EpicDuel PVP Game Design Notes

December 24, 2022

Frost Revenant Showcase is Live!

After some delays, bug fixing, QoL additions, and final rounds of polish, the Frost Revenant Showcase is finally LIVE! Login today and collect the latest and greatest designs from Acatriel and Bido!

There were still more features planned to improve the Battlepass experience, but those sadly had to be cut for this update to launch before the New Year. We hope you enjoy it!

New PvP Drops

In addition to new Battlepass rewards, we've added new Evolved Frostbane PvP drops courtesy of Deuce! 

• Evolved Frostbane Blades P
• Evolved Frostbane Blades E
• Evolved Frostbane Axe P
• Evolved Frostbane Axe E
• Evolved Frostbane Staff P
• Evolved Frostbane Staff E
• Evolved Frostbane Blaster P
• Evolved Frostbane Blaster E
• Evolved Frostbane Bow P
• Evolved Frostbane Bow E

We've also re-added cores to the drop tables. Some limited charge cores that dropped during the update that introduced them were erroneously set to be unlimited. These will be manually set to 30 charges after this update. The core drops should now function normally with one known display bug that they still show "Unlimited" despite being the x30 variants in your inventory. Equipping the cores resolve this issue. 

New Missions

After you've battled enough to collect several of the new PvP drops, you can visit Deuce in the abandoned train station in the Mines to take on his new mission "Frosty Evolution", offering significant rewards culminating in new rare rewards!

Holiday Wishes

2022 presented many challenges and triumphs, but we're still here dueling on! Though the lack of Gifting has made this a more low-key month, it's been invaluable for stress reduction and creative recuperation. We have no shortage of interesting ideas and projects to build upon our progress from 2022 to carry EpicDuel into the future. On behalf of the EpicDuel team, we wish you a happy and safe holiday season, and a prosperous 2023! Thank you, and duel on!

Tags: Nightwraith

December 16, 2022

The 2023 Calendar is available for Pre-Order from HeroMart! When you get this latest calendar you'll unlock in-game rewards inside AQ3D, AdventureQuest, DragonFable, EpicDuel, and the Paladin Chronomancer Class / Armor set in AQWorlds! EpicDuel's rewards feature a complete set of Armors and Weapons courtesy of Epic Artist Acatriel!

Aurelio Voltaire’s new album, “The Black Labyrinth ~ A Requiem for the Goblin King,” is now available for pre-order!

 Aurelio Voltaire has appeared in every AdventureQuest Worlds Friday the 13th event, made his first appearance in AQ3D this year, and two of his tracks premiered during our 20th Anniversary event in October. He is a maker of music, films, books, comics, toys and... MAYHEM. His character and music have been player-favorites for years; that’s why we’re excited to announce... his long-awaited 13th studio album new album, “The Black Labyrinth ~ A Requiem for the Goblin King,” is now available for pre-order!

The full album releases on December 16th, 2022. Don’t wait. Pre-order The Black Labyrinth ~ A Requiem for the Goblin King now!

Frost Revenant Battlepass Coming Soon

The next season of EpicDuel's Battlepass is on the horizon and anticipated to release December 22, 2022. This new season will include a outstanding collection of frosty new gear just in time to celebrate the holidays and ring in the new year

Tags: Nightwraith

December 09, 2022

Login today to collect seasonal rares and enjoy improved PvP drop rates as you prepare for the upcoming Frost Revenant Battlepass!

Seasonal Rares Return

As is tradition, all seasonal rares have returned to shops throughout Delta V! Browse the various merchants from the Wastelands to Frysteland to collect all the seasonal rares you may have missed throughout the year.

PvP Drops Boosted

As of this update, PvP Drops will be more common as the base chance to receive a drop has been increased to 95%. Additionally, the Class Change, Skill Retrain, and Gear Retrain Coupon drop rates have been increased for all battle modes. The Coupons have also been added to the pool of potential daily rewards. Limited charge Strength / Dexterity / Technology / Support Boost Cores have been added to daily reward and PvP drop pools.

