due to their ascendancy passives, so you should consult a build guide for specific recommendations.

Caster Gloves

Caster gloves typically combine offensive and defensive stats. Many casters opt for unique gloves, but in most cases you will also see affixes such as projectile skill levels and projectile damage.

Arcane Surge suffix is an excellent option, yet it appears with such a low chance that you can largely ignore it in practice.

Helmet

Helmets are a defensive slot. At present, the vast majority of players gravitate toward energy shield-based builds, because energy shield remains very strong in the current patch.

Notable affixes on helmets include:

• Resistances
• Energy Shield
• Critical Strike Chance
• Minion Skill Levels

One additional point: helmets can roll an accuracy modifier. When Huntress (especially Amazon ascendancy) was dominant, helmets with this affix commanded high value; however, in Runes of Aldur League, Amazon players are few, so this affix currently holds almost no value.

Body Armour

Body armour is the primary defensive piece. In the current meta, attack builds mostly stack evasion and resistances. The single most valuable mod is Deflection or Spirit Reservation Efficiency - Deflection alone can more than double the chest piece's worth.

For builds that stack strength or life, you should look for affixes that include armour and life instead.

Caster Body Armour

Casters generally want energy shield, sometimes also Spirit, while minion players specifically need Spirit on the prefix.

A caveat: the chest slot has heavy competition from numerous unique items. If, in Patch 0.5.0, most caster players are using Atziri's Splendour or a chest with a Soul Core socketed, then regular rare body armours will have little value.

Boots

Boots are more of a utility slot than a purely defensive one, though you can still roll defensive stats on them.

For boots, speed is the most important attribute; a 35% movement speed modifier is highly desirable. That said, some boots without any movement speed can still sell for a decent amount of currency, because certain builds rely on movement skills and thus do not need the movement speed stat.

Boots can also accommodate many utility affixes. Energy shield still dominates this slot, but variations abound. Useful modifiers to note include:

• Dodge Roll-related affixes
• Debuff effects
• Charge generation
• Movement Speed While Sprinting

Amulet

Amulets offer a flexible mix of offensive and defensive stats. As a general rule, any amulet without skill levels has little to no value.

The amulet is one of the few slots that can grant Spirit. The combination of Spirit and skill levels is the primary driver of an amulet's worth.

In Patch 0.5.0, an amulet can give up to 100 Spirit (50 from a prefix and 50 from a suffix) on top of its innate 50 Spirit - so you could obtain 150 Spirit from this single slot alone. That is clearly an extraordinary figure and will likely be adjusted in the future.

You May Like: Path of Exile 2 0.5.0 Expedition Best Strategy | Logbooks, Runes & Defenses

Jewels

Jewels can be socketed into various slots, but broadly speaking, valuable affixes on gear are equally valuable on jewels. You can target the following mods:

• Critical Strike Chance
• Critical Damage
• Maximum Energy Shield

Belt

In the early game, the belt slot is where you supplement extra life and patch up resistances. However, once Headhunter and Mageblood become widespread, the belt slot rapidly loses its relevance.

Most high-end players use these two unique belts, and those who cannot afford them have little influence on the market. Consequently, the belt slot is largely dominated by uniques. The window for crafting belts is very brief, so newer players need not invest too much thought into this slot.

New players may find it difficult to obtain these two unique belts, but you can join IGGM POE Facebook Group, where there are frequent Currency Giveaways. If you're lucky, you can get the gear you want.

That concludes the overview of the more important affixes for each slot in PoE 2 Patch 0.5.0. If you wish to try crafting your own gear, you can start with simpler slots such as helmets or body armour.

With 2026 MLB All-Star Game fast approaching, MLB The Show 26 is launching an exclusive in-game All-Star update one week prior to the event.

As the most significant update of July, All-Star content could well determine the game's trajectory for the summer and the second half of the year, especially given that its performance over the past few months has been lackluster.

Below, we provide a detailed overview of MLB The Show 26 All-Star content and predict its potential impact on the game.

MLB The Show 26 All-Star schedule

The event spans approximately one week, dubbed All-Star Week, running from Thursday, July 9, through Tuesday, July 14 (the day of the actual MLB All-Star Game).

Throughout this period, MLB The Show 26 will roll out new programs and card packs every day or two, alongside a series of changes to Diamond Dynasty mode.

New events and card packs

On July 9, MLB The Show 26 will launch American League and National League 2026 All-Star Programs, as well as All-Star versions of standard modes like Diamond Quest and Mini Seasons.

