EpicDuel PVP Game Design Notes

April 26, 2024

Azrael's Guardian Unleashed

For the first time in a LONG time, a new boss has emerged from the Time Fortress to challenge EpicDuel's most elite players. Borne from the blood of Azrael, this Guardian seeks vengeance on those who tormented the solitude of his master. This boss hungers for blood so challenging him will be a constant battle to prevent him from stealing your own life essence for his own.

The following are the new boss drop items + their drop rates. Remember that boss drop percentages are on a per battle basis, meaning if you defeat the boss 4 times to get an item with a 25% drop rate, you aren't guaranteed to receive that drop. This always creates confusion with people writing bugs reports about NPC drops so I feel I need to clarify it again here.

Azrael's Guardian (Normal)

• Azrael's Cavalier Executioner P (25%)
• Azrael's Cavalier Executioner E (25%)
• Azrael's Cavalier Executioner CC P (15%)
• Azrael's Cavalier Executioner CC E (15%)

Nightmare Azrael's Guardian

• Azrael's Cavalier Exsanguinator P (35%)
• Azrael's Cavalier Exsanguinator E (35%)
• Azrael's Cavalier Exsanguinator CC P (25%)
• Azrael's Cavalier Exsanguinator CC E (25%)

Since this is the first new superboss in a long while, if you are among the first to defeat Azrael's Guardian or his Nightmare variant, you will be manually awarded a special achievement upon the next update!

Balance Changes / Fixes

• Skills:
  • Nanotech Shield: +2% to all levels (12% max)
  • Static Charge: Removed Technology requirement
  • Fireball: +20 energy cost to all levels (max 240)
  • Reactive Armor: Requires Dexterity —> Technology
  • Necrotek Bot Special: Correctly calculates health gain vs. Rage. Was previously rounding to either 0 or 100% Rage when calculating how much HP to restore. Rounding may cause max HP restore to exceed 300 slightly when used on NPCs because they have 0 Rage by default.
• Cores:
  • Salvage: 110% --> 100% damage
  • Sea King's Spirit: 100 —> 150 initial energy gain
  • Darkeater’s Adjudication/Pacify/Convergent Exsanguination: 100% —> 50% Rage drain; 5 —> 3 turn duration
• Arcade Token drop rates: 100% for 1v1/2v2; 50% for jugg
• Arcade Token cost: 100 --> 50 for x10; 15 --> 7 for single

Cyber Wolf Morphs

Everyone who achieved over a 150,000 Gifting score in the most recent Gifting season has now received the Cyber Wolf Morph and the Cyber Wolf Morph CC.

Tags: Nightwraith

April 12, 2024

EpicDuel is live with new balance changes plus a great opportunity to max out your Rating with new achievement tiers for the Arcades and Legendary ranks!

Arcade Achievement Update

All arcade achievements have been updated with 7 more tiers, maxing out at 20, giving everyone a good reason to spend those excess Arcade Tokens. NOTE: If your score already exceeds the current maximum achievement tier, your achievement should update automatically after incrementing your score.

Legendary Achievement Update

Since so many have reached the max tier, we've raised the cap with 8 new tiers of of the Legendary achievement, maxing out at 20. NOTE: If your rank already exceeds 200, your achievement should update automatically after attaining a new rank.

Balance Changes

• Encumbrance: Updated tiers and include Support in debuffs.
  • 1500-1699 HP: -5% all stats
  • 1700-1799 HP: -10% all stats
  • 1800-1899 HP: -15% all stats
  • 1900-1999 HP: -20% all stats
  • 2000+ HP: -25% all stats
• Agility: Same HP tiers as before, but Support is now be included in the buffs.
  • Agility I Unencumbered by HP; no stat penalty.
  • Agility II Unencumbered by HP; +3% all stats.
  • Agility III Unencumbered by HP; +5% all stats.
• Paralysis Coating: Blockable --> Unblockable
• Necrotek Siphon P/E: 350 --> 300 max heal; heal strength is inverse of Rage amount drained. (i.e. heal is at max strength (300) when draining no Rage, at minimum strength (0) when draining all Rage); deal's 50% damage

