General News

The July-to-September window appears to be a favorite season for sports games; at the very least, NCAA 27 launched fully on July 9 this year, while NBA 2K27 and FIFA 27 are both slated for September releases.

Interestingly, The Grounds, a confirmed new feature for FUT 26, has sparked speculation among sports gaming fans since news broke that it would offer open-world gameplay.

Many suspect it is an attempt to mimic NBA 2K The City mode while simultaneously trying to siphon some attention away from the highly anticipated GTA 6.

This is because GTA 6, a massive, multifaceted adventure game launching this November, features such expansive maps and gameplay design that players could very well find themselves playing casual street soccer or basketball within its world.

If GTA 6's potential features caught FIFA 27's attention, prompting the rush to launch The Grounds, will NBA 2K27, which occupies a similar niche, also feel the impact of GTA 6? Let's analyze the situation.

Has NBA 2K27 actually improved?

As a basketball gaming fan, you might look forward to surprises from NBA 2K every September. However, the reality of annual sports game updates is often that developers introduce a slew of mechanically insignificant changes, then package them in high-sounding marketing jargon.

Based on current information, NBA 2K27 seems to be focusing its promotional efforts on minor details that players rarely care about, alongside a potential new open-world map. It appears everyone is gearing up to go head-to-head with GTA 6.

Since NBA 2K27 hasn't officially launched yet, a detailed assessment is impossible at this stage. Logically, it will almost certainly be an improvement over 26, but whether it is compelling enough to win players over remains a matter of opinion.

Will the basketball gameplay in GTA 6 be fun?

GTA series has long reigned supreme in the gaming world. While its core identity lies in racing and crime-themed adventure, every GTA title is built upon a massive city, or even an entire state, offering an abundance of content for players to explore freely.

After more than a decade of waiting and multiple delays, Grand Theft Auto 6 is finally set to arrive, taking place in the fictional state of Leonida.

Countless engaging open-world scenarios are tucked away here; beyond just advancing the main storyline, you can enjoy specific activities ranging from clubbing and street sports to racing.

While these exciting speculations haven't been officially confirmed, players have largely reached a tacit consensus based on leaked GTA 6 information, now, it's just a matter of waiting for the game to launch.

The basketball gameplay in GTA 6 is expected to feature as a 3v3 mode or a side activity. In fact, basketball elements previously appeared and were quite popular in GTA San Andreas.

When it comes to basketball authenticity, NBA 2K27 certainly holds the edge in terms of detail; however, in terms of overall entertainment value, GTA 6, with its blend of diverse gameplay elements, is likely to be more compelling.

Two games, one family

Although developed by different studios, NBA 2K27 and GTA 6 share the same parent company. From a financial perspective, players need not argue over which game is better, as the revenue ultimately flows into the same pocket.

Yet, sometimes it's not about the cash, it's about whether you can secure the ultimate gaming experience.

Knowing they share a parent company, it's hard not to have high hopes for GTA 6. Through internal technology sharing, it could easily adopt the refined basketball mechanics of NBA 2K27, ensuring the gameplay feels fluid and sophisticated rather than stiff or simplistic.

That said, NBA 2K27's professional depth and reliability in the basketball genre won't be easily eclipsed. Furthermore, the developers wouldn't want GTA 6 to completely steal the spotlight; after all, a win-win scenario is always preferable.

The release schedules also suggest a deliberate separation between the two titles. NBA 2K27 is set to launch just as NBA preseason kicks off, precisely when player enthusiasm is at its peak.

You might well consume a couple of months playing NBA 2K27 The City mode; by the time GTA 6 fully launches in November, and the initial novelty of 2K27 has worn off, you'll be ready to make a seamless transition to the world of Leonida.

However, if you are a player focused exclusively on virtual basketball, NBA 2K27 remains your best choice for the latter half of the year.

GTA 6 certainly doesn't excel in this specific area; the difference between a specialized title and a broad, all-encompassing one is significant.

If you agree with this perspective, it's best to pre-order NBA 2K27 MT on IGGM now! You can get a head start when the game launches in two months, allowing you to progress faster and secure powerful cards before other players do!

The real threat to NBA 2K27 is itself

The brief comparison above shows that GTA 6 won't have a major impact on NBA 2K27. However, judging by the community atmosphere and player sentiment, NBA 2K27 faces pressure this year, pressure stemming from the series itself.

First, like most sports games, NBA 2K has gradually evolved from a pure competitive basketball game into a micro-transaction machine.

In contrast, the lack of meaningful annual updates has led to player fatigue and dissatisfaction; community discussions suggest this sentiment has reached a peak this year.

Consequently, if NBA 2K27 fails to fix long-standing issues or introduce valuable new features, even fans who aren't the target audience for GTA 6 might prefer to try the exciting Vice City rather than remain on a stagnant basketball court.

Conclusion

The launch of GTA 6 will impact NBA 2K27, but not significantly. If the latter suffers a major loss of players this year, it will largely be due to its own unresolved issues.

We hope that before the official release, NBA 2K27 will take player feedback to heart and implement truly effective changes, rather than simply expecting fans to pay up once again out of nostalgia.

2026 MLB All-Star Week kicks off on July 10, drawing the eyes of every baseball fan as star players from all 30 teams gather for the midsummer classic.

In tandem with the event, MLB The Show 26 will roll out a fresh slate of in-game content, though some details have already surfaced through leaks - namely the design of All-Star player cards and a partial list of the featured athletes.

Leaked Player Cards

The core of these leaks centers on All-Star series player cards set to arrive in the next update. These cards adopt a classic red-and-blue color scheme with a bold, graffiti-inspired aesthetic, surrounding each player with a halo of stars.

The artistic direction for All-Star cards stands out remarkably, and they incorporate plenty of American motifs. That comes as little surprise, given the historic weight of this year‘s MLB All-Star Week - not only is it Philadelphia‘s first time hosting Midsummer Classic since 1996, but 2026 also marks the 250th anniversary of the United States‘ founding.

Confirmed players receiving new cards include:

• Braves: Ozzie Albies (2B)
• Royals: Bobby Witt Jr. (SS)
• Yankees: Aaron Judge (RF)
• Phillies: Cristopher Sánchez (SP)
• Padres: Mason Miller (CP)
• Blue Jays: Ernie Clement (2B)
• Brewers: Jacob Misiorowski (SP)
• Red Sox: Aroldis Chapman (CP)

Notably, several of these players will receive multiple high-overall cards. Jacob Misiorowski already owns a 96 OVR Spotlight Card, and within this All-Star content, he is expected to land a top-tier 99 overall card. Similarly, Ozzie Albies and Aroldis Chapman are projected to receive 98-overall versions.

