General News

The player ratings in MLB The Show 26 reflect individual strengths and weaknesses, and team ratings tell a similar story. Clubs with higher overall numbers offer a decent snapshot of which squads are positioned as the most formidable in 2026. It stands to reason that the eventual World Series champion is very likely to emerge from this top tier.

Based on the composite team ratings in MLB The Show 26, here are the 10 highest-rated clubs heading into the season.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

• Roster: 80.7
• Rotation: 89.0
• Bullpen: 75.5
• Power: 67.2
• Contact: 73.3
• Speed: 51.2
• Farm: 63

Dodgers roster is stacked with star power - Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and the list goes on. From the lineup and the bench all the way through the bullpen, there are virtually no glaring holes. This is arguably the most talent-laden group in Major League Baseball, and plenty of fans are genuinely wondering who is supposed to take them down this year. Dodgers also require the most MLB The Show 26 stubs of any team if you wanted to build a complete Dodgers team within Diamond Dynasty.

The club made key additions over the winter, though the early going has seen some uneven performances. Newcomers Edwin Díaz and Kyle Tucker wasted no time making an impact in the season's opening series. Even so, the offense has yet to find a consistent rhythm.

2. Philadelphia Phillies

• Roster: 75.7
• Rotation: 78.5
• Bullpen: 69.6
• Power: 64.1
• Contact: 71.2
• Speed: 63.7
• Farm: 39

Anchored by 90 OVR Zack Wheeler, Phillies boast a formidable rotation. They also have plenty of capable options when it comes to putting the ball in play and moving on the bases.

That said, the early part of the season has exposed some sloppy defense and an offense that occasionally goes missing - they were held hitless through five innings in one particularly rough stretch. A portion of the fanbase is already feeling a bit uneasy, though history suggests this is a group that tends to flip the switch once October approaches.

3. New York Mets

• Roster: 78.0
• Rotation: 82.2
• Bullpen: 73.2
• Power: 70.8
• Contact: 69.6
• Speed: 52.0
• Farm: 52

On paper, Mets have a high-end pitching staff, but the results have been shaky to start the year, as they stumbled into an early losing skid. Injuries have been a recurring issue, Francisco Lindor has looked off his usual form, and the entire offensive unit has yet to generate much sustained pressure.

4. Atlanta Braves

• Roster: 77.1
• Rotation: 70.8
• Bullpen: 73.8
• Power: 58.6
• Contact: 64.2
• Speed: 42.0
• Farm: 55

Despite carrying the weight of injury concerns that have lingered over the franchise for several seasons, Braves have looked steady out of the gate. They posted a 3-2 mark across their first five contests. The starting rotation has outperformed early expectations, and Matt Olson is seeing the ball extremely well, delivering consistent production and notching multiple hits in several games. Ronald Acuña Jr. has also contributed with both a home run and a stolen base.

5. Boston Red Sox

• Roster: 76.7
• Rotation: 84.6
• Bullpen: 71.5
• Power: 60.4
• Contact: 67.8
• Speed: 65.2
• Farm: 49

The early returns in Boston have been rough, despite the presence of highly-rated arms like 90 OVR Sonny Gray and 85 OVR Garrett Crochet. The club matched its worst record ever through the first ten games of a season and found itself at the bottom of the league standings. A silver lining came when Ranger Suárez tossed six scoreless innings against Cardinals to earn his first victory in a Red Sox uniform, offering a momentary halt to the slide.

6. Seattle Mariners

• Roster: 76.9
• Rotation: 85.6
• Bullpen: 71.6
• Power:65.7
• Contact: 69.9
• Speed: 49.4
• Farm: 42

The starting rotation remains Mariners' biggest weapon, but a lineup-wide power outage has severely undermined the win-loss column. The offense has been a glaring weakness, posting a team batting average of just .184 en route to a 4-9 start.

Despite the grim opening stretch, a significant portion of the fanbase remains optimistic. The prevailing sentiment is that if the bats can warm up even a little, this team is still very much in the conversation for AL West title.

7. New York Yankees

• Roster: 76.0
• Rotation: 81.0
• Bullpen: 68.9
• Power:73.5
• Contact: 66.2
• Speed: 48.3
• Farm: 61

Yankees' pitching staff looked dominant during the opening days, with newcomer Max Fried turning in strong performances and the rotation establishing a rhythm. However, the first week of April brought a sharp reversal of fortune, including a five-game losing streak and a demoralizing sweep at the hands of Red Sox in a key early-season series.

8. Chicago Cubs

• Roster: 77.2
• Rotation: 80.7
• Bullpen: 71.8
• Power: 65.4
• Contact: 68.9
• Speed: 63.0
• Farm: 50

Cubs' roster looks potent enough to cruise past 90 wins and run away with NL Central, but the reality on the field has been a struggle. There is, however, a vein of promising young talent on this squad. If and when they settle into a groove, there could be some eye-catching results later in the year.

9. Texas Rangers

• Roster: 73.9
• Rotation: 82.7
• Bullpen: 66.7
• Power: 62.8
• Contact: 63.3
• Speed: 59.1
• Farm: 44

Texas turned in a respectable record on their season-opening road trip, with both the offense and starting rotation showing positive signs. The bullpen, however, remains a recurring headache when it comes to locking down the final outs. The team is guided by a veteran core, but because the front office didn't add any major difference-makers over the offseason, there is a palpable lack of long-term confidence surrounding the club.

10. Pittsburgh Pirates

• Roster: 73.3
• Rotation: 80.1
• Bullpen: 69.1
• Power: 57.7
• Contact: 66.7
• Speed: 63.2
• Farm: 41

Paul Skenes (90 OVR) had a forgettable Opening Day outing but bounced back nicely with his April work. Meanwhile, rookie Konnor Griffin (90 OVR) turned heads with a stellar Major League debut. While Pirates may not rank among the elite in MLB The Show 26, this is a team with serious upside.

These rankings may change due to shifts in team performance and official adjustments, but this uncertainty is part of the fun of the sport, both in games and in real life.

Some of the changes introduced in PoE 3.28 have completely revolutionized the way players approach the game. One particularly notable change is the new ability for players to utilize pseudo 7-link gear, thereby significantly boosting their character’s power during the endgame phase.

For veteran Exiles, you are likely well aware that, under normal circumstances, items in Path of Exile are limited to a maximum of six sockets, a privilege typically reserved only for two-handed weapons and body armor. Most other gear slots are generally restricted to just three or four sockets.

Within these sockets, players can empower a skill gem by slotting it alongside up to 5 support gems in the remaining slots. Once all these support gems are linked together, they form what is known as a 6-link gem setup, the most powerful configuration available in the game.