Skill balance

• Tactical Mercenary
  • Crippling Strike: Reduces Resistance as well as Defense; base values: 12% min, +2% per level; +1% per 6 → 7 Strength
  • Field Commander: Removed Rage gain aura; grants +25% Rage on initial use
  • Barbed Grenade: 15% → 10% defense ignore; 25% → 15% crit chance; 130 base energy cost, +20 per level
  • Reroute: -5% to all values
  • Tactical Grenade: Grants same amount of Energy drained → Grants 150 energy
  • Toxic Grenade: Improves with Support → Strength; 100% → 85% damage

• Bounty Hunter
  • Shadow Arts: Removed additional grenade stun chance; New values: 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 4%, 5%, 5%, 6%, 6%, 7%; added increased sidearm and increased auxiliary damage; reduced increased robot damage to match other percentages with value based on total robot damage.

• Cyber Hunter
  • Neural Scythe: Removed Support scaling; improves 1% for every 4 levels over 20; damage is based on primary damage, plus a % of primary damage bonus; damage bonus values: 18%, 20%, 22%, 24%, 26%, 28%, 30%, 32%, 34%, 35%; removed energy drain
  • Plasma Grenade: 15% → 10% Resistance ignore; removed lifesteal; +1 damage per 0.35 → 0.3 Technology
  • Nanotech Shield: Removed defense/resistance buff; Removed stat boosts; added lifesteal equal to damage reduction values; new values: 1% min, 10% max

• Tech Mage
  • Overload:95 → 105 base energy cost; +10 → +15 energy cost per level
  • Plasma Rain: +1 damage per 0.5 → 0.25 levels above 20; Added 20% Resistance ignore
  • Assimilation: 85% → 100% damage

• Blood Mage
  • Terrify: +1 Strength reduced per 4 → 5 Technology

OMG Mode Removal

You may notice the OMG mode button missing from the main interface. It was removed intentionally until a better implementation can be devised with true rewards while not siphoning players from the other battle modes. A fun meme while it lasted, but not enough substance to make it stick as a feature (even if it was there for over 2 years).

Tags: Nightwraith

April 06, 2024

Class Skill Balance

Last week we made a major class balance update, but one skill was left out of the overall plan due to challenges of implementation. We intended for Shadow Arts to increase robot damage, which isn't something that any cores or skills have been able to do up until now. This is due to the complexity of the caculations for robot damage versus other gear categories. However, after a week of struggle, it appears to finally be working. This change should be an interesting benefit, especially focus Bounty Hunters. It also opens the possibilty of adding new cores that can debuff or buff robot damage in the future.

• Bounty Hunter
  • Shadow Arts: Removed increased block chance, increased sidearm damage, and increased auxiliary damage; added effect that increases robot damage. The robot's base damage will increase by twice the skill value %. So a robot that has a base 175 damage will increaes by 20%, granting a bonus 35 damage at max level.

Core Fixes

• Frost Revenants Retribution P/E: Can no longer be removed by buff-removing skills like Azrael's Torment.

Cyber Wolf Distribution

This week we were able to distribute another batch of Cyber Wolf items and styles! The collection is nearly complete, but there are a few items that are still being refined, specifically the travel forms. We certainly hope you enjoy the items you've received so far and find them worth the wait!

The following is a list of the distributed items plus the minimum Gifting scores for receiving each item.

• 200,000 Gifting Score and Up
  • Cyber Wolf Armor
  • Cyber Wolf Armor CC
  • Helm 741
  • Helm 742
• 225,000 Gifting Score and Up
  • Savage Cyber Wolf Armor
  • Savage Cyber Wolf Armor CC
  • Helm 743
  • Helm 744

New Cyber Wolf Styles

If you're browsing the style shop, you'll notice that styles 745-762 are available for purchase! These are based on the Cyber Wolf armors but they looked so cool, we wanted to share them with everyone, while still retaining a few exclusives for the Gifting tiers.

Tags: Nightwraith

March 29, 2024

Class Skill Balance

After rebalancing dozens of cores weeks ago, it was time to move onto class balance. This week's update will hit all six classes with a range of changes from minor tweaks to more substantial overhauls derived from community suggestions.

