The new MMO Dauntless has its open beta release for PC on May 24 and will then be free-to-play for all players. The coop action RPG is often compared to Monster Hunter, but it leans more towards MMO. Here’s what you should know before diving into the free monster hunt.
What is Dauntless about? You live on islands that float through the natural energy source Aether. Horrific monsters, known as Behemoths, feed on this Aether and also on humans. Without Aether, the floating islands and thus your home would fall. To prevent the Behemoths from annihilating humanity, you take on the role of a “Slayer” and hunt them down.
You can do this either solo or in cooperative online multiplayer with up to four players.
The gameplay focuses on boss fights and crafting
Behemoths are like raid bosses: You will primarily be busy battling the Behemoths in boss fights. The various monsters differ in size, attacks, elements, and movements, making each creature unique. However, they follow certain patterns, much like a MMORPG raid boss, that you can learn.
Loot Behemoths for better gear: In your hometown Ramsgate, you can craft new weapons, armor, consumables, and lanterns. Lanterns are rechargeable items that give you a temporary effect during the hunt. To craft new gear and items, you need to loot materials from the Behemoths and the environment. It is also possible to upgrade weapons and armor.
The gameplay of Monster Hunter and Dauntless is similar, as it essentially revolves around the same concept: hunting monsters in strategic battles and harvesting them for better gear.
There are 5 weapon classes with rechargeable Aether attacks
Each weapon class has different variations that you craft from materials collected from monsters and the environment. This gives you weapons with different elements and properties. A wide arsenal of varying weapons provides you with an advantage in monster hunting.
Infuse your weapons with Aether to strengthen their attacks: The different properties of the weapons also lead to various Aether attacks. You can also add elemental properties to your weapons.
Here are the 5 weapon classes:
- Swords: Every hit fills your blade with Aether, allowing you to build up devastating combos and unleash destructive elemental explosions.
- Axes: A powerful strike at the right moment gains additional destructive power. The harder the hit, the more Aether accumulates, rewarding offensive combat tactics with brutal damage.
- Hammers: Part war hammer and part cannon, the hammer pulverizes bones and flattens Behemoths up close. Use the momentum of its shattering explosion.
- Chain Blades: Attack from a distance, plunging into battle with a rapid succession of strikes. Hit the monsters hard, hit them fast, and be gone before they strike back.
- War Pikes: A deadly polearm designed for quick, powerful strikes that extend a Slayer’s range while maintaining pressure. Every hit charges the war pike’s ranged attack.
Dauntless is Free-to-Play: Funded through cosmetics, without loot boxes
Starting from the open beta on May 24, Dauntless will switch to a free-to-play model. Until then, you need to buy into the closed beta with a founder’s pack. This pack includes only cosmetic items that allow you to show that you have been there from the start and supported the game.
The developers at Phoenix Labs have often emphasized that they want no pay walls or pay-to-win elements in Dauntless. Content that is relevant for gameplay should remain free for all players. They aim for a system similar to Warframe or Path of Exile.
In an earlier version of Dauntless, there was also a loot box mechanic. Here, players could receive a random assortment of cosmetic banners, emotes, and seals. This loot box system has been abolished and replaced with direct purchases. This was said to align more with the developers’ ideals.
Dauntless is an MMO that will receive long-term content updates and new features
Unlike Monster Hunter World, Dauntless adopts a “Games-as-a-Service” approach. Phoenix Labs plans to develop Dauntless over the long term, with fresh content being added regularly.
Currently, there are 5 weapon classes and about 15 Behemoths that you can combat. However, the monsters also have stronger variants that possess different properties than their basic form. You will find the Behemoths scattered across 5 maps.
Phoenix Labs has a lot planned for 2018. More events tied to the story of Dauntless are expected to be added, and optimizations are also being worked on, such as improvements to chat and user interface.
Expect bugs and balance issues
Dauntless is still in beta, so you should expect some bugs, crashes, and an unbalanced experience. Forums like Reddit or community portals like Discord often report poor performance.
Players are sometimes kicked from the game or experience other “game-breaking” bugs. Some weapons are also regarded as significantly weaker than others. The chain blades, in particular, are criticized for consuming too much stamina for too little damage.
Those diving into the open beta should be aware that a small indie studio, Phoenix Labs, is behind Dauntless. If you expect a AAA production, Dauntless is not the right place for you.
Will Dauntless also come to PS4, Xbox One, or the Nintendo Switch? Currently, Dauntless is only planned for PC, but the developers have already indicated a willingness to bring Dauntless to consoles should platform providers inquire.
Developer: Phoenix Labs
Publisher: Phoenix Labs
Platform: PC
Engine: Unreal Engine 4
Open Beta Release: May 24, 2018
Genre: Coop Action RPG
Online Multiplayer: Up to 4 players
