Recently, there is a new sword available in Destiny 2 through the forge. Many guardians already consider it the best sword for PvE. We explain what makes Stryker’s Sure-Hand so special and how you can obtain it.
Since the weekly reset on December 25, guardians can earn a new weapon through the forge – the legendary sword Stryker’s Sure-Hand. The sword can come with perks that can turn this weapon into a true DPS monster. We take a closer look at this sword from the “Black Armory” DLC.
Stryker’s Sure-Hand – The best sword for PvE
Swords currently have a hard time in Destiny 2 – especially in PvE. With rocket launchers, machine guns, or weapons like the Sleeper Simulant and Whisper of the Worm, they just can’t compete. But with the new sword, this could change in some activities.
What makes the new forge sword so special? The special thing about Stryker’s Sure-Hand is the perk surrounded, with which the sword can roll. This has not been possible with any other sword so far. As a result, the sword receives bonus damage (about 40%) when three or more enemies are nearby – which is often the case when using the sword.
Moreover, the sword can then additionally be enhanced with the new weapon mod Surrounded Spec. This modification further amplifies the effect of Surrounded. Moreover, the bonus from Surrounded lasts for a while, even when you are no longer surrounded by enemies.
This allows the sword to deal tremendous damage – over 140,000 with a single heavy sword strike is easily achievable with buffs.
Warlock in the Well of Radiance with Stryker’s Sure-Hand (Source: Jarvenis, YouTube)
For example, a Warlock can place a Well of Radiance during the boss fight in the forge activity and then deal approximately 142,000 damage to the boss with a appropriately rolled and modified Sure-Hand sword. Even outside the well, the sword still deals over 100,000 damage per heavy attack.
What is Stryker’s Sure-Hand suitable for? The sword can be used anywhere you can get close enough to a boss or elite enemy surrounded by smaller enemies. In wave activities such as the new forges, the Blind Well, Escalation Protocol, but also in Vanguard strikes or Nightfall, the new forge sword melts bosses and majors with ease. The sword is also very effective against blockers in Gambit.
To see how the sword performs in the forge, you can check out this video by Jarvenis at 5:00:
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How to obtain the new sword? Stryker’s Sure-Hand is available through a new weapon frame from Ada-1, the Black Armory vendor, who has it in stock this week. The frame must be completed in several steps, just like the previous weapon plans.
You can find a compact step-by-step guide in this video by YouTuber HurleyEffect:
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The sword drops with random rolls, but since the perk pool for swords is smaller than for other weapon types, you can relatively quickly get your desired combo.
What do fans say? On Reddit and YouTube, many guardians seem to agree that Stryker’s Sure-Hand is currently the best legendary sword in the game.
In some situations, the sword even represents a viable alternative to other top weapons in the power slot like the Sleeper, Thousand Voices, or Whisper of the Worm. This even frees up the exotic slot for another good weapon.
Almost everyone who has had experience with this sword recommends it.
Shortly before Christmas, a PvP spin-off of the highly anticipated MMORPG Ashes of Creation Apocalypse was launched. However, the servers are already offline.
Silently and without much announcement, the servers went offline and apparently will remain so for now. Fans are disappointed.
Ashes of Creation Apocalypse – Almost online, already offline
What happened? On December 20, the servers for Ashes of Creation Apocalypse were launched as part of the testing phase of a PvP spin-off of the MMORPG. The first version offered a battle royale mode, with more modes expected to follow.
However, the servers were closed again on December 26. There was no major announcement regarding this, but the developers briefly stated on Discord and Reddit that the servers would be offline until January. Players were taken by surprise.
When will it continue? The testing is scheduled to resume on January 11, but only during specific “stress test weekends.”
Fans are angry
How are the players reacting? Fans are surprised and also angry – and for several reasons:
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Server down despite open cash shop: The fact that Ashes of Creation Apocalypse was only online for such a short time and will only return in January with test weekends upsets many players. The cash shop was opened with the start of the test phase. Players were able to buy items with real money, but now have little to show for it.
