General News

Many players transitioning from controllers to wheels in Forza Horizon 6 face a common challenge: the inability to accurately perceive speed, leading to frequent skidding or off-track maneuvers.

However, this change isn't a bad one. In fact, with proper vehicle physics and core driving techniques, you'll find that with optimized wheel settings, FH6's driving experience can highly realistically replicate real-world track conditions. Let's see how to optimize your wheel settings to truly maximize your vehicle's speed in FH6!

Difficulty Settings

To achieve true driver-machine integration in Forza Horizon 6, you must first disable all unnecessary computer intervention in the game's difficulty options, allowing the vehicle to exhibit its purest physical characteristics:

• Braking: Set to Anti-Lock Off. This allows you to clearly perceive the tires' critical points during high-intensity braking.
• Steering: Set to Simulation. Ordinary steering involves too much computer fine-tuning assistance, while Simulation provides the purest force feedback, allowing you to intuitively feel changes in wheel grip.
• Traction and Stability Control: Set to Off. With computer-assisted driving, it's difficult to judge the vehicle's dynamics. Only by turning them off can you learn how to use the accelerator and steering wheel to control the vehicle's critical point of loss of control.
• Shifting: Manual with Clutch recommended. While Automatic is a good choice for beginners, Manual is what you need if you want to truly master the vehicle.

Avoid these driving mistakes!

Next, before we begin, we must understand some common driving mistakes. In fact, the secret to increasing speed lies in smoothness; aggressive operation will only disrupt the weight transfer of the vehicle, causing instantaneous loss of control.

1. Slamming on the accelerator

Especially when dealing with high-horsepower vehicles, blindly applying the accelerator will only cause the rear wheels to instantly lose traction. Therefore, it is recommended that you imagine the accelerator pedal as stepping on an unbreakable egg; only by gradually applying power can you control the accelerator.

2. Excessive and Ineffective Oversteer

Please note that turning the steering wheel more is not necessarily better, especially when the vehicle is already understeer and the front wheels are overloaded. Continuing to turn the steering wheel excessively at this point is pointless.

3. Braking While Turning

Understeer often occurs because the driver attempts to brake and steer simultaneously. The front wheels cannot withstand two extreme forces at the same time. The correct approach is to brake hard on a straight line, release the brake, and then turn the steering wheel. This significantly shortens braking distance and improves cornering efficiency.

4. Engine Braking

When braking hard into a corner, it is recommended to downshift simultaneously. Manually downshifting while utilizing engine braking to assist deceleration not only provides stronger braking but also ensures the engine is in its optimal RPM range when exiting the corner, resulting in a perfect exit.

Cornering Strategy

Another core aspect of racing in Forza Horizon 6 is cornering. Mastering the art of cornering is key to staying ahead of your competitors.

First, you must remember not to keep your eyes solely focused on the front of the car while driving. When entering a corner, keep your eyes on the apex; as you approach the apex, shift your gaze to the exit point; when exiting, look beyond the current point towards the next corner. The car will naturally gravitate in the direction your eyes are focused.

The apex is the point where the race car is closest to the inside of the corner. Before reaching the apex, your only task is to slow down and adjust the car's direction; after passing the apex, as the steering wheel gradually straightens, you can linearly accelerate.

By staying close to the outside of the track before entering the corner, making full use of its width, simply put, enter the corner late and exit early. While this late-entry strategy may seem to sacrifice entry speed, it results in a straighter car direction, allowing you to accelerate earlier and more aggressively when exiting the corner.

Drive Type & Cornering Differences

In FH6, different drive characteristics determine your throttle strategy when exiting corners:

Racing with Wheel Simulator in Forza Horizon 6 is not just about blindly pursuing the thrill of extreme braking and flooring the accelerator. Only by slamming on the brakes on the brakes just before the tires lock up on straightaways and maintaining stability in corners can you successfully navigate them and gain a commanding lead! Remember: every perfect corner exit depends on your absolute mastery of Wheel Simulator!

Starting June 3rd, Monopoly Go will launch a new crossover season, and The Simpsons will bring chaos to the world of Monopoly Go. This fully integrated season will be filled with mayhem and competition, with new activities taking place both inside and outside the game.

The Simpsons album features everything from iconic Springfield landmarks to fresh gameplay mechanics. This season offers time-limited Simpsons-themed content, including new boards, collectible mini-games, and community events that run throughout the entire crossover.

Story Episode

During this season, a time-limited Story Episode will be released every two weeks. Two brand-new Springfield-themed boards, a new themed mini-game, a role-playing mode called Simpsons Run, and much more will also be introduced at the same time.

Episode Sticker Sets

This season introduces Episode Sticker Sets. Each set contains nine stickers, and completing the whole collection will reward you with exclusive The Simpsons-themed decorations and collectibles. However, these stickers can only be obtained during the two weeks when their set is active. As the season progresses, new episodes will arrive, bringing fresh sticker packs for you to collect. Old Episode Stickers will no longer be obtainable, so make sure to seize the opportunity.

Every Episode Sticker Set can be completed twice. The second completion provides bonus rewards, including new decorations aimed at dedicated collectors. Episode Sticker Sets are entirely optional and will not affect your Main Album progress. They are simply a more enjoyable way to earn extra rewards and help you collect more items throughout the season.

New Events in The Simpsons Album

Simpsons Run

This is a brand-new mini experience, similar to Golden Snitch event from the previous Harry Potter GO season. During each Episode Sticker Set event, a different Springfield resident will appear on Free Parking tile of your board. When you land on that tile, the board transforms into a character-driven mini-experience, with the tiles forming a path to the finish line.

While playing Simpsons Run, the regular board tiles disappear, and you will roll character-themed dice. You need to avoid void hazards, collect points, and aim for the biggest reward as you race to the end. Once your run is over (whether you fail or successfully reach the finish), you will return to Free Parking tile and resume normal gameplay.

Keep in mind that this activity consumes your regular dice. For veteran players with a large dice reserve, the impact is minimal. However, if you are someone who has to wait for dice to slowly regenerate, you may need to plan your usage in advance.

Bribe Wiggum

Chief Clancy Wiggum officially joins The Simpsons album. When you land on a Jail tile, there is a chance to trigger a brand-new Bribe Wiggum mini-event. You can attempt to bribe him: if your bribe is sufficient, he will set you free and also grant you a large number of dice rolls.

