General News

The first racers event from Monopoly Ever After Album, Cinderella Racers, has already brought plenty of fun, and the good news is - the second racers event is right around the corner!

Monopoly Go Tycoon Racers event does not require you to team up with other players, but there's no question that forming a crew with active, well-stocked players will greatly increase your chances of claiming first place.

Tycoon Racers Event Schedule

Like most Monopoly Go racers events, you'll have one day to find teammates and assemble your crew, followed by three days of competition against other squads. Luck, strategy, and Tycoon Racer Tokens will all play a role in determining the winner.

Here are the specific start and end times for April 22 Tycoon Racers event. Be sure to use up all your Flag Tokens before the event concludes - otherwise, they'll be converted to cash instead of dice after it's over.

• PT: Begins at 10:00 on April 22 and ends at 13:00 on April 26
• CT: Begins at 12:00 on April 22 and ends at 15:00 on April 26
• ET: Begins at 13:00 on April 22 and ends at 16:00 on April 26
• BST: Begins at 18:00 on April 22 and ends at 21:00 on April 26

Tycoon Racers Event Rewards

Tycoon Racers event varies depending on whether you enter solo or as part of a crew. The rewards you receive also differ based on your final ranking. Only the player or crew that finishes in first place will walk away with the most coveted prize - Board Token - while everyone else will receive various sticker packs according to their placement.

It's also worth noting that solo participants in Tycoon Racers event will not receive a purple sticker pack (5-star pack) even if they take first place. Meanwhile, crews that manage to secure second place will earn a purple pack. From a rewards standpoint, teaming up is far more advantageous than going it alone.

Below are the ranking rewards for Tycoon Racers event.

Team Racers

• 1st: Board Token, purple sticker pack, blue sticker pack, and Enchanted Storybook
• 2nd: Purple sticker pack and blue sticker pack
• 3rd: Blue sticker pack and pink sticker pack
• 4th: Yellow sticker pack and green sticker pack

Solo Racers

• 1st: Board Token, blue sticker pack, pink sticker pack
• 2nd: Pink sticker pack, yellow sticker pack
• 3rd: Pink sticker pack
• 4th: Yellow sticker pack

The above does not represent all the rewards you can earn during this event. As your crew reaches certain lap milestones, you'll also have the chance to select additional prizes. These can include dice rolls, sticker packs, Flag Tokens, and more.

How to Find Teammates?

Tycoon Racers event does not force you into a team the way Partner Events do. If you choose to race solo, you'll be matched against other solo players. If you opt to join as part of a crew but don't find anyone to team up with, the system will randomly assign partners to fill out your roster.

Keep in mind that some players may not log in at all during the event. Leaving your crewmates up to random assignment carries significant risk - it could mean your squad has to compete while short one or even two active members.

If you want reliable, active teammates, your best bet is to bring family and friends into your crew, provided they play regularly. A less ethical - and far more time-consuming - alternative is to manage multiple accounts yourself and use them as your teammates.

A much easier approach is to find a few consistent and active partners, then buy Monopoly GO Tycoon Racers Event Rank #1 Full Carry service from IGGM to fill any remaining spots. That way, your crew can keep the momentum going throughout the entire event.

Tycoon Racers Victory Rules

Rankings in Tycoon Racers event are determined by medal count. Between the 23rd and the 26th, there will be three races (one per day). After tallying each crew's lap totals, medals are awarded accordingly. Take note that the final race on April 26 awards double medals, which means many crews will hoard Flag Tokens to make a push for the last day. However, the first two races are just as important - you'll want to approach lap progression strategically.

Since it's possible for two crews to end up with the same medal count, ties for first place can happen. In theory, this means you could secure first place by winning only the second and third races (or the first and third), even if you finish last in the remaining one. There is some risk involved, as you can't always control the outcome, so it's best to communicate clearly with your crew ahead of time.

How to Earn Flag Tokens?

Flag Tokens are clearly the key to your crew's success - you need them to advance through laps. Here are the ways to obtain Flag Tokens during Tycoon Racers event.

Quick Wins and Shop Gifts

These two methods won't flood you with Flag Tokens, but they have the advantage of being free. You only need to complete a few simple tasks to claim Quick Wins rewards, and Shop Gift refreshes every eight hours.

It's recommended to wait until Tycoon Racers event officially begins before completing tasks or claiming rewards - otherwise you might miss out on some Flag Tokens.

Tycoon Racers Lap Milestones

As you reach certain lap counts, the selection of rewards you can choose from often includes sticker packs, dice, and hundreds of Flag Tokens. If your goal is to push your vehicle through more laps, you may have to pass on the other two tempting options.

Banner Events and Tournaments

These are the primary source of Flag Tokens. Nearly every milestone reward contains thousands of Flag Tokens. To actually claim them, however, you'll need a healthy reserve of dice rolls going in. It's important to plan how many milestones you aim to hit each day - otherwise you might burn through all your dice on day one.

That covers everything you need to know about April 22 Tycoon Racers event. May your crew race ahead and leave the competition in the dust!

As with most previous new seasons, Torchlight Infinite Season 12 features its own exclusive mechanic. This serves not only to inject fresh excitement and fun into the game but also acts as one of your primary methods for farming resources during the new season.

The tricky part is that SS12 has only been live for four days; consequently, you might find yourself unable to properly utilize the new Lunaria mechanic due to a lack of understanding or proficiency. Don't worry, we are here to provide you with a reliable guide!

What is Lunaria?

The theme and title of this season are named directly after this mechanic. The specific gameplay associated with it is often referred to as Lunaria Loop, and its core mechanism revolves around interacting with Lunar Stone Statues scattered throughout Netherrealm maps.

More specifically, as you explore the map, you must search for these scattered stone statues. Interacting with them awakens them, thereby summoning Lunari monsters. Defeating these monsters rewards you with Torchlight Infinite Flame Elementium.

During this process, if you manage to capture or activate multiple statues simultaneously, you will trigger a massive chain reaction of explosions. This not only allows you to instantly clear large areas of enemies but also significantly boosts your reward yields.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect is that Lunaria mechanic introduces a unique string-plucking action, somewhat akin to the gameplay found in rhythm games.

You are required to pluck the strings in a specific rhythm to interact with the lunar elements, aiming to maximize your combo count to secure even more loot.

How to utilize this mechanic?

To successfully engage in the string-plucking action, you need to possess two specific items: Lunar Harp and Lunar Strings. The former serves as the foundational tool for activating the statues, while the latter allows you to customize and modify Harp itself.

Different strings provide different buff effects, allowing you to tailor Harp to suit your specific combat style. Once you acquire these strings, you can store them in your Lunar String Box and subsequently install them onto your Harp.

Furthermore, you can scrap unwanted strings to obtain the specific types you are missing, thereby enabling you to fine-tune and enhance your Lunar Harp.

One potential stumbling block you might encounter when first starting out is the apparent inability to immediately access the buffs provided by Harp. This is because, during your initial attempt to interact with it, the system will often indicate that it is currently on cooldown.

To resolve this issue, you must first locate a Lunar Ring zone within the map. You then need to lure and gather at least six monsters inside this circular zone to activate it, thereby triggering Lunaria mechanic and making Harp available for use.

