General News

With the full launch of GTA 6 approaching on November 19, many players are already buzzing with questions about weapon system. Will it be completely different from its predecessor? Which weapons have undergone changes? This article explores these updates from various angles, helping you get a better handle on the mechanics for your future gameplay.

Differences in Weapon System

Let's take a look at how weapon system in GTA 6 has evolved compared to the previous installment.

First, you can no longer act as a walking arsenal. Each character has a limited carrying capacity for weapons, meaning you'll need to make strategic choices and manage your loadout—perhaps by utilizing your personal vehicle to swap gear. Realistically speaking, carrying every single weapon on your person never made much sense; this change brings a welcome touch of authenticity.

Second, nearly all firearms now support custom modifications. You can swap out attachments, using in-game currency to acquire better components and fine-tuning your weapons to suit your personal playstyle. No longer stuck with rigid, pre-set configurations, you now have the freedom to make precise adjustments to your gear.

Furthermore, Grand Theft Auto 6 introduces a new behavioral mechanic: when engaging in negotiations or conversations with others, you can conceal your weapon behind your back—keeping it hidden, yet ready to be drawn at a moment's notice.

Finally, the game eschews formal combat tutorials, encouraging players to explore and learn the mechanics on their own—a departure from the more guided, mandatory training sequences found in the previous title.

Weapon Types

GTA VI features a wide array of weaponry. We'll cover the key categories you should know about—some may be entirely new to you, while others have seen various adjustments.

Melee Combat

Let's start with the basics: melee combat. Your own bare fists are, in themselves, lethal weapons. In the footage, characters can do more than just throw punches, block, and dodge; they can also grab enemies and deliver kicks. Furthermore, you can engage in exercise, which may influence your melee damage output.

Taking melee combat a step further, the game allows you to utilize any melee weapon you can interact with. It's also worth noting that the trailer shows NPCs dual-wielding melee weapons—if our own characters can do the same, it would significantly expand the level of freedom available.

Pistols

Let's elevate the combat intensity by moving on to pistols—a weapon category that will undoubtedly be a staple in the early stages of the game.

Starting with the most lightweight model, Nipper .38—the smallest, most compact pistol we've seen so far—the focus here isn't necessarily on its raw power. Instead, I noticed in the footage that this particular pistol shows varying degrees of wear and tear—a detail I didn't observe on other firearms.

Could this point to a new mechanic where weapons carried for long periods require regular maintenance? We'll have to wait until we get our hands on the game to find out.

Shotguns

Next, let's turn to the heavy hitters of close-quarters combat: shotguns.

Take Moreland 850 shotgun shown in the footage, for instance. During an anti-drug operation, the protagonist wields it in a unique way—holding weapon with one hand while carrying a duffel bag in the other. GTA VI even features specific animations for reloading the shotgun one-handed. This is a completely new way to handle a shotgun, offering a significant boost to operational flexibility.

As mentioned earlier, firearms can be customized; however, I was surprised to see that this shotgun can be fitted with a scope. I had assumed there would be certain restrictions on attachments, which might have prevented them from being compatible with every type of weapon. However, it now appears that the level of customization flexibility far exceeds our initial expectations. This suggests a significant demand for firearm modification within the game—a process that will likely require a great deal of time spent gathering resources and swapping out components. In this context, opting to buy GTA 6 money could prove to be a smart choice.

Sniper Rifles

Next, let's turn our attention to weapons designed for extreme range and pinpoint accuracy: sniper rifles.

Drawing again from the trailer, we see Springfield Armory M1A Sniper; in the extended version of the footage, an NPC can be observed cleaning the base model of this rifle.

It is equipped with a high-quality scope, in which one can clearly see intricate, dynamic light and shadow reflections. This serves as a testament to the development team's meticulous attention to detail.

Furthermore, the trailer features various vehicle models. This implies the inclusion of specific sniper-reconnaissance missions, and perhaps even the introduction of new vehicle-tracking mechanics.

Throwables

Finally, let's examine some of the compelling aspects of throwable items.

In Grand Theft Auto 6, the utility of these items has been significantly expanded. Whether you want to strike a blow to an opponent's ego or level half a building, these tools get the job done.

You can use Molotov cocktails to sabotage vehicles, or make a high-impact entrance with C4. Furthermore, virtually any object you can pick up—even food—can be hurled at enemies. While these items may not always inflict significant physical damage, they can leave stains on your opponents, serving as a psychological blow.

That covers everything you need to know about weapon system in Grand Theft Auto 6. While the game features a wide array of weapon categories—many of which will be familiar to those who have played previous entries—this overview highlights the types that have undergone notable changes, which should help ensure a smoother experience when you eventually play the game. If this has piqued your interest, be sure to check out the game for yourself once it's released.

Tether Launcher is a Quick Use item introduced in Frozen Trail update for ARC Raiders. It is not a weapon and cannot deal direct damage to enemies. Instead, it fires two anchor points to create a temporary tether between them.

When dealing with two ARC enemies at once, it can sometimes restrict their movement, although it does not work equally well against every type of ARC. Many players are unfamiliar with its actual effects, which is why they are reluctant to bring it along. So let's take a closer look at Tether Launcher, evaluate its performance, and see whether it is worth using.

How To Get Tether Launcher?

Tether Launcher blueprint cannot be obtained directly through looting or quests. Instead, you need to upgrade your Research Station to Level 2 and spend specific materials to unlock it through research.

The blueprint requires:

• 2,000× Research Points
• 3× Steel Cable
• 1× Unusable Weapon

Once you have unlocked the blueprint, you can craft Tether Launcher itself at a Level 2 Utility Station. Each craft requires these ARC Raiders items:

• 2× Steel Cable
• 1× Advanced Electrical Components
• 1× Calculator

Crafting a Tether Launcher is not particularly difficult, as its requirements consist of relatively accessible materials. Steel Cable mainly comes from Pendola Pass map, with the maintenance tunnels at Cielo Sereno Observatory being one of the best farming locations. A thorough looting run typically yields around 2-3 Steel Cables, which is just enough to craft one.

Advanced Electrical Components, meanwhile, can be reliably crafted as long as your Refiner has reached Level 2. This makes the crafting process even more convenient.

Which ARC Enemies Is It Effective Against?

Small and Specially Mobile ARCs

Tether Launcher is particularly effective against most small and highly mobile ARCs. It can restrict their movement, giving you plenty of time to deal with them without having to worry about constant attacks.

For example, imagine being chased by enemies like Fireflies. They will follow you relentlessly and keep attacking, which can be especially frustrating when you are already in bad shape. With Tether Launcher, however, you can pin them in place and safely deal damage for a short period, making them much easier to take down.

The same approach works against Hornets. Once tethered, they can still shoot at you, but they cannot close the distance. This gives you more room to deal with them without constantly worrying about their movement.

However, be careful when dealing with Ticks and Pops. Even when tethered, they can still find ways to attack you if you get too close.

Tether Launcher also works very well against Surveyors and Comets. If you manage to tether a Comet to an elevated point, it will actually hang in the air and keep bouncing around.

Similarly, if you attach a Surveyor to the ceiling or roof of a nearby building, it will bounce up and down endlessly, making for quite an amusing sight.