Here is how the mechanic works:

• Roll Bribe: Increases your reward multiplier.
• Roll Handcuffs: The deal falls through, and you will have to post bail.
• Roll Key: Wiggum lets you walk away with all the rewards.

Simpsons-Themed Shutdown & Heists

Shutdown, Heist, and Mega Heist events in The Simpsons album are all themed around The Simpsons monorail. Every time you land on a Monorail tile, you will see classic Simpsons characters and scenes. The gameplay of Shutdown and Heist remains unchanged, but the visuals and opening animations have been completely overhauled.

Chance Cards

This season is expected to feature more than 50 The Simpsons-themed Chance Cards, including classic jokes, famous scenes, and character-driven special effects. Five of these cards will be chosen by a player vote. The voting will be open on the official Discord server until June 5th, where you can pick your favorites from a list of ten candidate themed Chance Cards. The top five will officially join the game.

Stickers and Collectibles

A new season means brand-new board tokens, dice skins, and shields, all designed in The Simpsons style. If you complete all the sticker sets, you will be rewarded with 15,000 dice and a Homer Simpson board token. Completing the final album set gives you 1,500 dice and a shield. Additionally, finishing each individual set will provide you with dice and other rewards.

Although The Simpsons album lasts for 8 weeks (the same duration as Monopoly Ever After album) and contains fewer total stickers (189), it includes 29 gold stickers, with a higher proportion of 5-star gold stickers. This means that obtaining high-star stickers may become more difficult, so you will need to plan your resources more carefully.

By playing Simpsons-themed mini-games, you can unlock new tokens, shields, emojis, and dice skins, gradually building your ultimate Springfield collection. Some of the collectibles have already been revealed:

Mr. Burns and Mr. Monopoly

There are also activities waiting for you beyond the game. Throughout the entire The Simpsons season, Mr. Burns and Mr. Monopoly will engage in a community-driven rivalry, competing for the title of the true tycoon. Every week, a new community challenge will appear on Discord. Complete cooperative tasks to unlock rewards, including dice rolls and sticker packs. Gather your friends and join in, then vote for the tycoon you believe truly deserves the crown.

The development team has prepared so many new mechanics and themed contents for The Simpsons album that it is clear they are full of confidence in this crossover. The humor and classic elements of The Simpsons are also highly anticipated. As for the final experience, we will have to see how each mini-game performs in practice.

Among all the new mechanics introduced in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0, Runeforging stands out as one of the best ways to enhance your armor and weapons.

Utilizing this mechanic requires the consumption of Verisium metal, hence why it is also referred to as Verisium Runeforging. Furthermore, to maximize the effectiveness of Runeforging, the key lies in gear-enhancing effects such as Runic Ward.

In this guide, we will introduce you to Runeforging mechanic, covering its intricate details and associated items, to help you make the most of it.

Runeforging Mechanic overview

Once you have acquired Verisium metal, you can utilize Runeforging to consume it, thereby granting Runic Ward to your armor or upgrading your armor and weapons. The specific effects depend on the base level and attributes of the gear in question.

It is worth clarifying that Runic Ward acts as a special defensive layer that only activates when your life drops to 1.

While Runic Ward is absorbing incoming damage on your behalf, you can utilize other mechanics or items to recover your life; however, if your Runic Ward is depleted before you manage to recover, you will still die.

As for the upgrading effects, which include replacing modifiers, increasing the number of sockets, and more, the available options will expand as you progress through the league. However, this mechanic is currently applicable only to weapons and armor of Level 55 or lower.

How to obtain Verisium Metal?

As the essential special currency required to utilize Runeforging mechanic, the best way to acquire Verisium during Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0 campaign is by completing Farrow's questline.

This questline consists of four quests, distributed evenly across Acts 1 through 4. Completing them not only rewards you with Verisium metal but also grants standard PoE 2 currency and unlocks additional Runeforging options.

Once you reach the endgame, the primary method for obtaining this special metal involves interacting with Ezomyte Remnants. These are structures scattered throughout the world, each featuring empty sockets.

You can insert runes you have collected into these sockets to activate and empower the monsters surrounding Remnant; defeating these empowered monsters will yield Verisium metal and other loot.

Notably, by defeating high-tier Runic monsters or completing specific boss encounters within Expeditions, you may also be rewarded with Exceptional Verisium.

You can think of them as a type of auxiliary tool, or, perhaps more accurately, as upgrade materials that are significantly more potent than standard Verisium. Consequently, acquiring them on the trading market requires a larger investment of PoE 2 currency.

In light of this, we suggest that before you dive into utilizing Runeforging mechanic in-game, you consider participating in IGGM PoE 2 Patch 0.5.0 currency giveaways!

If you happen to be one of the lucky winners, a one-in-ten chance, you could receive 100 Divine Orbs and 1,000 Exalted Orbs completely free of charge!

Is Runic Ward worth using?

As the core effect of Runeforging mechanic, Runic Ward can undoubtedly give you some much-needed breathing room and opportunities to recover during critical situations. However, it is not a suitable choice for every Path of Exile 2 character build.

This is because, as a balancing mechanism for gaining Runic Ward, evasion, energy shield, or standard armor values on your gear will decrease after undergoing Runeforging process.

For standard gear, this balancing mechanism generally results in an overall net gain in stats; however, if your specific build relies heavily on those three defensive attributes, then trading them away to acquire Runic Ward would not be a wise decision.

This is especially true once your gear reaches Level 50 or higher, or if you have already assembled a best-in-slot endgame gear setup; in such cases, sacrificing your existing defensive attributes to gain Runic Ward often results in a net loss rather than a gain.

Doing so not only risks lowering your attack speed, but if your build also relies on those defensive attributes to provide damage bonuses, your overall damage output will suffer a corresponding decline.

Conversely, if your build does not rely on these specific defensive stats to boost its damage output or other performance metrics, then Runic Ward is an excellent system to utilize.

Once you decide to acquire Runic Ward, you can view it as your final line of defense, or essentially as a reserve pool of extra life.

During the early stages of the game, Runic Ward serves as an effective way to significantly increase your maximum life ceiling.

As you progress into the endgame and begin exploring Maps, you will encounter special gems or unique items that sometimes feature specific affixes, allowing Runic Ward to synergize with other game mechanics.