Subsequently, by continuously defeating monsters within the circle's radius, you can repeatedly recharge and utilize your lute, thereby consistently gaining additional buff effects.

Furthermore, whether you are in a town or in any other non-combat state, you can access the interface at any time to adjust and configure your Moon Lute simply by tapping the button located at the top of the screen.

It is worth noting that numerous attributes and numerical values are inextricably linked to your Lunar Harp; these include, for instance, the radius of Moon Ring, the rate at which charges accumulate through monster kills, your initial charge count, and your maximum charge capacity.

Optimal Lunar Strings selection

If viewed through the lens of classic ARPG mechanics, you can essentially regard the various Lunar Strings as modifiers, each imbued with a distinct set of affixes or effects.

Based on this premise, we highly recommend that you always equip Moon's Echo. This String ensures that even after a statue drifts beyond the radius of your Lunar Ring, its awaiting activation state persists for an additional 4 seconds, provided the statue remains within 4 meters of the ring's edge.

This implies that you can simply run past statues and activate them after they have exited your ring's immediate area.

Consequently, your ring's effective coverage becomes far more flexible and expansive, allowing you to activate a greater number of statues than you would by simply standing still.

Additionally, Starwave amplifies the potency of all minor mods equipped on your gear, while Celestial River automatically triggers a Pluck action whenever six or more statues are gathered within the confines of your ring.

Although Celestial River cannot automatically trigger pluck actions during Rhapsody event, it compensates by instead significantly expanding the radius of your Lunar Ring.

Beyond the three core Lunar Strings mentioned above, which can be effectively combined, Moon Bloom String presents another viable option to consider.

As you perform consecutive Pluck actions, this String progressively reduces the resource consumption associated with each subsequent pluck.

Furthermore, there is one specific string that holds immense potential during the endgame: Verdant Sprout. Initially, it drastically shrinks the radius of your Lunar Ring; however, with every subsequent Pluck action you perform, the ring's AoE expands accordingly.

The reason this string proves particularly effective in the endgame, rather than earlier stages, is that securing reliable AoE capabilities is often challenging during the early game, making it difficult to truly harness the full power of Verdant Sprout.

Comprehensive farming setup

With the aforementioned mechanics in mind, if your goal is to utilize Lunaria system for efficient resource farming, your primary objective should be to optimize your talent tree configuration before engaging in combat.

Based on this, you should first prioritize stacking item quantity affixes to their absolute limit. Afterward, unlock various nodes related to treasure chests, as well as bonuses such as Nether Resonance and Ember.

Next, maximize the juice of your map, and then simply follow the path of the massive circular route displayed on your screen. However, do not forget to customize your strumming settings.

This is because the system automatically triggers the strumming mechanism whenever six statues appear simultaneously within the circular zone, and you may not always wish to activate this automatic function.

Furthermore, upon your initial entry into a specific game zone, Avatar of the Moon has a 10% chance to empower certain monsters within that area; these empowered monsters will yield an additional 100% in loot drops.

Unlocking Pactspirit-related talents located in the lower section of the talent tree will increase the likelihood of Avatar of the Moon empowering monsters. Alternatively, you might consider swapping this talent out for Chalk or other types of skills.

By utilizing Lunaria seasonal mechanic, along with the specific build configurations we have outlined, you can acquire basic currencies as well as other valuable items, such as various types of Dust or Omni Elixirs.

We hope this guide proves helpful as you make the most of Lunaria mechanic! Have fun playing Season 12!

Last week, ARC Raiders offered a preliminary glimpse, via email subscription, at some details regarding the new Riven Tides map. Now, with just 10 days remaining until the update's official launch, the game has finally released a more formal teaser trailer.

Although the teaser is quite brief, it does reveal glimpses of additional areas within the new map, content that extends beyond the information previously shared via email. Furthermore, ARC Raiders has unveiled even more content across various social media platforms.

In this article, we will compile and present all this new information regarding Riven Tides, ensuring you are fully prepared for the final week leading up to the update's arrival.

Preview of three new skins

If you have been keeping up with ARC Raiders' official updates, you know that the launch of Riven Tides will coincide with the opening of Expedition 3 deployment window, an event accompanied by a host of significant updates to the game's expedition mechanics.

These updates include revisions to the skin rewards offered during previous expeditions. More specifically, if you have participated in all three of the expeditions released to date, you will be eligible to receive the corresponding Evolved versions of those skin sets.

With this in mind, ARC Raiders has released a preliminary look, via social media, at the concept art for this third skin set. The standout piece among them is undoubtedly the one positioned in the center.

The headpiece of this particular skin features a design that obscures the upper half of the face, adorned with distinctive gold armor plating. It is further complemented by a pair of wildly styled gauntlets and clothing accents featuring vibrant, eye-catching colors.

The set on the left resembles a spacesuit, though with a less bulky profile. The entire outfit features a subtle, low-profile gray color scheme, offering extensive coverage; the only exception is the helmet, which features a translucent amber-tinted visor that allows your face to remain visible.

In contrast, the skin on the right adheres to the more conventional Raider combat gear aesthetic. The only distinct feature is the facial ornamentation, which utilizes a unique faceplate paired with a Cyclops-style red laser eyepiece.

Whichever skin you manage to acquire, it is sure to provide a unique flair to your combat experience.

However, please note that in-game skins typically offer no functional advantages or stat boosts; if you are looking to enhance your actual combat capabilities, it's faster and more effective to buy ARC Raiders blueprints on IGGM!

The new teaser and related context

The recently released teaser for Riven Tides clocks in at a mere 15 seconds. Building upon the two map-related images previously revealed via email last week, this teaser offers a deeper look at the interior of Panorama Azzurro, an area expected to serve as the central hub of the new map.

Based on the content of this short video, it is evident that the hotel's interior is even more dilapidated than we had imagined, overgrown with weeds and bearing traces of destruction everywhere.

If you feel this content hasn't quite satisfied your appetite, don't worry; shortly thereafter, the developers released an article titled Riven Tides: Scout Report.

In addition to the two images previously included in the email, the article unveiled four new images bearing the titles: "Pool, Dry", "Beachfront/Bar", "Customs House", and "Stacking Yard".

Both the format and content of the article suggest it serves as a log entry. The author remains anonymous, though they are likely the same individual who penned the entries found in the earlier email, someone who consistently makes reference to Shani.

Notably, some players within the community have used this information to theorize that Shani may not be a entirely trustworthy ally; rather, she could very well be secretly colluding with the human factions that participated in Great Evacuation and fled into space.

To date, ARC Raiders has offered little in the way of further elaboration or introduction regarding the game's overarching narrative and backstory. Perhaps this latest update, delivered through the figure of Shani, will finally provide us with more insight.

The article is structured into two main sections: a general overview, followed by a more detailed introduction to the map's layout presented through pairs of images. Each pair is accompanied by a specific title and descriptive text:

• Approach 18:06: A log entry documenting Panorama Azzurro and the surrounding ruins.
• Exterior, rear 18:39: Appears to depict the map's dilapidated beachfront resort facilities.
• Harbor 19:14: A fully industrialized dockyard, completely devoid of any resort-like atmosphere.

By piecing together these textual descriptions, we can begin to form a preliminary picture of the new map's overall layout: a composite environment formed by two distinct zones with entirely contrasting aesthetics.

