EpicDuel PVP Game Design Notes

February 29, 2024

Core ReBalance 2024

Finally, the long awaited core rebalance of 2024 is here! There are a lot of changes here so bear with us as we make additional tweaks over time. The goal of these changes was to perform a bit of a "reset" on the power levels of the cores and robots to stop some extreme builds and encourage more build versatility. If you're mad that your favorite core was nerfed, take this as an opportunity to change up your build and experiment. No core or robot or build was meant to stay on top forever.

With all these changes, some bugs and unintended interactions are inevitable so we'll do our best to stay on top of any issues as they emerge!

• Cores
  • 9 Lives / Butterfly Blessing / CactusChan’s Health Reserve / Health Reserve x25 / UrMenace’s Health Reserve / Health Reserve: 500 → 400 HP cap. Formula changed to Health Restored = (Armor's Defense x 2.92) + 50
  • Minor Health Reserve: Formula changed to Health Restored = (Armor's Defense x 2.50) + 50
  • Absolution (Armor): Added x30 Credits version for 10,000 Credits or 195 Varium; +7 → +6 tech/supp
  • Absolution (Auxiliary) x30: Adjusted permanent Varium version to align with x30 core; increased price to 295 Varium
  • Absolution (Primary) x30: Adjusted permanent Varium version to align with x30 core
  • Absolution (Sidearm) x30: Adjusted permanent Varium version to align with x30 core
  • Accomplishment’s Curse / CactusChan’s Curse Aura / Curse Aura: Removed healing debuff; -50 supp → -10 all stats
  • Curse: Removed healing debuff; -50 supp → -15 all stats; 70 → 90 energy cost
  • Minor Curse: Removed healing debuff; -50 supp → -7 all stats; 70 → 90 energy cost
  • Minor Curse Aura: Removed healing debuff; -50 supp → -5 all stats
  • Mega Curse x25: 80% supp debuff → -40 supp; Add 15% healing reduction; 110 → 90 energy cost; Added permanent Varium version
  • Minor Mega Curse x25: 80% supp debuff → -30 supp; Added 10% healing reduction; 110 → 90 energy cost
  • Mega Stun Blast x25: Deflectable → Undeflectable; 31% → 25% stun chance; Added permanent Varium version
  • Achilles’ Phalanx / Consecrated Ground: 3 → 2 turn duration; 100% → 85% damage
  • Amplifier / Butterfly Boost / Eternal Enhance: +4 → +3 to all stats
  • Apocryphal Champion’s Roar / Apocryphal Demigod’s Roar: 50% Rage drain → 35% Rage steal; Blockable → Unblockable; 70 → 90 energy cost
  • Apocryphal Champion’s Wrath / Apocryphal Demigod’s Wrath / Yeti Fury: Usable at 40% → 30% HP
  • Ares’ Vengeance: 12% → 10% max HP as damage bonus
  • Astral Projection: 75% → 40% energy drain; Changed effect from energy drain to energy steal, i.e. user gains Energy drained
  • Bacon Breath P/E x25 / Bacon Rain P/E x25 / Titan Chomp P/E x25: 125% → 115% damage
  • Blood Bullet: 125 → 120% damage; 80 → 90 HP cost
  • Blood Shot: 25% → 20% crit chance; 40% → 35% lifesteal
  • Bloodseeker Blast / Bloodseeker Blast x25: 25% → 20% crit chance; 40% → 35% lifesteal; 125 → 90 energy cost
  • Botanical Entrapment: 2 → 1 turn duration; 15% → 25% healing reduction
  • Botanical Infection: Removed healing reduction effect; Multi-use → Single-use; Effect cannot be removed and lasts 99 turns (essentially unlimited until triggered); Bug fix:Stack with Deadly Aim/Red Vision
  • Deep Plague: Effect cannot be removed and lasts 99 turns (essentially unlimited until triggered); Multi-use → Single-use; 175% → 150% max. Damage
  • Hunters’ Retribution: Effect cannot be removed and lasts 99 turns (essentially unlimited until triggered); Multi-use → Single-use; 175% → 150% max. Damage
  • Molten Bullet: Effect cannot be removed and lasts 99 turns (essentially unlimited until triggered); Multi-use → Single-use; 175% → 150% max. Damage; Stacks with Deadly Aim/Red Vision
  • Molten Shrapnel: Effect cannot be removed and lasts 99 turns (essentially unlimited until triggered); Multi-use → Single-use; 175% → 150% max. Damage
  • Botanical Infestation: Removed defense ignore; Blockable → Unblockable; 35% → 25% lifesteal; 0 → 90 energy cost
  • Botanical Wrath: 2 → 1 turn armor removal; Poison maintains 2 turn duration, but as 50% → 40% primary damage
  • Captain’s Charge: Usable at 40% → 30% HP; -40 → -30 to str/supp; 35% → 25% def/res debuff
  • Chained Blood: Multi-use → Single-use; +50% → +40% lifesteal / crit chance / highest stat