This means that the value of Runic Ward extends beyond mere defense, further enriching the possibilities for crafting and optimizing your builds within Runes of Aldur league.

What are alloys?

Patch 0.5.0 introduces 13 new alloy currency items to the game. We are highlighting them specifically because, during gameplay, you might easily confuse their function with that of Runeforging system.

The purpose of Alloys is to randomly select and remove one of the existing affixes on a piece of gear; subsequently, depending on the gear type, they apply a guaranteed new crafted modifier. Notably, these specific modifiers cannot be obtained through any other means.

Since the affixes associated with each type of alloy vary, some are considered more valuable and are significantly harder to acquire, such as Mystic Alloy and Prismatic Alloy.

That concludes our overview for this update. While the new content introduced in Patch 0.5.0 may seem extensive and perhaps a bit tricky to grasp at first, once you understand the underlying mechanics, you will find that it is actually quite simple!

Vintage Series has officially joined MLB The Show 26, bringing not only a wealth of collectible content but also recent changes to current MLB best lineup construction.

Many players face the same question after acquiring these cards: which players are worth investing resources in? To help everyone plan their lineups more efficiently, IGGM will conduct a tiered analysis of popular players in Vintage Series, taking into account the current meta environment, player attribute panels, in-game performance, and positional competition.

It should be noted that the rating not only considers player attribute values ​​but also emphasizes their actual value in ranked matches. Therefore, some players with average stats but excellent performance have also received higher ratings.

Tier S

• Ketel Marte
• Derek Jeter
• Matt Strahm
• Enrique Hernández

Tier A

• Chase Utley
• Ubaldo Jiménez
• Larry Walker
• Scary Terry

Tier S

Ketel Marte

Without a doubt, Ketel Marte is the most valuable player in the entire Vintage Series. As a Vintage Collection reward, he has virtually no glaring weaknesses. His overall rating of 96 is exceptionally high in contact, power, speed, and fielding. Whether placed at second base or in other suitable positions, Ketel Marte can be the core of your MLB 26 team's offensive system.

Enrique Hernández

Another player in S Tier is Enrique Hernández, with an overall rating of 92. His exceptional versatility makes him one of the most useful players in MLB 26. Aside from catcher, he can play almost any position on the field, while also possessing good hitting, fielding, and speed.

In an environment where roster flexibility is increasingly emphasized, Enrique Hernández offers significant tactical flexibility in MLB 26, making him worth 4,250 MLB The Show 26 Stubs.

Matt Strahm

Matt Strahm is one of the outstanding left-handed relief pitchers in Vintage Series. He possesses excellent pressure and consistent control, effectively limiting the opponent's offensive rhythm in challenging MLB 26 situations. His pitching repertoire is comprehensive, including fastball, sinker, slider, cutter, and changeup.

Matt Strahm can also disrupt batters' decisions through various pitch combinations. While his advantage against some top left-handed hitters isn't as pronounced as against right-handed hitters, his excellent control, superior pitching ability, and rarity as a left-handed pitcher make him a popular choice in the current MLB 26 bullpen, providing reliable relief support in crucial situations.

Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter is a typical all-around shortstop card, with his greatest strength coming from his consistent hitting ability. Derek Jeter maintains good on-base efficiency against both left- and right-handed pitchers. Combined with excellent clutch performance attributes, a great hitting touch, and a high margin for error, he remains an ideal choice for MLB 26 at this stage.

Defense is also a major selling point for Derek Jeter. He possesses a reliable defensive range and solid throwing ability, capable of consistently performing most defensive tasks in the shortstop area. Overall, this is a well-rounded player card with almost no obvious weaknesses, suitable for long-term use by players seeking consistent performance and a balanced offensive and defensive lineup.

Tier A

Ubaldo Jiménez

Ubaldo Jiménez is a powerful pitcher card that combines fastball, pitch depth, and starting stamina, making him quite competitive in the current MLB The Show 26. His greatest strength lies in his balanced attributes, maintaining consistent pressure against both left- and right-handed batters, while possessing the full stamina configuration of a starting pitcher, allowing him to maintain intensity for extended periods.

In terms of pitches, the four-seam fastball paired with a high-quality sinker creates a powerful offensive system, while the forkball, slider, and curveball further enrich the pitch options, allowing him to continuously disrupt the batter's rhythm.

While his control is slightly inferior to top starters, requiring a certain level of pitching skill to unleash his full potential, Ubaldo Jiménez remains a very suitable starting card for MLB 26 high-score rankings thanks to his excellent speed, a good mix of pitches, and well-rounded matchups.

Chase Utley

Chase Utley is a card that many players tend to underestimate. With an overall rating of 94, his excellent swing, consistent offensive and defensive balance, and outstanding defensive abilities make him highly competitive at second base. While his stats may not seem impressive, his performance in actual MLB 26 games is often more reliable than expected.

While his pure power-hitting ability is slightly lacking compared to other top offensive infielders in MLB 26, and his arm strength is relatively average, he doesn't possess a particularly outstanding throwing advantage in certain extreme defensive possessions. Therefore, his ceiling may not be as high as some star cards with super-powerful offense or extreme speed.

Overall, Chase Utley is a high-quality second baseman with a well-rounded offensive and defensive game and a very high margin for error, making him particularly suitable for MLB 26 players seeking a balanced and consistent lineup.

Larry Walker

Larry Walker is a more all-around outfielder card, offering consistent offensive and defensive performance in MLB The Show 26. His greatest strength lies in his excellent hitting ability, maintaining high consistency against both left and right pitchers, especially posing a greater threat against right-handed pitchers.

Combined with excellent clutch attributes, he can consistently contribute offensive value in crucial situations. His defense is equally commendable, possessing reliable defensive capabilities and a wide receiving range, while his arm strength and throwing accuracy are excellent for an outfielder, effectively limiting the opponent's extra - base hits.

Larry Walker's biggest weakness is a decline in his power hitting threat against left-handed pitchers. Additionally, while his speed is adequate, it's not enough to consistently create pressure. Overall, Larry Walker lacks any particularly outstanding individual abilities, but his consistent output and solid defense make him a reliable starting option for your MLB 26 team.

Scary Terry

Scary Terry has an overall rating of 91, possessing consistent on-base reach and a powerful ability to generate hits. He has excellent contact, vision, and clutch attributes, maintaining high hitting consistency against various pitchers.