• Tactical Mercenary
  • Field Medic: 3 → 4 turn cooldown
  • Frenzy: Remove energy drain effect
  • Tactical Grenade: Grants 180 energy → Grants same amount of Energy drained; +1 energy drained per 2 → 1.25 Support

• Cyber Hunter
  • Field Medic: 3 → 4 turn cooldown
  • Nanotech Shield: Removed defense/resistance buff
  • Static Charge: Drains 100 energy → Drains 90% of energy gained; 3 → 4 turn cooldown
  • Memory Leak: Replaced with Venom Strike

• Bounty Hunter
  • Field Medic: 3 → 4 turn cooldown
  • Cheap Shot: Removing healing reduction; 70 → 120 base energy cost
  • Static Grenade: Improves with Support → Dexterity
  • Reflex Boost: Remove Energy gain
  • Venom Strike: 80 → 110 base energy cost; 100% → 85% damage

• Mercenary
  • Field Medic: 3 → 4 turn cooldown
  • Maul: 65% → 35% heal debuff

• Tech Mage
  • Field Medic: 3 → 4 turn cooldown
  • Plasma Bolt: +1 damage per 0.28 → 0.32 Technology
  • Bludgeon: Removed damage increase; Added defense ignore (same values as current)
  • Concentration: New energy regeneration values: 10%, 12%, 14%, 16%, 18%, 20%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%
  • Assimilation: Improve with Support → Strength
  • Deadly Aim: Requires 24 → 16 Dexterity, 42 → 34 at max

• Blood Mage
  • Field Medic: 3 → 4 turn cooldown
  • Fireball: Added 20% stun chance; removed defense reduction
  • Blood Shield: Sacrifice 90 HP → 40 HP
  • Blood Instinct: Sacrifice 90 HP → 40 HP
  • Terrify: Improves with Support → Technology

Core Balance/Fixes

• Astral Projection: Fixed bug that was doubling Energy steal.
• Revitalization: Def/Res reduction increased to 25% from 10%.
• Health Reserve: Max heal increased to 450 and affected by Medical Mastery specifically.
• Tranquility: Affected by Medical Mastery.

Cyber Wolf Distribution

This week we were able to distribute a large batch of Cyber Wolf Weapons! The collection is nearly complete, but there are a few items that are still being refined, specifically the travel forms, armors, and helms. We certainly hope you enjoy the items you've received so far and find them worth the wait!

The following is a list of the distributed items plus the minimum Gifting scores for receiving each item.

• 10,000 Gifting Score and Up
  • Cyber Wolf Dagger P
  •  Cyber Wolf Dagger E
• 15,000 Gifting Score and Up
  • Cyber Wolf Greatsword P
  • Cyber Wolf Greatsword E
• 20,000 Gifting Score and Up
  • Cyber Wolf SMG P
  • Cyber Wolf SMG E
• 25,000 Gifting Score and Up
  • Cyber Wolf Shotgun P
  • Cyber Wolf Shotgun E
• 75,000 Gifting Score and Up
  • Cyber Wolf Bow P
  • Cyber Wolf Bow E
• 100,000 Gifting Score and Up
  •  Cyber Wolf Arsenal P
  • Cyber Wolf Arsenal E
• 125,000 Gifting Score and Up
  • Cyber Wolf Bazooka P
  • Cyber Wolf Bazooka E
• 200,000 Gifting Score and Up
  • Cyber Wolf Scythe P
  • Cyber Wolf Scythe E

Infernal Slayer 2024 Preview

It's been ages since we offered a new promotional package. For the last few years, we wanted to pivot from promotional packages to battlepasses which we thought would allow everyone to earn a collection of weapons and cores. It turns out that there's still a high demand for new promotional packages! Soon, a new promotional package will emerge with a new Infernal theme!

The Infernal Weapons have always been some of the best-looking weapons in EpicDuel and I have high hopes for this set exceeding those expectations.

April Fools PvP Drops

April Fool's PvP drops have returned! Collection them all while you can!

Tags: Nightwraith

March 22, 2024

The Azrael's Cavalier Showcase Battlepass is NOW LIVE! Login now to earn the latest collection of Azrael-themed weapons, armors, vehicles, morphs, bots, and more crafted with care by Acatriel and Bido!

Good luck and happy dueling to reach level 60 of EpicDuel's latest Battlepass season!