Community Feedback

While All-Star content is naturally rooted in player performance, its release inevitably results in multiple iterations of certain athletes.

Although every All-Star selection deserves a card, the game already features a vast pool of Legends and active players, many of whom still lack a competitive, high-value card. Fans of various teams also find themselves without a strong, usable version of their favorite players.

This dynamic leads to a sense that the same names keep appearing, whereas the community would rather see a broader range of players get their moment in the spotlight.

Other Card Series

Beyond the core leaks, 2026 MLB All-Star Week update will bring a wealth of additional offerings.

July Spotlight

July Spotlight series will release its first batch of cards with this update. Leaks indicate the following:

• 97 OVR Spotlight – Brayan Rocchio
• 95 OVR Topps Now – Joshua Kuroda-Grauer
• 95 OVR Topps Now – Sean Keys

The players featured in July Spotlight Drop 1 Pack have also been revealed:

• 97 OVR Spotlight – Eury Perez (SP)
• 97 OVR Spotlight – Garrett Mitchell (CF)
• 95 OVR Topps Now – Taj Bradley
• 95 OVR Topps Now – Gabriel Hughes
• 95 OVR Topps Now – Cameron Cauley

Weekend Classic

This mode will offer a new set of cards, with the following leaked so far:

• 98 OVR All-Star – Ozzie Albies
• 98 OVR All-Star – Aroldis Chapman
• 99 OVR All-Star – Jacob Misiorowski

2026 All-Star Collection

2026 All-Star Collection is a multi-tiered collection event with the following reward path:

• Tier 1 reward: 97 OVR All-Star – Mason Miller (CP)
• Tier 2 reward: 98 OVR All-Star – Cam Schlittler (SP)
• Tier 3 reward: 98 OVR All-Star – Bobby Witt Jr. (SS)
• Final reward: 99 OVR All-Star – Yordan Alvarez (LF)

Upcoming Activities

All-Star themed events will arrive alongside this update. Diamond Quest will also offer repeatable content. 5th Inning XP Path will open, and it is expected to include All-Star related rewards.

A new Mini Seasons mode and a new Conquest map will go live, allowing you to grind for MLB The Show 26 Stubs and accumulate XP for 5th Inning XP Path.

American League and National League will each have their own separate 2026 All-Star Programs, and these two will launch first. All-Star Game Program itself will not arrive until July 14.

Alongside these events, All-Star card packs at various tiers will be offered:

• Deluxe Pack: contains 1 player, with roughly a 1:20 chance of hitting the rare round.
• Premiere Pack: contains 3 players, with roughly a 1:5 chance of hitting the rare round.
• Ultra Pack: contains 5 players, with roughly a 1:2 chance of hitting the rare round.

How to Prepare for 2026 MLB All-Star Week Update?

Following this update, the value of players required for All-Star Collection and high-demand Live Series players is expected to rise. Meanwhile, the value of standard high-rated cards, rewards from older Programs, and non-meta players will likely drop. Players often stockpile cards in advance to complete collections, and new programs typically require significant XP and exchanges.

With such a massive content drop, smart resource management is essential. Experienced players often suggest holding off on certain tasks that can be postponed until after the new content goes live, so that the resulting XP can go toward the fresh 5th Inning XP Path rather than an already completed one.

For instance, the current Conquest map and Mini-Seasons both contain selectable All-Star packs. The wise move is to claim those rewards only after tomorrow‘s update, so they directly contribute to the new collection missions.

Making good use of existing resources is equally critical. Many players have already accumulated stubs and unopened Choice Packs that can be exchanged for new All-Star cards. Before the update, checking for and completing missions that reward selectable packs can maximize your gains. If you find yourself short on Stubs, you can buy MLB The Show 26 Stubs from IGGM, ensuring you don‘t miss out on your favorite All-Star players.

Post-All-Star Game Content

This update is only one part of All-Star festivities. Additional special cards tied to All-Star Game and Home Run Derby are expected to drop after those events conclude. However, it remains uncertain whether every player selected for 2026 All-Star Game will receive an in-game card.

In theory, each team has at least one representative, so ensuring that every All-Star gets a card would be a logical move. If some players are left out, it would undoubtedly disappoint the community - especially given that several players are already receiving duplicate cards.

MLB The Show 26 will see a rich array of updates during All-Star Week, with a strong batch of powerful player cards on the horizon. Get ready.

As a popular ARPG, each season update of Torchlight Infinite undoubtedly attracts a large number of new players to the game. With the latest SS13, Afterlight, only a week away from release, many Torchlight Infinite players often mistakenly believe that defense is simply a matter of stacking high HP.

However, in actual high-difficulty content, this simplistic approach often leads to disastrous results.

Therefore, we must re-evaluate our understanding of defense in Torchlight Infinite before SS13 arrives, so that we can stand firm at any difficulty level in Afterlight.

Early Gameplay and Before T7

In the early stages of the upcoming SS13 story, and before we climb to T7, building a strong defense mechanic doesn't warrant excessive effort.

Because monster damage is relatively low at this stage, players only need to follow mainstream build guides, acquiring some basic health through gear and a small amount of Resistance through crafting.

Therefore, a wiser strategy is to focus resources on improving map clearing speed and damage output, as quickly eliminating enemies is the most effective defense at this stage.

Additionally, you need to focus on accumulating basic currencies like Torchlight Infinite Flame Elementium during this phase to lay the economic foundation for crafting core gear after T7.

In short, from the start of SS13 to T7, you only need to ensure your damage is sufficient to one-shot monsters; defensive attributes are secondary.

T7 to T8

Once you successfully reach T7 in SS13 and begin preparing for T8, you'll find the game significantly more difficult than at the beginning. That's when you should consciously build a defensive system for your build in Torchlight Infinite.

For T7, a crucial defensive requirement is that you cannot allow your three types of Resistance (Fire, Lightning, and Cold Resistance) to fall below 60%. In the game, Resistance directly reduces damage taken; 60% Resistance means a 60% reduction in elemental damage.

Furthermore, at this stage you can consider temporarily delaying the accumulation of Erosion Resistance, as its damage contribution is not as high as the three types mentioned above.

Simultaneously, you need to actively increase your life pool through equipment affixes, such as maximum life and flat life on rings and chest armor.