  • Chairman’s Fury P/E: 120% → 110% damage; 50% → 35% Rage steal
  • Minor Chairman’s Fury P/E: 110% → 105% damage; 35% → 25% Rage steal
  • Chronopact: Multi-use → Single-use; +100 → +70 Strength; 4 → 3 turn duration
  • Cold Ignition / Frost Shards / Frost Shards x25: Multi-use → Single-use; 120 → 100 energy
  • Concussive Shot / Concussive Shot x25: Multi-use → Single-use
  • Core Corruption: -30 → -20 dex/tech; 70 → 80 energy cost
  • Corrosive Shot: 3 → 2 turn duration; 15% → 20% defense ignore/reduction
  • Consecrated Fire: Multi-use → Single-use; 60 → 90 energy cost
  • Crimson Offering: 300 → 350 energy
  • Crow Frenzy P/E: 25% → 20% crit chance; 50% → 35% lifesteal; 85 → 90 energy cost
  • Crystal Grenade x25: 50% → 40% strike damage as energy drain; 50 → 80 energy cost; Add 85% melee damage
  • Minor Crystal Grenade x25: 40% → 30% strike damage as energy drain; 50 → 80 energy cost; Add 80% melee damage
  • Dark Omen: 20% → 15% healing reduction; -40 supp → -30 str
  • Darkeater’s Defiance: Multi-use → Single-use; 50% → 85% damage to energy drained from attacker; Effect only applies to ranged damage
  • Darkeater’s Edge: 95% → 90% min. damage; 135% → 125% max. damage; 85 → 110 energy cost
  • Darkeater’s Impaler / Screaming Soul Spears: 60 → 50 HP/MP drain per turn; 60 → 80 energy cost; 100% → 85% initial damage
  • Darkeater’s Insanity: -40 → -25 str/supp; 70 → 80 energy cost
  • Darkeater’s Overcharge: 2 → 1 turn armor removal; 90 → 110 HP cost
  • Darkeater’s Stun Blast: 10% → 6% stun chance
  • Destruction (Armor): Added x30 Credits version for 10,000 Credits or 195 Varium; +7 → +6 str/supp
  • Destruction (Auxiliary) x30: Adjusted permanent Varium version to align with x30 core; increased price to 295 Varium
  • Destruction (Primary) x30: Adjusted permanent Varium version to align with x30 core; increased price to 295 Varium
  • Destruction (Sidearm) x30: Adjusted permanent Varium version to align with x30 core; increased price to 295 Varium
  • Domination (Armor): Added x30 Credits version for 10,000 Credits or 195 Varium; +7 → +6 str/dex
  • Domination (Auxiliary) x30: Adjusted permanent Varium version to align with x30 core; increased price to 295 Varium
  • Domination (Primary) x30: Adjusted permanent Varium version to align with x30 core; increased price to 295 Varium
  • Domination (Sidearm) x30: Adjusted permanent Varium version to align with x30 core; increased price to 295 Varium
  • Draconic Frost King’s Might / Romulus’ Frost King’s Might: 105% → 90% min. Damage; 140% → 125% max. Damage; 100 → 110 energy cost
  • Draconic Frost King’s Will: Multi-use → Single-use; 40% → 30% to all stats
  • Dualism / Revolver Retribution: 115% → 110% to all targets; 0 → 70 energy cost
  • Energy Booster / Energy Booster x25: 450 → 400 energy
  • Energy Pack / Energy Pack x25: Removed from shop
  • Energy Harvest: 2 → 1 turn duration
  • Energy Reserve / Energy Reserve x25: 560 → 500 max. energy
  • Minor Energy Reserve: 470 → 400 max. energy
  • Energy Shot / Energy Shot x25: Multi-use → Single-use; 2 → 0 turn warmup
  • Energy Storm / Energy Storm x25: Multi-use → Single-use; 20% → 25% energy drain
  • Exile Strike / Legion Strike: 115% → 110% damage
  • Minor Exile Strike / Minor Legion Strike: 110% → 105% damage
  • Exsanguinating Shield: Multi-use → Single-use; 4 → 3 turns
  • Exsanguinating Stomp: 25% → 15% healing reduction; 20% → 10% def/res reduction; Removed lifesteal effect; 2 → 3 turn duration
  • Feast of Flesh: 4 → 3 turn duration; +50% → +40% highest stat
  • Flagellation: Multi-use → Single-use; +50% → +40% highest stat
  • Focused Fury / Hunters’ Judgement: 12% → 10% max HP as damage bonus
  • Forbidden Pact / Saevussax Heart: Multi-use → Single-use; 40 → 100 energy cost
  • Force’s Shroud / Titan’s Shroud: Multi-use → Single-use; 4 → 3 turn duration; Removable → Un-removable by buff removal cores
  • Frost Aura: 50 → 30 energy drained per turn when effect is triggered
  • Minor Frost Aura: 35 → 20 energy drained per turn when effect is triggered
  • Frostbite / Lycan’s Bite / Saggy’s Frostbite: Multi-use → Single-use; 100 → 80 energy cost
  • Minor Frostbite: Multi-use → Single-use; 100 → 80 energy cost
  • TrueShot (Aux) / TrueShot (Gun): 95% min. damage; 140% → 130% max. Damage; 120 → 110 energy cost