During All-Star event, players can claim an All-Star Week Prediction Pack in-game. This pack allows you to make predictions about the upcoming MLB All-Star Game; correct predictions will earn you a larger haul of MLB 26 stubs.

Additionally, the 9th should see the release of more All-Star series players and All-Star card packs of varying rarities. If you currently have unopened packs, you might want to hold off on opening them until All-Star event begins.

New content related to 2026 MLB Draft is expected to launch on July 11. The in-game draft content will closely mirror real-world events; whoever is selected as the number one overall pick will be released in the game and added to card packs.

On July 13, MLB The Show 26 will introduce Home Run Derby and a new prediction event to build hype for the real-world competition.

A Home Run Derby program will also be included. It is worth noting that Home Run Derby format is changing; it will likely shift to a swing-count-based system. Additionally, more programs will launch on the 14th alongside MLB All-Star Game.

Notably, for all prediction-based activities, you receive a consolation participation prize even if you guess incorrectly, so there is no need to feel too much pressure.

New changes

Compared to last year's MLB 25 All-Star event, Team Affinity has been removed this year. Previously, the gameplay involved grinding Team Affinity missions to earn vouchers, which were then redeemed in the collections menu for specific teams' All-Star players.

In MLB 26, this has been replaced by the upcoming American League & National League 2026 All-Star Programs.

Of course, to ensure no team is left out, every team will still receive at least one All-Star player card.

This change avoids unnecessarily drawn-out gameplay loops; consuming excessive time on Team Affinity just to acquire a single All-Star card could be tedious, especially if you didn't use players from that specific team, leaving you with no real path to obtain it.

Impact on MLB 26

If you have been playing or following MLB 26 community in recent months, you know that, aside from the initial launch weeks, the game has faced constant player complaints regarding frequent bugs and questionable mechanic updates.

Fortunately, All-Star event could mark a turning point for the game's reputation. This is not only because the event is historically significant for MLB The Show series, but also because July marks a period of activity for other sports games.

In other words, if MLB 26 doesn't roll out more compelling initiatives during this window, the existing player base will probably drop off rapidly in favor of the upcoming full launch of CFB 27 or pre-order preparations for FC 27.

Consequently, once All-Star content goes live, at least for summer, MLB 26 should become a more relaxed and enjoyable experience, with long-standing issues likely seeing faster fixes.

More importantly, following the conclusion of MLB All-Star Game, MLB The Show 26 is certain to release additional cards and packs. To ensure you have ample opportunities to earn these rewards, the frequency of new events or programs will probably increase.

Furthermore, with the launch of All-Star content, player card ratings will begin to rise. Even if you don't secure All-Star collection reward card right away, the cards you earn along the way will still be excellent.

All-Star event should make MLB The Show 26 more engaging in the near term; however, for long-term success, the developers must remain committed to addressing and fixing the issues previously highlighted by the player community.

More tips

While MLB 26 will probably offer new ways to earn stubs during and after All-Star Week, it is not advisable to consume too heavily early on just to acquire new cards.

Unless there is a specific All-Star card you absolutely do not want to miss, you should acquire players selectively based on your current lineup's weaknesses, prioritizing overall team strength.

Additionally, keep a close eye on any American League or National League teams that have only a single All-Star representative; this scarcity could drive up the value of that player card.

MLB 26 All-Star event is just around the corner, it's time to get ready for the big occasion!

Hi Tycoon! The July sun burns fiercely, and Monopoly Go The Simpsons Album event is charging ahead with equal intensity. Following Sticker Drop, the next major special activity, Krustyland Adventures, is about to begin.

Krustyland Adventures shares a similar gameplay style with Adventure Club. You and your partners need to work together to explore the map, as collaboration is the most effective way to complete the objectives laid out across it.

Krustyland Adventures Date

Monopoly Go Krustyland Adventures event will start right after Sticker Drop ends. It will run for a total of 4 days. The dates are as follows:

• Start: July 8, 1:00 PM (ET)
• End: July 12, 03:59 PM (ET)

Krustyland Adventures Rewards

The rewards from Krustyland Adventures fall into two categories: map rewards and treasure rewards.

Map Completion Rewards

The main reward from Krustyland Adventures comes from completing the maps. Not only will you receive a reward for finishing each individual map, but completing all three maps also yields extra prizes, including Wild Stickers and tokens.

