General News

Diablo 4 Season 16 introduces changes to War Plans system, adding War Plan Tactics and Tyrael's Boons.

War Plan Tactics is part of Eternal Realm's permanent content, while Tyrael's Boons is seasonal content. Let's take a look at the bonuses these two systems provide and how they might affect Season 16.

War Plan Tactics

The main purpose of War Plan Tactics is to let players encounter their preferred activities more frequently. For example, if you enjoy Infernal Hordes, you can increase the chance of encountering them.

In War Plan Tactics, each point invested provides approximately a 25% increase in the chance of an activity appearing. However, it is unclear whether all activities have equal weighting.

Lair Bosses may have a lower weighting than other activities, while Greater Helltides may also be less common than regular Helltides. Greater Helltides may even be created by transforming regular Helltides.

Reward Nodes

Each point provides approximately a 50% increase in the chance of receiving an additional reward. Available rewards include activity keys, Lair Keys, random weapons, jewelry, and more.

Most rewards have limited value in the late game, although some can still be useful early on or when pursuing specific goals. The real reward worth watching is Gem reward.

If you roll a Mythic-tier reward, the payoff can be enormous, granting Flawless Gems and large quantities of Horadric materials. This could save dozens of hours of farming.

However, Mythic rewards are extremely rare, and players cannot directly choose the rarity of their rewards. Even if you increase the chance of a particular reward category by 150%, there are so many possible reward types that most players may not see a single Mythic reward throughout an entire season.

Investing in multiple reward categories also dilutes their individual chances. All rewards share the same probability pool, so increasing the chance of receiving Gems alongside Activity Keys also reduces the relative chance of receiving Gems.

Overall, this system is well suited to helping players choose their direction early in the season and avoid content they do not want to engage with. However, its rewards may lose much of their appeal later on, causing players to return to traditional farming methods. Even so, it should still provide some useful supplementary benefits.

Tyrael's Boons

Tyrael's Boons provides a total of 132 points to distribute across four quadrants, with 33 points allocated to each. At the end of each quadrant, there is a node that allows you to invest 25 points in a single node. Combined with the preceding 8 points, this brings the total to 33 points per quadrant.

Purveyor of Curiosities

In Purveyor of Curiosities quadrant, you can increase the chance of receiving an additional item, unlock new item types, or improve the likelihood of finding higher-quality gear. You can also choose to increase the chance of obtaining Ancestral Items, but this comes at the cost of consuming more Obols.

Seal and Charm nodes are diamond-shaped nodes on opposite sides of the quadrant, and they are mutually exclusive. They increase the maximum rarity of D4 items you can obtain.

These nodes should be a high priority early in the season. Once players reach the midgame Torment difficulties, they begin assembling sets and searching for desirable affixes. Being able to obtain high-quality Seals and Charms directly would be a significant advantage, especially if you can get six-slot Seals.

The final node in this quadrant provides a chance to receive a second item, similar to the additional drops granted by Boons in previous seasons. Those older seasonal Boons are reportedly being converted into fixed bonuses available every season, while rotating seasonal content may move to systems such as rotating War Plans.

Trash for Treasure

Trash for Treasure reduces Alchemist's transmutation costs and increases the amount of Obducite and Scrolls of Restoration you can obtain. Salvaging Ancestral Items also has a chance to grant Scrolls of Restoration.

A 30% reduction in transmutation costs is substantial. This is especially valuable when converting Baleful Fragments into Souls, as the cost drops from 100 to 70, making Soul farming considerably more efficient.

A 30% chance of receiving an additional Scroll of Restoration is also a welcome bonus. These scrolls are in high demand. Although players may not always be critically short of them, they often need to farm specifically for additional supplies.

The final reward on this path unlocks an entirely new Horadric Cube recipe called Greater Temper. It upgrades a Tempering Affix on an item to a Greater Affix, consuming 30 Scrolls of Restoration and 1,000 Obducite. This is a particularly powerful node.

Scent of Gold

The main focus of this path is increasing Diablo 4 gold and experience gains. It directly boosts the amount of gold and experience you receive.

In addition, it can increase the amount of Horadric Cube materials and Gem Fragments you find, improve the gold and gems dropped by monsters, and potentially increase your Legendary item drop rate.

The 45% increase in Gem Fragments is extremely useful. Flawless Horadric Gems are generally obtained by farming Escalation Dungeons to build up a supply of the required colors. A 45% increase could save several hours of farming.

The 50% increase in Legendary drop chance has both advantages and disadvantages. Horadric Items with set bonuses from Season 15 may make Legendary items more important, but when crafting item bases, Magic and Rare items are often easier to modify by removing unwanted affixes and assembling the right combination.

The nodes that grant gold and Gems from monster kills may not be particularly effective, since Escalation Dungeons remain the primary source of Gems.

The 100% increase in experience from kills is also not especially valuable. A large portion of experience comes from sources other than direct monster kills, including experience globes, Jade Epiphany in The Undercity, Helltide maggots, and War Plan rewards.

Merchant of Mystery

This path introduces a new merchant in Torment difficulties. The merchant allows you to use Forgotten Souls to obtain caches. The merchant restocks daily on a per-character basis, and there is no manual restock option.

The rewards in this quadrant are generally underwhelming. Forgotten Souls already require time to farm, and Unique items found in Ancestral Caches are still random. Overall, the returns do not seem particularly worthwhile.

Overall, this is a solid update to the existing War Plans system, although some nodes are noticeably weaker than others. Further adjustments are likely before Diablo 4 Season 16 launches.

In Aion 2, for a Templar to maintain consistent damage output, you need a macro-based rotation that remains effective from the leveling phase all the way through endgame content - rather than relying on haphazard, reactive button-mashing.

Setting Up Your Macros

First, your core Templar macros should be built around the skills Judgment and Annihilate. Arrange these skills in a fixed sequence within your skill bar, and bind the macro to your right-click button in your key bindings.

In actual combat, you can trigger the macro by holding down both the left and right mouse buttons simultaneously.

The three-line sequence within the macro must remain stable; in particular, the position of Pummel should not be altered.

If the sequence is disrupted, your rotation will fall apart, leading to a significant drop in your damage output.

In short, always ensure that frequently used skills are chained together via macros; this allows you to focus your attention on managing critical cooldowns and positioning instead.

Opening Rotation

Before engaging in combat, activate Noble Armor and Battlefield Banner. At level 15, Battlefield Banner lasts for 17 seconds, making it ideal to deploy just before making contact with the enemy.

Before initiating the fight, ensure Punishment is fully charged to take advantage of its Executor effect, which grants +200 Accuracy and a 20% PvE damage boost.

Then, use a gap-closer (dash skill) to reach your target and begin holding down your macro.

Furthermore, keep a close eye on Judgment throughout your rotation. If it is unavailable, use Doom Shield or Shield Bash to re-trigger it.

Whenever Punishment comes off cooldown, try to fully charge it before casting. Taunt should be used as often as it becomes available, providing consistent utility for your party.

Skill Choices and Prioritization

Since Vicious Strike reduces the cooldown of Warding Strike, and Warding Strike can trigger Judgment, it is essential to maintain this synergy in your Templar build.

Shield Smite also triggers Judgment, making it a high-priority candidate for cooldown reduction (a 2-second reduction) within your Specialties configuration.

At level 16, when Judgment has only one available Specialty slot, prioritize Extra damage on hit over Critical Hit on hit.

Combining this with a cooldown-reset effect will result in a much more stable rotation. Debilitating Smash should not be included in your macros.

Its Debilitate effect can be applied even when blocking; including it in a macro would cause it to take up a slot that should be used for Judgment, resulting in a loss of DPS.

Additionally, Flash Rampage is not used in this rotation.

Annihilate is included in the macro to serve as a high-damage supplement for Templar.

