Very early into Elden Ring, I kept seeing these random, ??cracked, conspicuous-as-hell statues with a blue or turquoise light. And 50 hours in, I finally know how to break them open.

Backing up a step, there are many different types of statues in this game, some of which you can directly interact with. I'm not talking about those. I mean the statues that are partially sliced open, and often embedded in the ground or toppled over. You'll probably recognize them when you see them. Like? this one!

**Spoilers below**

If you're anything like me, you might've?? tried two-handing your weapon, various jump attacks, and explosive throwables, to name a few tactics tha?t seemed like a good idea at the time. No dice �?at least, not that I've seen. Instead, you'll need to source some outside help. You need to use a big boy.

That's right, a big boy

Had I spent more time scoping out this cracked glowing statue on stormy Limgrave hillside with several trolls roaming nearby, I probably would've figured out the solution way sooner. In fact, on a return visit, the a-ha moment happened organically: a giant just casually strolled through it on his way to my character, and the cracked statue explode?d, revealing a shiny reward.

What was inside? Unfortunately, just some low-level smithing stones �?a useful find in the early game, but far less help?ful down the road when they're more plentiful.

If you missed the statue pictured above, you might've seen this statue with a glowing crack in the heart of Stormveil Castle, which you would've gone past o??n your way to the boss.

It's not-so-conveniently resting next to a large, gnarly enemy �?large enough to make me think it could also be strong enough to bust open the statue... but it didn't work for me. Appearance isn't always everything, but once you get a feel for who (or what) has the magic touch to bust open glowing statues in Elden Ring, you'll probably be able to instant??ly recognize them.

What I simply had to do upon luring this troll was to have it casually walk on top of this statue. It could have also just swung ??its weapon at me and broken the statue as collateral damage, but at lower levels, that could be very? risky.

Interestingly, it seems that other large-scale enemies in Elden Ring are capable of opening these glowing cracked statues?. When we mean big boys, they don't have to be on the scale of the aforementioned trolls. You just need to be able to look and them and think, "Yeah, this guy could probably eat rocks."

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Other ways to break glowing cracked statues in Elden Ring

Depending on the area you're in, you will have to do some scouting on what the biggest enemies are. You'll have to train a bea??st or two and bring them to the statue with the glowing cracks. In the example below f??ound in the Sealed Tunnel, this statue is against the wall, so you can't just hide behind it in hopes of your enemy walking right into it.

What you will have to do is put your back against the statue as an enemy is about to attack you. At the right moment, dodge its attack and hopefully, they'll open the thing for you. Not the safest thing to do, but you? probably won't get anywhere just asking politely, either.

What do glowing cracked statues contain?

In terms of reward, from every example I've seen, these glowing cracked statues just give out various tiers of upgrade materials like Smithing Stones for your weapons and shields. A potentially good h?aul, but not necessarily something I'd want to go out of my way to get, if that ma??kes sense.

This is just the latest in a line of "Wow, I really ove??rthought that!" moments in the game. I'm loving it. Especially now that I've hit a brick wall, and it's time to go wandering again.

The post How to break g??lowing blue cracked statues in Elden Ring appeared first on Destructoid.

Note that the Elden Ring Walking Mausoleums are found as quickly as the first area, but if you want to go in fresh. Skip away!

Here's a buffer for you:

[caption id="attachment_624604" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Okay, ready?

To get into the Elden Ring Walking Mausoleums, you'll need to bring them down to your level.

So, for many hours (like 30), I thought you had to run up some mountain somewhere and then jump down on it. Some will require you to do that while others are more straightforward.

How to get into every Walking Mausoleums in Elden Ring

There are a total of seven Walking Mausoleums in the base game of Elden Ring. Here they are as follows from their closest Site of? Grace:

[caption id="attachment_624606" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Isolated Merchant's Shack (Limgrave)

Just a bit northwest of spawning here, you'll see your first Mausoleum roaming around. C??arefully remove the barnacles on its legs. They appear more like skull clusters. You will do so by attacking them. Upon cleaning up enough of them, the Mausoleum will come down, granting you entry inside the to??mb.

[caption id="attachment_624605" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Gate Town North (Liurnia of the Lakes)

Go north from hear by the cliffside to find the Mausoleum with a?? bell. This one requires you to jump onto the grassy part of its body to bring it down. You'll need to wait until it gets close enough to the cliffs you can scale to climb aboard. You can also use the spirit spring to jump onto it if you're scared of falling to your death.

Once on top, cle??an up the barnacles on its body to ?bring it down and open the door.

[gallery size="full" ids="624608,624607"]

Mausoleum Compound (Liurnia of the Lakes)

There are two ??Mausoleums here which will require you to hit the barnacles on their legs to bring them down. It's straightforward, but they do get agitated and start jump-stomping. When you see them do so, make sure to get back so you won't get crushed.

[caption id="attachment_624610" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Apostate Derelict (Consecrated Snowfield)

South of this Site of Grace will be the next wandering Maus?oleum??. Once again, hack away at the skull barnacles on its feet to bring it down. This time, it'll shoot you with ranged attacks, so be ready to dodge not only its feet, but magic bolts coming at you.

[caption id="attachment_624611" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Castle Sol Main Gate (Mountaintops of the Giants)

Right next to Castle Sol's gates will be the sixth Mausoleum. Slash away at? the? barnacles to bring it down.

[caption id="attachment_624612" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The Nameless Eternal City (Deeproot Depths)

The final one can be encountered underground. Unlike most other Mausoleums, you will have to use the roots around it t?o climb on??to the thing while it's still in motion. The barnacle skulls will be on its upper body compared to the legs. Clear enough of them to bring it down.

Once you're there, the Elden Ring Walking Mausoleums can be used to duplicate remembrances.

If you've played the Souls series before, you'll be very familiar with this concept: they're boss souls. In Elden Ring, ??they can be used to "squash" into raw runes (souls) for leveling up for buying ite??ms, or you can transmute them into one of two items at the hub area (usually a weapon, or a spell).

Good luck! The?? Walking Mausoleums are super easy to spot, and now that you know the trick, you can?? bring them down.

The post How to get in??to the Elden ?Ring Walking Mausoleums (turtle towers) appeared first on Destructoid.

One of the biggest strengths of Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow is its Soul system. It lets you capture enemies' special properties and abilities and use whatever loadout they choose. A great way to add varie??ty and cu?stomization to the combat, making Dawn of Sorrow an all-time favorite of mine.

However, there are secret combinations of souls that can unlock special effects. These combinations help give you more to consider when setting up your loadout. It can be a lot of silly fun to mess around with different souls to see what synergizes well. We've created this guide to help identify all the combos and their unique extra ??effects so you don't have to do the legwork.

What works with Skeleton Ape?

One particularly useful Enchant type Soul gives is the Skeleton Ape. This soul is hard t?o ac??quire due to its rarity and the enemy's strong attack. But it's well worth it if you're a fan of throwing abilities. To help make sure you're using the right souls, we've compiled a list that we know works with it.

• Puppet Master - Throws your puppet farther, great for harmlessly maneuvering around the screen.
• Une - Throws your plant projectile further.
• Fish Head - Throws your Fish Head further.
• Slogra - Throws your spear further.
• Ripper - Throws your dagger harder.
• Mandragora - Throws the screaming plant projectile further.
• Decarabia - Throws the spinning Decarabia summon faster.
• Axe Armor - Throw your axe in a wider arc.
• Slogra + Gaibon - Both spears go farther.
• Fish Head + Needles - Both Fish Heads go farther.
• Une + Alura Une - Alura will have a longer range tossing her Une's down.

Garden of Terror

As a bonus, there is one combo ?that requires three souls and is considered one of the most powerful offensive options in the game. The only downside is that it leaves you standing still and vulnerable. However, the damage output should help mitigate that entirely.

The combination of Une, Alura Une, ?and the Skeleton Farmer forms a screen-wide offense. Skeleton Farmer is an Enchant-type soul that grants all plant-based powers more damage. There are not a lot of those, but it makes Une a potent weapon. And when using the Soul Combo of Une and Alura Une, it's incredibly destructive. There's only one Skeleton Farmer in the game, and he's got a low chance of dropping the soul. But it's absolutely worth working for.

The post All the ??Soul Combos in Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow appeared first on Destructoid.

To say there are a lot of powers to collect in Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow would be putting it lightly. Every single enemy you fight has a power that can drop. However, if you want that? sweet 100% collection, there are a few secret souls you'll need to collect.

These souls belong to creatures referred to as "UMA," or Unidentified Mysterious Animal. In more common terms, you've probably heard them referred to as Cryptids. These are creatures that are said to exist but have no concrete proof that they do. In Dawn of Sorrow, three cryptids are known to roam the villain's ??hideout. You'll need to use information from the UMA News articles to find and attract a Yeti, Flying Humanoid, and M?othman.

Where to find Yeti's Soul

You'll find the Yeti lurking about in the very first "room" of the game. ??It's actually an outdoor area, and he'll be skulking in the forested background. You can't reach back there and get him; you'll have to lure him out with some delicious food.

To lure him out, you'll need to get the soul from a Waiter Skeleton. They're mostly found in the Demon Gu??est House. Waiter souls are hard to obtain because?? the cowardly bone bags will throw a plate of food at you and run away. You'll need something to either stop them, like a petrifying ability, or a heavy club to crush their weakness. Once you have a good system, it's time to kill them over and over again until one of them drops their soul.

With your new power, go back to that opening area in The Lost Village. Use the Waiter Skeleton soul to throw some delicious curry down onto the gr?ound. T??he Yeti will smell it immediately and leap out of the background to grab a bite. The only problem is that the food is too spicy! The Yeti will take damage trying to eat it, and then immediately retreat to the background again. Attacking him before he gets the curry will also spook him off. You'll have to use a similar tactic on him as you did with the Waiter Skeleton. He is weak to fire, so if you have a flame sword or ability, that should help take him down.

Yeti's soul is a unique Guardian power that summons a... "white orb of dark power that grows as it rolls." It's a snowball. It makes a snowball that you can move along the ground, and it gets bigger as you go.?? It's not the most useful, but it is pretty fun!

Where to find the Flying Humanoid's soul

The second soul belongs to a creature referred to as the Flying Humanoid. It's difficult to get a goo?d look at exactly what it is. However, it shouldn't be too hard to miss it drifting in the sky behind the clock tower. At the top of the Cursed Clock Tower, between?? the Save Room and Boss Room, you'll see a small figure flying in the distance. It appears to be vulnerable to sonic attacks, and so you'll need the help of the Mandragora Soul to defeat it.

The Mandragora soul is best found scattered around the Garden of Madness. The?y look like Une and Corpseweed until they pop out of the ground. They'll quickly let out an ear-rupturing scream and explode. Sadly, you only get kill credit if you defeat them BEFORE they self-destruct. The best place to farm them is on the map below because they share a room with another soul you need later. Farming both Mandragora and the lightning bird Rycuda is a great time saver. But more on that in the next section.

Once you have the Mandragora, take it back to the top of the Cursed Clock Tower and summon the screaming root. It'll cause the Flying Humanoid to explode in the distance, sending its soul spiraling to?wards you. You can technically farm this soul, but it doesn't get more powerful ?past the first one.

The Flying Humanoid's soul is a Guardian type that gives you an Intellect and Luck bonus when activated. Soma will sprout some cool-looking wings to let you know when it's active, but it drains your mana rather quickly. It's a helpful tool when farming souls and rare items off of enemies??.

