EpicDuel PVP Game Design Notes

January 20, 2023

Balance and bug fixes are on the menu for today's update, but a much more savory, sumptuous feast awaits in the new year! Check out the brief list of upcoming features EpicDuel is preparing in the game dev kitchen for a festive and flavorful 2023!

Balance

We've been hitting balance hard these last few months, and the results have generally been positive in terms of build diversity and class performance. It can be frustrating to experience so many changes so quickly, but we thank you for your patience as we finally break through some of the stagnant balance trends of 2022.

• Tactical Mercenary
  • Barbed Grenade: Lowered Strength requirement by 8.
  • Toxic Grenade: Improves every 2 Support → 1.5; requires 16 Strength, +3 per level (43 max).
  • Force Field: Added Support scaling; improves 1 point every 10 Support.

• Blood Mage
  • Blood Shield: Add supp scaling; improves 1 point every 8 supp.

• Cyber Hunter
  • Plasma Grenade: 25% lifesteal → 20%.

• Bounty Hunter
  • Cheapshot - 25% heal reduction → 20%; new NPC version without a passive swapped on all NPCs with Cheap Shot.
  • Multi-Shot: Improves every 0.32 Dexterity → 0.3; base values 205, +25 per level (430 max); 3 turn cooldown → 2; gain 15% damage to energy (only applies to 1 target).
  • Reflex Boost: Improves every 2.5 Support → 3.5 Dexterity; converts 15% damage received to energy.
  • Stun Grenade: Improves with Dexterity → Support; increased energy cost by 60 (255 max); requires 24 Dexterity +2 per level (42 max).
  • Static Grenade: Improves every 0.6 Support → 0.8; buffed base values by 10.

Bug Fixes and Changes

• Darkeater Promotional Package:
  • The cores Darkeater's Overcharge and Darkeater's Defiance were flipped in their database definitions which was causing Overcharge to switch to Defiance when replaced on an armor. It was also causing Overcharge to freeze battle when it was attempted to be used.
  • Armor cores should be correct on future purchases, and existing armors after the change should have the appropriate working core.
• Battlebot
  • Battlebot E - Correctly does energy damage.
  • Battlebot Barrage P/E: 1 use limit.
• Double Strike: Added Deflection reduction effect to debuff; different version created for NPCs without a debuff.
• Necrotek Executioner P/E, Necrotek Scythe P/E: Can be sold.Repaired missing assets from skill icons.

2023 Battleplan

The following are a few major updates planned for the near and mid-term of 2023. This list is not all-inclusive, but meant to highlight topics that have not been mentioned before. As game development is unpredictable, these items are subject to change as priorities shift over time.

Azrael's Scorn Battlepass

With the current Battlepass set to end at the end of the day January 31, we're already looking forward to the next collection: Azrael's Scorn. This Battlepass will be loaded with new weapons and rewards with (hopefully) easier methods for earning EXP. Expect this new Battlepass to launch in February.

Optimization

This area is probably the least exciting for players, but it's desperately needed. The Flash files the game relies on to function have become bloated and unwieldy after years of accumulated technical debt. The main focus in the near-term will be ongoing improvements to the character timeline, which was creating all sorts of errors and crashes around when the first Battlepass launched. We were able to cut many animations to recover functionality, but there's still work to be done.

Fortunately, this in an ongoing process that can be tackled gradually without diverting too much attention from regular release content. Optimization is also essential to allow us to deliver the next feature on this list.

EpicDuel Widescreen

A massive undertaking, we are in the process of expanding existing maps and interfaces to accommodate a larger game resolution (1280 x 720). In addition to adding more screen real-estate for crowded UI, this change will make the game easier to port to other platforms. It's nowhere near 4K, but the updated aspect ratio will be essential for modernizing EpicDuel. I think 4K Flash assets might be a fire hazard for mortal CPUs anyway.

Limited Shop

A proposal from Spider, we're developing a new shop in EpicDuel to allow players to acquire promotional gear piecemeal from an in-game shop. This is similar to the Night Market feature in popular online games like Valorant. Every day, a new list of seasonal and promotional gear would appear in the shop, allowing anyone to have a chance to acquire out-of-season gear or shop-exclusive promotional items. Of course, the best value would be to purchase the complete package from the Varium shop, but this option would be beneficial to someone who only wishes to own a single piece of a set like an armor or core, rather than the entire set. This would only impact promotional items released after this feature appears in-game.

Chronos' Cataclysm and The Challenger

Numerous new bosses and storylines are in development to provide a feast for those who have been craving more PvE content.

EpicDuel's Anniversary

In a few months EpicDuel will celebrate 14 years of operation! Hopefully, we'll have some epic surprises for those who have been loyal duelists after all this time!

Tags: Nightwraith

January 13, 2023

Balance improvements, styles, and new seasonal rare PvP drops await in the first Friday the 13th update of 2023!

Friday the 13th PvP Drops

14 new weapons crafted by Acatriel are available as seasonal PvP drops! Can you complete the Necrotek set?

• Necrotek Executioner P
• Necrotek Executioner E
• Necrotek Scythe P
• Necrotek Scythe E
• Necrotek Blades P
• Necrotek Blades E
• Necrotek Hammer P
• Necrotek Hammer E
• Necrotek Staff P
• Necrotek Staff E
• Necrotek SMG P
• Necrotek SMG E
• Necrotek HMG P
• Necrotek HMG E

New Achievements

Two new seasonal achievements are available from the Seasonal section of the Achievement shop.

• Australia Day 2023
• Friday The 13th 2023

New Hairstyles

Visit the style change shop for 4 new styles combining the new Necrotek weapon theme.

