With a huge update, Conan Exiles is getting new content to test before its full release on May 8. The patch is almost 20 gigabytes in size and introduces a new combat system, the “Purges”, farming, and more! We have summarized the patch notes for you.
The final sprint for the development of Conan Exiles begins. Yesterday, on April 17, there was a patch on Steam of over 18 gigabytes for the early access game. That’s quite a hefty amount considering the game hasn’t been released yet.
Funcom is preparing for the final tests for the release with the update. It brings fewer new features than the “Frozen North” update last year, but many existing features are being overhauled.
Some of the features were already known but not yet available. Exact information on the final version was missing but has now been released. The most important new features and changes have been compiled for you.
A new, better combat system
The probably most important change in the update for Conan Exiles is the improvement of the old combat system. It affects every player, whether PvP or PvE fan, because without combat, one cannot survive in exile.
Not only have the animations become smoother and the combat flow a bit more fluid. All weapons now have very specific properties, and fighting requires more tactics. The changes in detail:
- Each weapon now has specific attacks and properties.
- You now have light and heavy attacks. Heavier attacks are slower and cost more stamina, but deal more damage.
- Chain attacks with 4 strikes can be executed – but pay attention to your stamina!
- You can now dodge in any direction, even during an attack, which breaks the attack and costs stamina.
- If your stamina is depleted, you cannot attack or dodge until it is fully restored.
- Certain weapons, such as the dual daggers, allow you to perform a backflip when you press the block button (default: CTRL). Throwing weapons, like the javelin, are thrown instead.
- When you carry a two-handed or one-handed weapon without a shield, you can now kick. A kick interrupts an opponent’s attack. (Default: CTRL)
- Sprinting with weapons, shields, and tools now works again. Depending on the weapon, you have different sprint animations.
- Enemies now have a health bar. Use it to adjust your tactics.
- Enemies can now be targeted. (Default: Q) You will always look directly at targeted enemies and can switch between different enemies. The range is a maximum of 20 meters. Server admins can disable this feature.
- Weapons can trigger status effects that stack up to 5 times. A yellow trail on a hit indicates that the weapon is “crippling”. In the GUI, there is an option to disable the trails.
“The Purge” – almost like in the movie!
The first of the new features in the massive update is the Purge, or “the Purge”, which can affect any player. It is a riot of the local population against the players when they become too dangerous.
In the inventory, under your character, you have a “Purge” bar that fills up slowly. The more players or NPCs you kill, the more you build, and the longer you survive, the more the bar fills up.
The “Purge” indicators apply not just to each player individually but to an entire clan. If you are a member of a clan, everyone has the same “Purge” indicator – and the actions of each member affect it.
Eeny meeny miney…
If your indicator fills up to the point where you can be attacked, this does not happen immediately. On official servers, this only occurs during “Purge time” between 6 and 10 PM. Server admins of private servers can set this time themselves.
But even during Purge time, you are not a guaranteed target. The likelihood of being attacked is shared among all clans (and players) that have filled their indicators.
You will suffer
If it does hit you, the Purges will present a tough challenge. Monsters, animals, and humans will storm against your walls and try to tear them down. You will need higher-level buildings, good thralls, and teamwork to survive!
Generally speaking: The farther your camp is in the north, the harder the attack will be. More difficult attacks will bring special bosses with unique loot or special craftsmen with unique recipes.
This update lacks balance and some features for the Purges – it is only for testing purposes. Play around with the settings and bicker with the NPCs at will! But don’t forget to give feedback to the developers.
From warrior to farmer
The second new feature primarily concerns players who prefer to take care of life in their city or fortress instead of battling outside. The update now allows you to grow and cultivate plants.
You first need to make compost. In the compost heap, you can turn plant fibers, spoiled meat, and bone meal into fertilizer. You can then use this along with seeds you collect from plants in the appropriate planters.
For higher-tier plants, you need better soil. By adding ash and blood to the compost heap, you obtain improved fertilizer, which allows you to grow better plants.
Fast travel, abandoned buildings, and more
In addition to the larger features, some smaller “Quality of Life” changes have also been made. These include adjustments to avatars, changes to armor and weapons, and a few more interesting features that we will briefly introduce:
- Fast Travel: You can now place a “map room” in your fortress. From there, you can travel to any location on the map whose monoliths you have discovered.
- Abandoned Structures: On official servers, buildings are now “abandoned” after 6 days, allowing anyone to interact with them. If a structure remains abandoned for a day, it is automatically removed.
- New Religion: Derketo, the goddess of fertility and death, is now available as a religion.
- Improved HUD: Some changes to the display make handling easier, more pleasant, and clearer.
- Stamina and health are now displayed as bars that you should keep an eye on.
- Attributes now grant benefits that you can see in the “Attributes” window.
- Talents are now grouped more clearly.
- The new “Values” window provides you with information about your character.
- The “Journey” has been expanded from 4 to 10 chapterst
The full list of changes can be found in English on the official Conan Exiles forums.
What do you think of the huge update? Do you want to try everything immediately, or are you waiting for the release? Are the changes perhaps even a reason for you to return? Let us know in the comments!