  • Frozen Fist / Frozen Bonebreaker: 105% → 95% min. damage; 140% → 130% max. Damage; 85 → 110 energy cost
  • Generator / Generator x25: 440 → 330 max. HP gain; 410 → 400 max. energy gain
  • Fortitude (Armor): Added x30 Credits version for 10,000 Credits or 195 Varium; +7 → +6 dex/tech
  • Fortitude (Auxiliary) x30: Adjusted permanent Varium version to align with x30 core; increased price to 295 Varium
  • Fortitude (Primary) x30: Adjusted permanent Varium version to align with x30 core; increased price to 295 Varium
  • Fortitude (Sidearm) x30: Adjusted permanent Varium version to align with x30 core; increased price to 295 Varium
  • Growth Serum: Multi-use → Single-use; +100 → +70 support; 4 → 3 turn duration
  • Minor Growth Serum: Multi-use → Single-use; +60 → +50 support; 4 → 3 turn duration
  • Hair Trigger / Infernal Fury / Titan’s Trigger: 110% → 100% damage
  • Hammer Grenade P/E x25: 3 → 2 turn duration; 100% → 85% damage; 50 → 80 energy cost
  • Minor Hammer Grenade P/E x25: 85% → 80% damage; 50 → 80 energy cost
  • Hardened Armor: Multi-use → Single-use; 4 → 3 turn duration
  • Hatchling Rush P/E: 45% → 25% healing reduction
  • Minor Hatchling Rush P/E: 30% → 15% healing reduction
  • Hawk Guardian P/E: Usable at 40% → 30% HP; 130% → 125% damage
  • Health Booster / Health Booster x25: 450 → 350 HP
  • Health Pack / Health Pack x25: Removed from shop
  • Hunter’s Mark: 3 → 2 turn duration; Initial attack ignores 20% defense; Removed block chance reduction; 85 → 90 energy cost
  • Hunters’ Eradication / Saevussax Annihilation / Sea King’s Curse: Removed armor removal
  • Hunters’ Evocation / Permafrost / Tentacle Prison: 100% → 85% damage
  • Icy Overkill / Icy Overkill (Aux): 80 → 100 energy cost
  • Incensory: Multi-use → Single-use; 90 → 120 energy cost
  • Indominus Spear: 85 → 50 energy cost; Removed defense ignore
  • Inexpiabilis: 90 → 50 energy cost; Removed extra crit chance
  • Infernal Surge: 35% → 25% to all stats; Removed HP gain; 25% → 40% Rage boost
  • Infinity (Armor): Added x30 Credits version for 10,000 Credits or 195 Varium; +7 → +6 str/tech
  • Infinity (Auxiliary) x30: Adjusted permanent Varium version to align with x30 core; increased price to 295 Varium
  • Infinity (Primary) x30: Adjusted permanent Varium version to align with x30 core; increased price to 295 Varium
  • Infinity (Sidearm) x30: Adjusted permanent Varium version to align with x30 core; increased price to 295 Varium
  • Infinity Mind Spears / Infinity Mind Spears x25 / Saw Strike P/E: 40% → 25% defense ignore
  • Minor Infinity Mind Spears: 30% → 20% defense ignore
  • Infinity Power Strike / Infinity Power Strike x25 / Saevussax Slash: 125% → 120% damage; 95 → 90 HP cost
  • Minor Infinity Power Strike: 95 → 90 HP cost
  • Lifeline: Usable below 40% → 30% HP
  • Lycan’s Curse / Titan’s Curse: 4 → 3 turn duration
  • Magma Grenade P/E x25: 3.5 → 1.5 defense reduction per level; 50 → 80 energy cost
  • Minor Magma Grenade P/E x25: 2.5 → 1.2 defense reduction per level; 50 → 80 energy cost
  • Mana Burst: 35% → 25% energy drain; 2 → 0 turn warmup
  • Minor Mana Burst: 25% → 15% energy drain; 2 → 0 turn warmup
  • Medusa’s Gaze: 2 → 1 turn duration
  • Gladiator’s Omega Override / Katie’s Omega Override / Omega Override / Pro’s Omega Override / Roman’s Omega Override: 60% highest stat reduction → -50 to target’s highest stat
  • Minor Omega Override: 50% highest stat reduction → -40 to target’s highest stat
  • Om Nom Bomb P/E x25: 75% → 60% lifesteal; 50 → 80 energy cost
  • Minor Om Nom Bomb P/E x25: 60% → 50% lifesteal; 50 → 80 energy cost
  • Paralysis Coating / Paralysis Coating x25: Add 25% crit chance; 125 → 90 energy cost
  • Phase Shift / Phase Shift (Aux) / Phase Shift (Gun): 110% → 100% damage
  • Piercing Shot: 20% → 15% healing reduction
  • Piston Punch / Piston Punch x25: 110% → 85% damage; +20 → +15 energy per armor level
  • Poison Barbs / Sea King’s Venom: 60 → 80 energy cost; Incurable → Curable
  • Prime Dexterity Boost: +4 → +6 Dexterity
  • Prime Strength Boost: +4 → +6 Strength
  • Prime Support Boost:+4 → +6 Support
  • Prime Technology Boost: +4 → +7 Technology
  • Dexterity Boost x30: +8 → +6 Dexterity
  • Strength Boost x30: +8 → +6 Strength
  • Support Boost x30:+8 → +6 Support
  • Technology Boost x30: +8 → +7 Technology