Class Balance Changes

• Tactical Mercenary
  
  • Energy Shield → Force Field: A shield that grants % damage reduction and lowers attacker's energy by the same % of melee damage; values 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35; costs 75 energy, +15 per level (210 max); 4 turn duration.
  • Field Commander: Removed 10% damage reduction; added effect that increases Rage Gain rate by a % equal to the amount of Support granted.
  • Crippling Strike: Buffed by 7%; improves every 4 Strength → 6 Strength.
  • Barbed Grenade: Improves every 0.35 Technology → 0.32 Dexterity; costs 15 energy per level → 10 (205 max).
  • Tactical Grenade: Improves every 3 Dexterity → 2 Support.

• Blood Mage
  • Blood Lust → Mania: Added passive Rage Gain rate increase (scaling with skill level, 25% max).
  • Deadly Aim → Red Vision: Buffed damage increase by 5%.
  • Energy Parasite: 85% damage → 100%; initial strike gains energy equal to 25% of damage dealt and drains flat 100 energy; unblockable; increased minimum energy gain per turn from 10 → 50.
  • Plasma Cannon: Gain 10% damage to energy → 35%.
  • Terrify: Reduces 15% def/res → 20%.
  • Fire Scythe: Change values to 21% +3% per level (48% max). 

• Bounty Hunter
  • Smoke Screen: Removed 20% heal reduction effect; reduced energy cost by 30.
  • Cheap Shot: Added 25% heal reduction effect; 3 turn duration; 2 turn cooldown → 3 turns; reduced cost by 30.
  • Massacre: Changed values from 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130 → 58, 66, 74, 82, 90, 98, 106, 114, 122, 130 (+8% per level instead of +10%).
  • Venom Strike: Buffed by 20 points; 4 turns → 3; costs 30 more energy per level → 20 (240 max).
  • Static Grenade: 70% damage → 85%; reduced drain by 20 points; improves every 1.1 Support → 0.6 Support; can Rage.

• Cyber Hunter
  • Memory Leak: Reduced values by 10.
  • Kernel Panic: Improves every 4 Technology → 6 Technology
  • Proton Cannon: Reduced energy cost by 30 (280 at level 1); changed values from 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130 → 58, 66, 74, 82, 90, 98, 106, 114, 122, 130 (+8% per level instead of +10%).
  • Static Charge: Unblockable. 

• Tech Mage
  • Deadly Aim: Buffed damage increase by 5%. 

• Mercenary
  • Double Strike: Added Defense/Resistance, block chance, and deflection debuff equal to the % More Damage; effect lasts 1 turn; changed values to 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28; improves every 6 Dexterity.

Core Changes

• Phantasm Blast E/P: 60% +3% per turn (81% max) → 35% +5% per turn (70% max).
• Energy Shot: 4 turn cooldown → 6; 2 turn warmup; 30% → 25%.
• Mana Burst: Add 2 turn warmup; 40% → 35%.
• Frostbite/Cold Ignition: 5 turn cooldown→ 6; Energy cost 90 → 100.
• Frost Shards: 5 turn cooldown → 6.
• Health Booster: 300 HP → 450 HP.
• Generator: Buff multiplier from 2 → 3.25 (440 HP/50 MP with full defense armor).
• Minor Health Reserve: Increased multiplier from 3 → 3.5 (410 HP → 470 HP with full Defense armor).
• Health Reserve: Increased multiplier from 3.75 → 4.0 (500 HP → 530 HP with full Defense armor).
• Energy Booster: 400 MP → 450 MP.
• Piston Punch: Deal 110% primary damage.
• Thorn Assault E/P: 110% damage → 115%.
• Minor Thorn Assault E/P: 110% damage; 25% crit chance.
• Dualism: 115% damage; 1 time use; warmup removed.
• Battlebot Barrage E/P: 110% damage; 1 time use.
• Meteor Shower/Plasma Shower/Shattering Star: 115% primary damage.
• Jack-O-Fire P/E: 110% primary damage.
• Blood Shot/Bloodseeker Blast: 50% lifesteal → 40%.
• Exsanguinating Spears/Feeding Frenzy/Typhoon Leviathan Frenzy: 30% lifesteal (both initial and the effect) → 25%.

Bug Fix:

• Skills that raise Support by a flat value stack correctly. Previously, combining Support buffing skills like Field Commander and Growth Serum would appear to apply correctly on the stats page, but would not apply benefits to Support-improved skills like Field Medic.

Tags: Nightwraith

January 06, 2023

Check out EpicDuel's first update of 2023 with dozens of new cores and balance changes!

New Cores

The following unlimited charge cores are available at VendBots throughout Delta V.

• Domination (Armor): +7 Strength, +7 Dexterity.
• Domination (Primary): +3 Strength, +2 Dexterity.
• Domination (Sidearm): +2 Strength, +3 Dexterity.
• Domination (Auxiliary): +2 Strength, +2 Dexterity.
• Infinite (Armor): +7 Strength, +7 Technology.
• Infinite (Primary): +3 Strength, +2 Technology.
• Infinite (Sidearm): +2 Strength, +2 Technology.
• Infinite (Auxiliary): +2 Strength, +2 Technology.
• Destruction (Armor): +7 Strength, +7 Support.
• Destruction (Primary): +3 Strength, +2 Support.
• Destruction (Sidearm): +2 Strength, +2 Support.
• Destruction (Auxiliary): +2 Strength, +3 Support.
• Fortitude (Armor): +7 Dexterity, +7 Technology.
• Fortitude (Primary): +2 Dexterity, +2 Technology.
• Fortitude (Sidearm): +3 Dexterity, +2 Technology.
• Fortitude (Auxiliary): +2 Dexterity, +2 Technology.
• Vigor (Armor): +7 Dexterity, +7 Support.
• Vigor (Primary): +2 Dexterity, +2 Support.
• Vigor (Sidearm): +3 Dexterity, +2 Support.
• Vigor (Auxiliary): +2 Dexterity, +3 Support.
• Absolution (Armor): +7 Technology, +7 Support.
• Absolution (Primary): +2 Technology, +2 Support.
• Absolution (Sidearm): +2 Technology, +2 Support.
• Absolution (Auxiliary): +2 Technology, +3 Support.
• Supremacy (Armor): +3 Strength, +3 Dexterity, +6 Technology, +3 Support.
• Supremacy (Primary): +2 Strength, +1 Dexterity, +1 Technology, +1 Support.
• Supremacy (Sidearm): +1 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +1 Technology, +1 Support.
• Supremacy (Auxiliary): +1 Strength, +1 Dexterity, +1 Technology, +2 Support.