Where to find Mothman's Soul

My personal favorite cryptid, Mothman, is a bit more elusive than the other two souls. It's a little less obvious where he's hiding, as you don't see h??im until he's summoned. To do so, you'll need that Rycuda soul I mentioned earlier. It grants you the ability to throw lightning bolts around, which is both a great weapon and a useful tool.

Mothman is a late-game soul found in The Pinnacle of the Castle. There's a long hall under the biggest room in the area. You'll know you're in the right place if there are two Final Guards in it. You can find a generator and a large spotlight sitting dormant between them. You'll have to use Rycuda's lightning power to restore the machine to working conditions. If it doesn't work immediately, make sure to hit the machine with the lightning's tip. Doing so summons the M??othman, allowing you to acquire his soul. He should drop it on the first kill.

Mothman's soul grants you a buff t??o your EXP. Combine it with the Shaman Ring for an extremely quick level gain!

The post Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow – How to find all UMA Souls appeared first on Destructoid.

Just nine months after releasing another massive game set in a very popular IP�?em>Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora�?/em>developer Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft have released another massive game set in a very popular IP with the release of Star Wars Outlaws.

In some ways, the classic landmark staples of a Ubisoft game are very much present: the massive open world (well worlds, in Outlaws), a gazillion side quests, and lots of loot and collectibles tucked in every corner. But in other ways, Outlaws tries some new things to stand out from being "another big open world Ubisoft game", and while it doesn't succeed at all of them, it does at most ?of them, creating what has been a mostly enjoyable experience thus far.

Star Wars Outlaws (PC [reviewed], PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
Developer: Massive Entertainment
Publisher: Ubisoft
Released: August 30, 2024
MSRP: $69.99

Hello there!

Outlaws kicks off in the city of Canto Bight, a popular tourism and gambling hotspot located on the planet Catonica in the Outer Rim. Star Wars fans will recognize Canto Bight and more specifically its massive luxurious casino from Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi, where Finn, Rose, and BB-8 went to attempt to recruit the Master Codebreaker. Canonically, Outlaws takes place between Episode 5 and Episode 6, so it's well before the events of The Last Jedi.

One of the coolest aspects of Outlaws for a Star Wars fan is just how many canonically cool areas, characters, and situations you get to experience as you progress. You'll head to Tatooine, the famous desert world orbiting twin suns. You'll also visit Kijimi, the ice planet destroyed by The First Order in Episode 9. Each planet has its own massive slice of the world that you can? explore, zipping across the landscape on your speeder and taking on side quests as well as ranking up your reputation with the local faction. Massive really nailed the world design and overall immersion of each of the planets as you explore them.

I thought Massive did a great job of bringing the world of Pandora to life in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and they've done the same here. As you zip through the wilds of Toshara on your speeder, you'll encounter plenty of scenarios that make the Outlaws universe feel alive: merchants transporting their goods back and forth between the cities, rogues? and scoundrels waiting to ambush you if you get too close to their territory, a secret imperial outpost where you can sneak in and score some goodies.

With my ever-growing backlog of games these days, I've found myself struggling not to focus on just main story quests. But that hasn't been the case thus far with Outlaws. There are definitely way more side quests than I'll probably ever realistically do, but I've found myself exploring other side activities despite feeling as though I neede??d to compl?ete Outlaws to get a full-scored review up.

There's so much to do, and I'm not even talking about side quests. I've become somewhat of a Sabacc aficionado, and find myself seeking as much Sabaac action as I can. I've gambled on Fathier races, which are essentially horse races, even though I swear they are rigged. I've dumped more time than I care to admit into Space Arcade, an arcade-style mini-game that's like a 3D Galaga. There's so much to interact with and just stumble across in Outlaws that helps build that livin??g slice of the Star Wars universe that you ?get to explore.

Do. Or do not. There is no try.

Story-wise, you'll take on the role of an all-new character in the Star Wars universe, Kay Vess. Kay is young and witty but often hotheaded and a bit too?? reactionary with her decision??-making, which has its ups and downs for her line of work: a scoundrel and a thief. She's accompanied by her companion Nix, a cute creature called a merqaal, a small doe-eyed quadruped with a long tail, which is also a new addition to the Star Wars universe.

Nix is a cool companion because not only is he a cute furry creature that will follow you around and let you pet him, but he also is a massive boon to assisting you with being a scoundrel in the world of Outlaws. In most situations in Outlaws, the first priority is to stealth your way in. Some scenarios require stealth, meaning if you get caught at all, it's Game Over and back to the most recent checkpoint or the start of t??hat mission. Most situations, however, are simply much easier when utilizing stealth.

Kay is armed with a blaster pistol that can certainly be used if need be, for when stealth is no longer an option. But in a lot of situations, it turns things into an uphill battle. Unarm??ored Imperial Troopers can go down with a single shot, but most enemies are armored, including Storm Troopers and other variants of soldiers. They take 3-4 shots even to the? head, before falling. You can eventually upgrade your blaster, making things a lot easier, or even pick up blaster rifles from enemies you take out that makes it much easier to blast your way to your destination, but in the early and even mid-game choosing to fight your way through instead of stealthing often results in having to hide, reload a lot, and hope no one sounds an alarm that attracts more enemies.

Thankfully, Nix makes stealth a much better option. You can issue commands to Nix, such as distracting enemies, accessing hard-to-reach locations to grab loot and items, opening doors, and even preoccupying cameras. You can even send Nix to attack an enemy. And while he won't kill them or anything, it will distract them and even give you the opportunity to follow up on that distracted enemy with a stealth attack of your own that will disable them. Throughout Outlaws, Nix also has some cool bonus perks, such as helping you cheat in Sabacc and telling you what cards your opponents hold. In some games, companions that are with you always can feel annoying or even cumbersome. Nix is not that kind of companion. He's great in many ways and is essentially a staple to the story and gameplay of Star Wars Outlaws.

I find your lack of faith disturbing.

As Kay, you'll take on tasks for various entities and factions, often culminating in a decision to be made, each with its own rewards. However, the decision you make will often cause you to gain reputation with one of Outlaws' four Criminal Factions, but lose reputation with another. The four factions are the Pyke Syndicate, the first faction you will encounter on Toshara, the Crimson Dawn, one of the largest criminal organizations in Outlaws, the Hutt Cartel which is the infamous criminal faction led by Jabba the Hutt, and the Ashiga Clan, a faction comprised of the insectoid Melitto spe?cies located primarily on the ice planet Kijim?i.

For example, you may get a mission from the ?Crimson Dawn with the task of placating the Pyke Syndicate by tampering with some important files on a terminal in an Imperial base. However, when the time comes, you can instead pull a fast one and placate the Crimson Dawn instead. Obviously the faction you side with will result in a reputation increase, while the one you throw under the bus will result in a reputation loss.

As you rise up the ranks with each faction you will gain access to certain faction-controlled areas in the cities but also at various points in the open world on each planet. I mainly focused on raising my Crimson Dawn reputation at the start, and later missions that would otherwise require me to stealth into a restricted area ??under Crimson Dawn control instead of letting me walk right past the guards who greeted me as a reputable member of their faction.

Even side quests will grant you a reputation with a specific faction, so if someone wanted, they could probably work hard to try and be in th?e good graces of each faction, which could make parts of the game much easier if you no longer had to sneak around where you shouldn't be. As you increase your reputation you'll also gain access to exclusive vendors and rewards, as well as exclusive missions that can only be taken on once the faction has its full trust in you.

Overall the faction system feels like a key part? of "living the life as a scoundrel", and I found myself really thinking things through before making the final decision on which way to go at the end of certain missions. I tried to stay true to what decision I felt compelled to make story-wise instead of just trying to choose the decision that got me reput?ation with the faction I was most worried about, but these are criminal syndicates we're talking about. Is there really a good option?

That's no moon.

Despite how much I've loved the universe in which Outlaws takes place, there have certainly been some downsides, as well. I feel like the AI in a lot of stealth-oriented games really doesn't fare well. And while most of Outlaws holds up decently, I still encountered moments where it was just plain bad. You know, sneaking into a super restricted top-secret area, an enemy spots me for a brief second and goes "Hey, who goes there!" before slowly walking towards me. I simply duck and hide behind the same container they were already looking at, and it completely throws them for a loop. "Ah, I guess it was nothing," they say, before turning around. I wasn'?t trying to cheese it or anything, but it happened several times naturally which is discouraging??.

There's also some classic Assassin's Creed-style jank due to there being so many things to interact with. I'd go into a side room where there is random scrap to collect as well as a datapad containing some story bits, a button that I can int??eract with to open and close a door, as well as a ladder leading below to where enemies are patrolling. I try to pick up the scrap but end up somehow grabbing the datapad. I'm not trying to read extra story right now, because I'm in the middle of a stealth op, so I'm slamming Circle to get out of it, then when I do randomly grab onto the ladder from when I was trying to pick up the scrap sitting on the table. Now it's catching up to me slamming Circle so I'm releasing my grip on the ladder and falling down in front of enemies, ending my stealth mission and setting me back 10 minutes to the start of said mission. Not a fun time.

I've also experienced some annoyances that have pulled me out of the immersion of Outlaws. While most of the time it's firing on all cylinders in the immersion department, I've had times when enemies who are searching for me will all group up in a random building, shouting about looking for me and ho?w important it is to do so, but for some reason not actually doing so. I'm talking 5+ enemies all standing inside the same building just standing around shouting about how I'm done for when they find me. Another element of immersion-breaking is when I'm partaking in the space dogfighting gameplay, zipping through a debris field in the Trailblazer, only to hit a small rod jutting out from the nearby debris that causes my ship to instantaneously just stop in space. At least rip my ship to pieces and explode if I mess up and crash, but coming to an abrupt stop like I'm hitting an invisible wall certainly yanks me out of feeling the perils of dogfighting in space.

None of the issues I've encountered have been game-breaking, but annoying enough for me to wish there was an extra layer of polish in Outlaws. Even still, I've been looking for a more gritty adventure in the universe of Star Wars, and so far, Star Wars Outlaws has been just that. When everything is working great, the tale of Kay Vess has b??een an immersive and rewarding dive into the scoundrel life in the Star Wars universe. I'm enthralled by the story and excited to see? how things end. Once I do, I'll be sure to loop back and provide a finalized scored review.

In the meantime, if you enjoy the Ubisoft structure of games but have been overwhelmed by them lately, thankfully Outlaws avoids most of the pitfalls. I feel safe in recommending Star Wars Outlaws to anyone who is a Star Wars fan who is looking for a solid story in the beloved universe, with stealth-focused gameplay that al??lows you to truly? live the life of a scoundrel on the Outer Rim.

[These impressions are based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]

The post Review in Progress: Star Wars Outlaws appeared first on Destructoid.

An unexpected update was recently released for Vampire Survivors, with a surprising amount of con?tent. It contains the first few cards in the new "Dark Arcana," serving as the groundwork for some incredibly powerful abilities.

There's more: A new stage, some new secrets, and a new character are also awaiting you. We're here to make sure you know how to find and unlock everything in Vampire Survivors' Darkasso update.

How to unlock the new stage

The first thing you'll need to start on ??the path to unlocking everything is the new stage. While the clue might be obvious, we'll still explain the details. The stage unlocks when you "cast a spell" called "forbiddenbox." As long as you've collected the Forbidden Scrolls of Morbane, you'll have a main menu option called "Secrets." Go there, and navigate to the "Cast Spell" box. Type out the spell's name, "forbiddenbox." But be prepared, you'll immediately drop into the new level with a random character!