So more of you know what you're getting into with the new bots available in this season, the skill descriptions are listed below:

• Azrael's Cavalier Bot P
  • Azrael's Cavalier Slash P: Slash through 15% of target's defenses.
  • Azrael's Cavalier Fury P: Unleash Azrael's fury, gaining 30% Rage, 25% lifesteal. 100% damage, 95% damage against 2 targets.
• Azrael's Cavalier Bot E
  • Azrael's Cavalier Slash E: Slash through 15% of target's defenses.
  • Azrael's Cavalier Fury E: Unleash Azrael's fury, gaining 30% Rage, 25% lifesteal. 100% damage, 95% damage against 2 targets.

Balance Changes

• Deflection Shield: +30% --> +20% deflection chance
• Dualism / Revolver Retribution: 70 --> 0 energy cost
• Ultra Obliteration: 70 --> 0 energy cost
• Necrotek Assault P/E: 25% --> 15% defense ignore
• Battlebot Buzzsaw P/E: 20% --> 15% defense ignore
• Bio Claw: 20% --> 15% defense ignore
• Squirrel Smash P/E: 25% --> 15% defense ignore
• Minotaur's Charge P/E: 25% --> 15% defense ignore
• Infernal Impale P/E: 100% --> 105% damage
• Techstalker Beam P/E: 20% --> 25% crit chance
• Ultra Corsair Uppercut: 20% --> 25% crit chance

Tags: Nightwraith

March 08, 2024

EpicDuel is back with the addition of a new balance feature resurrected from the game's past: Agility.

What Is Agility?

High HP builds have been troublesome to balance throughout EpicDuel's history. Sometime in the game's early days, we attempted to combat these builds with a new stat tied to HP called Agility that would inflict a defense penalty if health exceeded certain thresholds. This stat ultimately failed to address the initial problem since high HP builds already suffered from low defense so the penalty wasn't much of a deterrent.

Now, utilizing EpicDuel's modern core system, we've brought Agility back. This time, the stat is split into two different core types: Agility for HP below a certain threshold, and Encumbrance for HP above a certain threshold. The tiers and buffs/debuffs, also visible in the HP rollover on the character stats page, are listed below:

• Agility III: 0-899 HP +5% Str/Dex/Tech Bonus.
• Agility II: 900-999 HP +3% Str/Dex/Tech Bonus.
• Agility I: 1000-1099 HP No Stat Penalty
• Encumbrance I: 1100-1199 HP; -3% Str/Dex/Tech Penalty.
• Encumbrance II: 1200-1299 HP; -5% Str/Dex/Tech Penalty.
• Encumbrance III: 1300-1399 HP; -7% Str/Dex/Tech Penalty.
• Encumbrance IV: 1400-1499 HP; -10% Str/Dex/Tech Penalty.
• Encumbrance V:1500-1599 HP; -13% Str/Dex/Tech Penalty.
• Encumbrance VI: 1600-1699 HP; -15% Str/Dex/Tech Penalty.
• Encumbrance VII: 1700-1799 HP; -17% Str/Dex/Tech Penalty.
• Encumbrance VIII: 1800-1899 HP; -20% Str/Dex/Tech Penalty.
• Encumbrance IX: 1900-1999 HP; -23% Str/Dex/Tech Penalty.
• Encumbrance X: +2000 HP; -25% Str/Dex/Tech Penalty.

This new system gives us much better control over the tiers so we can add a robust range of debuffs and buffs to better control extreme HP builds. We went with a percentage debuff because a flat debuff felt too restrictive, but this can be changed if the current Encumbrance debuffs are ineffective.

These buffs and debuffs will only be visible in battle. NPCs are unaffected by this change.

Azrael Cavalier Battlepass

The tentative release date for the new, long-awaited Battlepass is Friday March 15th TBA, barring any technical complications. We're sorry the Olympus Battlepass has lingered as long as it has, but we will plan our Battlepass releases more strategically after gifting next time so we won't be stuck with the same showcase for too long.

Scheduled Maintenance

EpicDuel will be down for scheduled maintenance at around 11:00 AM on Tuesday March 12th. We will be finishing the process we started earlier this year with database migration and copying the entire EpicDuel database to it's new home. This transfer is expected to take at least 2 hours, but could take more, especially if we run into any unexpected problems. Hopefully, we'll turn the servers back on and all will be well!

Tags: Nightwraith