Today, June 29, 2021, the Spotlight Hour with Grimer starts in Pokémon GO. We at MeinMMO will show you whether catching it and the bonus are worthwhile.
What is a Spotlight Hour? Every Tuesday, a one-hour event takes place for trainers in Pokémon GO. During this time, a specific Pokémon is the focus and spawns much more frequently. Additionally, players receive a special bonus that also changes weekly.
This week, the Pokémon Grimer is in the spotlight. It is a Normal type and belongs to the second generation. Trainers will also receive double Stardust for catching Pokémon during this event.
Is Grimer worth it in Pokémon GO? Both Grimer and its evolution Muk are not among the strongest Pokémon in the game. Both have rather average stats in attack, defense, and stamina. For this reason, they are not suitable for use in PvP battles or raids. However, shiny hunters might get their money’s worth.
Spotlight Hour with Grimer – Start Time and Bonuses
When does it start? The Spotlight Hour starts today at 6:00 PM local time and lasts exactly one hour. The event will be over by 7:00 PM local time.
This is the bonus: Besides the many Grimer you encounter during the Spotlight Hour, you can also look forward to double Stardust for catching Pokémon.
Is there a shiny Grimer? Yes, the shiny variant of Grimer has been available in Pokémon GO for some time. You can recognize it by its pink color.
Grimer and Muk normal and as shiny
Is the Spotlight Hour worth it? Yes, even though both Grimer and Muk are not among the best attackers in Pokémon GO, you should take advantage of this Spotlight Hour.
Since you will receive double Stardust for catching Pokémon during this hour, you should try to catch as many as possible. Stardust is one of the most important currencies in the game. So you will get 200 Stardust instead of 100 for each caught Pokémon.
With this Stardust, you can level up your Pokémon, but you also need it for trading with friends or for redeeming Shadow Pokémon. Therefore, it is advisable to earn as much of it as possible. To maximize the benefits of the Spotlight Hour, you can also use a Star Piece. This will further increase the Stardust by 50 percent.
The current event makes the Spotlight Hour worthwhile for catching in terms of XP as well. Currently, you receive quadruple catch XP due to the Bidoof event. Additionally, you have the chance to catch a shiny Grimer with a bit of luck.
If you are interested in more about Pokémon GOthis might also interest you:
What do you think of the Spotlight Hour with Grimer? Will you use the increased Stardust for catching Pokémon? Which Pokémon should be featured next during the Spotlight Hour in Pokémon GO? Let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
In The Elder Scrolls Online it has now been almost a month since the latest chapter Blackwood was released. But how is the new expansion being received by the fans and what has changed in the game? We at MeinMMO have looked into it for you.
Unfortunately, the time after the launch of Blackwood was not completely free of problems.
What has happened in the month since the launch?
How are the player numbers? The developers do not publish any concrete numbers, but if you look at the numbers on Steam (via Steamcharts), you can see a clear increase. ESO was played by an average of 21,232 players simultaneously over the last 30 days (as of June 30, 2021). This is an increase of over 11 percent compared to the previous month, when only about 18,000 players were online on average.
What problems were there? However, there was still one significant problem, as the stylish PS5 performance and graphics update could not be implemented for many users. A disc was required, which many users did not have, as they used a digital version. However, thanks to the efforts of Bethesda and Sony, a workaround was found and finally a fix.
How were the new features received?
How were the companions received? The big new feature of Blackwood was not a new class, but NPC companions that are supposed to assist you in your quests. The companions had a hard time from the start, as most players had expected a class and were therefore disappointed. Even after release, the companions do not quite catch on. While various fans praise the sayings of the companions and the feeling of not being alone.
However, the NPCs are probably only truly useful for new players. Those who are further along do not really need them and often feel bothered by them. Therefore, some players do not even bother to unlock both companions.
Other players would like to take the companions with them more often if they could at least customize them. Because as it stands now, countless clones of the same two characters are running around Tamriel alongside the players.
Opinions about the companions are still divided.
How do the new Oblivion portals play? A new addition that is better received is the new world events called Oblivion portals. Their gameplay has not only excited our MeinMMO author Alexander Leitsch. Because unlike with storm events or dragons, here you can achieve something with smaller groups and not just have a large mass fight, but a path with several bosses that you fight through to reach the final big boss.
What was the deal with the new super-item? A sustainable impact on the game has the new mythical item “Harpooner’s Watkilt”. It is incredibly powerful and everyone wants it. However, to obtain it, one must undertake a tedious grind for traces, which has frustrated many players in turn. If you want to try: Our author MiezeMelli has written a guide on how to get the Harpooner’s Watkilt.
What updates have come? In mid-June, an update to Update 30 was released, which formed the basis of Blackwood. It contained a highly anticipated new feature that allows you to earn premium items from loot boxes without spending real money. However, the grind to obtain these “endeavors” is enormous.
How did the new raid go? The new trial (that is what raids are called in ESO) is named Felshain and has already been conquered. The guild Calamity completed the instance worldwide as the first in a speedrun, hard mode, and without anyone dying. You can find the video of the raid here.
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These are the positive voices: The feedback from fans is largely positive. In a survey in the German forum, a large portion of respondents were clearly of the opinion that it was a successful new chapter. We have collected some of the voices from the community for you:
Hämähäkki: “So, I am definitely more satisfied compared to Greymoor. Except for a few minor bugs, I haven’t noticed anything wild.”
Shadow_CH: “I really like the main story, the area is beautifully done, and the dungeons and delves are great! I was even pleasantly surprised by the companions (it probably depends on what expectations you had of them). I particularly like the numerous random encounters in this area that bring more life to it. I also like the Oblivion portals because they provide a real change from dolmens / geysers / dragons / storm events. Most of the bugs don’t bother me much since we’ve experienced far worse (I’m looking at you, Markarth).”
This is a negative contribution: However, not everyone likes the new chapter. The negative voices are clearly in the minority, but the comment from user PhalasSP represents the criticism of the chapter:
The quest scope for a full-price add-on is rather a joke. And players complain about the content of a WoW expansion? They are at least 10 times as comprehensive and that without the patches that follow.
Not even a 5-man dungeon made it into the regular add-on, only into the pre-DLC. No new arena, etc. How can anyone be excited about that?
After not even 6 hours, all quests in the Dark Forest were done. Again, no item level adjustment. And apart from the last quest, all were presented like 08/15 in terms of quests. I think in today’s time one can expect better.
What should one even farm in the new add-on? Apart from furnishing items and crafting styles, everything is useless. But maybe ESO only aims to become a P2Collect game and progress and end content, etc. do not matter to them. You can see this well in the item level system …
The game seems only to be there to collect and buy crafting styles and furnishing items.
The ultimate compendium for ESO Blackwood
148 pages of guides for new and returning players, including a free extra: ESO base game, Morrowind, and a 25% discount on Blackwood at Gamesplanet.
These are the further plans for 2021: As every year, the chapter Blackwood is part of a larger story arc that is told in a total of 4 phases. Phases 1 and 2 have already been completed. In the 3rd quarter of 2021, the DLC Waking Flame is coming with two more dungeons where the story continues.
The grand finale awaits you in the 4th quarter. It will go to the “Deadlands”, the realm of the archvillain Mehrunes Dagon.
American wrestler Robert Booker Tio Huffman (known as “Booker T”) sued the “Call of Duty” publisher Activision more than two years ago over an operator in Black Ops 4. The lawsuit has now been lost and the reasons for it seem somewhat curious.
The lawsuit was about the similarity of Prophet to a depiction of the wrestling role “G.I. Bro” in a comic book
The court has now dismissed the lawsuit – the reasons are understandable, but somehow curious
What is it about? Black Ops 4 is the Call of Duty from 2018 and relies on a specialist mechanic for the characters. Each character has their own skills and traits – including David “Prophet” Wilkes. The operator carries many technical implants in his body and is almost more machine than man.
Prophet was also featured in Black Ops 3; however, his face was often covered there. In Black Ops 4, Prophet showed more of his visage, and what WWE legend Booker T saw there did not please him.
Booker T saw a blatant copy of his wrestling gimmick “G.I. Bro” – but not of his ring character. The character was also used in a comic, illustrated by the artist “Erwin Arroza”. It was specifically about a particular poster that indeed bears a certain resemblance to the CoD operator Prophet:
Booker T then sued Activision for copyright infringement. In his opinion, the character was clearly created based on the comic version of G.I. Bro. Booker T argued that he was entitled to damages because the idea for the character came from him and Activision used his intellectual property.
Why was the lawsuit dismissed? The court found, with the help of witness statements, that the artist did not only use Booker T’s body as a reference when creating the artwork for the poster. From the neck down, wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was rather the inspiration.
If one removes everything from the neck down, only the facial expression and posture remain as the subject of the lawsuit – which was confirmed by plaintiff Booker T. The court’s application states:
You cannot obtain a copyright for a posture. […] (“Copyright law protects tangible, original expressions of ideas, not ideas themselves.”) The plaintiff does not own the idea of an angry man with a dark gaze. The plaintiff’s claim to a copyright on “facial expression” or “posture” is not […] permissible and must be rejected. […] The similarities that exist here – two black men with dreadlocks – are general, public domain elements that cannot support the claim of striking similarity.