Defensive Strategy

This Templar build leans toward offensive output. Rather than relying on Shield of Protection or blocking for defense, it utilizes Perfect Dodge to handle most incoming attacks.

To ensure a consistent flow of dodges, it is recommended to configure Shield Rush with Restores 300 Stamina on hit and Cooldown reduced by 10 seconds traits. The former sustains continuous dodging, while the latter enhances Templar's mobility in Aion 2.

Timing is crucial for Perfect Dodge. Do not activate it the moment a warning indicator appears; instead, wait until the very end of the warning prompt before dodging.

If you prefer a playstyle focused on shield defense, you could potentially swap out Battlefield Banner, but this results in a significant loss of overall damage and is generally not recommended.

Skills like Doom Shield, Taunt, and Noble Armor play essential roles in your rotation or team utility that cannot be easily replaced.

Passive Skill Selection

Our selection of passive skills for Templar focuses on balancing offense and defense. Defensive-oriented options include:

• Punishing Benediction
• Fury
• Insulting Roar
• Impact Kit
• Enhance Health
• Ironclad Defense

You can flexibly adjust these passives based on the specific dungeon you are running or the level of pressure you face in PvP.

Furthermore, on Daevanion Boards, blue icons represent active skills, while green icons represent passives. Since each skill appears once across the four base skill trees, you can select points from different trees - typically allowing for a maximum of 4 points.

Because each skill appears once in each of the four base trees, you can pull points from various trees (up to a maximum of 4). Fully completing this setup takes time.

For this reason, there is no need to rush to fill out the entire board while leveling. Instead, prioritize acquiring Vicious Strike, Pummel, Judgment, and Punishment to establish your core macro rotation first.

Once your core rotation skills are stable, you can gradually add useful utility skills like Poach.

Priorities for Beginners

A fully optimized Templar skill build in the late game often requires a significant investment of Aion 2 Kinah, so beginners shouldn't feel pressured to max everything out right from the start.

Focus on unlocking your core skills and key Specialties first; this will keep your early-game costs down and help your rotation take shape much sooner.

For Punishment skill, prioritize the effect that ignores evasion and parry while guaranteeing a critical hit once you reach level 16.

Before level 16, you can opt for the version that grants a hit-based damage-over-time effect, and then pick up the remaining option at level 20.

Take the time to practice this macro-based rotation - it will ensure your Templar delivers a reliable performance in Aion 2!

As ExileCon 2026 approaches, signaling that the release of Path of Exile 1.0 is just around the corner, you can look forward to learning even more about 1.0 version at the event.

While this doesn't mean the current 0.5.5 league is ending immediately, the player base will likely dwindle as the league nears its conclusion. Furthermore, builds that currently dominate in 0.5.5 may not necessarily perform as reliably once the full game launches.

That said, some builds might still offer a solid experience for starting out or leveling once Path of Exile 2 version 1.0 goes live.

Whether you want to make the most of 0.5.5 experience or get a head start on preparing for 1.0, there are a few Path of Exile 2 builds worth learning and mastering right now! We'll also share some essential crafting tips!

• Whirlwind Lance Build
• Earthshatter Gemling Build
• Snipe Bow Build
• Bitter Dead Build

Whirlwind Lance Build

This build is so niche that it doesn't even have an official name; however, since it centers on the skill Whirlwind Lance, that's what we'll call it.

The core mechanic involves casting the skill to deploy several whirlwinds. When you move close to these whirlwinds, they collapse, dealing damage to nearby enemies.

You can have up to six whirlwinds active at once. Additionally, by consuming Frenzy Charges, you can boost the skill's damage and add an extra stage to the effect.

Before 0.5.5 league, Whirlwind Lance was generally considered useless. However, by pairing it with Gemling Legionnaire Ascendancy class, you can unlock Advanced Thaumaturgy Ascendancy skill.

By increasing the quality of this skill, each Whirlwind stage gains over 80% More Damage, and you can consistently maintain four active whirlwinds on the field.

On top of that, you gain additional elemental damage bonuses. When combined with The Taming Prismatic Ring, you can also benefit from all elemental ground effects simultaneously.

This setup already allows the build to deliver solid damage output; if you prefer a safer playstyle, you can adjust your gear for greater survivability while clearing maps.

However, if you want to push your damage even further, you can swap weapons and buy PoE2 currency to optimize your other gear, potentially reaching damage figures that exceed 100 million.

It is also worth noting that choosing Gemling Legionnaire Ascendancy offers an additional advantage: it reduces the chance of consuming Frenzy Charges, which can even be scaled up to a 100% chance to avoid consumption.

Earthshatter Gemling Build

As one of the fastest map-clearing builds currently in Path of Exile 2, Earthshatter Gemling build also dishes out incredible AoE damage. You use Whirling Slash to zip across the map, then unleash Earthshatter to trigger a massive, chain-reaction explosion.

At its core, this build focuses on empowering Earthshatter through multiple avenues.

First, the unique properties of Gemling significantly boost spike damage and increase the trigger rate for powerful aftershocks.

When your skills inflict elemental ailments, the build automatically generates Frost Walls. Shattering these walls grants bonus cold damage, allowing Earthshatter to instantly freeze and pulverize entire packs of enemies.

If you incorporate Herald of Ice to trigger a chain reaction, the number of explosions multiplies rapidly, clearing the entire screen.

Furthermore, this Path of Exile 2 build boasts exceptional mobility. By utilizing Whirling Slash as your primary movement skill, the build feels incredibly fluid to play, offering both high movement speed and a built-in knockback effect.

In terms of defense, Earthshatter Gemling build is remarkably robust, featuring high armor values derived from Arctic Armour and Scavenged Plating, along with key mechanics enabled by items like Loreweave.

The final result is a Path of Exile 2 build that can easily breeze through high-difficulty maps while maintaining an impressive level of survivability, a rarity for a melee-focused build.

Best of all, you don't need a mountain of top-tier gear to make it work. Of course, you can always invest more PoE 2 Divine Orbs later to further optimize your character, but even before that, Earthshatter Gemling build already demonstrates exceptional combat prowess.

Snipe Bow Build

Thanks to its outstanding map-clearing capability and high damage output, Snipe Bow build is often considered an enhanced version of Path of Exile 2 Ice Shot build.

The core mechanic of this build revolves around Snipe skill. Normally, the timing window for a perfect Snipe is extremely narrow; however, by stacking skill quality, you can widen this window while simultaneously increasing your attack speed.

Once your attack speed reaches a certain threshold, you can unleash Snipe frequently, consistently hitting that perfect timing window, which serves as the primary source of damage for the entire build.

Furthermore, the exceptionally high attack speed also benefits Whirling Slash, making it one of the fastest movement skills in Path of Exile 2.

If you wish to push your damage even further, you can incorporate Verglas and Tornado Shot into your setup.

When frost walls are generated around enemies, using Snipe to destroy them triggers Verglas effect, granting you additional cold damage based on the health of those frost walls. As long as you remain in an attacking state, this mechanic functions automatically and continuously.

As for Tornado Shot, its effectiveness lies in the explosions generated by its arrows. By increasing your number of projectiles and the number of tornadoes, you can create overlapping explosions, significantly boosting both your map-clearing speed and your damage against bosses.

Bitter Dead Build

Bitter Dead skill consumes corpses to summon white orbs of energy that automatically track nearby enemies. The challenge, however, is that once the corpses are consumed, they vanish, making it difficult to keep summoning these orbs.

Fortunately, this issue is easily resolved: by equipping a Volatile Wand, you gain access to Volatile Dead spell, which offers a chance to cast without consuming corpses.

Additionally, Corpse Conservation support gem can further increase the probability of casting without consuming corpses, allowing you to cast spells frequently without depleting your supply of corpses.