  • Radiation Burn / UrMenace’s Radiation Burn: 25% → 15% defense/resistance reduction
  • Resonant Armor: 10% → 5% damage to energy drained from attacker; Effect applies to all attacks
  • Revenant’s Plague: 25% → 35% chance to trigger; 2 → 3 turn duration; Incurable → Curable
  • Revenant’s Ward: 10% → 5% damage reflection
  • Revitalization: Usable at 40% → 30% HP; 1300 → 1000 HP cap; 25% → 10% additional defense reduction; 100 → 0 energy cost
  • Minor Revitalization: Usable at 40% → 30% HP; 25% → 10% additional defense reduction; 100 → 0 energy cost
  • Saevussax Evisceration: 4 → 2 turn duration; Deflectable → Undeflectable; Removed stun chance
  • Sanguinomancy: 85 → 90 energy cost
  • Sea King’s Corruption: 30% → 25% healing reduction; 4 → 3 turn duration
  • Shell Shocker: 25% → 15% healing reduction; 15% → 10% def/res debuff; 2 → 0 turn warmup
  • Skull Cracker / Skull Smasher: 125% → 120% damage; Multi-use → Single-use; 120 → 90 energy cost
  • Short Circuit Grenade P/E x25: 115% → 105% damage; 50 → 80 energy cost
  • Minor Short Circuit Grenade P/E x25: 115% → 105% damage; 50 → 80 energy cost
  • Soldier’s Grenade P/E x25: 120 → 115% damage; 50 → 90 energy cost
  • Soul Siphon / Spirit Well: 25% → 20% energy steal
  • Stalagrenade P/E x25: 50% → 35% defense ignore; 50 → 80 energy cost
  • Minor Stalagrenade P/E x25: 35% → 25% defense ignore; 50 → 80 energy cost
  • Supremacy (Armor): Added x30 Credits version for 10,000 Credits or 195 Varium; +3 → +2 str/dex/supp; +6 → +5 tech
  • Supremacy (Auxiliary) x30: Adjusted permanent Varium version to align with x30 core; increased price to 295 Varium
  • Supremacy (Primary) x30: Adjusted permanent Varium version to align with x30 core; increased price to 295 Varium
  • Supremacy (Sidearm) x30: Adjusted permanent Varium version to align with x30 core; increased price to 295 Varium
  • Tactical Reload (Gun): 40 → 70 energy cost; 2 → 0 turn warmup; Puts regular sidearm in cooldown
  • Tactical Reload (Aux): 3 → 0 turn warmup; Puts regular auxiliary in cooldown
  • Telekinesis: 4 → 2 turn duration; 0 → 90 energy cost; Deflectable → Undeflectable; target much more likely to be blocked and deflected
  • Thorn Assault P/E: 115% → 110% damage
  • Minor Thorn Assault P/E: 110% → 105% damage; 25% crit → 15% crit
  • Titan’s Barrage: 125% → 120% damage
  • Tranquility: Multi-use → Single-use; 500 → 450 max. HP; 150 → 0 energy cost
  • Tremor Blast: 4 → 2 turn duration; Deflectable → Undeflectable; target much more likely to be blocked and deflected
  • Ultra Obliteration: 115% → 110% to both targets; 0 → 70 energy cost
  • Vigor (Armor): Added x30 Credits version for 10,000 Credits or 195 Varium; +7 → +6 dex/supp
  • Vigor (Auxiliary) x30: Adjusted permanent Varium version to align with x30 core; increased price to 295 Varium
  • Vigor (Primary) x30: Adjusted permanent Varium version to align with x30 core; increased price to 295 Varium
  • Vigor (Sidearm) x30: Adjusted permanent Varium version to align with x30 core; increased price to 295 Varium
  • Unbreakable Heart: Buffed to x25 Version of +45 Defense; Credit price increased to 20,000
  • Unbreakable Spirit:Buffed to x25 Version of +45 Resistance; Credit price increased to 20,000
  • Vampirism: 125 → 100 energy
  • Whiteout x30: 110% → 100% damage
  • Wolf’s Fury: Usable at 40% → 30% HP; 100% → 60% energy conversion
  • Wrath of Callisto: 125% → 115% damage; 125 → 90 energy cost
  • Zeus’ Might: Removed 10% stun chance
  • Aim Assist: Calculated multiplicatively; 30% —> 70% deflection chance reduction
  • Laser Sights: Calculated multiplicatively; 20% —> 80% decreased deflection effectiveness
  • Super Scope: Calculated multiplicatively; 10% —> 40% deflection chance reduction, 20% —> 50% decreased deflection effectiveness
  • Lucky Strike: Calculated multiplicatively; 13% —> 50% block chance reduction
  • Deflection Shield: Calculated additively; 15% —> 30% deflection chance addition (will necessitate raising maximum deflection chance)
  • Overshield: Calculated additively; 20% —> 25% increased deflection damage reduction
  • Ballistic Shield: Calculated additively; 10% —> 20% increased deflection chance and 20% —> 15% increased deflection damage reduction
  • Ninja Reflexes: Calculated additively; 6 —> 20% block chance addition