The court also rejected the plaintiff’s assumption of when and where Activision came into contact with the “G.I. Bro” poster. The plaintiffs argued that Activision stole the idea for Prophet from Booker T during a Comic Con. However, the exhibitions of Activision and G.I. Bro only overlapped at a single Comic Con – San Diego in 2015. At that time, the Arroza poster, which the lawsuit relied on, did not yet exist.
The plaintiffs around Booker T essentially fought with their own weapons. Initially, the poster that the lawsuit mainly relied on was not entirely valid, and the evidence for the possibility of “copying” was also not accepted.
Who is Booker T? The US wrestler originally hails from Texas and made his debut in a regional wrestling show as early as 1989. In the “Western Wrestling Alliance” he appeared as G.I. Bro. Later, in the “Global Wrestling Federation,” Booker T was part of the tag team “Ebony Express” alongside his brother Stevie Ray and caught the attention of the major “World Championship Wrestling” (WCW) officials. As the tag team “Harlem Heat,” Booker and Ray managed to win the WCW Tag Team Championship a total of 10 times.
Booker T then got more appearances as a solo wrestler and won the “WCW World Heavyweight Championship” four times. When WCW was acquired by market leader “World Wrestling Federation” (WWF) in 2001, Booker T was the reigning Heavyweight Champion and secured a contract with the new parent organization.
He regularly fought for the WWF until 2007, which later became WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). There, he won the United States Championship three times, and once won the World Heavyweight Championship as well. His victory at the “King of the Ring” event in 2006 is also regarded as significant. Booker T made this victory a part of his wrestling gimmick and from then on liked to be called “King Booker.”
After that, he made appearances for small promotions. Nowadays, Booker mainly works as a commentator for WWE and rarely steps into the ring. In 2013, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Currently, Call of Duty is openly relying on actors for some operators who can identify with the military image. Also, licensed skins are now in the game, as well as characters reminiscent of film characters.
What do you think about the development of the characters? Do you like the idea of possibly controlling an operator based on someone you are a fan of? Or do you completely dislike the direction this is taking? Feel free to discuss with us in the comments on MeinMMO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The hardcore MMORPG Valorbound will build on a PvPvE principle. You will primarily play with and against other players, and either gain a lot or lose everything. We at MeinMMO will explain how this works here.
What is Valorbound? The game comes from the indie developer Team Scionica, who have already released an RPG in Minecraft called Fearun Heroes. In Valorbound, you will become a real adventurer. The PvP and survival aspect of the game is to be in the foreground.
These features are promised by the developer:
Open world with PvPvE systematics
Various races
27 unique classes, of which you can always combine two at the same time, leading to over 300 class combinations
An advanced health system – You should not just “gulp down healing potions” until everything is well again, but take care of wounds, bleeding, and broken bones
No better stats through leveling – The stats of your character depend only on your equipment. Players should be equal, whether they have played 100 or 1000 hours
Full-loot PvP – If you kill a player, you can take everything they carry. The developers promise to ensure a particularly fair system
Despite the hardcore label, there should be no further survival elements. You do not need to keep track of thirst, arrow supplies, or similar
Why is this exciting? Already when reading the features, it’s clear: Valorbound will be a niche game, but the potential to cover its niche is definitely there. It strongly targets PvP-oriented players who love to take risks to gain a lot.
While you can also fight bosses together, it will and should even end with a scramble for the loot. But even if you win, sometimes you won’t come away unscathed. For example, you will have to deal with a broken bone, which will restrict you for longer than a bleeding would.
Also exciting is the approach of horizontal progression. Players gain no advantages through leveling up. Your complete strength comes from your equipment, which is not supposed to be randomly generated. You can specifically hunt the items you need for your build.
First screenshots from Valorbound
When can you play Valorbound?
When will Valorbound be released? The game is being developed by a very small team and is still in a very, very early state. We also do not know on which platforms the game will be released or what the exact payment model looks like.
The developer has announced a “low entry price” and is talking about some kind of season pass (via MassivelyOP).
Even with a very positive development, a release in the foreseeable future is unfortunately unlikely.
If you are interested in more new MMORPGsyou might also be interested in this:
What does the timeline look like? So far, there is little information regarding a timeline or even a specific date. It is certain that there will definitely be playtests. The developer also offers a Discord where you can keep up to date and find out how and when such a playtest will take place and you can participate. Click this link to join the Discord of Team Scionica: Discord
There is currently no fixed date for an alpha or early access.
What do you think of the idea of PvPvE? How do you find the health management? Are you looking forward to Valorbound? Feel free to leave us a comment!
You want the loot of another player in World of Warcraft? Just report them as a ninja looter – at least it worked quite shamelessly for one player in WoW Classic.
Loot is a hot topic in MMORPGs, especially in World of Warcraft and its offshoot Burning Crusade Classic. People often argue passionately about loot and sometimes curse their own rolling luck, when something doesn’t go well.
Or you can be particularly devious and report the actual winner of an item simply as a “ninja looter” and watch the chaos that Blizzard causes from the situation.
Best healing item in Karazhan drops – But who gets the hammer?
This is what happened: The druid Onetwo recounted in the subreddit of WoW Classic the course of his visit to Karazhan. He joined a group because he still needed some items from Karazhan and was on the hunt for “Justice of the Light” – a very good mace for healers.
When the corresponding mace actually drops, Onetwo is happy, but is immediately messaged by the second healer in the raid. The mace is “locked,” it was discussed with the raid leader. Onetwo as a druid therefore has no claim to the item because it rightfully belongs to the priest.
However, Onetwo had not heard about this agreement beforehand, and the raid leader did not seem to have made any firm commitments regarding it, rather just mentioned it to the priest without making promises.
In the end, a mage in the raid demands: Just roll for it.
Onetwo and the priest roll. The druid Onetwo wins clearly and can scoop up the mace, which he immediately has enchanted, even going into debt for 500 gold.
Suddenly the mace is gone
Blizzard “steals” an item: Onetwo plays for a while with the new mace, heals in dungeons, and completes arena matches. After some time, he is messaged by the priest, who claims he has been “massively insulted”.
A day later, Onetwo then realizes that he suddenly heals significantly less than before. The mace has been removed from his character.
He then writes a ticket to find out what is behind this matter. Relatively quickly, he receives a response from support, informing him:
I have sifted through all the data for you and have seen that the mace was removed because you were reported for “ninja looting” and the investigation found that the report was justified. We consider this matter closed.
Following this, Onetwo tried to contact support again to explain that he could not engage in ninja looting at all. After all, he had not been the loot master and had simply rolled normally on the item before it was assigned to him by the raid leader.
However, Blizzard did not respond further to these inquiries and immediately closed the tickets again. To them, the case seemed closed.
Protest on reddit calls Blizzard to act again
Thread explodes on Reddit, draws attention: Onetwo then decided to do what had often led to error correction at Blizzard: He sought the public and presented his case on Reddit and in the official forum, backing everything up with screenshots.
Although there were a few skeptics who wondered why he had even documented the rolling with screenshots, as if he had already anticipated that he would need the images, the case received a lot of attention.
With over 14,000 upvotes, the post on Reddit is one of the big exceptions of the past weeks.
A brief conversation with the GM brought back the hammer and 30 days of game time. Image source: reddit.com/r/classicwow
This is how it turned out: In the end, the whole story had a good resolution. After a few days – and the big post in the WoW Classic subreddit – Onetwo received another message from Blizzard support. The mace was returned to him via in-game mail, along with an apology from a game master.
There had been an error, and as compensation, they added 30 days of game time along with the mace.
More about WoW Classic and BC Classic can be found here:
Thus, this story also became one of those cases in which the special attention from the community led Blizzard to address the case again and conclude that the player was indeed in the right.
Microsoft has introduced the open beta for Xbox Cloud Gaming. This is especially beneficial for those who couldn’t buy a fast graphics card but still want to play with decent details. However, a good internet connection is also required for this.
What is changing? Until now, Xbox Cloud Gaming was accessible for Android and a handful of beta testers on Windows PC. But that is changing now.
Microsoft has now released the open beta for Xbox Cloud Gaming. Now all users with a subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gain access to the cloud service. The beta access is included for free.
This access is valid for all users with iOS, Android devices, as well as Windows PCs.
Which devices are officially supported? Currently, the following systems are supported:
Android 6.0 or higher
iOS 14.4 or higher
Windows 10, October 2020 Update or later
How can I use Cloud Gaming?
If you are on Windows 10, go to the Xbox.com/play page and log in with your Microsoft account. Supported browsers are Chrome and Microsoft Edge.
For Apple devices, you must also go through the browser. Here, go to Xbox.com/play and log in with your Microsoft account. The Safari browser is officially supported.
On Android, you have two options. Either you download the Xbox Game Pass app for Android or go to Xbox.com/play with your Android device and log in with your Microsoft account.
