Honkai Star Rail 3.2: What Worth To Expect? - New Pets, Characters And More
After the 3.1 update that went live at the end of February, Honkai Star Rail is expected to release a major 3.2 update in April, along with the anniversary celebration. We’ll show you what’s worth your attention in 3.2.
Newer than Genshin Impact and a bit outdated compared to Zenless Zone Zero, Honkai Star Rail is a bit awkward in the HoYoverse, but it still has its own unique game charm and has been steadily developing and updating.
Based on the first release date of April 2023, this means that Honkai Star Rail will soon celebrate its second anniversary, which is why the game recently released a 3.2 update trailer that is expected to be launched in conjunction with the second anniversary celebration. Not only will you experience more new content, but you will also have the opportunity to get more free rewards. Based on this, let’s introduce some of them.
Special Login Bonus
According to relevant information, Star Rail is expected to upgrade the game’s typical Gift of Odyssey login bonus in version 3.2, so that you can not only get 10 Star Rail Passes like in past updates but also get 20 more through a special anniversary patch. Not only that, the 3.2 login bonus update will also bring you 1,600 Stellar Jades and 10 fuel points, so that you can plan your existing Honkai Star Rail Oneiric Shards more flexibly to get more new characters in 3.2.
New Characters Will Appear
Regarding the new characters available, in addition to Castorice and Anaxa, which have been expected by players for a long time, more Amphoreus characters such as Phainon, Hyacine and Hysilens will also follow in the game.
And if you often pay attention to some game gossip, you may also know that Star Rail may hold a crossover event with Fate/Stay Night in the first half of the 3.4 update. Therefore, in order to pave the way for this event, the 3.2 version may launch related new gashapons in advance.
Related: Honkai: Star Rail And Fate/Stay Night Is A Fateful Collaboration
In fact, before that, I believe you have already discovered the new characters Tribbie and Yunli in the recently launched version 3.1. When they appear in the limited-time Gacha banner, they will also lead you to the next chapter of the main story of Amphoreus.
In addition, version 3.1 also includes multiple other limited-time events, such as the main event The Awooo Firm, and the new cycle mode Divergent Universe. This series of intensive update may indicate that Honkai Star Rail intends to show its strength in 2025.
New Explorable Area
Generally speaking, new areas also mean new stories and gameplay, and the mysterious new area expected to appear in version 3.2 is expected to be related to the story of Castorice, one of the new characters. Initially, Star Rail presented you with six different cities through the latest world Amphoreus, and the new story of version 3.0 led you to Castrum Kremnos and Janusopolis, and Herta and Aglaea were the first new characters here.
Although the 3.1 version currently in progress has also added new characters, they all belong to existing areas. Based on the launch time of 3.2 (the second anniversary of the game), it is not surprising that Star Rail chose to add a new area to this node.
According to the leaked information, the biggest feature of this new area in 3.2 is a broken moon in the sky, and water can be seen flowing out of the explosion area and hanging above a sea of purple and blue flowers. In addition, there is a strange ethereal door - players think this is likely related to the new S-level character Castorice that will debut in 3.2.
The reason why everyone has this speculation is that it is obvious that Castorice should be the core character in the story of the 3.2 update. She has an important connection with Thanatos, the god of death in the game, and through the gameplay information of Castorice that has been circulated on the Internet recently, she should play the role of DPS in the team.
Cute New Pets
Although Honkai Star Rail added a pet system to the game in version 2.0, there have been no new pets added to the system for a long time, except for the cute Tuskpir added in Luminary Wardance quest in 2.5, perhaps due to the lack of quest plots suitable for pets. However, on the occasion of the second anniversary, it is time to let more cute little animals celebrate the anniversary with you in the game!
The game is expected to add a new chimera pet companion to the pet system through the 3.2 update. This chimera named Bubbles always wears sunglasses, a float and a hat, and it can be seen that it likes water very much.
In Star Rail, chimeras are cute little creatures that live around Amphoreus. They are very popular. And perhaps to pave the way for Bubbles’ arrival, it is expected that version 3.1 will soon hold a limited-time event centered on this creature to provide you with more information about chimeras.
Although it is not yet clear how to unlock new pets in version 3.2, it should generally require you to claim them after completing related quests. In addition, you can now redeem a regular chimera with a mystery gift from Janus’ Steed in Amphoreus. The color and appearance of this chimera are randomly set, and it will be automatically placed in Trailblazer room in Okhema city after you obtain it. Unfortunately, this chimera cannot be brought along as a companion, which may make you look forward to Bubbles even more.
The above are the highlights of Honkai Star Rail’s 3.2 version update that we have summarized for you based on the known information. Let us look forward to the arrival of the game’s two-year anniversary celebration!
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Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.4.0 Pathfinder Builds Guide: Core Mechanics & Recommended Gear
Pathfinder is an Ascendancy Class among Rangers in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.4.0. Its key features are Poison mechanic and the use of Flasks, allowing players to inflict devastating damage on enemies by throwing different Flasks.
With numerous changes to Pathfinder in each update, it has finally become the most popular choice for early game progression in PoE 2 after the latest patch.
Next, I will introduce the most popular and effective Pathfinder builds in Patch 0.4.0, detailing their advantages, gameplay, and gear requirements.
Why choose Pathfinder?
Before introducing the best builds, we also need to understand why Pathfinder has become the preferred class for many players.
The main reason is that Pathfinder allows players to avoid being knocked down by enemies while sprinting, making it easier for players to navigate through groups of monsters and powerful bosses. Pathfinder also boasts a versatile passive tree, allowing the selection of both Witch and Warrior passive nodes simultaneously, resulting in a variety of build styles.
Furthermore, Pathfinder can apply double poison to enemies, further enhancing their build potential. Therefore, in PoE 2, its most unique feature compared to other classes lies in its ability to synergize multiple skills and boost damage output, making Pathfinder a top choice for many players.
Below are the most popular Pathfinder builds in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.4.0:
1. Poisonburst Arrow Pathfinder
With the nerfs to Lightning Arrow, Herald of Thunder, and Deadeye Ascendancy in the game, Poisonburst Arrow Pathfinder has become the most popular build in PoE 2.
This build works similarly to Lightning Arrow build, but its core damage output relies on Chaos Damage, effectively increasing poison damage. Poisonburst Arrow Pathfinder performs exceptionally well in endgame content, but with its popularity in high-level matches, achieving its optimal effect may require significant investment.
Core Mechanics
The core ability of this build is Poisonburst Arrow, which explodes upon hitting a target, creating a pool of poison on the ground that deals continuous damage to enemies within. This is ideal for clearing large areas of enemies.
To avoid being surrounded, Vine Arrows can be used to slow enemies, allowing the poison to continuously damage them while they are trapped. The damage increases exponentially with the number of poison stacks on enemies, making it an excellent choice for clearing maps and endgame content.
Recommended Gear
As a Pathfinder, you have many gear options, but to maximize poison and chaos damage, focus on gear with the following attributes:
- Bow: Look for bows that increase poison or chaos damage;
- Quiver: Any bow that increases attack speed and chaos damage;
- Flasks: Flasks with healing effects and damage-boosting properties.
2. Spark Cast on Critical Pathfinder
Spark CoC Pathfinder build fully utilizes Pathfinder's ability to light up Witch's passive tree nodes, making it an option for players who prefer a critical strike build. The combination of Spark and Cast on Critical can produce extremely high damage, especially when paired with powerful gems such as Comet.
Core Mechanics
Spark is the core skill of this build. When activated, it fires a series of sparking projectiles that bounce across the battlefield, dealing damage upon impact. Cast on Critical Strike allows you to gain energy upon critically striking enemies, triggering all socketed spells.
The most common pairing is Arc and Comet. Arc provides powerful crowd control and clearing capabilities, while Comet offers massive burst damage. This multifaceted approach makes this build perform exceptionally well in both clearing mobs and fighting bosses.
However, it's important to note that due to the high mana output, you need to manage your Spirit and Mana effectively. This is crucial for ensuring you can continuously cast spells and trigger CoC chain reactions.
Recommended Gear
Since this build focuses on Witch's spell passive nodes, our equipment and weapons are no longer the conventional bow and arrow.
- Weapons: Wands or daggers with high critical strike chance, preferably with spell damage bonuses;
- Helmet and Gloves: Equipment that increases critical strike chance or spell damage;
- Flasks: Flasks that generate critical strike chance and spell damage.
3. Explosive Grenade Pathfinder
While Explosive Grenade Pathfinder build is somewhat unconventional compared to other common builds, once fully completed, it can provide unique fun and powerful performance.
Because Pathfinder and Mercenary share the passive tree, it's easy to unlock passive nodes related to grenade skills. This build can clear out enemies across an entire area, making it ideal for content requiring large-scale mob clearing and challenging high-level bosses.
Core Mechanics
The core skill of this build is Explosive Grenade, which deals massive area-of-effect damage. As the skill level increases, you'll unlock more related skills, further enhancing the grenade's power. For example, the combination of Mirage Archer and Mortar Cannon can result in even higher damage.
However, while the skill's power is immense, Explosive Grenade build has a major drawback: the ground effects from the explosion can cause visual clutter on the screen, sometimes affecting the player's vision on the battlefield.
Recommended Gear
The gear selection for this build is more straightforward, primarily focusing on boosting grenade skill damage:
- Weapons: Choose equipment with high grenade damage bonuses;
- Helm and Chest: Increase projectile speed and area-of-effect damage;
- Flasks: Provide damage boosts, mana regeneration, and projectile damage buffs.
4. Ice Shot Pathfinder
For players who enjoy bow builds but want to try something unique, Ice Shot Pathfinder build is a great option. This build focuses on freezing and shattering enemies, providing not only visually appealing effects but also excellent crowd control.
Core Mechanics
The core skill of this build is Ice Shot, which fires an ice arrow that shatters enemies into fragments upon impact. This not only clears enemies quickly but, especially when paired with Herald of Ice, freezes and shatters them, dealing additional damage.
Furthermore, the enhanced Freezing Mark in patch 0.4.0 makes this build stand out even in the late game. If you feel your early-game damage output is insufficient, you can also pair it with Snipe. And Ice Shot build should be less expensive than mainstream Pathfinder builds.
Recommended Gear
This gear build focuses on enhancing Frost damage:
- Bow: Focuses on increasing Frost damage, critical strike chance, and elemental damage;
- Helmet: Can provide Frost damage bonuses or Frost resistance;
- Flasks: Flasks with Frost, Shock, and elemental damage bonuses are all acceptable.
These are the recommended Pathfinder builds for Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.4.0. Whether you prefer mainstream builds or more interesting ones, Pathfinder has something for you. Don't hesitate to choose your favorite and enjoy the hunt!
WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Raid Difficulty Changes Explained: Why Easier Raids Could Be a Win for Players?
WoW Classic player community has been buzzing lately, mainly because this vast game universe will welcome a brand new member on January 13th: The Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary expansion, and there have been various discussions about the difficulty changes of the raids it contains.
According to the announcement released by the developers, the difficulty of the challenges in this anniversary expansion will be significantly reduced, which has confused many loyal fans and made them worry that the player base will be lost in large numbers after its official release. But is that really the case?
EZG.com, through visits to various gaming communities and feedback from players on social media, has reached the opposite conclusion: lowering the difficulty will actually make this new expansion more unique, which is exactly what the series needs. If you’re interested, feel free to continue reading.
Adapting to the Development of the Times
Initial, the raid instances originally found in World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade and TBC Classic perfectly met the gameplay needs of players who had more free time, relatively little game knowledge, and limited understanding of the game at the time.
However, after nearly 20 years of development and the game world and environment continued to evolve, the exploring style in this type of MMOs has changed several times, so sticking to the original game difficulty and mode, like the extremely difficult process of farming WoW 20th Anniversary Gold, which was complained about throughout the previous anniversary expansion will only lead to being eliminated by the times.
But that’s not the most important thing; it’s the changes in the players. In this process, the once spirited teenagers have become adults who have to work, have families and various responsibilities, so they no longer have enough time to spend on challenging battles like Foreman Grills encounter, but rather want to enjoy a greater sense of accomplishment.
In view of this, a raid instance that lowers the entry barrier without compromising the gameplay experience is exactly what they need. Moreover, a relaxed approach to progressing through dungeons effectively reduces the likelihood of players becoming bored with the constant deaths or the hassle of recreating builds, or even giving up halfway through.
Advanced Players’ Goal Has Changed
When World of Warcraft universe was just emerging, a high-level player was defined as someone who could complete the highest difficulty challenge in each expansion. This only applied to a few people because the player base was small at that time, and the skill level was generally low.
As the series expands and the player base grows, a large number of dedicated players have emerged who specialize in completing many highly challenging tasks. At first, they simply boasted that they could complete these game tasks, but as time went on, their goals began to change dramatically.
Based on player reviews of recent expansions, some top player groups are able to kill all bosses and reach the level cap within the first week. They don’t stop there; instead, they reorganize their raid compositions to quickly complete all existing raid content.
Therefore, the difficulty level in WoW The Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary is no longer a concern for these players, nor will it affect their enthusiasm for the challenge of this expansion. In fact, lowering the difficulty may even inspire them to create more efficient and diverse builds, which is exactly what the developers want.
Some of Developers’ Personal Reasons
While it’s not unusual for WoW to take existing expansions and redevelop them, for this TBC Anniversary expansion, the developers seem determined to completely remove the label that players have always held for their new content as exhibits in a museum. Since it can’t be exactly the same as the original, let is unique.
For example, the now-leaked dual spec, Raidwide Bloodlust,Account-wide attunements, and altered economies will allow this player group, which has accumulated 20 years of gaming experience, to enjoy a completely different gaming experience. Of course, reducing the difficulty of raids is also an important measure.
With its retro-inspired yet fun and easy-to-learn gameplay, both casual and advanced gamers will be captivated by it, which will make it easier for these people to find like-minded teams within guilds to enter dungeons together and clear them. At this point, the developer’s selfish motives began to surface.
When all players are focused on running dungeons, there are very few changes in guilds or in-game personnel. This means that developers will have a healthier long-term player community, thereby improving the stability of the entire server. This is far more important than existing just for the fleeting sense of glory of a few players.
For all the reasons mentioned above, World of Warcraft’s decision to reduce the difficulty of raids in TBC Classic Anniversary expansion could be a win-win situation for both players and developers: both casual and hardcore players can find more suitable playstyles as a result; and the developers can retain a large portion of their player base as a result.
However, it must be noted that the developers have never seemed to indicate any intention to increase the drop rate of high-quality items or TBC Anniversary Gold in this expansion. Therefore, continuous farming remains your primary objective in this type of game. The only hope now is that the pre-patch on January 13th will reveal some improvements and changes. Stay tuned!
ARC Raiders Cold Snap Wolfpack Blueprint Guide | Best Route, Crafting Materials, and Combat Tips
In ARC Raiders, players must not only contend with attacks from other invaders but also face various powerful and highly threatening hostile mechanical units, including Rocketeers and Queen. These mechanical enemies possess not only heavy armor but also powerful firepower, presenting a significant survival challenge for players.
Among the many available weapons and equipment, Wolfpack is widely considered an extremely efficient and highly targeted missile. It releases a cluster of small homing missiles upon deployment, significantly increasing the overall damage output of a single attack and greatly extending the effective range. It can easily help you overcome difficult situations.
While players can easily find the necessary ARC Raiders items to craft Wolfpack in high-value areas across various maps, you can only craft it at Speranza after finding the blueprint and safely extracting it.
Blueprint Route
The best map to obtain Wolfpack blueprint is Dam Battlegrounds, where you can find multiple spawn points for this grenade. Below, I will outline the shortest and most practical route to help you find the blueprint.
Because this route is quite long and physically demanding, make sure you carry at least 5 Adrenaline Shots before starting. This will help you save rest time and traverse the map faster. Also, since some high-level loot is hidden in locked rooms, you will need to bring several Keycards.
Additionally, Wolfpack blueprint drop rate is higher during Night Raid or Cold Snap event, so if possible, try searching during Night Raid or special events.
Ruby Residence & Pale Apartments
When raiding Dam Battlegrounds, Ruby Residence and Pale Apartments are highly likely to spawn grenades and various weapon blueprints.
These two buildings have many structures; you should search every building, checking every drawer and cabinet, and any other place where blueprints might be found. If you don’t find anything in these locations, move on to the next location quickly.
Generator Room & Power Generation Complex
On the east side of Power Generation Complex, there is a special locked room containing several metal crates that often hold various valuable items. You can open them to find various blueprints, including Wolfpack blueprint.
Also, make sure to search the electrical panels in both locations, as they also have a chance to spawn some rare ARC Raiders blueprints.
Primary Facility
On your way to the next key refresh point, you’ll pass through a tunnel that connects Power Generation Complex and Research & Administration Building. Along the way, you can stop at Primary Facility, where you’ll find several crates and open containers that may contain the blueprints you’re looking for.
Research & Administration Building
This is the final destination on our route and the place with the most blueprints. This building is bound to be fiercely contested by other raiders, which is where Adrenaline Shots we mentioned earlier come in handy. They significantly reduce your rest time, allowing you to reach this location faster than others.
Upon arriving at your destination, first search all the containers, cabinets, and lockers on the second floor. Many valuable blueprints and other Arc Raiders items are often hidden here.
Besides Dam Battlegrounds, you might also find this blueprint in the residential areas of Buried City or Blue Gate, but these areas usually have large numbers of ARC Enemies patrolling or other invaders, making them less safe than Dam Battlegrounds.
Crafting Materials
After obtaining the blueprint, you will need 3 Explosive Compounds and 2 ARC Motion Cores to craft it at Explosives Station 3.
Of these materials, Explosive Compound is the most difficult to obtain. It is commonly found in industrial loot containers. You can find it along this blueprint route at Power Generation Complex and Research & Administration, and it can also spawn in Warehouse Shipping area at Spaceport.
Usage Tips
When you need to destroy multiple targets, Wolfpack is definitely your best choice. You can throw it into the air, and when it explodes, it will split into multiple homing missiles to destroy targets.
However, if you want to concentrate fire on a single target, it’s best to launch it at the target’s feet. When you throw it, there’s a chance it will fly to an unexpected location, potentially attracting enemy attention.
Also, be careful not to throw it indoors or under trees, as the missiles may not identify the target and will only explode on the ceiling or branches, causing no substantial damage.
I recommend saving it for high-difficulty missions. When you’re surrounded by many ARC Enemies in combat, you’ll definitely want to use it. Throwing it is like pressing a one-button clear button, eliminating all nearby small and medium-sized AI enemies–it’s incredibly satisfying.
Finally, remember that Wolfpack only targets AI robots in Arc Raiders; it is ineffective against other raiders. This concludes the search route, crafting materials, and usage tips for Wolfpack blueprint. I hope you can find it using this method! I’d be really happy if you do!
ARC Raiders Snap Hook Guide: How to Make Full Use of It in Raids?
Snap Hook is one of the most underrated yet most powerful items in ARC Raiders. While it may not be as flashy as some of the more destructive weapons in the game, it provides a tactical advantage that can often be life-or-death in raids.
Furthermore, if you encounter rooms you can't enter without a special key, you can try using Snap Hook to enter through alternative entrances. It helps us easily access many unexpected spaces, allowing us to loot a lot of valuable loot.
Next, I will introduce you to the important information you need to know about Snap Hook in ARC Raiders, including how to effectively use it and the maps in the game best suited for its use.
Why should we carry it with us?
You might think that abandoning Snap Hook in a raid and choosing to carry a more traditional weapon or piece of equipment is the safest option, but this is a huge mistake. Snap Hook is an essential tool that every raider should carry, without exception.
Because it allows you to traverse rugged terrain, helping you access loot that's normally inaccessible, and it's also a very cool movement tool, perfect for ambushing enemies or escaping dangerous situations in ARC Raiders.
Moreover, the key to Snap Hook lies in its versatility. Some ARC Raiders items are purely offensive or defensive, while Snap Hook is more of a tactical tool, helping you with positioning during raids and picking up loot.
Snap Hook Mechanics
Snap Hook is more than just a movement tool; it's a precise tool that requires practice to master, and its functional mechanics are quite rich.
Directional control
One of Snap Hook's most powerful features is its ability to adjust direction in mid-air, like Spider-Man. Once you master the technique, you'll find this function incredibly useful, although many players seem unaware of this.
You've probably tried using it to grab the edge of a building in the game, only to miss because you were too low, or flew too far and landed on the other side. You can actually adjust the directional commands using the joystick (or keyboard), allowing you to control your flight path - whether it's climbing upwards, drifting sideways, or diving downwards.
Once you master this technique, it can completely transform your gameplay and might even save your life in a critical situation.
Double Snap Hook usage
For experienced ARC Raiders players, Snap Hook can be used twice in the air, effectively expanding its area of effect. This is an excellent technique when trying to reach high edges or traverse wide gaps in the game.
By using Snap Hook a second time at the highest point of the first swing, you can effectively double its area of effect, allowing you to explore areas that are inaccessible to other players.
Fall risk
While Snap Hook is powerful, it also carries the risk of fall damage. If you're not careful, you might use it at the wrong angle and fall from a great height, resulting in death or serious injury, and the loss of your valuable equipment.
This is a real problem many players face, especially when encountering extremely high areas or complex terrain, which may deter many from using Snap Hook. Actually, these are minor issues; every player might encounter this problem in the game. You can reduce this risk and avoid making fatal mistakes through continuous practice.
How to obtain Snap Hook?
Since Cold Snap patch was released, Snap Hook has quickly become the new king of the patch, becoming the most powerful and sought-after item in the game. However, precisely because of its power, obtaining it in the game is not easy; it is extremely rare, and its blueprint is even rarer.
Especially now that the studio has adjusted Snap Hook's attributes, giving it durability. This means you can no longer use it recklessly as before; each use reduces its lifespan, so now players only use it in crucial moments.
Mission Rewards
Fortunately, the official methods have provided a few reliable ways to obtain Snap Hooks. One of them is completing Lost In Transmission mission.
This mission, given by Shani, requires you to complete specific objectives at Spaceport. You will receive a Snap Hook as a reward, along with a Spaceport Control Tower Key.
Raider Deck
Raider Deck is the easiest way to obtain Snap Hooks. As you progress through the early game, you'll unlock "Raider Deck" page, similar to a battle pass, with rewards on each page.
You'll often see Snap Hooks appear as rewards on the second or third page. This is usually your first Snap Hook, so make good use of it and don't lose it.
Crafting
Besides these two methods, you can also obtain them by looting, but this is rare and usually appears in high-tier loot areas. If you want to permanently own this item, you need to find Snap Hook blueprint to craft it.
However, Snap Hook Blueprints aren't easy to obtain. You'll need to repeatedly try in areas with high loot spawn rates or in locked rooms, such as:
- Dam Battlegrounds: Water Treatment Control building, Pumping Station locked room;
- Buried City: Hospital, Town Hall key room.
With a bit of luck, you can acquire it quickly. You can also raid special map modifiers, like Night Raid, to increase the blueprint drop rate. Once you have Snap Hook blueprint, you can unlock its recipe:
- 2 Power Rods
- 3 Ropes
- 1 Exodus Modules
After that, you just need to acquire the raw materials in the game and craft Snap Hook anytime using Utility Station 3.
Best places to use it
While you can use Snap Hook anywhere, considering its rarity and durability, we need to maximize its effectiveness. Some maps in ARC Raiders offer more opportunities than others.
Spaceport
Spaceport boasts some of the best vertical space in the game, making it ideal for gaining an advantage with Snap Hook, especially on control towers that are difficult to reach by conventional means. Most players need to use ziplines or explore the map to reach the top.
However, with Snap Hook, you can skip all that trouble and simply climb the walls to the top. This not only allows you to quickly obtain valuable loot but also gives you a favorable position to ambush or scout other players below.
Buried City
Many players feel that small maps like Buried City don't require Snap Hooks, usually just jumping from one building to another or using ziplines to reach rooftops. However, this method only works in certain areas, and there are rooftops you can't directly reach. This is where Snap Hooks come in.
Like towers or hospitals, these are often key locations for looting. Some rooms even require keys to enter, and you need to be wary of other players who might follow you in and ambush you after you open the door.
However, if you use a Snap Hook, you can enter these key rooms from rooftops, preventing other players from sneaking up on you from behind. You can occupy high ground, safely loot, and avoid being ambushed.
In short, Snap Hooks are not only a tool for acquiring loot, but also a crucial piece of equipment that can change the course of a raid. You need to practice and master it. So make sure it's always in your inventory to help you survive and succeed in ARC Raiders.
ARC Raiders Augments Guide: Which One is The Strongest in Raid?
Augments are the core of raider gear in ARC Raiders, directly impacting a player's performance in every raid. They determine how much you can carry on the raid battlefield, how long you can survive in combat, and whether you can successfully extract.
Besides Free Loadout Augments, there are 12 available Augments in ARC Raiders. Their main purpose is to increase a player's carry capacity, weight limit, and shield compatibility.
ARC Raiders groups these Augments by color and tier, and each enhancement has different effects. I will briefly introduce them and select the three I believe are the strongest in the game.
Augments MK. 3 (Purple)
Augments MK. 3 offers 6 types of Augments, differentiated by different attributes: Looting, Combat, and Tactical. These Augments provide different buffs to raiders.
Looting Mk. 3
First, let's look at Looting Augments. For cautious players, the biggest advantage of Looting Augments is their 24 inventory slots, the most of all Augments. This prominent feature might be what makes Looting Augments slightly inferior in other aspects.
Looting Mk. 3 includes Cautious and Survivor. Objectively speaking, Survivor is stronger because it trades four extra inventory slots for better attributes in other areas. Most importantly, Cautious can only use Light Shields, not Medium Shields, making it weaker defensively.
Unless you want to bring back as many ARC Raiders items as possible during raids, if you're undecided between Cautious and Survivor, I strongly recommend Survivor. Its most powerful ability is that when you're knocked down by an attack, your health not only doesn't decrease but actually recovers, up to 75%.
This means you can remain downed and wait for your teammates to revive you. Even if you're a solo player, you can use this Augment to ensure safety; if you're downed, you can crawl to the extraction point and escape quickly.
Overall, the main advantage of Looting Augments is that you can take a large amount of loot.
Combat Mk. 3
Combat Mk. 3 includes Aggressive and Flanking. These two Augments have completely different styles. Flanking focuses more on light armor and practicality, while Aggressive is more geared towards direct PvP.
Flanking and Survivor are very similar in function, except that the weight limit and shield selection are significantly reduced, replaced by greater practicality. Its passive skill effect is also limited, as it requires you to use specific weapons to obtain the buff.
Aggressive's biggest advantage is that it can equip Medium or Heavy Shields; aside from this, it's relatively average in other aspects. If you plan to actively participate in PvP or PvE combat rather than quietly scavenging for supplies, then Aggressive is definitely worth considering.
Tactical Mk. 3
Tactical Mk. 3 includes Defensive and Healing. These two Augments serve drastically different purposes compared to Looting Augments.
Firstly, Defensive is the only Augment MK. 3 item besides Aggressive that can equip Heavy Shields. Its primary function is to provide defensive capabilities for the raider. Its passive effect allows the shield to recharge while sprinting, which is very useful for retreating or repositioning, but its practicality is limited in actual raids.
As for Healing, it's my favorite Augment besides Survivor. Although it has the lowest weight limit and backpack slots among the purple Augments, it has three safe pockets and can equip Medium Shields.
Furthermore, it offers players the best options for simultaneously equipping medicine, support items, and grenades, and it's extremely practical and efficient in combat. While the passive skill is somewhat lackluster, it can be ignored.
Augments MK. 2 (Blue)
There are three types of Augments MK. 2: Looting Mk. 2, Combat Mk. 2, and Tactical Mk. 2. Combat Mk. 2 is the only Augment that can equip Heavy Shields, which is why many players choose it.
Tactical Mk. 2 can equip Medium Shields and has a passive skill: when your shield breaks, it releases a smoke grenade, making it very useful in PvP. However, it's more suitable for solo players because the smoke can somewhat affect your teammates' combat output.
However, I believe that Looting Mk. 2 is the best Augments MK. 2. Its two safe pockets, extra backpack space, and increased weight capacity are more valuable than anything else, making it suitable for players who like to loot extensively.
Augments MK. 1 (Green)
If your Augments are still at MK. 1 level, you should primarily use Looting Mk. 1, as it offers the largest backpack space and weight limit. At this stage, your goal should be to bring back as much loot as possible.
The only advantage of Combat Mk. 1 and Tactical Mk. 1 is their ability to equip Medium Shields, but they bring back very little loot. Therefore, you should focus on scavenging until you can craft higher-level Augments.
Strongest Augments
In ARC Raiders, while each Augment is different, I believe the three strongest are:
- Looting Mk. 3 (Survivor)
- Tactical Mk. 3 (Healing)
- Combat Mk. 3 (Aggressive)
Survivor is undoubtedly the strongest among players, usable regardless of your raid target. Healing offers more options in the game and is very effective when carrying a large amount of gear. As for Aggressive, if you ever want to carry Heavy Shields, don't hesitate to choose it.
The above is information on all Augments in ARC Raiders, along with their characteristics. To provide you with a helpful reference, I've selected the three strongest Augments. I hope this is helpful. Good luck with your looting in the new patch!
WoW Classic 20th Anniversary Gold & Material Farming | Stockpiling Resources before TBC Pre-Patch Launch
TBC Anniversary Pre-Patch will launch on January 13, 2026. With the launch date approaching and the end of Phase 6 of WoW Classic 20th Anniversary approaching, you need to prepare in advance to create a perfect start for TBC Classic Anniversary.
When your WoW 20th Anniversary Phase 6 ends, your server will automatically transition to The Burning Crusade version. If you are a dedicated WoW 20th Anniversary player, you can now farm enough resources in the game to make your TBC journey smoother.
Next, I will introduce the important reserve resources that can be farmed in WoW Classic 20th Anniversary and will be carried over to WoW TBC Anniversary Pre-Patch, and how to obtain them.
Gold farming locations
Gold is the most consumable resource in the game, and it is indispensable regardless of which version server you are on. Especially in The Burning Crusade, a normal flight costs 800 gold, while an epic flight costs a whopping 5000 gold. Therefore, your primary goal is to continuously farm WoW Classic 20th Anniversary gold.
Here are the most popular gold farming locations in WoW Classic 20th Phase 6:
1. Eastern Plaguelands (EPL)
As the most severely affected area in Plaguelands, Eastern Plaguelands offers players a substantial gold reward. You'll need to acquire the following here:
- Plaguebloom
- Black Lotus
- Rich Thorium
- Runecloth
- Scourgestones
You can exchange these items for enough gold through auctions or by trading.
2. Silithus
Silithus is one of the zerg-infested areas in southern Kalimdor. You can use Twilight Cultist sets here to summon Twilight Members, obtaining Abyssal Signet or Abyssal Crest, both profitable trade items.
If you're lucky, you might also find extra Rich Thorium and Black Lotus here, both top-tier core resources.
3. Winterspring
Winterspring is a frozen valley in northern Kalimdor. These are your primary farming targets here:
- Icecap herbs
- Winterfall mobs (Essence of Water)
- Rugged Leather from Frostsabers
Icecap herbs, in particular, are extremely valuable and in high demand, still useful even in the early stages of TBC.
4. Dire Maul Tribute Runs (DM North)
Dire Maul has three winged sections. Players level 55 and above are advised to visit this area, especially North wing, the location of the famous Tribute Runs.
If your character is a Mage, you can solo this; other classes are best suited for a five-person group. After completing Dire Maul Tribute Runs challenge, you will receive the following rewards:
- Gold
- Librams
- Ogre Tannin
- High-value BoEs
5. Swamp of Sorrows
Swamp of Sorrows is widely recognized as one of the best gold farming spots, as it is rich in Blindweed, Gromsblood, and Stonescale Eel, as well as other materials.
You can combine herbalism and fishing here for maximum profit, as the swamp is not only suitable for herb growth due to the sea seeping into the land, but also teeming with creatures.
Materials
Besides gold, you can also stockpile high-value items in WOW 20th. Some can be exchanged for gold, while others are equally useful in TBC Pre-Patch.
1. High-Grade Ores
The most valuable items are high-grade ores. They can be exchanged for a large amount of gold and are also important materials for crafting. You can focus on these ores:
- Thorium Ore
- Rich Thorium
- Arcane Crystal
- Dark Iron Bar
- Dark Iron Ore
Sources:
- BRD
- Winterspring
- Molten Core
- BWL
- BRD Bosses
- Dark Iron Dwarf
These are core resources for crafting high-end gear and pushing your professions. However, too many will take up inventory space. Therefore, you should stockpile only the resources most important to you based on your character's needs.
2. Top-Tier Herbs
Herbs are essential materials for crafting Flask.
- Plaguebloom
- Icecap
- Dreamfoil
- Mountain Silversage
- Golden Sansam
Winterspring and Felwood are important sources of these herbs in WoW Classic 20th Anniversary. If you are an Alchemy profession, farming large quantities of herbs is your top priority.
3. Cloth
Runecloth is the most worthwhile cloth to farm in the game for TBC. As a high-level cloth material, it has a wide range of uses, and its drop sources are relatively numerous:
- Scholomance: Dropped by Skeletal or Elite Undead;
- Stratholme: Dropped by Undead or Elite mobs;
- BRD: Focus on Elite mobs and bosses.
In these locations, you can not only obtain Runecloth but also gold, ores, and herbs, making resource acquisition highly efficient.
4. Rare Recipes
Rare recipes are typically used to craft high-end equipment and items, so even in TBC Anniversary, they are indispensable items that can enhance your class's strength.
The most important of these are Thorium Recipes and Dark Iron Recipes, which can be farmed simultaneously in Blackrock Depths (BRD).
Besides stockpiling sufficient resources, the skills, gear, and character attributes you acquire in WoW Classic 20th Anniversary will carry over to WoW Classic TBC Anniversary Pre-Patch.
However, be aware that there are still some differences between the two game versions. Therefore, you should focus on consumables that are still valuable in TBC, as you'll likely use them extensively at the start of the game.
For other items whose value has decreased, such as Black Lotus, it's best to sell them for gold before Pre-Patch goes live.
In short, to gain a significant resource advantage in Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary, act now!