Large ARCs

ARC Raiders Tether Launcher cannot keep every ARC restrained indefinitely, and larger ARCs can break free much faster. However, that does not mean the tool is useless against them.

Leaper

Tether Launcher can be extremely useful against Leapers. Once tethered, a Leaper cannot jump toward you. Even if it attempts to leap, the tether will pull it back to its original position. This can save your life when you are being chased by ARCs and need time to find cover or escape.

More importantly, the tether does not just prevent Leapers from jumping. It also allows you to keep attacking them after repositioning. You can create some distance, adjust your position, and continue dealing damage without worrying about them suddenly leaping toward you.

If you specifically hunt Leapers, Tether Launcher is almost an essential piece of equipment because it makes dealing with them much safer, especially in open areas.

Shredder

Shredders can cause plenty of trouble, but Tether Launcher is particularly effective against them. You can pin a Shredder completely in place and then focus on dealing as much damage as possible.

On this map, you may sometimes encounter two or three Predators at once. In PvP situations, you might also prefer not to waste a large amount of ammunition dealing with a Shredder.

This is where the tether comes in handy. It can hold a Shredder in place and give you enough time to get away from trouble. You can wait until it approaches, tether it, and then relocate to a completely different position without having to empty your magazine. If other players are chasing you, you can also tether Shredder before escaping, leaving it stuck where it was.

Other Large ARCs

Tether Launcher also works well against Skullkers. After shooting at you, Skullkers will often try to escape. A tether can pin them in place and prevent them from getting away.

It can also immobilize Bullies. These aggressive ARCs move around frequently, and the tether helps you control their positioning. However, be careful: Bullies hit hard, and they can still shoot at you even while tethered.

Not every ARC is equally vulnerable to this tool. Take Bombardiers, for example. The tether can certainly hold them in place, but Bombardiers do not move around very much to begin with, so using it against them is somewhat unnecessary.

The tether can also keep a Bastion fixed in one position. However, you cannot lock down its turret or gun barrel, meaning it can still turn toward you and fire. As a result, Tether Launcher is not particularly effective against Bastions.

Tether Launcher has another pretty cool trick. If a Rocketeer or Vaporizer is flying with enough momentum, you can tether it to a wall or tree and make it crash directly into the obstacle.

ARC Bosses

Tether Launcher is completely ineffective against massive enemies like Queen and Matriarch. It is hard to imagine that a small steel cable could hold something of that size in place anyway. It is also worth mentioning that Tether Launcher does very little against Hydras.

To be clear, Tether Launcher cannot be used effectively against targets such as Queen, Matriarch, or Turbine.

Tether Launcher is far from a universal solution. It offers limited control over Bastions, is somewhat unnecessary against Bombardiers, and has no effect on Queen, Matriarch, or Turbine. However, when used against the right targets, it can completely change the pace of a fight. That alone makes it a worthwhile item to carry in your regular loadout.

WoW Forever currently features approximately 35 dungeons, 9 of which are brand new and distributed fairly evenly across the leveling journey from levels 1 to 60.

Whether you are a newcomer experiencing the series for the first time through WoW Forever or a seasoned veteran with extensive experience, these new dungeons will be entirely uncharted territory for you.

Given that the game has only recently launched, and your character level may still be relatively low, we are providing a guide for Hall of Thanes (HoT), the most accessible of these new dungeons, allowing you to farm it for valuable resources.

Hall of Thanes location and access

Hall of Thanes is located beneath High Seat of Ironforge. In Vanilla era, this area contained no playable content and was entirely inaccessible, making the exploration of Hall of Thanes a unique and engaging experience.

Please note that this location lies deep within Alliance territory. While Horde players can certainly attempt the dungeon, the journey is significantly more complex, as you will not have access to convenient fast-travel options:

1. Start from Tarren Mill in Hillsbrad.
2. Travel through Arathi Highlands, Wetlands, and Loch Modan.
3. Arrive in Dun Morogh and enter Ironforge.

Before entering Ironforge, if you are not confident in your ability to quickly dispatch the guards outside, it is advisable to unequip your gear; repeated deaths during combat can lead to a significant loss of equipment durability.

For Alliance players, the path to Hall of Thanes is as follows:

1. Once inside High Seat of Ironforge, turn left and continue until you reach the gateway leading to Old Ironforge.
2. Pass through the gateway and follow the path all the way to the lowest level, where you will find the dungeon entrance.

Dungeon layout

The interior of the dungeon is wider at the front and narrows toward the back, with a relatively symmetrical layout on the left and right sides.

After passing through the antechamber, you will find spacious side chambers on both the left and right; the area connecting them is known as Anvilmar's Rest.

After clearing this area, you will move into a relatively narrow transitional zone. However, you can explore further to the right, where Dark Iron Ingress lies hidden.

The final section of Hall of Thanes dungeon is known as Reliquary of Kings. Here, you will encounter truly dangerous bosses, along with various mobs.

This dungeon is designed for characters between levels 13 and 18. If you are level 18 or below, it is best, unless you have a very strong group, to focus only on the main bosses and avoid unnecessary combat with other mobs.

But if you wish to avoid having to farm low-level dungeons repeatedly later on, you can buy WoW Forever gold to upgrade your gear or stock up on consumables, allowing you to clear the entire Hall of Thanes dungeon in one go.

Potential mob types

Hall of Thanes dungeon features at least 4-5 different types of mobs; some are found in specific zones, while others appear alongside certain bosses.

Pay special attention to the groups of Dark Iron Looters, Dark Iron Engineers, and Dark Iron Summoners found within Dark Iron Ingress.

In combat, Dark Iron Looters use daggers for rapid auto-attacks; Engineers throw bombs at targeted areas; and Summoners cast Fireballs while also summoning Fiery Assistants.

While these mobs are not particularly threatening individually or in small numbers, being swarmed by a large group can quickly become a major problem, especially if your character level is on the lower end.

If you encounter all three types at once, prioritize taking down Looters first; their high-frequency attacks are difficult to dodge, and the situation will only become more complicated the longer the fight drags on.

In addition to these Dark Iron mobs, you may also encounter Lesser Stone Golems within Hall of Thanes.

These enemies deal extremely high damage and move quite quickly. If they appear alongside other mobs, they should be your primary target. Using crowd-control or stun abilities is highly effective against them.

Boss fight strategy

There are a total of 4 bosses in Hall of Thanes dungeon. If you explore Hall of Thanes dungeon in a linear fashion, you will encounter the following bosses in order: Faldrim Anvilmar, Magmatus, Plunder, and finally the ultimate boss, Durgen Dirgehammer.

Since Hall of Thanes is a low-level dungeon, the first three bosses are relatively straightforward to defeat. Just be mindful of any additional mobs that appear and manage your combat resources accordingly.

Note that Magmatus possesses certain abilities that provide healing, and he is always accompanied by a Dark Iron Summoner, which may cause this encounter to take a bit longer.

As for the final boss, Durgen Dirgehammer, he is always flanked by two Lesser Stone Golems, and there are also Dark Iron Looters scattered throughout the arena.

Therefore, before engaging the boss himself, you should focus your fire on eliminating all Looters, followed by taking down Stone Golems one by one.