Status of the game is not good: Many fans are not really surprised that Apocalypse is offline. Reports suggest that the state of the game was far from good. There were plenty of bugs, lags, and many features did not work at all. The developers stated that the release was “broken”.
Forum is offline: Many players are also disappointed that the official forum of the game went offline before the beta started and has not been accessible until today. The lack of a forum to share, express opinions, and provide feedback is something players are currently dissatisfied with.
When is the official launch? It is planned that Ashes of Creation Apocalypse will officially launch in February, after several test weekends in January. Until then, patience seems to be the only option.
In 2018, there was a lot going on in the gaming community, many MMOs and multiplayer games experienced their ups and downs. Therefore, we want to know: What were your favorites in 2018?
The year 2018 is slowly coming to an end, and everywhere the annual awards and prizes are being awarded. We also want to look back at 2018 with you and briefly remember which new online and multiplayer games left the best impressions on us this year.
However, this is only about new releases, so games that first saw the light of the gaming world in 2018. We do not include expansions like Forsaken or Battle for Azeroth, as they belong to already existing games.
Which of these games from 2018 left a deep positive impression on you? Or do you perhaps have secret favorites that are not on the list? Post them in the comments!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Our author Tarek explains to you which is the best single-player game of 2018 for him and why you should play it.
The question of which single-player game is the best for me this year was not easy to answer at first. This year there were some great games.
In the end, it was very close between Red Dead Redemption 2 and the PS4 title God of War. The latter won the race. For me, God of War is the best single-player game of 2018.
God of War (2018)
Platform: Playstation 4
Genre: Action-Adventure
Release: April 20, 2018
God of War for the PS4 is the fourth main installment of the series. God of War is a large franchise with many titles, but the latest installment was the first that genuinely piqued my curiosity.
The previous installments were all hack-and-slash games, and I simply did not enjoy the gameplay. But then the first videos of the latest installment came out, clearly showing that the new God of War would not follow the old formula. Of course, this is a matter of taste, but for me, this change was ideal, and with God of War (2018), ultimately a masterpiece was created.
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What is God of War about? Primarily, the story is likely one between father and son. Kratos is a god and lives in the far north with his son Atreus in exile. His wife and Atreus’ mother died before the events of the game began. With her funeral, the story begins. Her last wish was to have her ashes scattered on a distant mountain peak. Therefore, Kratos must embark on a long journey with his son, leading him through the Nordic lands and mythology.
On this journey, numerous dangers await in the form of monsters and gods, but allies are also waiting along the way. Additionally, there is an engaging story revolving around Thor, Odin, Baldur, Freya, and many other gods and giants from this time.
With the Axe or Fists?
How is God of War played? Unlike the earlier installments, the new God of War is not a hack-and-slash but a tight action-adventure that also draws on RPG systems. You fight from a third-person perspective and control Kratos. Additionally, there is Atreus, who assists you in combat. With his bow, he is a useful ally.
There are several equipment sets that also have different skills and attributes. In addition, there are various rune skills and talismans that allow you to refine your playstyle. You have the Leviathan Axe, your main weapon, and a shield. Throughout the game, you can upgrade them, unlock new moves, and become even better in combat.
It is also not just a normal axe. Rather, it is a weapon that inflicts frost damage. It can be thrown and recalled. You can target enemies with it or freeze them in place. Alternatively, you can also fight with just your fists, which may even be necessary depending on the type of enemy.
The battles are challenging depending on the difficulty level and require thought before attacking. Some enemies require proper tactics or have a trick for how to take them down most effectively.
A Must for PS4 Owners
What makes God of War so special? The gameplay mechanics are refined and integrate seamlessly into the game. The progression system surrounding the upgradeable Leviathan Axe, various armor sets, skills, and talismans works well and is not overloaded. The game world is not a classic open world. It is more a series of linear areas that are interconnected. However, as you progress through the game, more areas become accessible, providing a lot of variety and beautifully designed settings.
For me personally, the story surrounding the complicated relationship between Kratos and Atreus is what makes the game so good. Kratos tries to fulfill his role as a father but struggles with himself, his self-hatred, and his pride. Atreus tries to gain his father’s respect and prove himself. Additionally, there is an engaging story set in Norse mythology with murder, gods, and monsters, as one knows from God of War.