The introduction of Block mechanic is another milestone at this stage: Block chances should be applied separately to attacks and spells. Ideally, prioritize stacking spell blocks to 100%, as spell damage in Torchlight Infinite is often more lethal.

The default Block effect reduces damage by 30%, but this can be increased to 60% through specific talents and equipment.

In conjunction with Blocks, you can also introduce Regain mechanic, which instantly restores a certain percentage of life or a shield when you hit an enemy. This differs completely from traditional Regeneration and is a powerful survival tool that relies on attack frequency.

In addition to the above, you can consider activating Tenacity Blessing to provide 4% damage reduction per stack and equipping a defensive pet to further reduce the damage taken.

Upon entering T8

After entering Tier 8, besides the basic Resistance and Block, we need to choose Armor or Evasion as the core physical damage reduction layer based on your build direction.

Given that Armor has certain limitations in its effect against elemental damage, you can consider using Ember Armor or specific legendary equipment to improve your defense against elemental damage.

Evasion, by default, provides an additional 40% reduction in spell damage and works exceptionally well with Blur and Deflection.

Blur is an independent buff that provides a damage avoidance chance based on Blur value - each point of Blur provides a 0.25% damage avoidance chance, so a base of 100 points would provide a 25% chance to avoid damage.

Of course, Blur is not permanent; it decays by 10 points per second over time. However, you can continuously generate Blur through actions such as the movement effect of Eternal Sea Fog or Valerie's Night Stroll.

Similar to Blur, Deflection grants an 8% damage reduction per stack, stacking up to three times. However, being hit resets the stack count, requiring you to acquire it through Lightning Striker's Sacrum and Feline Steps.

In summary, you need to make Armor and Evasion complement each other in SS13 T8, combining them with Blur and Deflection to create a multi-layered defensive damage reduction system.

Profound and Deep Space

Once you've finally made it to Profound and Deep Spaces in SS13, Torchlight Infinite will be even more stringent in its considerations regarding your defenses.

First, you must push the three elemental Resistances mentioned above to the 90% cap, while simultaneously starting to stack Erosion Resistance according to your budget.

In these challenging phases, you can no longer just stack up Blocks randomly; you must reach a hard requirement of 100%. Otherwise, you will have no chance of survival when facing monsters with much higher damage than before.

On top of these, you must introduce more advanced damage reduction layers into your build.

For example, Light Hunter Belt is a very useful item when your mana is low, as it provides additional damage reduction, or using Injury Buffer to convert some instantaneous damage into damage over time to avoid instant death

Furthermore, in these two high-difficulty phases, the mechanism of converting physical damage to elemental damage is crucial for builds lacking physical defense.

In short, your defensive system in Torchlight Infinite should never be static; it must be dynamically adjusted based on the difficulty level and the characteristics of your build. Understanding the strategy at each step will definitely help you perform better in the upcoming SS13!

Horadric Cube, a feature introduced in Lord of Hatred expansion, has gained significant popularity in Diablo 4 Season 14 because of its expanded utility, such as crafting Mythics.

Consequently, the associated Horadric Gems have become highly sought-after items this season.

Although acquiring this specific category of gems is more challenging than obtaining many other items in Diablo 4, their powerful gear bonuses make the grind worthwhile, even if players grumble about the effort involved.

So, how exactly do you obtain and use them in Season 14? Let us explain.

What are Horadric Gems?

More specifically, Horadric Gems are categorized into two tiers: Standard Horadric and Flawless Horadric.

Their introduction displaced Grand Gem tier as the highest level of rarity. However, prefixes like Horadric, Grand, and others simply denote the gem's rarity tier; the actual effect provided depends on the gem type.

Within both Standard Horadric and Flawless Horadric categories, there are seven specific types: Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Skull, and Topaz (e.g., Horadric Amethyst and Flawless Horadric Amethyst).

All gems, regardless of type or rarity, can be socketed into weapons, armor, or jewelry, with the number of gems you can equip depending on the available slots on the gear.

The gem type determines the specific bonus: damage, stats, or resistances, while the rarity tier dictates the magnitude of that bonus. For instance, socketing a Flawless Horadric Amethyst into a weapon grants a massive 32% Shadow Damage bonus!

How to obtain Horadric Gems?

Five Standard Horadric Gems can be combined to create one Flawless Horadric Gem, while Standard Horadric Gems are crafted by combining five Grand Gems.

Note that all gems involved in a combination must be of the same type, and the process must be performed using Horadric Cube.

For gem tiers lower than Horadric Gems, you must collect a specific number of gem fragments and Diablo 4 gold, then craft them at The Jeweler; higher-tier gems require more materials. Crafting a single Grand Gem also requires an additional 300 Forgotten Souls.

Synthesizing Standard or Flawless Horadric Gems step-by-step using this strategy requires a significant time investment to gather materials. So, you might as well just buy Diablo 4 Horadric Gems on IGGM!

How to farm gem fragments and gold?

Gold drops abundantly in Diablo 4, so you can focus primarily on farming gem fragments while simultaneously gathering both resources. Highly efficient activities include Helltides, Infernal Hordes, Nightmare Dungeons, and various other endgame events.

It is best to team up with other players and coordinate a shared War Plans list; this not only boosts farming efficiency for endgame events but also allows you to tackle harder content for greater rewards.

There are also unique ways to obtain the gem fragments. If you have gems that aren't useful to you, for instance, if the bonuses they provide don't align with your Diablo 4 Season 14 builds, you can take them to The Jeweler and salvage them into fragments.

Alternatively, you might run into bad luck while farming, such as constantly getting Ruby fragments when you actually need Diamond fragments. In such cases, you can exchange different types of fragments at a 3:2 ratio.

How to farm Forgotten Souls?

To obtain Horadric Gems, you first need to craft a sufficient number of Grand Gems, and Forgotten Souls are an essential material for this process.

Most endgame events drop Forgotten Souls, though the drop rate is lower. You can also obtain them by converting lower-rarity Veiled Crystals or salvaging Ancestral gear.

However, avoid salvaging gear solely for Forgotten Souls; it is only worth doing for duplicate or useless items.

Which Horadric Gems should you prioritize crafting?

Among all Horadric Gem types, Skulls and Diamonds are particularly popular. Diamonds provide damage and resistance bonuses that apply to all elements, while socketing a Standard or Flawless Horadric Skull into your armor increases the amount of healing you receive.

In contrast, the bonuses provided by other Horadric Gems are often restricted to specific elements or stats.