Durgen Dirgehammer has two particularly dangerous abilities: Fear and Rend. The former can afflict a player with Fear for up to 8 seconds, causing them to flee in panic; the latter deals physical damage every 3 seconds over a 15-second duration.

If you fail to clear the mobs first, the boss's abilities, especially when directed at your tank, can cause significant damage to your party. Be sure to follow the correct order; do not rush straight for the boss.

Dungeon quests

In addition to the mobs and bosses, there are 5 quests available within Hall of Thanes. However, for Horde players, only Important Heirlooms and An Ancient Grudge can be completed.

The other three quests are:

• The Restless Dead
• Old Ironforge Incursion
• The Treaty of Understanding

Hall of Thanes rewards

Beyond WoW Forever gold or other items that may drop during combat, defeating each boss in Hall of Thanes offers a chance to obtain exclusive gear:

Furthermore, completing certain dungeon quests will also grant you specific item rewards:

• Old Ironforge Incursion: Deepblaze, Ironforge Greathammer
• Important Heirlooms: Dwarven Tome
• An Ancient Grudge: Catacomb Cloak

That covers everything you need to know to farm Hall of Thanes dungeon! If you haven't reached this area yet, or aren't sure how its mechanics work, this guide should prove very useful!

The 44th Golden Joystick Awards have officially announced their 2026 winners, with Resident Evil Requiem claiming Ultimate Game of the Year and Console Game of the Year, while Crimson Desert secured PC Game of the Year. However, the results extended far beyond these two headline victories.

MECCHA CHAMELEON collected four awards, Dispatch won two major categories, and Capcom was named Studio of the Year, making this year's ceremony a significant showcase of the variety of games attracting attention across the industry.

Held in London on November 11, 2026, Golden Joystick Awards featured 25 categories covering everything from storytelling and multiplayer experiences to gaming hardware, performances, remasters, and upcoming releases. Most awards were decided through public voting, giving players around the world a direct role in determining the results.

Resident Evil Requiem Takes the Biggest Awards of the Night

The most prominent result of the 2026 Golden Joystick Awards was undoubtedly Resident Evil Requiem. Capcom's survival horror title secured four awards, including the ceremony's highest honor, Ultimate Game of the Year.

Its victories covered several different aspects of the game rather than being limited to its overall popularity. The title also received Console Game of the Year, Best Game Trailer for its Evil Has Always Had a Name promotional video, and Best Lead Performer for Angela Sant'Albano's portrayal of Grace Ashcroft.

The results demonstrate how a successful game can attract recognition across multiple areas, including its overall experience, presentation, and character performances. Rather than winning only through one particularly popular feature, Resident Evil Requiem received recognition across several categories.

Another noteworthy achievement was Capcom's Studio of the Year victory. Combined with the company's other award-winning projects and performances, Capcom was associated with seven awards across the ceremony, further highlighting its strong showing in 2026.

Ultimate Game of the Year Was a Close Competition

Although Resident Evil Requiem ultimately claimed the top prize, the final voting results show that the competition was considerably closer than a straightforward victory might suggest.

According to the reported public voting percentages, Resident Evil Requiem received 17% of the votes, followed by Phantom Blade Zero with 16% and Crimson Desert with 15%.

The narrow difference between the three leading games makes this result particularly interesting. Phantom Blade Zero finished just one percentage point behind the winner, while Crimson Desert was only two points away. As the game continues to attract attention, players can also explore its world and look for Phantom Blade Zero items to enhance their gameplay experience.

For players following the 2026 awards season, this result provides an early indication of how differently audiences have responded to several prominent releases. It also shows why the Ultimate Game of the Year category deserves attention beyond simply identifying its winner: the distribution of votes reveals how competitive the final selection was.

Crimson Desert, Dispatch and MECCHA CHAMELEON Also Make Their Mark

While Resident Evil Requiem dominated the headline categories, several other games delivered equally interesting results in their respective fields.

Crimson Desert, developed by Pearl Abyss, won PC Game of the Year. This was an important achievement for the open-world action-adventure title, particularly because it competed against a varied selection of PC games, including Valheim, Escape from Tarkov, Big Walk, and The Blood of Dawnwalker.

However, the award should be viewed within its actual category rather than as an overall Game of the Year victory. Resident Evil Requiem received the Ultimate Game of the Year award, while Crimson Desert earned the highest recognition specifically for PC gaming. For players already planning their adventure in its expansive world, interest in ways to buy Crimson Desert items may also grow as the game attracts more attention.

Meanwhile, Dispatch secured two awards: Best Storytelling and Best Soundtrack. These victories highlight the importance of narrative presentation and musical composition as distinct elements of game development.

MECCHA CHAMELEON was another major success story. The indie title won Best Multiplayer Game and Best Indie Game – Self-Published, while also receiving Streamers' Choice and Developers' Choice.

Its four-award performance placed it alongside Resident Evil Requiem as one of the ceremony's most successful individual games.

What makes this particularly interesting is the contrast between the winners. While Resident Evil Requiem dominated the major console and overall categories, MECCHA CHAMELEON attracted recognition from both the streaming and development communities, alongside its public-voted victories.

Full Golden Joystick Awards 2026 Winners List

The 2026 ceremony covered 25 categories, offering a broader picture of the games, studios, performances, and hardware that received recognition this year.

The following table brings together the complete winners list published by the awards organizers.

Several additional results deserve attention beyond the leading games.

Valheim received Best Indie Game, while Subnautica 2 won Best Early Access Game. These awards recognize different aspects of the independent and ongoing-development gaming landscape, rather than focusing exclusively on large-budget releases. The recognition may also renew interest among players looking to collect useful Valheim items as they continue exploring its survival sandbox.

The hardware category also produced an interesting winner. Valve's Steam Controller took Best Gaming Hardware, while Minecraft won Still Playing – PC & Console and Balatro received the corresponding mobile award. Meanwhile, the Best Early Access Game result is likely to keep Subnautica 2 in the spotlight, including among players searching for Subnautica 2 items as development progresses.

For players who regularly follow established live-service and long-running games, these categories are particularly relevant. They recognize continued player engagement rather than judging only the newest releases.

What the 2026 Results Reveal About the Gaming Industry?

One of the most interesting aspects of this year's Golden Joystick Awards is the diversity of its winners.

The results did not concentrate all recognition within a single franchise or development studio. Instead, different games succeeded in categories that reflect their individual strengths.

For example, Resident Evil Requiem secured recognition for its overall experience, console performance, trailer, and lead acting. Dispatch succeeded in narrative and soundtrack categories, while MECCHA CHAMELEON demonstrated that smaller-scale projects could compete successfully for both player and industry recognition.

The voting structure is also worth considering. According to the organizers, 22 of the 25 categories were determined by public voting. The remaining three were Critics' Choice, Streamers' Choice, and Developers' Choice, which were selected through their respective judging processes. This means the awards combine direct player preferences with recognition from different parts of the gaming industry.

For players, this distinction matters because the awards do not represent one single measurement of game quality. Public voting reflects the preferences of participating players, while the other categories offer different perspectives on creative and professional recognition.