This is the surprisingly ??spooky new stage, Room 1665. You'll need to navigate south by killing enemies until the door opens. I wouldn't worry about build outside of assisting ??whatever character you're dealt. Just get your most powerful weapons and survive. When you hear a strange laugh, the next door will open.

When you see a little treasure goblin walk across the stage, aim for them, as they will drop a treasure chest. The corridors between rooms have candles in them for supplies like floor turkey. The stage is ?a shorter one, only 20 minutes long. As long as you reach the bottom room, however, you'll have everything you need for now.

Sadly, characters who? can pass through walls cannot skip the door mechanic. You have to wait through e??ach room, of which there are 16 in total.

Getting to the end of the stage unlocks the Darkasso: Rhe Dark Arcana used to mix up your runs. You'll have Number VI - Moonlight Bolero by default. It causes an extra treasure boss to spawn every minute. The treasures it carries ??might allow you to have m?ore Arcana cards or Passive Weapons than you can normally carry. It's incredibly powerful in beefing up the back half of your run while helping level all your weapons faster.

How to unlock each of the new Dark Arcana in Vampire Survivors

There are five new Dark Arcana cards total, all incredibly powerful. They? are?? still subject to change based on feedback from the players.

You'll start with the Moonlight Bolero once you unlock the Dark Arcana so that one is out of the way. The next one you'll want is the Sapphire?? Mist, which requires you to reach a Cooldown Bonus of -85% with Space Dude. If you don't have him, you'll have to survive 20 minutes in the Space 54 stage.

Once you have him, I recommend playing on The Library, as it has an Empty Tome you can pick up. You'll need this as part of the challenge. Before you start, I also recommend using as many Seals as you can to lock away as unevolved weapons. When you start your match, you'll want to pick Arcana XX - Silent Old Sanctuary. It grants you extra Rerolls, S?kips, and Banishes. But the more important aspect is that it gives you 20% Might and -8% Cooldown for each active we?apon slot left empty.

As you play, you'll need to always Banish weapons, and only ever pick up Passive Weapons. As long as you have five empty Weapon slots, you should have a -85% cooldown. The trick to unlocking this is that you have to finish the stage with this cooldown reduction. Once you do, a powerful new Da?rk Arcana will be yours.

For Hail the Future, you'll need to play as Santa Ladonna. If you haven't unlocked her, you'll need to survive 20 minutes on the Laboratory stage. Santa Ladonna has a passive ability that trig??gers a Rosary when her health reaches a critically low level. As far as I could tell, you just need to trigger this ability to unlock the Arcana.

Forcing it to trigger by taking damage was the only unusual thing I did for the stage when I played her. The same applies to the next card, Crystal Cries. Except you'll use the character She-Moon Eeta. She's unlocked by surviving 20 minutes in Whiteout. She-Moon has a similar low-health ability t??hat triggers, though hers freezes enemies for 10 seconds. Force yourself to take damage until it triggers, and you should be all set.

For the final card, you'll need to reach +665 Max Health with Bat Robbert. You can unlock him by unlocking his weapon, which itself is unl??ocked by beating over? 160,000 bats. If you need help with this, play Bat Country a few times. Bat Robbert gains +32 Max Health whenever his health reaches a critically low level. Between this and the Hollow Heart item, it shouldn't be difficult to get him to max.

I recommend taking some Revive passive items and Arcana to help protect yourself if your health gets too low. You'll have to trigger it multiple times, so keep an eye on the pause men??u to se??e what your health buff is. If it goes over 665, that's okay.

How to unlock the new character Bats Bats Bats

To unlock Bats Bats Bats, you'll have to follow one of the most cryptic clues in the game. "It's as easy as ABC, find the Ring of Rings." The "ABC" in this clue is a reference to the stage Bat Country, which features a secret set of lettered tiles that let you ??play with the background visuals. You'll need to find the "Ring of Rings," which is more literal than it sounds. In Bat Country, there is a circle made of? the Golden Ring item on the right side of the map.

Be careful when you acquire them - not only are they cursed items, but each of the six rings has an Atlantean Ring Wraith protecting it. Once you collect the items, you'll hear the unlock sound effect and Bats Bats Bats? will be available from the character select screen.

Bats Bats Bats sta??rts with a special version of the evolved form of the Pako Battiliar, the Mazo Familiar. Its Damage and Amount are affected by your Max Health. The original item requires the Hollow Heart to evolve into the Mazo Familiar, but it's still a good idea to pick it up for the bonus damage. Bats Bats Bats's version continues to grow stronger when you level up. Also, if you revive during a match, it increases the weapon's Amount and gives you a follower bat. He's incredibly powerful when teamed up with the IV - Awake Arcana and the Tirajisu.

How to unlock new old characters

Two classic characters, Poe Ratcho and Imelda Belpaese, have new versions that can be unlocked. To do so, you'll need to clear their respective Adventure Mode campaigns. If you already have, but you do not see these?? characters un?lock, try opening up their Adventure Mode menus and see if that prompts the achievements to collect.

Once unlocked, you can select these new versions of the characters from the Character Select screen. You'll have to select the originals and then select their alternate appearances. Select the character, then press Left on the D-Pad from the Start button. You'll be able to pick from the normal, the original sprite, and the new versions. The new versions also come with level 5 versions of the Passive Weap?on that evolve their default item.

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Even though Black Myth: Wukong is technically not a Souls-like title, it certainly has a lot of the DNA of one, including the ability to farm respawning enemies for expe?rience points. If this sounds like something up your alley, here are some o?f the best farm locations in the game.

Best experience farms in Black Myth: Wukong

So, what makes a good farm spot is a location near a rest point shrine surrounded by enemies that yield a decent amount of e?xperience when killed, and are easy to kill efficiently. These aspects increase your experience gain per hour (if you're going that long), which means easy experience for earning S?parks.

In my time in Black Myth: Wukong, I've favored two particularly effective experience farm locations that I think you'll find as helpful as I have. The first makes its home at the Windrest Bridge shrine in Chapter 2 (Yellow Wind Ridge). This location, as ??????????????????????????the name implies, is home to a large bridge with a shield-bearing Yaoguai sitting in the middle. At his side, are two weak ranged enemies.

The idea for this farm is to kill all three mobs, then rest at the shrine to respawn and repeat the process. This will earn you roughly 355 XP (Experience) per run, which is solid for the amount of time it takes to kill these mobs. That is roughly 1/6 of a Spark, which is efficient for a farm. I highly recommend you ??pop all of your cooldowns every ti?me you do a run to make this process efficient.

The second effective farm location I've found is right in front of the Windrest Hamlet shrine in Chapter 2. Like the Windrest Bridge, this one also features a b?ridge with the same shield enemy patrolling up and down it. The key difference with this farm loca??tion is that the distance to this shield mob is much closer to the shrine, allowing you to kill it more quickly and reset.

This shield enemy is surrounded by two zombies, which yield the same experience as the ranged enemies from Windrest Bridge. By all metrics, this farm location is better than the previously mentioned as it yields the same total amount of experience, and is even closer to the shrine. The only downside is that it is quite a bit further into Chapter 2 than the Windrest Bridge, so you'll need to progress a bit to reach thi?s one.

I will continuously update t?his guide with more high-quality farm locations, for your experience-earning pleasure. So, check back regularly to see what's newly added.

The post Black Myth: Wukong – Best Farm Locations appeared first on Destructoid.

Focus Points are an integral part of combat in Black Myth: Wukong, to the point that not being aware of them means almost certain failure later in?? the game. If you're not sure how they work, here's a guide explaining to them in detail, and why you should be using them often.

What are Focus Points in Black Myth: Wukong?

Focus Points are a unique, combat-orientated resource that allows you to use powerful staff attacks to overwhelm your foes. Your most potent abilities, outside of spells, in Black Myth: Wukong will come from expending Focus Points, so it is imperative to understa??nd how they work.

Focus Points are earned by dealing damage with staff attacks, charging up your Heavy Attack, and perfectly dodging enemy attacks. You can see the resource fill at the bottom-right portion of your UI. They look like little white orbs when filled and blank orbs when not. Focus Point orbs earned by dealing damage and dodging attacks will remain filled until you use them. Howeve?r, Focus Point ??orbs filled by charging your Heavy Attack will disappear once you've released the charge.

The amount of these Focus Point orbs you have is determined by how many Sparks you've spent in the Staff Stances tree. You can have a grand of total four Focus Point orbs once you've spent 20 Sparks in the tree. Just make sure you take the nodes named Focused Attack in the tree, to ensure you get the orbs unlocked.

Focus Point orbs are essential for either enhancing staff attacks or enabling specific moves. Certain staff attacks require a Focus Point orb to activate, while others can be used without one. However, by holding down Heavy Attack, you can charge some of these moves with a F?ocus Point orb for added power and poise damage. Some staff skills yield special effects when using Focus Points, like Pillar Stance, which allows you to perch higher on the staff with more Focus Points used.

Another crucial aspect of Focus Points is the risk involved in using them during combat. Whil?e they are a valuable resource for enhancing your attacks, misusing them can lead to serious consequences. If you activate a Focus Point move or charge one up using Heavy Attack, and your poise is broken in the process, you’ll lose all the Focus Points you’ve accumulated or attempted to use. Focus Point attacks are high risk, high reward, so it’s vital to time them carefully. Otherwise, you risk weakening yourself significantly in battle.

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Yaogaui Cores are essential for upgrading weapons in Black Myth: Wukong. If you’re looking to power up b??ut aren’t sure where to find more, here’s everything you need to know about how to get them.

How to get Yaogaui Cores in Black Myth: Wukong

You probably have some sitting in your inventory already, but to get more Yaogaui Cores, all you need to do is slay Yaogaui. Almost all of the enemies you face in Black Myth: Wukong are of Yaogaui origins, which means your natur??al progression throughout the game should yield you some.

Yaogaui Cores are a rare resource drop, as indicated by their rarity appearance (Blue), which means you likely won't see one after every single kill. Lowly Yaogaui, like the zombies around Yellow Wind Ridge, have the lowest chance of giving you Yaogaui Cores because they are weak, though. The best way to obtain them en masse is to kill stronger, elite Yaogaui. Generally speaking, the stronger the Yaogaui you purge, the hi??gher the ch??ance it will drop a Yaogaui Core on death.

Yaoguai Cores can also be obtained randomly from looting chests, breaking vases, and bought from the Store for 900 Will. I really don't reco??mmend wasting the Will on these, though, since they can fairly easily be farmed up with a little time and dedication. However, if you are desperate and in need of them immediately for that next big weapon upgrade, the??n this is certainly a viable option.

As I mentioned, Yaogaui Cores have a chance to drop from nearly all enemies in the game, so even if yo??u don't take the time and farm them up, you will undoubted?ly get them naturally over time.

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Poison is a devastating status effect in Black Myth: Wukong that can completely e?nd your run if not treated promptly. Thankfully, there is a relatively easy way to deal with it, though it's not exactly free.

How to heal Poison in Black Myth: Wukong

The simplest way to deal with the Poison status and its build-up is to consume Antimiasma Powder. This is medicine that you can craft in Black Myth: Wukong, through any shrine ??location you can Rest at. The powder is a one-time use, as expected, but you can craft it as needed so long as you have the required materials.

In order to craft Antmiasma Powder, you need one Tree Pearl and one Jade Lotus. Both of these materials are of the Uncommon rarity (Green), meaning they can be found just by exploring the world of Black Myth: Wukong. Chances are, if you're reading this guide, you probably already have a decent amount of both materials. If you don't, ??though, here's where you can find them both.