Balance Update

Generally, the past few balance updates have gone a long way towards dislodging stagnant strategies that have persisted for months. This latest update will feature a few small numerical changes to class balance, with a particular largest changes focusing on Tactical Mercenaries.

• Tactical Mercenary:
  • Adrenaline Rush: Changed to Tactical Grenade; 85% unblockable, ranged damage; Gain 180 flat energy; drains an amount of energy; new values: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75; improves every 3 Dex; unlocked by Barbed Grenade instead of Suppressing Fire.
  • Frenzy: Added energy cost, 30 + 10 per level (130 max); changed values to 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66.
  • Annihilation: Reduced energy cost by 30. 

• Tech Mage
  • Overload: Improves every 0.30 Dex → 0.32 Dex.
  • Plasma Bolt: Improves every 0.3 Tech → 0.28 Tech; costs 20 more energy per level → 15.
  • Super Charge: Reduced energy cost by 10 (270 at level 1).
  • Assimilation: Buffed by 10 points.

• Cyber Hunter
  • Nanotech Shield: Added 5% Defense and Resistance passive buff.

• Mercenary:
  • Blood Commander: Improves every 3 Supp → 4 Supp. 

• Blood Mage:
  • Maelstrom: Improves every 0.4 Tech → 0.35 Tech.
  • Fireball: Costs 20 more energy per level → 15. 

• General:
  • Artillery Strike: Reunify energy cost to be 300 at max; improves every 0.32 Supp → 0.34 Supp; +20 energy cost.
  • Fire Rain: Reunify energy cost to be 300 at max; improves every 0.32 Supp → 0.34 Supp; +20 energy cost.
  • Plasma Rain: Reunify energy cost to be 300 at max; improves every 0.32 Supp → 0.34 Supp; -20 energy cost.
  • Suppressing Fire: Reunify energy cost to be 300 at max; improves every 0.32 Supp → 0.34 Supp; -20 energy cost .

• Cores:
  • Omega Override: Reduce highest stat by 75% → 60%.
  • Minor Omega Override (Added to Torgan): Reduce highest stat by 50%.

Frost Revenant Battlepass Preview

The next season of the Battlepass is coming soon! The goal is to have the new pass tested and ready by the week of December 23rd!

Tags: Nightwraith

December 01, 2022

With all the changes from last week, there were bound to be adjustments, additions, and fixes to better tweak balance back into a healthy place. Remember that balance is an ongoing process that will never be perfect, but it can certainly always be improved through build diversity and intriguing new strategies.

Epic Legendary Supporter

As of this update, the 40K Varium package was removed from the game. Congratulations to all who managed to grab EpicDuel's best deal of the year. The 18K Varium and 10K Darkeater promotional packages are still available along with the 2022 Epic Supporter achievement.

Battlepass Conclusion

This season's Battlepass will conclude at the end of the day December 4th so you still have some time to collect the last of the rare rewards if you've fallen behind on your challenge grinding! We don't have a set date for the next season, but we should have a better idea as the content is completed.

Class Balance Redux: 

• Tech Mage
  • Concentration: 15% damage reduction → 10%. Reduce energy conversion values by 5% across all levels (27% max).
  • Assimilation: Reduce drain value by 40 across all levels. 100% damage → 85% damage.
  • Deadly Aim: Requires Tech → Dex.
  • Defense Matrix: Improves every 0.35 Supp → 0.55 Supp; Buffed base amount by 50 across all levels.

• Tactical Mercenary
  • Mineral Armor: Buffed values by 6% across all levels.
  • Energy Shield: Improves every 0.7 Dex → 0.6 Dex.
  • Adrenaline: 20% initial Rage gain → 35%.
  • Barbed Grenade: Buffed damage by 20; improves every 0.37 Tech → 0.35.