The Most Wanted Game award provides another interesting snapshot of player expectations. The Witcher 4 won the category, demonstrating strong anticipation for the next major entry in CD Projekt Red's fantasy RPG franchise.

Meanwhile, several other highly anticipated projects appeared among the nominees, including 007 First Light, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, and Phantom Blade Zero. Their presence illustrates the range of games attracting attention beyond the titles that already secured major awards.

It is also important not to confuse award nominees with winners or future Game of the Year predictions. For instance, Grand Theft Auto VI and a rumored The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake should not be presented as confirmed contenders in the 2026 Golden Joystick results without supporting evidence. Neither appears in the verified Ultimate Game of the Year shortlist.

What Comes Next After the Golden Joystick Awards?

The conclusion of the 44th Golden Joystick Awards marks an important point in the 2026 gaming awards calendar, but it does not settle every debate about which game deserves to be considered the year's best.

Resident Evil Requiem has secured a major early victory, Crimson Desert has established itself as the PC Game of the Year winner, and MECCHA CHAMELEON has demonstrated that indie projects can achieve considerable recognition across multiple categories.

At the same time, Dispatch, Valheim, Subnautica 2, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered all received recognition for different strengths.

For players, the full winners list offers more than a ranking of popular games. It provides an opportunity to discover titles that might otherwise have escaped their attention and to see which aspects of gaming received the strongest recognition from players, critics, creators, and developers.

With other major gaming awards still ahead, Golden Joystick results provide an interesting starting point for the remainder of the 2026 awards season.

One day, you might wake up, turn on your computer, and log into ROB RUN to check your criminal empire, only to discover that you've suddenly lost everything. You're back in prison, facing a sentence that could last for decades.

Is your criminal career over? Not exactly. This is actually part of the game's weekly server wipe, known as a Federal Raid, which takes place every 7 days. However, a wipe doesn't simply delete everything. Instead, the game follows its own storyline and a fixed process to handle your character and assets.

Federal Raid

After 7 days in a server, the storyline will indicate that Feds have finally caught up with you.

The process is almost identical to what happens when you voluntarily surrender. Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO Act) is applied to your character. Your vehicles, cash, weapons, properties, and nearly all other assets are confiscated before your prison sentence is calculated.

The sentence follows a specific formula. It starts at 1 year, with an additional year for every $500,000 worth of assets you own. Each individual server has a maximum sentence of 40 years, while the combined sentence across all servers is capped at 10,000 years.

Prison Sentences and Skill Tree Progression

The system confiscates all the assets you've accumulated during the current cycle and calculates your prison sentence based on their total value. The more wealth you lose, the more Authority points you receive.

Some sections of Skill Tree will be marked as Under Investigation. You'll need to serve a certain number of years before these features become available.

Authority progress is permanent and can be used to unlock specific Black Market goods and new tattoos. Authority reward track has 23 levels, with the final reward unlocking at 800 Authority.

What Do You Get to Keep?

A Federal Raid doesn't leave you with absolutely nothing. Although Feds have unfortunately sent you to prison, your criminal skills have earned you some respect. In short, you get to keep the following:

• B-Coin
• Tattoos and cosmetics
• Accumulated total prison sentence
• Player name and settings

B-Coin

B-Coin is the premium currency used to trade cosmetic items. It cannot be earned through regular gameplay or converted from ROB RUN Cash. It is only available through real-money transactions, which means it is not affected by server wipes.

There are around 285 skins and cosmetic items in the game, allowing you to customize your character, weapons, and vehicles. However, none of these items provide additional gameplay advantages, ensuring a fair playing field for both paying and free-to-play players.

Police Officers

Some players enjoy taking on the role of a police officer and hunting down other players. However, playing as a cop doesn't offer particularly good earnings, and you'll also have to wait for an available position at the police station.

Even if all your income comes from the legitimate salary you earn as a police officer, Feds will still take you to prison for trial and confiscate all your assets.

Highlands

If you own property in Highlands, you're already a cut above most other criminals in the game.

In other areas, a Federal Raid wipes out all your assets, including cash, vehicles, and real estate. However, if you're a Highlands resident, your property can safely carry over with you to a new server or state.

First, you need to unlock and acquire Land Plot Title from Cargo branch of Black Market Skill Tree. Next, find a settlement owned by another player on Global Map and use your title to rent a plot there. Your base will then be established at that location.

A Tier 1 area costs approximately $150,000 in total. Tier 2 and Tier 3 areas require considerably more, at around $1,000,000 and $3,000,000, respectively.

Many players can only earn a little over 100,000 cash per match, and there is always the risk of getting arrested by the police. Choosing cheap ROB RUN cash for sale can help you secure a base in Highlands much faster.

This is a more expensive but also more powerful option. You can directly acquire an entire unclaimed settlement and become its owner.

The total cost for a Tier 1 settlement is approximately $300,000. Tier 2 and Tier 3 settlements are significantly more demanding, costing around $2,500,000 and $8,000,000, respectively.

As a settlement owner, you'll receive a free plot to build your own base. You can also collect taxes from other residents who rent plots within your settlement. On top of that, you'll receive a share whenever residents launder money or spend money in Black Market.

The strongest players on the server tend to gather in Highlands before the next confiscation takes place. In other words, this is where the real criminal masterminds belong.

Your ownership of settlements and plots only lasts until the next server wipe. No player or clan can take them away from you before the reset, but once the cycle ends, everyone has to start over.

Getting Out of Prison

After a wipe, you'll wake up inside a prison cell. The only way out is to escape. Look for a toilet in your cell (some cells may also have other interactive objects, such as posters) and interact with it. This will immediately bring up the state and server selection screen.

Choose the state you want to enter and confirm your selection. You'll successfully escape prison and enter a fresh server to start playing again.

Once you're out, you'll start from scratch as a homeless character at Lenny's Motel, where you'll need to build your wealth all over again.

If you want to switch servers voluntarily while playing, you can select Surrender to Feds through Global Map or Settings menu. This will confiscate all your current assets and send you back to prison. You can then repeat the toilet escape process described above to select a different server.

ROB RUN's Federal Raid doesn't mean you lose absolutely everything, and starting over is relatively quick. However, some players feel that weekly wipes are too frequent and that changing the reset schedule to once every two weeks would be a better approach.

Diablo 4 Season 16 faces considerable competitive pressure: GTA 6 will attract a large number of players, and PoE 2 is about to become a free-to-play title. For an ARPG that relies on season updates to attract returning players, Season 16 needs to offer sufficiently attractive new content to have a chance of success.

Judging from 3.3.0 PTR, Blizzard seems to prefer improving the experience by increasing map clearing options and reward choices, rather than introducing disruptive gameplay. This direction is commendable, but simply increasing map clearing freedom is clearly not enough to keep players engaged.

PTR improves player choice, but it's not enough

One of the most obvious changes in 3.3.0 PTR is the restructuring of War Plans. Players can increase the probability of certain events and rewards appearing through the War Plans Tactics node, allowing them to target specific D4 items. Marks of Wisdom earned after completing War Plans can be used to reset nodes and adjust farming routes.