However, PoE 3.28 Mirage League introduces a new currency item, Djinn Coin, that allows you to easily corrupt a skill gem, imbuing it with a random support enchantment to create a pseudo 7-link setup. While the process of obtaining a pseudo 7-link may seem straightforward, it is entirely dependent on RNG; therefore, securing your ideal configuration may ultimately come down to pure luck.

Next, let’s take a closer look at how to craft a pseudo 7-link and how exactly they function. This knowledge could be the key to helping you construct the most powerful character builds in PoE 3.28!

How to craft a Pseudo 7-Link?

In Path of Exile 3.28 Mirage League, the pseudo 7-link mechanic is of paramount importance. By effectively providing a free Level 1 support gem, it delivers a massive and incredibly cost-efficient damage boost, thereby substantively upgrading a standard 6-link setup into a 7-link configuration.

However, as previously mentioned, this effect is achieved through a unique mechanic specific to the new league: Coins of Knowledge, Power, or Skill. By using one of these coins to corrupt a Level 20 skill gem, you can generate a pseudo 7-link. This process grants the gem the effect of a random Level 1 support gem, effectively providing a 7th functional link for your primary skill. Consequently, this allows you to significantly boost your character’s damage potential in the endgame without incurring the high cost typically associated with acquiring expensive 6-link gear.

Djinn Coin system, exclusive to Mirage League, corrupts a Skill Gem, randomly adding an active Support Gem effect based on Strength, Dexterity, or Intelligence. This grants you a free, additional damage multiplier (equivalent to a seventh link) without requiring specific 6-link gear or special affixes.

However, since the added Support Gem is always Level 1, and the outcome is random, the process is akin to gambling; it requires repeated attempts to find the optimal Support Gem and successfully craft a pseudo-7-link.

For instance, after using a Coin of Skill to corrupt Split Arrow, we immediately gained the effect of a Level 1 Vicious Projectiles Support Gem. Crucially, this transformation does not occupy a socket slot on your weapon or armor, leaving those slots free for other Support Gems. Essentially, this creates a 2-link setup which, when combined with five other external Support Gems, results in a pseudo-7-link gem configuration.

How do you obtain these Djinn coins?

In PoE 3.28, players primarily acquire Djinn Coins by defeating Afarud Necromancers to gain access to Mirage League zones. Before entering a Mirage zone, you can select a specific Djinn Wish from Varashta; this choice determines the type of Djinn Coins that monsters within that specific Mirage zone will drop.

You can obtain these Djinn Coins simply by defeating monsters within Mirage zones. It is worth noting that Mirage mechanic is influenced by Atlas Tree Passives and Scarabs, which can increase the frequency with which you encounter Mirages within your maps. Furthermore, Mirages can replicate other league-specific mechanics present in the map, thereby increasing monster density and potential loot drops.

Important Considerations

While the process of constructing a 7-link gem setup is not inherently complex, there are still a few important points I must bring to your attention.

First, you must be prepared for the fact that, although a 7-link setup can be incredibly powerful, the final result may not always be the one you desire. This is because the corruption effect can add any Support Gem effect compatible with Skill Gem; as we all know, every Skill Gem has a mix of both highly beneficial and less-than-ideal Support Gem interactions.

Additionally, the game doesn't allow players to equip two skill gems corrupted by coins simultaneously to prevent players from using two pseudo-6-links, which would disrupt game balance. Furthermore, only Level 20 gems can form a pseudo 7-link; gems below Level 20 will not be affected by Djinn Coins.

Is that extra link worth sacrificing a Level 21 gem? Whether you are playing Tornado Shot or Lacerate, master the new crafting mechanics of the 3.28 league to immediately push your build to its absolute limits!

Although both are daily events, and individual rounds are shorter, earning points in Monopoly Go tournaments is slightly more complex than in standard banner events.

This is because tournaments require you not only to land on specific railroad tiles but also to play Shutdown or Heist mini-games triggered by doing so; points are then awarded based on your final performance in these mini-games.

In addition to points, these two mini-games also reward you with extra cash.

Notably, among the many new features introduced with the recently launched Monopoly Ever After album, there are modifications to Shutdown and Heist mechanics, introducing brand-new Fairytale versions of both!

In this guide, we will walk you through how to play the new Fairytale Shutdown and Heist mini-games, ensuring you can successfully complete your tournament objectives during the current season.

What is Shutdown?

When participating in a tournament, landing on any one of the four railroad tiles will trigger either a Shutdown or a Heist.

If you trigger a Shutdown, the game will transport you to a random opponent's Monopoly Go city, where you will see their board and the buildings they have constructed upon it.

During a Shutdown, your objective is to destroy as many of these buildings as possible to earn tournament points or cash. Destroying them is simple: just tap on the buildings.

To add excitement and challenge to the gameplay, all players can equip their buildings with shields as a defensive measure, though you can only have a maximum of three shields active at anyone time.

If you attack a building that is protected by a shield, you will still receive a reward, but the amount will be lower. Furthermore, after being attacked multiple times, a shield will be depleted; a cloud of mist will then appear beneath the building to indicate that its protection has worn off.

How to get shields?

While you're busy attacking others, don't forget to protect your own buildings before going offline! To do this, you need to actively advance across the board during your regular gameplay; simply landing on a tile marked with a shield icon will grant you one.

It is also worth noting that the game has introduced shield skins as a potential reward option within various events and album collections. These cosmetic skins can only be obtained by completing specific events or by collecting a sufficient number of stickers.

Given the inherent difficulty of collecting stickers, if you don't want to miss out on these shield skins, or other cosmetic rewards, your best option is IGGM Monopoly Go stickers hot sale!

We offer the most comprehensive selection of sticker trades based on the current album content, and we are committed to providing the safest and fastest trading and delivery methods, ensuring you have absolutely no worries!

What is Fairytale Shutdown?

Building upon the original mechanism, Fairytale Shutdown requires you to successfully hit an opponent's building to trigger; this subsequently initiates a new hide-and-seek mini-game.

This mini-game features a total of three piggies. For every piggy you find, you stand to receive a reward, either a quantity of dice matching the multiplier you used for your roll, or Tournament Points equal to double that multiplier's value.

What is Heist?

Much like Shutdown, Heist transports you to another player's city. In addition to standard buildings, this city features a bank housing a substantial amount of cash.

Upon arriving at the bank's entrance, you will see a large grid consisting of 12 squares. Initially, each square is represented by the image of a closed door; hidden behind these doors are silver coins, cash, or diamond rings.

Each time you tap the button, three doors on the grid will randomly open to reveal the symbols hidden behind them. If you reveal three identical items, you will receive the cash reward.

The type and quantity of the reward depend on the specific symbols revealed: silver coins yield the lowest value, while diamond rings yield the highest.

However, unlike with Shutdowns, there is no way for players to protect their banks from being robbed during a Heist. The only preventive measure you can take is to use all your cash before logging off, thereby avoiding leaving any funds stored in the bank.