To further boost your damage while keeping your budget in check, consider using The Dark Defiler Rattling Sceptre for this Path of Exile 2 build, and focus on stacking the spirit.

This sceptre grants bonuses to your mana, intelligence, and chaos damage based on the number of active undead minions you have.

Furthermore, by socketing the appropriate support gems, you can convert this into cold damage, a simple adjustment that can easily double your total damage output.

If any of the builds featured here catch your eye, especially ones you haven't tried yet, why not roll a new character and give them a go?

After more than a month, ARC Raiders has finally received a new Live Update - 2.3.0. This update not only introduces the brand-new Noxious Set but also brings several balance adjustments and bug fixes.

Among them, the debut of the new player project Soul's Offering is undoubtedly the most noteworthy content of this update. Let's take a closer look at the new content and changes this update brings to players.

Soul's Offering: A Limited-Time 20-Day Commemorative Project

ARC Raiders also welcomes its own Halloween event - Soul's Offering. As the core of the narrative and gameplay of this update, this project went live on October 27th and will last until November 16th.

The event revolves around the various contradas of Toledo. Despite differing opinions on surface casualties, they share a common grief over the loss of their comrades. To commemorate the Raiders who fell to the ARC offensive, residents from Ferrovia, Vaulto, and Murteta will build memorial shrines to remember their fallen comrades.

The project is divided into four phases. In the first three phases, players need to collect and submit specific ARC Raiders items. The specific requirements and rewards for each phase are as follows:

Phase 1: Construct Vaulto's Offering

Required Materials:

• Dead Flowers × 1
• Rock Salt × 2
• ARC Alloy × 15
• Expired Respirator × 1

Dead Flowers and Rock Salt are trinkets without fixed spawn points. It is recommended to prioritize searching drawers, cabinets, and other containers in residential areas. ARC Alloys can be obtained from ARC debris other than Ticks, while Expired Respirators are random loots; containers in residential areas are also worth searching.

Completion Rewards: Stiletto II, Extended Barrel I, Angled Grip II, Stable Stock II.

Phase 2: Construct Ferrovia's Offering

Required Materials:

• Dead Flowers × 3
• Railway Lanterns × 2
• Advanced ARC Powercell × 15
• Remote Raider Flare × 10

Note: One Dead Flowers was consumed in Stage One, so a total of four are needed for the first two stages. Continue collecting even after finding the first one.

Railway Lanterns are also considered ticks; Advanced ARC Powercells can be obtained from larger ARCs, with the wreckage of Bombardier and Bastion being priority targets. Remote Raider Flare can be crafted at the Workstation or may appear as a random loot.

Completion Rewards: Torrente II, Compensator III, Extended Medium Mag III, Stable Stock III.

Phase 3: Construct Murteta's Offering

The rarity of materials required in this phase increases significantly:

• Fancy Plates × 2
• Mask Fragment × 1
• Insulation Roll × 1
• Fertilizer × 5

Fancy Plates are epic trinkets with no fixed spawn locations, making them difficult to obtain. Mask Fragments are also relatively rare; some players have reported finding them in Pendola Pass. Insulation Rolls can be obtained by searching random loot and Raider Caches, while the swampy areas of Dam Battlegrounds are a good place to search for Fertilizers.

Completion Rewards: Vulcano I, Shotgun Silencer, Extended Shotgun Mag III, and Fireworks Box × 3.

Important Note: These 3 Fireworks Boxes are key items for Phase Four; it is recommended to keep at least one for the final mission.

Phase 4: Honor the Fallen

The final task no longer requires additional material collection. Players simply need to carry at least one Fireworks Box, travel to Buried City, find the route to the rooftop of Santa Maria Houses, and set off fireworks at the designated location to complete the tribute ceremony.

Upon completion, players will receive Pilgrim backpack and Offering Display Table Design.

Emperor Loot Redistribution

Emperor's loot redistribution is one of the most impactful changes in this update. After the update, containers near the entrance have a higher probability of producing low-tier rewards, while high-tier loot is more concentrated deeper inside.

This change reduces the reward density of quickly clearing the entrance, allowing Raiders willing to venture deeper into the Emperor and take higher risks to receive commensurate rewards.

Update 2.3.0 also expands the vulnerability prevention mechanisms for locked rooms inside the Emperor to improve fairness in these areas and limit the placement of Barricade Kits that overlap with entity boundaries or are crammed into overly narrow spaces.

Blueprint Drop Rules Adjusted

This update adjusts the blueprint drop rules for six weapons in ARC Raiders: blueprints for Dolabra, Bobcat, Equalizer, Jupiter, Tempest, and Volcano can now drop under any major map condition, no longer requiring specific conditions like Hurricane, Electromagnetic Storm, or Night Raid.

However, the overall drop rate for these ARC Raiders blueprints has been slightly reduced to balance the increased acquisition opportunities. In other words, players no longer need to wait for specific map conditions, but whether the actual rewards are improved still depends on their play frequency and looting routes.

The adjustments to Emperor Key blueprints are different. Their drop rate in Redirection Pods has been reduced, but these containers now have a small chance of producing ARC parts and high-tier ARC loot.

Therefore, not all blueprint acquisition methods have become easier: Emperor Key blueprints are actually harder to obtain, while other potential rewards from Redirection Pods have increased.

In addition, the 2.3.0 update also fixes a previous issue where the rarity and drop rate of furniture designs were inverted. After the adjustment, the actual drop rate matches the item's rarity.

Equipment and Consumable Adjustments

This update includes targeted adjustments to Heavy Shield, Flame Spray, and Firefly Burner, while also optimizing the usage mechanism of Adrenaline Shot.

The base charge value of Heavy Shield has been increased from 80 to 90. The official statement indicates that the adjustment to the durability consumption rate of Frozen Trail has brought significant changes, but the overall usage rate of Heavy Shield remains low.

Therefore, this update enhances its survivability by slightly increasing the base charge value, while avoiding further widening the gap between heavy and medium shields. For builds that rely on Heavy Shield, this change is expected to provide more stable protection in sustained firefights.

Flame Spray's damage per second has been increased from 10 to 13, while its durability consumption has been reduced by 50%. The adjustments to both damage and usage cost further enhance its practicality in close-range suppression and area control.

The Firefly Burner's trigger mechanism has also undergone a significant change. Previously, players needed to shoot the device to trigger its flame release; after the update, the device activates immediately upon impact, leaving a trail of flames as it moves, and explodes after approximately 3 seconds. This makes it more suitable for rapid deployment to block passageways, restrict enemy movement, or hinder enemy advances.

Furthermore, Adrenaline Shot can now be used when stamina is full, but repeated use no longer stacks effects; instead, it refreshes the duration of the existing effect.

Overall, ARC Raiders Live Update 2.3.0 not only brings limited-time missions and new rewards through Soul's Offering but also reworks loot distribution, blueprint acquisition methods, and the in-game performance of several items. Whether you want to complete events, collect rare blueprints, or optimize combat setups, this update offers noteworthy new changes.

MapleStory Classic World introduces a brand-new crafting system, allowing players to craft profession-specific gear without having to visit specific NPCs for every item. There is also a much wider variety of items to craft than before.

There are currently six crafting professions available to every player. You can craft your own gear, but it is best to understand how the system works before getting started.

How to Unlock Crafting?

Each crafting profession becomes available when your character reaches level 10, and you must complete the corresponding introductory quest to unlock it. Here is where to find each quest giver:

• In Perion, Silas Irons offers Smithing quest.
• Also in Perion, Mr. Thunder offers Weaponcrafting quest.
• In Ellinia, Francois offers Tailoring quest.
• In Henesys Market, Vicious offers Woodcrafting quest.
• In Kerning City, JM From tha Streetz offers Leatherworking quest.
• In Sleepywood, Chrishrama introduces Arcforge profession.