Additionally, the season-exclusive Tyrael's Boons offer four enhancement paths:

• Curious Addition: Modifies Purveyor of Curiosities
• Merchant of Mystery: Adds a merchant who trades cached items using Forgotten Souls
• Scent of Gold: Improves the efficiency of obtaining gold, experience, gems, and Horadric Cube materials
• Trash for Treasure: Reduces conversion costs, increases Obducite and Scrolls of Restoration output, and ultimately unlocks Greater Temper

These changes do give players more flexibility in choosing what to farm and what rewards to obtain, reducing the randomness in resource acquisition. However, they primarily optimize the efficiency of existing gameplay and do not fundamentally change the endgame experience.

Helltide's Aberrant Cinders no longer reset between events, and their event timings are more regular, which is also a QoL optimization. While these adjustments are commendable, they are not enough to justify players staying in Season 16 long-term.

Class balance and build diversity remain core issues

PTR 3.3.0 made adjustments to all eight classes in Diablo 4, but the magnitude and direction of these adjustments varied significantly, with community feedback focusing on a few key classes.

Paladin: Iconic Skills Still Lack Competitiveness

Paladin received several adjustments, including an increase in Zealot Oath's damage bonus from 35% to 45%, an additional 15% Damage Reduction at full Fervor, and Aura Potency now being calculated based on the full Aura value, including Skill Ranks.

However, players still have considerable doubts about the performance of skills like Zeal and Blessed Hammer. Some feedback suggests that the current buffs are insufficient for these builds to compete with mainstream builds in high-level Pit. Paladin needs more than just minor numerical adjustments; it requires a more reasonable damage scaling mechanism and skill synergy.

Necromancer: Numerical buffs don't equate to gameplay breakthroughs

Necromancer's Bone Spear and Blood Lance damage has been increased from 160% to 175%, and Blood Surge's Nova damage has been increased from 125% to 140%. Blood Orbs also begin to provide healing to Minions.

These changes improve the performance of some skills, but overall they are still primarily numerical adjustments. The performance of summoner builds, Minion survivability, and competitiveness between different builds haven't seen significant breakthroughs.

Spiritborn: Buffs focused on specific skills

Spiritborn's Razor Wings damage has been increased from 120% to 160% and gained a new charging mechanism; however, Stinger damage has been reduced from 140% to 125%. This means that some builds have gained new development space, but the overall gameplay diversity of the class hasn't improved significantly.

Sorcerer: Controversial Mechanism Adjustments

The Incinerate Sorcerer build is one of the most controversial builds in PTR. The new Intensity mechanic allows channeled Incinerate stacks to provide a maximum of 100% independent multiplier, with a brief retention after reaching full stacks. Flamescar has also been reworked to deal damage to surrounding enemies when at full Intensity.

The aim is to transform stationary channeling into a rhythmic burst window, but PTR feedback points in the opposite direction: the inability to move during channeling makes survival extremely difficult in high-pressure situations; the reworked Flamescar is criticized for lacking impact and even making the skill feel weaker than before.

When a build's core output requires players to remain stationary amidst increasingly dense AoE and knockback, and the compensation it receives is insufficient to cover this risk, it's difficult for it to transition from a niche playstyle to a worthwhile option.

Class balance doesn't mean every skill has to be Tier 1, but at least more iconic skills should have a place in endgame gameplay. Players don't want each season to revolve around a few dominant builds; they want the freedom to experiment with different combinations and push their preferred playstyles to higher Pit levels.

Gear progression remains limited by randomness

Diablo 4 Season 16 introduced Horadric Items, bringing more possibilities to builds. Horadric rings and amulets can add 1 set bonus count to a specified Talisman Set, allowing players to activate set effects with fewer charms.

Horadric weapons and armor can provide additional affixes after activating the corresponding set bonus, further enhancing damage, skill levels, defense, or movement speed.

This mechanism creates space for dual-set builds, but gear completion is still limited by multiple random factors. Players not only need to obtain the correct Horadric Items but also match the additional affixes to their Talisman Set and maximize useful Greater Affix and ideal stats.

With as many as 45 set types, even if Horadric Items drop, they may be unusable for the current build due to incorrect affix bindings.

The situation of Mythic Uniques also deserves re-evaluation. Some Iconic Mythic Uniques have lost their competitiveness commensurate with their rarity under the current gear structure.

If Season 16 aims to provide players with more worthwhile endgame gear during builds, then restoring mechanics or stats commensurate with these items' status is more meaningful than simply maintaining their drop rarity.

Other noteworthy experience optimizations

Besides class balance and gear progression, there are a few details in D4 Season 16 that deserve improvement.

• Add Death Summary: Display the main damage sources and percentages after a player dies, helping players identify defensive weaknesses instead of relying solely on guesswork to adjust their build.
• Adjust Glyph progression curve: While Glyphs can reach level 150, high-level progression is not friendly enough for non-meta builds. The basic progression threshold could be lowered appropriately, leaving more challenging content to gameplay modes like The Tower.
• Optimizing the team reward system: Wirt's Lucky Coin requires each player to hold a coin to unlock corresponding rewards, increasing the barrier to entry for team cooperation and community rotation. Relaxing this restriction appropriately will help encourage multiplayer participation.

These changes may not be the main selling point of the new season, but they can reduce frustration in long-term gameplay. For Diablo 4, which hopes to retain veteran players, refining these details may be just as important as classes and equipment.

As the release date for GTA 6 draws near, and with much of its gameplay already revealed through actual demonstrations, you may find yourself increasingly focused on its performance on consoles.

Currently, the game is confirmed to launch on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, and Xbox Series X/S. According to the latest leaks, GTA 6 will run at a maximum of 30 FPS on these devices.

For a major title that has been in development for over a decade and is highly anticipated by players worldwide, this comes as quite a surprise.

While 30 FPS has not yet been rendered obsolete, the standard for console gaming, as accepted by players over the last year or two, has largely shifted toward 60 FPS.

So why has GTA 6 opted for 30 FPS? And will the game see future iterations, much like its predecessor, GTA 5, that introduce new versions? We will explore this from several angles.

The uniqueness of PS5 Pro

First, it is important to clarify that regardless of the platform, the developers are targeting 30 FPS; they have not explicitly guaranteed that the game will remain locked at 30 FPS at all times.

In other words, the development team is using this figure as a performance benchmark, but the game may not necessarily maintain a perfectly stable 30 FPS during actual gameplay.

Although PS5 Pro, which launched later than the standard PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, does not feature a higher official frame rate target, it does offer two additional graphical enhancements: PSSR and ray-traced shadows.

PSSR utilizes AI-assisted image processing to improve visual clarity, allowing for more refined imagery without placing an excessive burden on the hardware.

For an open-world game like GTA 6, which is packed with intricate details, PSSR helps enhance visual fidelity, particularly when rendering objects at a distance.

However, if you are the type of player who prioritizes fluid gameplay, the trade-off, sacrificing a higher frame rate for better visuals, might not be what you were hoping for.

Why is it difficult for GTA 6 to achieve a higher FPS?

If you judge solely by hardware performance, it might be difficult to understand why Grand Theft Auto VI, a game with such an extensive development cycle, is capped at 30 FPS. In reality, the technical challenges the game faces are far more complex than they might appear.