Therefore, if your build doesn't lean heavily toward a specific element, or if you have already acquired the relevant gems for your build, you should prioritize getting Horadric Skulls or Diamonds.

From this, we can conclude that the best strategy for using Horadric Gems in Diablo 4 Season 14 is to prioritize acquiring gems that best complement your specific class or build. For instance, if your build focuses on dealing cold damage, Horadric Sapphires should be your top choice.

If you have the resources to acquire additional Horadric Gems later on, you should focus on those with greater versatility. Alternatively, join IGGM Diablo 4 Facebook Group - we might even host gem giveaways in the future!

More tips on using Horadric Gems

If you wish to remove or replace existing gems later in the season, simply visit The Jeweler to make the change.

It is worth noting that you need not worry if you accidentally salvage gear containing gems; the gems will be returned to you rather than being converted into fragments.

Sometimes, Diablo 4 items you wish to socket may not come with pre-existing slots. You can add slots by gathering specific materials, though each piece of gear has a maximum slot limit.

Additionally, keep in mind that Diablo 4 gems and runes share the same gear sockets, so plan your choices carefully.

In short, investing in even a single Diablo 4 Horadric Gem is a long and arduous process, but the benefits they provide are truly unmatched by ordinary items. Please proceed according to your means!

WoW TBC Classic Anniversary 2.5.6 PTR has concluded its testing phase, and this PTR was a test version to prepare for the upcoming Phase 3 content update. While you can't see the core content of Phase 3, such as new raids, new gear, or consumables, on the PTR, you can get a glimpse of the new technologies and visuals that Phase 3 might incorporate. Let's explore all the hidden information about Phase 3.

Nameplates Completely Upgraded

A Brand New Settings Interface

In this PTR, the settings options feature a completely new Nameplates interface. Players can now adjust the appearance of their Nameplates in real-time through a visual preview window.

In addition to the previous ability to switch the names and Nameplates of specific NPCs and players, the new Nameplates menu includes multiple style options, including Classic, Retail, and Legacy. Furthermore, all style options can be previewed in the new Nameplates window, so you can ensure the nameplates display perfectly before entering the game.

In addition to style, the new Nameplates interface allows you to change the following settings previously only available through addons:

• Size: Adjustable from level 1 to 5
• Buff/Debuff Scale: Adjustable from 70% to 140%
• Nameplate Information: Toggle Health Percentage, Health Value, and Rarity Icon
• Cast Bar Information: Displays Spell Name, Spell Icon, Spell Target, and Highlight When Targeted By Enemy
• Aggro Display: Choose from Progressive, Flash, and Health Bar Color mode
• Enemy NPC Buffs/Debuffs: Toggle Mob Buffs, Personal Debuffs, and Shared CC separately
• Enemy Player Buffs/Debuffs: Toggle Enemy Buffs, Personal Debuffs, and Big Debuff
• Friendly Player Buffs/Debuffs: Toggle Personal Buffs, Enemy Debuffs, and Big Debuff. Debuff; Debuff Padding: Adjustable from 0 to 50
• Simplify Nameplates: Allows for simplification of Minions, Minors, Friendly Players, and Friendly NPCs
• Nameplate Distance: Adjustable from 20 to 41 yards

These new customizable options, especially Cast Bar Information, will greatly optimize the in-game experience for TBC Classic players.

Impact on Existing Addons

However, the arrival of these new features comes with a serious problem: these new Nameplate features currently break existing Nameplate addons.

In PTR, when players reported enabling Plater (a popular Nameplate customization addon), Nameplate failed to display at all, with only black squares appearing above NPCs' heads. Similarly, other Nameplate addons such as Threat Plates faced the same issue. Nameplate system only functioned correctly when players completely disabled these addons.

This phenomenon has caused widespread concern within WoW Classic community. On one hand, this might simply be because PTR version has just been released, and plugin authors need time to adapt and update; on the other hand, it could also indicate that the studio is moving towards reducing its reliance on external plugins. Considering they implemented a similar plugin restriction policy in Midnight, this concern is not unfounded.

Audio Assist

Function Overview

In addition to the significant update to the name tag system, PTR also added a complete Audio Assist module. This is an Accessibility feature that originally only existed in retail, but has now been ported to BCC PTR. Audio Assist mainly includes the following aspects:

• Text-to-Speech: Reads aloud in-game chat text
• Voice Chat Transcription: Converts what others say in the voice channel into text or reads aloud text chat content
• Combat Audio Alerts: AI voice announces various combat information

Based on information from the 2.5.6 PTR and retail versions, Combat Audio Alerts will announce messages like You're targeted (when the enemy switches their target to you) and Interruptible spell (when the enemy is casting an interruptible spell), like having an AI that alerts you to any changes in the match. Players can also choose different voices and independently adjust the audio assisted volume in Audio Assist settings.

It's worth noting that WoW TBC Classic Anniversary players are already accustomed to the voice alert functions provided by addons like Deadly Boss Mods (DBM) and BigWigs. The introduction of Audio Assist indicates that the studio is integrating some addon functions - players no longer need to rely on third-party addons to get basic combat voice prompts.

However, Audio Assist function still has some known issues in the retail version, such as low volume and incorrect audio source channels. Whether these bugs will be fixed after testing in the 2.5.6 PTR and then porting to the Classic version remains to be seen.

Private Aura and Hidden Concerns in Add-on Ecosystem

Suspicious Changes Found in PTR

Private Aura can be understood as a marker that studios can set on certain spells or effects to indicate that the aura will not be automatically handled by add-ons. In The Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary, players heavily relied on add-ons for warnings and handling mechanics. However, as the mechanics became more complex, add-on functionality became highly customized, even evolving into an arms race.

Therefore, studios introduced Private Aura, forcing players to manually respond to complex mechanics, preserving player judgment and preventing excessive add-on manipulation.

Recently, data miners discovered that Private WeakAuras UI-related code was added to the game in the 2.5.6 PTR.

Community Reactions & Speculation

This unannounced addition sparked heated discussion in WoW Classic community. Some players believe this might be preparation for Classic+, porting the live server's UI framework to Classic engine ahead of time. Some players worry that this is a precursor to the official gradual restriction or even banning of third-party addons.

For the majority of BCC players, instead of being anxious, it's better to understand and adapt to these changes in advance. Especially with the upcoming new gear requirements in Phase 3, stockpiling gold in advance will allow you to cope more easily with the costs of raiding. Players who need it can choose to buy WoW TBC Classic Anniversary gold from IGGM.com to save time.