The resort facilities zone features a swimming pool and a massive plastic water slide, extending all the way from the hillside down to the beach, which appears to have once served as a water park attraction.

Additionally, the area is strewn with several sun loungers and features a second bar area. It seems the people who once inhabited this place certainly knew how to have a good time and celebrate.

As for Harbor zone, it is a world apart. Dominated by towering cranes that scrape the sky and mountains of stacked shipping containers, the entire environment feels cold, stark, and industrial.

This area offers an abundance of verticality and cover opportunities, making it an ideal playground for players who enjoy creating chaos or adopting a stealth-oriented playstyle.

Ultimately, within the intricate confines of hotels and industrial docks, you can enjoy the thrill of engaging in combat against other players or smaller ARC units; meanwhile, on the open sands of the resort beaches, you may find yourself facing off against the newly introduced, massive ARC enemies.

Interestingly, at the very end of Riven Tides: Scout Report, the chronicler notes that while observing a certain building, he sensed a massive shadow drifting slowly and steadily across the sky, yet when he looked again, he found absolutely no trace of it. This is very likely a teaser regarding the aforementioned massive ARC units.

What can you do this week?

First off, the new Weekly Trials have begun, and as this marks the final round of Season 3, which determines your ultimate ranking, be sure to complete all trials with a 3-star rating before time runs out.

Related: Arc Raiders Expedition Dilemma: Why Optional Wipes Create a Tough Choice And How to Fix the Conflicting Timeline

Furthermore, the launch of Riven Tides signifies the conclusion of the collection phase for Expedition 3. If you wish to ensure a successful and complete run of this expedition, remember to verify that you have gathered all necessary materials and coins before the end of the week.

We hope the information provided in this overview proves helpful as you continue your journey in ARC Raiders, especially as you look forward to the exciting new content on the horizon! Best of luck!

Dear adventurers, with the arrival of SS12 Lunaria, a lot of new content is coming to us! It is worth mentioning that this is almost the norm in every new season. A new hero is always added to the game, and of course Lunaria season is no exception! This time it's Scent Weaver Sage. The abilities of this new character are not as simple as her appearance. Her extremely high damage and mobility in the final stage will definitely make your jaw drop!

For example, she can easily stack 40,000 points of armor, more than 130% defense improvement, 50% Injury Buffer, 100% AoE damage bonus, 300% movement speed, and more outrageous and perverted attributes. 

Although it is almost impossible to activate all of these attributes at the same time, the wide variety and extremely powerful tools Sage has in her hands give her extremely high mobility, allowing her to easily compete in many different build playstyles. Once it enters the later stages and is fully equipped, Scent Weaver Sage can show its extremely terrifying combat capabilities.

Obviously, Sage is still a growth hero. Although he may be a little hesitant at the beginning compared to other veteran heroes, he will achieve explosive growth soon! Therefore, we guess that this hero will most likely be significantly weakened in SS13, so now is a good time to experience her!

Next, let us talk about what this Sage hero is capable of and how she stacks up those abnormal attributes.

Elixir Skills System

In fact, the core of the entire build revolves around the reworked system of Elixir Skills; through these skills, she can choose one as a base to concoct her own customized elixir.

Custom elixir

First, you need to choose one of the many options as a starting base for elixir. After configuring it into Hero Trait, you can further add an offensive and a defensive ingredient to it.

• Offensive Ingredients: Increases extra damage on critical hits; gains a chance to trigger Double Reaps (this even stacks to 100%); automatically applies a layer of debuffs to enemies each time a skill is cast.
• Defensive ingredients: Add Injury Buffer; Damage Taken as Mana; Physical Taken as Elemental, which also has a chance to stack to 100%!

It is worth mentioning that once these ingredients are selected and added, they are completely integrated into elixir itself and become an integral part of it. This means that the elixir buffs you stack up through various means will also act on the attributes provided by these ingredients, thus further amplifying their effects.

Level 45 traits

In addition, when your character reaches level 45 and unlocks the corresponding traits, you will also gain a means to make these elixir effects last forever.

Another additional benefit brought by level 45 traits is: you will gain the ability to automatically cast Empower Skills and Curse Skills; moreover, the effects of these automatically cast skills will be dynamically increased according to your flask gain effect, doubling their power.

However, Elixir Skills themselves cannot be automatically cast through Sage skills. Therefore, you still need to reserve a Preparation support skill for it, or use the season-specific Activation Medium to trigger it manually later.

Level 75 traits

For Scent Weaver Sage, the elixir you choose as the base for custom potion is very important, because it will directly affect the hero's skill effects and damage. Among the many options, there are many options with extremely powerful effects.

Faced with these attractive elixir options, how to choose is indeed a very confusing problem. However, the good news is that this decision-making process will become slightly easier after reaching trait level 75. Because at this point you can unlock and craft a second bottle of custom elixir.

Although this second bottle of elixir cannot use the same ingredient as the first bottle, it has its own exclusive ingredient pool. For example, you can choose to convert the overflow life recovery into energy shield recovery; or obtain a multiplier bonus that can greatly increase the chance of blocking. Moreover, this second bottle of customized elixir can also enjoy the bonus of level 45 trait, thus achieving permanent coverage of the potion's effect.

How to improve the elixirs effect?

Next, let's dive into how to further enhance these elixir effects. In this regard, there are indeed many excellent matching solutions.

Steel Vanguard

First, Steel Vanguard is getting a minor rework, aiming to give Sage some additional elixir charge generation speed increases, additional damage bonuses, and some elixir effect buffs.

However, the real core highlight of this change is the new Tailored Remedy notable talent: as long as you use two or more Elixir Skills at the same time, you can get up to 60% additional Elixir effect bonus.

If you only use one Elixir Skill, although you can still get Elixir effect bonus, it will come with an extremely severe penalty: the duration of the potion is greatly reduced by 40%. In short, this is definitely a powerful talent with great value. Almost every Sage player will choose to light up this talent without hesitation.

Unique items

In addition, Torchlight Infinite SS12 also introduces new unique items specially designed for Scent Weaver Sage: including a pair of new gloves Omni that can provide elixir effect bonus and can permanently maintain an elixir active state; and a new belt Golden Touch with staggeringly powerful attributes. This belt not only provides the defense attributes and life bonus that Sage covets but also greatly increases the rate of charge generation.

Even for other builds, this is a piece of equipment with excellent attributes. More importantly, if you can use Elixir Skill frequently and continuously, this belt will provide you with a huge damage multiplier.

Pets & Hero Memory Revival

In addition, new pets can also provide massive elixir effect bonuses. With the new Hero Memory Revival mechanism, you can also add the elixir effect bonus to one of your Hero Memory to achieve further multiplication of the elixir effect.

Build gameplay

Finally, as a new hero, the question you may have been thinking about is: how exactly does she play? What are the build options?

In fact, it's the projectiles or AoE builds that we think really shine. In SS12, the most powerful build core of Scent Weaver Sage is Chromatic Shot Sage. This build takes full advantage of Sage's unique ability to convert damage into random elements and cause explosions. It improves output efficiency by focusing on high-speed AoE damage clearing, and uses Licorice Note and Basic Scent Bottles to mix ingredients to obtain various buffs, thereby creating a unique and extremely fast-paced gameplay.