First, as an open-world title with immense scale and high environmental density, Grand Theft Auto VI inevitably places a significant load on a console's CPU.

GTA series has always prioritized player freedom within an open world. This means the hardware must not only render the visuals in real-time but also manage a vast array of background processes.

Furthermore, the pursuit of a highly authentic game world likely adds even more strain on the hardware; whether in a bustling city street or a remote suburb, the environment requires a rich level of visual detail.

Even if you are using a PS5 Pro, which boasts superior graphical processing power, the impact on frame rate will be limited if the game's primary performance bottleneck lies with the CPU.

Consequently, the decision to target 30 FPS in GTA VI is likely a strategic choice: a way to preserve the complexity and visual fidelity of the open world within the constraints of console hardware.

A lack of options is also an issue

Beyond the perception that 30 FPS is too low, player frustration also stems from the fact that the development team has locked the game's visual quality and performance settings, offering no alternatives to suit different player needs.

For instance, if you are a casual player focused primarily on the narrative and exploring the open world, 30 FPS might be perfectly acceptable.

However, for players who enjoy high-speed driving or intense shootouts, activities that often involve rapid camera movement, a frame rate of at least 60 FPS is generally expected for a satisfying experience.

In GTA VI, driving is a core component of the gameplay, whether you're racing a sports car through Vice City or engaging in a high-stakes chase with the police.

In such scenarios, a higher frame rate not only ensures smoother motion but also allows for quicker reactions to environmental changes. A low frame rate, by contrast, can negatively impact the experience.

Version iterations create pressure for players

Although its predecessor, GTA V, first launched in 2013, it saw four subsequent iterations released at various points over the following decade.

These new versions didn't necessarily expand or optimize the game's content or core gameplay; instead, they focused on performance enhancements. For instance, Expanded & Enhanced edition released in 2022 highlighted features like 4K resolution and support for up to 60 FPS.

Given that GTA VI is set to launch with a 30 FPS cap, it's hard not to wonder if the same pattern will repeat: while higher performance is certainly appealing, constant updates can be quite hard on your wallet!

If you've been keeping an eye on GTA VI community lately, you might have noticed many players saying they won't rush to play it at launch, opting instead to wait for a PC release or a future, enhanced version.

Interestingly, some have pointed out that if any other game were limited to 30 FPS in 2026, it would likely face severe backlash; yet, when it comes to GTA VI, the community seems far more forgiving.

This may be because many fans, driven by high expectations, have already pre-ordered the game. Admitting disappointment this early on is, understandably, a difficult pill to swallow.

Ultimately, a 30 FPS cap might be less than ideal, but we'll have to wait until GTA VI officially launches and players put it to the test before we can reach a definitive verdict.

While the frame rate only dictates how smoothly the game runs, if you want to make rapid progress, unlocking resources and features quickly, you can buy cheap GTA 6 cash!

Having plenty of money allows you to skip the tedious early-game grind, letting you instantly acquire the vehicles, weapons, or cosmetic items you desire, and giving you a clear edge!

World of Warcraft: Forever has introduced an important restriction on racial mount purchases: all mounts bought from racial vendors are now Bind-on-Pickup (BoP). 

Listed in Blizzard's November 10, 2026, hotfix notes, this change means that once a player purchases one of these mounts, it becomes bound to their character and can no longer be transferred to another player. While this adjustment does not change how mounts function, it removes an additional layer of flexibility from mount purchases and makes it more important to choose the right character before spending gold.

What Changed in the November 10 Hotfix?

Blizzard officially confirmed the adjustment in its WoW: Forever Hotfixes – November 10, 2026 announcement.

Under the updated rule, all racial mounts purchased from vendors are now Bind-on-Pickup. Previously, players could acquire eligible vendor mounts and pass them to other players. With the new restriction, that transfer option is no longer available once a mount is purchased.

The key details are straightforward:

• Affected items: All racial mounts purchased from vendors.
• New binding rule: Bind-on-Pickup.
• Binding timing: When the mount is acquired.
• Trading restrictions: Players cannot pass the purchased mount to another player.

Importantly, Blizzard's announcement specifically identifies racial vendor mounts. It does not state that every mount in WoW Forever has received the same restriction, so players should not assume that quest rewards, dungeon drops, or other mount sources are affected.

This is an item-binding adjustment rather than a change to mount abilities or movement mechanics. The announcement does not introduce new riding requirements or modify the functionality of the mounts themselves.

Why Does Bind-on-Pickup Change Matter?

At first glance, making racial mounts BoP might seem like a relatively minor adjustment. After all, players can still visit the relevant vendors and purchase the mounts they want. However, the restriction changes how players can organize purchases, particularly those who manage multiple characters or enjoy collecting mounts across different races.

1. Players Must Buy Mounts on the Correct Character

One of the most noticeable consequences is that players can no longer use one character to purchase a racial mount and then transfer it to another player.

Previously, the ability to transfer eligible mounts provided an additional degree of convenience. For example, a player could potentially arrange a purchase through another character or coordinate with a friend who had access to a particular vendor. The new BoP rule removes that option.

Players who are planning to expand their mount collections should therefore check which character they are using before making a purchase. A mount acquired on the wrong character can no longer simply be handed over to someone else.

This is particularly relevant to players who maintain several characters for different activities. Instead of treating mount purchases as interchangeable inventory transactions, they now need to consider each character's individual collection.

2. Mount Purchases Require More Careful Gold Planning

The restriction also has implications for how players manage their gold.

In WoW Forever, gold is an important resource for character progression. Players need to balance mount purchases against other expenses, including equipment upgrades, consumables, profession materials, training, and other gameplay necessities.

With racial vendor mounts now bound upon acquisition, players have less flexibility to correct a purchase made for the wrong character. This makes checking vendor eligibility, mount availability, and the intended recipient particularly important before spending.

For players who want to build their collections without sacrificing too much progression speed, maintaining a reasonable gold reserve is a practical approach. Those who want to accelerate their preparation can also consider ways to obtain additional WoW Forever gold, leaving more room in their budgets for mounts and other character-development expenses.

The important distinction is that the new rule does not make racial mounts harder to purchase directly. Rather, it removes the possibility of transferring an acquired mount to someone else, making the original purchase decision more consequential.

3. Mount Collectors Need to Reconsider Their Purchasing Strategy

Mount collecting often involves more than acquiring a single mount for everyday travel. Players may have several characters, different racial preferences, and long-term collection goals.

For these players, the new restriction introduces a more character-focused approach to collecting. Instead of relying on another player to purchase and transfer a mount, collectors must arrange their purchases around the character that will actually own each item.

It is also worth distinguishing between two separate concepts:

• Mount availability: Whether a player can access and purchase a particular racial mount from its vendor.
• Mount tradability: Whether the purchased item can be transferred after acquisition.

Blizzard's November 10 adjustment explicitly changes the second aspect. Its published notes do not announce a broader overhaul of racial mount availability or riding mechanics.

Consequently, players should not interpret the update as evidence that racial mounts have been removed from vendors or that their riding functionality has changed.

Does the New Rule Affect Every Mount in WoW Forever?

No such conclusion can be drawn from Blizzard's announcement.