• Robot Regular and Special Attacks
  • Azrael Claw: Removed extra crit chance
  • Azrael’s Chimera Curse P/E: 75% → 50% healing reduction
  • Breath of Kartherax: 100% → 105% damage
  • Color Blast: 4 → 3 turn duration
  • Dragon Bite P/E: Removed extra crit chance
  • Dragonblade Familiar Drill P/E: 25% → 20% damage to user’s HP / Energy
  • Grenade Storm P/E: 25% Rage drain → 30% Rage steal
  • Incineration P/E: Removed armor removal effect, Add 60% lifesteal, 100% → 90% damage, Usable below 30% HP
  • Minotaur’s Charge P/E: Remove Mini-Rage effect; Add 25% defense ignore
  • Minotaur’s Rage P/E: Multi-use → Single-use; 2 → 3 turn duration
  • Naval Bombardment: 80% → 85% damage to 2 targets
  • Necrosis: 3.5 → 2.5 defense reduction per level (i.e. 170 → 130 max. defense reduction)
  • Phantasm Blast P/E: 50% flat value of robot damage as energy drain
  • Phantasm Slash P/E: Removed energy drain effect; Since the special drains plenty of energy, it seems fair to leave this attack as pure damage output
  • Shadowlord’s Severance P/E: 5 → 4 turn cooldown
  • Techstalker Tremor P/E: 4 → 2 turn duration, eliminates blocks, deflections, and crits entirely; Single-use → Multi-use; 4 turn cooldown; target much more likely to be blocked and deflected
  • Ultra Corsair Crusher P/E: 75% → 70% damage; 75% → 35% of base robot damage as energy drain; Removed stun chance