• Blood Mage
  • Terrify: Reverted to pure strength debuff; added 15% defense reduction; new values 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36; improves by 1 str point per every 3 Supp; improves by 1 Str point per 2.4 levels above 20; last 4 turns.
  • Blood Instinct: Improves with 2.5 supp → 3 tech.
  • Energy Parasite: Gain 135% → 150%.
  • Plasma Cannon: Lowered energy cost from 20 energy per level → 15 (260 max); gain 10% damage dealt to energy.
  • Fire Scythe: 100% damage → 110%. Cost 15 energy per level → 10; changed values to 30, 32, 34, 36. 38. 40, 42, 44, 46, 48.
  • Fire Rain: Lowered energy cost by 40.

• Cyber Hunter
  • Static Charge: Drain flat 100 energy instead of 50% of damage dealt.
  • Plasma Grenade: 15% lifesteal → 25%.
  • Memory Leak: Buffed by 20 across all levels; lowered energy cost by 20. 85% damage.
  • Neural Scythe: 3 turn CD → 2 turns.
  • Master of Arms: Renamed to Cyber Edge to better follow the Cyber Hunter's theme.

• Mercenary
  • Hybrid Armor: Added back 10% highest stat buff.
  • Static Smash: Mechanics now match that of Assimilation with a 100% absorption rate; improves with strength; 85% damage; drain values 110, 125, 140, 155, 170, 185, 200, 205, 230, 245; improves every 1.1 str; improves by 1 every 1.4 levels above 20; weakens by 1 every 3 levels below 20.
  • Bunker Buster: Lowered energy cost from 20 energy per level → 15 (260 max).
  • Surgical Strike: Lowered energy cost by 30.
  • Artillery Strike: Lowered energy cost by 40.
  • Berzerker: Lowered energy cost by 20.
  • Intimidate: Improves every 4 Supp → every 3 Supp.

Cores Balance:

• Wolf’s Fury: Remove 15% stun chance; add 30% lifesteal.
• Captain’s Charge: Added 40% lifesteal.
• Blood Shot: 30% lifesteal → 50% lifesteal.
• Bloodseeker Blast: 30% lifesteal → 50% lifesteal; added 15% defense ignore.
• Crow Frenz P/E: 30% lifesteal → 50% lifesteal; added 15% defense ignore and 25% crit chance.
• Om Nom Bomb E/P: 60% lifesteal→ 75% lifesteal.
• Minor Om Nom Bomb E/P x25: 50% lifesteal → 60% lifesteal.
• Saw Strike E&P/Infinity Mind Spears: 25% defense ignore → 40% defense ignore.
• Minor Infinity Mind Spears: 25% defense ignore → 40% defense ignore.
• Stalagrenade E/P x25: 30% defense ignore → 50% defense ignore.
• Minor Stalagrenade E/P: 20% defense ignore → 35% defense ignore. 
• Omega Override: 35% stat reduction → 75% stat reduction.
• Tranquility: 525 HP → 500; cost 100 energy → 150.
• Resonant Armor: 20% energy reduction → 10%.
• Core Corruption: Reduce 40 Dex/Tech → 30.
• Critical Heal (Armor): 30% heal increase → 20% heal increase; no longer requires critical health (less than 25% HP) to activate; does not stack with Critical Heal (Primary).
• War Commander: Added +4 strength.
• Deep Plague/Molten Bullet/Molten Shrapnel/Hunter’s Retribution: Increase by 10% damage per turn → 15% damage per turn; 6 turn duration → 5 turn duration. 

Bug Fixes:

• Adrenaline: Initial Rage gain goes to target rather than sender.
• Adaptive Armor: Can now be reduced by Azrael’s Torment or Heart Attack.
• Growth Serum/Minor Growth Serum: Properly stacks with Legendary points and Critcal Heal.
• Pulse Punch: Was bypassing 50% defense instead of 20%. Damage was still tied to skill level.
• Blood Bullet / Titan's Barrage: No longer gives opponent energy.
• Kernel Panic: Uses correct Kernel Panic animation.

Tags: Nightwraith