Weaponcrafting is a special case. You must first complete the apprentice quest given by Silas Irons, Smithing instructor. Only then will Mr. Thunder accept you and offer the introductory Weaponcrafting quest.

Meanwhile, Chrishrama, Arcforge instructor, is the only one located outside the four major job advancement towns. You must travel to Sleepywood to unlock this profession. However, it is best not to rush there at level 10, as you could get stranded in Sleepywood without enough mesos to make your way back.

Once you complete an introductory quest, you unlock Crafting Tier 1 for that profession. Every crafting action grants a certain amount of crafting EXP. Earn enough EXP to increase your crafting level and unlock recipes for better equipment and scrolls.

Starting at Crafting level 2, you must meet character level requirements in addition to earning crafting EXP. Your character level must be at least five times the target crafting level.

For example, unlocking Crafting level 5 requires your character to reach level 25. When crafting repeatedly, always make sure your character meets the level requirement. Otherwise, your crafting EXP will be capped at 100%, preventing you from leveling up and wasting any additional EXP earned.

Crafting Professions

Smithing

Smithing converts raw ores into ingots and allows you to craft a wide range of Warrior equipment, including gloves, helmets, shoes, and shields. It also offers three random recipes for level 30 Mage helmets.

You can convert five ores into one ingot. Unlocking all ingot recipes requires Smithing level 5 and character level 25, and every ingot you craft consumes mesos.

A good approach is to gradually turn any ores you collect into ingots to accumulate Smithing EXP. When you have enough materials and meet the crafting level requirements, crafting your own equipment can also save mesos compared with getting it from NPC shops while granting additional Smithing EXP. Aside from converting ores into ingots and crafting the equipment you need, there is little reason to deliberately push Smithing to a much higher level.

Weaponcrafting

Weaponcrafting converts ingots into screws and allows you to craft weapons for Warriors and Thieves. Some excellent mid-game weapons become available at Weaponcrafting levels 9 and 10.

One option for gaining EXP quickly in the early game is the level 1 Steel Pipe. It requires just one Iron Ingot and 1,500 mesos to craft. Selling it back to an NPC yields 1,500 mesos, so the actual cost is mainly the materials and the 100-meso crafting fee.

Weapons worth watching include level 40 claws available at Tiers 8 and 9, as well as level 50 claws and pole arms available at Tier 10. These weapons do not currently drop from any known monsters on Victoria Island, which means they could be in extremely high demand.

Players who reach higher Weaponcrafting levels early can craft these weapons and sell them for a substantial amount. However, reaching level 10 is extremely costly, with rough estimates suggesting that it could require around 500,000 mesos, depending on the ore market. You can also wait until you reach level 50 and then buy MSCW mesos to fund large-scale crafting.

Tailoring

Tailoring processes drops from specific monsters into processed cloth, which is primarily used to craft Mage shoes and gloves. It can also produce general equipment, including Work Gloves and Sand Blasted Jeans.

At Tailoring level 9, you can use 10 tablecloths dropped by Junior Ratz to craft one piece of processed cloth, but this is not a practical option in the early game. It is better to level up gradually using surplus materials while crafting equipment suitable for early-game Mages.

Woodcrafting

Woodcrafting primarily focuses on arrows and bows, but it also offers a small selection of beginner wands, staves, and wooden baseball bats. You can also craft your own arrows instead of relying on NPC shops.

Arrows and crossbow arrows can be converted into each other at a 2:1 ratio, helping you avoid wasting the type you do not need. However, converting arrows does not grant Woodcrafting EXP, so you cannot use this method to level up the profession.

The most worthwhile recipes are bows and crossbows requiring level 40 or higher, which become available from Woodcrafting Level 8 onward. Archers may want to level up Woodcrafting, although doing so is not easy.

Leatherworking

Leatherworking processes raw leather into processed leather, which is primarily used to craft gloves and shoes for Archers and Thieves.

Since crafting costs are high and leveling up is difficult in the early game, it is best to progress gradually using the materials you already have. Although some armor pieces available after level 30 cannot be obtained from NPC shops, they are not essential, so rushing to level up Leatherworking is generally not worthwhile.

Arcforge

Arcforge is arguably the most interesting profession because higher crafting tiers unlock scroll recipes. It also crafts the staves and wands needed by Mages and is currently the only way to obtain the best available staves.

One of its main functions is converting non-metal ores, such as Garnet Ore and Diamond Ore, into their corresponding gemstones at a 1:1 ratio.

Unlocking all ore-processing recipes requires Arcforge level 6. Converting large quantities of ore at once costs a considerable amount of gold, but it is also an effective way to earn Arcforge EXP. At level 2, you can craft one piece of processed parchment using three pieces of leather, which is required for subsequent scroll crafting.

By default, scroll recipes produce 100% scrolls. However, using a Scroll Crafting Catalyst gives you a chance to craft 60%, 10%, and 10% Chaos variants. Currently, Scroll Crafting Catalysts can only be obtained from Zombie Mushrooms.

Overall, it is recommended that all players raise Smithing to level 5 and Arcforge to level 6 in MS Classic World, while leaving the other professions at level 1 or 2. Deliberately leveling up specific crafting professions is generally not worthwhile, as the stat improvements are limited and the process wastes a considerable amount of mesos.

The first major update for Modern Warfare 4 is approaching, and it will be the launch of Season 1. This will be the earliest Season 1 launch in Call of Duty history. One reason for the accelerated schedule is reportedly to avoid overlapping with the release window of GTA 6.

The update will cover Multiplayer, DMZ, and Warzone, and it is expected to be substantial. We may see the official Season 1 announcement or promotional materials as early as Friday, October 30.

Season 1 Release Date

Season 1 is confirmed to launch on Friday, November 6, 2026, exactly two weeks after the base game releases on October 23.

Based on recent marketing activity and Battle Pass information, the expected launch times are approximately as follows:

• Pacific Time: November 6 at 9:00 AM
• Central Time: November 6 at 11:00 AM
• Eastern Time: November 6 at 12:00 PM
• United Kingdom: November 6 at 5:00 PM
• Central European Time: November 6 at 6:00 PM
• Japan/South Korea: November 7 at 2:00 AM

This is the first time a new Call of Duty season has launched on a Friday, as previous seasons typically debuted on Wednesdays or Thursdays. The official team may want players to jump straight into the new season after work or school and enjoy the content over the weekend.

Official roadmaps are usually revealed 6 to 7 days before a season begins, so the announcement may arrive after October 30 or Halloween, although it could also come earlier.

Battle Pass System

The Season 1 Battle Pass will undergo a major overhaul. The focus of rewards will shift away from regularly completing challenges and toward limited-time in-game events. You can buy MW4 Bot Lobbies to complete challenges quickly and avoid missing out on rewards.

Players will simply need to participate in these events to earn rewards, including Apex Attachments, weapon camos, and Operator skins.

Season 1 will also introduce a shared seasonal progression system across multiple games. This means that XP earned by playing MW4 Multiplayer, DMZ, or Warzone will contribute to the same Battle Pass progression, eliminating the need to grind levels separately in different modes.

Battle Pass will retain its free and paid tiers, with BlackCell serving as the highest-tier paid option and offering several instant unlocks.

Multiplayer Updates

In Multiplayer, Season 1 will follow the usual Call of Duty seasonal formula by introducing new maps and modes.

One previously leaked map is Shoot House, which appears likely to return in Season 1. As a smaller map with a fast pace, it is also well suited to grinding weapon camos and leveling up weapons.

Before Season 1 begins, the official team will also release some maps and modes to maintain player interest. These additions are not part of Season 1 itself:

• October 27: The classic map Shipment returns.
• October 29: The new Possession mode arrives.
• October 30: Infected returns in time for Halloween.