Other Changes

• 50,000 Varium achievement, Legendary Epic Supporter updated to 2024
• Epic Supporter achievement updated to 2024
• Fourteen Year Alpha achievement and weapons removed
• Alpha and Beta Remembrance weapons removed
• Fifteen Year Alpha achievement added
• Big Game LVII removed
• Big Game LVIII added
• Seasonal rares set to normal release cycle
• Void Trial mission removed
• Many rares removed from Acatriel
  • Apocryphal Demigod Bow P/E
  •  Cathedral Knight Magnum P/E
  • Celtic Wendigo Staff P/E
  • Cosmic Eviscerator Worldeater P/E
  • Necro Energy Burst Claymore P/E
  • Sanguinomancer Cruelty Blades P/E
  • Celestial Bane P/E
  • Chaos Amalgam Sword P/E
  • Darkeater Annihilator P/E
  • Flesh Demigod Axe P/E
  • Frost Revenant Vindictae P/E
  • Infernal Samurai Evocator Blades P/E
  • Scorn Advitalis Destroyer P/E

Tags: Nightwraith

February 23, 2024

Balance Progress

Progress has been steady but slower than I'd like for the massive core and robot balance update. Nearly every core in-game received some changes. Many were small tweaks like Energy cost or damage adjustments, but many others received much larger overhauls. The goal of this update will be to combat the power creep that has been building for cores and robots as more have been added over the years. These changes should encourage more experimentation and build variety. It's likely that we will need additional balance updates for the balance updates as new overpowered or underpowered cores emerge from battle data, but this is a major step towards better balance for EpicDuel.

If all goes well, this update will be ready for next Thursday.

Battlepass Preview

While I've been occupied with updating nearly every core in the game, Acatriel and Bido have been building items for a new Battlepass that should release soon. Because we've been so occupied with updating existing cores, this Battlepass will not feature new cores. The slots formerly occupied by cores will be filled by additional rewards of currency.

Pre-Spring Cleanup

Next Thursday, we will be doing a bit of cleanup to update of all the seasonal rares to be set to stock at their appropriate time. We will also be removing some Rare items from Azrael that were added in June of 2023. Also, the Fourteen Year Alpha weapons and Achievement will go Rare and leave the shops. 

As another part of the cleanup process, we're going to be purging orphaned factions. Since faction founder step down was introduced, whenever a faction was deleted after the founder changed down at any point, the faction would fail to delete properly and remain, despite having 0 characters in it. Currently, there are over 1,000 factions in this state so purging them should free up some coveted names for new factions. This will not affect any faction that currently has at least one member, but factions that are on the leaderboards will 0 members will fall off. The bug that caused this problem in the first place will also be fixed.

As one additional change, on Thursday we will also be updating the evolving Epic Supporter and Legendary Epic Supporter Achievements to 2024. Do to it's overwhelming popularity, the 50,000 Varium package will remain in-game for the foreseeable future.

Tags: Nightwraith

February 09, 2024

Gifting Progress

As of this update, only one set of top Gifter prizes remains. I hate making anyone wait for their prizes, but progress is progress and I can think of a Gifting season when we were this far along this early. Thank you Gifters for your patience and I hope you're thrilled with your prizes so far.

New Rarity Type

Last week some noticed fluctuations in their rarity scores. This was due to Battlepass items being recategorized as seasonal rares when they were added to the Challenger's shop. This felt bad, especially if you went through the trouble of collecting the rares in the original seasons. To correct this, we added a new, more descriptive rarity type: Battlepass. This should adjust the rarity scores back to what they were before the recategorization.  