The official wording is specific: all racial mounts sold by vendors are now Bind-on-Pickup. It does not say that every mount obtainable through other gameplay systems has become character-bound.

For clarity, the confirmed scope can be summarized as follows:

This distinction matters because item-binding rules can vary depending on how an item is obtained. A change affecting one category should not automatically be applied to unrelated items.

Players should continue checking individual item descriptions and relevant patch notes rather than assuming that every mount follows the same trading restrictions.

What Should Players Do before Buying Their Next Racial Mount?

The safest approach is to treat every racial vendor mount purchase as a character-specific decision.

Before spending gold, players should:

1. Confirm the intended owner: Make sure the character purchasing the mount is the one that should receive it.
2. Check the vendor: Verify that the desired racial mount is available to that character before making the purchase.
3. Plan gold expenses: Avoid spending resources intended for essential equipment, training, or consumables without considering their priority.
4. Review item binding information: Check whether other mounts and collectible items have their own trading restrictions.

These steps are especially useful for players who maintain multiple characters or coordinate collection goals with friends. A little preparation can prevent unnecessary gold expenditure and avoid purchasing an item that cannot be transferred afterward.

Final Thoughts

Blizzard's November 10 hotfix introduces a straightforward but meaningful change to WoW Forever's mount acquisition system. All racial mounts purchased from vendors are now Bind-on-Pickup, removing the ability to transfer these newly acquired mounts to other players.

Although the change does not directly affect mount availability or riding functionality, it makes character selection and purchase planning more important. For collectors and players managing multiple characters, understanding the new restriction before visiting a vendor can help avoid unnecessary mistakes.

For now, the confirmed change is limited to racial vendor mounts. Players should watch future hotfix announcements for any additional adjustments to item binding and trading rules.

CoD Modern Warfare 4 launched the limited-time Wager Match Event on November 11. You can participate in the event across Multiplayer, DMZ, and Warzone.

The event revolves around collecting in-game Trophy tokens, wagering them in 1v1 duels to win more, and eventually exchanging them for weapon attachments, skins, and other rewards.

How To Collect Trophies?

The first part of the event follows a familiar collection-based format. Players earn Trophies (also referred to as tokens) by playing different game modes and then exchange them for event rewards.

DMZ

In DMZ, the main way to earn Trophies is by completing specific event challenges. For example, killing AI enemies can earn you approximately 1 Trophy for every 10 eliminations.

Killing lieutenants or commanders does not grant any additional Trophies. Eliminating real enemy operators also rewards Trophies, but looting items does not.

Multiplayer

In Multiplayer, eliminating real enemy players in any game mode has a chance to drop Trophies.

Bots in Ground War generally do not drop Trophies. If you want to collect them quickly in Multiplayer, smaller-map playlists are a better choice. These include Strand playlist and small maps such as Shipment, Shoothouse, and Transit 213.

Hardcore mode and Matchmaking are not particularly favorable for Trophy farming. You can buy CoD MW4 Bot Lobbies to familiarize yourself with map layouts, but they are not recommended for farming event Trophies.

Warzone

Warzone offers several different options. The first is Rally Point, which is closer to a PvE training ground. Other real players can still knock you down, but there are also neutral areas where you can team up with friends.

In this mode, Trophies appear to come exclusively from looting containers or eliminating real players. Killing AI bots does not seem to drop them. However, Rally Point does not track your collected Trophy count. Other modes usually display an in-game notification showing how many Trophies you have collected during the match.

In Resurgence and Battle Royale, both Casual Warzone and standard Warzone allow you to find Trophies by looting containers and eliminating real players. Killing bots does not reward any Trophies.

How To Redeem Rewards?

Once you unlock any 10 rewards, you can claim Kastov 545 Apex Attachment. Redeem 15 rewards to unlock Vitriol Legendary Operator Skin (Valen).

If your main priority is getting the weapon camo, it is best to focus on saving up 1,000 Trophies before claiming other items. More rewards are also expected to arrive next week, although the exact details remain unknown and may be subject to leaks. These could include weapons promised for Season 1, as well as Legendary items.

How Does Wager System Work?

Direct Wagers in Gauntlet 1v1

Gauntlet 1v1 is the most straightforward wagering mode. The idea is to use your existing Trophies as an entry stake and win more through 1v1 duels.

Before a match begins, you must wager a certain number of Trophies to enter a Gauntlet 1v1 gunfight. You will then face an opponent in a 1v1 battle, and eliminating them secures your victory. The winner stays in the arena to face the next challenger.

However, winning just one match is not enough. You must keep winning consecutive duels to claim the final reward associated with your wager. This makes Gauntlet 1v1 a high-risk, high-reward game mode.

Warzone & DMZ Wager Mechanics

Wagering in these two modes works more like a betting contract. You can exchange Trophies for challenges with specific objectives.

For example, DMZ offers a challenge that costs 10 Trophies. You need to eliminate 50 AI combatants and successfully extract. Completing it rewards 25 Trophies, giving you a net gain of 15 after deducting the initial stake.

However, AI bots have relatively low Trophy drop rates in DMZ, and opening containers does not reward Trophies either. This makes DMZ a poor choice for farming. Still, if you prefer a slower playstyle and naturally eliminate AI enemies while completing other missions, wagering in DMZ may be worth considering.

Multiplayer matches can be too competitive. Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM) makes completing challenges more difficult, and after eliminating an enemy player, you must physically reach their body and collect Trophy. Otherwise, you will not receive it.

DMZ is also inefficient, with roughly 5 to 6 Trophies collected every 20 to 30 minutes. Rally Point is not recommended either, since you still need to eliminate enemies and the chance of finding Trophies in containers is relatively low.

Casual Resurgence is the best option overall. You can collect approximately 50 Trophies per match in this mode, and almost every elimination of a real player or bot can reward a Trophy.

What Happens to Trophies When You Leave a Match Early?

According to player testing and feedback from November 11–12, leaving a MW4 Wager Match before it ends does not immediately add Trophies you have already collected to your event balance. However, they appear to be retained in the background and credited after you finish your next complete match.

That said, the game may handle regular match departures differently from leaving a match with an active wager. If you quit a wagered match, Trophies you staked will not be refunded.

The fastest way to collect Trophies is not necessarily to grind Multiplayer matches. You can certainly earn Trophies by playing Multiplayer, but if you intend to use them for wagering, taking unnecessary risks in modes outside Warzone is not recommended.

If you would rather avoid wagering altogether, you can simply play normally and accumulate Trophies over time. There are still 20 days to gradually unlock the event rewards.

Just about a week after WoW Forever's launch, the official team released its first large-scale class balance adjustments and hotfixes on November 10th. This update not only officially finalized dungeon experience points, eliminating further adjustments, but also drastically changed the leveling performance of several classes.

With class strength and quest gold rewards adjusted simultaneously, players need to reassess their leveling paths and class choices. The first week's version environment is gradually becoming clearer. Which classes will become the new leveling favorites, and which will face challenges after this round of adjustments?

A Complete Overview of Class Leveling After the First Week of Adjustments

The various changes in WoW Forever's first week of launch not only altered the output capabilities of some classes but also reshaped the current leveling efficiency and class choices.