There is little information about Ranked Play so far. It may not arrive at the beginning of Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 and could instead launch with Season 1 Reloaded midseason update, potentially during the first week of December, approximately one month after Season 1 begins.

DMZ

DMZ is expected to receive a substantial content expansion, potentially including new DMZ Orders, new story missions, Dynamic Ops that can spawn at different locations, and upgrades and expansions to FOB.

What is confirmed is that the first new deployment map, X01, will arrive during Season 1. However, the official team has not clarified whether it will be available at launch or introduced with Season 1 Reloaded midseason update, which could arrive sometime in December.

The developers previously stated that X01 is essentially the equivalent of Building 21 in MW4 DMZ. During DMZ testing phase, Building 21 was a very small map known for its chaotic, fast-paced encounters.

X01 is expected to follow a similar design philosophy, contrasting with Hajin, a much larger map that will expand further in Season 2 through Russia expansion. Beyond the new map, the core DMZ gameplay loop is also expected to receive improvements.

Warzone

One of the most important parts of Season 1 will be the full integration of Warzone. Modern Warfare 4 content, including weapons and Operators, will be added to Warzone.

At the same time, the official team will introduce legacy updates for content from MW2, MW3, BO6, and BO7.

Gunsmith systems for these older weapons will be locked. Players will only be able to use preset five-attachment configurations or the corresponding blueprints, rather than freely customizing these legacy weapons.

Battle Royale

Hajin will arrive as a new Battle Royale map, set in a fictional region near the border between Korean Peninsula and Russia. It will also serve as a DMZ map in MW4, featuring areas with dense vegetation and dynamic weather to create more varied combat encounters.

The classic map Verdansk will also return and remain in the rotation alongside Hajin, giving players who prefer familiar terrain another option.

Resurgence

For Resurgence, the brand-new map Zodiac will launch in Season 1. The official team has specifically optimized visibility on this map by adjusting indoor lighting and reducing visual clutter.

The classic map Rebirth Island will also return and remain in the rotation, just like Verdansk. Another classic Resurgence map, Vondel, will not be available at the start of Season 1. The official team plans to bring it back in Season 2.

Warzone will also introduce a skin filter that players can enable to display only MW4 skins by default. This will help them avoid seeing crossover skins featuring characters such as Ninja Turtles and Teletubbies, along with some of the more exaggerated collaboration skins from previous Call of Duty games.

Overall, CoD Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 is shaping up to be a major update focused on delivering a broad range of content. More specific details for each mode will need to wait until the official roadmap is revealed. The official team is also expected to roll out extensive updates, bug fixes, and balance adjustments across all modes.

Following the full launch of Ultimate Scream event last week, FC 27 has rolled out Title Update v1.1 on October 27th to further optimize the overall gaming experience and ensure the event proceeds smoothly.

In addition to fixing major bugs that have recently surfaced, this update includes various optimizations across the game's three core modes, as well as improvements to fundamental gameplay mechanics.

To help you quickly adapt to the changes introduced in Update 1.1, we've outlined the key updates below.

Career Mode

Regarding user experience, Update v1.1 features a visual overhaul of the team management interface, improving navigation and the readability of on-screen information.

New settings have also been added for specific gameplay elements, such as unexpected events, giving you greater control and autonomy over your Career Mode experience.

In terms of gameplay, Rivalry Objectives section has been added to Player Career mode, featuring two distinct types of objectives that encourage you to engage with the game in new ways.

For Manager Career mode, the focus has been placed on transfers and negotiations: the feedback provided during negotiations has been clarified, and the logic governing contracts and player wage structures has been refined.

Finally, the development team noted that one issue remains under investigation: some players may still request a transfer due to a lack of playing time, even when they have already met their expected appearance targets. This is expected to be addressed in a future update.

Ultimate Team

Compared to Career Mode, the optimizations for Ultimate Team in Update 1.1 focus primarily on bug fixes, a necessary step, given that many aspects of this mode involve online matchmaking, where the likelihood of encountering bugs is higher.

Beyond that, the update introduces a change long-requested by players since the closed beta phase: the duration of the reveal animations for many high-OVR player cards has been shortened.

While pulling such a player is certainly a cause for celebration, there's no need for the reveal animation to be overly long. Beyond flashy appearances, you likely care more about whether new players can deliver tangible benefits to your squad.

Another piece of good news: following the release of Update 1.1, your filter settings will now persist as you switch between different SBCs. These settings will remain active throughout your entire gaming session unless you close the game.

It's worth noting that a steady stream of SBCs is being released during the current Ultimate Scream event, making this a highly effective improvement for your overall event experience.

Ultimately, however, your ability to complete a specific SBC depends on whether the players in your club meet the requirements.

To avoid running into last-minute hurdles, it's best to buy FC 27 coins in advance, allowing you to acquire the specific types of players you're missing from the transfer market.

The Grounds

Updates to The Grounds mode in Update 1.1 fall into two main categories: bug fixes and the introduction of new content.

Unfortunately, the new features are still in development and will be rolled out in future updates; Title Update v1.1 does not provide further details on what these might entail.

As for bug fixes, they address a range of issues, from visual glitches and display errors to stuttering during matchmaking. Given the diverse gameplay elements within The Grounds, the optimization process is naturally more complex.

Gameplay

In line with standard practice for FUT 27 title updates, version 1.1 does not include any adjustments to gameplay balance or player stats. Instead, the focus remains on optimizing the experience and resolving technical issues that could disrupt your matches.

Other highlights for this week

In addition to Update 1.1 (arriving on the 27th), a new free Evolution event, Rise From the Grave, launched this past Monday, the 26th. It is scheduled to run for 17 days.

Free means you don't need to invest any coins or points to significantly boost OVR and specific attributes of eligible RM/RW players.

Perhaps the most anticipated addition this week is Ultimate Scream Team 2, expected to arrive on Friday, October 30th. This marks the arrival of new player cards and signals the end of Team 1 release.

We therefore recommend acting quickly to collect any Team 1 players you've had your eye on, especially highly sought-after cards like Cristiano Ronaldo. Even if your squad doesn't currently lack a player of this type, his long-term potential value remains immense.

Beyond the new squad, the second week of FIFA 27 Ultimate Scream event will feature the launch of Ghoul Fest. Meanwhile, the collection and redemption of Scream tokens will continue, be sure to plan your gaming schedule wisely to maximize your rewards.

As is customary, Team of the Week 7 (TOTW 7) is expected to arrive this Wednesday, October 28th. If your supply of coins or other resources is limited, it may be better to save them for the release of Ultimate Scream Team 2.

Additionally, in the pitch notes section of Update 1.1 gameplay overview, the development team indicated that further developer notes, detailing upcoming gameplay adjustments, will be released later this week.

While the exact date remains unconfirmed, it's shaping up to be a very busy week for FC 27 players; we highly recommend putting together a clear plan for the week ahead!

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is giving returning players a reason to reconsider the franchise. Following its October 2026 launch, the latest entry has earned a Very Positive rating on Steam, with approximately 80% of 4,387 English-language reviews positive in the store snapshot checked on October 27. Its appeal centers on a narrative-driven campaign about a North Korean invasion of the Korean Peninsula, 20 multiplayer maps or configurations at launch, and DMZ, an extraction mode built around objectives, loot, and persistent progression.

Yet the positive reception comes with a familiar frustration: Call of Duty HQ. The centralized launcher remains a reported usability concern, reminding players that a game's overall experience depends on more than its campaign missions and multiplayer gunfights.

The early review trend is encouraging, but the bigger question is whether Modern Warfare 4 can sustain that momentum across its different modes. Its campaign has attracted early praise, multiplayer offers several distinct formats, and DMZ introduces a separate progression system for players who enjoy collecting resources and improving their equipment. How those elements hold up over time will matter more than any single launch-week score.