Meanwhile, his defense is above average, capable of fulfilling daily outfield duties without becoming a defensive liability. However, Scary Terry's biggest weakness is his relatively weak power hitting ability; his speed and base-stealing ability are only average. Nevertheless, his defense is above average, ensuring he won't be a defensive liability for your MLB 26 team.

Overall, Vintage Series is undoubtedly one of the most noteworthy series in MLB The Show 26 right now. In the current version, if your goal is to achieve a more consistent win rate in ranked matches, then prioritizing building your roster around the players mentioned above will be the most direct and effective way to improve your team's strength.

Since you started playing FC 26, you may have grown accustomed to focusing primarily on Ultimate Team mode; however, this year's World's Game update, released to coincide with the World Cup, might just change that dynamic.

This is because Career Mode, another core gameplay pillar, has also received significant enhancements through this update, including the addition of the International Men's Tournament and other new content.

Below, we will provide a detailed breakdown of the specific changes World's Game update brings to Career Mode, and analyze whether it is worth diving into over the coming months.

Career Mode changes overview

Of all the content introduced by World's Game update, the most significant addition is the eponymous new tournament mode, which allows you to experience the thrill of a virtual World Cup within the game by taking control of your favorite team.

Interestingly, Career Mode has also gained access to International Men's Tournament, operating in a manner largely identical to the standalone World's Game mode.

If you are familiar with that mode, you will recognize this as a substantial expansion of content compared to previous iterations!

Furthermore, this update introduces new season-end live start points to Career Mode. This means you now have the option to either load a save file from just before the tournament begins, or utilize a new starting point to select a national team and jump straight into the competition.

Additionally, Festival of Football itself is a series of campaigns available within Ultimate Team, running from June 5th through July 24th and featuring the release of five distinct events during this period.

Building upon this, FC 26 has also added Festival of Football-themed ICONs and Heroes to Career Mode, designed to complement the new national teams introduced by the tournament.

Moreover, throughout Festival of Football campaign, weekly Manager Live Challenges with matching themes will be released specifically for Career Mode.

Finally, the objectives available for completion within Career Mode have also been updated, for instance, by requiring you to complete a specific number of particular challenges or to finish a match while managing a specific national team.

New teams analysis

The arrival of this tournament signifies the addition of a vast array of new national teams and players, arguably the most exciting feature this update brings to Career Mode.

To be more precise, while FC 26 Career Mode previously featured only 29 national teams, this update has caused that number to skyrocket to 60. Moreover, the vast majority of these national teams possess full official licensing.

However, Japanese and Egyptian teams are somewhat unique exceptions: while they feature licensed players, their kits and crests utilize unlicensed assets.

Additionally, there are five national teams in the game that currently still rely on unlicensed data; their inclusion in FC 26 is solely due to the fact that they successfully qualified for the current World Cup tournament.

However, given that the World Cup itself has expanded to 48 teams for this edition, it is entirely understandable, as FIFA 26 seeks to introduce a massive influx of new teams, that the licensing rights for one or two squads might not have been successfully secured.

New player analysis

The vast majority of players on these newly added teams feature authentic data, meaning you will encounter a large roster of new players who have never previously appeared in FUT game mode.

Many of the standout stars among these new additions hail from Brazilian league, such as Uruguay's Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Hugo Souza, as well as the star Paraguayan defender Gustavo Gómez (who plays for Palmeiras), among others.

Furthermore, the roster includes Luis Henrique and José Córdoba, both of whom have delivered impressive performances in Russian league, and James Rodríguez, who makes his return to the game representing Colombian national team.

New stadiums

Although the game previously featured several stadiums designated as World Cup venues, FC 26, building upon World's Game update, introduces three additional playable stadiums to the game.

These include Gillette Stadium (home of New England Revolution), BMO Field (home of Toronto FC), and the entirely fictional Central Maw Stadium.

Visually, Central Maw Stadium appears designed to replicate the real-world MetLife Stadium, the very venue slated to host the final match of the current World Cup tournament.

How to play the new tournament in Career Mode?

When configuring your initial game settings, you are free to select any national team of your choice; simply designate a head coach, and you can immediately begin playing.

To be honest, the integration of national team management alongside club management feels somewhat disjointed.

This may be due to the development team needing to rush production, or perhaps because they assumed that players would likely cease playing that specific Career Mode save once the World Cup had concluded.

In terms of structural format, this tournament mode serves as a complete replica of the World Cup currently taking place, mirroring details such as the 48-team participant pool, as well as the rule allowing certain third-place teams within their groups to qualify for the knockout stages.

Is the revamped Career Mode worth playing?

First off, EA FC 26 has truly done an excellent job of accurately replicating tournament formats; at the very least, compared to previous iterations, this Career Mode update undoubtedly represents a positive step forward.

Although some of the menu interfaces within Career Mode still retain the old International Cup moniker for the new tournaments, the overall atmosphere of the competition experience feels completely revitalized compared to its predecessors.

Interestingly, while FC series has historically tended to be rather perfunctory during standard release cycles, it consistently manages to deliver a satisfying gameplay experience whenever a World Cup is on the horizon.

Therefore, one hopes that FIFA 26 and future titles will use this update as a springboard to continue prioritizing the refinement of international football content within Career Mode, rather than simply casting it aside once the current World Cup concludes.

With the progress of WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 2, Serpentshrine Cavern and Tempest Keep have become the primary raiding and farming dungeons for players. More and more guilds are steadily advancing their raid progress, but a problem faced by almost all guilds is gradually surfacing: class shortages.

For many guilds, acquiring gear is no longer the biggest challenge; maintaining a stable and complete raid lineup has become the new hurdle. Previously, many statistical websites published class demand rankings based on player data, but the actual game environment often differs significantly from mere statistics.

The truly hard classes to recruit are not necessarily the least populated, but those that can significantly improve the overall performance of a raid, yet lack a stable player base. Based on current raid recruitment data and feedback from WoW TBC Classic player community, the demand for some specs far exceeds that of others.

• Enhancement Shamans and Elemental Shamans
• Shadow Priests
• Affliction Warlock
• Balance Druid
• Protection Warrior

Enhancement Shamans and Elemental Shamans

In WoW TBC Classic Phase 2, Shamans were undoubtedly one of the most sought-after classes in guilds. With Serpentshrine Cavern and Tempest Keep becoming core raid content, the demands on overall DPS efficiency increased, making the totem buffs provided by Shamans even more crucial.