One of the core features of this genre is that it triggers an explosion when killing an enemy, producing a wide range of green AoE damage, thereby achieving an efficient screen clearing effect.

In addition to this, you can also try armor stacker play in the late game, because we can get a ridiculous amount of armor just by combining armor and defense elixir even with a relatively small investment of Torchlight Infinite Flame Elementium.

Completing an armor stacker with Sage was much easier than the extreme budget required for any other build. And later in the game, since the armor stacker doesn't require anything other than movement speed, you can simply switch to Blurry Steps and Movement Speed ​​potion to get 400% movement speed, making it the single fastest armor stacker variant. You can easily blow up the entire screen in a very satisfying way.

Whether you want to use Chromatic Shot to clear the screen in one second, or you want to build the most powerful armor stacker at a very low cost, this Sage advanced guide is an essential manual for you to dominate Torchlight Infinite SS12! Good luck!

ARC Raiders is rolling out a major update at the end of April, including a new map and an all-new boss. Around the same time, the third Expedition window is also set to open in late April, making this a very significant moment.

On April 17, the team released an article titled A Triumphant Exit, which essentially serves as the official announcement for the third Expedition. It lays out the timing for the third Expedition, key adjustments to the seasonal reset, and several welcome changes compared to previous Expeditions. Let's break down the details.

Third Expedition Date

The specific window for the third Expedition has now been confirmed to open on April 28, aligning closely with earlier estimates. This date also marks the release of Riven Tides update. It will be the first time an Expedition window opens on the same day as a content update - previously, the update would arrive first, followed by Expedition window a day or two later.

The only difference is that the window will open a few hours after the update goes live. This Expedition window will last for five days. The opening and closing times, by time zone, are as follows:

• UTC: April 28, 11:00 – May 4, 07:00
• PDT: April 28, 04:00 – May 4, 00:00
• BST: April 28, 12:00 – May 4, 08:00
• CET: April 28, 12:00 – May 4, 08:00
• AEST: April 28, 21:00 – May 4, 17:00
• JST: April 28, 20:00 – May 4, 16:00

Expedition Requirements

If you've been hoarding wealth or high-value items throughout this season, most of that accumulation has now become largely irrelevant. Unlike previous seasons, where coins and stash value were the final targets for earning top rewards, this Expedition requires you to deal damage to enemies during the window to obtain the highest reward: 5 Skill Points.

This adjustment is now the standard rule for the current version, whether you are taking part in your first, second, or third Expedition. The number of Expeditions you've completed doesn't matter - what counts is the total damage you deal between April 28 and May 4.

How to Meet the Damage Requirement?

To earn all 5 Skill Points for this season, you need to deal damage to any target except the shooting range within the five-day window. This change is clearly meant to encourage active combat. However, the exact damage threshold has not yet been revealed.

The team has already stated their intention to reform Expedition system, moving away from a monotonous gold grind and reshaping core mechanics such as ARC Raiders blueprints and Skill Point allocation. This shift was therefore to be expected.

Players who enjoy PvE will need to find ways to eliminate ARC enemies on the map, while PvP players can expect even more chaos and relentless killing during the window. Stella Montis is sure to become a bloody battlefield. 

Stash Value

Although your stash value is no longer needed for this Expedition, the catch-up mechanic still relies on coins and stash value for conversion. Similar to the previous Expedition, you can use 300,000 (combined coins and stash value) to make up for each Skill Point you missed earlier. However, you must first obtain the 5 skill points from the current Expedition by completing the damage challenge.

For example, suppose you earned only 3 out of 5 Skill Points in the last Expedition (missing 2). This time, you complete the damage challenge and earn all 5 Skill Points. If, when the window closes, you have a combined stash and coin value of 600,000, you will receive a total of 7 Skill Points. If you also missed points from the first Expedition, you can continue to catch up, but that will require even more value.

Last Call

A major issue with past Expedition windows was that players had to actively confirm and agree to depart within the five-day window. If you missed it, the entire Expedition window became void - no reset, no benefits.

Now, a new feature called Last Call has been introduced. It allows players who have completed all the prerequisite steps for an Expedition and are only waiting for departure confirmation - even if they missed the five-day registration window - to still depart the next time they log in, after the window has closed and the reset has already taken place.

The only difference is that because you depart through this option without needing to meet the damage requirement, you will not earn any Skill Points. However, you will still receive the basic rewards, including:

• Patchwork outfit (evolved)
• Expedition Indicator icon
• Stash capacity increase

More importantly, Last Call also allows you to retain your Consecutive Buffs. If you fail to depart, those buffs would be lost. Last Call gives you one final chance - even if you can't obtain all the rewards, you can still advance your progress and make up for what you missed in the next Expedition window.

Rewards

Permanent Rewards

Patchwork outfit from Expedition rewards will continue to evolve. However, the announcement mentions that the fourth Expedition will feature a completely different appearance. The evolved skin actually already existed in the game files in an unimplemented state after the last Expedition update, and it will now be officially awarded as the reward for the third Expedition. Depending on whether you are participating in your first, second, or third Expedition, you will receive the corresponding version of the outfit.

Stash capacity: Each Expedition adds 12 stash slots. After upgrading to the maximum capacity:

• First Expedition: 292 slots
• Second Expedition: 304 slots
• Third Expedition: 316 slots

Each Expedition grants up to 5 Skill Points, plus any additional points you catch up on. Note that you can obtain at most 5 extra points via the catch-up mechanic per Expedition, for a total of 10.

Consecutive Buffs

Depending on how many Expeditions you have completed, these buffs will stack cumulatively, up to a maximum of three stacks.

• General experience bonus: 5% → 10% → 15%
• Scrappy materials boost: 6% → 12% → 18%
• Repair value increase: 60% → 70% → 80%

If you complete the third Expedition but skip the fourth, these buffs will drop back to the base level, and you will need to complete three Expeditions in a row again to restore them to their current tier.

This third Expedition is certainly more engaging than simply hoarding stash value, but the window is rather short, and many players may miss out. The current approach to Expedition doesn't feel fully mature. Given that the team is considering adjustments to various aspects of the game, these changes may well be temporary.

While Diablo 2 Resurrected PTR 3.2 primarily centers on adjustments to the Sorceress, the changes to Terror Zones and item drops are just as noteworthy.

The developers have made several alterations to the drop rate of Worldstone Shards in Terror Zones, as well as to the spawn frequency and loot tables of Heralds. These adjustments directly affect how Sunder Charms are obtained.

Worldstone Shards

Worldstone Shards serve as a key currency for transforming an entire game session into a Terror Zone. Although PTR 3.2 patch notes merely stated that the drop rate of Worldstone Shards is no longer influenced by player count, testing suggests that the shards now drop far more frequently - roughly once every 5 to 7 minutes. They are practically everywhere. This shift presents both advantages and drawbacks for players.

For some, an item's worth is tied to its rarity. If shards become so abundant that they start piling up to maximum stack sizes, their trade value will naturally plummet, rendering them about as valuable as a Perfect Gem.

On the other hand, players who dislike Terror Zone mechanic previously had little control; without shards, Terror Zones would appear randomly across the map. For builds specializing in a specific damage type, certain zones could be an absolute nightmare to navigate.

With a significantly higher drop rate, players gain the freedom to convert acts into Terror Zones at will. You can stockpile shards from a particular act and activate the terrorized state exclusively in areas that suit your character's strengths, effectively avoiding zones filled with immune monsters or terrible terrain.

Overall, the high drop rate of Worldstone Shards is a welcome change for casual players. It grants agency and choice rather than forcing everyone to slog through unpleasant areas. Hardcore players focused on peak efficiency may, of course, hold a different view.

Heralds Spawn Frequency

According to the official notes, slaying monsters within a Terror Zone will now summon Heralds almost immediately. Based on player testing, the first two Heralds indeed appear with remarkable speed. In a larger area like Halls of Pain, you can often draw out two Heralds without even fully clearing a single floor.

The issue lies with the subsequent spawns. Once those first two Heralds are called forth rapidly, the frequency for the third and beyond falls off a cliff, even if you clear every last corner of the zone. It essentially reverts to the old, slower summoning rate.

This front-loaded mechanic inadvertently encourages a min-max approach to farming. Players can enter a Terror Zone, swiftly spawn and defeat the first two Heralds, then save and exit to start a new game and repeat the process. This, of course, runs counter to the intended design goal of having players fully clear Terror Zones.

To address this, the summoning speed of the first two Heralds could be moderately reduced, while significantly boosting the summoning rate for the third and subsequent Heralds - or perhaps discarding the old summoning logic entirely. Such a change would discourage players from gaming the system by resetting games for the initial drops and would instead reward those capable of clearing entire zones in a single, sustained session.

Heralds Loot

The loot table for Heralds has also been revised. Most importantly, Sunder Charms now drop from Level 2 Heralds instead of the previous requirement of Level 4. Furthermore, if a Herald does not drop a Sunder Charm, the chance for it to drop Unique items and Diablo 2 Resurrected Runes is now considerably higher.

Additionally, when engaging Heralds with a substantial amount of Magic Find, the likelihood of obtaining Unique Rings and Unique Amulets is exceptionally high.

Sunder Charms

Given the changes to Sunder Charm drop mechanic, many players have expressed concern that these charms might become overly common. However, based on current testing, there is no immediate cause for alarm.

First, to farm these charms efficiently, one must be capable of clearing all Terror Zones and taking down Heralds within them. If your physical damage build lacks a Sunder Charm to begin with, surviving and killing Heralds in a zone teeming with physically immune monsters is nearly impossible. Even top-tier builds like Blessed Hammer Paladin can struggle in certain scenarios without a solid gear foundation.

There have also been rumors about Sunder Charms dropping from regular monsters outside of Terror Zones. During testing, players have yet to confirm any such drops. Whether the actual drop rate is generous remains a matter of individual luck and clear speed.

Drop Rate from Regular Monsters

Rumors suggest that the drop rate for Sunder Charms from regular monsters is roughly equivalent to that of a Grand Charm with +1 to Skills. An average player might find only one or two over the course of an entire season, or perhaps three to five with exceptional fortune.

Some players wonder if finding a Sunder Charm during a Normal difficulty playthrough would disrupt the game's balance. In reality, as long as it does not become a common occurrence, allowing Sunder Charms to drop with an exceedingly low probability during the leveling process does not harm the experience.

Even with such a charm equipped, a character's power will not see a dramatic leap without the support of other gear. Moreover, if the designers were truly concerned about this, they could simply implement a restriction similar to that of Worldstone Shards, ensuring Sunder Charms only begin dropping after a character has defeated Hell difficulty.

These are all the item drop and Herald-related changes in Diablo 2 Resurrected PTR 3.2. Overall, these adjustments appear to be positive steps forward, though some finer details may still require further tuning.

This year's Jackie Robinson Day in MLB The Show 26 brings an unprecedented wave of new content, including multiple Storylines cards, several Rookie of the Year cards, a brand-new Collection Reward, and a number of Pack guys.

Even without using any Stubs to acquire new players, you'll be able to get plenty of free ones. But for Diamond Dynasty, the real question is: do these new cards actually improve your squad? Which ones are worth using? Let's take a closer look.

D Tier

• 88 OVR Luis Gil: A four-pitch pitcher who underperforms. He can just barely handle CPU opponents, but not recommended for use against human players.
• 88 OVR Smokey Joe: Similar to Luis Gil. Good velocity but lacks pitch mix; poor overall utility.
• 88 OVR Dontrelle Willis: Poor control, fastball only 92 mph, and an unimpressive pitch arsenal.
• 89 OVR Bill Foster: Even slower than Dontrelle Willis, with mediocre control.
• 88 OVR Jackie Robinson: A giveaway card. Mediocre power potential, not much value.
• 90 OVR Willie Mays: Hitting stats are average, 86 speed, overall rating propped up mainly by defensive reaction.

Tier C

• 88 OVR Michael Fulmer: Good pitch mix, but poor per-nine stats.
• 88 OVR Leroy Matlock: Most stats on this card are weak, though he has some extra-base ability. Can be used in casual games.
• 88 OVR Ray Dandridge: Solid defense, consistent contact but no power, not suited as a core hitter.
• 89 OVR Toni Stone: A contact-oriented second baseman, but severely lacking in power.
• 89 OVR Judy Johnson: High contact, no power, defense and speed unremarkable. Barely serviceable.
• 89 OVR Monte Irvin: Can play many positions, but neither offense nor defense stands out. Not effective.
• 89 OVR Leon Day: Has five pitches, but overall pitching stats are mediocre.
• 90 OVR Bullet Rogan: Poor per-nine stats, max fastball only 94 mph, pitch metrics average. Contact is decent but power is low.
• 89 OVR Rap Dixon: Swing is okay, but hitting and defensive numbers are unimpressive.
• 90 OVR David Justice: Very strong against lefties, but defense and consistency are too poor for a long-term starter.

Tier B

• 88 OVR Drake Baldwin: This card is mostly average, but players will use him as a full-time starter rather than platooning, so his ability to hit lefties is a plus. Power numbers aren't the worst, but not good enough either.
• 88 OVR Andy Cooper: Andy Cooper has five pitches and a nice mix: 4-seam fastball, slurve, screwball, changeup, and sinker. This allows for some variety on the mound, so overall he's usable.
• 89 OVR Larry Doby: Larry Doby is excellent as a second-base platoon player. He has a good swing and useful quirks. Good stats against righties, but weak against lefties.
• 89 OVR Oscar Charleston: His swing has always been solid. The rest of his stats aren't the worst, he has some power, and his speed is decent.
• 90 OVR Hank Thompson: Overall power and contact are not as good as Oscar Charleston's, but like Charleston, he's a left-handed power-type batter.
• 90 OVR Scott Rolen: His contact and power numbers are decent, but his swing is somewhat poor; otherwise he'd be in A Tier.

Tier A

88 OVR Willard Brown

Low contact, high power, with acceptable speed and defense. Can perform at All-Star or even Hall of Fame difficulty, especially suited for lower-difficulty players.

89 OVR Ryan Howard

Excellent as a pinch hitter off the bench. Very good against righties with great power, but struggles significantly against lefties and in low-Vision situations.