Currently, all of this is still in the early testing phase of PTR 2.5.6. Whether these features will eventually be implemented in TBC Classic, and whether all options will be retained when implemented, remains unknown.

However, one thing is certain: the UI of Classic server is converging with that of the retail version. Whether players welcome or resist this, this trend seems irreversible.

It has been about a month and a half since the launch of Diablo 2 Resurrected Season 14. While this represents only about half the duration of a typical D2R season, you might already be looking forward to the next one.

Compared to the current high-profile Diablo 4, Diablo 2 Resurrected sees less frequent and less extensive seasonal updates; however, since almost every update brings significant, detailed changes, loyal fans continue to place great importance on them.

So, when exactly will Season 15 launch, and what impact will it have on the game? Here is an overview and our predictions.

Season 15 release date prediction

Historical data shows that the duration of the last five Diablo 2 Resurrected seasons has been relatively stable, generally hovering between 90 and 100 days.

Season 14 launched on May 22, so we anticipate the current season will end sometime between late August and early September, with Season 15 likely kicking off shortly thereafter.

Given that Diablo 2 Resurrected typically rolls out updates on Fridays, the most likely launch dates for Season 15 are August 28 or September 4.

It is also worth noting that, even though D2R doesn't generate as much buzz as Diablo 4, the developers tend to stagger their update schedules; for instance, the launch of Diablo 2 Resurrected Season 14 was spaced about a month apart from both Diablo 4 Season 13 and Season 14.

Consequently, the specific start date for D2R Season 15 might undergo minor adjustments depending on the timing of the subsequent Diablo 4 Season 15 launch.

Will there be PTR for Season 15?

Typically, PTR precedes every Diablo 2 Resurrected season to test the viability of new mechanics or changes, unless the update consists solely of a Ladder reset with no other alterations.

Considering that the balance issues introduced by the new class and mechanics in ROTW expansion have yet to be fully resolved since Season 14's launch, further adjustments are expected for Season 15; therefore, 3.3 PTR phase is highly likely.

As for the PTR launch timing, it usually opens about a month before the new season begins and runs for one week. Based on the projected launch date for Season 15, 3.3 PTR is likely to open in late July.

Diablo 2 Resurrected should release an announcement regarding 3.3 PTR one or two weeks in advance; this will likely offer a glimpse into the full scope of Season 15. If you don't want to miss out on the latest news, be sure to keep a close eye on game updates.

Testing new changes via the PTR is essential; for instance, Mythic crafting introduced in Diablo 4 3.1 PTR sparked significant controversy, though fortunately, adjustments were made before the official launch of Diablo 4 Season 14.

What might Season 15 include?

Since the launch of Reign of the Warlock expansion this past February, the wealth of new features has attracted both new and returning players, revitalizing interest in the game.

Of course, the addition of new content inevitably disrupts the previously stable meta-game. The new Warlock class, in particular, proved to be overpowered, impacting the overall class balance in Diablo II: Resurrected.

Although Season 14 saw various adjustments and nerfs to Warlock skills, aiming to narrow the power and gameplay gaps between classes, there is still room for improvement. Season 15 will probably continue to refine this balance.

Furthermore, Season 14 did not introduce entirely new gameplay modes; instead, it tweaked existing mechanics introduced by ROTW, such as Terror Zones and Colossal Ancients.

To maintain freshness and replayability, and given that no new Diablo 2 Resurrected expansions are expected this year, we hope Season 15 introduces some engaging seasonal mechanics, even if they are innovative takes on existing content.

Finally, Season 15 will probably include the usual QoL improvements and bug fixes for issues that emerged during Season 14. Any new problems identified during 3.3 PTR will also likely be addressed in Season 15 launch.

How to prepare for Season 15?

Everything resets when the new season begins, so if you were planning to stockpile currency or gear for Season 15, you can put that idea aside!

However, characters from the old season will be transferred to Non-Ladder realm, and their assets will be moved to Withdraw Only set of Shared Stash tabs; if you don't want to lose these items, you must retrieve them before Season 15 ends.

Additionally, you might want to try out classes or builds you aren't familiar with during Season 14; this will help you adapt more quickly should the game's meta shift when Season 15 begins.

Predictions for the future of D2R

Although Reign of the Warlock expansion released earlier this year wasn't perfect, it certainly boosted Diablo 2: Resurrected's popularity compared to previous years. Consequently, a new expansion might launch next year, which would likely be teased in the second half of this year.

More importantly than expanding gameplay via expansions, D2R campaign hasn't seen an update in a long time, remaining stuck at Act 5. The campaign not only drives the story but also serves as a primary source for acquiring essential items like runes.

Players have long hoped to see Act 6, or even more, added to Diablo 2: Resurrected, extending the game through further main story content and expanded map areas.

Hopefully, we'll see news regarding Season 15, or at least the PTR, before July ends! Until then, keep focusing on climbing the ranks in Ladder Season 14!

Everything resets when D2R Season 15 launches; if you want to progress faster than the competition, you can buy D2R runes at IGGM!

This way, you can skip the long, tedious farming grind and save time to strengthen your character and enjoy endgame content, it's definitely worth it!

Dear Raiders, we're currently in the intense and exciting Expedition 4 era. To achieve excellent results or craft weapons early, many players will think of a Legendary item: Queen Reactor.

Whether it's the powerful Jupiter or Legendary Equalizer, Queen Reactor is an essential component for crafting them.

However, it's understandable that ARC Raiders won't let us obtain Queen Reactor so easily. Therefore, the strategy that players used to rely on by focusing fire on Queen's leg armor to obtain this valuable item is no longer as effective. We must rethink our efficient strategy for obtaining the Queen Reactor.

Acquisition Methods and Strategies

The probability of obtaining Queen Reactor simply from Queen's dropped leg armor has been significantly reduced by the developers through mechanic adjustments. Of course, their goal is also obvious: to reduce the number of shortcuts players can take in ARC Raiders, requiring players to completely defeat the boss to obtain the final reward.

Given this change in mechanics, our current ARC Raiders Queen Reactor farming strategy needs to shift from speed farming to a more methodical approach. First, we need to understand that the core source of Queen Reactor is Harvester event, as Queen appears as a guardian in this event. This clarifies the farming strategy for this Legendary item.

Primary Strategy

In ARC Raiders, Queen is so feared by players because of its terrifying 20,000 health points. Its weaknesses are its core and leg joints, which are heavily armored, making it extremely difficult to breach its defenses quickly.