Classes like Hunter and Protection Warrior are showing new advantages, while Shaman and Warlock need to adapt to varying degrees of changes.

Hunter: Hotfix Helps Hunter Become a Leveling Hotspot

In the first week, Hunter's leveling performance was initially below expectations. Theoretically, with its pet's tankiness, low downtime, and ability to solo elites, it should have been among the top-tier leveling enthusiasts. However, the community quickly discovered that Hunter's pet's actual survivability was far from what was expected.

The problem lay in the fact that the pet's health adjustment hadn't been correctly applied. The November 10th hotfix corrected the actual bonus to 15%, instead of the previously mistakenly assumed 50%. Furthermore, the Summon Hawk's melee damage in the Beast Mastery talent was increased by 80%, and the Hawk is less likely to be killed by AoE attacks.

These two adjustments combined to enhance Hunter's sustained damage output and pet survivability. For players with limited playtime who want to level steadily through solo play, Hunter is a highly worthwhile option, maintaining its leading position in solo leveling efficiency assessments during the first week.

Warrior: An Unexpected Rise to Leveling Success

While Hunter's strength was expected, Warrior's resurgence was somewhat surprising. Traditionally, Protection Warrior is a tanking talent build with relatively low damage output during leveling. However, the talent adjustments in WoW Forever have given Protection Warrior a new way to deal damage.

Master of Defense is the core of this build. When equipped with a shield, successfully dodging or parrying grants 5 Rage. Combined with the Rage bonus from Shield Specialization, this allows Warriors to maintain a more stable skill rotation.

Meanwhile, Improved Revenge increases Revenge damage by up to 50%, and Revenge itself is one of the skills with the lowest Rage cost and highest single-hit damage.

Furthermore, Thunder Clap can now be used under Defensive Stance and benefit from Attack Power, meaning Protection Warriors often outdamage pure DPS classes when pulling multiple waves of mobs in dungeons, and are almost never killed.

While this build requires abandoning the traditional two-handed weapon leveling path, Protection Warrior has become a worthwhile option for players seeking stable and efficient leveling.

Paladin and Mage: Hidden Winners Without Significant Changes

While Paladin and Mage didn't receive the same eye-catching buffs as Hunter in the first week, they remain strong choices in the current leveling meta.

Paladin's strength lies in weapon acquisition and overall capabilities. From the early-game Verigan's Fist to the new hammer from the Wetlands excavation site, and weapons like the Corpse Maker and Ravager, there are consistently good gear options throughout the leveling process. Combined with healing, defensive skills, and buffs, Paladin performs consistently well in solo leveling and dungeons.

Mage, on the other hand, is a crucial pillar of AoE mob clearing strategies. Although dungeon experience has been fixed at 60% of Classic Era, Mage's AoE damage capabilities remain unaffected.

Whether clearing mobs in Murloc or multi-wave mobs in dungeons like Scarlet Monastery, Mage significantly improves the team's mob clearing efficiency. Given the relatively small number of Mage players currently, this class is a worthwhile option for those planning to level an alt.

Shaman: From Leveling Hotspot to Major Loser in Adjustments

Enhancement Shaman, which performed strongly in the first week, received a significant nerf on November 10th.

Previously, Stormstrike, with its 150% weapon damage multiplier and 6-second cooldown, combined with the burst effect of Windfury, made Shaman the strongest class in the Dungeon leveling progression from 1-40.

This adjustment reduces Stormstrike's damage multiplier to 100% and increases its cooldown to 8 seconds. Simultaneously, the trigger frequency of Maelstrom Weapon is reduced, and its benefits are readjusted to a 20% reduction in cast time and mana cost per stack.

As compensation, Windfury Weapon and Windfury Totem can now be active simultaneously. However, the core goal of this adjustment is to make Enhancement Shaman more reliant on Windfury, rather than overly building a playstyle around spell power and Intellect.

This means that Shaman's rotation and gear choices will change. While the Windfury Weapon and Windfury Totem offered new DPS possibilities, the increased cooldown of Stormstrike, leading to a change in gameplay feel, still left many players dissatisfied.

Warlock: Buffed, but Leveling Still Awkward

Warlock was one of the classes with the lowest average level in WoW Classic+ during the first week, primarily due to the nerf to pet survivability.

The root of the problem can be traced back to a change on November 3rd: the health pets gained from their owner's stamina was reduced from 7.5 health per point to 2 health.

This was a structural blow to the leveling model that relied on Voidwalkers tanking and Warlocks applying DoTs, forcing many Warlock players to reassess their leveling path during the first week.

The hotfix on November 10th increased the base health of Voidwalkers, Succubus, and Incubus by 15%, improving pet survivability to some extent, but it was still insufficient to compensate for the significant stamina scaling nerf from 7.5 to 2.

Warlock players received another piece of good news - Affliction talent tree, Wrack, has been reworked, allowing DoT damage to be dealt faster within the same duration. However, since Wrack is a deep talent, it hardly contributes to the leveling experience before level 40.

Therefore, for Warlocks still in the 1-40 level range, Demonology remains a relatively smooth leveling path, and whether this buff will truly improve the overall leveling experience remains to be seen.

48-60 Quest Gold Adjustment

Besides class balance, November 10th also saw an easily overlooked but impactful economic adjustment for all leveling players: the developers added extra gold rewards to most level 48 and above quests, including those that previously offered no gold.

This change is related to the removal of the experience-to-gold conversion mechanism after reaching level 60 in WoW Classic Plus. Previously, players could retain completed quests and turn them in at level 60 to gain more gold.

To avoid this disrupting the normal leveling rhythm, the developers removed this mechanism. However, since only about 25% of quests in Classic WoW directly reward gold, the rewards from quests in the level 48-60 range are insufficient.

Now, with higher-level quests offering additional gold rewards, players no longer need to hoard quests for higher gold income after reaching the level cap. Completing quests normally from level 48 onwards not only maintains leveling progress but also allows players to accumulate more gold by level 60.

This gives players a new leveling option: instead of simply repeatedly farming dungeons, combining open-world quests with one-time dungeon quests provides both experience and gold.

However, if you need to prepare additional funds for max-level gear, consumables, or future raids, relying solely on quest rewards will still take a considerable amount of time. Therefore, if you want to replenish your reserves faster, you can also buy WoW Forever gold to meet your needs for character progression and raid preparation.

The next round of adjustments is still worth watching

If you're playing a Hunter or Protection Warrior, the current leveling environment is quite favorable; Enhancement Shaman players will need to adapt to the extended Stormstrike cooldown and reconsider their Windfury gear setup.

As for Warlocks, while the adjustments to pet survivability and the Affliction talent haven't had a significant impact, Demonology still offers a relatively stable leveling path.

The class landscape has begun to take shape in the first week of WoW Forever's launch, but this doesn't mean the current power rankings will remain unchanged. The developers are still monitoring the game environment based on player feedback, and class skills, gear choices, and DPS builds will likely continue to be a focus before the first batch of new raids opens on December 9th.

For players currently leveling, there's no need to overthink the class rankings right now; the more important thing is to determine if the current leveling pace suits your playtime and playstyle.