Since different groups require different types of buffs, a standard raid often includes multiple Shamans to maximize overall combat effectiveness. Enhancement Shamans and Elemental Shamans are particularly popular specializations that many raids compete to recruit. Enhancement Shamans significantly boost DPS of melee groups, while Elemental Shamans provide stable damage buffs and support effects for caster classes.

We found that while Restoration Shamans were plentiful in TBC Classic Phase 2, the number of players willing to commit to Enhancement Shamans and Elemental Shamans long-term was relatively limited, resulting in a persistent shortage of these two DPS specializations.

Therefore, Enhancement Shamans and Elemental Shamans have extremely high recruitment priority, whether for fixed raid groups seeking stable progress or temporarily formed PUGs. For players looking to quickly secure a spot in a raid, these two specializations remain the most competitive choices for WoW BCC Anniversary Phase 2.

Shadow Priests

Besides Shamans, Shadow Priests are another crucial spec that many guilds have long lacked. As one of the most classic support DPS specs from WoW TBC era, Shadow Priest's greatest value lies not only in individual damage output but also in its unique mana regeneration mechanism, which significantly improves the survivability of the entire caster-based party.

In the long battles and high-intensity dungeon environment of BCC Anniversary Phase 2, team benefits are often far more important than simply adding a high-DPS spec. This is why many teams, even with a complete roster, continue to seek stable Shadow Priests.

Because of the relatively small player base for this spec, its long development period, and the significant investment of WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Gold, many teams could not recruit stable Shadow Priests for months on end.

Affliction Warlock

Affliction Warlock is another spec frequently targeted for recruitment by guilds. With the advancement of WoW TBC Classic Phase 2, the overall importance of Warlocks has further increased, and many teams have begun to heavily utilize Destruction Warlocks to pursue higher DPS performance. However, in this team composition, the importance of Affliction Warlocks is further amplified.

Affliction Warlocks not only provide crucial team buffs but also effectively enhance the overall DPS of other Warlocks. Especially in teams aiming for high scores and speed runs, Affliction Warlocks have almost become standard equipment.

Unfortunately, because of gameplay habits and class preferences, the number of players willing to primarily play Affliction Warlock in BCC Anniversary remains very limited, making it one of the most scarce specializations.

Statistics show that Affliction Warlock players make up less than 2% of the player base. This means that many teams, even with several Warlocks, still lack the crucial Affliction specialization.

Balance Druid

Balance Druid, also known as Boomkin, was another popular spec in BCC Anniversary Phase 2 team recruitment market. While Boomkin doesn't excel in individual DPS rankings, its ability to provide spell critical strike auras, combat resurrection, and various support abilities gives it unique team value.

In standard team compositions, Boomkin often brings considerable benefits to the entire spellcaster DPS group. However, because the number of Druid players is not large to begin with, and the proportion of players choosing Balance Druid is even lower, many guilds have long faced a shortage of Boomkins. For players looking for an easy to spot, Boomkin remains an excellent choice.

Protection Warrior

It's worth noting that Protection Warriors were also in high demand during TBC Anniversary Phase 2. Because many players considered Arms Warriors and Feral Druid Tanks to be the mainstream tanks in WoW TBC Phase 2, the number of Protection Warrior players steadily declined.

However, Protection Warriors possess extremely strong single-target threat generation and excellent gear progression potential. With high gear levels, many Protection Warriors can even maintain stable tanking performance while dealing significant damage with dual-wielding weapons.

Many experienced players believe that Protection Warriors are actually one of the most underrated specs in the entire WoW TBC Anniversary Phase 2, and their scarcity further increases the demand for this class in raids.

Based on current raid recruitment information and class demographics for WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 2, Enhancement Shaman, Elemental Shaman, Shadow Priest, Affliction Warlock, Balance Druid, and Protection Warrior have become the most popular spec choices in Phase 2.

For players considering leveling alts or returning to the game, choosing these specs not only makes it easier to secure raid slots but also ensures they remain highly competitive in future raid environments. Judging from current trends, this class demand pattern is likely to continue throughout BCC Anniversary Phase 2.

The pace of updates for ARC Raiders has slowed, and the next one may not arrive until October. That said, the game is not completely idle: a brand-new, standalone server is about to go live, though unfortunately it will be open only to players in China.

If you know even a little about video games in China, you are aware that they operate under their own set of censorship rules and sometimes feature completely separate content. According to an announcement from the official Chinese operator of ARC Raiders, new game modes will launch on Chinese server.

China-Exclusive Client

As early as February 2026, the developer had already announced that ARC Raiders would receive a standalone game client tailored for Chinese market. Chinese gaming market has historically been a difficult barrier for publishers to cross.

To bring ARC Raiders and more titles into China, large Chinese publishers typically rely on their own development teams to carry out localized production through licensing agreements or brand partnerships. In the case of ARC Raiders, Chinese partner will handle both the release and the development work, rather than the original developer. In other words, the team behind the version that players currently enjoy has no connection whatsoever to the development of Chinese client.

Another major difference lies in regional restrictions. Although there are ways to circumvent them, the vast majority of Chinese players can only access their dedicated version and client of ARC Raiders, which does not interconnect with the rest of the world - much like Overwatch and World of Warcraft.

This kind of segregation has also effectively reduced the influx of cheaters from that region. As a result, the two versions have no form of connection with each other, which has led to different outcomes but also brought positive effects in other respects.

Rebellion Mode

During the early beta tests, several distinctly new modes existed, and the one that interests players the most is likely Rebellion mode. Some players mistook it for a PvE mode, and while it does function like a PvE mode in practice, that is not strictly accurate.

This new map state, called Rebellion, is exclusive to ARC Raiders beta test as well as the eventual official launch of Chinese client. Functionally speaking, the world environment remains almost identical no matter which map you are on, save for a few important details.

At the start, all players are in a PvE state, with every Raider fighting against ARCs. Raiders cannot deal any damage to one another at the beginning. However, players can choose to rebel and turn their weapons against their teammates.

When players make that choice, they can then harm hostile Raiders. Those who have not chosen to rebel do not seem to take damage even if they are hit by stray bullets. Only players who actively opt into rebellion can both inflict and receive damage. That means you can defend yourself in such a situation, but lethal force only works against those Raiders who have chosen rebellion.