The fastest and most reliable way to farm Queen Reactor is to assemble a well-coordinated and well-equipped team, concentrating all your resources on Queen, attacking from the first phase of armor peeling until its complete destruction in the final phase.

Of course, this method will inevitably increase your time commitment and the risk of casualties, but it's the necessary path to align with the game's design philosophy and obtain this Legendary item.

Core Mechanics

While completely defeating Queen is our ultimate goal, every detail during the engagement with this behemoth directly determines the final rewards.

It's crucial to understand that the drop of Queen Reactor is inextricably linked to damageing specific parts of Queen (especially the armor plates on the leg joints). Shattered armor fragments will detach from Queen's body and scatter across the battlefield, becoming lootable containers that have a chance to yield Queen Reactor.

Therefore, even in team battles, we must remain vigilant throughout the intense combat, constantly monitoring and collecting these dropped fragments, rather than waiting until the battle is completely over to clean up the battlefield. By then, many high-value items, including Queen Reactor, may have already been claimed by other players.

Optimizing the Combat Flow

As mentioned earlier, a complete Queen encounter is lengthy, with players constantly exposed, increasing the danger. Therefore, we must think ahead about how to optimize the battle process against Queen.

First, set up Ziplines in key locations around the battlefield beforehand to create a fast route for collecting Queen's loot. This allows you to efficiently balance combat and loot collection.

Second, don't worry too much about the equipment you bring for this Queen encounter; essential tactical gear is a must!

Smoke Grenades and Lure Grenades are essential items to carry in your backpack: one to shield Queen's view while picking up fragments, and the other to briefly distract it. These two grenades, used together, will create a safe window for you to use Zipline to collect loot.

Finally, you need to accurately time the final stages of the battle - when Queen is completely collapsed. Its wreckage often contains coveted Core ARC Raiders materials.

You need to anticipate the situation and quickly secure a favorable position, but also be ready to draw your weapon at any time, as a PvP melee over Queen's loot is likely to erupt at this point.

Is a zero-equipment strategy feasible?

Because the key strategy is team-based, some players might try to infiltrate the battlefield with minimal gear and supplies, hoping to scavenge for valuable Queen drops amidst the chaos.

It's crucial to warn everyone that this zero-gear strategy is extremely risky and disrespectful; you might die on ARC Raiders battlefield before even getting any loot.

Only by fully equipping yourself with good gear and dedicating yourself to the fight against Queen, making tangible contributions to your team, can you secure a stable supply of loot and Queen Reactors.

Uses of Queen Reactor

The reason players risk everything to obtain Queen Reactor is that it's one of the rarest Legendary materials in ARC Raiders, useful for crafting high-quality equipment and for trading.

Successfully farming Queen Reactor and crafting Equalizers or Jupiters will not only greatly benefit your Expedition 4 progress but also significantly ease your later PvP battles.

In addition to crafting top-tier weapons, Queen Reactor itself can be a considerable asset. You can trade it with the trader Ermal in ARC Raiders for other scarce resources, or recycle it for high-level crafting materials to profit from the trade.

However, given how difficult it is for players to obtain Queen Reactor, you must be extremely cautious when deciding to recycle it, as successfully recycling it means forfeiting the opportunity to craft legendary weapons.

To acquire Queen Reactor as quickly as possible in ARC Raiders, what you need to do now is prepare good gear and assemble a reliable team to farm!

Can you speedrun 120 levels of The Pit in Diablo 4 Season 14 and tank all the super bosses without Mythic gear? That sounds like a fantasy, but that's because you haven't witnessed the power of Season 14 Whirlwind Barbarian.

Yes, the biggest highlight of Whirlwind Barbarian is achieving a balance of damage, survivability, and mobility without Mythic gear, and its two variants offer great flexibility.

Core Skill Mechanics

The skills in this build are interconnected, but the core damage skill is Whirlwind: not only is it the source of massive damage, but it also generates two Dust Devils for additional strikes.

If you want to maximize Whirlwind's effectiveness, you can choose a modifier that consumes extra fury but increases damage, and you should also select Channel Damage Bonus node.

The support skill system comprehensively enhances Barbarian's combat capabilities: Rallying Cry provides movement speed, resource generation, and fortify; Iron Skin provides a barrier based on maximum life, an unstoppable status effect, and weakens attackers.

War Cry directly increases damage, while Challenging Shout is used to taunt enemies, gain damage reduction, and increase damage against taunted targets.

The ultimate skill, Wrath of the Berserker, is the core of Barbarian's burst phase, providing a massive damage boost and an unstoppable status effect.

If you find resource cycling difficult in Season 14, you can temporarily replace Challenging Shout with Lunging Strike to alleviate energy pressure.

Equipment Configuration

Equipment is the cornerstone of this Whirlwind Barbarian build; all Diablo 4 items used should be Masterworking to maximize their attributes.

Helmet

Tuskhelm of Joritz the Mighty is an excellent choice for Whirlwind Barbarian. It allows you to enter the enraged state when you regain Berserking while already in Berserking state, providing a 50% damage increase, 6 fury regeneration per second, and 10% cooldown reduction, making it the engine of your damage rotation.

Gloves

Using Gohr's Devastating Grips directly increases Whirlwind's damage by nearly 90% and pulls enemies towards us every 2 seconds, greatly improving output efficiency and crowd control.

Pants

Tibault's Will Unique Pants provide an 18% damage increase and 50% resource regeneration speed for Unstoppable state and the following five seconds.

If you're under high survivability pressure, you can replace it with legendary pants that provide a significant amount of maximum life.

Boots

You need to ensure your boots' core aspect is dealing 90% increased damage and continuously gaining Berserking when Primary Resource is above 50, ensuring high Berserking uptime.

Weapons

The two-handed blunt weapon aspect, which grants a 130% damage increase when using Fortify, combined with the permanent Fortify state, makes Whirlwind Barbarian extremely beneficial.

For one-handed weapons, one uses an aspect that provides up to 57% damage increase based on Primary Resource, while the other uses Ancestral Unique Sword Ramaladni's Magnum Opus to provide damage increase based on total fury.

Amulets

Whirlwind Barbarian amulet should use an aspect that increases Dust Devils' damage by 90%.

Runes

We need to socket Whirlwind Barbarian's helmet with Igni and Que rune combination to gain a barrier when casting non-basic abilities, enhancing survivability. The chest armor should be socketed with Cir and Gar rune combination, significantly increasing critical strike chance after casting five abilities.