The following limited charge cores are available at VendBots throughout Delta V.

• Domination (Primary) x30: +6 Strength, +3 Dexterity.
• Domination (Sidearm) x30: +3 Strength, +6 Dexterity.
• Domination (Auxiliary) x30: +3 Strength, +3 Dexterity.
• Infinity (Primary) x30: +6 Strength, +3 Technology.
• Infinity (Sidearm) x30: +3 Strength, +3 Technology.
• Infinity (Auxiliary) x30: +3 Strength, +3 Technology.
• Destruction (Primary) x30: +6 Strength, +3 Support.
• Destruction (Sidearm) x30: +3 Strength, +3 Support.
• Destruction (Auxiliary) x30: +3 Strength, +6 Support.
• Fortitude (Primary) x30: +3 Dexterity, +3 Technology.
• Fortitude (Sidearm) x30: +6 Dexterity, +3 Technology.
• Fortitude (Auxiliary) x30: +3 Dexterity, +3 Technology.
• Vigor (Primary) x30: +3 Dexterity, +3 Support.
• Vigor (Sidearm) x30: +6 Dexterity, +3 Support.
• Vigor (Auxiliary) x30: +3 Dexterity, +6 Support.
• Absolution (Primary) x30: +3 Technology, +3 Support.
• Absolution (Sidearm) x30: +3 Technology, +3 Support.
• Absolution (Auxiliary) x30: +3 Technology, +6 Support.
• Supremacy (Primary) x30: +3 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Technology, +2 Support.
• Supremacy (Sidearm) x30: +2 Strength, +3 Dexterity, +2 Technology, +2 Support.
• Supremacy (Auxiliary) x30: +2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Technology, +3 Support.

Balance Changes

These are just a few of the changes planned over the course of this month. More significant class skill and core changes are underway.

• Skill Changes
  • Field Medic (all classes):
    Improves every 1.5 Support → 0.6 Support; changed values to 145, 180, 215, 250, 285, 320, 355, 390, 435, 480; weakens by 1 Health Point per 0.15 levels below 20 → 0.3; improves by 1 Health Point per 0.1 levels above 20 → 0.12; Field Medic beam changed to distinguish it from other healing skills.
  • Mineral Armor: Support buff rounds up instead of down.
  • Deadly Aim (Tech Mage): Technology buff rounds up instead of down.
  • Shadow Arts: Flat 10% Dexterity buff.
  • AOE energy cost formula changed to be Energy Cost + 20. This applies to all multi-target skills that cost energy.

• Core Changes
  • Meteor Shower / Plasma Shower / Shattering Star: 120% weapon damage → 115% primary damage; 100% primary damage against multiple targets and costs 20 extra energy; reusable; 1 turn warmup, 3 turn cooldown.
  • Jack-O-Fire P/E: 120% weapon damage → 110% primary damage; 95% primary damage against multiple targets and costs 20 extra energy; 15% defense ignore; reusable; 1 turn warmup, 3 turn cooldown.
  • Thorn Assault P/E: 120% weapon damage → 110% primary damage; 95% primary damage against multiple targets and costs 20 extra energy; 25% Crit chance; reusable; 1 turn warmup, 3 turn cooldown.
  • Bacon Breath / Titan Chomp / Bacon Rain: 120% weapon damage → 125% primary damage.
  • Exile/Legion Strike: 120% weapon damage → 115% primary damage.
  • Hawk Guardian P/E: 130% weapon damage → 130% primary damage.
  • Yeti Fury / Apocryphal Champion’s/Demigod's Wrath: 110% weapon damage → 110% primary damage; 50% lifesteal → 60% lifesteal.

Next week, in addition to more balance changes, we plan to release new rare PvP drops in celebration of the first Friday the 13th of 2023!

Tags: Nightwraith

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

November 23, 2022

A bounty of balance changes await on the even of an epic holiday weekend! Savor all the changes between bites of turkey, ham, tofu, broccoli, or whatever food you favor as you give thanks for this long-awaited update!

General Balance

• Adjusted starting stats for 3 classes
  • Tech Mage: 19 Str, 21 Dex, 22 Tech, 18 Supp → 17 Str, 21 Dex, 24 Tech, 18 Supp
  • Tactical Mercenary: 18 Str, 22 Dex, 19 Tech, 21 Ssupp → 18 Str, 21 Dex, 19 Tech, 22 Supp
  • Cyber Hunter: 19 Str, 19 Dex, 24 Tech, 18 Supp → 19 Str, 18 Dex, 22 Tech, 21 Supp
    
    
• Field Medic
  • Support scaling unified for all classes. Improves with every 1.5 Support

Class Balance

All classes have received some major changes this update. Ultimately, our goal is that each class should have multiple viable builds, and these changes should provide more viable builds while reinforcing the unique identity of each class. Special thanks to those who responded to our feedback survey, who provided thorough documentation for all proposed changes. We are much more likely to implement an idea that's specific (not just "nerf/buff X skill") and well-justified.

• Bounty Hunter
  • Multi Shot: Lowered energy cost by 80 across all levels; improves with every 0.35 Dex → 0.32 Dex.
  • Stun Grenade: Lowered energy cost by 40 across all levels. Improves with every 0.4 Dex → 0.35 Dex. 20% stun chance → 15% chance.
  • Shadow Arts: Added Dex buff (10% at max); Support requirement lowered by 8 across all levels.
  • Massacre: Lower energy cost by 30 across all levels; requires Strength → Support; reduced by 10% across all levels (130% at max); added 30% defense ignore and 50% lifesteal.
  • Venom Strike: Improves every 6 Dex → every 2 Supp.
  • Cheap Shot: Changed values to 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48; added 25% Rage reduction; lowered energy cost by 10 across all levels.

• Blood Mage
  • Fireball: Reverted scaling to improve with Dex instead of Support.
  • Fire Rain: Reverted scaling to improve with Support instead of Dex; improves every 0.40 Supp → 0.32 Supp; ignores 10% defense → 20% defense; removed staff requirement.
  • Brutal Strike: Replaced with Fire Scythe; ignores % Defense; unblockable; ranged; values 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 42; costs 105 energy +15 per level; 2 turn cooldown.
  • Terrify: Buffed values to 17, 20, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 34, 35; reduce duration from 4 turns to 3 turns.
  • Blood Shield: Changed values to 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 28, 30; grants 90 energy upon use.
  • Blood Instinct: Grants 90 energy upon use.
  • Deadly Aim: Added flat 10% Strength buff.

• Tactical Mercenary
  • Concentration: Reverted to Reroute (Passive); converts % of all damage received into energy; values 14, 17, 20, 23, 25, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32. Requires 24 tech, +2 per level.
  • Adrenaline: Changed to an active effect that grants flat 180 energy and % Rage; values 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 46, 48, 50.
  • Mineral Armor: Reduced Support requirement from 43 to 34 at max (+2 per level instead of +3); added flat 10% Support buff.
  • Frenzy: Remove 2 turn warmup; unblockable.
  • Crippling Strike: 110% damage → 120% damage; reduced energy cost scaling from 25 per level to 15 per level (220 energy at max); only debuffs Defense; values 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33; requires club.
  • Field Commander: 10% crit chance to 10% damage reduction.
  • Suppressing Fire: Improves every 0.35 Supp→ every 0.32 Supp. 

• Cyber Hunter
  • Lock On: Renamed Kernel Panic; reduce % Resistance: 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33; improves every 4 tech; cost 85 energy +15 per level (220 max); requires 21 dex +2 per level; initial strike deals 100% damage.
  • Static Charge: 100% damage → 85% damage; drain opponent’s energy by 50% of damage.
  • Pulse Punch: Removed 2 turn warmup; changed effect from % More Damage to % reduced Rage Gain for 3 turns: 38, 41, 44, 47, 50, 53, 56, 59, 62, 65; initial strike reduced target Rage 50%; reduced energy cost scaling from 20 per level to 10 per level; removed 25% lifesteal; added 20% defense Ignore.
  • Plasma Grenade: Removed 25% crit chance; added 25% lifesteal.
  • Neural Scythe: Reverted to Support skill; new values: 160, 180, 200, 220, 240, 260, 280, 300, 320, 340; improves every 0.35 Support, +1 per 0.3 level above 20, -1 per 0.8 levels below 20.
  • Adaptive Offense: Improves every 0.35 Supp→ every 0.3 Dex; removed 15% crit; added 25% energy drain based on damage dealt; lowered energy cost by 100 across all levels; 3 turn cooldown→ 2 turn cooldown.
  • Memory Leak: 4 turn cooldown→ 3 turn cooldown.
  • Counterattack: Swapped with Nanotech Shield
  • Nanotech Shield: Swapped with Adaptive Armor; increases Defense/Resistance for 3 turns; values 40, 55, 70, 85, 100, 115, 130, 145, 160, 175; improves +1 Defense every 1 support, +1 per 0.5 levels above 20, -1 per 0.7 levels below 20; costs 100 energy +20 per level; 2 turn cooldown.

• Tech Mage
  • Nanotech Shield: Changed to Defense Matrix with values 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200; improves +1 Defense every 0.35 Support; +1 per 0.5 levels above 20, -1 per 0.7 levels below 20; costs 80 energy +20 per level; 2 turn CD.
  • Battery Backup: Changed to Concentration; essentially passive Reroute in that it converts % of all damage received into energy; values 14, 17, 20, 23, 25, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32; requires 24 tech, +2 per level; added15% damage reduction.
  • Deadly Aim: Added flat 10% tech buff.
  • Assimilation: Changed base values to 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160; improves every 1.5 Dex → 1.25 Supp; Changed 150% absorption to 90% absorption. 70% damage → 100% damage.
  • Overload: Improves with every 0.35 Dex → 0.3 Dex; lower energy cost by 20 across all levels; +15 energy cost per level → +10 per level. 2 turn cooldown → 1 turn cooldown ; 20% stun chance → 15% chance.
  • Bludgeon: Reduced energy cost scaling from 20 per level to 15 per level (245 energy at max). 

• Mercenary
  • Hybrid Armor: Reduced Support requirement from 42 to 33 at max (+2 per level instead of +3); removed stat buff.
  • Static Smash: 120% damage → 100% damage; buffed values by 7% across all levels; removed Tech requirement.
  • Reactive Armor: Reduced Dex requirement by 8 across all levels.
  • Artillery Strike: Improves every 0.35 Supp → 0.32 Supp; added 20% defense ignore; removed 30% lifesteal.
  • Blood Commander: Improves every 4 Supp → 3 Supp; buffed values to 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41
  • Intimidate: Removed 10% Defense debuff; reduces Support in addition to Strength.
  • Berzerker: Requires Supp → requires Dex; remove 15% lifesteal; reduce energy cost by 20 across all levels.
  • Maul: Added a 65% Heal Reduction effect lasting 1 turn; 2 turn cooldown → 4 turn cooldown .

Core balance

While many of these changes serve to buff underutilized cores, there are also calls for nerfing many cores. While a much broader core update was planned, these have been on hold to weigh the impact of this new balance update on the game meta.

• Skull Cracker: Compatible with Deadly Aim.
• Skull Smasher: Reusable; 4 turn cooldown .
• Frost Aura: 25% trigger chance → 35% trigger chance.
• Curse Aura: 25% trigger chance → 35% trigger chance; 50% Support reduction → flat 50 Support reduction; added 25% heal reduction debuff for 3 turns.
• Curse: 50% Support reduction → flat 50 Support reduction; added 25% heal reduction debuff for 3 turns.
• Minor Curse: 40% Support reduction → flat 40 Support reduction; added 25% heal reduction debuff for 3 turns.
• Eternal Protection: +15 Def/Res → +20 Def/Res.
• Salvage: 100% damage → 110% damage.
• Phase Shift (all versions): 100% damage → 110% damage.
• Infernal Fury/Titan’s Trigger/Hair Trigger: 100% damage → 110% damage.
• Blood Bullet/Titan’s Barrage: 120% damage → 125% damage.
• TrueShot (Gun)/TrueShot: 135% max → 140% max.
• Feast of Flesh: 35% highest stat → 50% highest stat. Grants 150 energy upon use.
• Dark Omen: 40% Support reduction → flat 40 support reduction. Add 20% heal reduction debuff for 3 turns.
• Growth Serum: 50% Support → flat 50 Support. 25% Rage gain → 50% Rage gain. 3 turn duration → 4 turn duration. Grants 150 HP upon use.
• Minor Growth Serum: 40% Support → flat 40 Support. 25% Rage gain → 50% Rage gain. 3 turn duration → 4 turn duration. Grants 150 HP upon use.
• Sea King’s Spirit: 5 turn cooldown → 4 turn cooldown.
• Lifeline: 225 HP → 300 HP.
• Sea King Corruption: 25% heal reduction → 30% heal reduction.
• Corrosive Shot: Restored 15% defense ignore on initial attack.
• Screaming Soul Spears/Darkeater’s Impaler: 40 HP/MP reduction → 60 HP/MP reduction.
• Sea King’s Venom: 70 HP reduction → 80 HP reduction.
• Poison Barbs: 70 HP reduction → 80 HP reduction. 85% initial damage → 100% initial damage.
• Cold Ignition: Costs 60 energy → 90 energy. Reusable; 5 turn cooldown.
• Magma Grenade P/E: Defense reduction factor increased to 4 per level.
• Minor Magma Grenade P/E: Defense reduction factor increased to 2.5 per level.

Robot Balance

Many bots have been beefed up in this release, including the Yeti sets. Several older bots have also had additional effects added to their normal attacks.

• Phantasm Slash: Drains energy by 25% of damage.
• Phantasm Blast E/P: 35% +4% per round (55% max) → 60% +3% per round (81% max).
• Infernal Overload P/E/PxE/ExP: 85% +5% per round (115% max) → 100% +5% per round (135% max). Single use.
• Bio Claw: Added 20% defense ignore.
• Cyber Yeti Breath: 100% damage → 105% damage.
• Ice Shield: Added 30% damage reduction.
• Dino Fire/Rusted Dino Fire P/E/PxE/ExP: 2 turn warmup → 1 turn warmup.
• Azrael Claw: Added 15% defense ignore and 25% crit chance.
• Heart Attack: 85% damage → 100% damage; changed from physical damage to energy damage.
• Plasma Super Beam/Infernal Super Beam: 4 turn cooldown → 3 turn cooldown.
• Baby Yeti/Dark Yeti/Downtown Yeti/Dark Downtown Yeti: 150 damage → 170 damage.
• Baby Yeti Warrior/Dark Yeti Warrior/Pink Yeti: 160 damage → 180 damage.
• Omega Baby Yeti/Omega Dark Yeti: 170 damage → 190 damage.
• Golden Yeti: 180 damage → 190 damage
• Flesh Demigod Judgment E/P: 30% lifesteal → 25% lifesteal; reusable; 4 turn cooldown.
• Necrosis: 85% damage → 100% damage; increased defense reduction factor to 4 from 2.4.
• Lionhart’s Claws: 25% Rage reduction → 50% Rage reduction.
• Assault Claw: Added 15% lifesteal.

Epic Legendary Supporter

Although there will be no Gifting event this year, we are still offering the 40K Varium package for those who wish to stock up. This package also comes with the Epic Legendary Supporter 2022 achievement. This offer will only be available until December 1st, 2022!

The other 10K Artix Point packages will also include the evolving Epic Supporter 2022 achievements. If you purchased a 10K AP package since Friday November 18th, 2022, you will receive this achievement retroactively. Please note the Varium offered by the other 10K AP packages have not been increased this year.

We've also added a 2022 World Cup achievement if you still needed a few more rating points to your next star!

Battlepass Encore

Some of you have been extremely diligent in completing your daily and weekly Battlepass challenges, reaching the coveted level 50 milestone. To make completing challenges worthwhile after hitting the cap, we've expanded the pass to include 10 more levels with substantial Varium and Credit rewards! This Battlepass will officially end at the end of the day on December 4th. In the future, we expect passes to last about 30 days, but due to some early hiccups, we're letting this season run a bit longer.

Tags: Nightwraith

November 14, 2022

Today we made a small update to EpicDuel's Battlepass to fix some issues with certain NPC and boss challenges not counting towards completion of the challenges. This error was due partially to some NPCs that weren't designated as bosses not being counted towards the challenge. Though this error was difficult to isolate, it was fortunately easy to fix, and all NPC challenges should register as intended.

As compensation for those who who were unable to complete the bugged challenges, we awarded 10,500 Battlepass XP to all players with more than 0 progress this season. Hopefully that's the last of the issues for now, and you can continue to enjoy the current season uninterrupted!

Tags: Nightwraith

November 10, 2022

Battlepass Changes

Based on your ongoing feedback we have made the following changes to the Battlepass Challenges.

• Reduced max cap on 2v2 challenge to 10. Increased base XP to 200 from 100.
• Reduced max use of coupons challenges to 1 from 5. Increase base XP on Class Change Coupon to 1000.
• Reduced Hair Change base challenge XP to 50 from 250.
• "Defeat any NPC" base XP reduced to 100 from 150.
• "Play a PvP match with no Active or Passive Cores equipped" base XP increased from 200 to 400.
• Removed Nightmare and Legendary Bosses from the pool of class-specific challenges. You may lose progress on current boss challenges, but the revised challenges should be much easier to complete.

So far we've received a wealth of suggestions for improvements, changes, and additions to the Battlepass, and we will consider all of them as we improve what we can in the current season and look towards the next. Thank you for your patience as we build upon this robust system and help reveal its full potential.

ArmoryBot Restock!

Weapons added to ArmoryBot

• Nightwraith's Avatar Slayer P
• Nightwraith's Avatar Slayer E
• Nightmare Wraith Pikes P
• Nightmare Wraith Pikes E

Expanded Nightwraith Missions

The mission "36" has been replace with 2 new missions in the chain Party Business.

• 37
• 38

New Nightwraith Bounties

This update is introducing 4 new mission chains offering enticing rewards including Credits, XP, Coupons, and Achievements!

New Missions added to Nightwraith!

• Night's Basic Bounties
  • Craven Cravings
  • Guard Gotcha
  • Hitting Heavy Hitters
  • Sly Resupply
  • Shadow of Doubt
  • Stay Hydrated!
  • Solo Tested
  • Duo Tested
  • Free for All Finale
  • Spare Shades

• Night's Big Bounties
  • Solo Trial 1
  • Solo Trial 2
  • Solo Trial 3
  • Duo Trial 1
  • Duo Trial 2
  • Duo Trial 3
  • Duelist Trail 1
  • Duelist Trail 2
  • Duelist Trail 3
  • Duelist Trail 4

• Night's Boss Blitz
  • Target: Theon
  • Target: Bido
  • Target: Deuce
  • Target: Seth Juron
  • Target: Revontheus
  • Target: Darkon
  • Target: Rabblefroth
  • Target: Charfade
  • Target: Titan
  • Target: Dage the Evil
  • Target: Acatriel
  • Target: REDACTED

New Missions added to Nightmare Nightwraith!

• Night's Nightmare Blitz
  • Target: Nightmare Pumpkin Lord
  • Target: Nightmare Capt. Shoggoth
  • Target: Nightmare Kartherax
  • Target: Nightmare Abyss Spider
  • Target: Nightmare Azrael
  • Target: Nightmare Adjudicator
  • Target: Nightmare Charfade
  • Target: Nightmare Dage
  • Target: Nightmare Luthiel
  • Target: Nightmare Acatriel
  • Target: Nightmare Titan
  • Target: Nightmare Finale

Power Weekend!

Power Hour has been enabled from now through to Sunday evening!

Tags: Nightwraith

October 28, 2022

Battlepass Online!

We're commemorating AE's 20th anniversary with the biggest feature we've added to EpicDuel in years: Battlepass! This feature will allow all players to earn new weapons, items, styles, cores, and currency just by completing specific daily and weekly challenges! 

To start, simply make progress towards any of the challenges available. You will being to earn XP automatically as you complete the various tasks. If you're stuck by a challenge or two, you can wait for them to reset or purchase a level worth of XP to advance and claim more prizes. Also, an Enhanced Battlepass is available to unlock even more prizes if you desire.

This season is designed to last until December, enough time for those who complete challenges every day to have a chance to claim up to level 50. Spider designed this system cleverly enough that we have tremendous flexibility to add content and expand challenges as the feature evolves. We hope you enjoy what is the first iteration of a powerful and exciting new feature!

Special thanks to Spider, Acatriel, and our Testers who helped see this feature from inception to final delivery!

O.M.G. Mode

As a surprise bonus addition to this release, we've introduced a new battle mode: O.M.G.

According to our programmer Spider, this acronym stands for Offensive Magnitude of Gorgonzola (because you're cheesing your opponent). Don't let the punny name fool you -- this mode is brutal! This mode makes the following adjustments to regular battle:

• HP multiplier of x1337
• DMG multiplier of x750
• Maximum cooldown of 1 for every ability
• Unlimited energy
• Flat +25% stun resist
• Legendary Points disabled
  

To maintain its novelty, this mode will only be available for a limited time so experiment while you can!

20th AE Anniversary

The main meat of this release was the Battlepass, but in recognition of 20 year, we thought the least we could do was offer a rare achievement to claim from the Achievement shop to mark this momentous occasion! If you're a baseball fan, you might also note the Big Show 2022 achievement in the seasonal portion as well.

In addition to all the other anniversary festivities, AQ3D is offering FREE Artix Points if you log in and find the secret code! Sounds like a deal! Read more on how you can redeem the code: https://www.artix.com/posts/how_to_redeem_artix_points/

Mysterious Man Returns

In celebration of AE's 20th anniversary, we're bringing back a boss from EpicDuel's recent past: The Mysterious Man! Visit his domain in the Afterlife to vanquish this foe again to receive a new tiered achievement. In recognition of those who already experienced and conquered this adversary, the original achievement will remain rare.

Techstalker Tech

In recognition of AE's 20th anniversary, we're delaying removing the Techstalker Promo until November 7th! This should allow everyone who's either been hibernating or saving up enough time to grab these items before they're gone!

Tags: Nightwraith

October 21, 2022

EpicDuel's first Battlepass is still under construction, but nearing completion as we enter the final rounds of testing. This set's theme was crafted by Acatriel with a focus on a fusion of Blood Magic and Technology into an unparalleled Sanguine Showcase! When implemented, this collection will offer more content than any other promotion in EpicDuel's history. 

An incomplete list of what the Battlepass will include:

• 4 new armors!
• 22 new items!
• 6 new achievements!
• 6 new cores!
• 24 new styles!

We're working hard to make this new feature a success and thank you for your patience. Stay tuned for updates when the feature is finally ready to be released in-game!

Power Weekend Returns

Since there will be no update today, we've reactivated Power Hour to last all Weekend long for an excellent opportunity to grind and level up in anticipation of this new feature!

Heromart 2023 Preview

The 2023 Heromart Calendar is just around the corner, and in anticipation of its arrival we're offering a preview of the items that will be available as in-game bonuses for those who purchase this upcoming piece of merchandise.

Armors

• Paladin Chronomancer A
• Paladin Chronomancer B
• Paladin Chronomancer A CC
• Paladin Chronomancer B CC

Weapons

• Paladin Chronomancer Sword P
• Paladin Chronomancer Sword E
• Paladin Chronomancer Redeemer P
• Paladin Chronomancer Redeemer E
• Paladin Chronomancer Blaster P
• Paladin Chronomancer Blaster E
• Paladin Chronomancer Collider P
• Paladin Chronomancer Collider E

Please note the 2023 Calendar is not currently available for sale. Keep an eye on Heromart.com and its social media accounts for product updates!

EpicDuel 2022 Player Survey

Earlier this week we released a survey via Twitter and email to collect player feedback. So far we've received dozens of results, but we're posting it again here just in case you missed those social media and email links or just didn't feel like responding before and forgot. If you have any thoughts on balance, new features, or any other improvements for the game, now is your time to share your feedback! Want more boss? Wish Tactical Mercenaries were more viable? Feel like Dexterity builds should have their time to shine? Want new battle modes and events? Let us know!

To begin the survey follow this link to help us build a better EpicDuel in 2023!

Thank you for your participation and support!

Tags: Nightwraith

October 14, 2022

Boss Bounty Boost

Last week we added tiered achievements to many bosses throughout EpicDuel, and this week we're making boss farming a bit more worthwhile by adding many PvP drop weapons to specific bosses. Since determining which boss drops what by trial and error would be time consuming, we're including a list of which weapons were added to which bosses. Happy hunting!

• Edgar Booth - Overfiend Nemesis and Infernal Overfiend Swords
• King Alaric - Overfiend Nemesis and Infernal Overfiend Swords
• Dravax - Overfiend Nemesis and Infernal Overfiend Swords
• The Endless - Overfiend Nemesis and Infernal Overfiend Swords
• Captain Shoggoth - Overfiend Nemesis and Infernal Overfiend Swords
• Legendary Captain Shoggoth - Overfiend Nemesis and Infernal Overfiend Axes
• Nightmare Captain Shoggoth - Overfiend Nemesis and Infernal Overfiend Axes
• Legendary Titan - Overfiend Nemesis and Infernal Overfiend Staffs
• Nightmare Titan - Overfiend Nemesis and Infernal Overfiend Staffs
• Dage the Evil - Overfiend Nemesis and Infernal Overfiend Swords
• Legendary Dage the Evil - Overfiend Nemesis and Infernal Overfiend Swords
• Legendary Big Tuna - Overfiend Nemesis and Infernal Overfiend Swords
• Nightmare Kartherax - Overfiend Nemesis and Infernal Overfiend Swords
• Legendary Nightwraith - Overfiend Nemesis and Infernal Overfiend Blades
• Nightmare Nightwraith - Overfiend Nemesis and Infernal Overfiend Blades
• Legendary Deuce - Infernal Overfiend Weapons
• Legendary Bido - Overfiend Nemesis Weapons
• Pumpkin Lord - Overfiend Nemesis and Infernal Overfiend Swords
• Nightmare Pumpkin Lord - Overfiend Nemesis and Infernal Overfiend Swords
• Azrael - Overfiend Nemesis and Infernal Overfiend Swords
• Nightmare Azrael - Overfiend Nemesis and Infernal Overfiend Swords
• Legendary Caden - Overfiend Nemesis and Infernal Overfiend Swords

To prevent some randomness in boss difficulty, we've removed Nanotech shield from NPCs

Star Expansion

With the additional boss achievement tiers, rating points have exploded well beyond the prior limits. To accommodate this accomplishment, we've added 4 new star tiers: Obsidian, Gilded Obsidian, Topaz, and Galactic.

Xenomorphic Weapons

New seasonal weapons items crafted by Bido have been added to Cinderella:

• Xenomorphic Slayer P
• Xenomorphic Slayer E
• Xenomorphic Talons P
• Xenomorphic Talons E
• Xenomorphic Splitter P
• Xenomorphic Splitter E
• Xenomorphic Staff P
• Xenomorphic Staff E

2023 Paladin Chronomancer Hairstyles

This update, as a preview of EpicDuel's 2023 Calendar items, we've included 6 new Paladin Chronomancer hairstyles. The rest of the set will be available with the new Heromart item when it's available. 

Tags: Nightwraith

October 07, 2022

EpicDuel is at its core a PvP game, but we don't want those who crave PvE (and rating points) to go hungry for too long. The following bosses have received an update with tiered achievements. This means the achievements will increase in value the more their attached bosses are defeated. New tiers are achieved at 5, 10, 15, and 20 victories. If your achievement tier is currently "stuck" at lower tier than you qualify for, you may need to defeat the boss once force achievement to update.

• George Lowe
• Armor Hazard
• Davarril
• Revontheus
• Administrator 10
• Exile Leader
• Black Abyss Spider
• Capt. Shoggoth
• Kartherax
• Void King
• Legendary Titan
• M4tr1x
• Theon
• Noragh
• Seth Juron
• Merged Dragonoid
• Legendary Merged Dragonoid
• God of War
• Legendary God of War
• Dage the Evil
• Legendary Slayer
• Legendary Big Tuna
• Legendary Capt. Shoggoth
• Nightmare Kartherax
• Nightmare Capt. Shoggoth
• Legendary Nightwraith
• Nightmare Nightwraith
• Legendary Endless M4tr1x
• Legendary Deuce
• Legendary Bido
• Legendary Void King
• Legendary Dage the Evil
• Legendary Charfade
• Nightmare Charfade
• Dragonoid Brain
• Legendary Dragonoid Brain
• Nightmare Titan
• Legendary Caden
• Nightmare Dage
• Nightmare Black Abyss Spider
• Delta Vault Sim.
• Legendary Delta Vault Sim.
• Darkon
• Pumpkin Lord
• Nightmare Pumpkin Lord
• Adjudicator
• Nightmare Adjudicator
• Azrael
• Nightmare Azrael
• Acatriel
• Legendary Acatriel
• Nightmare Acatriel
• Luthiel
• Nightmare Luthiel

New Boss Achievements:

• Dravax the Harbinger
• Administrator 11
• The Endless
• Elite Yeti
• Edgar Boothe
• King Alaric
• Saeva Lionhart

Skill Changes

• Astral Projection: 75% MP drain, no hp cost

Techstalker Package

The Techstalker promotional package is currently scheduled to leave the game October 28th! The cores/bots may return but the base weapons, armors, and achievement will be permanently rare once the package leaves the game.

Battlepass Previews

It seems like we've been talking about this new feature for months (because we have), but it's finally nearing completion! We're excited to share previews and explanations of how this system will function within EpicDuel. Please remember that the prizes shown do not represent the final prize list in the finished Battlepass and the GUI may change between now and the release.

Battlepass will be a way for all players to earn new cores, weapons, home items, cosmetics, and currency just by playing the game! You won't need to do anything to participate. Simply logging in an interacting with the game should be enough to earn you a participation achievement and start collecting points towards the Battlepass' prizes.

You can earn more experience towards the prizes by completing various challenges. Some are as simple as winning a PvP match or changing your hairstyle, while others are a bit more complex. As you can see below, there will be daily and weekly challenges. There are currently hundreds of combinations possible so there should be plenty of variety to keep duels spicy each day!

If you're stumped by challenges or simply don't have the time to complete them, you have the option to skip ahead a level of progression by purchasing an XP boost from the Battlepass interface.

There will be two types of passes available: A Basic pass for everyone, and an Enhanced pass for those who want a more rewarding experience for their efforts. The Enhanced pass will include exclusive content, but efforts will be made to make sure the free pass is a rewarding experience on it's own and not fall into a "Pay-to-Win" trap common in so many other games that employ this feature.

Each Battlepass will be considered a "season" and will last about a month. We're still balancing the time/XP/ curves to make sure the grind isn't unreasonable to acquire all the content within a season. Currently, we're expecting Battlepass content to go rare after a season ends so there will be a decent incentive to play while it lasts.

Thank you for your patience as we continue to build this feature. We know the content has been lighter than usual, but much of that time has been devoted to creating the content that you will be able to unlock in the Battlepass. This has been a massive feature that should add much more variety and excitement for day-to-day play and allow new players an easier way to acquire the tools they need to compete against others in PvP. This feature should be ready very soon, and we hope it will be worth the wait!

Tags: Nightwraith

October 03, 2022

Celebrating 20 year of Artix Entertainment, we just launched the Techstalker Terminator Package! 20 years for $20 (4,000 AP)!*
*Please note this package does not include extra Varium. The regular 2,500 Varium package (4,000) is still available from the Varium shop.

• Armors:
  • Techstalker Exosuit A
  • Techstalker Exosuit B
  • Techstalker Exosuit C
  • Techstalker Exosuit A CC
  • Techstalker Exosuit B CC
  • Techstalker Exosuit C CC

These new armors come pre-equipped with new cores!

• Resonant Armor (Armor Core - Passive): Lower attacker's energy by 15% ranged damage.
• Astral Projection (Armor Core): Summon a cosmic avatar, dealing 75% damage to Energy.

• Primary Weapons:
  • Techstalker Sword P
  • Techstalker Sword E
  • Techstalker Terminator P
  • Techstalker Terminator E

These primary weapons are pre-equipped with a new active core!

• Energy Harvest (Primary Core): Deal 85% damage, stealing 20% HP and Energy, disabling melee attacks for 2 turns.

• Sidearms:
  • Techstalker Repeater P
  • Techstalker Repeater E

These sidearm weapons are pre-equipped with a new active core!

• Core Corruption (Sidearm Core): Increases target's Rage while lowering Dexterity/Technology 40 points.

• Auxilaries:
  • Techstalker Railgun P
  • Techstalker Railgun E

These auxiliary weapons are pre-equipped with a new active core!

• Skull Smasher (Auxiliary Core): Use your auxiliary as a melee weapon to deal 125% damage.

• Bots:
  • Techstalker Bot P
    • Techstalker Beam P: Fire physical beam with a 20% crit chance.
    • Techstalker Tremor P: Reduce Crit, Block, and Deflection chance for 4 turns, 15% stun chance.
  • Techstalker Bot E
    • Techstalker Beam E: Fire an energy beam with a 20% crit chance.
    • Techstalker Tremor E: Reduce Crit, Block, and Deflection chance for 4 turns, 15% stun chance.

• Vehicles:
  • Techstalker Bike
  • Techstalker Bike CC

Those who purchase the new Techstalker package will receive the Techstalker's Crest achievement to commemorate their support for the game. This package will not be available long so get it before it goes rare!

Acatriel's Battlebots

2 new robots are available from Acatriel in-game as limited rares!

• Battlebot P
  • Battlebot Buzzsaw P: Activate a lethal buzzsaw, ignoring 20% defense.
  • Battlebot Barrage P: Fire a chaingun for 85% damage against 2 targets; 20% Rage reduction.
• Battlebot E
  • Battlebot Buzzsaw E: Activate a lethal buzzsaw, ignoring 20% defense.
  • Battlebot Barrage E: Fire a chaingun for 85% damage against 2 targets; 30% Rage reduction.; 20% Rage reduction.

Other Changes and Fixes:

• Darkeater's Insanity: Increases target's Rage while lowering Strength/Support 40 points.
• Whiteout: 1 turn duration
• Fixed: Bug that caused the search bar to freeze the Arcade
• Fixed: Bug that caused bosses to freeze the game at the end of battle.

Tags: Nightwraith