Monopoly Go × The Simpsons album contains quite a few gold cards, and the 2 Wild Stickers offered as Krustyland Adventures rewards can go a long way toward helping you complete that album.

The specific rewards are listed below:

Map 1

• 625 Dice Rolls
• Stars Sticker Pack
• Sticker Pack 1 Star
• Fire Card
• Number 15 Card
• Number 21 Card
• Team Boost Card
• Number 20 Card
• Number 15 Card

Map 2

• 4 Stars Sticker Pack
• Sideshow Bob Shield
• Fire Card
• Number 30 Card
• Number 30 Card
• Number 29 Card
• Number 31 Card
• Number 31 Card

Map 3

• Wild Sticker
• Krusty Token

Final Rewards

• 625 Dice Rolls
• 4 Stars Sticker Pack
• Wild Sticker
• Sideshow Bob Shield
• Krusty Token

Treasure Rewards

Treasures are scattered across the maps and come in two types: solo and team. Solo Treasures only offer a 10-branch Mega Heist, which might be somewhat useful for tournament events.

Team Treasures, on the other hand, include sticker packs of various star levels, team loot boxes, a 15-minute Wheel Boost, and more.

In most cases, you should simply ignore them, as their value does not justify using your precious Adventure Tokens on them. The only exception is when a team treasure chest contains a large number of compasses and a sizable amount of Dice - only then does it become worth your investment.

Krustyland Adventures Gameplay

Team Up

The gameplay of Krustyland Adventures is similar to that of Adventure Club. You have the option to play solo, but it is far better to form a team with your friends. Each team can have up to five players, and together you will take on three maps. A full team greatly improves your efficiency.

Activity Objectives

First, you need to collect Adventure Tokens through daily activities such as banner events and tournaments. Then, you use those tokens to draw cards, and finally, you use the cards to complete the objects on each map.

Cards and Card Meter

Each time you draw cards, you receive 2 cards. Ordinary cards have point values ranging from 7 to 10, while Power Cards come with special effects.

Card Meter has 49 reward slots. When your draw fails, the meter advances by 1 slot; when it succeeds, it does not advance. After 4 consecutive successes, your deck catches fire, allowing you to draw one extra card per turn.

Consecutive failures, however, make the deck grow cold, and each result then grants a bonus of up to +4. Certain Power Cards can instantly set the deck on fire or make it freezing cold.

How to Complete Objectives Smoothly?

The objectives on the first map are relatively straightforward, but those on the third map are often quite difficult. Only through close coordination with your teammates can you finish them successfully, which is why teaming up is strongly recommended over going solo.

Identifying Objectives

On the activity interface, you will see multiple objectives that require the whole team's effort. When faced with several optional targets, first check the participation level for each one. Below every objective, you can see each teammate's contribution.

If you find that you are the only one putting in work on a particular objective, stop investing further immediately. Without your teammates' support, you will struggle to complete it efficiently, and you cannot make the most of team boost cards. Instead, you should focus your tokens on objectives where at least two or more teammates are already collaborating.

That is because when you draw a Team Boost Card while working on an objective, that card provides you with a base point value. However, its real strength lies in the fact that this value is multiplied by the number of teammates currently contributing to that same objective.

Deck on Fire

Once your deck enters On Fire state, your next action will give you 1 extra card, making it easier for you to accumulate enough points. You can take advantage of this state to tackle some high-difficulty objectives, which will help you conserve your tokens.

Global Contribution

If you see that some teammates have already joined an objective, prioritize heading there to combine your efforts. If all highly-participated objectives have been temporarily completed, then use one contribution opportunity to activate all other newly appeared objectives, thus creating future advantages for yourself and the team.

Remember that only if you have contributed to a given obstacle objective will you receive its corresponding personal reward when the team finally completes it. Otherwise, even if the team clears it, you will not get that reward.

Additionally, once you finish the current main objective, if you have already contributed to the next one, the team can move forward immediately without waiting for you or other members to start from scratch.

Monopoly Go Krustyland Adventures event also heavily tests teamwork. Find your familiar partners and work together to solve the challenges on the map!

As EA Sports FC 27 draws ever closer, discussions among players regarding stadium licensing continue to heat up. Even though the game includes some great stadiums, we always remember some classic stadiums that are a real shame - we don't know when they'll be back in the game.

Which stadiums are likely to see the light of day in the upcoming FC 27? Which might remain absent because of real-world reasons? Let's take a look at the stadiums that have garnered the most attention from players and speculate on their possible return this year.