Gems

The rest of the armor in this Whirlwind Barbarian build needs to be inlaid with rubies to increase power.

Weapons need to be socketed with a Skull Gem to increase the build's physical damage, while amulets need to be socketed with a Diamond Gem to supplement resistances, and rings should be chosen according to the specific single resistance gem required.

Paragon Board and Glyph Strategy

Whirlwind Barbarian's Paragon Board layout has been meticulously optimized to further enhance the build's damage and survivability. Below is a breakdown of the key nodes used in this build and their functions.

Carnage

Carnage provides Whirlwind Barbarian with a 15% attack speed and a 45% bonus to fire and physical damage. Players can also combine it with Glyph Challenger to enhance damage against elite monsters.

Warbringer

If you attack consecutively with the same weapon, Warbringer increases your critical hit chance by 5% and critical hit damage by 50%. Glyph Wrath further increases critical hit damage and restores energy on critical hits, which is crucial for Whirlwind Barbarian's energy regeneration mechanism.

Flawless Technique

Similarly, by continuously using the same weapon, this Flawless Technique node also increases your critical strike chance by 5% and critical strike damage by 50%. This, combined with Glyph Exploit, further enhances Whirlwind Barbarian's vulnerability damage and helps apply vulnerability.

The entire Paragon Board for this Whirlwind Barbarian build requires prioritizing nodes that provide maximum health, armor, and resistances to build a solid defensive foundation.

Two Variants

Tank Variant

This variation primarily adjusts the legendary aspect, changing the chest armor to use Juggernaut's Aspect for a significant armor increase; changing the pants to the Irrepressible Aspect; and using Aspect of Heavenly Strength on the amulet for damage reduction when wielding two-handed weapons.

Mythic Variant

If you already have Mythic Seals in Season 14, you can reduce the charm sets required for this Whirlwind Barbarian build and also allow multiple set effects to be activated simultaneously, taking attribute inflation to a new level.

With the equipment mentioned above ready, let Whirlwind Barbarian conquer all obstacles in your Diablo 4 Season 14!

With the release of Diablo 4 Season of Death Awakening, a series of new content and changes have reshaped every aspect of the game, but the rework of Mythic items has clearly become a focal point of community discussion.

While the arrival of Mythic Uniques 3.0 makes it possible for all players to collect a full set of BiS Mythic gear no longer a pipe dream, many veteran players have realized that what needs to be changed is not just Mythic items themselves, but also the long-standing flaws in the game's underlying itemization system.

The development team's initial intention was clearly to restore the glory of Mythics drops, but they inadvertently amplified the tedium of the game after the mid-to-late game builds were completed, putting the long-term character progression curve in an awkward position.

Late-Game Torment Difficulties Lead to a Stalled Progression Experience

For most fans, the most wonderful time of each Diablo 4 season is always concentrated in the early stages of the season. During that era, every piece of equipment dropped on the ground was full of unknowns and surprises, and players could intuitively feel the leap in power brought by replacing transitional gear.

However, this positive feedback abruptly ended once players reached higher Torment difficulties and completed their basic builds.

Compared to the long-term excitement of loot drops maintained through high-level runes, powerful rare gear, and even top-tier charms in its classic predecessor, Diablo II, the endgame experience in Diablo 4 was limited to minor adjustments to stats.

Therefore, farming at this point was no longer a journey of anticipating exciting equipment drops, but rather a tedious accumulation of materials. To conquer the final, stat-inflated boss, players' sole objective became simply chasing specific Mythic equipment with Greater Affixes affix. The once-fun dungeon challenges quickly degenerated into an extremely mechanical stat-stacking process.

If you're also exhausted from the long farming process, you can buy Diablo 4 Mythic items directly from IGGM.com for an instant, incredible power boost.

The Crafting System Takes Center Stage, Making Mythic Drops Mundane

Due to the rework of Horadric Cube in Season 14, players' focus on acquiring Diablo 4 Mythic items to enhance their combat power has shifted entirely from dungeon drops to the crafting system.

Now, in addition to crafting Mythic at Blacksmith and Jeweler, you can also upgrade unique items with item power of 850 or higher to Mythic you desperately need using Horadric Cube. Furthermore, the resulting gear's affix values ​​will be reset to their maximum values. In short, pursuing top-tier Mythic Uniques with the strongest modifiers is no longer just about endless farming and relying on the reforging system!

Of course, the biggest drawback is the overabundance of Mythic gear drops. They no longer possess a sense of scarcity. Rather than gambling on Mythic drops, many players tend to hoard large quantities of identical unique items, hoping to craft a single item with the perfect affix combination in Horadric Cube.

Legendary Aspect: From Gear Customization to Numerical Shackles

Even more tragic is the situation with Legendary gear, which has now been reduced to mere aspect carriers. Players typically pick them up only for the extractable aspect effect, while the gear's texture and base stats become irrelevant.

This design largely inherits and amplifies the problems left over from Diablo 3. While the aspect system gives players more freedom in customizing gear slots, it also introduces new constraints.

Once a player locks into their core build's aspect combination, any gear without higher critical strike damage, core primary stats, or skill level bonuses will be mercilessly melted down into crafting materials. This black-and-white choice turns every drop without a desirable affix into pure frustration, rather than a reward for exploration.

By the way, if you desperately need more materials to aid your crafting and gear refinement journey, don't miss Diablo 4 Lair Keys giveaway on IGGM Discord! Join now for a chance to be one of the lucky winners! 

How to Break Itemization System Impasse?

Faced with this deeply ingrained issue in Diablo series' itemization system, how can we make it truly effective and revitalize the equipment system? Here are some suggestions for developers:

Restore Gear to a Support Role

First, from a classic perspective, perhaps we should redefine the role of equipment, shifting it from defining builds to simply enhancing them. The development team could reduce ineffective random drops by introducing a true built-in item filter, or reintroduce universal affixes from Diablo 2, allowing players to experience the joy of unexpectedly acquiring good gear.

Separate the Aspect Mechanism

Another issue to address is the relationship between Legendaries and Aspects. Otherwise, Legendary gear will remain largely ineffective.

Developers could abolish existing Legendary tier items, making sets the primary armor set, and repackage Aspect functionality into a separate mechanism similar to Charms, supplemented by truly independent equipment.

