Today marks the Community Day with Fynx in Pokémon GO. Accordingly, the special research Fur and Flame is available in the shop. We will show you all steps and rewards here.
What kind of ticket is this? Today, on May 21, 2023, the Community Day with Fynx takes place from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. As always on Community Day, there is also a special research in the shop revolving around the event monster.
This research costs €0.99 and offers contents such as encounters related to the Fynx line, as well as items and XP.
Fur and Flame – All Tasks and Rewards
Where does the information come from? The event starts in Germany at 2:00 PM, but in other time zones, the event has already begun or is already over. Therefore, trainers from these regions can already play the special research and share the contents of the research steps.
There are a total of 4 boards ready for completion, each containing 3 tasks. With the help of the overview from Leekduck, we have summarized the contents for you.
Research on Fynx 1/4
Task
Reward
Make 5 good throws
15 Poké Balls
Catch 15 Fynx
Encounter with Fynx
Make 10 power-ups on Pokémon
20 Fynx candies
Stage reward: Completing the board grants 3,000 Stardust, an encounter with Fynx, and a smoke.
Research on Fynx 2/4
Task
Reward
Send 10 Pokémon
10 Razz Berries
Catch 15 Fynx
Fynx Encounter
Evolve 3 Fynx
30 Fynx candies
Stage reward: Completing this stage grants 4,500 XP, an encounter with Fynx, and a lucky egg.
Research on Fynx 3/4
Task
Reward
Make 3 great curveball throws
15 Ultra Balls
Catch 15 Fynx
Fynx Encounter
Evolve 1 Ruten
50 Fynx candies
Stage reward: 4,500 XP, an encounter with Ruten, and a Rocket Radar are awarded for completion.
Research on Fynx 4/4
Task
Reward
Already completed
15 Hyper Balls
Already completed
Fynx Encounter
Already completed
2 Silver Pinap Berries
Stage reward: For the last board, you only need to collect the rewards. The final bonus is another 5,500 XP, an encounter with Fennexis, and 3 special candies.
Is it worth buying the ticket for the Community Day with Fynx?
You should consider: In general, when you buy the ticket, you get items that would normally cost more if you calculate the equivalent value. At the same time, you can only pay for the ticket with real money, not with earned coins.
The most valuable items in the research:
A smoke usually costs 40 coins (approx. 40 cents equivalent)
A lucky egg costs 80 coins (approx. 80 cents)
The Rocket Radar is priced at 200 coins (approx. 2 euros).
Additionally, you also get some Stardust, XP, 3 special candies, as well as some balls and berries.
Start video
Pokémon GO: The strongest attackers of all types in the video
Who is the ticket worth it for? Basically, the ticket is mainly worth it if you were already planning to buy the corresponding items. This way, you can get them a bit cheaper. Additionally, you receive a small research task that guides you through the event day, as well as candies and encounters related to Fynx. If you have limited time for the event, this could be beneficial.
However, if you are not very interested in the items, you can easily skip it. The Community Day can also be played without a ticket, and those who spend enough time will also collect enough candies for Fynx, Ruten, and Fennexis.
Amazon teams up with Embracer to bring a new MMORPG in the Lord of the Rings universe. At the same time, a beta player of Throne and Liberty leaks almost 10 minutes of new gameplay for the next big MMO. This and more in the MMORPG weekly recap.
Aion Classic pulls out heavy guns in the USA and offers a whole month of premium benefits to celebrate the launch of the new class. Whether our version will follow suit is still unclear (via massivelyop).
Ethyrial Echoes of Yore struggled after its launch and was eventually completely restarted. However, that helped little, as the MMORPG is again struggling with serious bugs (via massivelyop).
Fractured Online begins the account migration from Gamigo and reports that there could be a new build by the end of May so fans can continue to play (via mmorpg.com).
These were the news of the week in the world of MMORPGs. Did we forget something important? Did you experience something really cool and want to share? Or do you think that one of the news pieces is not so important? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO, we look forward to your opinion.
The Stone of Jordan (engl. “Stone of Jordan”) is one of the most well-known items in the history of Diablo. The legendary ring is even responsible for one of the toughest bosses in the series making its way into the game. And that is only because a few players got too greedy.
What kind of item is this? The legendary ring originally comes from the classic version of Diablo 2 and was especially coveted by sorceresses and other magic users. Its stats made it particularly exciting at first:
Above all, the mana bonus elevated the ring to a strong item option. With the release of the Lord of Destruction expansion, however, the Stone of Jordan was replaced for most players by better items.
Its legendary reputation was not due to its particular strength, but because it became the currency for players – and later even the necessary reagent for a special quest.
What makes the ring so valuable? The Stones of Jordan were at some point traded by the Diablo community as currency since gold was “worthless.” The rings, however, were rare and could be easily transported.
As a result, the price of particularly rare items was specified for a time in “Stones of Jordan,” or short “SoJs.” The item became so iconic for the game that it even made an appearance in the successor Diablo 3.
Stones of Jordan were especially popular in the original version of Diablo 2. Later with Lord of Destruction, the legendary Act 5 was introduced:
Select a MMO video…
“Stone of Jordan” – Duping issue and Über-Diablo
Because the value of the best items in the game was eventually indicated only in SoJs, cheating occurred. Players exploited bugs to duplicate the rings, called “duping.”
During this process, items are copied and players receive dozens of rings without having to farm for them. Blizzard took action against the duping method by introducing new features to remove duplicated items and eliminate the bug.
This worked only to a limited extent. By this time, there were already several new methods and the market was flooded with Stones of Jordan. So much so that players had already agreed on another currency: particularly rare runes for strong rune words, which were also duplicated.
However, to at least finally remove the rings from the market, Blizzard introduced a new event: Über-Diablo. The boss could only appear if enough Stones of Jordan had been sold to merchants in a game.
After between 75 and 125 stones, the special version of the final boss appeared in certain locations in the game. From Über-Diablo comes the unique spell “Annihilation,” or short “Anni,” which together with a special torch is a must-have for almost all builds in Diablo 2.
Über-Diablo is considered one of the hardest bosses in the history of Diablo. In later parts, Blizzard tried to maintain this tradition with the “Über-Bosses” from Diablo 3. However, there was no exact counterpart.
The ring itself has gained such a well-known status in the community over the years that real Stones of Jordan have been given away as real items to some people during promotional activities.
Whether Diablo 4 will also get a Stone of Jordan is still unknown. At least some of the toughest bosses are making a comeback:
In a new video from May 19, 2023, renowned tech YouTuber Linus talks about his resignation as CEO of his companies, the reasons behind the decision, how the channel will proceed, and who his successor will be. A rejected sales offer is also discussed.
Who is it about?
The 36-year-old Canadian Linus Gabriel Sebastian is known as the founder and owner of the YouTube channel “Linus Tech Tips.”
The channel mainly focuses on hardware and helpful gadgets that he and his team test and showcase.