It is worth noting that rebels are marked with a traitor icon, and a red marker appears on the minimap, letting other players know their location. Whether this marker updates in real time or at fixed intervals is still unclear, but that is the basic mechanic.

Another interesting aspect of this mode is that it yields more ARC Raiders blueprints, and the spawn rate of rare weapons and attachments is also higher. This makes Rebellion a low-risk, high-reward mode in most situations. Yet if too many players choose to rebel, the scenario could become entirely different.

Perhaps this is PvE versus PvPvE discussion that players have always wanted to have: the mode neither abandons PvPvE elements on which the game was built, nor does it ignore the interest of those seeking a more relaxed experience with lower risk.

Dual Boss Mode

Apart from Rebellion mode, there is also a Dual Boss mode. It is known that Queen and Matriarch will appear at the same time, and additional airdrop supplies will be available within the combat zone. These supplies may include ammunition, medical kits, weapons, as well as Raider backpacks and crates that can be looted.

This mode is quite compelling, especially for players who lean more toward a PvE style. Countless times, Dual Boss mode provides another major threat and will undoubtedly extend match durations. Right now, many players simply quit when they see that only 15 to 20 minutes remain on the clock, knowing that there is nothing of value left on the map.

Weapon Skins

Footage from this closed test also reveals that Chinese client includes weapon skins. Only a handful of weapon skins have been shown so far, but it is certain that others will appear later.

Weapon skins represent a whole new cosmetic system - not just a few individual items - and this feature is still absent from the global client. While some players are indifferent to cosmetic systems, others have certainly been looking forward to this addition.

Will These Features Come to the Global Servers?

Many players want to know whether any of this content will make its way to the global version. Especially given the months-long gaps between major updates, adding new modes could effectively help sustain ARC Raiders' activity.

Unfortunately, the developer has not made any statements on this matter yet. However, Dual Boss mode does have a chance of appearing, as it was mentioned in previous leaks. As for Rebellion mode, the likelihood is much lower.

This is because the official developer of ARC Raiders may not have been involved in creating Rebellion mode at all. Partnerships in regional markets - especially China - tend to follow a brand licensing model. Chinese operator obtains permission to use the base version of the game and then further develop it. This is a regional partnership: the core gameplay remains intact, but the content is then expanded specifically for Chinese market.

Consequently, this version may be a completely independent product, and some or even all of these differences may never come to the global client. Yet it is also possible that these features are already planned for the future, and Chinese client simply got there first.

Chinese client has its own exclusive content. Some players might feel envious, but for those familiar with World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch, this is nothing new. If you look at it from a different perspective, it might actually be a good thing: ARC Raiders now benefits from more developers, and perhaps both server versions can borrow the best parts from each other.

On June 5, 2023, Diablo 4 launched amidst the high expectations of countless ARPG players; as of this year, it has now completed three full years of operation.

Coincidentally, June 5, 2026, marking the game's 3rd anniversary, falls right within the active window of Season 14 3.1 PTR (June 2-9). Consequently, the 3rd Anniversary Celebration has been scheduled to take place during this very same timeframe.

This means that throughout this week, you can fully enjoy the festivities and rewards of the anniversary celebration while simultaneously exploring the various major mechanical overhauls introduced by PTR.

In this guide, we will primarily introduce the events scheduled for the 3rd Anniversary Celebration, as well as the main methods for participating in 3.1 PTR.

How to join 3.1 PTR?

If you are interested and have some spare time when participating in the anniversary festivities, be sure to join 3.1 PTR as well to get a feel for the potential mechanical changes coming in Season of Pandemonium.

PTR begins at the exact same time as the 3rd Anniversary Celebration. Once it starts, you can log in, create a new character, and locate NPC named Morac.

From there, you can choose whether to experience 3.1 PTR from scratch or jump directly into the endgame content, depending on your preference.

However, regardless of which path you choose, a robust gear setup is essential to ensure a smooth and effective testing experience.

With this in mind, IGGM has launched a series of related giveaways on Discord. By participating, you stand a chance to win items such as Lair Boss Keys, helping you unlock even more rare gear!

Alternatively, you can choose to import an existing character to experience 3.1 PTR. However, be sure to complete this import before creating a new character; otherwise, your new character's data will be overwritten and erased.

3rd Anniversary event schedule

The celebration kicked off on June 2 at 10:00 AM PDT. The first events to go live are two classics you should already be quite familiar with: Mother's Blessing and March of the Goblins. These events will remain active until June 9, when the celebration concludes.

Additionally, from 12:00 PM PDT on June 2 through the same time on June 6, Diablo 4 will offer a daily gift that can be claimed directly from the in-game shop, totaling five gifts in all. You have until June 9, the end of the anniversary event, to claim any of these gifts.

Mother's Blessing

This is a limited-time beneficial event. Aside from special milestones like anniversaries, Diablo 4 typically hosts this event during the mid-to-late stages of a season, allowing you to acquire more resources before the season concludes and thereby enhancing your overall gameplay experience.

More specifically, during Mother's Blessing event, regardless of whether your character resides in Seasonal or Eternal Realm, the amount of gold dropped from any combat activity increases by 50%, while XP gained increase by 35%.

Upon logging into the game, if you notice a small buff icon appearing above your experience bar, it signifies that Mother's Blessing is active, meaning you can start farming immediately!

It is worth noting that while Mother's Blessing effect is active, other in-game gold and XP bonuses remain available; this means you can stack these effects to further maximize your final rewards.

If your goal is to gain more XP, the best strategy is to utilize special Elixirs. If you are looking to acquire more gold, you can use Sigils with gold-boosting affixes and then clear Nightmare Dungeons.

If you have unlocked Lord of Hatred expansion, you can also leverage Horadric Seal and War Plan Upgrade Tree nodes. For instance, Jade Epiphany node within The Undercity Upgrade Tree generates Experience Orbs for you whenever you increase your Attunement Level.

March of the Goblins

Once this event begins, various types of Treasure Goblins will spawn in large numbers across the world; defeating them yields substantial amounts of gold, crafting materials, or other valuable loot.

Notably, if you wish to combine this event with Mother's Blessing to maximize your gold earnings, you should prioritize hunting down Gilded Baron goblins, which are distinguished by their yellow color.