• Jade Lotus - Found in Black Wind Mountain and Yellow Wind Ridge regions
• Tree Pearl - Found in Pagoda Realm region

While there may be other spots in Black Myth: Wukong where these materials can be found, these t?wo locations are the most reli?able for gathering both, ensuring you can craft the Antimiasma Powder needed to fend off poison death. Each full craft yields a single Antimiasma Powder, so it's wise to collect a healthy amount of these materials for regular use.

Antim??iasma Powder can also randomly be found while you're exploring, but don't expect to be a common pick-up by any means, despite its rarity appearance (Green). Just treat it like a lucky break if you ha??ppen upon one. In most cases, you'll simply have to craft Antimiasma Powder if you're looking to cure any poison effects on yourself.

How to prevent the Poisoned status effect in Black Myth: Wukong

Of course, the best way to prevent being Poisoned altogether is to ensure you're wearing Poison Resistance gear when facing poisonous foes. The Serpentscale Bracers, for example, have some Poison Resistance on them as a stat, which? can save you from being Poisoned.

Additionally, Spirits like Guangmou dramatically boost your resistance to Poison, which can be a total lifesaver when you least expect it. Upgrading Guangmou also boosts your ability to inflict the Poisoned sta?tus on enemies through cost reductions, which can fit well with a build focused around that damage type—a double whammy.

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Resolute Counterflow is an extremely helpful and core mechanic in Black Myth: Wukong, but the description given in-game makes it a little confusing to understand. It took me a moment of ?trial and error to pick up th?e move, so allow me to save you a little time and explain how it works, so you can perform it as needed.

How to use Resolute Counterflow in Black Myth: Wukong

First, Resolute Counterflow's entire purpose is to give you an out during your attack string. Enemies get really aggressive later on in Black Myth: Wukong, and somet????imes simply dodging the incoming attack is not enough.

To use Resolute Counterflow, you first need to gather enough Focus Points, as the move requires you to have at least one. When you have one, to perform the move, you first need to begin your Light Attack string. In the middle of it, pressing Heavy Attack will allow you to perform Resolute Counterflow, which looks like a do??wnward strike. The move interrupts everything you were doing prior, effectively making it a cancel move; a benefit in a pinch.

More importantly, the 'counter' part of Resolute Counterflow comes from perfectly timing the activation of the move with an attack that would otherwise hit and deal damage to you. This results in a significantly more powerful attack that will deal more damage and inflict more poise damage on the enemy. You'll know if you did it right when your character is glow?ing red during the attack animation.

A successful Resolute Counterflow counter prevents you from taking damage from the attack you countered and any attacks that would normally land during the animation. This move is especially useful during boss fights, as many of Black Myth: Wukong's bosses have long attack strings, making it difficult to get hits in wi??thout it.

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While Black Myth: Wukong may not be a traditional Souls-like, it shares enough challenging elements—such as its demanding diff??iculty level—that choosing your early stats and talents wisely is crucial for a smoother experience.

If you need a little guidance on which stats to take starting out, here's everything you need to know about early game stats and talents in Black Myth Wukong.

Best Early Game Talents in Black Myth: Wukong

There are many interesting abilities and talents you can invest in early in Black Myth: Wukong, and you might be interested in doing so because of that. However, Black Myth: Wukong is a fairly difficult game and it really doesn't pull its punches the further you progress. To that end, the most important stats you should take are the ones that boost your survivabili??ty and ability to evade enemy attacks. Health, stamina, and evasion are what your early points should be focused upon, not damage.

With your first six points, I highly recommend investing in the Robust Constitution talent under the Foundation-Survivial tree. That talent boosts your health by a decen??t margin and will allow you more room for error. More room for error ??means more options to adapt.

After that, I recommend going for Deft Evasion in the Foundation-Stamina tre?e. This talent considerably improves your ability to avoid enemy attacks, allowing you to cancel your early Light attack combo into a seamless dodge. This is important because, later on, you won't be able to just sit there and Light attack enemies to death.

Under the same tree, you should invest at least one point into Simian Agility, Endurance, and Everlasting Vigor. These talents enhance your mobility, but the primary reason to invest in them is that they are prerequisites for unlocking Composure. This talent allows you to continue your Lig??ht attack combo string even if you dodge during it. You can be far more aggressive when attacking beca??use you no longer need to be concerned about breaking your attack chain.

The last early-game Talent you should consider taking is Exhilaration, under the Staff Stances tree. This talent improves your Health recovery when consuming a Focus Point, whi??ch makes ?it a great way to heal without using a charge of your Gourd. This doubles as a benefit, as taking at least three points in this tree earns you a second Focus Point.

While many of these Talents are not the most interesting and are largely passive, it's important to get the survivability concerns out of the way so that you can actively take the more 'fun' Talents and stats without concern of dying all the time. Hopefully, this helps your adventure in Black Myth: Wukong.

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Since Black Myth: Wukong is similar to other Soulslike games, at least on the surface, it's not at all strange to be curious i?f it has multiplayer as a feature. The challenging combat and intricate boss battles seem well?-suited for cooperative or competitive play, but is it actually present here?

Can you play Co-op Multiplayer in Black Myth: Wukong?

There is currently no co-op or multiplayer feature in Black Myth: Wukong, a??nd it is very likely to remain? the case at release and into the future.

Despite being commonly compared to Souls titles (games that do typically have multiplayer, and a semi-open world, not always though), Black Myth: Wukong is not strictly pursuing t?hat style. While the thought of having? two transforming, spirit-throwing Sun Wukongs on screen at the same time sounds interesting, the game seems designed solely as a single-player experience.

Black Myth: Wukong is based on and inspired by the classical Chinese adventure novel Journey to the West, and while there are plenty of characters in the story that could potentially make a co-op experience work, I have no doubt it would be a very tricky endeavor to pull off successfully. The story itself is extremely long, and characters come and go throughout the adventure on a consistent bas??is.

Adding a co-op mode to the game would require careful consideration of character balance and narrative cohesion. The game's primary focus is on the singular journey of Sun Wukong, and introducing multiple playable characters could risk diluting the depth of his story. However, if done right, it could offer a fresh way to experience the tale, allowing players to explore different perspectives and abilities while maintaining the integrity of the original narrative. Alas, this is not to be in Black Myth: Wukong.

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Yesterday, a cryptic series of patch notes and social media posts released for Vampire Survivors hinted at a quiet update made to the game. Patch 1.11.1 contains a mysterious new stage with a boppin' track, ?a new character, 9 new achievements, and 5 new arcana ca??rds. The update is out now on all platforms except PlayStation, where it will release with the whole game on August 29.

The biggest part of this content drop, which we now know is called "The Darkasso Update," is the experimental "Dark Arcana" cards, which come with bizarre effects. The Moonlight Bolero, as an example, spawns an additional stage boss every minute, who might carry special treasure chests that let you gain additional Arcana or Passive Weapon past your max capacity. In the patch notes, the devs are requesting feedback on these new arcana to?? inform fur??ther designs down the road.

As another part of this update, you can get new variations of Imelda Belpaese and the garlic-loving Poe Ratcho. To unlock these, you need to complete their respective Adventure Mode campaigns. If you've already beaten them, you may need to select "Adventure Mode" on the m?ain screen to ac??tivate the achievements.

This entire update came ?unannounced, outside of the sudden cryptic messaging a day before its drop: It was never on any roadmaps or anything. It's the kind of fun, weird updates you love to see from indie developers. And the fact that there's more room for new Dark Arcana down the road is a great sign that we'll be getting plenty more updates for this incredible game for a while.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is one of the most anticipated games coming out this year thanks to its apparent innovations to the long-running series. With an open beta on the way, all interested players will get to try it, so here's how you can gain acce?ss to it yourself.

How to get in the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Beta

The Black Ops 6 open beta is open to all players once it starts, but not initially. The game features an Early Access period that will allow people who pre-order the game or have a qualifying active Xbox Game Pass subscription to play it early.

If you're looking to play the beta for Black Ops 6 early, simply pre-order any Digital Edition through your platform's digital storefront. You can also subscribe to Xbox Game Pass (Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass PC, Game Pass Console). Both methods will automatically flag your a?ccount for early open beta access, and you'll be able to log into the Early Access open beta as soon as it opens.

Alternatively, you can pre-purchase the game at any physical retailer to receive a redemption code. This code, once entered and redeemed, will also flag you f??or access to the Early Access Open Beta.

For players interested in playing the open beta without a cost attached, you will be able to play once the Early Access pe??riod for the open beta has concluded. Once it has, you'll be able to log into the beta freely, without any extra steps.

When can you play the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Open Beta?

The open beta officially begins on August 30 and will run until September 9. The Early Access period begins August 30 until September 4. All players, regardless of purchase status, will be able to play in the Open Beta from September 4 until its conclusion on September 9.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 officially launches worldwide on October 25 for the Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4,? and PC.

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Riot Games has begun inviting players to participate in its 2XKO Alpha Lab test. If you're interested and want to join the action, here's how you can secure your s??pot in the t??est.

How to join the 2XKO Alpha Lab

For now, there are only two methods to join the ongoing 2XKO Alpha Lab test,?? and unfortunately, both rely on a degree of luck.

Receive an Invitation

The simplest way is to have Riot Games directly invite you. To be considered, though, you must have a Riot Account and sign up for the test on the official 2XKO website, if you haven't already. Make su?re your account is using a verified e-mail, otherwise you won't be able to complete the next step.

Once you register for the 2XKO Alpha Lab test, you'll receive an interest survey in the e-mail you used. This survey must be completed to be considered for the test. When you're done, the final step is to wait for Riot to invite you. Should you receive an invite, it will also come in the registered e-mail, providing you the opportunity to choose your preferred platform to parti??cipate.

Recieve a Friend Referral

The other way you can join the 2XKO test is by friend referral. Some of those who were invited to the 2XKO test also received a referral invite they could use to bring someone else into the test. If one of these players sends you a referral, you can play in the 2XKO Alpha Lab test without a Riot invitation. To be clear, this referral is not a key. It is a literal link you mus??t click on. Only those with a Riot Account can use it to download and play in the test.

Unfortunately, there are no other known methods for joining the 2XKO Alpha Lab test, so you'll probably need to wait for an invite from Riot to get a chance to play it. The Alpha Lab test officially began on August 8 and will run until August 19. Currently, ??the test is only available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Windows PC.

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If you thinking of jumping back into Diablo 4 for the release of Season 5, then it's always a good idea to know what you're getting into. Here's a quick overview of all the new features ad?ded in the seasonal update.

Everything new in Diablo 4 Season 5

Diablo 4 Season 5 is much smaller than normal seasons because it focuses on fixing what came before it, name??ly the loot system revamp introduced in Season 4. The revamp fixed many issues with loot, but also created several new ones that the developers have decided to tackle with the big up??date.

Season 5 is slate?d to last merely two months? instead of the usual length, and that notion sets the stage for how much new content is actually in the season.

Return to Hell with Infernal Hordes

The biggest new addition to Diablo 4 in Season 5 is a new endgame mode/feature called Infernal Hordes. Infernal Hordes is a new endgame mode designed to challenge you with wave-based encounters that end in a boss fight. The mode features eight tiers of escalating difficulty, each progressively testing your skill and strategy. You will face increasingly formidable waves of enemies, with the ultimate goal of defeating the final boss to complete the encounter. Success in Infernal Hordes allows you to earn Burning Aether, a currency that ca?n be used to unlock various rew??ards.

The rewards for participating in Infernal Hordes include gear, materials, and gold, with you having the freedom to choose what you want based on your ac?cumulated Burning Aether. Additionally, this mode? serves as a new source for acquiring Legendaries and Uniques, offering you the chance to enhance your equipment with rare and powerful items.

Major Itemization Improvements

Diablo 4 Season 5 brings a slew of improvements that enhance the overall game quality. New Uniques and Legendaries offer fresh customization options, while the Unique System overhaul? refines affixes to be more bui?ld-specific. Mythic Uniques now drop from Tree of Whisper Collections, Tortured Gifts in Helltides, and the Purveyor of Curiosities, providing more ways to obtain these powerful items.

Weapon types are now available to additional classes, expanding playstyle options. Sorcerers, for example, can now use 1-handed swords. The season also introduces new and adjusted Tempering Manuals and Affixes, further improving fine-tuning ge??ar enhancement mechanics introduced i?n Season 4.

Quality of Life and Accessibility Additions

Diablo 4's Season 5 introduces several Quality of Life improvements and accessibility features aimed at enhancing your overall experience. Among the notable changes are improved Treasure Goblin loot drops, making these elusive creatures even more rewarding to hunt (finally). Whisper bounties have been adjusted to require less time, allowing you to complete them more efficiently. Additionally, the drop rates for Mythic Uniques from non-Boss enemies have been increased, and these powerful items can now be obtained from a broader range of sources. However, the drop rate for the Baneful Heart crafting material has been reduced, and? Tortured Gifts will no longer contain Murmuring Obols. This is a minor loss, but the rewards are still much? greater.

Season 5 also brings significant enhancements to ensure the game is more inclusive. New features include Auto-Pin and Audio Navigation Assistance, designed to help you navigate the game world more easily. Additionally, a Compass has been added to improve directional guidance.

New Seasonal Cosmetics

While nothing much has changed with the Seas?on Journey system, you can still enjoy earning brand new rewards from following its progression. New Cosmetic appearances are also available to earn just by playing through the Season.

The post All new features in Diablo 4 Season 5 appeared first on Destructoid.

Infernal Hordes is the major new feature added in Diablo 4 Season 5, and while it's mostly front and center, it may not be clear ho??w to unlock it. As a new endgame mode, you'll want to participate in Infernal Hordes for the greatest seasonal return, so here's how you can access it.

How to Access Infernal Hordes in Diablo 4 Season 5

To unlock and gain access to the Infernal Hordes endgame activity, you must first reach Level 50 and enter World Tier 3 for the first time. Doing so will give you access to the 'The Eyes of the Enemy' questline, which will allow you to participate in Infernal Hordes upon completion. The Eyes of the Enemy begins within Hawezar, technically the final main region of base Diablo 4. If you're not sure where to find it, look south of Fractured Peaks on your map. From there, head to Zarbinzet and investigate the disturbance occurrin??g in the main plaza area.

How to begin an Infernal Horde in Diablo 4 Season 5

Once you have the Infernal Horde feature unlocked following the quest completion of To the Edge of the Abyss, you should have gained access to an Infernal Compass. An Infernal Compass is required to begin an Infernal Horde, and they function similarly to Nightmare Sigils. To start an ??Infernal Horde, simply consume an Infernal Compass in your inventory.

Infernal Compasses are a finite resource, so you'll need to gather more if you want to do more Infernal Horde runs. Thankfully, they are super easy to obtain as a large majority of your standard endgame activities often reward you with these hellish compasses. Infernal Compasses are tiered, again similarly to Nightmare Sigils, and require Abyssal Scrolls to upgrade them.

I've personally found them most commonly through opening Helltide Chests amid an active Helltide. Helltides are such a simple activity that only requires you to farm within the small area it's active, so I've found this to be the easiest way to get them in bulk. You can also obtain Infernal Compasses via the Tree of Whispers or just crafting them at the Occultist in a very identical way you would Night??mare Sigils. Regardless of which method you use, you'll find Infernal Compasses very easy to obtain.

How do Infernal Hordes work in Diablo 4 Season 5?

The Infernal Hordes activity itself is similar to Helltides in that you'll be facing large numbers of Hell's denizens constantly. However, unlike Helltides, it is structured around wave-based combat, where you must fend off multiple waves of demons, each wave lasting roughly 60 seconds. To add to the challenge, you can activate Infernal Offers, modifiers that increase both the difficulty and the? potential rewards. After successfully su??rviving all the waves, you must defeat a boss (or bosses) for the final rewards of the activity.

Infernal Horde Rewards

Participating in Infernal Hordes offers several rewards, most notably Burning Aether. This resource can be used to open Spoils of Hell, which contain a variety of valuable items, including potential Legendary/Unique items and Masterwork crafting materials.

The activity is one of the most lucrative and rewarding events you can do in Diablo 4, and is certainly worth your time if you're looking for a new way to farm high-end loot. The best part about Infernal Hordes is that they are not locked to Seasonal Realms. That's right. Eternal Realm players can also participate in Infernal Hordes as of the Season 5 update. Thanks to this, it's reasonable to expect this mode to be actively updated as Diablo 4 gets new content.

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We knew Fall Guys content was heading to Fortnite's creative mode, but now a unique obstacle course looms over the island in Battle Royale, as the bumbling bean obstacle stages just dropped today. The crossover is ready to reward eager players with loot for their ?swift Bean parkouring skills.

Players will need to find Golden Bean statues on the island in order to get started. You'll then be whisked away from the murder and mayhem of Battle Royale for a brief run through the obstacle course. Conquer the courses as fast as possible to get better loot to take back to the island! Of course, once The Storm moves in, the course becomes off limits. Completing quests while running the obstacle course can also earn you a unique Fall Guys back bling and music track.

Looking the part - Fortnite characters get Bean makeovers

The cute thing about this is that your skin will be "Bean'd" when you visit the obstacle course. A large number of the Fortnite original characters have been given Bean forms to take into both this fun crossover, and the full Fall Guys islands you can visit elsewhere in Fortnite. These operate similarly to the Lego ?versions of characters, w?ith the results being extremely mixed.

Epic has also added a bunch of Fall Guys Islands that play more like traditional modes of Fall Guys. The team at Mediatonic Labs helped make these, similar to how Psionix helped make the Rocket Racing levels.

So, what's next for Fall Guys?

As for the future of Fall Guys at large, it's been an incredibly rough time for the team at Mediatonic. Publisher Epic Games laid off hundreds of employees in 2023, and while an Epic statement to Kotaku clarified the entire team at Mediatonic wasn't laid ?off, it's cle??ar the studio was still hit hard.

Given the nature of both games are so compatible here, one would hope Epic values the team over at Mediatonic, and has more plans for the Fall Guys folks going forward.

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While the term "overpowered" can be subjective, some of the Ashes of War introduced in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree are undeniably powerful and can be game changers, especially for those finding the content challenging. If you're struggling with Shadow of the Erdtree ??or are just curi??ous to know, here are the most formidable ones in the bunch.

Best Ashes of War in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

The following Ashes of War are all popular choices for meta builds within Shadow of the Erdtree. While they are always subject to change (and some of them have been changed since the game's release), they remain extremely competent choices for various forms of combat in Elden Ring.

Carian Sovereignty

Carian Sovereignty is a true game-changer, with its ability to deliver a duo of powerful magical attacks that can deal significant damage to enemies. The spell’s wide area of effect and high damage output make it an excellent choice for both crowd control and dealing with tougher foes. Notably, the second hit of Carian Sovereignty stands out as one of the single largest sources of damage you can achieve in all of Elden Ring. This immense damage potential makes the spell invaluable in boss encounters, if you can get the cast off.

Flame Skewer

Flame Skewer is an evolved version of Giant Hunt, now dealing powerful Fire damage. It features a spec??ial interaction with Fire Knight weapons, amplifying its impact. Like Giant Hunt, Flame Skewer delivers massive Poise damage, often launching all but the most resilient foes into the air. Additionally, its impressive range for a melee attack and its vertical attack capability make it an excellent choice for targeting high-reaching weak points on enemies, such as dragon heads. The combination of its fire damage, Poise damage, and extended reach ensures Flame Skewe?r is a formidable asset in any battle.

Rolling Sparks

Rolling Sparks was heavily nerfed from its original state, but remains a strong choice without being oppressively powerful. It requires a Perfume Bottle to use, and its explosive range for a melee Ash of War makes it highly effective for dealing substantial damage at a considerable distance. Despite the nerf, its ability to impact enemies from afar continues to make it a?? valuable tool in combat.

Blindspot

Blindspot stands out for its unique ability to provide both offense and defense. By allowing players to avoid incoming damage while simultaneously dealing their own, it offers a strategic advantage that's hard to ignore. This Ash of War is exceptionally powerful in high-stakes battles where both evasion and damage output are crucial. Its dual functionality makes it a versatile choice for players who need to adapt quickly to changing combat scenarios. I personally used this one to utterly trounce the endboss of Shadow of the Erdtree.

Swift Slash

Despite its recent nerf, Swift Slash remains a formidable Ash of War, particularly in PvE. Its rapid and powerful strike allow players to deal significant damage quickly, making it effective in various combat situations. Although its effectiveness in PvP has been somewhat reduced?, it’s still a strong option for players who excel in fast-paced, aggressive combat. Swift Slash’s speed and damage output ensure that it continues to be a valuable asset in the right hands.

Savage Lion's Claw

Savage Lion's Claw excels with heavy weapons due to its quick speed and immense power. This Ash of War combines the brute force of heavy weapons with a series of fast, aggressive, overhead attacks, making it exceptionally strong. The speed of its strikes allows players to overwhelm enemies before they have a chance to react, making it ideal for those who want to capitalize on their heavy weapon's streng??ths and keep the pressure on their opponents. Like the standard version of Lion's Claw, it does big Poise damage to those w??ho are hit by it.

Palm Blast

Palm Blast is notorious for its incredible damage output and the infinite Poise it provides while charging. This Ash of War allows players to deliver a devastating attack without fear of being interrupted, making it a powerful choice for those who want to deal extreme damage while maintaining their stance. Its ability to absorb damage while charging makes it a ??strong contender for players looking to dominate in combat in PvP and break through general enemy defenses with ease.

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Fortnite recently added Fall Guys content into its Battle Royale mode. An obstacle course looms over the snowy northeast corner of the map, ready to be tackled. Completing several quests on this course will grant you s?o?me unique rewards, so grab them before the event ends on August 15.

How to get started

When you dive out of the Battle Bus, you might be tempted to just glide over to the obstacle course. That won't work, how??ever! You'll be rifted away immediately. To access the obstacle course, you'll need to find one of several Golden Bean statues around Classy Courts.

Only 8 people can be on the course at once. You can see how ?many are active by looking at the numbers hovering over the statues. Once there's room, interact with the statue and you'll be teleported to the course.

Each quest and how to complete them

Fortunately, these quests aren't terribly difficult, though they might sound vague at first. There's some goals f?or completing them?, granting unique rewards for this event. Remember, when you're teleported to the island, you have 90 seconds to complete the course. The faster you do, the better your rewards.

• Complete 2 "Where we Fallin' Quests" - Fall Guys Icon
• Complete 4 "Where we Fallin' Quests" - "Everybody Falls (Chill Mix)"
• Complete 6 "Where we Fallin' Quests" - Pink Plushie back bling

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Life is Strange: Double Exposure is putting players back in the shoes of Max Caulfield, the iconic protagonist of the original Life is Strange. And a?s if that’s not exciting ??enough, this time she’ll be armed with an all-new power: the ability to enter alternate timelines in which certain characters are still alive. 

From the trailers and teasers that Deck Nine has given us, we know that Max will use her new power to solve the mysterious murder of her friend Safi. However, the ability to enter alternate timelines opens up seemingly infinite possibilities for other Life is Strange characters to return. It also leads us to ask the all-important question- will Chloe be in Double Exposure? We’re pretty sure Deck Nine is playing their cards close to the chest and has some exc??iting surprises in store f??or us.

10. Joyce Price

Even if you chose the Bae over Bay ending to the first Life is Strange, the powers that Max has in Double Exposure could theoretical??ly allow for key characters from her past to make a return. Though Joyce is Chloe’s mom ?and not Max’s, she is still an important figure in Max’s childhood. A few texts, emails, or postcards from Joyce could be a good way to link the new game with the classic one. 

9. Chris Eriksen

Chris is the imaginative main character of The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit who also plays a key role in Life is Strange 2. We don’t have any confirmation on exactly when Double Exposure takes place, but he might now be about the right age to ??be a college student at Caledon University, where Max is a photographer-in-residence.

8. Skip Matthews

Skip Matthews is a security guard at Blackwell Academy in Before the Storm who makes music on the side. Hopefully, his band PissHead made it big, and Max will hear their tunes on the radio. It would certainly bring back some of that classic Life Is Strange spirit and would be a nice lighthearted touch.

7. Max’s Parents

We don’t know much about Max’s family; they only appear in the original Life is Strange via text messages. But Double Exposure has the opportunity to open up t??he mystery of their characters a bit more, as it might give Max an even more complex backstory. Regardless of the choices you made and the ending you selected, it seems most reasonable for them to still be in contact with Max and want the best for her.

6. Alex Chen

The main character of Life is Strange: True Colors is a deeply empathetic, caring person who has a personality that would blend well with Max’s. It would be nice to find out more about what’s happened to her since the events of True Colors, and even if her appearance is just in the background, it would likely aid in establishing a more fully intertwined Life is Strange timeline.

5. William Price

Chloe’s dad William is a key figure in the Arcadia Bay chapters of Life is Strange, despite the fact that he passed away before the games began. If we’re opening up alterna??te timelines, we’d love to see one in?? which Chloe and William are both present together- though maybe that’s just wishful thinking. If we do see William again, Deck Nine has to be careful to ensure that his return doesn’t retract the importance of the original game’s story.

4. Hawt Dog Man

Hawt Dog Man is an icon of the Life is Strange franchise who’s in every game and timeline. There’s no way his mustard-loving self ??won’t return in some form or another, and no way he wasn't going to nab a spot on this list.

3. Rachel Amber

Major spoilers for the first game ahead- no matter how you play the original Life is Strange, you can’t save Rachel Amber. Her presence, however, hangs over the entire game to the point where Max can almost feel it, despite never having met her. In the Life is Strange comics, Max is able to meet Rachel in an alternate reality. What if a similar scenario was possible with Max’s new power? I’d love to see how the two would inter?act.

2. Kate Marsh

Kate Marsh is a fellow student that Max cares deeply about in the first game, and so it would, of course, be great to see her or hear from her again in Double Exposure. Her storyline is also the first to truly show players just how powerful Max’s rewind powers are and how much of a difference your choices make in the Life is Strange universe.

1. Chloe Price

And now for the question we all want answered- will Chloe be in Double Exposure? In one of the preview scenes for Double Exposure, we find out that Max is keeping a photo of Chloe close but that her friend Safi doesn’t know Chloe. This implies that Max might be keeping her past a secret or that she hopes to escape it. Perhaps the latter is more likely since we now find Max on the other side of the country from where she grew up. Years have passed since the first game, and I think it’s fair to say that Double Exposure's Chloe, if she appears, ??will have to be a very different character than the one we saw in Arcadia Bay. 

We’re excited to see what Square Enix and Deck Nine have in store for us when Double Exposure releases on October 29th, 2024.

The post 10 Life is Strange Characters We Want to See Return in Dou??ble Exposur??e appeared first on Destructoid.

Gaming’s indie horror scene has hit it off strong in 2024 with the likes of Crow Country and Withering Rooms making a great impression among critics and players alike. But the second half of the year is stacked with even more excellent looking horror games on the horizon from smaller publishers and ??independent development teams.

The followi??ng gam??es have been lurking in the shadows for long enough. Here's a spotlight on what's to come for indie horror fans during the rest of 2024.

CONSCRIPT

Unlike any of the other games listed here today, CONSCRIPT does not feature supernatural entities or undead ghouls. Instead, it focu??ses on the atrocities of war, and the toll it takes on the soldiers ordered to conduct it. The game is played from the perspective of a French soldier during World War I attempting to survive in the trenches over the course of the years-long co??nflict.

Inspired by the likes of Resident Evil and Silent Hill, CONSCRIPT adapts the combat and puzzle mechanics from classic survival-horror games in its portrayal of the historical horrors. After seven years in the making, CONSCRIPT is finally available now as of July 23, 2024, as ??well as a demo c?urrently available on Steam.

Zoochosis

Anybody yet unfamiliar with Zoochosis would have thus been unable to draw obvious comparisons, so now is as good a time as any to head that off at the pass: if John Carpenter’s The Thing was set in a zoo, you would have Zoochosis.

With that established, this first-person simulation game casts pl?ayers as a night-shift zookeeper while an infectious disease spreads among the animal residents, causin??g them to undergo a macabre metamorphosis into hostile, disfigured abominations. Job responsibilities involve socializing with the animals, feeding them, cleaning up their spaces, and monitoring them to ensure they don’t grow an excess of limbs and scale the walls of their enclosure. Standard procedure.

In order to prevent further loss of life - be it the animals or their own - the protagonist must develop vaccines? to spare the animals from transforming. The ??player’s decisions will affect whether or not they can be saved in time, as well as which ending they receive.

Prepare to capture all the grisly body horror through the body camera lens when Zoochosis is freed from its cage on September 23, 2024.

Post Trauma

With its unsettling designs and focus on psychological horror, Post Trauma is shaping up to? be a very ??promising debut title from Red Soul Games.

Our protagonist, Roman, is a heavy-set train conductor in? his late 50s, who finds himself trapped in a warped? subway system inhabited by disturbed creatures and infested with malignant tendrils, lining the dismal tunnels the deeper he explores.

The cryptic puzzles and fixed-camera angles are inspired by classic horror franchises, with the setting in particular evoking the opening hours of Silent Hill 4: The Room. Post Trauma is on schedule for a fall 2024 arrival, but for those eager to get on board, a demo for the game is available on itch.io.

Clock Tower: Rewind

The Clock Tower series has a storied history as one of the original gaming horror franchises that ended up fading into obscurity. The premier game in the series, Clock Tower, was released for the Super Famicom in 1995 by Human Entertainment, but now WayForward is debuting it outside of Japan for the first time with Clock Tower: Rewind, an enhanced port for modern platforms.

This point-and-click adventure horror title puts players in the role of a young girl named Jennifer, who is among a group of orphans that have recently been adopted and sent away to an old Norwegian mansion. However, shortly after their arrival, the children find themselves pursued by a ??half-pint killer wielding a set of scissors twice his stature. With the aptly named Scissorman stalking the manor halls, Jennifer must locate the rest of her adoptive siblings while evading the murderous prowler.

Get your oversized scissors ready, the ribbon cutting for the game’s release is set for October 31 in Japan, with other regions listing a October 11 - November 11 shipping window.

Bye Sweet Carole

Developer: Little Sewing Machine - Meangrip Studios
Publisher: Maximum Entertainment
Platforms: PS5, PS4, XSX|S, XBO, Switch, PC (Steam)
Release: 2024

On the subject of Clock Tower, this twisted take on a classic Disney animation blends the run-and-hide gameplay and side-scrolling perspective of the former with the aesthetic of Snow White or Alice in Wonderland. From the creator of the Remothered series, Bye Sweet Carole’s authentic hand-drawn presentation appears pleasant and inviting, starkly juxtapos??ing its dark themes and violent ima??gery.

When a young girl named Carole goes missing? from an orphanage, her fellow resident and friend Lana goes searching for her, and in the process finds another world unlike her own full of strange creatures an??d homicidal hares that will hunt Lana throughout the game.

B??e prepared to get lost going down this rabbit ?hole when the game releases later in 2024.

Hollowbody

At first glance, Hollowbody presents itself as a sci-fi noir story, starring an illegal smuggler named Mica in search of their partner Sasha, who went missing on a dangerous job in a restricted area alone. Mica attempts to follow after her, but upon entering the restricted airspace, her flying vehicle malfunctions and crash lands amid a dilapidated su?burb hidden beneath the clouds. With the futuristic-cyberscape veneer stripped away, Mica is left stranded in a morose town full of plague-ridden monsters.

Emulating the aesthetic of a PS2-era horror title, Hollowbody features a mix of dynamic- and fixed-camera angles along with traditional survival-horror combat and ??puzzle solving.

Hollowbody wi??ll only be roughly three hours long, aiming to be a short-story, but players that are on the fence can try out a newly updated demo on Steam before the game releas?es later this year.

Sorry We’re Closed

A vibrant standout from the pack, Sorry We’re Closed is no less r??ife with macabre creatures, rustic environments and unholy imagery.

A curse has been placed on our protagonist, Michelle, that threatens to cut her life short in a manner of days; however, the demon that inflicted the curse barters an opportunity to lift it if Michelle ventures into the dangers of the demon world to fulfill their bidding. Sorry We're Closed is played from a fixed-camera pe?rspective and, with the use of a Third Eye granted to her, Michelle can peer into the parallel reality of the demon world. This vision can also expose weak points on enemies, allowing her to dispose of enemies in first-person combat.

With numerous diverse characters to engage with and influence, player’s choices will lead to mult?iple outcomes in de?termining the fate of Michelle’s story.

A demo is available on Steam no???w, with the full release expected for some time in 2024.

Echoes of the Living

Perfectly encapsulating the visuals and atmosphere of the Resident Evil (2002) remake, Echoes of the Living is a love letter to the classic franchise, with two playable characters, zom?bie filled streets, fixed camera angles, and elaborate puzzles.

The plot is a direct homage to Resident Evil 2, right down to the dual protagonists of a young lady looking for her brother f?ather and a new gu??y in town looking for a fresh start right before a zombie outbreak sweeps through a small town, all set in the late '90s.

While it? may not be an original idea, it is certainly a w?elcome one if it can pull off the same level of tension and design as its inspirations. A playable demo was previously available during the October 2023 Steam Next Fest, so hopefully the game will receive another demo prior to launch, which is listed for release in 2024.

Tormented Souls 2

Keeping in theme with Resident-Evil-like games, the original Tormented Souls from 2021 garnered attention for its t?raditional approach to survival horror, including restrictive fixed-camera exploration and combat paired with perplexing puzzles, all set in a detailed and claustrophobic hospital.

Tormented Souls 2 retains these core elements as it furthers the story of protagonist Caroline Walker, who now must seek out a cure for a supernatural illness that plagues her younger sister, Anna. Her search brings her to the South American town of Puerto Miller that harbors a deranged cult with a dark and storied history.
Although details are still scarce, this up-and-coming horror franchise is set to arrive later this year.

Fear the Spotlight

As part of the Blumhouse Games publishing initiative for smaller horror projects, Fear the Spotlight leads the pack with an impressive start. This polygonal adventure garbs itself with a retro aesthetic, but features a ?modern third-person ?perspective with a fully voice-acted narrative.

The story follows a young girl named Vivian, who has been convinced by her friend Amy to break into their school after dark in order to perform a hokey séance for fun; that is, unt??il actual spirits are summoned forth, and Amy’s demeanor changes from thrill-seeking teen to an indoctrinated acolyte of dark forces. Now pursued by a spotlight-head monster, Vivian must hide from its gaze to survive, all the while solving puzzles, uncovering myste??ries, and trying to find Amy to escape the school with their lives.

Although Fear the Spotlight was originally released in 2023, the developers removed this version in order t?o undergo a major overhaul of features and content before re-releasing in 2024.

The post 10 promising indie-si???zed horror games slated for the second half of 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

Your main weapon is usually the one that does the talking in Warframe, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't have a strong secondary on hand just in case things break down further. Rarely are there second chances, but the moment one rears its head, you want ??to have the top-of-the-line secondary ready to speak up, just in case.

Strongest Secondary Weapons in Warframe

Sometimes speaking from the hip is the best way to get your point across, and in Warframe, the best secondaries excel in all forms of content,?? including the harrowing Steel Path. These gu??ns all pack a serious punch and ensure that no one else will be getting a word in, should you have to pull one of them out.

Grimoire

The Grimoire is like a mystical Swiss Army knife, packed with dark energies thanks to its ability to use unique Tome mods to buff allies. As a weapon, it deals pure?? Electricity damage, which is one of the best elements to combine with for the sake of versatility. Its alt-fire shoots a slow-traveling voltaic orb that delivers powerful shocks to all foes that dare go near it. Think of it as your own personnel storm in a book, zapping enemies into submission while giving buffs to your allies all at the same time.

Laetum

??The Laetum is an absolute beast of a pistol, known for its insane fire rate and Crit potential. This Incarnon weapon starts strong, but it gets even wilder—nail enough headshots in its base form, and it morphs into a fully automatic rifle with a fast rate of fire. Its pinpoint accuracy and enemy-shredding capabilities make it a beloved favorite among players. Because the Laet??um is an Incarnon weapon, you can slap on unique perks that turbocharge its already ridiculous performance. The Laetum’s reliable, adaptable performance ensures it’s always the life of the party in any Tenno’s arsenal, ready to wreak havoc at a moment’s notice.

Hystrix Prime

The Hystrix Prime is a total powerhouse in terms of damage, and it's easy to see why! Its secret weapon? The ability to swap between four ammo types: Heat, Electricity, Toxin, and Cold. With this feature, you can tailor its firepower to a??ny situation using mods while also guaranteeing status procs for the element you choose. This insane versatility means you’re always ready for whatever the battlefield throws at you. Whether you need to melt through armor or freeze foes in their tracks, the Hystrix Prime has got you covered.

Kuva Nukor

The Kuva Nukor is a radiant powerhouse, and here’s why: it’s like carrying a mini sun on your belt. It excels at spreading chaos by dealing radiation damage, which makes enemies turn on each other in confusion. Each shot from the Kuva Nukor can chain this disorienting effect to multiple targets, creating a ??dazzling display of chaos and destruction. Due to its Kuva label, the Kuva Nukor always comes with an additional elemental bonus attached. With the right mods, you can make this weapon a true beacon of mayhem, causing enemies to fry themselves in a radiant frenzy. It’s like having a weaponized light show that turns foes into a sea of fireworks.

Pyrana Prime

The Pyrana Prime is a powerhouse that packs a serious punch all thanks to its fierce combination of features. This weapon shines with its rapid-fire rate and high Crit chance? as a hand-held shotgun, allowing it to deliver a storm of pellets downrange in no time. Its real strength lies in its ability to unleash a torrential spray of projectiles, making it perfect for close-quarters combat and overwhelming enemies with sheer volume. It's the perfect response to foes who want to get up close and personal.

Lex Prime

The Lex Prime is a formidable weapon thanks to its sheer power and precision. While is undoubtedly the most basic of the secondaries on this list, this pistol packs a punch with its high base damage and excellent Crit hit chance, making each shot a potential game-changer. It’s known for its impressive single-shot damage output, which allows it to deal with high-priority targets efficiently. In Warframe, raw po??wer enough to deal with most threats, and Lex Prime combines it with pinpoint accuracy and high Crit potential, making it a top choice for taking down even the toughest enemies with precision and force.

Kuva Brakk

As a shotgun, the Kuva Brakk is exceptionally strong due to its high base damage, significant Crit Hit Chance, Status Chance, and projectile spread, allowing it to hit multiple enemies all at once. Its effectiveness is further amplified by the influence of its Kuva label, providing an additional elemental damage bonus on?? top of its raw base damage. It serves as an excellent choice as a Secondary solely because of its raw power, which works as a strong alternative to the Pyrana Prime for those looking for a more traditional shotgun experience.

The post Best Secondary Weapons in Warframe appeared first on Destructoid.

In Zenless Zone Zero, you are tasked?????????????????????????? with destroying a set of computer databases in the quest Sweeping Away Secrets. But first, you must unlock a combination lock to get access to them. To actually destroy the databases, though, there's a bit more you have to do than just putting in the code.

What is the code for the Sweeping Away Secrets Lock in Zenless Zone Zero?

The code you need to use for the locked door in Sweeping Away Secrets is 045. Interact with the locked door and choose the Enter the passcode option, then do just th??at. Doing so will open the lock and allow you to get access to your main objective, the computer databases. However, just opening the door to them is not enough to complete the mission. You need to destroy them with explosives; explosives you won't have access to if you open the lock without any additional exploration.

Normally, to find the lock code, you'd have to search for c??lues around the level and piece together the password I just gave you. In doing so, you'd come across the explosives you need to destroy the objective naturally. However, if you just put the code in, you won't be able to finish the quest. So, here's where you can find the explosives, for your reference.

Where to find explosives for Sweeping Away Secrets in Zenless Zone Zero

To finish Sweeping Away Secrets, you need to find explosives you can use within the level itself. Conveniently, there just so happens to be some waiting for you to pick them up. In the top-right corner of the level, you'll find a Hollow Raider barricad??ed via a second?? locked door.

This Hollow Raider has the explosives you need, but to unlock this specific door, you need to spend 2500 coins first. Search the open parts of the map in Sweeping Away Secrets, as you'll find all the coins you need just lying around. You'll face a few encounters on the way, but nothing you can't handle, I'm certain. Once you have the 2500 coins, return to the locked door and open it with them. You'll quickly be greeted by the Hollow Raider. After exhausting all of his dialogue, he will give you a Bangboo Plug-in, an infinite-use explosive, and the one you nee??d.

Once you have the Bangboo Plug-in, return to the combination lock door at the beginning of the level and open it using the 045 code if you haven't already. With access to the databases, place Bangboo Plug-in bombs in between any two databases, and move around a bit so they explode. Be careful as the bombs can harm you too. If you're familiar with Bomberman, these bombs explode similarly. Repeat this process until all of the databas??es have been destroyed, then return to the beginning of the level to conclude the mission.

The post What’s the Combination Lock Code for Sweeping Away Secrets in Zenless Zone Zero? appeared first on Destructoid.

Elden Ring's fabled expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, focused heavily on t?he Faith side of the spell-slinging spectrum, but that doesn't mean Sorcery was completely neglected. Though there weren't nearly as many Sorcery spells added, a few of the ones that were are actually worth casting at a moment's notice.

Best Sorcery Spells in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

As someone who used a Strength/Intellect build for my playthrough of Shadow of the Erdtree, I was on the constant lookout for new Sorcery spells worthy of slotting into my spel??lbook. The following spells were consistently worthy of every FP I spent on them.

Fleeting Microcosm

One of the four Finger Sorceries you can get in the expansion, Fleeting Microcosm opens up a brief portal and spawns an orb. This orb pulses once, dealing moderate damage to enemies nearby it before exploding in an even larger area. The explosion's damage is immaculate, which? is why you cast this spell during AoE (Area of Effe?ct) engagements. What's better is that this this spell can be cast at a pretty long distance from your target, and still land. Charging this spell amplifies the damage, the size of the orb, and the explosion at the cost of a slightly slower payoff, but it's worth it if you can do so.

If you want to pick up this Sorcery for yourself, you must participate in the questline offered by Count Ymir, located at the Cathedral of Manus Metyr. The spell is ??one of the rewards you get ??for doing so.

Gravitational Missile

Arguably one of the most useful new Sorcery spells, Gravitational Missle offers a wide spectrum of useful utility depending on how you decide to cast it. When you perform a basic cast of this spell, it summons a purple orb that travels forward from you slowly, pulsing several times before exploding in a large AoE. Each of these pulses deals very minor damage, but, more importantly, each pulse also pulls enemies toward its center. The pull effect isn't very significant, but it does interrupt enemies that can be affected by it by staggering them. This opens up many opportunities for you to dish out damage while the orb is active.

Now, if you charge up Gravitational Missle, you get more of the above, just bigger, wider, and more potent. The explosion damage is more powerful and often immediately lethal to enemies caught within it. Th??is larger orb dishes out even more damage while it actively staggers foes within its incredibly large pull radi??us. This was a key strategy for me while dealing with the final invasion encounter before meeting the last boss face-to-face.

The most significant thing about Gravitational Missile is how the orb itself interacts?? with collision. When it touches any surface, the orb will explode, dealing its damage immediately, and knocking back or down enemies within the radius. This is useful because the direction of the orb is determined by your target or the direction your character ?is facing. So, if you face toward the ground, the orb will instantly explode on the cast, triggering the previously mentioned effects. Gravitational Missile can be cast extremely fast compared to most spells of its type, making this spell very useful for player-centered AoE and crowd-control. It is no slouch on damage either, as even an uncharged cast aimed at the ground will kill most enemies in only a few casts. I found this aim-at-the-ground casting to be the most useful application of this spell.

You too obtain Gravititional Missle by slaying the Fallingstar Beast in the crater located on Fingerstone Hill.

Impenetrable Thorns

When it comes to spells built for pure offensive onslaught, Impenetrable Thorns is probably the best added in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. It functions very similarly to the Blood-themed Briar spells of the base gam??e. However, the main difference is that Impenetrable Thorns simply does significantly more damage, being able to three-shot some bosses in the DLC through powerful blood lost procs. Its improved range also outclasses the Briar spells, making it an exceptionally good opener to a majority of encounters throughout the DLC. As far as offense goes, Impenetrable Thorns easily tops the list of excelling Sorcery.

If you want to get your hands on Impenetrable Thorns, you can find it on a corpse in Shadow Keep, within the Storehouse, Seventh Floor.?? You'll first need to rotate the beams so make sure the pull the lever first to reach the corpse's location.

Mass of Putrescence

If you recall the base game spell, Cannon of Halma, then this spell functions in a similar regard in terms of how it is cast. However, Mass of Putrescence is more closely associated with the base game spell, Rolling Magma, ??only better in most cases. With Rolling Magma, you always needed to cast it so that the projectile did not hit an enemy to get its full effect. This is not the cas?e with Mass of Putresence. Direct hits with this spell will still cause it to properly explode for its core effect. Despite this, the ideal usage of this spell is still to cast it like Rolling Magma: Avoid direct hits.

Now, what is Mass of Putr??esence? When you cast this spell, you lob a foul glob of magic through the air like a mortar. When it hits a surface, it explodes, projecting ghostflame across a wide area. Enemies hit by the flames are subject to Frostbite build-up, which is why this spell is so excessively strong at picking off groups of enemies from a distance.

You can find Mass of Putrescence in the Stone Coffin Fissure, the furthest you can go south in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. The spell is found on a corpse near the Fissure Waypoint Site of Grace. You'll need to do some careful platforming by?????????????????????????? dropping down a nearby cliff, ??so use caution when hunting this spell.

Rellana's Twin Moons

The final spell on this list, Rellana's Twin Moons is a third variety of the Moon spells from the base game. Unlike the base game versions, Rellana's Twin Moons are cast at your position. You float into the air and slam two Moons into the ground, causing Moon-level AOE explosions, concluding the spell cast with a shockwave slam that also deals big damage. This spell is extremely powerful, just like all Moon spells, but it does come with the caveat of needing significant Poise if you want to use it in close combat with enemies, This is because this spell is easy to interrupt. It isn't uncommon to be thrown out of the air mid-cast by enemies hitting you with merely a stick. Nevertheless, this spell is very strong and is easily one of the best in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.

To get Rellana's Twin Moons, you must first slay Rellana, Twin Moon Knight located within Castle Ensis, to earn her Remembrance. Take her Remembrance to the Finger Reader at the Roundtable and exchange it for this spell.

The post Bes??t Sorcery Spells added in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree appeared first on Destructoid.

In Elden Ring, there is already a large selection of Sorcery spells to choose from, but its famed expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree introduced a whole new spell school to hunt for. Finger Sorcery is an oddly unique scho??ol of magic, but you?? won't be getting your hands on any of its spells unless you unlock them first.

How to get all Finger Sorcery spells in Shadow of the Erdtree

There are four different Finger Sorcery spells you can earn in Shadow of the Erdtree, and all four require you to participate in Count Ymir's Questline, started from within the Catherdral of Manus Metyr.

For your reference, here are all four spells and what they do for yo?u once cast.

• Glintstone Nail - Fires a Glintstone shard that moves only in straight lines as it homes in on its target.
• Glintstone Nails - Fires four Glintstone shards that move only in straight lines as they home on their target.
• Fleeting Microcosm - Creates an orb that pulses with a power wave before exploding, dealing high damage in a large area around it.
• Cherishing Fingers - Summons numerous Fingers around the caster, dealing damage to all that come in contact with them.

These sp??ells are all earned at different points during Count Ymir's Questline, so I'll walk you through the process of unlocking each and every one. Wit?hout further ado, let's get started.

How to get Glintstone Nail and Glintstone Nails

Glintstone Nail and Glintstone Nails are both earned as the reward for completing part one of Count Ymir's questline. Before going into detail, head to the Cathedral of Manus Metyr and speak with Count Ymir, sitting upon his throne. Exhaust all of his dialogue and he will give a map to an unspecified ruin. So you don't need to torture your eyes squinting at the map, the Finger Ruins of Rhia is the location you need to reach. You can find it directly East of the Gravesite Plain grace.

You'll need to travel through the Cerulean Coast to reach the ruins. You'll know you're in the?? right place if you see a large number of Finger-like structures seemingly?? sticking out of the ground.

Once you're reached the ruins, travel North from the entry point until you see a Finger-like bell surrounded by other Finger structures.

Walk up to this bell and interact with it. This should cause you to ring it, which means you've completed your objective. Return to Count Ymir and exhaust his dialogue again. He will give you a second map for part two of his questline. After this happens, you'll be able to buy Glintstone Nail and Glintstone Nails from Count Ymir at you're leisure.

How to get Fleeting Microcosm

Fleeting Microcosm is the reward for completion of part two of Count Ymir's questline. Like with the first, you're given a map to find another unspecified Finger ruin. This time, your target is the Finger Ruins of Dheo, located East of the Shadow Keep.

This one is a bit trickier to reach, however, as it requires you to first open the door leading to the ruin. Explore the Shadow Keep until you find the Shadow Keep, Back Gate grace.???? As the name implies, it's located in the back of Shadow Keep.

Once you've reached the Back Gate grace, turn right and walk into the room with a Summoning Pool statue at its entrance. You'll see a statue of Marika in the room that appears to have a dead end. However, the statue is the door that you need to open to reach ruin. To open it, use the O Mother ges?ture in front of it. Doing so will see the door slid open after the animation has concluded.

From here, go through the door and follow the path all the way to the end, where you'll find the Finger Ruins of Dheo. The path is wide but linear, so you won't be able to miss it. You're looking for an identical Finger Bell which you'll find at the center of ruin, much like the pre??vious one.

Interact with it and then return to Count Ymir. Exhaust his dialogue once more, and he'll give you a third map for the final part of? his questline. After hearing him out, sp??eak with him again to purchase Fleeting Microcosm.

How to get Cherishing Fingers

Cherishing Fingers is the reward for the third and final part of Count Ymir's questline. However, unlike all of the previous spells, you won't be purchasing it from him. Getting this spell is the hardest part of the questline because you must defeat two bosses and?? two invaders before it's within your reach. Don't worry. ??I'll walk you through it.

Firstly, with the third map in hand, go and rest at any grace, preferably the one just outside Count Ymir's audience chamber. After resting, go back to Count Ymir's location. You'll immediately notice that Count Ymir is no longer present on his throne. However, with him gone, you can now interact with it, which you should do. Doing so will open up a secret passage underneath it, leading to the Finger Ruins of Miyr, your final target.

Take the ladder down, and you'll be able to see the last Finger Bell you need in the distance. When you walk toward it, you'll be invaded by Swordhand Anna. Defeat her then walk up to the bell but don't interact with it until you're ready. You'll be facing the grotesque Metyr, Mother of Fingers boss once you do. This bo?ss is quite hard, but you are required to kill it to earn thi??s spell, so steel yourself.

Once you've slain the beast, return once more to Count Ymir's chambers. Upon stepping into his chamber, you'll be invaded by another one of Count Ymir's Swordhands, Jolan. The moment you defeat Jolan, Count Ymir himself will appear before you as a boss. He is a long-ranged spell caster and uses Finger Magic almost entirely to assault you. He will also cast Cherishing Fingers against you when you're close to him. Once Count Ymir is dead, you will have completed the entire quest line. All that's left to do is claim your reward.

To earn Cherishing Fingers, go to the Cathedral of Manus Metyr grace and head into Count Ymir's chamber. About halfway to his throne room, turn right and head into the graveyard area of the cathedral.

In the graveyard, there is one item that can be looted. Walk up to it and pick it up, and you'll receive the last Finger So?rcery spell, Cherishing Fingers.

The post How to unlock Finger Sorcery in Shadow of the Er?dtree appeared first on Destructoid.

While levels and gear were the most important aspects of power progression in base Elden Ring, Shadow Realm Blessings take center stage in its exclaimed expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree??. While this may be hard to believe, there? are numerous reasons why you should be aware of this mechanic.

Should you use the Shadow Realm Blessing system in Shadow of the Erdtree?

Shadow Realm Blessings provide your character with a significant amount of power and defense to help you kill your foes and survive them efficiently. Without using them, you'll find yourself struggling massively against the denizens of the Shadow Realm. Even basic footsoldiers will prove to be incredible challenges for you. So yes, you should be making full use of the Sh?adow Realm Blessings. If you do not use these? blessings and build them up, you're in for a hard time and a world of frustration. For your reference, there are two types of blessings you should know about.

• Scadutree Blessing - Provides your character directly with free offensive and defense stats. This blessing stacks in power and must be upgraded using Scadutree Fragments found throughout the Shadow Realm.
• Revered Spirit Ash Blessing - Boosts the offensive and defensive stats of your Spirit Ash summons, allowing them to remain relevant in the Shadow Realm. Like the Scadutree Blessing, you need a special resource called Revered Spirit Ashes to upgrade it, allowing it to stack in power.

When you find the necessary resources to upgrade a Shadow Realm Blessing, the process can be done by sitting at any Grace and selecting the Shadow Realm Blessing option.

Doing so will allow you to choose which of the two blessings you wish to upgrade. As you level both blessings up, eventually, the cost for each will increase. Note that the upgrade materials for both Blessings are scarcely found, and you'll need to search the Shadow Realm high and low to locate them. This is a process you'll be constantly doing throughout your playthrough of Shadow of the Erdtree.

As for where to find more, Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes are found throug??hout the Realm of Shadows. Some are hidden away in catacombs or waiting after a tough boss room, while others are just tucked away in the o??pen world. If you ever see a ghostly shade holding a pot, make sure to take them out and loot the body, as some appear to be held by those enemies.

One last thing you should know about these Blessings is that they only take effect while you're within the Shadow Realm. The benefits they reward you with is staggeringly high, so if you could use them elsewhere, you would effectively be trivializing base Elden Ring, in its entirety.

The post Why you should not ignore the new Blessing system in Shadow ??of the?? Erdtree appeared first on Destructoid.

Xbox’s latest update has added new ways to customise your background, allowing gamers the option to enjoy the dynamic background while still getting to see? the game art for titles you choose. There is also a new option to change the dynamic background colour on the Xbox console without changing the profile colour.

The new update no?w lets the Xbox console remember up to 10 wireless networks so that folks can switch between Wi-Fi networks without having to type the passwords again. Xbox players can now manage their Xbox subscriptions directly from their consoles, by heading to Settings > Account > Subscriptions.

Microsoft has also rolled out a new firmware update for its Xbox wireless controller. The support for the Xbox Adaptive Controller has been expanded, allowing more USB accessories to connect. Each port will now support up to 12 buttons, a second stick, and a hat switch. Connectivity of headsets with the Xbox Elite Wireless Con??troller? has also been improved with the new update.

Game Pass sub-navigation menu and Cloud Gaming support for mouse and keyboard now available for all players

On the PC gaming sid??e, now all players can access the new Game Pass Sub Navigation Menu. This feature allows PC gamers to directly access all Game Pass titles from Xbox’s first-party studios, EA Play, and Riot games. Xbox had rolled out the Game Pass Sub Navigation Menu as a preview back in April a??nd it is now available for all players in the Xbox app on PC.

Players who use Xbox Cloud Gaming can now manage their game data and cloud saves by visiting the Xbox play webpage on a browser, through the Samsung smart TV app, and other cloud gaming-supported devices. Moreover, Clou??d Gaming now supports mouse and keyboard, and this functionality is now a??vailable for all players.

Xbox will also be testing out some more updates on selective Xbox accounts, where some people might encounter features such as the ability to find people through console search, an updated Game Pass page layou?t a?nd style, and they may find additional info on search card results and flashcard store buttons.

The post Xbox latest update adds more customisation for backgrounds and improves Wi-Fi network? features appeared first on Destructoid.

The Microsoft digital-only push continues. During today's Xbox Games Showcase, Microsoft unveiled a new line-up of Xbox Series X|S ??consoles, two of which are all-digital, and one special edition console with a disc drive. T?he three new consoles are set to release this holiday 2024 season.

Oddly enough, the two all-digital consoles have a smaller SSD than ?the one that comes with a disc drive. However, that one is the special edition at a higher ?price point, which helps make a bit of sense out of it. Even still, you would think the all-digital consoles would benefit from a bigger drive.

Here are all three new Xbox Series X|S consoles comin??g Holiday 2024:

Robot White Xbox Series S

• All-digital
• 1TB SSD
• $349.99

Robot White Xbox Series X

• All-digital
• 1TB SSD
• $449.99

Special Edition Galaxy Black Xbox Series X

• Includes disc drive.
• 2TB SSD
• Special Galaxy Black D-pad and Velocity Green back case
• $599.99

Alright, I'm? sold. The Galaxy Black looks?? cooler than I had even imagined and officially signals my time to finally get an Xbox Series X.

All three consoles are set to release in Holida?y 2024.

The post Xbox announces three bran?d new Xbox Ser??ies X|S consoles including two digital-only ones appeared first on Destructoid.