With over 15 million subscribers, Linus Tech Tips is the largest YouTube channel dedicated to technology. The videos regularly reach 1-2 million views. The most successful videos on the channel have even garnered 22 million, 14 million, and 12 million clicks.
Manufacturer shows sleek case, gamers are thrilled: “Great design! Goes directly onto my wishlist”
Linus resigns as CEO but stays with the channel
What is changing on the channel? Linus Sebastian announced in a video on May 19, 2023, that after 10 years, he will resign as CEO of the companies behind the channel, “Linus Media Group,” “Creator Warehouse,” and “Floatplane Media,” as of July 1.
His successor as CEO of the companies will be Taran Tong, who has already worked with Linus when he was still at NCIX and will work on a contractual basis. Taran Tong was Linus’s boss back then and is described by him as ‘uniquely qualified’ because he has managed the challenging task of overseeing Linus.
Linus himself, however, wants to remain with the channel; he can only no longer fulfill the tasks of the CEO – he is tired. Instead, Linus will be the “Chief Vision Officer.” The new role will focus on his strengths, such as designing content or product ideas and solving problems.
Will Linus continue to appear on camera? Yes, he even gives the prospect that if everything goes ideally, he might be able to appear more on camera than before.
Linus declines 100 million dollars because it would not change his lifestyle
Why is Linus resigning as CEO? Linus says he was never cut out for the position of CEO. He lacks the temperament and the eye for detail to run such a large company. He can no longer do it, is tired, and would likely destroy himself, the company, and the community if he continued to do it for another 10 years.
If I try to drag myself through management for another 10 years, I know I will destroy myself and probably ruin the company and the community I love so much.
Furthermore, Linus reassures the fans of the channel and explains that there has been no company takeover. He and his wife Yvonne remain the sole shareholders and directors of the companies.
Although there was a significant sales offer of 100 million dollars, the couple declined. According to Linus, the money would not change much about the couple’s lifestyle.
Moreover, they love the company and its employees and do not believe their mission is complete yet.
In the past, Linus spoke about having declined a nine-figure amount. At that time, he feared that he would regret the decision one day.
The former Twitch streamer Ludwig Ahgren (27) is now a successful YouTuber. His net worth is estimated to be around 7 million US dollars. But it wasn’t always like this, in the past, the 27-year-old had to work a normal job. Now he shared the story of how his job at Snapchat came to an abrupt end.
What kind of story is this? In a stream from last year, Ludwig mentioned that he used to work for the messaging service Snapchat. It was cool, he said, but he stole a lot – although he doesn’t think that’s why he got fired.
18-year-old Fortnite streamer buys a Lamborghini for 193,000 € – When he wants to show off, everything goes wrong
Ludwig liked to take “work” home
What did Ludwig do? As the YouTuber reports, Snapchat provided its employees with free snacks and drinks, as one would expect from a cool tech company. For him, that was his only source of food, he was that broke – his colleague Amouranth was better off.
Every Friday, I would bring two reusable bags from Trader Joe’s to the Snapchat headquarters and fill them to the brim – right at midnight, so I knew that no one was in the office. Then I would take them home for the weekend.
Especially the small red cheese pieces from Babybel seemed to please him. Ludwig also stocked up on coconut water, fruit-flavored water, and plenty of energy drinks – of course, to work all night. I wonder if he can get his own energy drink with this story?
According to the streamer, this was not stealing: If he had consumed the food in the office, it would have been fine, so he could just take it home when he was working there. Well, maybe he took a little extra, he adds. We’ve embedded the clip for you here:
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How did it end? The streamer recounts that he was eventually caught. He was told that he had taken merchandise worth 2,500 US dollars (about 2,300 euros today). Shortly thereafter, he was fired – although he doesn’t think that was fair.
By now, Ludwig probably no longer needs to pull off such antics. With over 4.7 million subscribers, he is successful on YouTube. With his special events, the streamer can also attract several hundred thousand viewers:
On Sunday, May 21, 2023, the Community Day with Fynx takes place in Pokémon GO. You can learn everything about the bonuses and how to take advantage of them here.
What kind of event is this? The Community Day takes place regularly every month and always features a specific Pokémon in the spotlight. You will find it everywhere in the game during the event period, and the shiny rate is also increased.
In addition, additional bonuses are provided that you can take advantage of during the event.
This month, the Fire starter Pokémon from the sixth generation takes the spotlight as the event monster: Fynx is the star of the Community Day.
We will show you all the information about the event here.
Community Day in May 2023 with Fynx – Start, Bonuses, Content
What? Community Day with Fynx When? Sunday, May 21, 2023, from 14:00 to 17:00 local time Pokémon of the day: Fynx will be found almost everywhere in the wild Exclusive moves: – Fennexis learns the move Flame Burst if you evolve Rutena during the event or up to 5 hours afterward – Fennexis can also learn the charged move “Magic Flame” starting from the event Bonuses: – Triple catch Stardust – Double catch Candy – Incense and Lure Modules last 3 hours – Double chance for XL Candies when catching Pokémon (from Trainer Level 31) – 5 snapshot surprises – Event stickers in PokéStops and gifts – Level-4 raids with Rutena after the event with spawn bonus for more Fynx
Additional bonuses until 5 hours after the event (10:00 PM local time) – Additional special trade (maximum of 2 on that day) – 50% less Stardust cost when trading
In addition to the bonuses, you will find a special research in the shop as usual, which will cost one euro. This will bring you more items and encounters related to Fynx.
Special raids: From 17:00 to 22:00 local time, you can find special level-4 raids that can only be completed on-site. If you succeed, more Fynx will appear around the gym for 30 minutes. These have the same shiny rate as Fynx during the event.
Who benefits from the Community Day with Fynx?
Can Fynx be shiny? Yes, Fynx is available as shiny during the Community Day and will have an increased shiny rate. Therefore, the day is worthwhile for collectors of shiny Pokémon.
Here’s what it looks like:
The Fynx family as shiny
How strong is Fynx? Basically, the last evolution of Fynx, Fennexis, doesn’t play a significant role in PvP. It does become a bit stronger with the exclusive moves, but it is surpassed by other, better fire attackers in Pokémon GO.
Pokémon GO: The strongest attackers of all types in the video
Therefore, the day is especially worthwhile for players who want to expand their shiny collection or are keen on collecting as many four-star Pokémon as possible. The Community Day is always a good opportunity.
Preparation & Tips for the Community Day with Fynx
Make room: Do you want to catch a lot of Fynx? Then make room in your collection beforehand, so you don’t have to send monsters on the Community Day.
Use the filter function for this: If you enter the search terms “0*, 1*, 2*”, only monsters with 2 stars or worse will be displayed. You can then send those.
Mega Pokémon for more candies: If you use a Mega Evolution during the event, you will receive additional candies. For the fire Pokémon Fynx, use:
Which items should I use? If you want to enhance the bonuses of the day a bit, use the following items:
Sananaberries to receive even more candies. This helps in leveling and evolving Fynx, but also applies to monsters you catch in raids.