San Siro Stadium

When people mention San Siro Stadium, the first thing that comes to mind is that it may be demolished and rebuilt in a few years. So for FC 27, even if they have the license for the stadium, they may not bother to renovate it.

However, San Siro is currently still usable - if the development team can complete the scanning and modeling before its demolition, the new game has the potential to be the last football game to include the original San Siro.

Players in the community are generally urging the development team not to abandon the stadium prematurely because of future changes. After all, this stadium carries not only the memories of AC Milan and Inter Milan fans, but also the symbol of Serie A and even European football.

If EA FC 27 can retain the sacred San Siro stadium, it will undoubtedly add a strong sense of history to this installment in the second half of 2026.

Camp Nou

What players have been paying close attention to is that Barcelona's Camp Nou is currently undergoing renovations, and the licensing agreement between the development team and the club has been uncertain, resulting in Camp Nou not being included in this year's game.

However, last year the development team successfully integrated Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena into FC Frostbite with stunning visuals, giving players great confidence.

Everyone is hoping that as long as the contract is finalized, Camp Nou can also be reborn in FIFA 27.

Considering Barcelona's global appeal and their momentum to return to the top this season, if FIFA 27 can bring back Camp Nou, it will greatly enhance the realism of the La Liga experience for players. Even using a large number of FC 27 coins to personalize the stadium would be worthwhile.

Although the current leaked information isn't optimistic, fans still hold on to a glimmer of hope that the development team can finalize the contract before September.

Rome Stadio Olimpico

Stadio Olimpico, shared by Lazio and Roma, completely disappeared after FIFA 22, likely because the exclusive rights were acquired by another game development company.

In fact, whether this stadium can return depends entirely on whether FC 27 development team is willing to invest more in the licensing battle.

If this stadium can be successfully brought back this year, it will not only signify that FC 27 has won a victory in the licensing negotiations, but also fulfill the wishes of Serie A fans: to make Rome derby more authentic!

Atatürk Olympic Stadium

Turkey's Atatürk Olympic Stadium only briefly appeared in the game in 2023 because of the Champions League final licensing, and was removed after the Champions League ended.

However, FC 26 has already added some Turkish club stadiums, indicating that the development team is increasing its focus on Turkish market.

Therefore, this grand stadium, which once hosted the Champions League final, has every reason to return this year as a surprise - especially since Turkish league has seen the emergence of many new football stars in recent years, and the local fan base is growing.

It is believed that as long as the development team continues to expand licensing for smaller leagues, the return of this stadium will not be a pipe dream.

Estadio Azteca

In player polls over the years, Mexico's Estadio Azteca has consistently been a top contender for a return, even topping the list multiple times.

While some European players might not care, FC series is a global market, and the number of users in North America and Latin America is not to be underestimated.

If FUT 27 could heed public opinion and re-include this stadium with its unique high-altitude atmosphere, it would not only be a positive response to years of calls from the community but also a great way to significantly increase the appeal of this football game in the Americas.

Given that the development team has increasingly valued player feedback online in recent years, the probability of Estadio Azteca's return may be higher than many people think.

Fritz Walter Stadium

German fans have been asking every year: When will Fritz Walter Stadium finally be officially included in the game?

League tier is not the decisive hurdle for a stadium to be included in the game, because the real bottleneck has always been the details of licensing.

Fritz Walter Stadium should always be on the development team's target list, as the German football market continues to expand and there is no reason for the development team to ignore it.

Perhaps this year will be the year the legendary Fritz Walter Stadium officially launches - and of course, it's also the simplest and strongest expectation that countless Bundesliga fans have for FC 27.

Because players hope to see more elements related to the real world in football games, they naturally crave even more in FC 27. We look forward to these stadiums coming back to life in the game!

In ARC Raiders, many powerful weapons can handle most missions on their own, but attachments become crucial to ensure you can defeat the more powerful ARC or secure victory in PvP.

Kinetic Converter is a top choice for weapon modification because it increases the rate of fire. Many players, after obtaining this attachment, simply equip it to their most comfortable weapon, feeling a significant increase in firepower.

However, this is not the case. Extensive testing shows that Kinetic Converter provides a negligible improvement on most fully automatic weapons, and equipping it on certain specific weapons is a complete waste. This article will use test data to show you how to use this top-tier attachment to maximize its value.

What Exactly is Kinetic Converter?

Kinetic Converter is a legendary weapon attachment in ARC Raiders. Its core effect is a 15% increase in rate of fire, but this comes at the cost of a 20% increase in both horizontal and vertical recoil.

Simply put, this is a typical attachment that trades stability for burst damage. In the game, it primarily works with fully automatic weapons, and is also compatible with some shotguns. However, compatibility doesn't guarantee optimal performance. A 15% increase in rate of fire sounds enticing, but how much faster is it actually in-game? The answer is far less than the provided figures, and we'll demonstrate this through real-world testing.

Real Performance on Different Weapons

To control for variables, all tests below are based on mag dumps, which compare the time from trigger pull to emptying the entire magazine. Our data may contain a 0.01-0.02 second human error, but it's sufficient for comparing overall trends.

Fully Automatic Weapons

We primarily tested standard fully automatic weapons such as submachine guns and assault rifles, including the Stitcher, Rattler, Bobcat, and Canto. The test results show:

• Stitcher: With and without Kinetic Converter, the time difference in emptying the magazine is approximately 0.2 seconds.
• Rattler: The difference is between 0.1 and 0.2 seconds, which translates to almost only a 1-frame difference in ARC Raiders' frame rate display.
• Bobcat: As a top choice for many PvP players, the improvement after equipping Kinetic Converter is also only 1-2 frames.
• Canto: Like the three above, the difference is still negligible.

Among the tested fully automatic weapons, the rate of fire improvement brought by Kinetic Converter is generally maintained at 0.1 to 0.2 seconds. In a 60fps game, 0.2 seconds is roughly a 1-2 frame difference - it's hard to imagine that this is the actual performance of a 15% rate of fire increase on most fully automatic weapons.

Large Magazine Weapons

Next, we placed our hopes on weapons with large magazines, but the tests showed that the larger the magazine, the less noticeable the improvement from Kinetic Converter. Taking Tomahawk, which has the largest magazine capacity in ARC Raiders, as an example:

In actual testing, the Tomahawk with and without Kinetic Converter emptied its magazine in exactly the same time - both fired simultaneously, finished simultaneously, and the timer showed the same time. This could be a testing error or a problem with the game mechanics itself, but the conclusion is clear: Kinetic Converter is basically useless on Tomahawk.

PvE Weapons

Next, let's look at a few weapons known for their PvE capabilities:

• Renegade: Also only a 1 to 2 frame improvement.
• Vulcano: The difference is very small, about one bullet faster.
• Hullcracker: This is a weapon that many players strongly recommend using with Kinetic Converter, and actual testing shows that it is indeed one bullet faster. As a grenade launcher, this extra bullet is quite valuable when facing high-difficulty enemies like Queen, because in such situations, every second counts in dismantling ARC corpses for loot.

A truly noteworthy exception - Bettina

Of all the weapons tested, Bettina stood out. With Kinetic Converter equipped, Bettina's magazine emptying time was almost a full second faster, the most significant difference among all the weapons tested.

Why was Bettina so effective? One possible explanation is that Bettina itself has a relatively slow rate of fire but extremely high single-shot damage. A 15% increase in rate of fire on a weapon with a low base rate of fire translates to a more substantial difference in absolute time. This also suggests an important pattern - the Kinetic Converter's actual benefit is more pronounced on fully automatic weapons with slower base rates of fire.

Properly Equipping Kinetic Converter

Kinetic Converter only provides a 1-2 frame improvement on most fully automatic weapons. This difference is almost meaningless in PvE. However, in PvP, a 1-frame difference can indeed be a matter of life and death.

Therefore, for PvP players who are aiming for the ultimate performance, Kinetic Converter can be equipped on weapons like the Bettina or Bobcat. That 1-2 frame difference can indeed be a game-changer in high-level matches.

However, this attachment cannot currently be crafted using blueprints; it can only be obtained through loot. If you haven't found it on the map yet, you can buy ARC Raiders Kinetic Converter from IGGM.com to increase your gun's firing rate.

For PvE players, this attachment is largely unnecessary. Unless you're playing Queen and need to dismantle ARCs with maximum efficiency, the negligible increase in rate of fire is completely outweighed by the increased recoil.

In short, this legendary Kinetic Converter attachment needs to be paired with suitable targets to maximize its effectiveness. Due to its recoil-for-rate-of-fire tradeoff, focus on weapons with low base rate of fire but high stability when equipping it.