You can try the cloud service on Windows 10 in the Google Chrome browser or in Edge. There is currently no direct integration into Windows, but that could change with the release of Windows 11. Microsoft has many interesting ideas to make Windows 11 the “best Windows for gamers”:
Cloud Gaming requires a fast internet connection, but no high-end hardware
What you need: Microsoft recommends a fast internet connection, depending on which device you use and if you want to play in Full HD. If you want to play over Wi-Fi, Microsoft recommends a 5GHz connection, otherwise there may be delays:
7 mbps on an Android smartphone
10 mbps on an iPhone
20 mbps on an iPad
20 mbps on a Windows PC
By comparison, to watch Netflix in Full HD, you need 5 megabits per second. This is about a quarter of the performance needed for Xbox Cloud Gaming on Windows PCs.
What about latency? Latency is the biggest enemy for players, especially for those who want to play competitively. Latency means that there is a delay of several milliseconds when you press a key and the action is executed on the screen. Especially in competitive gaming or fast-paced games, these milliseconds can matter a lot.
Microsoft has explained that you should rely on 5GHz Wi-Fi, as this minimizes latency. Additionally, they have upgraded their data centers with Xbox hardware:
We have upgraded Microsoft data centers around the globe with the fastest and most powerful Xbox hardware to provide you with faster load times, improved frame rates, and a next-generation gaming experience. To ensure the lowest latency and the highest quality across a range of devices, we will be streaming at 1080p and up to 60 FPS.
Xbox Cloud Gaming is free of additional charges. If you already subscribed to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you can access it at no extra cost and you should definitely give the service a chance.
That’s why it’s worth it for low-end hardware: Instead of playing games on your hardware, you can now easily stream games on your Windows PC. Save games are synchronized with the cloud and can be continued on any device.
Instead of using your hardware, you play on the Microsoft server and not on your graphics card. Theoretically, you could also play demanding games on your low-end laptop, provided your internet connection allows it.
How does this look in practice? Currently, you can only play in Full HD and 60 FPS in the cloud. This is still far from 144 FPS, which is important for competitive players, but if your graphics card can’t handle the combination anymore, you should take a look at it. If you want to see how it looks in practice beforehand, you can check out Xbox Cloud Gaming in the video from our colleagues at GameStar:
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This is what Xbox Cloud Gaming looks like on the Android smartphone.
What can you play? With ARK: Survival Evolved or Black Desert Online, you have two really good MMOs and online games that you could try in the cloud, which can already challenge regular computer hardware substantially.
In Pokémon GO, new trainers can currently test both an improved Pokédex and a new weather feature. While the former provides more organization, the latter primarily makes the game more visually appealing.
This is how the new Pokédex works: The developers of Pokémon GO have initiated a test in which randomly selected trainers can use an improved Pokédex. This now displays significantly more categories than before, allowing you to take a simpler look at specific types of your Pokémon.
This looks something like this:
On the left, you see new Pokédex categories – on the right, the result when sorted by “Crypto”
The new categories allow you to quickly access different types of monsters, enabling you to see which ones you are still missing. This gives you the opportunity to specifically search for certain Pokémon that are still missing in your Pokédex.
Among other things, you can filter for Shinys, Cryptos, or Event-Pokémon. Currently, trainers in the Pokémon GO subreddit also report categories like “Perfect Pokémon” (i.e., four stars) or Lucky Pokémon.
At the moment, the available categories during the test phase apparently differ from trainer to trainer – and for some players, it is not yet available at all. However, it is expected that there will be a wider distribution in the future.
However, the improved Pokédex is not the only feature currently being tested.
First players show pictures of a prettier Pokémon GO
What is changing: Niantic has launched a test in which players can test a new feature that aims to depict the sky in more detail and in real-time. Currently, the feature is available to players in Australia, Singapore, the UK, and Mexico.
In the Pokémon GO subreddit, some players are already sharing pictures of the new feature and showing how Pokémon GO could soon look for players worldwide.
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The image shows how the “real” sunset also reflects on the ocean – a level of detail that the game has not had before. But bad weather is now also represented in more detail in the game:
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On Reddit, the visuals of the new feature are well received. However, some trainers express concerns about whether the new feature might affect the game’s performance – especially on somewhat older smartphones (via reddit). But whether and how strongly the gaming experience will be affected will likely be shown by the first tests in the coming days.
When will the features come to us? Both features were announced quite some time ago. While the Pokédex is already available to some players here, it appears that the weather feature will take a bit longer to arrive. A global release has not yet been specifically announced. Only the timeframe “late summer” has been mentioned for a general release. So it shouldn’t be too long before the feature is available everywhere.
Season 7 in Fortnite brought new alien artifacts into the game. We will show you what you need the items for and where to find them in the 3rd week of the season.
The special thing about Kymera is that the skin can be extensively customized. Among other things, you can customize the head, the hair, the eyes, the skin, and the armor of the alien. However, to customize it, you need a lot of alien artifacts. You can find them spread across the island or as content from cosmic chests.
Where to find alien artifacts in the 3rd week
You can find alien artifacts in various locations on the map of Season 7. The locations change weekly. We will show you where they are now in the 3rd week of Season 7.
You can easily collect the alien artifacts by simply going to the location and walking directly through the artifact. They will then automatically be added to your inventory. In the lobby, you can then see how many alien artifacts you have already collected in the resources.
Locations on the map:
Here you can find the alien artifacts of week 3
In the middle of Slurpy Swamp in a small building
In the large hut located south in Boney Burbs
In Craggy Cliffs at a building that leads to the beach
On the island of Loki’s lighthouse, in the small house
In the large castle of Coral Castle
The alien artifacts are not immediately visible this week, and usually, you will have to build up high to reach them. If you prefer to see the exact locations in a video, you can do that here:
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Each find contains 4 alien artifacts. So if you visit all 5 locations and successfully collect the items, you will have a total of 20 alien artifacts. This should allow you to unlock one of the cool styles for the alien Kymera.
If you prefer to unlock another skin from the battle pass, you will need a lot of experience points and battle pass stars. To collect them faster, we have tips on how to quickly reach level 100.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Call of Duty: Warzone is almost overflowing with so-called weapon blueprints. But what exactly are these blueprints and what do they bring you? You will find out in this article.
What are the blueprints all about? Whether in the in-game shop, in a new Battle Pass for a new season, or in the game itself – no matter what you’re doing in Warzone, you almost encounter blueprints in one way or another everywhere. And more of these blueprints are continuously being added.
But what is this all about? What use do the blueprints have? And how exactly can you get them?
Everything you need to know about Blueprints in Call of Duty: Warzone
What exactly are blueprints? Blueprints are basically nothing more than alternative, cosmetic versions of standard weapons. However, blueprint weapons come with their own predefined mix of attachments. These special weapon versions offer not only alternative skins or models but also, for example, certain scopes and other items already built into the weapon and can be used with it – even if you have to unlock the regular version of the weapon through level progression first.
Blueprints are available for weapons that have been in the game from the beginning, but also for weapons that were added later through various sources. If you play the blueprint versions of a weapon and gain XP, you also level up the base version of the weapon.
Here is a blueprint version of the MG 82 from Season 4
What is the difference from regular weapons? In essence, only the alternative appearance. The weapons from the blueprints already have certain modifications and can be used even if you have not yet unlocked the base version of the weapon, but they are not stronger than the regular versions with identical attachments. However, there have already been bugs in the game that made blueprint weapons stronger.
In terms of gameplay, they do not provide any real advantages – except that you can use the weapon in a certain configuration early on, even if you have not leveled the standard model high enough to build the same setup as the blueprint. In some blueprints, the scopes also change. But overall, you just hold an alternative skin version of the weapon in your hands.
Keep in mind: You can also tinker with blueprint weapons. However, you need to consider the following:
If it is a blueprint for a weapon that you already have access to, you can equip the blueprint version with all attachments you have already unlocked for that weapon.
If it is a blueprint for a weapon that you have not yet unlocked as a base version, you can only use the blueprint in its fixed configuration. Other (already unlocked) attachments can only be used once you have unlocked the corresponding weapon as a base version.
Through the PlayStation-exclusive seasonal campaign bundle, there are always new weapon blueprints
How to get blueprints? In principle, almost wherever you look:
through puzzles, riddles, or Easter eggs in Warzone itself
through smuggling contracts
Additionally, you will always find a new mix of blueprint weapons as ground loot in Warzone. However, you can only use these special weapons temporarily for the duration of a match – or until you switch, drop, or lose the weapon through death. You do not unlock the blueprint version for permanent use in this way.
How can I equip the blueprints? If you want to use a blueprint for a specific weapon, you need to navigate to the weapon menu. Then go to “Edit Loadout,” select a loadout, and then the weapon itself. Now you can select the “Armory” tab next to the weapon itself and see all available blueprints you have unlocked for that weapon, and activate one of them. Now the blueprint is active. Next to the Armory icon, you can also view the shop and see all blueprints for the weapon that you can unlock via purchasable bundles in the shop for real money.
Here you can choose the blueprints
Here you can see all unlocked blueprints for the weapon
If you want to generally see what blueprints are currently available for the Warzone arsenal, you can do so through the comprehensive overview of the Armory. You can also find this as a submenu in “Weapons”.
Here you can view all blueprints
So what do blueprints bring? In short: basically just an alternative appearance and a predefined setup for a specific weapon. Blueprints are by no means a must-have. You miss nothing if you don’t have them and don’t care about skins or alternative models. However, for those who do, there are now a multitude of opportunities to give their favorite weapon a special look – including Mastercraft skins that bring completely crazy weapon models into the game.
What do you think of blueprints in Call of Duty: Warzone? A nice feature for those who enjoy it, or a waste of resources? Do you sometimes treat yourself to a cool new skin for your favorite gun for real money, or would you never spend money on something like that? Let us know in the comments along with other readers of MeinMMO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The MMORPG Lost Ark is expected to conduct the beta test in July. You can already sign up and secure your access to it.
How to sign up: The sign-ups for the first closed beta of the MMORPG Lost Ark have already begun. You can log in on the official site with your Amazon account and submit your registration with just a few clicks.
Once your registration is complete, you will receive a confirmation email explaining that there is no guaranteed access to the beta. You will be drawn from a pool of many other beta registrants.
How to ensure you’re in: If you definitely want to participate in the beta and not rely on luck, you can secure access through the Founder Packs. The prices for the packs range from $24.99 to $99.99, with various benefits and cosmetic items included for your money.
When does the Closed Beta start? There is still no exact date for the beta start. The Twitch streamer datmodz, who was partnered with Amazon, revealed during his alpha stream that it could start as early as July.
The streamer’s information is not confirmed, so it should be taken with caution. However, since sign-ups are already possible and Amazon is aiming for a release window in the fall of 2021, a beta start in July seems very realistic.
What will be playable in the beta? So far, Amazon has not released any information about the contents of the closed beta. However, based on the alpha content, we can assume that once again 14 out of 15 starter classes will be playable in Europe. You can see which ones they are in our overview of all Lost Ark classes.
During the alpha, testers could play most solo prologues of these classes up to level 10 and then transition into the main game, where they ventured alongside other players. In the main game, you follow the story quests that guide you through the world of Lost Ark.
You start in a small town and travel north, solving quests, collecting items, defeating elite enemies, and clearing dungeons along the way.
Some players also speculate that the 15th class for Europe is the brand new Sorceress that will be playable in Korea starting in August. It comes along with a whole range of updates, including a new major raid.
Whether and when we will get this content is not officially known yet. You can find all the info about the Europe release in our info hub, which is regularly updated.
The MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online received the expansion Blackwood on June 1, 2021. In this chapter, there are also a few new houses available for purchase. We from MeinMMO present to you the new premises.
Since the Update 13 “Homestead”, you can purchase your own homes both inside and outside of Tamriel. Depending on which house you choose, they can cost you either Gold or Crowns.
You can purchase houses you buy in the Crown Store either empty or furnished. The latter option is of course a bit more expensive.
What exactly is Housing?
Housing is referred to by the community as the furnishing of homes in ESO. A nice pastime or, for fun, described by the ESO community as “the true endgame”. Because housing can be incredibly expensive. Just think of the luxury merchant who profits every weekend in the empty city.
The ultimate compendium to ESO Blackwood
148 pages of guides for new and returning players, including a free extra: ESO main game, Morrowind, and 25% off Blackwood at Gamesplanet.
This home is a small room located on the 1st floor of the Kaladas Inn in Leyawiin. You can acquire it for a small amount of Gold.
Here are some details about the home:
Cost (unfurnished): 3000 Gold
Cost (furnished): /
Requirement: Quest (Housing Prospect: Room Available, available in the Crown Store)
House Type: Plain
Furniture Slots: 30
Special Furniture Slots: 2
Collection Slots: 2
Special Collection Slots: 2
House Guests: 2
With ESO+, the number of furniture slots doubles.
The Bridge Home
The Bridge Home can be found in the city of Leyawiin in Darkforest. It consists of 2 buildings with 3 floors each and a small outdoor area (balcony). From there, you can observe the events in the city.
Here are some details about the home:
Cost (unfurnished): 1,050,000 Gold or 6,200 Crowns
Cost (furnished): 7,800 Crowns
Requirement: The achievement “Great Adventurer of Darkforest”
House Type: Classic
Furniture Slots: 300
Special Furniture Slots: 4
Collection Slots: 20
Special Collection Slots: 4
House Guests: 6
The Panther Tooth Chapel
The Panther Tooth Chapel is located on the edge of the map, northeast in Darkforest. Unlike the other two homes, it is somewhat isolated. It can be reached by a small boat. It has a large outdoor area, a chapel, the Festival Panther Tooth, and a crypt beneath the chapel.
Here are some details about the home:
Cost (unfurnished): unknown
Cost (furnished): unknown
currently not available
House Type: Presentable
Furniture Slots: 350
Special Furniture Slots: 5
Collection Slots: 55
Special Collection Slots: 5
House Guests: 12
If you are interested in more about ESO, you might find this appealing:
Are any of the new homes interesting for you? Feel free to leave a comment. Can you imagine spending hours filling the empty rooms of the Bridge Home or the Panther Tooth Chapel? Or is the Pilgrim’s Rest room enough for you?
A former professional in Rainbow Six Siege has now revealed a glitch in Ubisoft’s multiplayer shooter. The ex-professional Pengu states that an audio bug has been known to some professionals for a long time. They would not report the exploit to Ubisoft because they gain advantages from it.
The Dane Pengu was considered one of the ‘biggest names’ and ‘the face’ of e-sports in Rainbow Six Siege for years. He played for G2 Esports and earned around $370,000 from prize money with the game (via esportearnings). In March 2021, he ended his career.
Now, Pengu reveals an exploit in the game and says he has heard that other professionals have been using it for years.
Audio bug silences sounds, makes grenade ready
What kind of exploit is this? It involves an audio bug with C4 explosives and grenades.
Normally, in Rainbow Six Siege, players nearby hear when a grenade or C4 is readied. A characteristic sound can be heard.
However, due to a bug, it is possible to stop this sound, so enemy players do not hear when the grenade or C4 is readied.
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Due to the bug, you only hear the grenade upon impact.
Was the bug already known? Yes, the bug is known. However, it was previously thought to be something that just occasionally happens in Rainbow Six Siege.
However, Pengu seems to have found a way to reliably reproduce this exploit. He does not explain how exactly it works. He states that the bug has been in the game for at least 4 years. It did not exist in the original version of Rainbow Six Siege; it came into the game later on.
Bug reportedly used by professionals for years, but kept ‘secret’
Is the bug known? Pengu says he has learned from other professionals in Rainbow Six Siege in private conversations that this bug has been used in the ‘professional scene’ for years. It has even been openly discussed in the professional scene of Latin America for a year.
For the ‘insiders’, it is advantageous to know this bug. Therefore, players and even professionals do not report this exploit to Ubisoft.
What will happen next: Pengu explains that he will record a video on the exact procedure of the bug and send this video to Ubisoft so they can fix the audio exploit. However, he does not want to explain how the bug works, because it would be abused otherwise.
If his followers on Twitter know of further bugs in Rainbow Six Siege, they should inform him. He will pass that
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
As of today, the Viking MMORPG Odin: Valhalla Rising (PC, Android, iOS) is live in Korea. It has especially attracted attention with its graphics and setting. We at MeinMMO will tell you how you can play the game here despite region lock.
What is Odin: Valhalla Rising? The game comes from the South Korean developer Lionheart Studio and is published by Kakao Games. The publisher previously brought the MMORPG Black Desert Online to the West and is releasing Elyon this year.
Focusing on Norse mythology, you will battle the Viking gods and visit worlds such as Midgard, Alfheim, and Jotunheim.
The game features a fast tab-targeting system similar to that of Guild Wars 2. You can use many of the skills while moving and must dodge attacks. However, there is also a mobile game typical auto-battle system where your character fights on its own.
Odin: Valhalla Rising is released simultaneously for Android, iOS, and PC, and comes with the following features:
4 base classes with 8 specializations – All classes are gender-locked
PvE, group content, dungeons, and boss fights
PvP in arenas and battles
Auto-battle feature to fight automatically
In this video from YouTuber Steparu, you can check out the character editor of Odin:
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Who can play? Currently, Odin: Valhalla Rising is only playable in South Korea. However, with some tricks and a fair amount of effort, you can also gain access here.
Odin: Valhalla Rising – How to join
How to play on PC? To play on PC, you need an appropriate account with Kakao Games. To register this, you will need a Korean phone number. After that, you can use a VPN tool of your choice to pretend you are in South Korea, and you can easily download and play the game.
How to play on an Android emulator? An emulator is an alternative way to play Odin on PC. However, this can often lead to performance issues.
You need a 64-bit emulator. Make sure you don’t have any files from Odin: Valhalla Rising on the emulator; otherwise, delete them all. Now, you need to set your emulator’s language to Korean and then restart it.
Now you need a Korean Google account to download the game from the PlayStore and log into the game. Even if you can obtain the APK from another source, you still need the Google account. Once everything is installed, logged in, and downloaded, you can switch your emulator back to English/German.
How to play on an Android smartphone? To be able to play Odin on your Android device, you must first remove the SIM card from the phone. Then, you need to change your Android device’s language to Korean and establish a VPN connection to pretend you are in Korea. Next, you can download the APK file (via QooApp) and install the game.
However, here too, you need a Korean Google account or a Korean Kakao account to really be able to play.
A warning for all these methods is – the game itself remains in Korean! An English or even German version is not yet available. As far as we know, there is currently no way to play from an iOS device here.
You can check out one of the installation steps in a YouTube video by ggjennifer:
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Is it worth installing the game? As of this morning at 12:00 AM our time, the game is live in Korea. First videos provide insights into the gameplay. The MMORPG looks visually appealing but does not seem to offer any major highlights in the combat system at first glance.
We at MeinMMO will keep an eye on the game in the coming days and continue to inform you about the developments.
In Pokémon GO you can currently gain a lot of XP for relatively little effort. However, the bonuses are not available for too long anymore. So it’s important to make the most efficient and quick use of them.
What’s going on in Pokémon GO? Currently, everything in Pokémon GO revolves around Bidoof. The small Pokémon has been more frequently spotted since the newly launched Bidoof event, and now a Bidoof takeover for July 1st has also been announced.
However, the Bidoof event not only brings a lot of Bidoof but also a strong catching XP bonus. On Tuesday, June 29th, this bonus increased to a quadruple XP bonus – you now receive four times the experience points for each Pokémon caught.
How long does the XP bonus last? Originally, the quadruple catching XP bonus was only announced until Wednesday, June 30th at 11:59 PM. However, during the Bidoof takeover, on July 1st between 10:00 AM and 8:00 PM, there will again be quadruple catching XP.
You have roughly three days to fully utilize the XP bonus. Here we show you how to gain a lot of XP.
Bidoof is in action and has XP to offer
Get a lot of catching XP in Pokémon GO – Utilize spawns, excellent throws, and items
What you should pay attention to when catching: When you click on a Pokémon, you should try to hit it with an excellent curveball. An excellent throw usually gives you 1,000 XP – with the quadruple bonus, that’s a total of 4,000 XP, just for the throw type. So it’s worth targeting the small circle precisely.
These items help with spawns: Since this is a catching XP bonus, you should ensure you have as many spawns as possible that you can catch. If your surroundings are empty and no Pokémon appear, the XP bonus won’t help you at all. Some items can assist with this:
The incense reliably attracts Pokémon for an hour.
With the lure module, you can attract Pokémon if you stay at a PokéStop for a longer time. However, it only lasts for half an hour.
The mystery box is also an option. If you have one in your inventory, you can open it to attract wild Meltan for half an hour. You get the mystery box by transferring Pokémon to Pokémon HOME or the “Let’s GO” games. Important: To use the mystery box, you must not have incense active at the same time.
Here’s how to get even more XP: If you already know that you will consistently be catching Pokémon for a while, you should activate a lucky egg. The lucky egg doubles all the XP you collect for half an hour. An excellent throw then gives you a total of 8,000 instead of 4,000 XP.
The lucky egg is particularly worthwhile when you are surrounded by many Pokémon. In addition to using items, events with many spawns are also beneficial.
These events can be worthwhile if you need XP
Utilize the spotlight hour: On Tuesday evening, June 29th, the spotlight hour takes place as usual at 6:00 PM. This time, Trapinch is in focus, which will spawn more frequently for an hour.
Trapinch is good for collecting catching XP as it has a fairly large catch circle. If you use a lucky egg during this time and catch consistently, you can gain extremely high XP.
There is also a stardust bonus during Trapinch hour – which is always useful.
Utilize the Bidoof takeover: On Thursday, July 1st, the mentioned Bidoof takeover starts, during which there will again be quadruple catching XP. According to the announcement, significantly more Bidoof will appear than before.
This can be utilized. Because if you keep catching the same Pokémon, you get practice in how to throw to achieve the excellent throw. So if you focus heavily on catching Bidoof perfectly, you can grab a lot of XP here.
Another special case is the raids during the takeover. Because Bidoof is supposed to appear in all raids – regardless of whether it’s level 1, 3, or 5.
Many Bidoof will be on the move. Here the training in excellent throws is worthwhile.
Level-5 raids currently yield 10,000 XP for completion (20,000 with a lucky egg). Here it remains to be seen whether the difficulty of level-5 Bidoof will be significantly increased, or if it can be defeated relatively easily. If the latter is the case, these raids are a good opportunity for solo players to grab some extra XP.
In Apex Legends there are a lot of cheaters in the top leaderboard places ruining the fun for honest players. Pro player Sweetdreams has had enough and fears for the future of the game if the developers do not finally take action. However, they promise improvement.
What is the situation? In Apex Legends, according to pro and streamer Sweetdreams, there are serious issues with cheaters. For the last 7 months, the top ranks of competitive matches have been nearly unplayable, because it is crawling with cheaters.
And even if you somehow manage to kill the cheaters in Apex Legends, they would initiate a DDoS attack and cause the servers to crash. Many cheaters are reportedly extremely bad losers.
For content creators like Sweetdreams, this is doubly bad because no one wants to watch someone constantly getting shot by cheaters, only to regularly have everything crash and to stare at a blank screen.
This is the reaction: Thus, Sweetdreams started a call to developers and the community via Twitlonger. Under the hashtag #SaveApexRanked, he brought attention to the issue among other players and demanded clear improvements to the situation in the Ranked Mode of Apex Legends.
More should be done to ban cheaters and fend off their attacks. And it would be best to grant trusted streamers banning rights so they can manage the situation themselves.
What was the feedback on the call? Numerous fans commented on Sweetdreams’ call, and many share his opinion:
Monsoon: ‘There’s not much more we can do than express our feelings. We can’t even play the game without being constantly targeted [by cheaters] in every other, if not every single game.’
Ryan: ‘I tried Ranked yesterday and had to quit after 2 hours because of DDoSers and cheaters in EVERY GAME. Hopefully something will change soon, I miss grinding Ranked.’
Dropped: ‘Ranked has been hanging by a thread for a long time, and something MUST be done. Something needs to be done to save Apex Ranked before it’s too late. We all want Apex to be a success, and we need to see improvements from the developers that convince us they are really doing something.’
This is what the developers say: Such a large call to the community did not go unnoticed by the developers at Respawn Entertainment. In a tweet, they promised improvement.
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Developing and improving tools against DDoS attacks
Creating new ways to quickly get rid of cheaters
One can only hope that the developers’ announcement is not just lip service, as more than a mere announcement of measures has not happened so far. However, on the other hand, Respawn has already taken firm action against cheaters in the past, including when two high-ranking players were banned.
How do you see the situation – do you still dare to enter the Ranked Mode of Apex Legends? Let us know in the comments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Destiny 2, the finale of Season 14 is set to begin today. Will we actually face Quria starting June 29, and what does the boss fight mean for the storyline leading up to August?
Spoiler warning: If you don’t want to spoil the surprise, check out Destiny 2 yourself after the reset on June 29. By the way, the image features the old Vex boss Panoptes (2017), not Quria.
Here’s what’s supposed to happen in Destiny 2 today: Destiny’s Season of the Splicer runs until August 24, 2021. However, Guardians are currently on high alert, as today’s weekly reset is set for a big battle against Quria. This is the corrupted Vex Mind that we have been hunting through the Override missions for weeks, and which has trapped the Last City in a simulation.
Where does the info come from?
A look at the official roadmap of the Season of the Splicer reveals that today, June 29, the last announced Override mission will start. In these missions, we Guardians infiltrated the Vex network, and it was made clear to us in the past weeks: we are going to take down Quria.
If you check out this week’s story quest “Path of the Splicer VIII” in the known databases, you’ll see that a fight with Quria is about to start (via light.gg). Therefore, the Vex Mind is supposed to be fought today, followed by discussions with story-relevant NPCs. All of this is accessible to see.
Quite mysterious. After all, Guardians usually have to wait until the end of a season to take down the big boss of the chapter.
No more story in Season 14? It’s quite certain that the story of the Season of the Splicer won’t end today. The narrative does not only focus on Quria but also on an impending civil war and the Witch Queen Savathûn, who looks like a Guardian.
According to the roadmap, nothing story-relevant is scheduled until August, but an “epilogue” is set to begin on August 10. The picture for that is still dark; the eternal night – the threat of Season 14 – apparently has not yet been dispelled.
Additionally, the familiar “and more …” appears again at the end of the roadmap. Does this imply a surprise boss fight with Quria, since the Vex Mind cannot be defeated in today’s confrontation?
The last “weekly peak mission” (Override) of Season 14 goes live today
Many Guardians are even hoping for a new, previously secret Exotic today. Previous seasons always had one weapon Exotic in the Season Pass and another as a reward for a story-relevant mission. The latter is still missing in the current Season of the Splicer. So far, all Guardians have access to the Stasis Hand Cannon Cryosthesia 77K in the Season Pass.
However, if you look closely, we already have two weapon Exotics in Season 14: In the raid “Vault of Glass,” you can procure the Vex Mythoclast with a bit of luck – even including the catalyst. But keep both fingers crossed – another Exotic today would be a welcome surprise.
Story Nerds predicted the boss fight six years ago
When the Books of Sorrow were released in Destiny 1 in 2015, lore fans were over the moon. The backstories for Oryx, the new Taken enemies, and Savathûn set a whole new standard for storytelling. Even then, Quria played a significant role in lore missions but never appeared in the game.
Over the years, Guardians kept wondering: will we fight the Vex Mind that Oryx corrupted and Savathûn made playable someday? In 2017, user Chad I 34 stated again: “I love the Books [of Sorrow], and the story [with Quria] is my favorite part. Can’t wait to finally meet Quria” (via Bungie.net). Well, Chad, today the wait will finally be over.
From the Books of Sorrow: Quria directs the Vex attack on Oryx
What about the top boss Savathûn? Recently, we witnessed the Witch Queen Savathûn herself roaming the Tower. However, it is highly unlikely that the witch will engage in a direct duel with the Guardians within Season 14.
The Hive Lady operates in a completely different weight class compared to Quria, and her big appearance will be in the next DLC. The expansion is set to release in early 2022 and is even named after her: “Witch Queen.”
Until 2022, Savathûn will continue to weave intrigues and spy on the Guardians or gradually turn our friends against us. Bungie aptly stated: “Savathûn will set up the dominoes season by season and knock them down in Witch Queen.”
Until then, we will surely be met with an (indirect) confrontation. How the story of Season 14 will proceed remains unclear for now. But next week we will know more and see if Bungie pulls another surprise out of the hat by the end of August.
Now it’s your turn: Do you really think we can take down the boss of Season 14 today? Or is today, at best, a confrontation that we will only win in August during the mysterious epilogue? Let us know in the comments what you think of the current development of the story in Destiny 2.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The new patch 9.1 “Chains of Domination” in WoW: Shadowlands is on the horizon. We at MeinMMO had the opportunity to speak with Game Director Ion Hazzikostas about the update and WoW in general.
What will you learn here? We talked with Ion Hazzikostas about the following topics:
The delay of patch 9.1
The contents of the update
Sylvanas’ role in the story
A look at upcoming content
Whether WoW is still a social game for groups or more of a solo game
MeinMMO: The release of patch 9.1 has taken longer than many players expected. Can you tell us a bit about what the biggest hurdles and issues were in development?
Ion Hazzikostas: Yes, I think it’s really undeniable. It was certainly a longer wait than what is ideal for the game and for our community. We’ve heard that from our community, and we agree. I want to thank everyone for their patience. But finally, Chains of Domination is here and will be released this week.
As for the reasons: I think, as everyone knows, it’s been a unique and challenging one and a half years. We sat together, and the team was incredibly resilient to finish Shadowlands at the end of 2020 from home. But Chains of Domination was a different challenge because it was the first content that was developed completely from start to finish at home.
Shadowlands itself was already on the way to alpha servers and complete completion. The creative process of ideation, storytelling, and building this world was already finished. For the new patch, new challenges arose regarding collaboration, the creative work that goes into the process, and also managing the unique challenges of team health, balancing work and life, and consciously dealing with the problems everyone is currently facing.
But we feel that we learned an enormous amount over the past year. And we are optimistic about the journey ahead regarding more content for Shadowlands. And once again, we thank our players for their patience, and we sincerely believe that what is coming next week will be worth the wait.
“What players will discover in a few weeks will be controversial”
MeinMMO:In the new raid Sanctum of Domination, players finally get their big confrontation with Sylvanas. She is one of the most iconic Warcraft characters and has been one of the most controversial characters in recent years. Some love her, but many also hate her. Are you happy with the development of Sylvanas and the reactions of the players, or do you sometimes wish for a different plot for her?
Ion Hazzikostas: Overall, I think we are very proud of the story we have told with her, and she is a character that many people have literally grown up with. They did quests for Sylvanas and Varimathras as children and teenagers in Undercity.
There is an enormous emotional attachment for many, and I think we know that when we address this, especially with the rivalries between Alliance and Horde and what their presence means for the Horde, there will be some strong feelings involved.
There will be people who wish that her character would take a different path. But at the end of the day, we feel that it is essential to be true to the essence of her character, what she stands for, who she is, and what she has done. Also, to ensure that we do not forget or overlook the actions she took during the Battle for Azeroth.
We knew that when we created a raid, it would end with her. The final boss. There are very, very high expectations about what this encounter will look like, and I think what the team has put together is among the most epic raid finales that World of Warcraft has ever seen. So I can’t wait for players to see it.
The events that will follow are, of course, not yet published or spoiled on the PTR, and they will change the course of the Shadowlands forever. And we will see where we go next.
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Cinematic for the upcoming update “Chains of Domination”.
MeinMMO:Does the importance of Sylvanas influence or limit your team in decisions about what should happen to her? For example, that she is not truly killed because she is so important to the franchise?
Ion Hazzikostas: I think to a certain extent, whenever we deal with a character of this magnitude, we are particularly cautious with all decisions we make regarding them. Also, regarding whether they live or die.
But yes, because we know that you know the main characters, whether it be Sylvanas, Thrall, Anduin, or others that you can name. These are the iconic characters that carry more weight, have greater significance in the overall story, and people are more invested in them. So we must ensure that we are careful to please the players and the community.
I’m sure what players discover in a few weeks will be controversial, but I think that was inevitable. And so we are very proud of the work of the team and look forward to the community’s reaction and the conversation that will begin.
MeinMMO: Another highlight of the upcoming update is the mega-dungeon Tazavesh. What was the idea behind it and what makes the mega-dungeon special?
Ion Hazzikostas: Yes, that’s one of my favorite parts of the whole update. Tazavesh is a mega-dungeon that is so much larger than, you know, our regular dungeon experiences. It will fit within the experiences we made with Karazhan in Legion and aims to provide an old-school experience similar to the Blackrock Depths back in the day.
That’s where you would gather as a 5-player group, and it was almost like a raid where you could spend a few hours exploring it and defeating the bosses.
Tazavesh is a new and fascinating look at the afterlife and the entire cosmos. There is this group, the Brokers, who are a sort of shady cartel of traders dealing in artifacts and things of mysterious power. The dungeon resembles a quirky heist.
There is the chief of a post office where all the mail from the planes of existence comes through and gets sorted. However, there is also a significant threat, an artifact that could change the fate of the Shadowlands if it falls into the wrong hands. Our team had an incredible amount of fun creating this dungeon.
Additionally, there are secrets that have not yet been discovered on the public test realm. There is also a hardmode for players seeking greater challenges and rewards.
The image showcasing the shrouded market with the Brokers.
The best Mythic Raiders will have an advantage in PvP, but “that’s just healthy”
MeinMMO:In patch 9.1, Shards of Domination play an important role. From what has been seen on the PTR, they function like gems, but can only be obtained from the new raid, which is also the only place where items can drop that hold these shards. This leads to two questions. Will PvP players not feel “forced” to do raids to obtain these shards, or will they be disabled in PvP or obtainable through PvP?
Ion Hazzikostas: No, our hope is that they will not feel compelled to do raids. So the shards work as follows:
There are a handful of equipment items that can be obtained in the Sanctum of Domination, as well as through questing with Orphea herself. And these shards are relatively weak at the beginning and can be leveled up through the raid. It’s a reward for long-term dedication and progression through the Sanctum.
We wanted to use this system to give players the feeling of old-school set bonuses, but it also gives players the opportunity to make some choices and customize. There are 3 different sets of Shards of Domination with different set bonuses. They only work in the Maw areas, meaning in the Maw itself, Torghast, and [the new area] Korthia and the raid. So they will not affect PvP or mythic dungeons. The shards themselves, however, have small passive bonuses that work everywhere.
However, one thing we are doing this season for PvP is scaling the PvP gear that players earn up to a full tier, meaning up to 13 item levels higher.
There may be a few items that provide a slight advantage in PvP. If you are a Mythic Raider, even one of the best in the world, and you can defeat Sylvanas or Kel’Thuzad on mythic, which only very few people can do, and earn items at item level 259 with mastery sockets, then that’s honestly not a bad thing in our eyes.
We want raids, dungeons, and PvP to all lead to their goal in their own way. But they are still parts of a cohesive game, and so if people who are successfully excelling at the highest level across multiple of these paths have a slight advantage over others, we think that’s healthy for the game overall.
MeinMMO:The second question regarding this topic revolves around Legendaries. What do you say to players who feel they need to craft new legendary items to avoid blocking a potential upgrade slot for the shards?
Ion Hazzikostas: We have definitely heard a lot of this feedback. We have been closely following the community discussion. One of the reasons why Legendaries are available in different slots was the realization that players might want to avoid collisions with other pieces. That’s why they were in Shadowlands in more than one slot.
When Chains of Domination comes out, soul ash will be much more prevalent. If you want to obtain the soul ash for the new Legendaries in Torghast, you should have more than enough soul ash to craft the first four ranks of the Legendary. In the end, players won’t have much more trouble crafting a new Legendary or upgrading an existing Legendary.
We understand that it feels a bit uncomfortable, and that’s something we are still exploring possible solutions for. We may still make some other quality of life changes. But we believe it’s a small issue that will persist for the first few weeks of the expansion and then stabilize for the rest of the expansion.
MeinMMO:Since we’ve already talked about Torghast: With patch 9.1 come some interesting revisions, including the “Box of Many Things” and new cosmetics. However, quite a few players would like to see more to have further incentives to visit Torghast. Why don’t you just bring things like the Island Crates from BfA or the Garrison Crates from WoD?
Ion Hazzikostas: These are indeed interesting suggestions. When it comes to Torghast, we always wanted to focus on earning and upgrading legendary items. In addition, some cosmetics, achievement progression, and such things.
Basically, everything in World of Warcraft gives you items in some form, and in the end, these things compete with each other, and gear is something that has quickly ceased to be relevant for many players unless it comes from a mythic dungeon or a heroic raid or from the highest tier sources.
To keep it from becoming cluttered or having the same things everywhere, we wanted to focus Torghast on legendary progression and cosmetics, and we’ve brought back more of both.
A new feature is the mentioned Mysterious Box, which allows players to effectively customize and build an entire talent tree for Torghast while earning Tower Knowledge through their runs. This type of meta-progression is one of our favorite elements we’ve seen in our favorite “Rogue Likes”.
This feature is meant to help players have a new set of goals but also a new set of abilities they can tap into to help them through Torghast while trying to overcome the higher challenges.
New dungeon rating system is “better for the whole community”
MeinMMO:With patch 9.1, players receive a dungeon rating based on their ability to complete Mythic+ dungeons. This rating will be needed to improve gear from these dungeons. But unlike the previous season, where you only had to complete each dungeon once at +15, players now have to do so twice – once in a Tyrannical week and once in a Fortified week. Why did you decide to make the rating dependent on both affixes?
Ion Hazzikostas: I think it simplifies things too much to say: “OK, previously you only had to do one. Now you have to do both.” What we did in “Chains of Domination” is completely change the system and the way it is measured, so it’s no longer required to complete every single dungeon at a certain level. Now we have a better and smoother system that also has many benefits.
If you previously ran a 15 and missed the timer by a second, there was no progress for the achievement. If you now miss the timer by a second, you will essentially receive 99% of the rating. Similarly, if you complete a 16 or 17, there is a bonus rating that compensates for the fact that you didn’t complete the 15 in the perfect time.
Our goal is that the keystone master and the associated rewards shouldn’t be more challenging to earn and should be accessible to the same number of players. We are confident that the people who were able to earn them in the first season will be able to do so in practice as well.
But the new system offers much more flexibility when it comes to obtaining this rating and achieving these goals in different ways. If you feel that you are better in one dungeon or particularly pushing a dungeon because there is a trinket there that you absolutely want, you can compensate for deficits elsewhere through greater performance there.
Regarding Tyrannical and Fortified, we continue to make adjustments to the affix balance to try to ensure there will be some variation from week to week. But we want to move away from the feeling that some weeks are simply not worth playing at all, while others are the only ones that are worth pushing. We are curious about the feedback on these changes, and we will continue to refine them.
But the reality is that there are tons of people who play Mythic+ every single week because they want the rewards from their Great Vault – and because they want to enjoy the content. We believe that the new system is better for the community as a whole, knowing that there are people who want to do these dungeons together every week and not just in certain weeks.
MeinMMO:That sounds like a significant improvement for essentially all players?
Ion Hazzikostas: We think so too. But you know, I understand the community’s initial reaction that at first glance, it may seem like we are asking you to do more. We are only asking you to do different things, which we believe will balance out in the long run.
“Chains of Domination will open further doors and raise questions”
MeinMMO:With patch 9.1, a lot of new content awaits players. What do you think, will the content keep players occupied long enough until another update comes?
Ion Hazzikostas: We definitely think so. With the new raid, the mega-dungeon Tazavesh, new loot, and new stories, there is more than enough to keep players engaged for a long time.
And in the meantime, we are working hard on what is coming next, and, as I said at the beginning of this conversation, the gap between the launch of Shadowlands was longer than we all would ideally like. We are doing everything in our power to ensure that does not happen again.
MeinMMO:The upcoming update is a good point. Is Shadowlands still on track with the usual 3 updates, or will you change the structure?
Ion Hazzikostas: To be honest, our patch structure has changed from expansion to expansion. I think it fits the story we want to tell, to the places we want to visit. We have also released smaller patches, like the 9.0.5 patch, which we didn’t have in Battle for Azeroth or Legion.
We are still working out what will develop over the course of the story. I think what we definitely aspire to is a satisfying conclusion to all the stories we have built up.
And Chains of Domination is just opening more doors and will raise a lot of questions. We will learn much more about the nature of the Jailer, but we still have a long way to go before we can truly put an end to the Jailer’s plans. And the end threatens the Shadowlands.
WoW is still a social game at its core, but more accessible than before
MeinMMO:WoW is now available in several versions: Retail and Classic. Some players criticize that in Retail, you have to cooperate less and can play better alone. What do you think of this accusation and do you see it as a problem?
Ion Hazzikostas: I think everything has two sides; there are pros and cons. WoW has become a much more accessible game over the past 15 years. It is still a game that is incredibly social at its core.
In Retail, there are still tasks that need to be done together, whether players are running high Mythic+ raids with friends or players are playing together in arenas. Close collaboration is still necessary.
What we’ve changed is giving players the ability to enjoy the game on their own terms and at their own pace. There are pros and cons to this:
If you look back at Burning Crusade and had only 45 minutes or an hour to play, then you needed 20 to 30 minutes to find a dungeon group by spamming “LFG” in the trade chat. If you didn’t have enough time, you could end up not playing at all.
Not only finding groups but also completing dungeons is faster today.
In the modern version, you can queue for heroic dungeons during your lunch break, gain some experience, and show progress. But if you want to do a Mythic dungeon, you still have to play with fixed groups, but overall have a greater selection.
Back then in Classic and Burning Crusade, there were definitely the advantages of a close-knit community of players on the servers who knew each other, and enemies who had a good reputation. Or you knew who the best crafter was. Or the one who always ninjalooted.
But the downside is that when you found out in Classic that a friend you knew in real life was playing Burning Crusade, you could almost guarantee that you would never be able to play WoW with him because you were on different servers. Whereas if you meet someone today and you’re both playing Shadowlands, then they’re playing in the same Shadowlands. You can play together, and that’s a huge advantage.
That’s actually, when you think about it, a modern version of togetherness and social bonding. The modern World of Warcraft is conducive to social bonds that transfer from the real world to the game world.
Each version has its pros and cons, right? And one of the biggest challenges our team faces is: How do we get the best of both worlds? How can we continue to make World of Warcraft more social? How can we make it a place where it’s more likely to find new friends and people to rely on and have connections, without losing the accessibility that has made the game so inviting for millions over the years?
We have been working on WoW for many years, and spoiler alert, we are also working on the next expansion. I know nobody expected that.
We are thinking about what our next expansion will be and what comes next. And we come to the conclusion: We will keep making World of Warcraft as long as people want to play it. And there are no signs that this will stop anytime soon. But we also want to continue.
We want to evolve the game; we want to introduce new game modes. We want to update fundamental foundations of the game, as we did with things like the level squish or the improved experience for new players. In Shadowlands, we want to maintain the “World of Warcraft” feel.
It should be accessible to a new generation experiencing it for the first time, but also appealing to those who have been around for a decade and want something new. And it is an honor to work with a fantastic team that is passionate about it, and we can’t wait for you to see it. We can’t wait for everyone to see what we still have in store.
Thank you very much for the answers, Ion Hazzikostas!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Especially in shooters like Call of Duty: Warzone, the term Meta is often mentioned. But what is Meta? What does it even mean? And why is it important? You will find out in this article.
Do you know this? You are chatting with your buddy during a cozy round of Warzone, reading an article about new weapons from a fresh season, or watching a YouTube video about it, and the term Meta casually and naturally comes up. Meta-weapons here, Meta-loadouts there, Meta-settings over there. Yet, not everyone even knows exactly what Meta means in this context.
What is Meta?
What does Meta mean? The term Meta actually comes from Greek and means “over”, “beyond”, meaning that something is on a higher level or superior to another thing.
However, especially in shooters, it has developed into an acronym that well summarizes the actual meaning of the word there – Meta is now also an abbreviation for “most effective tactics available”, referring to the most effective tactics available.
Alternatively, in gaming, Meta can also be used to describe something that goes beyond the actual game.
What does it even mean when a setup is Meta?
What does Meta refer to in Warzone? When talking about Meta in Warzone, it usually refers solely to weapons. However, the term is also commonly used in relation to setups, loadouts, playstyles, or options. The meaning or direction that these terms take with the addition of “Meta” remains the same:
When referring to Meta-weapons, it means the currently most effective weapons. A crucial factor is usually a low Time to Kill (TTK), but other characteristics such as recoil also count. Since Warzone is a live-service game and there are balance patches, the Meta – meaning the most effective weapons – also changes.