Modern Warfare 4 Steam Reviews: From Early Excitement to a Broader Verdict

Modern Warfare 4's early campaign reception was particularly strong. Contemporary coverage reported a positive Steam review share of approximately 94% during the early-access period. By October 27, the English-language Steam listing showed 80% positive reviews from 4,387 reviewers, retaining its Very Positive classification.

The two figures describe different snapshots rather than a controlled comparison of individual game modes. Digital pre-order customers gained campaign early access on October 16, DMZ early access began on October 20, and the worldwide launch followed on October 23. The audience therefore expanded in stages, with different players evaluating different parts of the package.

Steam review snapshot comparison

The rating change does not establish that multiplayer, DMZ, or technical issues caused the decline. Reviews can reflect different expectations, experiences, and priorities, and the available snapshots do not isolate the effect of any one factor.

Steam reviews are also not a representative survey of every player. They reflect people who chose to submit a review, not the entire audience. A Very Positive score is useful evidence of favorable reception, but it cannot independently prove sales performance, player retention, or a permanent reversal in the franchise's fortunes.

For prospective buyers, the conclusion is still encouraging: the game moved from an exceptionally strong early response to a broader launch-period rating that remains positive.

Why the Korean Peninsula Campaign Is Winning Attention

Modern Warfare 4's campaign centers on a North Korean invasion of the Korean Peninsula that threatens to destabilize the wider world. Players follow a young South Korean soldier, Private Park, fighting alongside his squad, while Captain Price pursues a separate operation beyond the conventional military chain of command.

The dual perspective gives the narrative two complementary dimensions. Park's experience places players close to the immediate consequences of the invasion, while Price's operation connects the battlefield conflict to a broader international crisis. The campaign also features locations beyond Korea, including New York, Paris, and Mumbai.

This structure gives the story a recognizable identity: a military thriller built around escalating stakes, multiple perspectives, and operations that contribute to a larger conflict.

For players who value single-player shooters, the appeal is different from that of competitive multiplayer. Campaign missions provide authored encounters, controlled pacing, and a narrative that advances regardless of matchmaking results. Players can focus on the story without coordinating with strangers or worrying about competitive performance.

Campaign details at a glance

The campaign's premise and principal characters are established in the official game description. More specific claims about completion time, dialogue-choice systems, or whether this is the series' definitive creative high point require separate evidence and should not be inferred from the review score alone.

For returning fans, the campaign is a substantial reason to consider the game. Its lasting reputation, however, will depend on how players evaluate the full story and mission design over time.

Twenty Multiplayer Maps Give Players More Ways to Fight

Modern Warfare 4 launched with 20 multiplayer maps or configurations distributed across several formats. The official launch announcement identifies 12 Core 6v6 maps, four Gunfight maps, three Ground War maps, and the Kill Block modular training facility.

Modern Warfare 4 launch map breakdown

The categories matter because a total map count does not mean every map appears in every playlist. Players who prefer conventional 6v6 matches should focus on the Core pool, while Gunfight and Ground War offer different team sizes and combat rhythms.

The launch lineup includes locations such as Munition, Reactor U92, Mumbai, and Rooftops. These settings support different engagement scenarios, although the quality of a multiplayer map ultimately depends on its layout, sightlines, objective placement, and how well it supports the available modes.

Activision also scheduled Shipment for October 27 as a post-launch addition. That distinction matters when comparing the original launch roster with the expanded map rotation after launch.

What the map count means for players

A broad map offering gives players several ways to engage with the game, but quantity alone does not guarantee long-term variety. The more meaningful test is whether the maps remain enjoyable across repeated matches and whether individual playlists receive appropriate support.

For players who alternate between campaign and multiplayer, the range of formats also creates a reason to keep playing after finishing the story.

Call of Duty HQ Is Still a Source of Friction

A strong game can be undermined by the process required to launch it. Call of Duty HQ remains a reported usability concern surrounding Modern Warfare 4, with criticism focused on the friction involved in accessing the franchise's different experiences.

The intended player journey is simple: open the game, select a mode, and begin playing. A centralized hub can help organize multiple releases and content packages, but it also creates another layer between the player and the selected experience.

The distinction between usability criticism and a technical failure is important. Complaints about Call of Duty HQ do not automatically prove that every player experiences crashes, repeated restarts, long loading times, or identical installation problems. Those claims require specific technical evidence.

Where the launcher experience can create friction

These are general usability concerns, not a claim that every listed problem occurs for every player.

For a game with campaign, multiplayer, and DMZ, clear navigation matters. Players may have different installation requirements and progression goals, so the launcher should make it obvious which content is installed and how to access it.

The practical opportunity for Activision is to reduce unnecessary steps, clarify content management, and make individual modes easier to reach. Until a specific fix or redesign is officially announced, claims about an imminent improvement should remain unconfirmed.

The launcher issue does not erase the game's positive reviews. It does, however, show why a game's overall user experience depends on both the content and the software used to access it.

Modern Warfare 4 DMZ Items: What Players Need to Know

DMZ is an extraction-focused mode in which players deploy into Hajin, complete objectives, collect resources, and attempt to extract with their rewards. Unlike a conventional multiplayer round, each deployment can contribute to longer-term equipment and progression goals.

Players may enter Hajin to complete Story Missions, pursue Dynamic Operations, search for useful resources, improve their Operators, or unlock additional FOB capabilities. Choosing when to extract is part of the challenge: continuing to explore can produce more rewards, but it also exposes players to further threats.

The official DMZ guides describe a persistent progression system centered on the Forward Operating Base, or FOB. This hub connects deployment preparation, Operators, stashes, crafting, weapon acquisition, and station upgrades.

DMZ progression systems and item functions

The practical priority is not to collect everything indiscriminately. Players should consider which resources support their next objective, which recipes they have unlocked, and whether their current equipment is sufficient for the risk of another deployment.

Weapon Manuals and the DMZ Gunsmith

Weapon Manuals are important to players who want to expand their available weapon choices. The official DMZ guide explains that players need to find and extract Weapon Manuals to increase the weapons they can build through the Gunsmith.

The Gunsmith also uses DMZ Cash for eligible weapon and attachment purchases. Available attachments depend on weapon level and the shared attachments unlocked for the relevant weapon.

This makes Weapon Manuals progression items rather than merely ordinary loot. Their value comes from expanding future weapon options, not simply from being collected during a single run.

Players should distinguish between finding a manual and having access to the supporting Gunsmith station. Before planning a weapon build, check the current station unlocks, available attachments, and relevant progression requirements.

3D Printer, materials, and crafting recipes

The 3D Printer uses resources and ingredients to produce equipment and support FOB station upgrades. Its capabilities expand as players unlock additional recipes and printer upgrades.

The official guide describes crafting options that include gear such as plate carriers and backpacks, subject to unlocked recipes and sufficient ingredients. The printer can also be used to upgrade certain FOB stations.

The real value of DMZ items lies in how they support long-term progression. By learning which resources to collect, which recipes to unlock, and which equipment upgrades matter most, players can turn individual deployments into meaningful progress. A focused approach to loot management can also help players prepare more effectively for future runs, making successful extractions feel more rewarding.

Understanding Modern Warfare 4 DMZ items can make each deployment more rewarding. Weapon Manuals help expand available Gunsmith options, while crafting materials and recipes give players practical goals to pursue during exploration. Knowing which items support equipment upgrades, which resources are needed for crafting, and when to extract can help players make smarter decisions and build more consistent progression over multiple runs. For players who enjoy collecting valuable loot and improving their loadouts, learning the DMZ item system adds another layer of strategy to every deployment.