If you want to generally increase your chances of encountering various goblins, one effective method is to complete Avarice the Gold-Cursed World Boss encounter, as large groups of goblins will spawn throughout the battle.

Additionally, Greed Shrines found within Nightmare Dungeons offer an excellent way to acquire gold. The shrine itself grants a temporary buff lasting approximately 15 to 30 seconds, causing enemies to drop gold whenever you strike them and simultaneously increasing your gold pickup radius.

During March of the Goblins event, activating a Greed Shrine will spawn multiple Treasure Goblins, further amplifying your rewards. In addition to direct item drops, defeating Goblins allows you to earn event-specific reputation points on the dedicated reputation board.

As your point total increases, your reputation tier will rise, enabling you to obtain even more loot drops from subsequent Goblin kills. Upon reaching the highest tier during this event, you will be rewarded with Regalia of the Sacred Creed, a cosmetic mount armor set!

Even if you complete the reputation board before the 9th, your event experience is far from over; typically, Goblin rewards can be farmed infinitely throughout the designated event period.

Shop gifts

During the anniversary celebration, Diablo 4 is releasing five special gifts. You have the option to claim each gift on its specific release day, or you may wait and claim all of them at once before the festivities conclude. Below is the full list of gifts and their respective release dates:

• Day 1: Blood Raven's Talon (One-handed Sword Cosmetic)
• Day 2: King Kanai's Last Stand (Shield Cosmetic)
• Day 3: Nangari Wounder (Dagger Cosmetic)
• Day 4: Overlord's Odium (Two-handed Axe Cosmetic)
• Day 5: Flamefinger's Claws (Glaive Cosmetic)

That wraps up everything we have to share with you regarding this event. All the activities mentioned above are now live, and the first gift is already available. So, without further ado, jump into the game and enjoy this action-packed week!

In Diablo 4 Lord of Hatred, nearly every class except the Paladin is far too powerful - even clearing The Pit up to level 150 feels effortless for them. However, this situation is clearly unsustainable, as the developers have no intention of letting players breeze through the high-difficulty content they designed.

According to PTR 3.1 patch note, most classes have been nerfed. As a result, the various classes in Diablo 4 Season of Pandemonium are destined to be somewhat weaker than their counterparts in Season 13. We can therefore make some predictions about how each class will perform in Season 14.

Tier S

Rogue

Rogue was already extremely strong in Season 13, boasting the most diverse selection of top-tier builds. After the update, it will only become stronger.

Notably, the Spellbound Steel Talisman set - an infusion-focused set that previously suffered from numerous bugs - will be fixed. This could unlock multi-infusion builds. If that proves powerful, Rogue may well reach Tier S.

Druid

Apart from losing some power from Resolve stacking, Druid has been strengthened across the board. Several set items and unique pieces have received buffs, especially those builds that either did not rely on Resolve stacking or required complex maneuvers to trigger their effects.

Crucially, Might of the Ursine ring - a core pillar of Druid's strength - remains unchanged. Druid was roughly Tier A in Season 13; if it escapes further nerfs, it might ascend to Tier S in Season 14.

While the balance adjustments in Diablo 4 Season 14 may have made the game more balanced, some players still enjoy the strength of Season 13 characters. During PTR 3.1, IGGM had a Lair Boss Keys and Gems Giveaway on Discord, giving you the opportunity to obtain powerful unique and even mythic items, or to craft Flawless Horadric Gems in Season 13.

Tier A

Paladin

Paladin's buffs center mainly on Zenith and Blessed Shield, along with a halved cooldown on Heaven's Fury. Zealot Oath's bonus has been increased from 17% to 21%, and Judicator Oath has been reworked to provide a constant damage bonus after using Judgment, rather than only benefiting builds that trigger Judgment rapidly.

That said, not every change simplifies Paladin - Clash has been nerfed, and the developers have generally reduced Resolve stacking. Although Paladin ranked near the bottom in Season 13, the official team has been very restrained with its buffs, meaning Paladin may only return to Tier A. Still, do not forget that Season 14 also brings Mythic 3.0, from which Paladin might benefit.

Necromancer

Necromancer has received small buffs to Blight, Corpse Explosion, and Blood Surge, though these improvements may not be enough to make those builds truly excellent.

Dominate Glyph has been significantly nerfed, which likely means Blood Wave Necromancer will fall out of Tier S again. Other builds, such as Golem Necromancer, are less affected. Overall, Necromancer can at least remain in Tier A.

Barbarian

Barbarian was one of the strongest classes in Season 13, with a popular build using Melted Heart of Selig paired with nearly infinite Fury, making it almost unkillable.

Season 13 patch introduced a cap on Barbarian's mechanic that generates Fury from taking damage, which may directly invalidate this build. Aspect of Limitless Rage has also been heavily nerfed. Dominate's per-stack effect has been reduced from 23.6% to 1.8% - another crippling blow.

Although many Barbarian builds have been drastically weakened, some - like Wrath of the Berserker - have been buffed, so the class should not fall too low.

Sorcerer

The infinite stacking mechanics of Unstable Currents and Overwhelming Currents have been removed for Sorcerer, significantly slowing down those builds. However, given that Sorcerer could previously speed-clear level 150 without any exploits, this nerf is reasonable.

Fire and frost builds may receive more attention due to the lightning nerfs. Still, Frozen Orb build remains underwhelming, having not received sufficient buffs, and Sorcerer's survivability issues remain unsolved. Consequently, Sorcerer may return to mediocrity in Season 14.

Tier B

Spiritborn

The two best Spiritborn builds in Season 13 featured unlimited mobility, allowing players to hold down Rushing Claw for infinite dashes. PTR 3.1 removes that infinite mobility.

That said, Spiritborn is not completely incapable of achieving infinite mobility - with the right runes or skill combinations, you can still manage it. But you may have to sacrifice some damage or survivability in return. Additionally, Swarm build has been slightly nerfed, and Armored Hide no longer provides Unstoppable.

Spiritborn's mobility may lag behind other classes. It was roughly low-Tier S in Season 13; these nerfs might drop it to low-Tier A in Season 14.

Warlock

Even though Warlock did not stand out in Season 13, it has still been nerfed heading into Diablo 4 Season 14. Command Fallen Wrath's wrath generation has been reduced from 10 per attack to 8 and Command Valloch's Overpower have also been dialed down.