Rebalancing Affix Pool

However, simply addressing the aspect issue cannot solve the problems caused by affixes. The current equipment system revolves around Horadric Cube, rather than treating it as a simple power-enhancing mechanism. Once the endgame arrives, most players' first action upon picking up new gear is to drop it into the cube to gamble, rather than immediately equipping it!

Therefore, perhaps only by adding reforged gear as a loot drop, instead of only being obtainable through Horadric Cube re-rolling, can players truly rediscover the excitement of looting gear. Furthermore, returning to Sanctification affixes from Season 11 would be a good option, giving players the opportunity to farm extremely powerful gear.

Only when players instantly gain incredible power upon picking up gear can the core fun of itemization be brought back from scrolling through stats in the cube to intense dungeon combat.

Ultimately, the Mythic rework in Diablo 4 Season 14 exposes a core contradiction: the current item system does not truly support long-term character progression. Short-term numerical tweaks can only be a temporary fix. If the developers want this action role-playing game to be revitalized, they may have to overhaul the entire itemization and crafting system in future updates, restoring the sense of accomplishment players feel when they get Mythic, rather than the numbness of focusing solely on numerical values.

In Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0, many players still struggle with crafting gear - and not merely the act of turning a normal item into a rare one with an Orb of Alchemy, but rather the process of adding the best possible affixes to a piece of equipment.

That raises another question, however: for each equipment slot, which affixes are worth chasing, and what combination turns an item into a truly top-tier piece?

Weapon

For attack-based builds, the three prefix affixes on a weapon are the most critical, and they should be rolled as close to their maximum values as possible, because they represent your primary source of base damage.

All damage scales from your weapon; every offensive modifier - whether increased damage, critical chance, or attack speed - is calculated using the weapon as the foundation.

Do not overemphasise suffix affixes. Suffixes are certainly nice to have, but in the early game, prefixes remain the absolute priority.

Caster Weapons

For casters, the desired affixes on a weapon are skill levels, cast speed, and critical strike chance. Overall, for caster equipment, you only need to secure a weapon with a few damage-related mods, and that suffices.

For players who are not running caster or minion builds, a crucial distinction is that attack critical chance is displayed directly on the weapon itself, whereas spell critical chance comes from the skill gem.

Rings

For attack builds, three flat damage prefixes (triple flats) are usually the ideal goal, but rolling all three is exceedingly difficult. Rings that have even two of these affixes command very high value.

Therefore, in many cases a ring with two flat damage mods plus a rarity affix is an acceptable option, and even a single flat damage roll can serve as a transitional piece in the early stages. For suffixes, you can look for resistances and item rarity.

Caster Rings

Because you can use essences to add some powerful modifiers, a six-affix, full-damage caster ring is not out of reach. That said, whether you craft it yourself or acquire it through trading, it will demand a vast amount of PoE 2 currency.

Gloves

For most attack builds, the affixes worth pursuing on gloves include projectile damage, projectile skill levels, melee skill levels, and attack speed - essentially any offensive attack-related mod.

Monks may have slightly different preferences due to their ascendancy passives, so you should consult a build guide for specific recommendations.

Caster Gloves

Caster gloves typically combine offensive and defensive stats. Many casters opt for unique gloves, but in most cases you will also see affixes such as projectile skill levels and projectile damage.

Arcane Surge suffix is an excellent option, yet it appears with such a low chance that you can largely ignore it in practice.

Helmet

Helmets are a defensive slot. At present, the vast majority of players gravitate toward energy shield-based builds, because energy shield remains very strong in the current patch.

Notable affixes on helmets include:

• Resistances
• Energy Shield
• Critical Strike Chance
• Minion Skill Levels

One additional point: helmets can roll an accuracy modifier. When Huntress (especially Amazon ascendancy) was dominant, helmets with this affix commanded high value; however, in Runes of Aldur League, Amazon players are few, so this affix currently holds almost no value.

Body Armour

Body armour is the primary defensive piece. In the current meta, attack builds mostly stack evasion and resistances. The single most valuable mod is Deflection or Spirit Reservation Efficiency - Deflection alone can more than double the chest piece's worth.

For builds that stack strength or life, you should look for affixes that include armour and life instead.

Caster Body Armour

Casters generally want energy shield, sometimes also Spirit, while minion players specifically need Spirit on the prefix.

A caveat: the chest slot has heavy competition from numerous unique items. If, in Patch 0.5.0, most caster players are using Atziri's Splendour or a chest with a Soul Core socketed, then regular rare body armours will have little value.

Boots

Boots are more of a utility slot than a purely defensive one, though you can still roll defensive stats on them.

For boots, speed is the most important attribute; a 35% movement speed modifier is highly desirable. That said, some boots without any movement speed can still sell for a decent amount of currency, because certain builds rely on movement skills and thus do not need the movement speed stat.

Boots can also accommodate many utility affixes. Energy shield still dominates this slot, but variations abound. Useful modifiers to note include:

• Dodge Roll-related affixes
• Debuff effects
• Charge generation
• Movement Speed While Sprinting

Amulet

Amulets offer a flexible mix of offensive and defensive stats. As a general rule, any amulet without skill levels has little to no value.

The amulet is one of the few slots that can grant Spirit. The combination of Spirit and skill levels is the primary driver of an amulet's worth.

In Patch 0.5.0, an amulet can give up to 100 Spirit (50 from a prefix and 50 from a suffix) on top of its innate 50 Spirit - so you could obtain 150 Spirit from this single slot alone. That is clearly an extraordinary figure and will likely be adjusted in the future.

You May Like: Path of Exile 2 0.5.0 Expedition Best Strategy | Logbooks, Runes & Defenses

Jewels

Jewels can be socketed into various slots, but broadly speaking, valuable affixes on gear are equally valuable on jewels. You can target the following mods:

• Critical Strike Chance
• Critical Damage
• Maximum Energy Shield

Belt

In the early game, the belt slot is where you supplement extra life and patch up resistances. However, once Headhunter and Mageblood become widespread, the belt slot rapidly loses its relevance.

Most high-end players use these two unique belts, and those who cannot afford them have little influence on the market. Consequently, the belt slot is largely dominated by uniques. The window for crafting belts is very brief, so newer players need not invest too much thought into this slot.

New players may find it difficult to obtain these two unique belts, but you can join IGGM POE Facebook Group, where there are frequent Currency Giveaways. If you're lucky, you can get the gear you want.

That concludes the overview of the more important affixes for each slot in PoE 2 Patch 0.5.0. If you wish to try crafting your own gear, you can start with simpler slots such as helmets or body armour.