If you've collect all the Battlepass items so and don't know what to collect next, the next Battlepass will be here soon enough. Soon enough doesn't mean next week, but hopefully by the end of the month.

Jack Frost Arrives

Jack Frost bots have awarded to those with Gifting scores higher than 50,000.

• Jack Frost P
  • Jack Frost Smash P: 100% damage, 25% crit chance.
  • Jack Frost's Fury P: 100% damage. Initial attack does 25% damage to energy and applies an MP poison for 25% Robot damage for 2 turns. The initial energy drain may be different from the amount of poison applied.
• Jack Frost E
  • Jack Frost Smash E: 100% damage, 25% crit chance.
  • Jack Frost's Fury E: 100% damage. Initial attack does 25% damage to energy and applies an MP poison for 25% Robot damage for 2 turns. The initial energy drain may be different from the amount of poison applied.

Corrupted Core Correction

Some were able to purchase a core that was literally corrupted. It appeared as Consecrated Ground for primary weapons, but it was unable to be equipped to anything. To correct this, we've updated the these cores to the correct auxiliary version of Consecrated Ground. 

Server Migration Part One

This Wednesday we experience some downtime to start the move to a shiny new server box. It's similar enough to the old one, but just different enough that it still throws me off when navigating it. This was only the first step, but so far so good. The next step will be a full data transfer to EpicDuel's new home. This will occur later this month and take several hours.

Tags: Nightwraith

February 02, 2024

This week we say, "Goodbye!" to the Darkeater package and say, "Hello again!" to returning Battlepass items and cores. If you took 2023 off of EpicDuel, or just didn't feel like completing the Battlepass seasons, this will be a massive update for you!

Darkeater Retired

Available since 2022, the Darkeater promotional package has officially been retired. You will still be able to purchase the cores and bots from Acatriel. To allow players who don't have Varium a chance to use the cores, we've brought back new versions of select Darkeater items (tagged 2024). We did this to preserve the rarity of the promo items for those who already purchased the promotional package.

Epic Battlepass Restock

Originally, our intention was to bring back the Battlepass items from previous seasons gradually, but because of a major upcoming core rebalance, we brought back Azrael's Scorn, Botanical Knight, Cathedral Knight, and Draconic Warlord all at once. We wanted as many people to have access to as many cores as possible to test the efficacy of any balance update. Even if you don't have Varium to purchase the cores outright, you can still get many of the cores by purchasing the Battlepass items from The Challenger who resides in the Time Fortress zone of the Afterlife.

Since cores are crucial to balance and the health of PvP, we plan to offer cores in a shop alongside Battlepasses in the future, starting with the next Azrael Battlepass. This may provide less incentive to grind out the Battlepass for some, but wide availability of the cores will be useful for determining any imbalances more quickly.

New Cores

A permanent version of the Thrown Shot core as well as sidearm and auxiliary versions of the permanent War Commander core are available at Vendbots across Delta V.

Minor Cores Retired

Because they don't adequately serve the purpose they were meant to fulfill; the minor cores have been retired. It is still possible to equip and use them, but they are no longer for sale.

Widescreen Expansion

Last year one of our major goals was to expand EpicDuel to a widescreen resolution. Acatriel managed to expand all the current screens in game, and I planned to implement them over the Summer, but my surgery shattered those plans. I will resume the expansion process after Gifting obligations are wrapped. The widescreen expansion also includes adjusting every interface in game so it's not quite a simple matter of just replacing the old map screens with new ones. This change will require a lot of testing and make the game difficult to update while all the screens and interfaces are expanded so we want to be sure we have plenty to occupy players while the work is underway.

Server Migration

Next week we will be migrating EpicDuel's database to a new physical server. This will result in several hours of downtime while all the data is transferred. We will update you when we've determined the exact time we plan to do the migration so you can plan accordingly. I've been told the new server won't offer much of a performance boost aside from using SSDs instead of HDDs. Hopefully there are no hiccups and EpicDuel arrives at its new digital home safe and sound.

In the coming weeks, we will wrap up the last of our Gifter items and undertake a massive core rebalance. While this is happening, we will also be working to complete the Gifting Bonus Tier items as well as the 2024 Azrael Battlepass. Thank you for your patience! We usually have a lull in substantial updates after Gifting as we work to complete all the post-Gifting tasks, but we're moving at a much faster pace this year than ever before! 

Tags: Nightwraith