Incense & Lure Modules last three hours and ensure further encounters with Fynx. Use the incense while you are on the go, and the lure module when you stay in one place.
Stardust: You already get triple catch stardust for every monster you catch during the event. However, with the star piece, you will get even more – and more stardust is always good.
Balls: Make sure to have enough balls in stock to catch the monsters.
The official system requirements that your PC must have for Diablo 4 are known. Can your PC handle it? We will show you in our overview.
What are these requirements? Blizzard has now revealed the system requirements for Diablo 4 for all graphical settings. With these, you can find out which hardware you need to run Blizzard’s latest hack & slash smoothly.
We now show you this information, confirmed by the developer, in our overview:
Diablo 4: System Requirements for PC – Minimum to 4K
Only a few days left until the release of Diablo 4, and what better way to hype up the players than with a new gameplay trailer for all classes. Blizzard did just that, but instead of joy, criticism poured in, not for the gameplay, but for the music.
What is the problem? Blizzard released a new gameplay trailer for Diablo 4 on May 18. It showcases various classes in action and how they deal with hordes of monsters.
“Of all the epic soundtracks you could choose from, you went with this … thing.”
To let you see the song and also the cool performances of the different classes, we have embedded the trailer here:
Start video
Diablo 4 shows what cool attacks the individual classes can do – But fans prefer to talk about the music selection
What are the players saying? The vast majority of players cannot understand Blizzard’s choice of music at all. Diablo 4 is a dark and unforgiving game; they do not comprehend how the developers could think that this music was appropriate for such a hype trailer. Fans on YouTube had the following to say:
“If you close your eyes, you would have thought that it’s the music for a generic battle royale and not for a dark adventure like Diablo.” – Random Gamer Babe
“All the great music that Blizzard creates, and they chose this for the trailer? Wow.” – Tumorous F
“Who picked the music for this? Please go to their desk, point at them, and say: ‘NO… NO… BAD, YOU WILL NOT SELECT TRAILERS ANYMORE!’” – Justin Griffin
“The PR department must be fired because of 2,300 dislikes in an hour, but the game looks good.” – Dariusz Kłos
Despite the music, most fans are looking forward to Diablo 4. They can’t wait for the new hack & slash to finally celebrate its release.
When is the release? The official release of Diablo 4 will take place on June 6, 2023. However, if you have purchased the more expensive Deluxe or Ultimate Editions, you can even start four days earlier in Sanctuary and experience the story around the demon mama Lilith.
The Twitch streamer Yinny has a special mission in Stardew Valley (Steam): She wants to marry absolutely everything and everyone. She has already married 63 spouses in the game and she is not done yet.
What kind of streamer is she? “HelloyYinny” is an Australian Twitch streamer who plays mostly visual novels and cozy games with her nearly 5,000 followers. In particular, the indie favorite Stardew Valley has captivated the streamer.
In 2022, she took on the unusual challenge of collecting 23 spouses in the game, but the streamer was far from finished. Her harem has now grown to 63 – it’s easy to lose track.
Are there really that many people in Stardew Valley? No. There are a total of 45 characters in Stardew Valley with whom the player can interact. To build her polygamy paradise, Yinny has used a variety of mods.
As a result, she also has partners that cannot normally be found in Pelican Town or neighboring regions. Among the illustrious characters is Lorenor Zorro from the popular pirate anime One Piece and two demons who apparently come from romantic visual novels.
And then there’s David, of whom Yinny doesn’t even know where he comes from during a tour of her full house. We’ve embedded the clip for you here. Warning: The streamer also has mods for sexual dialogues; some videos may therefore be NSFW.
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On her TikTok account, Yinny shares more clips from her streams, including a video showing how her then 23 partners climb into bed together. But the streamer still hasn’t had enough.
According to PC Gamer, she plans to install more NPCs and expansions and “marry them all”.
Even though the characters come into the game through mods, it was still up to Yinny to win over the numerous hearts. Anyone who has ever played Stardew Valley or a similar game knows how much work it can be to memorize the daily routines of the various characters to surprise them at the right moment with their favorite gift.
The new midseason patch 13.10 has been released with many adjustments in League of Legends. A champion that benefits greatly from the new item changes is the ADC Kog’Maw. What he can do and which runes and items you should play on him, we explain to you here.
The data is based on the Mobalytics page and pertains to played matches in the Platinum tier and above. Here the runes and items with the highest win rate are summarized. (via Mobalystics, as of: 19.05.2023)
Kog’Maw is an ADC that primarily unfolds his strengths in the later stages of the game and is not easily countered by tanks due to his mix of magic and normal damage.
The best runes for Kog’Maw
Precision as the main tree
Deadly Tempo: Attack speed is the most important thing for Kog’Maw and Deadly Tempo provides exactly that. When you attack your opponent, you collect stacks that give you attack speed and range. The higher the stacks, the higher the values. Once you reach the maximum of 6 stacks, you can even exceed the limit of 2.5 attack speed per second.
With Triumph and Legend: Bloodlust you can heal yourself on kills and gain lifesteal when you defeat champions, epic monsters, and large monsters.
Last Stand: When you have low health, you deal more damage to champions.
Determination as the secondary tree
Especially in the early game, Kog’Maw needs to play calmly and survive, as he becomes strong only later. With Conditioning and Growing you gain armor, magic resistance, and permanent maximum health.
Start video
LoL: Video shows the relationship between rank placement, MMR and league points
The best summoner spells for Kog’Maw
The best items on Kog’Maw
Starting items:
Key items:
Guinsoo’s Rageblade: The best new mythic item on Kog’Maw. Gives you stacking attack speed when you attack. You get AD and AP, which Kog’Maw can utilize, and the most important thing: immense on-hit damage. Its mythic passive gives you 5% armor and magic penetration for every legendary item.
Berserker’s Greaves: These shoes increase your attack speed.
Runaan’s Hurricane: Gives you magic on-hit damage, movement speed, attack speed, and crit chance. Additionally, your attacks can fire projectiles that hit up to 2 enemies. This gives you good wave clear.
Items to round off:
Kraken Slayer: An additional on-hit effect that is enhanced when you continuously attack the same opponent.
Shieldbow of Immortality: Gives you good ADC stats and through lifesteal and passive shield, you enhance your survivability.
Guardian Angel: You gain armor and are revived after death. This gives you another chance for damage in crucial team fights.
Situational:
End of Wisdom: Gives you magic resistance and on-hit damage. Good against strong mages.
Randuin’s Omen: Gives you armor and health. The active effect of briefly slowing opponents and the passive effects enhance your defense.
Titanic Hydra: Grants you wave clear with an on-hit effect. In combination with additional health, the item becomes stronger. Also a defensive alternative to something like Kraken Slayer.
Passive: If you die, you can still move briefly and after 4 seconds Kog’Maw explodes.
Q: A projectile that briefly reduces magic resistance and armor on the target. Kog’Maw gains attack speed passively.
W: Attack range is increased and Kog’Maw deals magic damage based on a percentage of the target’s maximum health. Kog’Maw’s best ability. Deals on-hit damage and benefits from the on-hit damage of his items.