Regarding Meta-setups or Meta-loadouts, the meaning does not change. Here, it refers to weapon configurations or character orientations along with equipment that currently stand out as the most effective, with the focus still on quickly sending the opponent to the virtual afterlife – whether in general or at specific distances.
It is no different with Meta-options. These refer to settings that provide you with the greatest advantages in battle at a given time.
The Meta is determined by the players and does not always have to be logical. Sometimes a herd mentality kicks in, and suddenly it is “the one weapon” that dictates everything.
In Warzone, the TTK does not determine the Meta as strongly as in the regular multiplayer of CoD. For example, the assault rifle Grau 5.56 has long been part of the Meta, but it is relatively weak in damage. However, its high stability combined with the strong Iron Sight makes it a top weapon.
What does Time to Kill mean?
The term “Time to Kill”, also abbreviated as TTK, is mainly used in shooters. It describes the effective time required to eliminate an enemy with full health (and possibly armor), bringing them to 0 health points.
A lower Time to Kill means less time is needed to eliminate your target. With a higher Time to Kill, the opponent has correspondingly more time to possibly react to the fire.
The TTK is an important value, especially in the competitive field, that has a strong influence on which weapons are increasingly relied upon (with the aim of achieving the lowest Time to Kill), meaning which weapon is currently Meta.
In short: When you hear the term Meta or see Meta as an addition somewhere in Warzone, it basically refers to the (most) objectively most effective options available to you in battle – regardless of what Meta specifically refers to in that case.
By the way: Meta does not necessarily mean that you will personally handle the corresponding weapons, loadouts, or options the best. A weapon might generally be considered Meta, but due to your individual skills or preferences, it may be that you only manage to handle it to some extent or not at all. Meta thus means “currently the most effective based on various factors” and not “the best for you”.
How about you? Do you also like to or always rely on Meta-weapons, Meta-loadouts, and Meta-options when playing Call of Duty: Warzone? Or is all of this not important to you, and you primarily focus on what feels best to you in the game? Let us know in the comments, along with other readers of MeinMMO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the new patch of World of Warcraft there are plenty of new mounts. We will show you which fancy mounts are available with the covenants.
Patch 9.1 Chains of Domination is on the horizon and brings a lot of new mounts for the different covenants. Blizzard has already released a little preview of the new mounts in World of Warcraft and we will reveal to you where and how you can obtain these mounts.
The new mounts are, by the way, accompanied by the unlocking of flying – because that is also possible in patch 9.1 – at least in the areas of Bastion, Maldraxxus, Ardenweald, and Revendreth. In the Maw, flying is still prohibited.
Please note that the following mounts are each exclusive to the covenant they belong to. Even if the source of a mount is listed as “rare mob,” the mount can only be looted by players who also belong to that covenant.
The new mounts of the Kyrians: Kyrian players can look forward to the wings of the Elysian Aquilon. These majestic mounts resemble the Goliaths of Bastion and were apparently created by the smiths of the Paragons. There are a total of 4 variants:
Elysian Aquilon: Glory Level 45
Ascendant’s Aquilon: Glory Level 75 + 7,500 Anima
Battle-Hardened Aquilon: Completion of the campaign, Exalted with the Undying Death faction + 1,000 Stygia
Forsworn Aquilon: Rare drop from the rare mob “Wild Worldbreaker”
The new mounts of the Necrolords: Necrolords are generally pretty disgusting, after all, they live in Moldland Maldraxxus. Accordingly, they ride on the thick bodies of corpse flies. Yes, they are just as disgusting as they sound.
Maldraxxian Corpse Fly: Glory Level 45
Royal Corpse Fly: Glory Level 75 + 7,500 Anima
Battlefield Swarmer: Completion of the campaign, Exalted with the Undying Death faction + 1,000 Stygia
Lord of the Corpseflies: Rare drop from the rare mob “Fleshwing”
The new mounts of the Night Fae: Night Fae are fond of nature and therefore get quite a lively mount. The Ardenwilder is a mix of cloud serpent and fox, which reminds some players of Fuchur from “The NeverEnding Story.” The Ardenwilder also comes in 4 variations:
Ardenwilder: Glory Level 45
Autumnal Wilderling: Glory Level 75 + 7,500 Anima
Winter Wilderling: Completion of the campaign, Exalted with the Undying Death faction + 1,000 Stygia
Summer Wilderling: Rare drop from the rare mob “Escaped Wilderling”
The new mounts of the Venthyr: In the land of vampires and gargoyles, there are of course also new mounts. The Venthyr mount their graveswings. These stone creatures were brought to life by Anima and safely carry their owners from battle to battle.
Graveswing: Glory Level 45
Obsidian Gravewing: Glory Level 75 + 7,500 Anima
Pale Gravewing: Completion of the campaign, Exalted with the Undying Death faction + 1,000 Stygia
Mastercraft Gravewing: Rare drop from the rare mob “Stygian Stonecrusher”
More about WoW Patch 9.1 Chains of Domination can be found here:
Are there more mounts? Yes! Overall, patch 9.1 brings a hefty 45 new mounts for collectors. Only a few of them are available through the different covenants. Others can be obtained as rewards in PvP, from the raid “Sanctum of Domination,” from the mega-dungeon Tazavesh, or as a rare drop from enemies in Korthia. One or the other puzzle mount will also be included.
Collectors will therefore get their money’s worth in patch 9.1 and can accumulate a whole lot for their mount collection.
Are you excited about collecting new mounts? Or are you interested in the other content of patch 9.1?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The LoL player Joshua “Dardoch” Hartner (23) was considered a great young talent in League of Legends two years ago, a huge talent that just needed a chance. He received that chance multiple times, but he did not take advantage of it. Now he has been released by the next professional team, Dignitas.
This is the situation:
The jungler Dardoch was already considered the most promising jungle talent in US LoL at 17. His gameplay mechanics are impeccable and admired online. However, for a long time, no one wanted to give Dardoch a professional contract because he allegedly had a terrible attitude.
In 2019, Dardoch was 21. At that time, the best team in the USA, Team SoloMid, gave him a chance: He was to become the new starting jungler. But Dardoch only lasted half a year at TSM.
Now he is out of the next professional team: Dignitas has released him. Once again, his attitude was his downfall.
Mechanically strong, but attitude is a problem
What is the problem with Dardoch? In 2019, fans of almost every US team in LoL wanted their management to pick up the then 21-year-old Dardoch. He was considered an aggressive jungler with insane potential since his time as a 17-year-old at Team Liquid, potential that had yet to be fully realized.
There was consensus: This rough diamond just needed to be with the right team to become the best jungler in the USA in LoL.
Dardoch is considered incredibly talented, but also unruly and difficult. Rumors circulated that Dardoch had a poor attitude, could not fit in with a team, and would drag everyone down. Not even in the Academy League could he impress: There, it was said that his teammates were too bad for him to shine.
Mechanically, Dardoch was a huge LoL player, everyone thought, but the teams that picked him up suddenly played worse with him.
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Even at 17, Dardoch made a name for himself. He was considered a huge talent.
TSM recruited problematic prodigy to “straighten” him out
This was his big chance: In 2019, the probably best team in the USA, Team SoloMid, signed him. They believed that the experienced leadership players of the team and the coaching staff were good enough to get even a difficult player like Dardoch “in line”.
But TSM could not impress with Dardoch: TSM finished 5th in the LCS with a 9-9 record. Again, it was observed that TSM had somehow become a worse team since Dardoch started playing jungle.
Just half a year later, in May 2020, it became clear that Dardoch had to go, when ADC star Doublelift was streaming.
Because this went live on Twitch, it caused a moderate frown: You could not treat players like that. This scene ruined any market value Dardoch had, judged LoL expert Thorin.
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In the background of Doublelift’s stream, his girlfriend could be heard talking about Dardoch.
Dignitas fires Dardoch: “Unacceptable behavior”
This is how it went recently: Dardoch found a new team for 2020/2021. Ultimately, he landed at Dignitas, a mid-level team in the LCS. There, the now 23-year-old Dardoch was regarded as one of the most important players.
But now he has been released from this team as well. In a statement from Dignitas, it was mentioned: While they knew that players could be frustrated, everyone gets frustrated at times. But Dardoch’s behavior was simply something they could not work with.
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It is not entirely clear what exactly Dardoch did to justify his dismissal. It is suspected on Twitter that Dardoch was fired because he flamed his teammate Neo too harshly after a team fight against the Golden Guardians. However, it could also be that he criticized a management decision of the team to bench midlaner Soligo.
In any case, it seems that Dardoch’s temper has once again been his undoing. His attitude towards LoL and his teammates remain Dardoch’s problem. No matter how mechanically good he is.
On Twitter, Dardoch does not elaborate on the incident but merely states: He is very confident in his abilities and is now looking for a new team. He is flexible regarding the region. Perhaps we will see him soon in one of the smaller leagues.
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Dardoch is suffering from a new trend in the US LoL league. Recently, several strong players have been sidelined by their teams for speaking negatively about teammates. However, not every team can afford to lose their star:
