General News

After months of waiting, we finally have news about the next major update for Path of Exile 2. Patch 0.5.0, officially named Return of the Ancients, will be fully revealed on May 7th.

However, in an unexpected twist, the patch won't go live shortly after the reveal stream as usual. Instead, players will have to wait until May 29th - three weeks after the announcement. This is clearly different from the official plan, and it may have some impact on the official release of Path of Exile 2.

An Unusual Release Cycle

This marks the first time since the launch of Path of Exile 1 and 2 that a patch has arrived more than eight days after its announcement. Typically, the reveal is scheduled about a week before release, so revealing all the details on May 7th is rather uncommon.

The developers have already hinted that the core focus of Patch 0.5.0 is the endgame, claiming it will be the largest update ever.

Impact of Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred

The release date of PoE 2 Patch 0.5.0 clearly breaks the developers' earlier promise of a new league every four months. Following that schedule, the update should have started around the end of April. Instead, players are being asked to wait an extra month.

One can't help but consider whether Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred, launching in late April, played a role. Although, from a player perspective, the audiences of Diablo 4 and Path of Exile don't entirely overlap - Torchlight: Infinite shares more with PoE, while Last Epoch is closer to Diablo 4 - the clash between the December release dates of Diablo 4 Season 12 and Patch 0.4.0 did have some impact on both games.

Since this is one of Diablo 4's biggest updates to date, PoE 2 team may have wanted to avoid a repeat of past scheduling conflicts (Diablo 4's Paladin class was revealed in Season 12, and the new class for Season 13 is Warlock). Delaying by a month would help stagger the releases.

Teaser Content

The first teaser trailer, only 30 seconds long, appears to show the area where the endgame boss, Arbiter of Ash, resides, as Burning Monolith rises.

Given the patch name and the teaser, Patch 0.5.0 seems to revolve around Precursors, who are deeply intertwined with the core story. Many endgame elements - Precursor Towers, Precursor Tablets, the weapon the player assembles in Act 4, even Arbiter and Flame Seed he guards - all originate from Precursors.

Until May 7th, it's hard to say exactly which endgame mechanics will be featured. However, the developers have leaked an image related to Patch 0.5.0, and that image points directly to Keepers of the Flame league from PoE 1.

The developers have previously experimented with an asynchronous trading system(allowing players to trade PoE 2 currency offline) in PoE 2 before bringing it to PoE 1, so it wouldn't be surprising to see them take designs from PoE 1 and bring them back to PoE 2. Therefore, we might speculate that Patch 0.5.0 will include a rework of Breach mechanic.

ExileCon

The third ExileCon will take place in November this year. Hosting such a large event naturally means there will be major announcements. The most likely candidate is the full 1.0 release of Path of Exile 2.

Some believe it will launch in December, about a month after the convention. Considering how packed this year's schedule already is - even if Patch 0.5.0 arrives in early May, the developers might have only one more update before needing to prepare for PoE 2 Patch 1.0 toward the end of the year. By then, the game would likely remove its access fee and become free-to-play, with a complete campaign.

This would mean the developers won't follow a steady, incremental patch cycle - they might jump directly to the official release after Patch 0.6.0.

But one thing to keep in mind is that an event like ExileCon requires planning far in advance, often 12 to 18 months. When they started preparing for it, they simply couldn't be sure whether Path of Exile 2 would be ready for a full launch by then.

After all, at the second ExileCon in 2023, they announced that early access would begin nearly a year later, in June 2024. That date was eventually pushed back twice, finally landing in December 2024.

It's very likely that when they were planning the second ExileCon, they had hoped the game would be in a more polished state, allowing them to announce a closer release date. But things didn't go as planned - development doesn't always align perfectly with expectations.

When Will 1.0 Arrive?

Patch 0.5.0 is set for May 29th, which to some extent disrupts the developers' original timeline. If version 1.0 really is targeting December, that leaves only a 6-month window - far too tight for just two updates.

If the plan is still to launch the full game this year, the team will likely pour all their efforts into developing version 1.0 from now on, ensuring it lives up to expectations as a massive content drop.

The developers will almost certainly announce a complete launch plan for Path of Exile 2 at this year's ExileCon. But the exact timing remains unclear. It could be December, or it could just as easily be planned for summer 2027, or even December 2027.

Ultimately, much will depend on how the community reacts to Patch 0.5.0. If the response is positive, they might accelerate work on the remaining campaign acts, add one or two new classes, and aim straight for a December 2026 release window. But if the reaction is lukewarm, that could disrupt the plan - and then a backup strategy would kick in.

In summary, Patch 0.5.0 is bound to affect both their original update schedule and the release timing of Patch 1.0. But for players, that's a good thing - you won't have to choose between PoE 2 and Diablo 4 anymore.

A new week has begun! However, MLB The Show 26 hasn't released any new Programs yet; so, if you want to continue making progress and earning rewards in the game through Program-oriented play, Mexico City Series Event is your best option.

In fact, this program was just launched last Friday, April 24th. If you didn't get to play much over the weekend, it's still brand new to you and the rewards are excellent.

Below, we'll provide a detailed breakdown of the program's missions and rewards, along with the best strategies for completing them.

Mexico City Series Event duration

This program went live on April 24th, but it isn't a long-term MLB 26 fixture; it is scheduled to end on April 28th or 29th (depending on your time zone). So, if you haven't unlocked all the rewards yet, now is the perfect time to make a final sprint!

What rewards can you earn?

The program features four rewards, listed here in ascending order of XP required to unlock them: Game XP, Player Cards for Michael King and Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and a Deluxe - Random Pack:

• 10 XP: 10,000 Game XP
• 25 XP: Michael King
• 50 XP: Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
• 75 XP: Deluxe - Random Pack

Among these, Mexico City Michael King card is a 92 OVR Diamond card featuring three quirks: Homebody, Night Player, and Break Outlier.

If you miss the opportunity to earn him by progressing through the program, you'll have to consume at least 16,000 Stubs to acquire him later. However, if you work hard and end up earning a duplicate copy of the card, selling it on the market is also a great option.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr.'s card attributes and market value are roughly on a par with Michael King's, but he boasts five Quirks: Road Warrior, First-Pitch Hitter, Breaking Ball Hitter, Bad Ball Hitter, and Night Player.

Since the amount of Program XP required is relatively low, you really shouldn't miss out on these rewards. Even if these two player cards don't appeal to you, you might just pull something even better from Deluxe Pack!

How do you earn program rewards?

In Mexico City Series Event, completing missions is the only way to earn Program XP. There are a total of seven missions available, each requiring you to play games during the program's active period to achieve specific objectives:

• Accumulate 15 Total Bases: 5 XP
• Accumulate 10 Extra-Base Hits: 10 XP
• Accumulate 15 Runs Scored: 10 XP
• Earn 5,000 Parallel XP using Legend players: 10 XP
• Earn 5,000 Parallel XP using Flashback players: 10 XP
• Accumulate 30 Hits: 15 XP
• Accumulate 5 Wins: 15 XP

A quick calculation reveals that if you complete each of these missions exactly once, you will unlock every single reward available in the program.

However, if you find a particular mission especially difficult, you also have the option to repeatedly complete the missions you excel at instead.

Other content worth noting

April Spotlight Drop is a weekly-updating mini-series program introduced in MLB The Show 26 this April. The latest installment, April Spotlight Drop 4, launched on the very same day as Mexico City Series Event.

While these programs typically run for a standard seven-day duration, April consists of only 30 days; consequently, you have just six days to participate in this specific installment.

April Spotlight Drop 4 offers six distinct rewards, including 2,500 XP, three player cards, and two themed packs; however, the overall value of these rewards is not quite as high as that of Mexico City Series Event.

Fortunately, there are more ways to earn Program XP in April Spotlight Drop 4, and some of its missions overlap with those of Mexico City Series Event, allowing you to make progress in both simultaneously.

Nevertheless, if your time is truly limited, and you can realistically only focus on one program in the short term, we still recommend prioritizing Mexico City Series Event.

Which players is the program system best suited for?

Theoretically, programs are an integral part of MLB The Show 26 Diamond Dynasty mode. However, as illustrated by our breakdown of the specific programs above, the method by which you complete them often depends heavily on your level of engagement in other game modes.

Therefore, generally speaking, these programs are best suited for MLB The Show 26 players who have ample free time and possess strong organizational and planning skills. Such players can strategically tackle both long-term and short-term programs in tandem to maximize their overall rewards.

Conversely, if you lack the necessary time, you simply won't be able to complete most of the limited-time programs; and if you struggle with planning, you may find yourself expending a great deal of effort for very little return.

Of course, if you aren't concerned about rewards and simply enjoy occasionally hopping into MLB 26 to have some fun with virtual baseball, then feel free to play however you like!

As we head into May, we can expect the launch of more new programs and other mini-series. If you're interested, now is the time to focus on honing your skills so you can complete those missions and earn XP even faster when the time comes! Good luck!

Season 12 of Torchlight Infinite has only recently begun; therefore, when crafting a build, your primary objective should be to facilitate a faster league start, allowing you to quickly accumulate resources and accelerate your overall progression.

If this is your goal, certain classic build options, such as Chromatic Shot Build, will probably prove more effective than the novel playstyles introduced alongside the new hero, Scent Weaver Sage.

In this guide, we will demonstrate how this specific build synergize with the exclusive mechanics of Season 12 to maintain its status as a premier choice for early-game progression.

Chromatic Shot Build in SS12

This build is crafted around the eponymous skill, Chromatic Shot, a skill that has undergone significant changes in Season 12.

Currently, casting Chromatic Shot in combat simultaneously fires three auto-targeting projectiles, dealing 592-1100 points of spell damage to enemies. Notably, all three projectiles from a single burst can home in on the same target.

If an enemy is defeated by this skill, there is a 10% chance that they will explode once, dealing true damage equivalent to 25% of their maximum HP.

Furthermore, each time Chromatic Shot is cast, a Forced Conversion effect is triggered; this compels the damage dealt by your next subsequent skill to be randomly converted into one of the elemental damage types.

Thanks to these revamped effects, Chromatic Shot Build has become even more potent in SS12. It is renowned for its rapid mob-clearing speed and its ability to unleash devastating, shotgun-style burst damage against bosses.

More specifically, the projectiles generated by Chromatic Shot feature an auto-targeting system that allows them to adjust their trajectory mid-flight, effectively cornering to home in on enemies.

Additionally, the skill is compatible with almost every damage type available in the game, with the sole exception being Erosion.

This means its damage-scaling mechanics can be linked to virtually any attribute, making the skill incredibly flexible and easy to scale in power, an ideal setup for farming Torchlight Infinite Flame Elementium across all difficulty levels.

Of course, once you reach the endgame, the gear requirements for Chromatic Shot Build, much like any other build, will become significantly more demanding; however, when weighed against the ultimate rewards and performance gains, the investment is undoubtedly worth it.

Additional skills you should add

Beyond the core skill, Chromatic Shot, maximizing the build's effectiveness in SS12 requires leveraging the newly introduced minion mechanics.

Specifically, a minion provides a 20% movement speed bonus and a 45% projectile speed bonus. Furthermore, incorporating Searing Crush skill grants enemies an additional 50% increase in damage taken.

More importantly, these minions feature an automatic summoning mechanism, meaning you do not need to cast them manually. Even if they unfortunately perish in battle, the system will automatically re-summon them.

Next, Haunting Abomination can inflict Paralysis upon enemies via Grudge effect, while simultaneously increasing the damage enemies take by an additional 21%.

For your movement skill, choose Shadow Dash; for your buff skill, select Secret Origin: Unleash. As for Talents, we recommend Precise Projectiles, Steadfast, Swiftness, and Energy Fortress.

Gear selection

For SS12 Chromatic Shot Build gear setup, we first recommend equipping Malign Embrace. This item boosts both your cast speed and character mobility, though it must be obtained through Vorax crafting mechanism.

Next is Eternity. This item is, in fact, a core component of almost every Torchlight: Infinite build; its power is truly astonishing, and it significantly enhances farming efficiency.

Utilizing seasonal mechanics

The exclusive seasonal mechanic for Season 12 is Lunaria, which primarily operates through key items such as Lunar Harp and Lunar Strings. More specifically, you can enhance and alter your combat effects by equipping different strings onto the harp.

To leverage this mechanic to bolster your Chromatic Shot Build, you should select two strings that grant the double area effect, along with one string that provides +1 Max Charge Count, and an increased area effect.

Building upon this foundation, you can incorporate the new Memory Revival mechanic, allowing you to freely toggle between Half Moon and Full Moon modes.

In Half Moon mode, clearing packs of standard enemies is relatively effortless, though the loot dropped will be slightly less abundant. Conversely, in Full Moon mode, enemy difficulty increases significantly, but the corresponding loot drops become far more generous.

It is worth noting that the rewards yielded by Memory Revival mechanic are closely tied to your Item Quantity attribute. Therefore, when farming, you should ensure that your map always maintains a full complement of affixes to maximize this bonus.

If you are playing on Profound difficulty, stacking affixes to achieve a high item quantity bonus will result in truly staggering final rewards.

Furthermore, if you are crafting this build in conjunction with Lunaria mechanic, you will need to prepare three distinct sets of pet combinations to swap between.

The first is a general-purpose configuration; simply put, if you possess pets of all three rarity tiers, Legendary, Epic (Purple), and Rare (Blue), you should equip them all.

The second combination is primarily intended for use when you activate your Play skill. Essentially, for this setup, you need to equip pets that provide high quantity bonuses, such as Legendary Lunaria pet. If you happen to own Doro-Doro Dorothy, be sure to include her as well.

The final combination consists of pets designed to boost your farming efficiency; ideally, you should switch to this set just before you exit your current zone.

That covers the key details regarding how to craft and utilize Chromatic Shot Build in Torchlight: Infinite SS12. We hope this guide proves helpful to you!

Phase 2 of WoW TBC Classic Anniversary places even greater demands on DPS, and whether you play as a Fury Warrior or an Arms Warrior, both specs stand among the top-tier damage dealers.

That said, beyond relying on support from other classes, learning how to use consumables in combat is essential for every Warrior. Preparing a full array of consumables before joining a group adds a significant buffer against mistakes. So let's take a look at all the consumables available to a DPS Warrior in TBC.

Elixirs and Flasks

TBC dramatically streamlined the consumable system, particularly for elixirs and flasks.

Elixirs are now clearly divided into Battle Elixirs and Guardian Elixirs. You can only benefit from one Battle Elixir and one Guardian Elixir at a time. Using another elixir of the same type simply overwrites the previous effect; they never stack.

In TBC, a single flask simultaneously occupies both your Battle Elixir and Guardian Elixir slots. While this sacrifices the flexibility of mixing elixirs, flasks provide powerful effects, persist through death, and last for 2 hours.

Battle

Flask of Relentless Assault

• Effect: Increases attack power by 120 for 2 hours. Persists through death.

This is your best all-purpose constant consumable throughout TBC. It delivers the most stable and widely applicable DPS gain. If you prefer not to overthink your consumable setup, or if you're running a long, multi-boss raid night, using this flask means you no longer need to worry about Battle or Guardian Elixirs at all - incredibly hassle-free.

Elixir of the Mongoose / Elixir of Major Agility

• Effect: Increases Agility and critical strike rating.

Elixir of the Mongoose is only marginally, almost imperceptibly better than Elixir of Major Agility; their performance is nearly identical. Simply grab whichever one costs less gold at Auction House.

Elixir of Demon Slaying

• Effect: Increases attack power against demons by 265 for 5 min.

When fighting demons, Elixir of Demon Slaying provides more than double the attack power of Flask of Relentless Assault. In TBC, many later boss encounters demand that you absolutely melt demons in a race against time, making this short-duration elixir almost mandatory for those fights.

Guardian

Swiftness of Zanza

• Effect: Increases movement speed by 20% for 2 hours.

This is the strongest functional Guardian Elixir for a DPS Warrior. Faster movement speed means reaching targets sooner in combat and speeding up trash clear rates in instances. It is a must-have for speed-running groups and translates indirectly into a DPS increase.

Spirit Zanza

• Effect: Increases Stamina by 25 and Spirit by 25.

Spirit Zanza is better suited for tanks, but a DPS Warrior can also consider it purely for extra survivability.

Elixir of Fortitude

• Effect: Increases maximum health by 250 and restores 10 health every 5 seconds.

For Warriors, and Protection Warriors in particular, 1 Stamina is superior to 10 flat health. Stamina benefits from percentage-based multipliers like Blessing of Kings and talents. As a result, 25 Stamina scaled by such modifiers yields far more than 250 maximum health. For a DPS Warrior, pure survival-focused Guardian Elixirs like this are not a high priority and are usually only considered during extremely high-pressure encounters.

Food

Strength-based Food

• Roasted Clefthoof: Increases Strength by 20 and Spirit by 20. Lasts 30 min.
• Smoked Desert Dumplings: Increases Strength by 20, but only lasts 15 min.
• Blessed Sunfruit: Grants only 10 Strength and lasts just 10 minutes, but its effect is immediate.

Hit-rating Food

• Spicy Hot Talbuk: Increases hit rating by 20 for 30 min.
• Fire-Toasted Bun: Available exclusively during Midsummer Fire Festival and expires after the event ends. Increases hit rating by 20 for 1 hour and stacks with other regular food buffs.

Sharpening Stones and Weightstones

The core rule for using sharpening stones revolves around Windfury Totem. The temporary weapon enchant from a sharpening stone conflicts with Windfury Totem effect. If your group has a Shaman providing Windfury Totem, never apply a sharpening stone to your main hand weapon - only use one on your off-hand. If there is no Windfury, you can apply them to both main and off-hand.

• Adamantite Sharpening Stone / Weightstones: The go-to choice in TBC, adds 12 weapon damage and 14 critical strike rating.
• Elemental Sharpening Stone: Provides 28 critical strike rating, and its advantage is that it works on any weapon type. However, as a rare recipe from the old world, acquiring it may require a considerable amount of gold.

Potions

Haste Potion

• Effect: Increases haste rating by 400 for 15 sec.

Haste Potion delivers the highest DPS return of any consumable in the entire game. 25% haste provides a massive spike in Warrior rage generation, Heroic Strike uptime, and white-hit damage. In encounters shorter than 20 seconds, a single Haste Potion can potentially double your DPS.

The downside is that Haste Potions demand a fair bit of gold, and the effect is lost upon death. Still, these are worthwhile investments to raise your damage output.

Mighty Rage Potion

• Effect: Instantly grants 45-75 rage and increases Strength by 60 for 20 sec.

Mighty Rage Potion is completely overshadowed by Haste Potion, but if you want to conserve WoW TBC Classic Anniversary gold, you can use it as a substitute.

Free Action Potion

• Effect: Makes you immune to stun and movement-impairing effects for 30 sec.

This potion can be uniquely useful on certain boss fights with specific mechanics. Keep in mind that all potions share a 2-minute cooldown, so don't waste your burst window by using a Healing Potion when a Haste Potion could have been active.

Scrolls

You can use multiple scrolls at the same time, and their effects stack both with each other and with all other consumables. Scroll of Agility V and Scroll of Strength V provide 20 Agility and 20 Strength respectively - essentially free stats.

When browsing your options, keep an eye out for lower-grade versions like Scroll of Strength IV. The cost for these is often significantly lower than that of their rank V counterparts while the stat difference is minimal, making them far more cost-effective.

The above covers the general consumables for a DPS Warrior in TBC. If you have also trained Engineering, you will have a handful of extra gadgets at your disposal, though those are typically only useful against trash mobs - using them on boss encounters will often just waste your damage-dealing time. Hopefully, these consumables will help you push your DPS even higher in dungeons and raids.

It appears that, starting with Riven Tides update, ARC Raiders is determined to implement transformative changes across multiple aspects of the game, much like the changes introduced last week regarding Expeditions, this week the focus shifts to trials!

Although they serve different purposes, both Expeditions and trials are fundamental features of ARC Raiders; as such, they must be designed with sufficient robustness to ensure the game's continued growth and success.

Below, we will walk you through the comprehensive overhaul of the trials system, ensuring you are fully prepared to continue completing your weekly trials smoothly and efficiently once Riven Tides update goes live.

Trials system overview

Trials were one of the core mechanics available right from the launch of ARC Raiders. They refresh weekly and typically consist of five specific objectives.

These objectives reward you with trial points based on your level of completion; the higher your performance rating, the greater the rewards, culminating in the ability to unlock a maximum three-star rating.

Furthermore, you can earn additional points to climb the trials leaderboard and compete against other players, ultimately unlocking extra loot as you improve your ranking.

Although ARC Raiders does not feature a strictly defined seasonal structure, players have naturally come to track trials in a season-like manner, aligning them intuitively with the game's expedition cycles.

Consequently, the game is currently in the final week, Week 8, of Season 3. Immediately following this, and upon the release of Riven Tides update, a brand-new cycle will begin.

Why participate in trials?

For every star you earn to improve your trial rating, you unlock a new reward, potentially even earning the chance to acquire brand-new or high-tier ARC Raiders blueprints!

Moreover, the process of completing trials often requires you to engage in specific combat scenarios; these encounters yield enemy-dropped loot, which may even include rare crafting materials.

Additionally, if you achieve a high final ranking on the trials leaderboard, you will be rewarded with exclusive cosmetic items unique to the current season!

What fundamental changes are coming?

On April 25th, ARC Raiders published an article titled "Trials Season 4: What's on the Horizon", detailing the specifics of the major overhaul to the trials system. We will now walk you through these changes point by point.

Changes to start times

During the first two expedition departure windows, weekly trials were previously unavailable; players had to wait until the departure window closed, signaling the start of a new expedition cycle, before they could access the trials.

However, following the launch of Riven Tides, Season 4 Week 1 trials will commence immediately the very next day, Wednesday, April 29th. Subsequently, they will continue to update on a fixed schedule, refreshing every Wednesday.

This change appears to stem from a shift introduced during Expedition 3 launch window: the method for earning permanent Skill Point rewards was changed from accumulating a specific value of materials or coins to dealing a specific amount of damage during combat.

Since this change was announced relatively late, the current window of opportunity has been extended.

Furthermore, the earlier start to the trials means you can explore the new maps sooner, allowing you to simultaneously complete trial objectives and advance your Expedition progress.

Changes related to map conditions

Previously, you could earn double points by completing trial objectives during Major Events that spawned on the map; however, this mechanism has now been removed.

While this means you will no longer have the opportunity to rapidly catch up on weekly trial progress when time is running short, you will also face fewer restrictions imposed by specific map conditions.

On a related note, ARC Raiders will no longer feature trial objectives tied to specific map events, such as the previously notorious task of deliberately getting struck by lightning during an Electromagnetic Storm.

Such tasks not only lacked inherent value but also occasionally created imbalances, as some players were unable to complete them simply because the required events failed to spawn. Consequently, removing them represents a net benefit.

New trial objective types

In addition to the changes mentioned above, the development team plans to introduce a wider variety of new trial objective types. These additions will serve not only to fill gaps in the current rotation but also to enhance both the value and the overall enjoyment of the trial system.

In fact, this is not a onetime occurrence; ARC Raiders plans to continue making ongoing adjustments to the trial system in the future, ensuring that a broader range of players can participate within a fair and balanced combat environment.

Trials Season 3 & 4 rewards

Following the conclusion of the Season 3 trials cycle on April 28th, if you have successfully secured a spot on the trials leaderboard, you will be awarded various cosmetic variants based on Torque Set, distributed according to your specific rank tier.

These rewards, listed from lowest to highest rank, are as follows:

• Rookie II: Torque Set (Orange Variant)
• Tryhard I: Jacket Outfit Variant
• Tryhard III: Headgear Outfit Variant
• Wildcard II: Shoulder Pad Outfit Variant
• Daredevil I: Torque Set (Yellow/Grey Variant)
• Hotshot: Torque Set (Red Variant)

Furthermore, looking ahead to the conclusion of Season 4, you will receive the base Recon Outfit upon reaching Tryhard I, with additional cosmetic variants becoming unlockable as you continue to climb the rankings.

This outfit blends a coastal aesthetic with a tactical camouflage style, exuding a heavily armored look. It features a scout-style cap, a headset, and a uniquely designed mask, making it appear significantly more refined than the rewards offered in previous seasons.

Finally, it is worth noting that ARC Raiders has partnered with select streamers, granting them early access to the new map. However, the teaser footage ultimately released remains based on previously known information and does not reveal a significant amount of new content.

Riven Tides officially kicks off tomorrow, marking the definitive end of Season 3 trials cycle. If you still have any unfinished objectives, be sure to make every moment count!

Diablo 4 Lord of Hatred expansion goes live on Monday night. Because the skill trees for all classes will be reset, almost every class - except Paladin - will deliver a brand-new experience.

However, this also creates a problem: it's hard to predict which builds will be the best. So, let's analyze the changes for each class, rank them, and save you the trouble of choosing a class for Lord of Hatred.

Key Mechanic Changes

Preview Before diving into each class, we need to understand a few critical systemic changes in the new version.

Damage over Time

DoT multipliers have received an exaggerated boost in Season 13, and these values can now appear on gear affixes. From the skill tree snippets we've seen, Barbarian Bleed and Burning, Sorcerer Burning, and related builds for Rogue and Spiritborn will all benefit. It's fair to say the power of DoT builds in this version will be unprecedented in Diablo 4 history.

Item System

The gear system has changed dramatically. In the past, you would quickly be flooded with Legendary and Unique items, and stat increases on gear felt negligible. Now, you can roll multiple damage bonus affixes on gear, and gems are more powerful.

You'll feel the improvement from each gear upgrade far more clearly, rather than gaining overly explosive power early on and jumping straight into the highest Torment difficulty. This means a build that feels average in the early stages could really take off once your gear comes together in the mid-to-late game.

Skill Tree Customization Options

The skill tree reset is obviously the biggest factor driving class changes. Many skills now split into Damage and Support options. A lot of former Basic, Core, or Specialization skills can now serve as utility choices and become usable. This greatly increases build customization - for the same core damage skill, you can create five completely different skill bar setups, which hugely enriches the gameplay.

Barbarian

Strengths

Barbarians naturally wield multiple weapons, and this advantage will be amplified in the new version. More weapons mean more damage bonus affixes from gear and the ability to socket more powerful gems.

The skill tree features a lot of support for Bleed and Burning. Besides the well-known Whirlwind, Weapon Mastery skills also received massive buffs. From Basic to Core skills, almost every skill has a use, and build options are vastly expanded.

Weaknesses

Some skills can summon Ancients to fight alongside you, but the AI for this mechanic, especially the targeting logic, is currently unclear. However, this might be a minor issue since Barbarian is melee-oriented anyway.

Another point is that Barbarians lack ranged attacks and need to invest in mobility or rely on Diablo 4 items like Gohr's Devastating Grips or Runes to group enemies. Fortunately, they have skills like Leap that provide high mobility.

Overall, Barbarians could be extremely powerful, but similar to when the game first launched, they have a high endgame growth curve, meaning they might not come together quickly and tend to perform better in the endgame.

Druid

Strengths

After the skill rework, Druids can freely choose to cast almost any skill in Human, Werewolf, or Werebear form, and each form has its own inherent bonuses tied directly to the skill tree, removing the need to rely on specific Unique items.

Furthermore, spell builds using Human form like Tornado and Lightning Storm have been massively strengthened, ensuring at least a solid floor of power and offering insane combo potential.

Weaknesses

Although Druid mobility has improved, their cooldowns are still quite long. Survivability outside of Werebear form has been an issue for several seasons; while Werebear now has built-in damage reduction, other forms may still be fragile.

Druids have performed rather average in the previous Seasons, but after the rework there is a lot to explore and great potential.

Necromancer

Strengths

Necromancer arguably received the biggest improvement of all classes. The old feeling of being clunky, fragile, and slow has been completely swept away.

All minions can now be customized a second time via the skill tree, in addition to Book of the Dead. This opens up a wealth of active or passive minion build options, making them a true summoner class, whereas Warlock can only do temporary summons.

Mobility is a massive advantage for Necromancer. One of Sever's enhancement options appears to incorporate the power of Inexorable Reaper's Aspect without a cooldown, allowing you to teleport endlessly. Blood Surge could also become a second movement option. Necromancer's gameplay pace will be ten times faster than before.

Weaknesses

Necromancers lost their key Barrier passive. Although there are other ways to obtain Barrier and the protection of their minion army, survivability is no longer free - you need to build for it deliberately.

Rogue

Strengths

With resource generation being nerfed across all classes, Rogue's Combo Points and Inner Sight specializations are indirectly buffed. More importantly, Imbuement skills have been reworked from a charge limit to a duration limit. With high attack speed, you can keep Imbuement effects active constantly, providing a huge and stable damage boost. Now you can even grant Imbuement effects to Basic or non-Imbued skills.

Weaknesses

Previously relied-upon barrier passives like Second Wind have been removed. While Rogue has Dark Shroud, the built-in defenses on the skill tree are relatively sparse, so you may need to deliberately invest in survival stats.

Sorcerer

Strengths

Sorcerer will break away from the situation of having only one top-tier build each season. Both Core skills and Mastery skills will be able to stand on their own. Since skill tree customization options have increased dramatically, even if Enchantment effects themselves haven't changed, the utility they carry is much richer. For example, Ball Lightning Enchantment can now summon a black hole that pulls entire screens of enemies together.

Weaknesses

However, Sorcerer might be the class hit hardest in terms of survivability. Mana Shield, Protection, and Align the Elements - three powerful defensive passives that nearly every build took - have all been removed. While their effects may have been moved to gear, the early game without defensive skills will be very tough.

Spiritborn

We don't know much about the changes to Spiritborn, but overall, it has received buffs. Spiritborn has lost almost nothing on the defensive side, which used to be its biggest weakness. We see skills like Vortex and Scourge now have built-in damage reduction. The long-underdeveloped Centipede skill line is receiving major upgrades. Powerful mechanics like Noxious Resonance are returning, and Spiritborn also boasts high Unstoppable uptime and 100% block chance.

Warlock

Strengths

The developers have clearly stated that to promote the expansion, new classes are intentionally designed to be strong to encourage players to try all builds. Therefore, Warlock is likely one of the strongest classes in Season 13.

Weaknesses

However, Warlock skill tree has numerous interactions and tags, making its mechanics the most complex and not very beginner-friendly. Additionally, Warlock skill tree has almost no defensive capabilities; you must plan your survivability through gear. If you overlook this, you will be extremely fragile.

Paladin

Paladin remains powerful and straightforward. It was released in Season 12 and was almost overwhelmingly strong. Although it will be nerfed in Season 13, as one of Lord of Hatred expansion classes, it still maintains its dominance.

Class Ranking

So, combining the strengths of each class above with their performance in previous Seasons, let's rank them.

Leveling

• S-Tier: Rogue, Spiritborn, Necromancer
• A-Tier: Paladin, Warlock
• B-Tier: Druid, Sorcerer, Barbarian

Endgame

• S-Tier: Spiritborn, Paladin, Warlock
• A-Tier: Druid, Necromancer, Barbarian
• B-Tier: Rogue, Sorcerer

That concludes the conclusion drawn from in-depth analysis and research of all known information. No matter which class you choose, it will be a fantastic experience, because every class will have multiple builds capable of tackling the highest difficulty content.

As the last week of April, this week holds significant importance for many games and their player bases, as numerous titles are rolling out new updates or seasons, and Dark and Darker is no exception.

Although the game remains in Early Access, it has already completed eight seasons within this phase, maintaining a relatively consistent update schedule. Now, Season 9 is poised to launch at the end of April.

In this article, we will combine all known information and the official teaser trailer to walk you through the key features and changes introduced in this season, helping you adapt to the new update as quickly as possible.

Season 9 release date

The new season is scheduled to go live on April 28th. It is important to note that Season 8 will conclude on the 27th; therefore, if you have any unclaimed Season 8 rewards, be sure to claim them before time runs out!

Typically, the interval between Dark and Darker season updates ranges from 3 to 4 months. Consequently, Season 9 is projected to wrap up sometime between July and August.

Season 9 overview

While the official game website has yet to release a comprehensive announcement detailing the contents of Season 9, we can already piece together a fairly complete picture of the season based on the teaser trailer released two days ago and insights from previous developer Q&A sessions.

The theme for Early Access Season 9 has been officially designated as Face the Inferno. Furthermore, starting with this season, the cycle for every future Dark and Darker season will be fixed at exactly three months, rather than fluctuating between 3 and 4 months as was the case previously.

This means that season resets will occur more frequently and on a shorter cycle. Consequently, some players have begun speculating whether this signals an imminent full release of the game; however, there has been no definitive confirmation regarding this matter.

As a balancing measure, with each seasonal reset, the developers will implement specific adjustments and changes to two particular character classes. For Season 9, the two classes receiving these updates are Rogue and Ranger.

During interviews, the developers even offered a sneak peek into the future, revealing that the class updates for the next season will focus on Cleric and Wizard, followed subsequently by Bard and Warlock.

Other changes introduced in Season 9 include a complete overhaul of Inferno 3rd-floor dungeon, the introduction of Squire Royale, an evolved version of Squire to Riches mode, and various other QoL improvements.

This means that in Season 9, even if you do not play as one of the two classes undergoing major reworks, you will still have the opportunity to enjoy a fresh or optimized Dark and Darker gold farming experience.

Rogue changes

In Dark and Darker, Rogue is the quintessential high-risk, high-reward class. While possessing low base health and a heavy reliance on gear, the class excels at stealth and burst damage.

Building upon this foundation, Season 9 introduces three new abilities: Dualstrike, Shadowstep, and Sneak Attack; as well as four new perks: Veil of Shadows, Trickster, Lethal Mark, and Creep.

Broadly speaking, these changes focus on closing the distance between combatants. Take Shadowstep, for instance: this is designed to function as a blink-style teleport ability, allowing you to warp to a shadowed location to quickly bridge the gap to an enemy.

This effect provides you with a viable counterplay option when facing ranged opponents, a solution that is certainly far fairer than simply granting the ability to turn invisible outright.

Furthermore, a primary objective of Season 9 is to fine-tune the movement speed mechanics, specifically, to reduce the dominance that the movement speed attribute currently holds within the game.

To this end, the developers have removed the bonus movement speed modifiers previously attached to gear affixes and have significantly reduced the movement speed buffs that certain classes, not just Rogue, could previously gain through their skills.

Ranger changes

This class receives new mechanics, including two new abilities, Overdraw and Explosive Shot, as well as four new perks: Windfletch, First Aid, Point-Blank Expert, and Longshot Expert.

Among these, Explosive Shot is slated for a rework and enhancement; it will now incorporate a magic damage component, effectively transforming Ranger into a character that functions almost like a spellcaster.

Consequently, utilizing this ability may require you to stack specific attributes to boost stats such as magic damage output.

As for Overdraw, the mechanic likely involves drawing back and charging your bowstring; if you're lucky, it may also grant a beneficial buff, such as increased arrow velocity or a bonus to physical damage.

The developers have stated that another key focus for Ranger in Season 9 is balancing the combat dynamic between ranged Rangers and melee classes.

These addresses the current issue where other players are sometimes instantly eliminated before they even have a chance to close the distance to Ranger.

Accordingly, if a melee class wishes to bridge the gap to a ranged Ranger, they must now accept a significantly higher level of risk; this high-risk design philosophy will also be applied to other game mechanics, such as spellcasting.

3rd-floor dungeon Inferno

As a direct reflection of Season 9 theme, Inferno stands as one of the most challenging third-tier dungeons in the game. It is accessible via the red staircase or portal located in Crypts, the floor immediately above it, which, in turn, is entered from Ruins.

Inferno is a high-risk PvE dungeon featuring dangerous boss encounters; however, it also serves as your primary source for acquiring gold and high-tier loot.

Upon entering Inferno, you find yourself in a map composed of various hazardous modules, including a Ritual Room that conceals a special iron door required for specific quests.

In light of this, Season 9 introduces several optimizations to the dungeon. Foremost among these is the addition of new boss and enemy types, alongside a visual overhaul of certain existing monster models.

The primary objective of these visual adjustments is to better align with the overall environmental atmosphere of the new map, as the general aesthetic of Inferno dungeon itself is set to undergo a complete renovation.

Furthermore, Season 9 will see Inferno undergo a cleanup pass; superfluous ground clutter, such as scattered skulls and loose stones, that frequently caused unexpected performance hiccups will be removed.

Historically, monster responsiveness within Inferno dungeon has suffered from slight latency; consequently, Dark and Darker is expected to address this issue by refining the behavioral patterns of the dungeon's creatures.

Additionally, approximately 80% of XP you have earned at Inferno difficulty level will carry over directly into the new season.

Squire Royale

For Season 9, Squire to Riches has been transformed into Squire Royale, a mode dedicated to delivering an intense and thrilling Battle Royale experience.

In terms of gameplay, you begin equipped only with the gear provided by a squire. You must then scavenge for supplies and strive to survive within an ever-shrinking safe zone, engaging in fast-paced PvPvE combat encounters.

QoL improvements

The most notable update in this category is the introduction of a new ping feature. Based on recent Developer Q&A sessions, other improvements are expected to include the implementation of certain prerequisites or thresholds for the quest system, designed to foster a sense of progressive pacing throughout the season.

Additionally, starting in Season 9, Squire gear for all classes will be unlocked by default; this means you will no longer be required to complete specific quests to gain access to this foundational equipment.

Other QoL updates include optimizations to tedious tasks, such as reducing the number of extra clicks required, streamlining operational steps, and introducing a new automatic inventory sorting feature, among others.

In short, compared to previous iterations, Dark and Darker Season 9 delivers more than just new content; its extensive system optimizations will fundamentally enhance your overall gaming experience! Stay tuned!

Players, FFXIV Patch 7.5 Trail to the Heavens is officially releases on April 28th! This update includes updates to quests, combat, PvP, and the item system, focusing on extensive system optimization. Let's take a look at all the content!

Quest System Updates

Main Story Quests

This update adds five new main story quests, with the new villain Halmarut and his manipulated puppets becoming the main threat.

Players will face off against Shantotto, a well-known character from FFXXI, who will use Black Magic directly and control the entire battlefield.

Echoes of Vana'diel collaboration story finally reaches its final chapter, with players facing off against Shantotto, a well-known character from Final Fantasy XI, who will use Black Magic directly and control the entire battlefield.

In addition, players who collect all seven Extreme Trials mounts can accept a new bonus quest to obtain an additional special mount.

The new Game+ mode adds questlines from Chronicles of a New Era and Echoes of Vana'diel series. Some regular quests are now restricted to specific classes for certain time periods to prevent class incompatibility issues.

Combat Updates

This update adds a new dungeon called The Clyteum, located in Snowfield ruins of Garlemald, showcasing the empire before its destruction.

The new raid Enuo, available in Normal and Extreme difficulties, is now live. Enuo features a faster pace and higher difficulty, but fewer environmental mechanics, and focuses more on the boss's actions. The Extreme difficulty's area-of-effect attacks and pathfinding mechanics are particularly challenging.

Players should note that Chaos dungeon, The Cloud of Darkness (Chaotic), has received a major update. Players can now easily conquer it with higher levels or higher gear grades.

More importantly, when the minimum item level requirement is enabled, all rare rewards, including two Mounts, Pets, and Hairstyles, will drop, significantly lowering the barrier to entry. If you happen to have few Final Fantasy XIV gil, that's even better.

Additionally, the weekly limit for Heavyweight Division in Normal mode has been removed, the number of Holoblades required to exchange for weapons has been reduced to four, and Echo effect of Cruiserweight Savage has been further improved.

PvP Update

Crystalline Conflict has launched series 11, along with a new map called Archieia Harmonias.

This map features Healing Glyphs and checkpoints for charging payloads, and its capture mechanic differs from other maps. The map rotation cycle has been shortened from 90 minutes to 60 minutes, allowing players to experience different terrains more frequently.

Furthermore, PvP scoring system has been adjusted. Character deaths no longer deduct points, and points gained from knockdowns and assists are now affected by morale, significantly speeding up the pace of matches.

Housing & Renovation

The furniture cap for all types of housing has been increased by 50%, and the outdoor furniture cap has been increased by 100%.

Specifically, the number of Apartments and Private Chambers has increased from 100 to 150, Cottages from 200 to 300, Houses from 300 to 450, and Mansions from 400 to 600.

A new Dark Minimalist Style has been added as an interior design theme.

Regarding display, players can adjust the number of furniture items displayed on screen simultaneously within an area, while the PS4 version will reduce system load by decreasing shadow lighting.

The next major housing update will introduce a large-capacity storage feature similar to Tardis, currently in testing and expected to launch before version 8.0.

Major Optimizations to the item System

Dye system has undergone a large-scale consolidation. Hundreds of loose Dyes have been consolidated into three standardized categories, meaning that common Dyes that previously occupied a large amount of warehouse space can now be covered by just three types.

However, high-value dyes such as general-purpose pure black and pure white remain unchanged, so the related market will not be affected.

Armoire system has also been enhanced. From some dungeon gear in version 2.x to dungeon gear from version 3.0 and later, gear can now be converted into set transmogrification, with each set occupying only one Armoire slot. Class-specific gear and dungeon gear from version 7.0 and later can also be stored in Armoire.

In addition, several PvP gear sets, as well as sets like Thaliak and Fury, have gained a second transmogrification slot.

Exploration and Wilderness Content

Occult Crescent has opened the new area North Horn, which includes both Normal and Hard difficulties of Forked Tower (Magic).

Phantom class abilities have also been adjusted. Cannoneer's Shotgun has changed from lightning to neutral. Dark Knight's Pledge now grants immunity to certain debuffs and damage. The drop rate of Rare Soul Crystals has been significantly increased, and Phantom experience and silver rewards have also been comprehensively increased.

Finally, the difficulty calculation method for FATEs has also changed. Players within and around FATEs will have their health added to the enemy's HP, making it less likely for players running towards FATEs to miss the battle due to lack of time.

This update primarily aims to pave the way for 8.0, with significant effort put into convenience and system optimization. Get ready for the April 28th release!

Launched on April 16th, Torchlight Infinite SS12 not only integrates the previous season's Vorax into its core mechanics but also introduces a host of new features beyond the seasonal theme, most notably Memory Revival.

This feature is essentially an evolution of Torchlight Infinite's classic Hero Memory system, allowing you to utilize crafting materials obtained through various means to unlock additional bonuses.

While Memory Revival may not be as flashy as some of the season's other headline features, and information regarding it can be somewhat scattered, if you master its mechanics, the combat advantages it provides can be truly substantial!

Below, we present a comprehensive guide to Memory Revival designed to help you accelerate your progress throughout Season 12!

What are Hero Memories?

First off, Torchlight Infinite offers a wide array of heroes for you to choose from and play. As the game undergoes seasonal updates, new Hero Traits are introduced for these characters, which you can simply think of as specialized subclasses.

Serving as the foundation for Memory Revival system, Hero Memories are key equipable items used to unlock and enhance the passive skills associated with each specific Hero Trait.

All Hero Memories fall into one of three categories: Origin, Discipline, or Progress. These memories drop during standard combat encounters; however, the coveted red Legendary memories typically only appear in higher-tier maps.

Once you acquire a Hero Memory, simply slot it into your Hero Trait tree to activate its corresponding skill bonuses. Furthermore, these memories can be leveled up to a maximum of Level 50 by consuming Memory Scraps and Threads of the appropriate rarity.

What is Memory Revival?

Once you have obtained the specific Hero Memories you desire, Memory Revival, a brand-new crafting mechanic, allows you to utilize available materials to imbue those memories with special, randomized affixes and bonuses.

This system enables you to not only strengthen your memories by re-rolling or refining their attributes using relevant materials but also empowers you to experiment with a wider variety of character builds.

Upon opening Memory Revival interface, you will see three distinct options displayed on the left side of the screen: New Moon (purple), Half Moon (orange), and Full Moon (red). Each option requires different resources and allows for the crafting of different types of items.

Accordingly, the specific materials corresponding to these three stages are Crude Lunar Dust, Luminous Lunar Dust, and Flawless Lunar Dust - materials that distinctly embody the thematic essence of Lunaria season.

Specifically, Crude Lunar Dust is used to perform a Hero Memory Revival, and it is consumed when performing a New Moon Revival on a Rare Hero Memory.

Luminous Lunar Dust, on the other hand, is used to create a Hero Memory Revival, and it is consumed when performing a Half Moon Revival on an Epic Hero Memory. Flawless Lunar Dust is reserved for Ultimate Hero Memory Revival.

Consequently, this function much like a super-endgame crafting material. Essentially, however, these various crafting processes allow you to unlock a range of special effects.

How to utilize Memory Revival?

Starting from Timemark 7, you can use Crude Lunar Dust to add additional affixes to a Hero Memory. Although these affixes are randomly generated, they are generally quite powerful.

Regarding the affixes located at the bottom of a Hero Memory, you will need to use a re-roll mechanism to adjust them, for instance, to boost your damage output via Elemental Penetration or Erosion Penetration.

If you are playing a non-physical hit-based build, you will typically need approximately 30% armor penetration to maximize your damage output. While you can certainly stack it higher if your build allows, 30% is sufficient.

As for the orange-quality Half Moon Revival, it offers several avenues for enhancement, particularly regarding the base attributes of Hero Memory itself.

Although the success rate may not reach 100%, there is a distinct chance of obtaining higher maximum life, increased primary attribute points, a stronger energy shield, and similar upgrades.

Furthermore, this tier of crafting may also allow you to upgrade the tier of existing fixed affixes. This means you have the opportunity to secure incredibly potent fixed attribute bonuses, thereby significantly boosting your character's overall power level.

Upon entering Timemark 8, Hero Memories begin to drop in much greater abundance; consequently, Profound-quality memories will appear much more frequently.

Conversely, Flawless Lunar Dust may not begin to drop until you have truly progressed into Profound difficulty tier.

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The utility of this material lies in its ability to not only allow you to roll for various random affixes but also, with a certain probability, directly increase the base values of the affixes already present on the gear piece.

It not only provides the opportunity to upgrade fixed affixes but may also grant Revived Affixes, many of which offer effects that are simply far more powerful than you could imagine.

However, it is crucial to note that this specific crafting process is onetime-use only; once you have consumed that single opportunity, you will be unable to perform a Revival on that particular item ever again.

So, if luck isn't on your side, you'll have no choice but to seek out other items to craft, or simply sell the gear in question to another player.

While you could technically bypass this process by trading directly for pre-crafted items that meet your exact specifications, relying too heavily on trading ultimately diminishes the fun and true spirit of the game.

Fortunately, on the whole, the effects of certain Revived Affixes are truly potent; once acquired, they can provide a substantial leap forward for both your character and your build!

That wraps up our guide to Torchlight Infinite SS12 Memory Revival feature. We hope this proves helpful in your future battles! Have fun playing!

With the announcement of Phase 2 date for WoW TBC Classic Anniversary, many players have already begun farming gear, gold, or leveling alts to prepare for the new phase.

Some players with deep pockets are already investing in materials or equipment that could become very scarce in Phase 2. However, since the developers' detailed adjustment plans are still unknown, every investment carries some risk. Drawing on past experience, many are considering investing in Primal materials, but this could also be a highly risky move.

What Constitutes A Good Investment?

Before explaining why Primal materials are not a sound investment, you first need to understand that a good investment either has extremely low current demand and ample supply, or is currently in balance but poised for a massive future surge in demand - like Netherbloom or Haste Potions right now. Primal materials, however, do not meet these criteria.

The way most players earn WoW TBC Classic Anniversary gold is by farming in the open world, and almost every farming guide prioritizes Primal materials as the top choice. This leads to a constant and enormous supply of Primal materials.

Primal Materials

Before discussing why players are investing in Primal materials right now, let's look at what they actually do.

Primal Air

Mainly used for enchants such as Mongoose and Superior Agility - a steady consumption, but not explosive. It can also craft some mail and leather belts, but these are not game-changing BiS upgrades.

Primal Mana

Its primary use is the glove enchant Superior Spellpower for healers and spell DPS. Beyond that, there are hardly any noteworthy consumables.

Primal Water

Key for high-quality enchants like Bracers and Soulfrost. The biggest consumption point might be crafting Frost Resistance gear, but that is limited to a small number of players progressing on specific bosses.

Primal Shadow

In the short term, it can be used for catch-up physical leather pieces like Ebon Netherscale Bracers. Its real potential value, however, lies in crafting Shadow Resistance gear required for Phase 3 Black Temple, to face Mother Shahraz. At that point, players will socket Shadow Resistance items with Void Spheres to stack all resistances. Therefore, Primal Shadow could be a dark horse that surges in the future, but certainly not during Phase 2.

Demand for Primal Materials

The period of strongest demand for Primal materials is always the first three to four weeks after they become available. The reason is simple: during this window, a huge number of players need to enchant and craft their pre-raid BiS items. Whether it's crafting weapons via blacksmithing, applying BiS enchants to multiple gear swaps, or tailoring cooldown production, all of this consumes massive amounts of Primal materials. After that, once most players' gear setups are stable or they get upgrades from raids, demand falls back to a steady level that only supports basic enchanting needs.

Primal Material Demand in Phase 2

But you cannot take Phase 1 experience and apply it to Phase 2, because there are actually not that many items requiring Primal materials in this phase. The biggest demand might be tanks crafting resistance gear for specific bosses, but in a 25-player raid, at most two or three tanks need it, so consumption is extremely limited.

Moreover, many players, having witnessed how high Primal material values soared early in Phase 1 and seeing that they have now fallen, consider this an investment opportunity and decide to stock up. This speculative behavior itself could push values down even further.

Phase 2 introduces engineering goggles for every class, but they barely need any Primal materials - just one Primal Fire. The items seen as the real consumption drivers are the crafted pieces that come from Serpentshrine Cavern and Tempest Keep drops, such as Belt of Blasting. This belt is a massive upgrade for warlocks and other spell DPS and requires 15 Primal Fire.

However, the true demand bottleneck is that crafting these items requires Nether Vortex, the pattern is Bind on Pickup, and the resulting item can only be crafted for personal use by the player who learned the pattern - it cannot be traded.

A raid that downs both final bosses and fully clears the instance can obtain roughly 5 to 6 Nether Vortexes per week. While many players participate in raids daily, only a small number farm trash mobs.

Smart raids will prioritize allocating Nether Vortex to melee weapon crafting. This means the scarcity and priority of Nether Vortex will heavily constrain the rate at which Primal materials are consumed, preventing demand from ever skyrocketing.

Situation in WoW TBC Classic

This is not mere speculation. Back in WoW TBC Classic, many players invested heavily in materials before Phase 2, only to end up taking a loss. The reason was that the droprate for tradeable patterns was too low to quickly absorb the massive supply generated by farming.

When players entered Phase 2, many were short on gold and continued to farm Primal materials in places like Throne of Kil'jaeden to earn gold, further worsening the oversupply. In the end, the value of Primal Fire even fell below pre-Phase 2 levels, because demand at this stage was entirely propped up by speculators rather than real consumers.

In summary, a large number of players are thinking about investing in Primal materials, but the biggest problem is that demand will never be able to catch up with supply. If the developers announce changes to how Nether Vortex is obtained, or seriously crack down on botting, values could recover. Other than that, it is advisable to steer clear of Primal materials, keeping at most only what you need for personal use.