Modern Warfare 4 Bot Lobbies: Practice Before Competitive Matches

For players looking to build confidence before jumping into competitive matches, CoD MW4 Bot Lobbies are a popular search topic for a reason: players want more opportunities to practice movement, learn map layouts, and test weapon setups without the pressure of every match feeling highly competitive. A more comfortable practice environment can help players develop better aim, improve positioning, and become more familiar with different loadouts. Players should check the game's officially supported practice and private-match options rather than assume that third-party services can guarantee specific matchmaking results.

Players should first check the game's officially supported training, private-match, and practice options. These are more reliable starting points than assuming a third-party service can guarantee a particular matchmaking outcome.

A search term such as "bot lobbies" does not prove that an official bot-lobby feature exists in every multiplayer mode. Nor does it establish that matchmaking uses a specific set of skill factors. Claims about Modern Warfare 4's matchmaking algorithm require evidence from official documentation or reliable technical reporting.

Bot lobby searches versus supported practice

For most players, learning map layouts and weapon handling through supported features provides a more dependable foundation than relying on claims of guaranteed bot lobbies.

Is Modern Warfare 4 Worth Playing?

Modern Warfare 4 has several distinct selling points. Its campaign offers a clear geopolitical conflict and multiple perspectives; multiplayer launches with a broad range of maps and formats; and DMZ gives extraction-focused players a separate progression track with crafting, Weapon Manuals, and FOB upgrades.

Which mode fits your play style?

The Steam rating provides encouraging evidence of favorable early reception, while the official launch materials confirm a substantial range of content. Neither guarantees that every mode will appeal to every player.

Campaign-focused players should judge the story on its own merits. Competitive players should watch how map variety, weapon balance, and matchmaking develop. Extraction fans should focus on DMZ's risk-reward loop, progression requirements, and crafting economy.

Call of Duty HQ remains a reported usability concern, but it is separate from the quality of the missions, maps, and extraction mechanics themselves.

The bottom line: Modern Warfare 4 is off to a promising start, with a favorable Steam rating, a narrative-driven campaign, and 20 multiplayer maps or configurations at launch. Its longer-term success will depend on how well the campaign, multiplayer, and DMZ support their respective audiences—and whether the launcher experience becomes less of an obstacle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. In the October 27, 2026, snapshot used for this article, 80% of 4,387 English-language Steam reviews were positive, placing the game in the Very Positive category. The rating can change as more reviews arrive.

How many multiplayer maps did Modern Warfare 4 launch with?

The official launch announcement lists 20 maps or configurations: 12 Core 6v6 maps, four Gunfight maps, three Ground War maps, and Kill Block, a modular battleground.

What do Weapon Manuals do in Modern Warfare 4 DMZ?

Weapon Manuals expand the weapons players can build through the DMZ Gunsmith. Players must find and extract manuals to increase the available weapon options.

Does DMZ have its own progression system?

Yes. DMZ has a separate 70-level progression track. DMZ XP unlocks mode-specific rewards, gear, stations, upgrades, and 3D Printer recipes. DMZ XP also contributes to overall player progression, but multiplayer XP does not advance the DMZ level.

What is the 3D Printer used for in DMZ?

The 3D Printer crafts equipment from available resources and ingredients using unlocked recipes. It can also support eligible FOB station upgrades as players progress.

Are Modern Warfare 4 Bot Lobbies an official feature?

Players should check the game's current training, private-match, and practice options rather than assume third-party services offering guaranteed bot lobbies are official. Specific matchmaking features and algorithm details should be verified against current game documentation.

Why do players complain about Call of Duty HQ?

The reported concern is usability: a centralized hub can add friction when players want to access individual modes or manage content. That criticism should not be confused with proof that all players experience crashes or other specific technical failures.

Is Grinding Gear Games preparing to reveal more character content for Path of Exile 2 before its full release? A reported preview invitation circulating on Reddit has sparked speculation after mentioning hands-on access to Act 5, “new classes,” and an interview with game director Jonathan Rogers.

The timing is interesting. Path of Exile 2 is scheduled to leave Early Access on December 11, 2026, and ExileCon 2026 is coming up on November 7–8 in Auckland, New Zealand. GGG has already confirmed that the Duelist will arrive with version 1.0, but the class’s Ascendancies remain a major point of interest for players.

There is one important distinction, though: the invitation shared by the community has not been independently authenticated. Its wording is not proof that another base class is coming, nor does it confirm a new announcement schedule.

Here is what the reported invitation says, what GGG has already confirmed, and why the distinction between new classes and Ascendancies matters.

What Does the Reported PoE 2 Preview Invitation Say?

The invitation shared on Reddit describes a preview of the full release, including a presentation about version 1.0, an opportunity to play Act 5, access to “new classes,” and a 20-minute interview with Jonathan Rogers. It also mentions covered flights and accommodation.

If genuine, the invitation could offer selected attendees an early look at content planned for the full release. However, the publicly shared wording does not identify the event's date or location, name any additional class, or explain exactly what “new classes” means.

The key details are:

• Full-release presentation: A session focused on the planned version 1.0 release.

• Act 5 hands-on access: A potential opportunity to experience more of the campaign.

• “New classes”: The wording driving speculation, without any specific class names.

• Jonathan Rogers interview: A reported 20-minute interview with the game director.

The most interesting part is not simply that a preview may be happening. It is the combination of campaign content and character-related wording shortly before the full release.

Still, the invitation should be treated as a community-reported lead until its origin and details can be verified. It does not establish that GGG has officially announced a preview tour or confirmed an additional playable class.

Does “New Classes” Mean More Playable Classes in PoE 2?

Not necessarily. The wording leaves room for several interpretations, and players should distinguish between a new base class and a new Ascendancy before drawing conclusions.

GGG officially revealed the Duelist at Gamescom in August 2026. The class is scheduled to become playable when Path of Exile 2 reaches version 1.0 on December 11. It also introduces swords, a weapon type players have been waiting to see in the game.

That makes the Duelist the confirmed new base class for the full release. It does not mean that another base class has been announced.

There is a more immediate reason for players to watch for character-related news: the Duelist's Ascendancies have yet to be fully revealed. GGG has indicated that more information about the class's Ascendancies will be shown at ExileCon 2026.

This is where the invitation's wording becomes difficult to interpret. Some players may read “new classes” as a reference to additional base classes, while others may wonder whether it refers to Ascendancy options or other character content.

Those possibilities are not equivalent.

A base class determines a character's starting position on the passive skill tree and the Ascendancy options available to that character. An Ascendancy provides a more specialized progression path, allowing a character to develop around particular mechanics, damage approaches, or defensive strengths.

For build planning, the distinction matters. A new base class could introduce a new starting archetype, while a new Ascendancy could substantially change how an existing class is played.

At present, the reported invitation does not tell us which interpretation is correct. The confirmed Duelist reveal and the upcoming ExileCon presentation provide useful context, but neither should be used to turn an ambiguous phrase into a confirmed announcement.

Why Act 5 Is Worth Watching Before the Full Release

The invitation's reference to Act 5 is also relevant because GGG has confirmed that version 1.0 will complete more of the campaign.

For players currently working through Early Access, additional Acts mean more than new areas and enemies. The campaign determines how characters progress, acquire equipment, unlock skills, and prepare for endgame content. Changes to the later stages can also affect how players approach their first character after launch.

A hands-on preview could answer practical questions that a short trailer cannot. How does the additional campaign content fit into the existing progression? What kinds of encounters will players face? How does character development feel as the campaign moves toward its conclusion?

Those are useful questions for players preparing to start a new character in December.

However, the invitation does not provide verified details about Act 5's bosses, quests, rewards, difficulty, or specific mechanics. It would be premature to describe any of those as newly revealed features without reliable gameplay footage or reporting from someone who has actually played the preview build.

The confirmed takeaway is narrower: the full release is planned to include the remaining campaign content, and Act 5 is specifically mentioned in the reported invitation.

PoE 2 1.0 Release Date: What Is Already Confirmed?

GGG has officially announced that Path of Exile 2 will leave Early Access on December 11, 2026, Pacific time, and launch as a free-to-play action RPG. The Duelist is confirmed for that release.

ExileCon 2026 is scheduled for November 7–8 in Auckland, New Zealand. With the convention taking place about a month before launch, it is an important date for players hoping to learn more about the final version of the game.

These milestones are confirmed independently of the Reddit invitation.

For players following the class discussion, ExileCon is particularly relevant because GGG has indicated that it will show more about the Duelist's Ascendancies there.

That gives the community a concrete upcoming milestone to watch without needing to assume that the reported preview will reveal another class.

What Could the Duelist Reveal Mean for Build Planning?

The Duelist's arrival is significant because swords add another weapon option to the game's combat and build possibilities. But the weapon itself is only part of the picture.

Players will need to understand the class's skills, stance mechanics, support-gem interactions, and Ascendancy options before deciding how it compares with existing character choices. The strongest build will also depend on balance changes and how the full-release version plays in practice.

This is why Ascendancy information could be more useful than an unconfirmed class name. Knowing a class exists tells players relatively little about how it will perform. Understanding its specialization options provides a better foundation for evaluating damage potential, survivability, skill combinations, and equipment priorities.

The same caution applies to the in-game economy. Players may want to prepare their equipment or Path of Exile 2 Currency for a new character, but the reported invitation provides no evidence of specific currency changes, item-price movements, or a new economic meta.

Until GGG shares more details about the class and the final balance changes, build forecasts should remain provisional. Players can follow the confirmed release schedule and wait for the actual mechanics before making major decisions based on speculation.

What Should Players Look for at ExileCon 2026?

For anyone following the new-classes discussion, three questions are worth keeping in mind.

Will GGG reveal the Duelist's Ascendancies?

This is the most concrete character-related question on the calendar. GGG has indicated that the Ascendancies will be shown at ExileCon, making the event a more reliable source of information than an ambiguous phrase in an unverified invitation.

Will another base class be announced for version 1.0?

The Duelist is the confirmed new base class for launch. The reported invitation does not establish that another one is coming. Any additional class announcement needs direct confirmation from GGG.

What will the final campaign and balance changes look like?

The full release is planned to include the remaining campaign Acts and a broader set of launch changes. More details about campaign progression, class balance, and endgame systems would help players make informed decisions about their first post-Early Access characters.

These are distinct questions, and the answers may arrive through different announcements. Treating them separately makes it easier to distinguish a genuine reveal from community speculation.

The Bottom Line

A reported Path of Exile 2 preview invitation has prompted questions about Act 5, new classes, and a possible interview with Jonathan Rogers. Its timing is notable, with ExileCon scheduled for November and the full release set for December 11, 2026.

But the invitation's wording does not confirm another base class. GGG has confirmed the Duelist for version 1.0 and indicated that more information about its Ascendancies will be shown at ExileCon. That is the clearest confirmed lead for players interested in upcoming character options.

Until the invitation is authenticated and GGG provides more details, the safest conclusion is that additional class news remains possible, not confirmed. Players looking for reliable answers should prioritize official announcements and verified preview coverage as the 1.0 launch approaches.

With the release of VAMPIR drawing ever closer, what steps should you take at the start to get ahead of other players? Foremost, you cannot overlook the importance of prioritizing various quests - and there are several key points to keep in mind as you level up.

Where should you start?

If you want to accelerate your progress in VAMPIR and unlock its mechanics, make sure to prioritize the yellow main story quests as soon as you start the game.

Some tasks require you to defeat a large number of monsters; attempting this solo can be slow and risky, so you can choose to Create a Party and invite friends to join you in completing them.

Other Mission Types

Side Missions

Once you have unlocked side missions, be sure not to leave them sitting idle for too long.

These side missions (marked in blue) are often located in the same areas as your main objectives. You can easily complete them while progressing through the main storyline, then seamlessly return to your primary tasks.

Green Missions

Green missions should also be a priority. They provide essential early-game resources - such as materials for enchanting and weapon upgrades - along with experience points.

By interspersing green missions while working on your main objectives, you can minimize the time and energy wasted on backtracking across the map.

Daily Missions

To obtain core resources like Artifacts and Trinity as quickly as possible, be sure to complete your daily missions every day; doing so also gives you a chance to earn chests that can contain epic-quality items.

Memory Missions

Once you unlock memory missions at certain stages, be sure to prioritize completing them, as they help unlock exclusive chapters and essential features.

You can think of both Memory Missions and Daily Missions as routine tasks that should be completed regularly - this will help you build a solid resource foundation for the early stages of VAMPIR.

Upgrade Gear with Caution

In the early stages of VAMPIR, players have limited resources; therefore, you should avoid wasting them on upgrading unnecessary equipment.

Focus on upgrading gear that is explicitly required by quests, as well as rare items worth keeping. Since common (white-tier) gear is replaced very quickly, investing resources into such items too early will probably result in a waste of resources.

Just like gear enhancement, your daily resource acquisitions require careful planning. You don't need to be stingy with your Gold at Gold Shop early on; the upgrade materials, Class Portrait Kit Chests, and other items available there are highly beneficial for your start, so exchange for them whenever they appear.

Notably, the chests containing portraits can also boost your base stats; this is a detail that players in VAMPIR often overlook, leading to a loss of long-term gains.

Leveling Drives Progression

Players are likely aware of how important character level is in VAMPIR - it determines both the rewards you can earn and the unlocking of various game systems.

Given this, you should focus your efforts on steadily progressing through main quests, side quests, and daily tasks to level up as efficiently as possible.

Achievements offer rewards such as rare mounts, avatars, and pets - some of which can even be of legendary quality - making them highly valuable resources for you.

Staying ahead in levels during the early stages of VAMPIR will grant you greater growth potential compared to other players.

Balancing Collection and Black Market

During the initial phase of VAMPIR's launch, the choice between Collection and Black Market is also quite important.

Prioritizing Collection is essential; within codex, you should focus first on stats such as Evasion, Precision, Basic Defense, Skill Damage, Basic Attack, Flat Attack, and various types of damage resistances.

However, before registering a piece of gear into your Collection, consider its potential value in Black Market. Some items can be exchanged for Black Market coins - though keep in mind that there is a server-wide limit on such exchanges.

This is important because Black Market coins can be used to acquire summoning resources, Evolution Stone Pouches, potions, or even Epic-tier gear - all of which are especially valuable for free-to-play players.

By considering both Collection and Black Market in tandem, you can ensure that your pursuit of codex progress doesn't come at the expense of essential character-growth resources needed during the early stages of VAMPIR.

Notes on Discipline System

Although you can unlock Discipline system in the game after reaching level 31, you must be very careful when re-rolling attributes.

Since you cannot lock all slots simultaneously when re-rolling, rashly attempting to re-roll stats could easily cause you to lose excellent existing affixes - a situation made even worse if your currency reserves are already limited.

When resources run low, you can buy VAMPIR diamonds to give yourself the confidence to re-roll multiple times, allowing you to gradually fine-tune your stats until they're exactly what you want.

Content Beyond Level 32

The final milestone I'd like to point out is level 32, as the pace of the game accelerates significantly from that point on.

You can start running dungeons, but you should incorporate them into your routine alongside the main story quests and daily quests mentioned earlier.

By effectively managing these priorities and navigating these transitional phases, you will be able to accumulate resources and level up more efficiently, allowing you to progress through the game faster than others during the initial launch of VAMPIR.

The release of VAMPIR is just around the corner - get ready!