Because Overpower mechanic overall has been weakened, and Warlock relies heavily on Overpower for damage, the class has been fundamentally nerfed. For example, certain basic Overpower bonuses have been reduced from 4 stacks to 2, and related Temper effects have been almost halved.Apocalypse build's damage bonus has been lowered by 90%, with a duration increase to 3 seconds as compensation.

Another key point: Ceh (Spirit Wolves) runes no longer apply Vulnerable. Previously, almost every Warlock build depended on this rune to reliably apply Vulnerability - since Vulnerability is essential (the damage multipliers on gear are too large to ignore, and lacking Vulnerability costs about half your damage). Come Season 14, Warlock players will need to find new ways to apply Vulnerable.

PTR patch notes for Diablo 4 Season 14 show a wide range of adjustments. Overall, the developers seem to be nerfing the current strongest class builds while reinforcing some clearly weak areas, but they have yet to truly address the core problems of the middle-tier classes.

A class being nerfed does not necessarily mean it will become weak. With well-rolled gear, you can still produce astonishing damage. There are cheap and powerful Diablo 4 items on sale at IGGM, and using them can transform your character's damage output.

With May content update phase concluded, the competitive landscape of MLB The Show 26 Diamond Dynasty is becoming clearer. While the number of new cards released by MLB 26 over the past month wasn't particularly large, it still provided players with many noteworthy new options. Meanwhile, some star cards that performed strongly at the start of the season continue to firmly occupy mainstream roster positions.

Infield composition is especially crucial in MLB 26. With more and more high-rated players entering the meta, competition between positions has intensified, and newcomers have surpassed many previously popular choices. Based on current community feedback, in-game performance, and usage rates among high-level players, some players have essentially secured their top-tier status in their respective positions.

So, in MLB The Show 26, after May, which infielders are most worth investing resources in? IGGM will now provide a comprehensive overview of the best infielders for each position based on the current meta and analyze why they have reached the top tier.

• Catcher: Jorge Posada, Carlos Santana
• First Base: Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera
• Second Base: Ketel Marte
• Third Base: Jose Ramirez, Chipper Jones
• Shortstop: Troy Tulowitzki

Catchers

If we were to choose the best catcher in MLB The Show 26 right now, Jorge Posada and Carlos Santana would be almost undisputed.

Jorge Posada remains the top catcher in the eyes of many high-level players. He possesses an extremely smooth swing and consistent output. He remains competitive against both left and right pitchers while also providing solid defense.

Carlos Santana is another top choice for the catcher position. While his defense is slightly inferior to some pure defensive catchers, his excellent situational hitter quirks, outstanding batting statistics, and versatility make him one of the most well-rounded infielders in MLB 26.

In contrast, while Ted Simmons boasts impressive stats, his swing is controversial. Some MLB 26 players love his feel, but many others believe his swing is far less consistent than Posada's and Santana's.

Adley Rutschman, Victor Martinez, and Drew Romo offer excellent value, capable of playing as starters, especially for budget-conscious MLB 26 players.

First Base

Albert Pujols, with his top-tier stats and powerful quirk combination, grips the top spot at first base. While his swing isn't the absolute best in MLB The Show 26, his overall output is terrifying, posing a slugging threat against any pitcher.

Miguel Cabrera possesses even more impressive hitting statistics, particularly excelling with outside pitches. However, some players believe his swing is vulnerable to inside fastballs, leading to some debate about his actual feel.

Besides these two top players, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has become a hidden favorite for many players. While his card stats aren't extravagant, his excellent swing makes him far more effective in actual games than we imagine.

Joc Pederson, Lou Gehrig, and Freddie Freeman, all left-handed first basemen, are also good choices. Their skill levels are similar, and the choice depends on your personal swing preference in MLB 26.

Second Base

Ketel Marte is undoubtedly the undisputed ruler of second base. This card has almost no obvious weaknesses. He boasts excellent left and right hitting stats, a wealth of quirks, consistent defense, and a speed exceeding 80. Many players consider Marte to be one of the most well-rounded fielders in the entire MLB 26.

Jackie Robinson and Craig Biggio form the second tier. Both possess good speed and versatility, but their slugging ability is still significantly inferior to Marte's.

While Gleyber Torres of MLB The Show 26 possesses a top-tier swing, his defensive capabilities limit his potential. For high-ranking players, defensive consistency at second base is far more important than pure offensive ability, so whether to invest your MLB The Show 26 Stubs in this card requires careful consideration.

Third Base

Third base remains dominated by José Ramírez and Chipper Jones. José Ramírez, with his exceptionally high stats and versatility, is currently one of the most popular third basemen in MLB 26. 

He can not only play third base but also contribute at second base and shortstop. The only controversy stems from some MLB 26 players' feedback regarding dread lag, but this hasn't affected his overall top-tier status.

Chipper Jones continues to maintain his legendary status in MLB 26. Although some of his attributes are starting to be caught up by newer cards, his swing remains one of the most popular in the game. For many veteran players, Chipper is still the best choice in crucial games.

Alex Bregman is currently one of the most noteworthy, affordable, powerful cards. His exceptional extreme pull states combined with a superb swing give him a performance in MLB 26 that far exceeds his price tag.

Shortstop

Troy Tulowitzki remains the best shortstop in MLB 26. While his swing isn't for everyone, his superior fielding, top-tier arm strength, and excellent hitting ability more than compensate. His defensive coverage and clutch consistency place him among the top shortstops in MLB 26.

Derek Jeter and Francisco Lindor belong to the second tier of MLB 26 shortstops. Jeter possesses consistent contact ability and well-rounded stats, making him an ideal choice for many legendary-level players. Lindor, on the other hand, has gained a large following thanks to his Situational Hitter Quirks advantage and widely acclaimed swing.

Elly De La Cruz is one of the most controversial shortstops. He possesses terrifying athleticism and an explosive offensive ceiling, but his high defensive error rate and unique swing rhythm make him difficult for some players to handle. However, considering it's obtainable for free, Elly De La Cruz remains one of the most valuable reward cards in MLB.

Looking at the overall MLB The Show 26 environment in May, the selection of Best Infielders has largely reached a consensus. While the new content in June may bring more competition, these players still represent the highest level of infielders in MLB The Show 26 Diamond Dynasty. For players building a roster aiming for Ranked Seasons or Weekend Classic status, building a team around these core players is the safest option.