What is Fairytale Heist?

This upgraded version requires no special trigger; it simply introduces Magic Gems as a potential symbol that may appear behind the doors. Furthermore, if even just one of the three symbols you reveal features a gem, you will receive a bonus multiplier for your reward:

• 1 Gem: 2x Base Reward
• 2 Gems: 5x Base Reward
• 3 Gems: 10x Base Reward

The base reward mentioned here is calculated using the same method as the piggies in Fairytale Shutdown: same quantity of dice or double tournament points equal to the multiplier you used for your roll.

The Value of Fairytale Shutdown and Heist

As demonstrated by the descriptions of these two mechanisms, they significantly boost the efficiency with which you can earn rewards during daily events. Moreover, if the reward you receive happens to be dice, this further aids your participation in other high-level events.

In fact, almost all the new features introduced alongside Monopoly Ever After album are designed to help you acquire rewards, particularly stickers, more quickly and conveniently, thereby enhancing your overall gaming experience.

While these features may be exclusive to the current season, they nonetheless prove highly valuable for helping you complete your current collection and claim its associated rewards.

As for what new developments may arise in the future, that is not something you need to concern yourself with right now!

If you happen to be working your way through a new tournament, be sure to consult this guide to ensure you don't miss out on any rewards!

The development team appears to be making a genuine effort to reignite player enthusiasm for Diablo II: Resurrected, as they have announced- with almost no prior notice- that PTR for the next Ladder Season will soon be available on April 14 at 11:00 a.m. PDT, and end at April 21 at 11:00 a.m.

Based on the timing of the previous season's start and the developers' stated desire to return to a steadier update cadence, the new season could arrive within the next one to two months. Among the documented changes, the most significant focus is undoubtedly the sweeping set of reductions applied to Warlock class. Let's take a look at the specific impact of these nerfs.

General Warlock Adjustments

This PTR adjusted several strong Warlock builds at different stages. Here are the specific changes:

Improved Life Potion

Effectiveness The base recovery effect of Life Potions for Warlock has been increased. Previously, Warlock's potion efficacy ranked among the lowest of all classes; this adjustment is intended to bolster baseline sustain.

Two-Handed Weapon Restriction

If a Warlock wishes to equip a two-handed weapon, they must now simultaneously equip a class-specific off-hand item known as a Grimoire. In the endgame, Ars Dul'Mephistos is already considered a meta choice, so the impact there is minimal. However, during the early stages of progression, this change prevents players from easily wielding an Insight while also benefiting from an Ancient's Pledge.

Demonic Mastery

Demonic Mastery now requires an investment of 20 hard skill points to bind three demons. Previously, only a single base point supplemented by item bonuses was sufficient. Since most mainstream Warlock builds allocate between 60 and 80 skill points overall, this forces a meaningful choice between investing in Demonic Mastery or Bind Demon. Consequently, many builds will likely forgo pursuing the third demon slot.

Summon Goatman

Attack Speed bonus granted by Summon Goatman now has an imposed cap. The effect of this change is relatively minor and constitutes a modest reduction.

Blood Oath

The skill description now explicitly states that the damage absorption is capped at 50%. Although the previous description suggested absorption could reach 99%, a hard cap of 40% existed in actual gameplay. Therefore, this update represents a slight functional improvement, and the tooltip will now reflect the mechanic more accurately.

Blood Boil

Previously, Blood Boil possessed a maximum radius of 16 yards, allowing it to affect nearly every enemy visible on the screen. Its maximum radius has now been restricted to 4 yards- a zone roughly equivalent to the area from the character's feet to just above their head. This means the skill will now only affect monster clusters engaged directly in melee combat with Warlock's demons, eliminating the ability to clear entire screens with a single cast. Expanding its area of effect in the future may require reliance on Sigil of Death.

Bind Demon

The mechanics of Bind Demon have undergone a rework, requiring hard skill point investment to unlock advanced binding capabilities.

• 1 Point: Can bind normal demons.
• 10 Points: Can bind Champion demons.
• 15 Points: Can bind Unique demons.
• 20 Points: Can bind Super Unique demons.

Additionally, the probability of Bind Demon applying a curse has been drastically reduced from 75% to 5%. This steep decline means that builds relying on demons to trigger Amplified Damage will need to pivot toward using a Holy Freeze aura to maintain adequate curse coverage.

Furthermore, if a bound demon possesses a specific aura such as Conviction, that aura will now be replaced with one of the following: Fanaticism, Vigor, Thorns, or Concentration. An exception exists for demons that inherently possess Holy Freeze aura, which may be retained.

Miasma and Abyss A bug that caused Abyss to deal damage at an excessively high frequency has been corrected, and adjustments have been made to the delay and damage mechanics of Miasma bolts. While Miasma remains a potent ability, its power level has been brought more in line with expectations.

Sigil: Lethargy

Previously, the effect described in the tooltip as "increased damage taken" actually functioned by reducing a monster's physical resistance, akin to Conviction aura for elemental builds. Removing this effect means that all sources of physical damage will suffer a direct reduction of 30% to 100% when facing enemies with high physical resistance or outright physical immunity. Additionally, to benefit from the skill's defense reduction property, players will now need to cast this ability more actively and frequently.

Ring of Fire

The damage type of Ring of Fire has been altered to deal Frost Nova damage. For all intents and purposes, this change effectively eliminates the skill's viability as a late-game source of damage, though the stagger effect it provides may still offer tactical utility during early leveling.

Echoing Strike Warlock Adjustments

Echoing Strike Warlock was the most formidable build of Season 13, and consequently, the adjustments targeting it are the most substantial.

Attack Rating

A previous bug allowed Echoing Strike to bypass Attack Rating checks entirely. This has been corrected, and the skill will now adhere strictly to hit calculation rules. As a result, most builds that previously prioritized only skill levels will find themselves with a mere 20% to 30% chance to hit Baal at level 99. To address accuracy concerns, players will need to incorporate Attack Rating affixes on gear, utilize Angelic Raiment set, or leverage the defense reduction offered by Hex: Bane and Sigil: Lethargy.

Durability

Echoing Strike will now consume weapon durability. This renders Ethereal weapons impractical for this build while drastically increasing the value of weapons bearing Indestructible modifier. This change also translates to a damage reduction of approximately 10%.

Synergy Bonuses

The synergy damage bonus provided per skill level has been decreased from 5% to 3%. This adjustment reduces the non-weapon enhanced damage contributed directly by the skill itself, resulting in an estimated loss of roughly 10% overall damage.

Damage Calculation Method

Previously, Echoing Strike's damage formula concluded with an additional multiplicative factor derived from the skill's bonus damage. This has been rectified, and the bonus is now integrated into the additive pool of non-weapon Enhanced Damage. This single modification alone reduces the total output of Echoing Strike to approximately 20% of its former value.

Is Nerfed Echoing Strike Warlock Still Playable?

Despite an apparent reduction in damage approaching ninety percent, Echoing Strike may still prove to be quite potent. The reason lies in the fact that its previous damage output was excessively high; the vast majority of ordinary monsters were annihilated before the first weapon projectile even reached its target. Even with damage scaled down to one-tenth, the speed of clearing regular areas may not decline significantly. The true impact will become evident when confronting Bosses, Uber Bosses, and Ancients.

Overall, while these changes are radical, they do bring various classes back to balance. PTR is essentially about testing and feedback, and the changes shown are not final. If Warlock remains too strong in testing, it may be further nerfed.

Warlock may still be a powerful choice in Diablo 2 Resurrected Season 14, but due to skill and mechanic adjustments, it may rely more heavily on powerful gear. If you wish to continue playing Warlock in the new season, you can buy cheap Diablo 2 Resurrected runes from IGGM, which will help you quickly acquire the necessary items to test Warlock's strength changes.

The excitement surrounding Flashpoint has yet to subside, yet the departure window for Expedition 3, set to open at the end of the month, along with Riven Tides update scheduled for April, already seem poised for launch.

To ensure the game remains fresh and continues to generate buzz, a prolonged lead-up to upcoming content is essential.

Furthermore, starting with this new departure window, the development team intends to implement additional optimizations to Expedition gameplay mechanics.

In this article, drawing upon plans recently leaked by ARC Raiders staff over the past weekend, we will predict potential changes to Expedition mechanics as well as the likely contents of this week's patch.

Expedition 3 schedule

This expedition commenced immediately following the conclusion of Expedition 2 departure window on March 2nd.

It consists of five distinct phases involving the collection and submission of various materials; upon completing these phases, a decision will be made on April 29th regarding whether to open a new departure window.

Notably, since ARC Raiders updates are almost invariably released on Tuesdays, Riven Tides update scheduled for April is expected to launch concurrently with the opening of Expedition 3 departure window.

This window will remain open for just under a week, closing on May 4th. Afterward, your character's entire progression will be reset, requiring you to start farming from scratch, though it has been stated that you will also receive new permanent buffs.

Typically, at this stage, the better choice is to buy ARC Raiders blueprints from IGGM; utilize our fast and secure service to instantly craft powerful weapons and dominate the new battlefields!

What changes might be coming to expeditions?

The original Expedition design required players to submit an additional 5 million coins at the conclusion of the preparation phase. Subsequently, this requirement was lowered to 3 million coins, alongside the submission of various other requisite materials.

However, the developers recently announced that further adjustments would be made, without explicitly disclosing any specific details.

This has sparked speculation: will the coin requirement simply be lowered once again, or is the entire expedition mechanic facing a complete overhaul?

To be honest, regardless of which scenario comes to pass, it would be best to defer the implementation of these changes until the next expedition cycle.

With only 15 days remaining until the conclusion of Expedition 3, there likely isn't enough time to properly execute such changes; attempting to do so now would likely only serve to create unnecessary complications.

However, the awkward reality is that this isn't the first time something like this has happened; ARC Raiders seems to have a habit of waiting until the very last minute to suddenly change course.

This isn't fair to players, as it means you are forced to hastily adjust your strategies within a mere few weeks.

The primary reason for this is that not everyone has the luxury of playing online around the clock, which would allow them to constantly keep pace with, and adapt to, the game's latest developments.

Since its launch, expedition system has faced criticism for being too demanding while offering rewards that aren't sufficiently enticing. In response, ARC Raiders implemented some changes during Expedition 3; however, these adjustments were clearly not enough.

That said, for an extraction shooter, periodic resets are indeed a necessity; therefore, it becomes all the more crucial to optimize expedition system promptly based on player feedback.

New bugs that may soon be fixed

Among the various changes introduced by Flashpoint update, one notable addition is an upgrade to Scrappy: you can now influence the type of items it produces by feeding it specific foods.

Consequently, if you wish to obtain better topside materials, such as Rubber Parts, Fabric, or Chemicals, from Scrappy, you can do so by feeding it Fruit Mix.

This particular food item requires you to consume lemon, apricot, and prickly pear to craft, a process that becomes available only after unlocking In-Round Crafting skill.

However, a recent glitch has emerged where players are unable to craft Fruit Mix once they return to Speranza.

While this isn't a lethal bug (given that Scrappy isn't, after all, the primary source of loot), it nonetheless negatively impacts the gaming experience for a significant number of players.

Another issue that has been causing quite a stir within ARC Raiders community recently is the phenomenon of false bans, instances where players are erroneously banned, which, for some inexplicable reason, appears to be on the rise.

If you have been playing ARC Raiders, or any other shooter game, for that matter, you are likely well aware that cheating is a widespread and serious problem. Beyond exploits stemming from the game's own bugs, there are individuals who resort to using specialized devices or mods to gain an unfair advantage.

While bugs can be patched, other forms of cheating can only be combated through specialized plugins or devices. The unfortunate reality, however, is that these anti-cheat systems are not always sophisticated enough, leading to instances of false bans.

This issue is particularly distressing for players with disabilities who rely on specialized external peripherals to play the game; they have, regrettably, become the primary victims of these erroneous bans.

Over the past few weeks, ARC Raiders team has been working diligently to address this issue. Regrettably, they have yet to find a definitive, permanent solution; for the time being, the only recourse available is to provide a follow-up response to players once they have filed an appeal.

Another rather noticeable in-game bug occurs when you equip Vanguard Set, introduced in Patch 1.23.0, causing your character to go haywire.

Specifically, the various cosmetic components of the set will flail wildly and drift erratically across the screen; not only does this look unsightly and bizarre, but it also obstructs a portion of the player's field of view.

Even more frustrating is that if this bug is triggered by another player equipping Vanguard Set, there is absolutely nothing you can do through any in-game action to fix or avoid it yourself.

Until this issue is resolved, your only recourse is to simply avoid equipping the set, though admittedly, it does boast a very appealing aesthetic. Fortunately, the development team has confirmed that this bug will be addressed in an upcoming patch.

That covers the key highlights we have to share regarding the latest developments in ARC Raiders. All that remains now is for you to use Flashpoint update content to gear up for the new expedition window! Good luck!

Although Diablo 4 Season 12 is still currently underway, we are sure you've already started looking forward to Season 13! This is because its projected release date is expected to coincide with the launch of the new expansion, Lord of Hatred!

This means that in Season 13, you can expect to experience a wealth of new content, far more than in a standard season, much like Season 6 in 2024, which launched alongside the game's very first DLC.

In this article, drawing upon the information currently available regarding Lord of Hatred, we will speculate on exactly what content Season 13 might ultimately contain.

Season 13 release date

Based on current estimates, it can be tentatively confirmed that the season will kick off on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 10:00 AM PDT. At that same time, the second DLC, Lord of Hatred, will also go live.

As of now, the official title for Season 13 has yet to be revealed. However, following the precedent set by Season 6 and the first DLC, it is unlikely that the season will simply adopt the title Lord of Hatred, though it may very well still be thematically linked to Hatred.

Will Season 13 have PTR?

Typically, prior to the start of a new season, Diablo 4 launches PTR lasting about a week to allow for testing of the upcoming season's content.

Season 6, which shares a similar launch context to Season 13, saw its PTR go live a full month before the season itself launched.

However, with only two weeks remaining until the projected launch of Season 13, there has still been no news regarding the opening of a PTR. All you can do now is wait!

Potential new content for Season 13

In addition to the mechanics introduced by the new expansion, Season 13 itself is expected to bring a new questline, seasonal mechanics and events, as well as optimizations and upgrades to the game's overall gear system.

This content is expected to launch alongside the new DLC, ensuring that you have a rich and engaging gaming experience over the subsequent 2-3 months.

New mechanics in Lord of Hatred

As a brand-new DLC that Diablo 4 has consumed nearly two years developing, much of Lord of Hatred's core content has already been unveiled.

Crucially, however, this content will also serve as an integral part of Season 13; therefore, we have compiled a comprehensive overview of these features for you here.

Two new classes

While the first expansion, Vessel of Hatred, introduced Spiritborn class, Lord of Hatred will offer you even more diverse options by introducing two brand-new classes: Warlock and Paladin.

However, Paladin class was already made available for early access to all players who pre-ordered Lord of Hatred at the start of Season 11.

Furthermore, it has undergone multiple balance adjustments since then; therefore, if you are looking for a smoother gameplay experience in Season 13, Paladin is the superior choice.

This class is melee-oriented and is renowned for its exclusive Oaths mechanic. This mechanic unlocks once your character reaches Level 15, allowing you to switch between four distinct Oaths to suit your specific needs.

As for Warlock, judging by the trailers and content released so far, it is a class centered around dark magic, primarily utilizing two distinct resources, Dominance and Wrath, to unleash its power.

Much like Paladin, Warlock's exclusive mechanics offer a variety of playstyles to choose from, giving you the opportunity to take on the role of a summoner, a melee combatant, or a spellcaster.

War Plans

You can think of this mechanic as an upgraded version of Tree of Whispers system. It issues a series of bounty-style quests tied to various other endgame activities in Diablo 4, which you can complete to earn rewards.

Even better, the selection of quests is not rigid; you are free to choose tasks that align with your specific combat style or loot requirements, allowing you to customize your own unique War Plans with a high degree of freedom.

If you wish to start preparing for the new season right now, War Plans is the perfect place to begin. Since most of the upcoming quests will be linked to existing game mechanics, you can effectively get a head start by practicing them in advance.

Echoing Hatred

This is a brand-new, wave-based endgame event, similar in concept to the existing Infernal Hordes.

However, what sets Echoing Hatred apart is that with each new attempt, the terrain, enemy types, and even the difficulty level you encounter will vary. Consequently, every single challenge promises to be both highly engaging and intensely demanding.

Horadric Cube

This iconic feature has appeared in previous Diablo titles, most notably making a spectacular return in the recent expansion for Diablo 2 Resurrected, and now, it is finally making its debut in Diablo 4.

Horadric Cube is primarily used for the modification and crafting of items. Once available, you can farm specific materials and then utilize the cube to customize your gear for Season 13 and the new expansion.

New Talisman System

Do you remember Runes introduced in VoH? This time around, Lord of Hatred introduces Talisman mechanic, allowing you to acquire charms as loot drops during various in-game events.

By socketing charms into your personal Talisman, you can activate powerful corresponding set bonuses, such as boosts to damage output or defensive attributes.

Casual gameplay: fishing

Diablo 4 has long been renowned for its heavy emphasis on combat elements; however, this time around, we are introducing a rare casual feature: fishing! Moreover, the fish you catch might just serve some unexpected purposes!

System-wide optimizations

To comprehensively enhance the overall quality of the game, beyond just adding new content, upgrading existing systems is essential. To this end, the first major undertaking will be a complete rework of the skill tree.

Compared to previous iterations, the new skill tree offers much more than just the ability to unlock skills; it features significantly greater depth, even allowing you to fine-tune specific details such as skill duration or casting speed.

Building upon this foundation, if you own LoH expansion, you will gain access to over 20 additional skill variant options, regardless of which class you choose to play.

Another new feature designed to optimize your gameplay experience is the loot filter.

It allows you to customize the display rules for dropped items, thereby transforming the currently cluttered post-combat battlefields and allowing you to more efficiently identify and select the specific items you truly need.

That wraps up everything we have to share with you for now. Let's look forward to the new round of adventures in Sanctuary, kicking off in late April with Diablo 4!

Once Season 13 and the new DLC go live, if you want to get a head start and pull ahead of the competition, acquiring Diablo 4 items for sale on IGGM will prove incredibly useful!

Our services cover every angle, whether you are looking to acquire specific gear directly or need other enhancement materials, we have everything you need to help you succeed!

As the fourth weekend since its launch arrives, MLB The Show 26 has finally rolled out its first Weekend Classic event! This also marks the conclusion of the previous Ranked Season cycle.

Given that Weekend Classic is a limited-time event, and you may be busy completing other in-game challenges or attending to real-world work, the primary factor in deciding whether to participate is whether the rewards are worth the effort.

In this guide, we will walk you through the gameplay mechanics of MLB 26 Weekend Classic and provide an in-depth analysis of the two available player card rewards.

Event schedule

MLB 26 Weekend Classic: Week 1 officially began on the afternoon of April 10th and will run until April 14th. Although nominally a weekend event, you actually have approximately 96 hours to play.

This event typically launches at the conclusion of each Ranked Season cycle; you can think of it as a comprehensive, upgraded finale to Ranked Season. Week 2 is not expected to begin for at least another two weeks.

However, the game may occasionally schedule additional Weekend Classic events to coincide with specific major real-world baseball matchups. If you don't want to miss out on any of them, be sure to keep a close eye on the schedule.

How to play Weekend Classic?

In essence, Weekend Classic is a limited-time competitive event embedded within Diamond Dynasty, one of MLB The Show 26's core game modes. It requires you to utilize your own custom Diamond Dynasty roster to compete in 1v1 ranked matches.

The first six games you play in the event are crucial. MLB 26 uses your performance, specifically your Solo Season Ranked rating, to assign you to a specific tier. These tiers range from lowest to highest: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, and Immortal.

Subsequently, based on your assigned tier, the game places you into a small leaderboard group of 100 players, where you must play additional games to improve your rating.

At the conclusion of the event, the top 10 players on each leaderboard receive additional rewards.

Weekend Classic follows a best-of-six format; rewards are distributed based on your total number of wins, while your final tier placement is locked in based on the highest rank you achieved.

Furthermore, for every game you win during those initial six matches, you will immediately receive a corresponding reward, such as a card pack or MLB 26 stubs.

Additionally, each installment of Weekend Classic features a unique Choice Pack reward option. Taking this week as an example, you have the opportunity to earn Weekend Classic Choice Pack for Week 1, which contains two cards from which you can select one.

Week 1 unique reward analysis

The two options available in this week's choice pack are 2nd Half Bernie Williams and Postseason Victor Martinez. Both cards carry an overall rating of 92, so you might be unsure which one is the better choice.

2nd Half Bernie Williams

Bernie Williams is a renowned player formerly of New York Yankees. Although he retired from professional baseball long ago, and has even since focused on a music career, in MLB 26, you can still catch a glimpse of the brilliance he displayed in his prime.

The specific attributes for his reward card are as follows:

• Speed: 65
• Steal: 45
• Fielding: 60
• Reaction (Jump): 61
• Forward: 67
• Backward: 52
• Right: 60
• Left: 65
• Arm Strength: 68
• Arm Accuracy: 60
• Sac Bunt: 35
• Drag Bunt: 25
• Quirks: 6 total

Unfortunately, judging by the actual statistics, this card's speed and fielding abilities are quite mediocre.

Let alone serving as a starting outfielder, even positioning him in a corner outfield spot carries a risk of conceding runs, unless, of course, you assign him to Designated Hitter (DH) role.

This arrangement is currently the only way to effectively utilize 2nd Half Bernie Williams at the plate; however, you could just as easily opt to use other switch-hitting batters you already possess.

Therefore, all things considered, this player card is worth acquiring; however, if you already own players with similar capabilities, it may prove to be somewhat redundant.

Postseason Victor Martinez

First, let's take a look at the stats for this reward card:

• Contact vs RHP: 100
• Contact vs LHP: 92
• Vision: 90
• Clutch: 109
• Power vs. RHP: 80
• Power vs. LHP: 70
• Speed: 44
• Steal: 0
• Fielding: 73
• Blocking: 72
• Pop Time: 76
• Reaction (Jump): Forward 74, Backward 62, Right 66, Left 76
• Arm Strength: 75
• Arm Accuracy: 80
• Sac Bunt: 35
• Drag Bunt: 25
• Quirks: 8 total

Although Victor Martinez himself is not a newcomer, this marks his debut as a legend player in MLB game series; consequently, it is currently difficult to provide a sufficiently detailed review regarding the actual in-game experience.

However, based on the available stats, if you are looking to acquire a better catcher, Postseason Victor Martinez is certainly worth a try.

Based on the points mentioned above, and if a direct comparison is absolutely necessary, we would recommend choosing Postseason Victor Martinez, as he offers greater versatility.

That covers the key information you need to know for this week's Weekend Classic. We hope this helps enhance your MLB 26 experience!

Monopoly Go is about to embark on a fairytale adventure with the official launch of Fairytale Partners on April 14th. For every player passionate about Rolls and city building, this is more than just a regular event update; it's a multiplayer cooperative feast requiring seamless teamwork and strategic planning.

Fairytale Partners is exclusively for players who have reached Board 5 or higher. This means new players will need to complete the initial solo challenges before entering this cooperative extravaganza.

The event emphasizes the core concept of playing together. You'll need to find a reliable partner to build your dream attraction together. Every spin of the special wheel contributes to your shared goal.

If you're tired of silently accumulating Dices alone, Monopoly Go's Fairytale Partners will definitely impress you. It not only offers generous milestone rewards but also features a massive prize wheel mechanic, making every spin unpredictable.

From 200 Rolls to 5-star Stickers packs, from Cash buffs to building frenzies, and even Story Book - Fairytales Base and Little Mermaid as the ultimate prizes. Of course, all of this is contingent on you and your partner remaining actively involved.

Event Participation Requirements

Fairytale Partners isn't open to all Monopoly Go players. According to the rules, only players who have unlocked Board 5 or higher will see the entry point during the event. This restriction ensures participants have a basic understanding of the game's mechanics and resource management, preventing complete novices from dragging down their partners because of a lack of Dice reserves or event tokens experience.

For players who haven't reached this progress, it's recommended to focus on completing early quests before the event starts to advance your Board level as quickly as possible. It's important to note that once the event begins, the progress requirements won't decrease, so planning your upgrade path in advance is crucial.

Unlike regular individual leaderboard events, Fairytale Partners requires you to form a fixed team with one or more Monopoly Go Fairytale Partners Event Slots. You will share the same attraction construction goal. The event tokens you invest and the points gained from spinning the wheel will be combined and calculated on the same progress bar.

This means that unilateral effort cannot achieve all rewards. Even if you personally consume numerous event tokens, if your partner is inactive for a long time or never actively spins the wheel, you will still be locked in the lower reward range. Conversely, if the two of you reasonably allocate event token usage time and remind each other of event deadlines, you can easily break through to the highest milestone at a cost far lower than double the consumption of a single person.

Each spin of the wheel requires a specific event token. In Fairytale Partners, the appearance of these event tokens is likely related to a fairytale theme, but the acquisition method continues the consistent logic of Monopoly Go.

Completing daily activities and other regular tasks has a chance to drop event tokens. The efficiency of event token accumulation directly depends on your Dices reserve - the more Dices you have, the more events you can trigger.

Roulette

Once you and your partner have collected a certain number of event tokens, you can enter the event's dedicated interface and spin a roulette wheel with multiple sections. Each zone corresponds to a different score, ranging from a few dozen points to several hundred points. Points directly advance the construction progress of your attraction, and both of you will receive corresponding rewards for each milestone level reached.

The roulette wheel has a very special slice marked "Mega". Once the pointer lands on this slice, the entire roulette wheel will instantly be replaced with a brand new Mega Roulette. On this Mega Roulette, there will be no other rewards besides points. You will earn even more points in subsequent draws.

Rewards

Each attraction has 5 explicit point milestones, instead of vague progress bars. Upon reaching each level, the rewards will be immediately credited to both of your accounts, without waiting for the event to end.

Level 1 (2500 points) Reward: 200 Rolls. This is the easiest stage to achieve. It is highly recommended that all players aim for this level first, as it will replenish your Dices inventory, helping you acquire more event tokens later. Tier 2 (6000 Points): Rewards a sum of Cash. While Cash isn't the scarcest resource in Monopoly Go, early accumulation can be used to quickly upgrade landmarks, unlocking more Boards and events.

Tier 3 (13000 Points): Rewards 200-300 Rolls, a sum of Cash, and a 10-minute Cash Boost. During Cash Boost, you gain an extra percentage of coins each time you pass the starting point or complete a landmark upgrade, perfect for conjunction with Build Bash events.

Tier 4 (26500 Points): Rewards 300-500 Rolls, a 2-star 3-Stickers pack, and a 20-minute Mega Heist. Mega Heist significantly increases your rewards in bank heists, a golden window to widen the wealth gap with other players.

Tier 5 (32000 Points): Rewards 400-600 Rolls, Cash, a 30-minute Builder's Frenzy, and a 4-star 4-Stickers pack. Build Bash can halve landmark construction time, and combined with a large amount of cash accumulated beforehand, you can rapidly advance your Board progress within half an hour.

The Fairytale Partners event rarely requires you to complete just one attraction - based on past experience, you'll need to build four separate attractions with four different partners. Only after you and all four partners have advanced the scores of your respective attractions to Board 5 will you unlock the ultimate prize. Grand prize includes: 5000 Rolls, a 5-star pack of 6 Stickers, Story Book - Fairytales Base, and Little Mermaid.

Success Strategies

Don't randomly invite a friend who's been offline for more than a week. Before the event starts, confirm their activity plans via chat or a third-party social platform: How many times can they log in each day? How many Dices do they have? Are they willing to sprint in the last two days? Once you've formed a partnership, it's recommended to send each other progress reminders at least once a day.

The first 24 hours after the event starts are the golden window. Most players will have their starting event tokens during this time. It's recommended to use 30%-40% of your event token reserves during this phase, aiming to break 13,000 points on the first day. This will allow you to get cash bonuses and Dices rewards earlier, which can then be reinvested in event token acquisition.

Fairytale Partners is a limited-time, high-reward cooperative event in Monopoly Go, designed for players on Board 5 and above, and will officially launch on April 14th.

The core gameplay involves teaming up with a partner to collect event tokens and advance the construction progress of the attraction by spinning a wheel, striving to reach five milestones. Upon completing each milestone, players will unlock rich rewards, ultimately winning substantial prizes such as 5,000 Rolls, a 5-star Stickers pack, Story Book - Fairytales Base, and Little Mermaid, all through seamless teamwork.

This is more than just an ordinary event; it's a feast of teamwork and strategic planning. Here, going it alone won't work; only by carefully allocating resources and supporting each other can you unlock all the rewards. Remember, good communication and active participation are key to ultimate victory!

Aside from the highly popular new Warlock class, Sorceress remains an excellent choice for a satisfying gameplay experience in the current Diablo 2 Resurrected Ladder Season 13, especially if you utilize the right builds.

Generally speaking, beyond raw power, a low budget is often one of the primary factors players consider when selecting a build; after all, you may not have the time or energy to farm the vast amount of gear typically required to jumpstart a high-end setup.

Blizzard Sorceress build we are introducing here is a prime example of a low-budget option, yet its in-game performance rivals, if not surpasses, that of most other Sorceress builds!

Blizzard Sorceress Budget Build overview

This build establishes itself as a formidable force in Ladder Season 13 primarily through the strength of its core damage skill, Blizzard, combined with a gear setup that is exceptionally easy to acquire.

This means you can assemble this build very quickly, allowing you to use it to farm the resources needed for other endgame builds you might wish to pursue later in the season, or simply to continue leveling up your Blizzard Sorceress.

Stat allocation and progression

In D2R, every character possesses four core attributes: Strength, Dexterity, Vitality, and Energy. For every character level gained, you receive 5 stat points to distribute among them.

For Blizzard Sorceress build, we recommend prioritizing Strength and Dexterity first, investing just enough points to meet the requirements for equipping Monarch shield. Barring any unusual gear configurations, this typically requires investing 156 points.

Then allocate all remaining attribute points to Vitality. Since Sorceress is inherently more fragile than other classes, maximizing Vitality helps significantly boost your maximum Life total, making your character much more durable.

From there, your primary objective is to maintain a safe distance from enemies, cast Blizzard in the area between you and them, and leave the rest of the combat duties entirely to your mercenary.

As long as you remain mindful of your positioning and avoid getting swarmed by large groups of monsters in melee range, your survival should not be an issue.

If your gear setup allows for further stat optimization, we recommend capping your fire and poison resistances at their maximum limits.

However, this is a goal best pursued in the mid-to-late stages of the season, once you have accumulated sufficient resources to invest in higher-quality gear.

It is also worth noting that, depending on your specific gear configuration, you can often find additional ways to further increase your maximum life total. For instance, if you acquire sufficient Strength through your gear, you can allocate more of your attribute points into Vitality.

Consequently, as your build gradually takes shape, its survivability will become truly impressive. However, during the initial low-budget phase, it is absolutely crucial to maintain a safe distance from enemies at all times.

Furthermore, stacking Magic Find attribute is highly important, as another major advantage of Sorceress class is the ability to achieve high Magic Find values relatively quickly, even on a limited budget.

Finally, do not forget to boost your faster cast rate (FCR) to at least 115; this ensures that your Teleport skill casts smoothly and seamlessly. This is primarily achieved through your gear, a topic we will now analyze in detail.

Gear selection and combinations

When assembling a gear set in D2R, the key factor often lies in the choice of Runewords. To this end, your top priority should be adding Spirit Runeword for both your main-hand and off-hand weapon slots, as this significantly boosts your FCR.

However, this is merely one strategic approach; the specific attributes you ultimately require will depend on the actual weapons you manage to acquire.

Next, you can add Lore Runeword for your helmet slot; alternatively, if you happen to find Peasant Crown early in the game, you can use it directly.

Later on, specifically once you reach the endgame and begin farming items on Hell difficulty, you may have the opportunity to acquire a Shako. However, since this item falls outside the scope of a low-budget build, we will not go into further detail about it in this guide.

As for your amulet, you can choose one that grants all resistances to boost your overall durability, or opt for one that provides FCR bonuses or +1/+2 to Sorceress skill levels.

Among low-budget armor options, Skin of the Vipermagi is undoubtedly one of the best choices; it is relatively easy to acquire, whether through self-farming or trading with other players.

The same applies to Trang-Oul's Claws gloves; not only do they provide a 20% bonus to FCR, but they also come with an additional 30% cold resistance.

For your belt slot, equipping Goldwrap will provide you with a Magic Find bonus as well as 3 additional potion slots. Subsequently, equipping Nagelring can further boost your Magic Find chances while simultaneously reducing the amount of magic damage you take.

For your other ring slot, simply ensure that the ring includes a Faster Cast Rate attribute. As for your boots, look for a pair that offers increased movement speed, fire resistance, poison resistance, and Magic Find bonus.

How to utilize your mercenary?

When selecting a mercenary to assist your Blizzard Sorceress Budget Build in combat, prioritize one equipped with Might Aura to maximize your cold damage output.

Furthermore, there is no need to equip your mercenary with Holy Freeze, as your Blizzard skill already freezes enemies on its own. In contrast, Might Aura provides a valuable bonus to your overall damage output.

Treachery Runeword offers a tremendous boost to your mercenary's performance: once the fade effect is triggered, their survivability increases dramatically.

However, it is worth noting that when you first enter Hell difficulty with this build, it is quite common that your mercenary to die frequently during certain encounters.

Therefore, you must constantly monitor your mercenary's position and make frequent use of Teleport skill to reposition him safely.

The above covers the key information you need to know for crafting a Blizzard Sorceress Budget Build in Season 13. If you are playing as a Sorceress and haven't yet found a build that suits your playstyle, why not give this one a try?

As the only new enemy type introduced in ARC Raiders Flashpoint update, Vaporizer has likely given you a tough time recently. After all, even if you know its weaknesses, it still takes time to figure out the best strategy for engaging it.

If you haven't yet found a Vaporizer-elimination strategy that works for you, why not give the method we're about to introduce a try, one that utilizes Barricade Kit to get the job done!

Vaporizer overview

ARC Raiders Vaporizer is a large, airborne drone. Due to its formidable offensive and defensive capabilities, it is typically encountered in higher-difficulty missions or combat scenarios.

This enemy type attacks by locking onto your position and firing a laser beam. Even if you manage to dodge the beam itself, the ground where it strikes will catch fire; if you don't move further away immediately, you will still take splash damage from the flames.

Furthermore, every Vaporizer is equipped with a shield that automatically activates when under attack, deflecting incoming projectile damage. However, once the initial shield deactivates, there is a cooldown period before it can be triggered again.

To deal actual damage to Vaporizer, you must precisely strike its weak point: the core hidden behind a small rectangular panel located on its underside.

Consequently, regardless of the gear you are using, the standard approach to dealing with a Vaporizer is to first seek cover to avoid being hit directly by the laser beam, while simultaneously using a grenade to trigger the enemy's initial shield.

If you don't have a grenade, using a firearm works too; however, since the primary goal of this initial attack is simply to trigger and deplete the shield, throwing a grenade is a much safer option for you.

Once Vaporizer's first shield has deactivated, you can seize the opportunity, while remaining under cover, to unleash your most powerful weapon, continuously firing at the drone's underside until its core is exposed. Then, simply keep firing until the enemy crashes to the ground.

Upon destruction, Vaporizer drops various types of loot. Naturally, the rarest item among them is its exclusive drop: Vaporizer Regulator, an essential material required for crafting Dolabra.

What is Barricade Kit?

As a quick-use item, Barricade Kit serves as a deployable, temporary cover source. It possesses 500 health points; once these points are depleted, you must either deploy a new kit or quickly retreat to safety.

Unlike standard cover, Barricade Kit allows you to place additional traps directly onto it, enabling you to inflict extra damage on enemies even after you have vacated the position.

However, it is worth noting that deploying and retrieving Barricade Kit takes a few seconds, it is not an instantaneous action, and enemies also have the ability to dismantle it.

If you choose to retrieve Barricade Kit yourself as needed, its durability will instantly be restored to full capacity upon retrieval, ensuring it is ready for your next deployment.

There are various ways to acquire Barricade Kit: you can find them while scavenging, or you can exchange 1,920 coins with Apollo to redeem one (with a daily transaction limit of six).

However, the most highly recommended method is to craft it yourself at a Workshop. All you need to do is buy ARC Raiders Barricade Kit blueprints and gather a sufficient number of Mechanical Components.

Why choose Barricade Kit to counter Vaporizers?

When utilizing natural terrain features for cover while engaging Vaporizers, you will typically find yourself shooting out through doorways or windows.

However, this approach suffers from a critical flaw: if the opening of the door or window is too wide, enemy fire can still penetrate directly through these gaps and strike the interior of your cover position.

However, a quick note is that Vaporizers require a steady line of sight, held for approximately one to one-and-a-half seconds, before they can initiate an attack on a target.

If a Vaporizer merely catches a fleeting glimpse of you, and provided you react quickly enough to dart rapidly back and forth within its field of view, it will not open fire. Barricade Kit serves precisely this purpose: to create that crucial window of opportunity for you.

How to use Barricade Kit?

First, place your initial Barricade Kit in a corner adjacent to the opening of your cover position. Then, adjust the kit's angle so that it leaves only a very narrow gap between itself and the wall, just wide enough for you to quickly slip in and out.

Next, squeeze yourself into the tight space formed between the kit's base supports and its main body; once positioned, place a second Barricade Kit directly to your side, facing you.

This specific configuration effectively seals off Vaporizers' firing angles almost completely, preventing them from directing their ordnance into the interior of your cover position.

This tactic proves highly effective, particularly when a Vaporizer hovers mid-air searching for your whereabouts, allowing you to take it down with ease.

Even if it decides to fire its laser beam at you, it poses little threat, as its firepower cannot penetrate deep into cover. You simply need to roll backward into the deeper recesses of your cover to maintain a safe distance from the beam.

Even if your cover is destroyed, redeploying is a simple matter, unless the enemy manages to destroy all of your deployed Barricade Kits simultaneously.

If only one kit is damaged, you still have the other serving as a barrier, and repairing or replacing the damaged one is a straightforward task.

However, the downside to this layout is that your field of view outward is severely restricted, and the time required to secure a kill may be slightly longer.

Therefore, if you prefer, you can adopt an upgraded version of this approach: position the second cover kit, which would typically sit to the side, slightly further away from the wall.

This grants you significantly more maneuvering room than before without compromising the effectiveness of your cover. You can lean out to scout and fire, then quickly roll back into the depths of your cover for safety.

Of course, when placing the second kit in this configuration, you must be precise with its positioning; ensure the resulting gap is wide enough for you to move through, yet not so wide that it renders the cover ineffective.

Alternatively, you could try using your Barricade Kits to construct a large V-shaped cover structure, ensuring the pointed tip of the V faces outward, directly toward Vaporizer.

Theoretically, this defensive layout still leaves the interior of the cover open to enemy fire; however, in practice, the enemy's line of sight is typically obstructed so thoroughly that, in the vast majority of combat scenarios, they simply cannot acquire a viable firing angle.

When utilizing this layout, you should position yourself on either side of the doorway, using the kits as cover while nimbly weaving back and forth between them. This not only keeps you protected but also allows you to execute peek-and-shoot maneuvers with agility and confidence.

And there you have it, a reliable strategy for using Barricade Kit to counter Vaporizer. If this piques your interest, give it a try right away!