E: Kog’Maw creates a trail in front of him that deals damage to affected enemies and slows all enemies in the trail.
R: Kog’Maw can shoot a projectile from above with high range that deals magic damage and can reveal targets. Targets with low health take increased damage. The mana costs increase when the ability is used quickly in succession.
An MMORPG for all “SAO” fans, and it’s on Steam. This dream is now becoming a reality – even if there are a few stumbling blocks.
For years, it has been a dream for anime fans and gamers alike. An MMORPG set in the world of “Sword Art Online”. Although the “Full Dive” technology mentioned in the series seems to be a few years away, an MMORPG as a transitional solution would be sufficient. So far, there have mostly been single-player adventures in the SAO universe for PC, aimed more at story and JRPG fans.
But now a “Sword Art Online” MMORPG is coming to Steam – but there’s a catch.
What is the catch? Sword Art Online: Integral Factor has existed since 2017 – as a mobile game. For many hardcore MMO fans, this is likely to be a red flag. It is still unclear how good the implementation on PC will be and how extensive the adaptation for the interface will be, which has only been available in the mobile version so far.
It will require some work to satisfy PC users, even though the first screenshots already look good.
The familiar SAO heroes are involved – but there are also a few new ones.
Sword Art Online: Integral Factor – What kind of game is this?
If you haven’t angrily closed the article yet because it’s just another “mobile thing”, you might actually be pleasantly surprised by Integral Factor.
The game tells an alternative story of the first SAO season. This means you fight alongside Kirito and Asuna in Aincrad and try to escape the game. You are one of the heroes yourself, a former beta tester, and thus have an advantage over many other characters.
The core idea of the game remains intact. To escape the game, you must defeat the final boss on level 100 – only then is a “logout” from the game world possible.
The interface will likely feel familiar to SAO fans immediately.
Alongside the story with many dialogues, the game features battles in the best anime style with large special effects and plenty of pop-up numbers as you plow through hordes of enemies.
You can also team up into guilds to tackle the toughest bosses and get the best gear. However, the game is expected to rely heavily on grind, especially in the higher levels. If you don’t show stamina here – or throw real money at the problem – you will be kept busy in a whole world.
When will the PC implementation come? There is still no release date, but it shouldn’t take much longer. The Steam page for the game is already online.
At least: The story of “Sword Art Online: Integral Factor” is praised and is said to convey the feeling of the series very well and tell an interesting “What if” variant of the story.
In the worst case, you are looking at a solid SAO story as a mobile game port. In the best case, a full-fledged, albeit slightly outdated MMORPG in the SAO universe.
Will you check out Sword Art Online: Integral Factor? Or do you rule out a look right away?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The game director of Overwatch 2 is trying to smooth things over and reassure. There is still PvE and that is coming soon – only one mode is missing.
The last week has been quite a disaster for all Overwatch fans. The development team of Overwatch 2 explained almost “in passing” during a stream that was actually about one of the current events that the “hero missions” for Overwatch 2 have been canceled.
Now the game director is trying to sweep the shards aside and clarify a few things. After all, Overwatch 2 is still getting PvE missions – even if they turn out differently than previously announced at BlizzCon.
What were the hero missions? The hero missions were supposed to be a PvE content with high replay value. It should have been possible to level the characters individually and change them with special abilities in the form of a talent tree – basically the dream of every MMO fan.
Even though there are some voices that are still positive and eager, the majority of the community is negatively inclined – and that is putting it politely. There are insults and great disappointment everywhere. Most simply cannot comprehend that the main feature that was supposed to define Overwatch 2 will not appear.
Start video
Overwatch 2: Der animierte Kurzfilm zur Fuchs-Heldin Kiriko
PvE in Overwatch 2 – What is still to come
What is true, however, is that Overwatch 2 has not completely scrapped PvE. Blizzard intends to “advance the story of Overwatch” for the first time in the upcoming seasons. This means there will be “large” PvE missions with cutscenes and a clear focus on the story. Aaron Keller describes it more precisely in a blog post:
Story missions focus on fast co-op gameplay as well as story, cinematics, and cutscenes that expand the world of Overwatch. Story missions tell a linear narrative about the heroes of Overwatch reuniting to fight the new threat of Null Sector. This advances the story of Overwatch for the first time since the original release of the game.
These missions take place on large maps with new enemies and new cinematics. We will begin releasing them in Season 6. The work that has been done here is fantastic and far exceeds anything we have had in PvE so far, and I can’t wait for our players to see it.
Whether the PvE missions can really convince and satisfy the hunger for co-op PvE even without the “hero missions” remains to be seen. Blizzard continues to withhold specific information about the extent of the PvE.
The major concern is that there will only be “snacks” of content – that is, one or two small missions per season that might entertain for 15-20 minutes. But that also remains to be seen.
The debacle of Overwatch 1 – What happened?
In hindsight, it seems strange how Blizzard handled Overwatch after the release. For nearly two years, there were regularly new content and fresh updates before the flow of innovations stopped. The reason for this was revealed at BlizzCon 2019 – Overwatch 2 was supposed to have an extensive PvE campaign, offering a fully-fledged co-op experience with talent trees and customization.
For this reason, resources were withdrawn from live development, and more and more developers were assigned to Overwatch 2 and the PvE content.
The consequence: Overwatch 1 was completely neglected, months went by without significant updates, and the community shrank further. This was certainly exacerbated by the fact that the Overwatch League also failed to resonate, which was probably less due to the developers than to the eSports team at Blizzard. Participation in the league was expensive and complicated – and the major commercial success remained largely absent.
For many, the most important mode: Talent trees in PvE with long-term progress.
Most fans seem to be unable to understand what has actually happened.
With Overwatch 1, one had practically a game and a new franchise with a grand future.
Many are asking – and rightly so – why Blizzard did not expand the team around Overwatch. The better decision would have probably been to continue developing Overwatch 1 with regular updates and put a larger team on the PvE content instead of letting Overwatch 1 completely “die out”.
In hindsight, one is always smarter, but this could have been known beforehand – at least that is the prevailing opinion in the forum and Reddit.
Many of the big streamers have spoken out en masse about the change of plans for Overwatch 2. Like in the community, the general tone here is rather negative.
Asmongold said about this:
The main thing that Overwatch 2 should do will not happen. You know, the only thing you should be looking forward to in Overwatch 2? That’s not coming.
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xQc also reacted quite shocked to the developers’ announcement. In his reaction video on YouTube he said:
If they are not working on PvE and are no longer doing that, where has all the time gone that was put into it?! We are talking about thousands of hours that are just gone. Where are they?! I am confused! Brother… because Overwatch 2 wasn’t even an update. It simply wasn’t. It was just… the updates that the main game never received that came out at the same time.
What do you think about the current “Overwatch 2” debacle? Isn’t it so bad that the hero missions have been canceled? Or is the game “dead” for you now?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Anime is as plentiful as sand on the beach – and it’s not just a recent phenomenon. However, some of the most important classics must not be forgotten. We recommend exactly 5 such anime classics that everyone should see here on MeinMMO.
Even though anime has only recently arrived in the mainstream in the last few years, and you can also seduce your non-anime fans with the medium, these series have obviously existed much longer. The first major “boom” for the medium occurred in the 1990s (though there were many series before that), and much of what you see in modern series originated in the ’90s.
A look into the classics is always worthwhile, as exciting stories and some of the most original plots can be found here, which have since been endlessly adapted and copied.
We present to you here 5 anime classics that remain clear “must-watch series” even several decades after their release and that every weeb should have seen.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Alternative names: Shinseiki Evangelion Release year: 1995 – 1996 Genres: Drama, Action, Mecha Episodes: 26 Stream available on: Netflix
What is the anime about? Neon Genesis is set in an alternate future of the world. After a massive explosion devastates the Earth, it is regularly attacked by “Angels.” To defend against them, large combat robots called “EVA” are used, which must be synchronized with the minds of the pilots, a feat only possible for a few teenagers. The protagonist, Shinji, is one of these pilots and has to come to terms with the responsibilities and the slowly unraveling machinations behind the Angels, the EVAs, and his family.
Anyone who has seen the original mentioned here and wants more should also check out the newer films. They depict a continued and adapted storyline and reflect more modern animation styles.
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Why should you see the anime? Neon Genesis Evangelion is still one of the most profound anime almost 30 years after its release, with a gripping story and complex characters that reveal new layers even upon a second or third viewing.
At the time, NGE presented fresh approaches and does not shy away from some disturbing scenes that may stay in the mind of some anime novices even decades later.
If you enjoy “younger” mecha series with a lot of story, like “Darling in the FranXX,” then you’ll find yourself right at home here and learn where the genre actually comes from.
Cowboy Bebop
Alternative names: / Release year: 1998 – 1999 Genres: Action, Crime, Sci-Fi Episodes: 26 Stream available on: Netflix
What is the anime about? Cowboy Bebop is set in the future, in the year 2071. Humanity has expanded to numerous planets and spread out over space. However, these worlds are plagued by crime and corruption. Therefore, bounty hunters are becoming increasingly important. These so-called “cowboys” are employed everywhere to resolve conflicts – not always in accordance with the law. The series follows the two cowboys Spike Spiegel and Jet Black, who are joined by more crew members as the episodes progress.
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Why should you see the anime? Cowboy Bebop is one of the most well-known representatives from free TV, with which many probably grew up. Despite its relatively episodic narrative style, Cowboy Bebop has managed to tell a continuous story that captivates you. Action, tension, and crime are balanced, but more emotional moments also occur, which still convince even after decades – and maybe soothe the pain of the very strange live-action adaptation.
On the next page, you will find 3 more anime classics.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Season 21 is just around the corner, bringing upcoming changes in Destiny 2. One of them was recently revealed and has many fans scratching their heads. We will show you what Bungie has planned this time and why players are confused.
What is Bungie planning? In the latest TWAB for Destiny 2, the developers revealed a lot of information regarding Season 21. From the artifact to new toys for the Strand Guardians, there is quite a bit included.
However, an upcoming change is causing many Guardians to scratch their heads, as the shields, as known by many players from various enemies, will be altered into a new, unified system. They will be adjusted to look the same and help color-blind players see and distinguish them better.
While the idea behind it is cool, the actual change in the game looks dreadful. We will show you what will change.
Start video
Destiny 2: Lightfall – Trailer to the Guardian Games 2023
“This feels like a step backward and not like progress”
What will change? Those who have been playing Destiny 2 since 2017 are certainly familiar with the various types of shields that enemies have. Vex, for example, have a cylindrical grid around them that visually distinguishes them from other foes.
This will now change, as with Season 21, all shields will be standardized. To show how big the difference is, we have embedded two videos with comparisons:
Before
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The shields will soon all be displayed oval and in 2D. Additionally, they will be “absorbed” when players stop attempting to break the shields.
Bungie justifies the change by stating that shields always had to be improved and adjusted with each DLC and season. The change is intended to make future adjustments easier. Moreover, the new shields are meant to help color-blind fans differentiate and visualize shields better.
What do the players say? The players are largely very confused about the change, as they do not understand why Bungie would change a functional and immersive system like this. They actually see it as a limitation because the shields could overlap due to the new 2D representation, potentially confusing many players. Therefore, users say:
“I think I understand what you (Bungie) all wanted, but this feels like a step backward and not like progress. I don’t know who thought that the enemy shields really needed a visual change, but as they are, they were fine,” says Reksrat.
“The new shields look much worse. Since they are 2D sprites, they do not emit light that is reflected from enemies and the environment. And when all factions look the same, they are robbed of their identity,” adds BluS Gaming.
“The old shield design actually matched what you were fighting against and felt immersive. […] The only change you (Bungie) needed to make was for the shield to always be visible until it shattered,” says Reborn Insanity.
What do you think about the shield change? Do you believe the change will help you see shields better now? Let us know in the comments!
The new expansion for Crusader Kings 3 (Steam) is keeping our author Schuhmann busy. It emphasizes the role-playing aspect of the strategy game and transforms the dynasty simulator into a travel adventure.
What makes the new expansion for Crusader Kings 3 special? The expansion “Tours & Tournament” costs just under €30 on Steam and turns the strategy epic Crusader Kings 3 into a “travel adventure” reminiscent of the old DSA games: Instead of sitting on the throne and pushing armies around to cover more of the map in your colors, you now travel with a retinue of courtiers, knights, and lovers and experience adventures.
Hunting, pilgrimage, and celebration are part of the daily life of a feudal lord – this has always been the case. However, with the expansion, these activities are now pronounced, incorporated with decisions and role-playing, and you have to travel everywhere.
On the way to various places, all sorts of strange things happen. If you play intensively, much repeats quickly. But it does bring variety to the ruler’s daily routine. You can’t just flirt with your cousins all the time.
I start with a tailored ruler in a province in the southwest of Norway, first conquering the west coast of Scandinavia, then taking the British Isles and Iceland before I target York and Uppland, the key province of Sweden.
This is usually enough to reform the Norse faith, crown myself king of Norway, and from there conquer Britain and Scandinavia.
Basically, this is a fairly fixed process that one can strictly follow to obtain quite challenging achievements such as “Canute the Greater” – currently only 1.6% of players on Steam have this.
This is the normal process in my games: I start in Norway on the west coast of Scandinavia and then work my way northwest.
Pilgrimages and hunting now define the Viking daily life
This is how the expansion has changed my routine: I now hunt like a madman, constantly go on pilgrimages, and try to win archery tournaments.
In the past, pilgrimages and hunts were relatively dull events, lacking much variety, but now there is the opportunity to find useful artifacts repeatedly and to gather prestige and piety endlessly.
Since you are now traveling, events trigger frequently along the way. I find one new event particularly noteworthy: It is the “Kasper Hauser” event:
You find on your travels a wild, approximately 8-year-old boy, who, although physically strong, is completely uncivilized. The boy was apparently raised by wolves. Depending on how pronounced his mental disability is, he may not even be able to speak.
In the game, this means: The character has a positive physical trait (is “strong”), but also has a negative cognitive trait (about like Hodor from Game of Thrones).
Due to the trait “Feral”, he can hardly speak, but he has a huge bonus to his combat power.
You have the option to take this boy under your wing as a ward and educate him. Ideally, you end up with a muscle-bound boy that you can use as a knight: A kind of private “Mountain That Rides” – a man for the rough stuff.
In one of my games, I found such a boy who was even “giant-like”: I then took the opportunity to adopt him after he was somewhat house-trained and took him into my family.
This comes with a huge malus for my family’s reputation – somehow the other nobles don’t seem to approve of my new wolf-boy son – but I now have a loyal and strong, albeit not very clever, adopted son.
In my game, I married him to a giantess, made him the Duke of Iceland, where he provided me with strong, albeit not very clever knights for generations.
He was raised by lynxes.
New expansion is a must-buy for Crusader Kings 3 fans
This is my view on the expansion: Overall, the expansion “Tours and Tournament” is a must-buy for me for Crusader Kings 3, showing what potential still lies in the dynasty simulation after all these years. With the expansion, you can now feel the progress of time better, as the tribal settlements now have only 2 building options compared to 4 as before.
Moreover, there is so much to do that you can no longer focus solely on plundering, pillaging, and conquering as before. Such a good pilgrimage takes a good six months, which is then missing elsewhere. However, the events make the game much more intimate and personal. You learn to really hate the neighboring count who has thrown you down on the wrestling boards again before you stab him in the back at a feigned wedding.
However, the game is now even more unbalanced than before: There are many more “strong” characters in the game, and you frequently find people with 25 or more skill points in a skill. In the past, you had to breed such “über characters” painstakingly.
You find such “über characters” like this priest with 33 education early in the game.
The events also repeat quickly. I have now found the “Kaspar Hauser” boy in 4 different games.
I expected more from the new “special knight” system. It seems a bit unwieldy. But that’s the good thing about Crusader Kings 3 and Paradox games: I have great faith in the Swedes that the aspects that currently seem clunky will be improved in one of the next patches.
Already, Crusader Kings 3 offers much more variety and is significantly rounder than at release in September 2020. This is also reflected in the 92% positive reviews on Steam:
The biggest MMORPG streamer Zack “Asmongold” is known for his critical opinions on Twitch. However, the declining player numbers of Lost Ark now leave him speechless.
In a livestream on his second channel Zackrawrr from May 18, Asmongold addressed a message from his chat regarding the MMORPG Lost Ark. The streamer was warned to secure content in the game before it dies. Asmongold appeared puzzled and glanced at the Steam statistics.
What surprised Asmongold so much? In response to the hint that Lost Ark is about to “die,” he says: “I don’t think Lost Ark will die.” When he opens the statistics on Steam, he sees that the game currently has about 47,000 players. He reacts to this with a flinch and seconds of silence.
When he finds words for the situation, he says:
Jesus! That sucks, man! That sucks! I made a 50-minute video explaining why the game is the way it is. And I don’t think I need to do that again. I think I’ve made it very clear what I think about the game in this video. That’s pretty much it! It’s really sad to see that.
Why does Asmongold find the decline in player numbers unfortunate? He finds it unfortunate to see the enormous decline in relation since he really likes the game. It is disappointing to see that it is in such bad shape. He has spent over 1,400 hours in Lost Ark himself.
At the release weekend, over 1.3 million players were still fighting through the Lost Ark queues. The video shows the reasons for the success:
Start video
The 5 Reasons for the Incredible Success of Lost Ark
The YouTube video that Asmongold mentioned in the stream also seems to be a recording of a past stream of his. In it, he talks about the future of Lost Ark.
At the beginning, he clicks through the Steam statistics and notes that from July 2022 to January 2023, there was a fairly solid average player count of 250,000. There were also many bot accounts in Lost Ark, but Amazon seems to have taken action.
After that, he reads the letter to the community on the Lost Ark site and comments on it. In the last minutes, he finds strong words for the developers and urges them to listen to the community and its wishes. This is by no means difficult.
He says that the developers need to wake up. They will kill the game, as seen in the declining player numbers. Asmongold says this only because he likes Lost Ark. He ends his video with, “Take drastic measures and improve it!”
How does his community react to his video? There are now over 1,500 comments under the video. Here are a few opinions:
hakujo: “This is one of the rare moments when Asmon is really angry, frustrated, and hurt when he sees that a great game with potential is being wasted.”
KVI3I: “The problem with Lost Ark is literally that at some point it starts to feel like real work […] You start thinking about efficiency, time and processes, and a game shouldn’t feel that way.”
Mitsuki Akiyumi: “The problem I had with Lost Ark was the long list of daily duties. It quickly became boring to do the same thing every day. […] It’s a shame because I liked the fighting, but it felt too grindy and unsatisfying.”
Frank William: “When you join a group, everyone expects you to perform at your best; otherwise, you will be treated poorly.”
Other users also note that Lost Ark quickly turns into work and seem to agree on that. “haslan” writes in his comment that after six months he had 1,000 hours of game time. He woke up and thought, “I’m wasting my free time on a side job. Everything felt like a chore.”
Age of Wonders 4 (Steam) is a 4X strategy game in the tradition of Civilization 6, Endless Legends, or Heroes of Might and Magic. It impresses especially with its endless possibilities to create and continually refine a fantasy people according to one’s desires. On Steam, it has 82% positive reviews – even MeinMMO author Schuhmann is impressed.
What kind of game is Age of Wonders 4? Age of Wonders is one of those games that are hardly made today. Strictly speaking, it is a 4X game. It is about:
Explore – Explore the fantasy world
Expand – Establish outposts that can grow into cities and claim more and more areas with various resources of an upper and a lower world
Exploit – Exploit nature by developing each zone with a mine, farm, or other buildings. Take advantage of the opponent’s weaknesses and defeat enemy armies with 3 converging armies, each consisting of 6 units or heroes
Exterminate – Take the last city of the opponents and wipe it off the map or fulfill other victory conditions. Complete quests that help you with that.
Start video
The strategy game Age of Wonders 4 showcases its fantasy world in the launch trailer
However, Age of Wonders 4 takes place in the historical real world (Civilization) or in outer space (Stellaris) in a fantasy world.
In addition, the game has a pronounced role-playing aspect, as each army can be led by a hero who can be equipped with numerous items, mounts, and skills.
Which games are similar to Age of Wonders 4? Age of Wonders is rooted in the tradition of games like King’s Bounty and Heroes of Might and Magic.
Perhaps it is most comparable to the relatively unknown genre gem “Endless Legends” from 2014, which some considered the “better” Civilization back then.
At the same time, Age of Wonders also comes from its own game series, which has existed since 1999. Over the years, there haven’t been any real blockbusters. The best game in the series was probably the sci-fi offshoot Planetfall, which was released in 2019.
You can find a detailed, classic review of Age of Wonders 4 with percentages and all the fine details on GameStar.
So many possibilities
What makes Age of Wonders 4 special? The game lets you play a variety of pre-made heroes and races, from a red-haired barbarian warrior to a spider demon to a noble paladin frog, everything is included.
But Age of Wonders 4 gives you total freedom in creating your own fantasy race:
You choose from 10 different races – from tiger people to molefolk to frogs. This is purely an aesthetic choice.
The races have 14 different physical and 14 mental abilities that you can freely choose from.
Now there are 6 different cultural traits – you can play “evil,” “feudal,” or “industrial.” These also determine which units and buildings you can build.
Finally, you can choose 2 of over 20 different social traits that further refine your race.
When that is done, you choose your starting spells from 12 different spellbooks. Some of them even grant new units and buildings.
And you do all of this before the actual game begins.
If you particularly want to play as mole folk, you can definitely do that.
While you play, you can unlock further spells through research, of which “Race Transformation” spells give you the chance to significantly change individual units or your entire race.
The freedoms here are truly massive:
You can play combat-strong orcs that are clearly feudal in organization and swear by order. You can even take it so far that they become “angel-like,” meaning they can fly and rise for order.
But you can also play corrupted dark elves who have dedicated themselves so much to materialism that they consist of gold, and every inhabitant pours gold into your coffers.
This diversity in how you want to fulfill your goals makes Age of Wonders 4 unique and a game that every strategy player should try.
A nice detail: If you win a map with a race, you can include that race and its ruler in your “pantheon” and refer back to it later. The races created this way even encounter you later as enemies, and heroes can sometimes be recruited and used as commanders for other races.
However, the game does not seem to be finished with the release yet. For an additional €50, there is an expansion pass that promises an expansion every quarter.
You can include your self-created heroes in your pantheon.
What do the reviews on Steam say? Currently, about 2 weeks after release, Age of Wonders stands at “Very Positive” after 5,666 reviews – 82% positive reviews:
The game is described as “the Civilization but with magic”; the one you always wanted.
Age of Wonders 4 is attributed a significant addictive factor.
A German user calls the game after 40 hours an “excellent mix of Civ 6 and Heroes of Might and Magic.”
Are there any negative points? Crashes and bugs are particularly criticized. However, Triumph Studios is already patching vigorously. The German translation is still somewhat lacking.
Furthermore, like practically every strategy game, the game has its lengths in the endgame. At some point, the games are decided, and it is only a matter of finishing them. When you control 9 cities and manage 9 armies, that can feel more like a tedious obligation than a wonderful experience.
The strengths of the game lie in the initial hours of each match. This seems to be a trend in strategy games currently, especially in those distributed by Paradox Interactive:
MeinMMO demon Cortyn has fallen in love again with World of Warcraft. Blizzard seems to be doing many things right – you just have to embrace it.
Patch 10.1 Glut von Neltharion has been live for nearly 2 weeks now. I admit, I was skeptical at first. There were some problems, and with some ideas I thought beforehand: Is this really healthy for the game?
In the meantime, my opinion has gradually changed, and the more time I spend in Patch 10.1, the more positively surprised I am by how well everything fits together.
The gearing system is the foundation for the future
The times are gone when you get a weapon from the raid, enchant it, and then roll your eyes in the next “Mythic+” because a weapon just dropped that is 3 item levels better and thus replaces the previous one.
Even if I only get a single item from a whole run in “Aberrus, the Shadow Crucible”, every boss kill feels like progress. Because you are raining emblem fragments that are needed for upgrades.
To put it another way: Even if I don’t get any direct gear throughout the whole raid, I can still upgrade my existing gear 6-8 times and squeeze out a level or two from my armor.
It doesn’t matter where I got the gear from. Whether from the raid, from Mythic+, from world quests, or from rare mobs.
Start video
WoW: Patch 10.1 Ember of Neltharion is live – Here is what to expect starting now
Sure – the system will lose its appeal later in the season. Once all equipped gear is upgraded to the maximum, the only thing left is to find higher-level gear again.
But the way there is much more pleasant and rewarding.
Above all, this can now be the “new standard” upon which World of Warcraft is built. Rarely has collecting gear felt so good and fulfilling. I can hardly imagine that anyone will ever part ways with this system. And Blizzard has already revealed that the system will likely continue in a slightly modified form in Season 3.
Mythic+ is more fun than ever
I am also amazed at how much fun “Mythic+” is for me again. It’s not just because of the completely “new” set of dungeons (and with Freehold also one of my favorites).
The reduction, overhaul, and wider distribution of affixes, which only activate at levels 7 and 14 now, simply feels better.
Some might think that dungeons are significantly easier now – but that’s not the case. Visit the Brackenfell Cave on Mythic+19 (Tyrannical) and see what happens with the first and last boss.
Every boss is worth it – because everything provides upgrades. Even if you don’t get any loot.
“Easier” only means that now one can focus much more on the mechanics of the boss fight and the dungeon itself. At the end of Season 1, I was really tired of “Thundering” and as a caster with particularly low mobility, I often had the impression: WoW wants to keep me from playing. It was intentionally made so annoying that I just couldn’t keep up with my Shadow Priest.
This feeling has completely disappeared.
The whole world remains relevant
However, there is one more novelty in Patch 10.1. So far, it has been the case in every expansion that with the introduction of a new area, the “old world” has lost its significance.
That is, with the introduction of Naz’jatar and Mechagon, no one was out in Tiragarde Sound anymore. With the introduction of Korthia, no one was in Ardenweald anymore.
This is not the case with Patch 10.1 – and for good reasons. Because all the “old” content from Dragonflight has also been updated. The items for upgrading, like flight stones and emblem fragments, can also be obtained in the original areas from 10.0. So if you’re not in the mood for the Zaralek Caves, you can simply complete world quests in the Ohn’ahra plains and obtain relevant currency for character progress.
In the first few days, I was really skeptical, but now Patch 10.1 Glut von Neltharion has completely convinced me. If you enjoy all forms of content, there is really a lot to do – and at the same time, none of it is mandatory because you could get pretty much everything you need from other sources.
In Pokémon GO, the new Crypto Raids will debut next week, where you can face Crypto Mewtwo. One of the developers has revealed in an interview how difficult these battles will really be. We at MeinMMO show you what he said.
Especially Crypto Mewtwo, which can also be caught as shiny with a bit of luck, will be interesting for many trainers. But how difficult will the new raids really be? We wanted to know in the interview with John Funtanilla, Senior Producer at Pokémon GO. We have summarized his answers for you below.
When do the Crypto Raids run? The Crypto Raids of levels 1 and 3 will be active throughout the “Rising Shadows” event, from May 22 at 10:00 AM local time until May 28, 2023, at 8:00 PM local time. The peak of the Rocket takeover will be Crypto Mewtwo, which you can find in the level 5 Crypto Raids from May 27, 2023, at 10:00 AM local time until May 28, 2023, at 8:00 PM local time.
Developer explains how many trainers you need in the Crypto Raid
Before the release of the new Crypto Raids, we at MeinMMO had the opportunity to conduct a written interview with John Funtanilla, Senior Producer of Pokémon GO, about the new raids.
We wanted to know how difficult the new raids would be, whether they could be completed without the new items, and what impact the new raids would have on the game.
Legendary Pokémon in Crypto Raids: In the coming days, you will have the chance to encounter various Crypto Pokémon in the special Crypto Raids of levels 1, 3, and 5. A special highlight, according to Funtanilla, should be the legendary Pokémon Crypto Mewtwo, which you can also find for the first time in its shiny form.
In the future, there will also be more legendary Crypto Pokémon in this raid format. However, Funtanilla did not want to reveal which ones. He explained:
Yes, there will be Crypto Mewtwo at the start, and for the first time, there is a chance it could be shiny! We have exciting plans to bring other Crypto legends into the Crypto Raids, so stay tuned.
John Funtanilla, Senior Producer at Pokémon GO
How many trainers do you need at least? Unlike normal raids, the new Crypto Raids are supposed to be even more difficult. This is mainly because the raid bosses of levels 3 and 5 become enraged when attacked, which increases their attack and defense. This makes it harder to win against them.
To tame them, Crypto Shards have been introduced, which you need to collect like the mysterious parts and ultimately combine into a redeemed gem. With this, you can calm the raid boss and defeat it more easily. Another hurdle is that you can only participate in the raids on-site.
We therefore wanted to know how many trainers you need at least to defeat one of these bosses. According to Funtanilla, you should have about 8 players and collect enough redeemed gems in advance. He specifically replied:
The Crypto Raids are a new challenge that requires the engagement of your local community and friends. You should gather about eight of your best trainers, but also make sure to stock up on redeemed gems, which make the raids much easier. You can collect Crypto Shards throughout the week, but be prepared to use them on the weekend for Crypto Mewtwo!
John Funtanilla, Senior Producer at Pokémon GO
Can you complete the raid without the gems? Yes, according to Funtanilla, experienced players can complete the new raids without using the new items, although this is not recommended. He wrote to us:
They are indeed possible for experienced players, but we strongly recommend collecting Crypto Shards to defeat them faster!
John Funtanilla, Senior Producer at Pokémon GO
What you should also know about the new raids
In addition to the difficulty of the new Crypto Raids, we wanted to know from Funtanilla whether this new type of Rocket takeover also affects other content in the game.
Content of Team GO Rocket: In the past, there have been several Rocket takeovers that offered the villains new teams. We wanted to know if the content of the new raids will also affect Team GO Rocket’s teams at PokéStops and in balloons.
According to Funtanilla, there will still be the “normal” Rocket takeovers, but these will not be affected by the Crypto Raids. However, the introduction of the new items is intended to link both takeovers in some way. He explains:
There will still be TGR takeovers, and they will not be affected by Crypto Raids. We have even connected the two by offering Crypto Shards as a possible reward for defeating TGR brutes outside of Crypto Raids.
John Funtanilla, Senior Producer at Pokémon GO
You can still track down the bosses of Team GO Rocket with the help of Rocket Radars. We will show you how to do this in the following video:
Start video
Pokémon GO: Finding Rocket Bosses – How to Collect the Rocket Radar and Track Them Down
Does Team Rocket occupy the gyms? After it was revealed that Team GO Rocket will also take over gyms for the first time, we wanted to know from Funtanilla whether this is only a takeover in the sense of raids or whether the villains can also empty the gyms. Everyone worried about their monsters can now breathe a sigh of relief:
When a Crypto Raid starts, the Pokémon of a trainer remain in the gym, but as with other raids, you cannot access them. Once the Crypto Raid expires or you have defeated the boss of the Crypto Raid, the gym will return to its normal raid color, and you will regain access to your Pokémon in the gym.
John Funtanilla, Senior Producer at Pokémon GO
As with any other raid, your Pokémon in the gyms will also remain during the Rocket takeover. However, you will not be able to access them as usual. They will not be ejected from the gym.
Are there plans to adjust the remote raid changes? At the end of our interview, we wanted to know from Funtanilla how the remote raid adjustments are. These have upset the community in recent weeks and have led to a wave of protests, an open letter, and even a petition.
The new Crypto Raids will only be playable on-site, which makes it difficult for many trainers in rural areas to play. However, adjustments are currently not planned, according to Funtanilla. He explains:
Our goal this year is to focus on the magic of playing together and in person with Pokémon GO. The Crypto Raids are one of the new experiences we have been working on to achieve exactly that. We hope that trainers worldwide will rise to the challenge and face this new level of endgame content.
John Funtanilla, Senior Producer at Pokémon GO
What do you think about the new Crypto Raids? Will you secure Crypto Mewtwo? And do you have a large local community to support you? Feel free to let us know here at MeinMMO in the comments and exchange ideas with other trainers about it.
Just before the release of Diablo 4, MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus managed to speak again with the creators of the game. We want to show you part of the interview in advance because the answer to which class they would play is quite surprising.
During an interview, I was able to ask Associate Game Director Joe Piepiora and Art Director John Mueller some questions. The two were in Munich for a pre-release event, but unfortunately, we could not be on-site due to a local tram strike.
Accordingly, we then met digitally via Zoom. The conversation was also very entertaining online. As an icebreaker, I asked the two which class they would play if they had to play this class for the rest of their lives.
Both gave me very different answers but coincidentally picked my favorite classes.
Gameplay of Joe’s chosen class can be seen here:
Start video
Diablo 4: Gameplay of the Werewolf Druid against World Boss Ashava
Barbarian is the favorite – but Druid can do more
Joe Piepiora has a clear opinion on which class he would play:
Probably Druid because it has the greatest variety of combat styles. So it would take longer until I felt something was missing. I love the Barbarian; it’s my favorite class. But it is very focused on melee combat.
If I want to play at range, I have my storm and earth magic with my elemental mastery as the Druid. Then I have my companions, can transform to go into melee combat, so for me, it would be the Druid.
For the Server Slam, there was a significant buff, and Druids were suddenly not that bad anymore. On the tier list of the best classes, they are still further back, but not as far behind as before.
For Art Director John Mueller, however, the currently best class is precisely his choice:
For me, it would certainly be the Huntress. I don’t know why. I always thought I would be a Barbarian, but then I realized that I love the agility of the class. I love piercing, I love the hail of arrows, I love the whirlwind of blades… I like being flexible.
It is very assassin-like; the whole move set is brutal with poison, making opponents melt… that is just fun.
By the way, they both really enjoy being in Munich and want to bring German chocolate for their loved ones back home. They say it is better here than in other countries they have been to.
The interview also further discussed the classes, the balancing, and various decisions regarding the design of Diablo 4. You will be able to read the entire conversation here on MeinMMO in the coming days.
With Joe Piepiora, we even managed to exchange a few words earlier:
