Valheim 1.0: Avoiding Pitfalls - Why Do So Many Players Quit Mid-Game?

The official launch of EA FC 27 is fast approaching, and the schedule for the initial launch phase is packed. If you plan to jump into Ultimate Team the moment the new game goes live, it is essential to mark down the following key dates now.

Knowing these milestones in advance, especially for players aiming to build their squads and accumulate packs and coins early, can save you a lot of wasted effort.

Here, EZG.com outlines the important dates for FC 27, chronologically covering the period from September 9th through the first week of October.

September 9-September 10

EA FC 26 Companion App and Web App will go offline starting September 9th to begin the transition to FC 27. On September 10th, the full player PlayStyles database for FC 27 will be revealed. While we have already seen numerous player cards and officially announced ratings, this date will unveil the specific PlayStyles, PlayStyle+, and PlayStyle Basic attributes.

This information is crucial for FUT 27 players; given the current meta shift involving reduced AI assistance, relying solely on overall ratings is no longer sufficient to determine if a player fits your squad.

PlayStyles directly impact on-pitch performance. Once the full database is released on September 10th, you can start planning your starter squad and deciding which players are worth using.

September 16

Web App launches on September 16th, marking the time for Ultimate Team players to begin preparing their clubs. You can manage your club, open starter packs, and start accumulating resources. FC 27 also introduces the new FUT Gallery feature, allowing you to earn tokens and redeem them for rewards in the store.

Meanwhile, the first Team of the Week for FC 27 will be revealed during this period. As the new season kicks off and major leagues get underway, players who perform exceptionally well in competitions like Premier League, La Liga, and Ligue 1 will have the chance to be included in this inaugural TOTW lineup. 

September 17

EA FC 27 Companion App is set to launch officially on September 17. Meanwhile, according to reports from major leak sites and accounts, FUT 27 early access may open at 2:00 PM UK time on September 17 - a day ahead of the scheduled official launch for Ultimate Edition. If these reports are accurate, you will be able to access the game a day early.

EA Play is also expected to offer early access to FIFA 27; a standard EA Play subscription typically grants 10 hours of playtime, allowing you to download the game in advance and jump right in once the countdown ends.

However, this arrangement has not yet been officially confirmed by EA. Information displayed on PlayStation Stores across different regions varies; while no clear indications have appeared for Brazil or South America yet, relevant details have already surfaced on Xbox platforms.

Therefore, if you are planning to subscribe to EA Play solely for early access to EA FC 27, it is advisable to hold off for now. It would be safer to wait until the early access launch is officially confirmed on September 17 before making a decision.

September 18-September 24

September 18 marks the official launch of FUT 27 Ultimate Edition, allowing players who own this version to access the game earlier than those with Standard Edition.

Shortly after Ultimate Edition goes live, you will encounter the first round of Squad Battles in FIFA 27. Current schedules indicate that Squad Battles will take place on September 19, September 20, and the following weekend; however, official details regarding the specific match cycles and reward settlement arrangements are still pending.

Although many veteran players have grown less fond of Squad Battles, the mode remains valuable during the first month of EA FC 27, especially before FUT Champions mode kicks off in the second week. Since your team is likely still taking shape in the early stages of the game, FIFA 27 coins and packs earned through Squad Battles can help you accumulate resources more quickly.

On September 23, FC 27 will see the release of the second Team of the Week, and on September 24, the first round of Division Rivals rewards will be distributed. By this time, Ultimate Edition players will have already earned rewards through PvP matches, setting themselves up for the high-intensity competitive modes to follow. 

September 25–September 30

September 25 marks the global launch of FUT 27, with Standard Edition becoming available on this day. Concurrently, the first promo event is expected to go live alongside the global release; specific details regarding the event are currently subject to a community vote.

The inaugural promo typically introduces a batch of special player cards with stats significantly higher than standard versions; some of these players may even become the core of your squad during the early game. These initial special cards are expected to appear around September 25 or 26, serving as some of the first major content drops following the game's official launch.

Team of the Week for Week 3 will be revealed on September 30. The introduction of these new special cards to the market could shift prices and demand for players in certain positions. Players who haven't finalized their squads yet can use this period to monitor market trends before deciding which positions are worth investing their FC coins in.

First Week of October

The first FUT Champions event of EA FC 27 is expected to kick off during the first week of October. FUT Champions places a strong emphasis on competition and match results; you must complete matches within a set timeframe to earn rewards based on your performance. It serves as a crucial avenue for acquiring high-value rewards and special player cards.

For players seriously preparing for EA FC 27, these key milestones are worth noting. You can begin squad preparations once Web App launches, start accumulating rewards after Ultimate Edition opens, and welcome a larger player base following the global release of Standard Edition. However, it is the launch of FUT Champions that truly signals the start of the game's more intense competitive phase.

Diablo 4 Season 15 has adjusted Mythic Upgrade mechanic. Players can now directly upgrade an existing Unique item into a Mythic version while retaining its original stats, Tempering, and Masterworking, all while boosting its Unique Power.

However, Mythic items created via this recipe bear a special Crafting Mark, and you can only equip one such item at a time.

Therefore, the key consideration during the early-to-mid stages of Season 15 is: which Unique item should receive Mythic upgrade to yield the greatest boost in combat power? Usually, the answer is the core piece of gear that offers the most significant benefit to your current build.

What has Changed with Mythic Upgrades?

While Mythic Upgrades in Season 14 involved a high degree of randomness, D4 Season 15 allows players to directly upgrade an existing Unique item into a Mythic one.

Upon upgrading, the original item's Affixes, Tempering, and Masterworking are preserved, and Unique Power is increased by approximately 30%.

Consequently, it is better to farm a target Unique with strong stats first before performing Mythic Upgrade. Note, however, that you can only equip one Mythic item created via this recipe at a time; D4 Mythic items obtained through standard drops or other methods are not subject to this restriction.

How should You Choose Your First Mythic?

Since the supply of Sparks is limited during the early-to-mid stages of Season 15, your first Mythic upgrade should prioritize the core Unique item that provides the greatest benefit to your build.

When selecting a target, consider Unique Power's multiplier. A 20% effect might only rise to around 26% after upgrading - a relatively minor actual gain - whereas upgrading an effect with a high base multiplier yields a much more significant benefit.

Beyond the multiplier, consider whether Diablo 4 items directly contributes to your core damage output, how reliably its effect triggers, and whether the item's Affixes, Tempering, and Masterworking are of high quality. If these conditions aren't ideal, there is no need to rush into spending a Spark, even if the multiplier is high.

Upgrade Order

For the vast majority of builds, start by identifying the most important Diablo 4 Unique items in your current setup and comparing their Unique Powers, trigger frequencies, and impact on core damage output. Once you have identified your highest-priority target, farm a version with better stats, complete Tempering and Masterworking, and finally perform Mythic Upgrade.

After completing the first item, you can leverage this power spike to tackle higher-difficulty content. Faster mob clearing and progression speeds will improve the efficiency of acquiring subsequent gear and resources.

If you later obtain a stronger Mythic for the same slot, you no longer need to reserve your upgrade opportunity for that item; instead, you can shift your focus to the next high-value Unique in your build.

In this way, the priority for Mythic Upgrades shifts dynamically alongside your gear. Prioritize upgrading the item that offers the greatest benefit at your current stage, and only consider the next item once the current one has been replaced by a superior option.

Don't Rush to Use Your First Batch of Sparks

Although it is possible to acquire Sparks early in D4 S15, there is no need to perform a Mythic Upgrade immediately upon obtaining the resource.

If you haven't yet farmed your core Unique, or if the current version's key affixes and enhancement results are mediocre, it is better to continue progressing and farming gear. Since the upgrade preserves the item's current state, investing Sparks too early into a Unique that will soon be replaced yields little return.

The ideal time to upgrade is after you have locked in your build's core gear and possess a version of high enough quality to use reliably for an extended period. This ensures that your first Mythic Upgrade translates effectively into actual combat power.

How Should You Adjust if You Find Another Mythic Later?

The first Mythic you upgrade in D4 S15, doesn't have to occupy that slot forever.

If you subsequently find or craft a stronger Mythic that can replace your current piece, you can re-evaluate the remaining Uniques in your build and shift your upgrade target to the next most beneficial slot.

For example, you might initially prioritize upgrading Unique with the highest damage multiplier; once that slot is replaced by a stronger Mythic obtained through drops or crafting, you can then look at the item with the second-highest multiplier or the one that most significantly affects your build's rotation.

Therefore, the priority list for Mythic Upgrades is not static; it develops as your gear improves. Upgrade the item offering the highest current benefit first, and address the next item only after securing a replacement.

Why does This Change Mid-Game Progression?

In the past, Mythics were rarely included in mid-game builds because consistently obtaining specific items was difficult during that phase. 

With the introduction of targeted Mythic Upgrades in Diablo 4 S15, players can upgrade core Unique items into Mythics much earlier. This facilitates an earlier transition into a mid-game setup, providing a reliable boost to combat effectiveness during that phase.

For your first Mythic upgrade in D4 Season 15, prioritize a Unique item that offers a Unique with a high-value Unique Power multiplier, contributes consistently to core damage output, and has a solid base. Choosing the right target ensures a significant power spike in the early-to-mid game, thereby accelerating your subsequent progression.

Forbidden Rites event for Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.5 is now live, and Ritual has become a key part of the event's gameplay. Players can find a fixed Ritual altar in each zone, and during the campaign phase, these Rituals often offer powerful rare items.

By design, Ritual was intended to be a rewarding activity for long-term farming within Forbidden Rites event; however, the mechanic is currently plagued by a series of serious issues.

After several days of testing, we found that these problems not only impact POE 2 gameplay experience but also directly increase Tribute costs, making high-value Rituals in Patch 0.5.5 increasingly less worthwhile to farm.

Ritual Interface QoL

First, let's look at POE 2 QoL changes to Ritual interface. Previously, after completing the first Ritual in a map, you could immediately open Ritual menu to view current rewards and defer items that had already appeared. Patch 0.5.5 has altered this QoL mechanic.

Now, you must complete all six Rituals on the map before you can view the full list of Ritual rewards. Furthermore, even after completing every Ritual, you cannot simply open the menu from the interface at any time; instead, you must physically walk up to a Ritual altar to view them.

This has a significant impact on standard farming in Path of Exile 2. For instance, if you encountered a Mageblood or another high-value item during the first few Rituals, you used to be able to open Ritual interface immediately, defer the item, and then continue clearing the map.

In POE2 Forbidden Rites event, however, you are forced to complete the remaining Rituals before you can address the rewards. This change has left many players confused: why was Ritual interface, which previously worked so well, modified? The design was praised for its convenience in the last league, yet now it imposes unnecessary operational friction. 

Tribute Information

Another issue arising from UI changes in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.5 is that viewing tribute and Favor has become more cumbersome. Previously, you could open Ritual interface at any time to check your current tribute and favor totals and estimate the final tribute yield based on the remaining number of Rituals.

In POE 2 Forbidden Rites event, tribute is displayed only during Ritual combat itself and disappears once the battle ends. If you want to check your tribute count again, you must walk back to Ritual altar. For players farming Rituals - a process requiring frequent calculations of tribute expenditure - this clearly adds unnecessary friction to the gameplay.

Furthermore, there is currently a visual bug regarding POE2 Ritual tribute display. When interacting with items, you cannot see the correct tribute amount directly; instead, you must navigate to a different interface to check your current balance and then manually calculate the cost to defer the item.

If multiple high-value PoE2 currency appear simultaneously, the need to constantly cross-reference tribute totals and defer costs can impair your judgment and make the entire defer process tedious. I hope developers address this issue quickly via a hotfix.

Defer Mechanism

A more significant issue in Path of Exile 2 lies in defer mechanism. In Forbidden Rites, if an item appears and you choose to re-roll immediately instead of deferring it, defer cost may increase if the item reappears later.

For instance, an item in POE2 might initially cost 2,000 tribute to defer; after one defer, the cost might drop to 1,800. However, if you choose to re-roll during that round, the price could rise again when the item reappears.

Previously, you could re-roll first and decide whether to defer when the item showed up again. Now, however, failing to defer immediately might result in a higher tribute cost later.

This mechanism is particularly troublesome when multiple high-value Omens or rare POE 2 items appear in a single Ritual; if you want to keep the items you truly need, you are often forced to defer as many as possible.

This places further strain on your tribute resources. Deferring everything rapidly depletes your tribute, while choosing to re-roll risks increasing the cost of non-deferred items - or even wasting a re-roll opportunity.

When multiple high-value items appear in the same Ritual, these costs are further compounded. For instance, a Head of the King encounter in Path of Exile 2 offers 14 re-rolls and can feature two Purple Omen items simultaneously. 

Assuming each deferral for an Omen costs roughly 1,500 tribute, preserving both Omens while exhausting all re-rolls could require a total expenditure of around 56,000 tribute.

While Head of the King should ideally be a high-value farming option because of its superior POE 2 currency and rewards, those better rewards come with a steep tribute cost. The situation becomes particularly problematic after losing 6 to 8 re-rolls during the process; what should be a highly efficient, high-tier Ritual encounter instead becomes unreliable.

An even more frustrating scenario arises when you are holding out for a Headhunter to appear, only to be forced to abandon a high-value item that has already shown up because you lack the necessary tribute.

Until these issues are fixed or adjusted, the farming value of Rituals in Path of Exile 2 is clearly declining. While high-value rewards still exist, the exorbitant tribute costs and the loss of re-rolls make dedicated Ritual farming in Patch 0.5.5 increasingly inefficient.

What Rituals truly needs now is a comprehensive mechanical overhaul; elements that are clearly bugs should be addressed immediately via hotfixes. For mechanics that POE 2 developers intentionally adjusted, the actual costs involved need to be re-evaluated.

If the deferral mechanism in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.5 is indeed working as intended, the tribute costs should at least be lowered, or the system should be modified to avoid imposing additional deferral penalties when an item reappears after a re-roll.

TBC Anniversary event has entered Phase 3.

Black Temple and Mount Hyjal have opened, attunement requirements for SSC and Tempest Keep have been removed, and Zul'Aman will also provide new catch-up opportunities in the near future.

Meanwhile, an unverified TBC Classic Plus leak has surfaced ahead of BlizzCon. It proposes retaining the Level 70 class and progression systems from TBC while bringing subsequent progression back to Azeroth.

Level 70 Back in Azeroth

The key feature of this leak is maintaining the level cap at 70 while building upon the class progression foundations established during TBC era.

The nine classic classes would continue to receive talent and skill adjustments, but the overall content direction would no longer focus on expanding Outland.

The proposal suggests removing flying mounts and new races - as well as abandoning further Outland-centric expansion paths - to refocus exploration on Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor.

This gives TBC Classic Plus a distinct identity: preserving TBC character system while allowing the classic Azeroth world to continue evolving.

This approach is particularly well-suited to the current Anniversary environment. Players have already completed the journey from level 60 to 70 and have adapted to TBC's talent trees, stats, and class roles.

If future Plus content builds upon Level 70 foundation, it avoids disrupting existing character progression, allowing for a more natural continuation of gear, class gameplay, and long-term character development.

A Bigger Azeroth

Standard TBC progression follows a clear path: players cross Dark Portal, and Outland subsequently hosts the vast majority of content - including leveling from 60 to 70, reputation grinds, dungeons, and max-level raids.

While Azeroth remains, its importance in the endgame diminishes significantly for most Level 70 characters.

This concept, however, seeks to expand Old World instead. These include Hidden Coast near Tirisfal and Lordaeron, new subterranean zones within Burning Steppes and Blackrock Mountain, Wildhammer highlands, and previously underutilized map areas near the southern coasts of Feralas, Un'Goro, and Tanaris.

Some of these areas would also directly connect to existing maps via new mountain passes, coastal routes, and cave systems.

This approach actually echoes Netherwing daily quests introduced in Phase 3. Following the opening of Black Temple, Netherwing provided Shadowmoon Valley with a steady stream of max-level daily activities. This shifted the focus of material gathering, daily quests, and TBC Anniversary gold farming back toward the open world.

If similar world objectives were implemented across Azeroth, older zones - previously serving mainly as leveling grounds - could once again become hubs for long-term activities for level 70 characters.

New Dungeons and Raids

Ultimately, map expansion must be backed by endgame content.

Under this concept, new zones would introduce several 5-player dungeons for levels 60 - 70, while also expanding existing Classic dungeons or offering high-level variants similar to Heroic modes. Keeping this legacy content relevant allows players to accumulate TBC gold while catching up on gear.

Raid content would include two new 10 - 25 player raids and a medium-scale open-world raid event.

Even more noteworthy is the proposed approach to attunement: retaining quest chains that offer narrative, exploration, and collection value, while eliminating time-gating mechanics designed solely to artificially prolong progression.

This aligns with the direction recently seen in Anniversary Phase 3 update.

Attunement requirements for SSC and Tempest Keep have been removed, lowering the barrier to entry for these legacy raids; Phase 3 also improved the acquisition rate for certain Tier tokens while maintaining the value of Heroic dungeons through bonus rewards.

Therefore, if a TBC Classic Plus were to materialize, it could preserve the classic spirit of completing an adventure to access a key location while stripping away the repetitive processes that hinder alts, returning players, and new members from catching up.

Class Changes

Class design is arguably the aspect of this proposal most prone to spiraling out of control.

TBC itself already gave a more solid identity to many specializations that were weak or ill-defined during Vanilla era; therefore, there is little need for Plus to undergo another round of wholesale modernization.

The direction taken with Retribution Paladins serves as an example: retaining seal twisting while improving gameplay fluidity and actual output, rather than completely replacing the class's original combat mechanics.

Survival Hunters could see their melee hybrid identity further reinforced, while Enhancement Shaman archetype offers even more room for expansion.

Dual-wielding can remain a reliable path for consistent damage output, but a viable two-handed Windfury build could also be enabled through talents, allowing players to choose between rapid, successive strikes and slower, heavier burst damage.

Balance Druids illustrate this boundary as well. Rumors have mentioned an Eclipse-style rotation mechanic, but such a design risks pushing the class too far toward the style of later expansions - or even Retail WoW.

Instead, TBC Classic Plus is better suited to fleshing out underperforming playstyles, expanding build options and class utility, and building upon TBC's established combat pacing and class identities, rather than redesigning the entire class system from scratch.

If new zones and builds drive increased demand for consumables, enchantments, and gear, the importance of gold in TBC Classic will continue to rise.

Why Phase 3 Matters?

Now is actually an ideal time to discuss TBC Classic Plus. The challenges facing the game are evolving.

With Phase 3 now live, the barrier to entry for early raids has lowered, and the acquisition rate for Tier gear has accelerated. Netherwing has introduced new max-level goals for the open world, and Zul'Aman is set to arrive in a later phase, offering a 10-player catch-up raid that is easier to organize.

For an increasing number of players, the primary question will shift from "Can I still catch up in TBC?" to "What is there to do once I've caught up?"

It allows for the continued use of Level 70 characters - into which players have already poured significant time - while introducing new zones, dungeons, raids, class builds, and server-wide world events to this mature system, all without immediately ushering the entire player base into a new expansion.

Currently, there are no official sources confirming that the new zones, raids, or class changes mentioned will actually materialize; therefore, none of this content should be regarded as a confirmed update.

Nevertheless, it offers a fairly comprehensive concept for TBC Classic Plus: maintaining the level 70 cap and the established class foundations of TBC, reducing unnecessary progression friction, and - at the same time - bringing the long-term endgame back to an ever-expanding Azeroth.

Gold stickers are fantastic items in Monopoly GO!, crucial for players aiming to complete high-value sticker books, but they are rare and, in most cases, untradeable.

However, Golden Blitz event in a few days might change that, offering a fantastic opportunity to trade duplicate gold stickers, fill the last few gaps, and win amazing rewards.

This article will tell you everything you need to know about Monopoly GO Golden Blitz and predict which gold stickers will be tradable in the next event.

About Golden Blitz

This is a limited-time event lasting 15 to 24 hours that temporarily removes the trading restrictions on gold stickers. Normally, gold stickers are locked in your account - you can't send them to friends or receive them from anyone.

During Golden Blitz event, Scopely will select two specific gold stickers and make them available for trading for approximately 24 hours.

These two gold stickers aren't randomly chosen by the official team, but rather selected through a community vote, indicating which gold sticker players currently need most.

The voting began on September 7th and was divided into two parts - one for four-star cards and the other for five-star stickers. Ultimately, based on the voting results, the tradable four-star sticker is Scarady Cat, and the five-star sticker is Rustling Corn.

Golden Blitz event should begin soon after the voting ends. Based on our initial projections, the most likely date is between September 9th and 13th, with September 10th being the most probable.

Trading Methods

Trading during Golden Blitz event is similar to regular sticker trading, but with some slight differences. Here's a guide:

Check Inventory

Open your sticker book and check your stickers. If you have a duplicate Monopoly GO gold stickers (number greater than 1), you can trade it. If you don't have a duplicate sticker, you are the customer.

Initiate a Trade

Go to your friends list or use the trade button on the sticker. Select the golden sticker you want to send. The game will check if the sticker currently qualifies for Blitz event.

Make an Offer

You can request a specific sticker in exchange. Negotiation is required here. You can request another 5-star sticker, multiple 4-star stickers, or even specific stickers needed to complete other sets.

Wait for a Response

The other party needs to accept, refuse, or counter-offer within a limited time. Monitor your pending transactions closely to adjust if there's no response.

Complete the Swap

Once both parties accept, the sticker exchange is complete. However, note that during Monopoly GO Golden Blitz event, you can only send a maximum of five gold cards.

Trading Strategies and Tips

Know Your Bets

If you have two 5-star gold Rustling Corn cards, you hold the upper hand. Don't use them to exchange for a 4-star sticker. You should request at least two 5-star cards you need, or a combination of 5-star and multiple 4-star stickers to complete your required sets.

Currently, the drop rate for 5-star gold stickers is very low, and most players are eager to obtain them. Players eager for stickers will not hesitate to bid.

If you own the four-star gold sticker Scarady Cat, while the advantage is slightly smaller, it still gives you considerable leverage. You can ask to exchange it for any five-star sticker you need, or two four-star stickers to complete your set.

Don't Rush to Bid

In the first few hours of Monopoly GO Golden Blitz, the market is flooded with offers, and many players will bid too high out of panic. If you are a customer, wait a few hours. The initial frenzy will gradually subside, and you will find more reasonable offers.

If you are a seller, wait even longer. As time goes on, people's eagerness will increase, and you can usually get a better price in the last 6 hours.

Use Trade to Complete Sets Rule

This is the golden rule of trading for all stickers, but it is especially important in Golden Blitz. Never trade just because a card is rare; your goal is to complete a sticker set. Collecting a complete sticker set grants dice and more rolls, leading to more stickers.

Beware of Star Value Trap

Many players judge the fairness of trades based on sticker star ratings, such as trading five-star for five-star or four-star for four-star. This is a misconception. What you need to know is that scarcity determines value.

Tradeable five-star stickers from Golden Blitz event are far rarer than other five-star stickers from tournaments. In terms of value, they should be treated as six-star stickers.

Next Gold Cards Prediction

Based on past information, we can predict the tradable gold cards for the next event to help players prepare in advance.

First, we can rule out past gold cards. Here is a record of all the Golden Blitz events for Happy Harvest season:

• August 21 - Honey, I'm Home (Set 13) and Rudy Root (Set 14)
• August 26 - Family Portrait (Set 16) and The Goods (Set 17)
• September 3 - Mud Bath (Set 18) and Wile E. Coyote (Set 21)
• September 7 - Scaredy Cat (Set 21) and Rustling Corn (Set 16)

Next, the choices are limited. Based on player feedback, I think Picking Pickles (Set 17) is very likely to be released in the next Monopoly GO Golden Blitz event. It's a five-star gold card, but less than 15% of active players have ever drawn this sticker.

Among the four-star cards, I think the most likely is Too Helpful (set 15). Reportedly, this sticker is a bottleneck for many players who have already collected the rest of the pack.

That concludes this article about Monopoly GO! Golden Blitz event. After the event ends, both gold stickers will become untradeable again. Any duplicate stickers you own will remain in your sticker book.

If you collect a full sticker book during Golden Blitz, you will immediately receive a huge dice bonus. This is very important because you can use these dice to participate in current tournaments or events, which may allow you to obtain more sticker packs, creating a snowball effect.

The dungeon landscape in AION 2 Global's Season 1 differs significantly from previous regional releases: once you reach the mid-to-late stage (Level 45+), the objectives regarding dungeon rewards may shift sooner than anticipated.

Two key points stand out. First, Heroic Gear drops will not be available throughout the entire Global Season 1. Second, once you reach Level 45 and enter the first Conquest Dungeon, you can start earning tradable Kinah.

In other words, you will hit the gear progression cap for Season 1 sooner, while economic gains from dungeons continue to accumulate. This raises a practical question: once you reach the mid-season mark, should you dedicate your limited dungeon time to gear, or pivot to Kinah farming earlier?

No Heroic Gear Drops in Season 1 Dungeons

Since Heroic Gear drops are unavailable in A2 Global Season 1, your primary PvE gear objective will essentially center on Crafted Yellow Gear.

Based on the current enhancement system, a Yellow +15 setup combined with a +3 Breakthrough represents the standard end-game benchmark for the season.

Pushing for +4 or +5 significantly increases both resource costs and difficulty; such upgrades are better reserved for critical slots that directly impact damage output, such as weapons and offensive accessories.

Heroic Gear was originally designed as a long-term pursuit. These items have a drop rate of only about 0.5% to 1% but offer higher enhancement caps and an extra Manastone slot.

Precisely because of their rarity, Heroic items gave players who had already finished their Yellow Gear a reason to keep grinding dungeons in hopes of a truly massive power spike.

With this layer of long-term chase drops missing in Season 1, players will probably complete their core Yellow Gear sets much faster than before.

Once your main character reaches a stable +15 Yellow set with a solid Breakthrough, the cost-effectiveness of investing massive resources for only marginal stat gains drops significantly.

Gear farming still matters, but its practical ceiling may arrive much earlier than expected.

Will Yellow Gear Cap Make Dungeons Harder? The lower gear cap theoretically means that Aion 2 players cannot continue to stack combat power via Heroic Gear.

Consequently, within the same set of dungeon content, the stat growth achievable through gear in Global release will be lower than in the phase where Heroic Gear was available.

However, this does not necessarily mean Global dungeons are harder.

Global release has undergone class and stat balancing adjustments, resulting in an overall increase in character power compared to the early Aion 2 environment.

Higher base class power may offset some of the combat power gap caused by the absence of Heroic Gear.

Therefore, the actual difficulty of Season 1 dungeons will depend on the final stats on the live servers, team composition, class balance, and the speed at which players can acquire Yellow Gear.

The lack of Heroic Gear limits the potential for further gear progression, but it does not mean players will inevitably get stuck in dungeons due to the gear cap.

The Level 45 Watershed

Upon entering the first Conquest Dungeon, players can begin earning tradable Aion 2 Kinah. Crucially, there are currently no nerfs to tradable Kinah earnings from this type of content.

This means that from this point on, dungeons serve not only as a means for character gear progression but also as a source of income for the account as a whole.

However, when Aion 2 players first reach level 45, gear remains critically important.

A main character might lack Yellow Gear, possess a weak weapon, have yet to perform Breakthrough upgrades, or have inconsistent enhancement levels. At this stage, every piece of effective gear can directly improve dungeon completion efficiency.

Yet, as the main character becomes fully geared, other issues begin to emerge.

Once Yellow Gear approaches +15 and core slots have undergone reasonable Breakthrough upgrades, the return on investment for chasing marginal improvements diminishes significantly. In contrast, the value of Kinah does not vanish simply because a character is nearing end-game status.

A character that has essentially met its Season 1 gear goals can still use Conquest Dungeons to consistently convert playtime into AION Kinah.

This represents the most critical shift in Season 1: as the marginal utility of gear declines, the focus of dungeon farming is likely to naturally transition from gear acquisition to Kinah farming.

Gear First or Kinah First?

There is no single, fixed answer to this question; a more reasonable approach is to evaluate the player's current stage of progression in Aion 2. Early Season: Prioritize Gear

Upon reaching level 45, your main character is usually not yet fully optimized. During this phase, you should prioritize acquiring core Yellow Gear through dungeons, crafting, and other sources.

Weapons should be the top priority, followed by offensive accessories that directly impact damage output, as well as key enhancements and Breakthroughs that significantly boost combat power.

If you halt gear progression too early in an attempt to save money - resulting in slower dungeon runs or an inability to consistently clear content - you may appear to be saving resources, but you are actually undermining your long-term returns.

Approaching Yellow Gear Soft Cap: Prioritize Kinah

Once your main character possesses a solid set of +15 Yellow Gear and has undergone reasonable Breakthroughs, you need to re-evaluate the cost-effectiveness of further enhancements.

High-investment upgrades - specifically +4 or +5 Breakthroughs - are not worth the massive resource expenditure if they yield only marginal improvements in farming efficiency; chasing perfect stats is unnecessary.

If you have extra playtime, you can incorporate alt characters into your farming rotation to increase your total A2 Kinah income, thereby accumulating capital for future Heroic Gear, enhancement costs, and marketplace needs.

The most sensible dungeon strategy for AION 2 Season 1 is neither to grind exclusively for gear from day one nor to switch entirely to farming currency the moment you hit level 45.

Ideally, you should first upgrade your gear to a level that allows for efficient dungeon farming. Once the progression of your Yellow Gear begins to slow significantly, you can scale back excessive investment and gradually shift your dungeon time toward farming Kinah to prepare for future seasons.