90 OVR Biz Mackey

Biz Mackey is a switch-hitting catcher with elite defensive stats across the board. All his defensive attributes are around 90, with 93 arm strength, making him the best defensive catcher in the current game meta. His hitting stats aren't bad either.

90 OVR Corbin Carroll

Corbin Carroll has maxed-out speed, high contact, and can hit righties. His home-run power is weaker in lefty-on-lefty matchups, but that's not what he's used for.

92 OVR Carlos Beltran

Carlos Beltran is a switch-hitting center fielder. His contact numbers are decent, power is a bit low (63 vs RHP), speed reaches 80, making him better suited for a corner outfield spot.

Tier S

90 OVR Kris Bryant

Kris Bryant has 91/77 contact, but high clutch makes up for it. His power vs both sides is around 80, with excellent defense and reaction, and he can play multiple positions. He has quirks like First-Pitch Hitter, Dead Red, and Breaking Ball Hitter, and with his excellent hitting attributes, he performs well on All-Star or Hall of Fame difficulty.

91 OVR John Donaldson

He doesn't have Outlier Slider or Outlier Fastball, but his 101 mph fastball paired with an 80 mph forkball creates a massive speed differential, making him one of the most effective strikeout pitchers in the current meta.

94 OVR Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson is clearly S Tier. His attributes are strong across the board, and after parallel upgrades he reaches 105/106 contact, 81/80 power, combined with speed and defense. He can play second base or even shortstop. He also has two core quirks—Dead Red and Breaking Ball Hitter—that make his swing even more effective. Compared to previous years, this may be one of the best Jackie Robinson cards ever.

This Jackie Robinson Day is the most content-rich in MLB The Show series history. You should prioritize completing Storylines missions to unlock Jackie Robinson Collection Reward card. For players who just want to quickly finish the event program, focus on using the higher-rated Storylines players, while D and C Tier cards can simply serve as filler for missions.

Windrose, a survival adventure game set in the pirate era, not only blends base building and island exploration with intense naval combat. Each player must assemble a loyal and powerful crew and build the strongest ships to survive the brutal naval battles!

As one of Windrose's core modes, naval combat forms the core gameplay loop for players to progress, gather resources, and consolidate territory in this competitive open-world sea. It seamlessly connects sailing, combat, boarding, and looting; players acquire the various resources needed to upgrade their ships, gradually transforming their vessels from small speedboats into magnificent galleons.

But in this chivalrous adventure, will you ultimately defeat the powerful pirate leaders and plunder their treasure, or will you unfortunately become a prisoner? In reality, every battle requires players to precisely control ship speed, positioning, and cannon reloading timing, making naval warfare more tactically deep than simply mindless firing.

Therefore, we'll discuss how to survive intense naval battles and become the ultimate winner, from initial preparation to proper combat, and how to avoid being sunk. Remember, combat in this game, whether on land or at sea, is extremely challenging.

Build a Workshop and be fully prepared

First, once you have a warship, you need to build Shipwright's Workshop. With it, you can craft cannons, full suits of armor, boarding gear, and upgrade these items.

Next, you'll need to collect a large amount of materials, including Wood, Plant Fiber for Fabric, and a large quantity of Copper Ores. You'll need to continuously upgrade these items until the required materials change, as this means you need to progress through the game, and this is a good time to consider setting sail. If you don't have much time to gather materials and level up, Windrose boosting for sale on IGGM might be a lifesaver. A professional booster will help you prepare everything, so you can just start fighting anytime.

Before setting off, there are two more things to craft: a Repair Kit at the workbench, which acts like a bandage for your ship, providing a continuous repair buff over time; and a Grog, also a buff that increases your and your crew's damage, reload speed, or reduces damage taken.

Now that everything is crafted and upgraded, you're ready to set sail.

But don't forget to go to the dock before departure, equip all these items on your ship, and make sure to add them to your hotkeys. Now, you're about to embark on your first battle.

Finding the Combat Rhythm

Now, make sure you drink the Grog at the start of the battle so you can receive the buff. Then, depending on the number of enemies you encounter, you can choose several different approaches to deal with your first fight. However, the key is to find the right rhythm for shooting and movement.

Generally, in the early game, we find that using only the sides of the ship is the optimal choice. Each side has its own set of cannons with independent cooldowns. Therefore, we primarily use the front cannons, then the left-side cannons, alternating between them. This is very effective in the early game.

Of course, if there are many enemies around, you can also use the right-side cannons. Show off your skills! The only thing to note is that this might be disadvantageous when facing a single boss, as you might not be able to turn quickly enough.

However, you might consider using Chain Shot. This is a type of auxiliary ammunition specifically designed to destroy the sails of enemy ships. To use it, simply aim at the sails at a slightly higher position. If you hit them enough times, a debuff icon will appear on the enemy ship. This indicates that the enemy ship's movement speed is impaired, and its movement range will be significantly reduced. You can use this opportunity to shake it off or continue attacking its rear while it struggles to turn.

Here's an advanced tip for multiplayer combat: While you can board and loot all the valuable loot once you've destroyed an enemy ship, be aware that not all ships are worth exploring. In fact, just aim for ships with the Pirate Chest icon; if not, fire a few more shots and send them to the bottom of the sea.

Once you defeat them, you'll not only get the dropped Pirate Insignias, but you can also loot the wreckage and pick up the Repair Kits they often drop, which will help you survive longer in combat.

Building Reputation 

Next, as part of the main storyline, you'll arrive in a place called Tortuga. Here you'll encounter two very important types of NPCs: Bounty Agents and Provisioners. You can turn in Pirate Insignias to Bounty Agents to increase your reputation. Once your reputation reaches a certain level, Provisioners will sell powerful items, including full sets of armor and ship upgrade components.

Provisioners have a variety of materials and items you'll need, including cannons, full suits of armor, and high-level items like Naval Tactics, which provide passive bonuses to your entire ship, such as increased health, increased damage, or even automatic health regeneration when not under attack.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, to unlock items at Provisioners, you'll need a premium currency called Piastres, which is practically essential for trading with all merchants. You can obtain them by killing pirates on land and at sea, or by scavenging lost items floating on the surface. However, the best way to acquire these items is actually by selling the artifacts you loot to merchants.

As the story progresses, once you enter Tortuga, you'll have more opportunities to obtain these artifacts. They can be obtained by killing enemies, appear in some interesting locations, and even Tortuga's inhabitants and pirates will sell them.

After selling them, you'll have enough Piastres to start unlocking equipment and upgrading your ship.

All other equipment is up to you; the only thing you really need is blueprint, the key materials for crafting equipment. Be sure to learn these skills in your journal, then craft them at the dock and equip them on your ship. Make sure to make the most of them.

The beauty of this equipment is that items of blue quality and above gain new passive effects. Ultimately, you'll gain higher damage, faster reload speed, or better damage reduction. Finally, as you delve deeper into the game, you can also upgrade equipment to higher rarities.

So, if you have a piece of equipment you particularly like and appreciate its passive effect, consider saving up some rare materials to upgrade its rarity. This will upgrade blue equipment to purple and unlock an additional passive effect, making it even more powerful.

By increasing your reputation and acquiring new equipment, see what interesting configurations you can ultimately create. Ready to begin your pirate legend in the mysterious waters of Windrose? Don't set sail blindly; take this naval combat guide with you and make your pirate career a breeze from day one.

Team of the Season release in EA FC 26 this Friday is without question the most significant promo of the year. It will introduce a wave of substantially upgraded players, several of whom will feature four PlayStyle+ traits.

ToTS promo can completely refresh your squad, which is why virtually everyone playing FC 26 is tracking any news about it. Leakers have indeed shared some exciting details regarding upcoming SBCs and Objectives. Let's dive into what's been revealed.

First Week SBC and Objective Players

94 OVR Son Heung Min LW (SBC), LAFC

PlayStyle+:

• Quick Step
• Finesse
• Shot Pinged Pass

93 OVR Marco Reus CAM (SBC) – LA Galaxy

PlayStyle+:

• Low Driven Shot
• Tiki Taka
• Incisive Pass

91 OVR Sergino Dest RB (SBC / Objective) – PSV

PlayStyle+:

• Quick Step
• Pinged Pass
• Intercept

91 OVR Troy Parrott ST (SBC / Objective) – AZ Alkmaar

PlayStyle+:

• Finesse Shot
• First Touch
• Quick Step

93 OVR Manuel Locatelli CM (SBC) – Juventus

PlayStyle+:

• Intercept
• Technical
• Incisive Pass

91 OVR Strahinja Pavlovic CB (SBC / Objective) – AC Milan

PlayStyle+:

• Intercept
• Block
• Aerial Fortress

91 OVR Alexis Saelemaekers RB (SBC / Objective) – AC Milan

PlayStyle+:

• Whipped Pass
• Block
• Quick Step

93 OVR Domenico Berardi RW (SBC / Objective) – Sassuolo

PlayStyle+:

• Rapid
• Technical
• Finesse Shot

91 OVR Stanislav Lobotka CM (SBC / Objective) – Napoli

PlayStyle+:

• Tiki Taka
• Anticipate
• Bruiser

These items will be rolled out gradually over the coming week. While the full in-game stats for all of them remain under wraps, the attributes for Youngman Son and Marco Reus have already surfaced. It's likely only one of the two will drop on Friday, with the other held back to sustain engagement through the following days. Whichever arrives first will demand a considerable amount of fodder and FC 26 coins.

94 OVR Son Heung Min LW

• PAC: 93
• SHO: 94
• PAS: 93
• DRI: 92
• DEF: 53
• PHY: 87

The trio of PlayStyles+ on Son Heung Min is a strong combination. While the 92 DRI may leave some questioning how effective Quick Step+ will feel in-game, this is still among the more generous SBC offerings we've seen from the studio lately. Son's shooting has always been exceptional in-game, and his Finesse Shot has been nothing short of phenomenal since day one.

93 OVR Marco Reus CAM

• PAC: 92
• SHO: 93
• PAS: 91
• DRI: 94
• DEF: 68
• PHY: 80

Marco Reus boasts impressive numbers across the board. Even when placed alongside Team of the Year items, this Reus card outshines them stat-wise and carries three PlayStyles+. He isn't ideally suited to a pure wide role, but as a central attacking midfielder or shadow striker, he can absolutely dominate matches.

Although both high-end SBCs come from MLS - which can complicate chemistry links - the current meta makes integration straightforward. With the abundance of Icons, Heroes, and Cosmetic Evolution cards providing Icon Chemistry, you can slot either of these two into your starting eleven without much fuss.

Studio Leak

The studio inadvertently revealed the full Team of the Season stat pool for Roshn Saudi League (RSL), Major League Soccer (MLS), and Rest of Europe via an in-game loading screen.

While the distribution of PlayStyles on some cards isn't quite what the community would deem perfect, the crucial takeaway is that every single card in this pool has three PlayStyle+. Exceptions to this rule are Luka Modrić and Lionel Messi, both of whom will receive four PlayStyle+. In the current state of the game, this alone raises the baseline viability of all ToTS cards significantly.

We can anticipate a broad decline in the value of cards from other promos across the market. The only potential exception may be a few sought-after Trophy Titans items, which could see a minor, short-lived uptick driven by Weekend League demand, but the long-term trend points firmly downward.

Max 90 OVR EVO

Beyond SBC leaks, there is also word of an Evolution with a Max 90 OVR requirement, though specifics remain unconfirmed.

The key question is whether this EVO will allow a player to earn a third PlayStyle+. Every new ToTS card features three. If this EVO caps players at just 2, it will feel significantly behind the power curve from the outset.

Should it offer three PlayStyles+ and adhere to the 90 rating cap, the potential for crafting an elite card is immense. A midfielder with solid foundational stats could emerge with a third PlayStyle+, 90 Pace, 92 Passing, boosted defending and physical presence, plus five-star weak foot - that would be a highly competitive asset.

Expect this EVO to require around 150,000 coins to complete. Given that ToTS cards themselves will be quite attainable, an EVO offering only 2 PlayStyles+ would represent a questionable value proposition and could be easily skipped.

If you currently hold players who might fit this EVO's criteria, it may be wise to offload them before the official release. A flood of eligible cards will likely hit the market once it goes live, driving values down.

That covers the outlook for ToTS in the coming week. Staying ahead of the news allows you to map out your moves. You can begin stockpiling fodder for SBCs or leverage the information to flip cards and generate coins once the promo is live.

Torchlight Infinite SS12 Lunaria has arrived! Today, we'd like to share a build tier list for this season, highlighting top builds that will provide an exceptional gaming experience in SS12, and which builds you should avoid!

This list is primarily based on the time each character takes to achieve a first kill on Supreme Showdown 21 difficulty. Frankly, most characters on this list can be used to create very good and usable builds, so if you already have a similar set, choose your favorite build and aim for a higher leaderboard score this Lunaria season!

S-Tier

Scent Weaver Sage

Let's start with Scent Weaver Sage. New characters often arrive with a powerful aura, and their strength is usually placed in a very powerful tier. They've truly excelled at ensuring new characters have excellent feel and formidable power. For example, in the last season, the new character Erika 3 demonstrated exceptional damage output.

While many complained about struggling against enemy defenses before Sage's gear was fully developed, requiring some skill to avoid instant death upon entering the battlefield, once equipped, her explosive damage output allows her to sweep through the game like a whirlwind.

Sage was designed to adapt to a wide variety of builds, thanks to the flexible mechanics of the new Elixir Skill system and the rich buff options available for each Elixir. This allows you to customize the character to your liking, creating any unique playstyle you desire.

Rosa 2

Next, Rosa 2 also performed exceptionally well. While this update to Lunaria slightly nerfed some of Rosa's mana items and her own mana stat, frankly, if you examine Rosa's overall stats closely, you'll find she hasn't actually lost much strength. Her mana cap was slightly reduced, but that's probably the only adjustment she received.

Therefore, Rosa 2 will remain very powerful, still one of the top characters in the game, and a build focused on stacking mana will remain very effective.

Furthermore, from a practical standpoint, Rosa 2's innate skill set, especially those mechanisms that temporarily exceed life and mana caps, and additional damage bonuses, will provide a significant amount of extra benefits and advantages. This allows you to focus entirely on increasing damage output without investing too many resources in defense, as her skill set already provides ample defensive capabilities.

I believe this design gives players a very high degree of build freedom, allowing for highly aggressive equipment strategies to ultimately create an extremely powerful character. This is the main reason I ranked her at the top.

Gemma 2

In fact, new characters consistently rank high on the season's initial recommendation list because the game developers often intentionally position them at this level of strength during balancing.

For example, Gemma 2 performed exceptionally well last season. This was thanks to her extremely fast campaign completion speed, powerful full-screen clearing ability, and high cost-effectiveness in the late game transition, especially when paired with ice spells like Ice Lance. She was incredibly reliable, providing a smooth early-game experience and requiring minimal gear to easily reach T7 maps. While some of her skills received minor nerfs this season, there haven't been any fundamental changes, and she remains a worthwhile pick.

Carino 2

As for Carino 2, she underwent a complete rework. She's no longer limited to a playstyle solely reliant on Shotgunning mechanic for damage output. With this change, all her projectiles will now have Return Projectiles. This not only gives him extremely high versatility but also makes him a popular choice for fast-farming builds.

Youga 2

Youga 2 also received some good adjustments in SS12 Lunaria. In fact, even in the previous season, thanks to buffs and reworks specifically designed for him, Youga 2 was already at a very good level. Now, he has received some additional tweaks and enhancements, especially to better synergize with the new mechanics brought by Memory system. Therefore, in reality, his current strength is on par with, or even slightly better than, his previous status.

Rehan 2

Next is Rehan 2, another character who performs exceptionally well with life-stacking builds. Although he has been nerfed to some extent, you can still stack an amazing life cap for him, and the overall strength of this build should not be underestimated.

This is thanks to his extremely fast build progression, his unique auto-detonation gameplay, and his ability to achieve extremely high damage growth without requiring expensive early-game gear. With the ability to maintain Berserk status throughout and automatically detonate Seething Spirits, he can quickly clear the screen and eliminate monsters, making him an ideal choice for players to quickly enter Netherrealm and efficiently complete the endgame content.

The core gameplay of these characters usually doesn't change much, they simply need to play to their strengths, traversing the map at lightning speed, always providing players with an exhilarating gaming experience. If you're truly passionate about melee combat and high-speed battlefield movement, then whichever of the above suits your taste, they are the best choices for narrowly winning Torchlight Infinite SS12!

A-Tier 

Next, for A tier characters, these are all very strong choices.

Iris 1 & 2 

First, Iris 1 received a significant buff in SS12, gaining almost all the damage output you need for free, especially with the latest changes. However, she still can't shake off one inherent characteristic.

Previously, you needed to stack 40 Nourishment buffs to unlock and cast your own ultimate ability or trigger the ultimate abilities of your summoned creatures. Therefore, you were often forced to use talents like Windrider or Windbreath Dispersion to quickly provide the minimum stacks and ensure you could channel your spells rapidly.

This forced binding had a side effect: once these abilities reached level 3, the damage your character took increased by 20% to 30%. This made Iris 1 extremely vulnerable.

However, in Torchlight Infinite Lunaria season, characters no longer need 40 stacks to enter Full Bloom and cast abilities; 10 stacks are sufficient. This means you are no longer forced to use these talents. You can completely abandon them and instead utilize the new mechanics for a dramatic leap in overall damage output.

Furthermore, since Windrider is no longer required, she has also received a significant buff on the defensive side. However, to be fair, at the endgame, her overall strength is still slightly inferior to Iris 2.

Therefore, if you ultimately decide to choose Iris as your main character, remember: the best strategy is to use Iris 1 first, quickly reach T8 to farm gear, and thus quickly enter Profound. Once you have all the gear you need to easily handle Profound, you should switch to Iris 2. Because in Iris 2's Stone Golem form, your map clearing efficiency will be higher, your defensive capabilities will be stronger, and you'll still maintain enough damage output to tackle high-difficulty content like Deep Space.

Thea 3 & Gemma 3

Furthermore, the Ignite builds in Thea 3 and Gemma 3 are also exceptionally good, even bordering on insane.

Thea 3's signature Mind Control mechanic remains strong, fulfilling its intended function and allowing for effortless mastery of various challenges. Among all characters, she boasts one of the highest completion rates, easily conquering both Supreme Showdown 21 and 20 difficulties. It's safe to say Thea 3's current strength remains solid.

As for Gemma 3, her Ignite build is currently underrated, rarely discussed, mainly because the character hasn't been changed in some time. However, Gemma 3's Ignite build is actually extremely powerful and shouldn't be underestimated.

B-Tier 

Next up are the B-tier characters, categorized as those with lower play rates. Of course, this doesn't mean they're necessarily weak; in fact, most of them are likely still very strong. It's just that they're less familiar to players, and their strength is in a stable, balanced state, somewhere in the middle.

Rehan 1 & Rosa 1 

For example, Rehan 1 paired with Burst build has consistently performed very well and solidly. Rosa 1 is another example; her Groundshaker-centric build has consistently performed excellently. This playstyle has remained unchanged and requires no adjustments. While not the absolute best build in the game, it's certainly not inferior. Its controls are incredibly smooth, and its performance is extremely consistent. The only drawback might be that its completion rate isn't the fastest in the game, but it reliably fulfills its role.

Selena 1 is similar, especially if you've already collected all her exclusive pets. You can freely stack all Channeled stacks and race through the game; she'll efficiently perform her damage output duties.

Thea 1 & Thea 2

Thea 1 and Thea 2 are similar. These characters maintain a solid strength baseline. This is thanks to their easily achievable gear combinations, strong early-game damage scaling, and the ability to efficiently accumulate and utilize blessings, allowing them to maintain extremely high damage output with relatively low investment. They are often considered safe and stable choices, easily handling the early to mid-game content and smoothly transitioning to the late-game endgame loot farming phase.

C-Tier

Finally, we also briefly examined some reworked builds. These characters may not be very popular initially, as most players are reluctant to blindly try these new builds without guidance or validation from others. Generally, players swap builds mid-season, so you can wait until later to try these new builds.

Moto 1

First is Moto 1. This build is slow-paced, its damage growth heavily relies on expensive equipment, and its map clearing efficiency is significantly lower than other builds like Moto 2 or Iris 2. Although Moto 1 is a traditional summoner build and can indeed clear various endgame content, its performance is often sluggish in the early to mid-season, requiring a significant resource investment for a smooth gameplay experience.

Bing 2

And then there's Bing 2. While this build is often considered a powerful late-game playstyle in Torchlight Infinite, its high investment cost, extreme reliance on certain expensive gear, and intense competition for gear prices at the start of the season generally make it unsuitable for beginners as a first choice for early game progression, it's even seen as a trap.

Gemma 1 

Finally, we must mention Gemma 1. Compared to Gemma 2 and 3, it's often considered less suitable as a top choice for efficient early game progression; this is mainly because of its extremely high gear dependence, weak survivability in higher-tier content, and strong requirement for certain hero traits. It often only starts to shine in the mid-to-late game!

These are our summaries of the best early-game playstyles in Torchlight Infinite SS12 Lunaria. Our current recommendations focus on options that ensure a smooth start, mostly powerful, popular, and consistently performing builds. By choosing these builds, you can guarantee a smooth start to the season; you won't encounter any difficult situations or setbacks!