The art design is outstanding. Armors, weapons, embellishments, murals, architecture—everything has been designed in detail and impressively.
The whole experience is accompanied by a soundtrack that is likely among the best the industry has ever produced. It is powerful, dark, epic, and emphasizes nearly every scene perfectly. This also applies to the (English) voice acting. The Stargate fanboy in me was thrilled that Kratos is voiced by Christopher Judge (Teal’c, SG1). Boy, everyone who has played it will surely agree with me.
In short: If you want a game with a great story, fantastic technology, strong gameplay, and incredible sound and art design, then God of War is the right game for you. Unfortunately, it is an exclusive title for the PS4, so you will need a console.
The jury of the Game Awards probably agrees with me, as God of War was chosen as the Game of the Year 2018 at the Game Awards, even ahead of Red Dead Redemption 2.
The research breakthrough for January and February in Pokémon GO is known. You have the chance to catch eight legendary Pokémon.
What is the research breakthrough? If you complete a field research task for 7 days, you will receive a research breakthrough. In it, you can receive not only a Pokémon but also items like the Sinnoh Stone.
In December, you had the chance to catch six legendary Pokémon. The Pokémon for January and February are now also known.
Little new in the research breakthrough
These Pokémon you can receive: You have the chance to catch Articuno, Moltres, Zapdos, Suicune, Entei, Raikou, Lugia, and Ho-Oh. The first six Pokémon were already the reward in December. You will receive one Pokémon per breakthrough, which will be determined randomly.
The changes in the research breakthrough remain minimal. With Lugia and Ho-Oh, two Pokémon are added that have often been available as raid bosses.
Chance for Shinies: As many as five of these Pokémon can also be caught as Shiny. Articuno, Moltres, Zapdos, Lugia, and Ho-Oh are also available in their shiny form. You can receive these in the research breakthrough.
How long is the research breakthrough available? You can receive these legendary Pokémon from the research breakthrough throughout January and February. Starting January 1st, at 10 PM, these Pokémon will be available in the breakthrough.
What else is new? Pokémon GO also announced new field research tasks for the two months. These are supposed to be popular tasks from previous months. In the December, you can solve field research tasks that were present in previous months.
A detailed list of field research tasks will not be available until January 1st. Until then, the tasks are still unknown.
2018 was a good year for Pokémon GO. We explain why the game is so successful again in the following article:
The action RPG Monster Hunter World became a global hit in 2018. Our Leya explains why monster hunting is one of the big winners in gaming in 2018.
The situation: Monster Hunter has been around since 2004. From the beginning, the franchise has been incredibly popular in Japan.
The game was primarily found on handheld consoles, such as the Nintendo 3DS. In the West, however, significant success was lacking. Monster Hunter was always a niche title for us, with a loyal but small fanbase.
However, this was supposed to change with the fifth main installment of the series. Capcom tailored Monster Hunter World to the West. A particularly important step was the transition from handheld consoles to home consoles, the PS4 and Xbox One, and to PC.
This vibrant world was already palpable in the short demo where I hunted the terrifying Anjanath in the Ancient Forest back in August 2017.
When the Anjanath encounters the Great Jagras, it digs its sharp claws into it and challenges it to a territory fight. If I face a toad, it explodes and puts the monsters to sleep or even me if I’m not careful.
Little to criticize: Players were positively surprised by Monster Hunter World, and criticisms on consoles were rare.
Objectively, the cumbersome user interface and the clumsily implemented multiplayer were criticized. However, players enjoyed the gameplay so much that they gladly overlooked these issues.
After Capcom further optimized the performance and fixed bugs, the negative reviews also decreased.
The misunderstanding: Monster Hunter World is not a classic “games-as-a-service” title like Destiny 2. The game was never designed to be developed and supported with updates over the long term.
This caused confusion among some fans, as Monster Hunter World brings regular content updates and events in the game. New monsters like the Behemoth or Lunastra were added later. Monster Hunter World draws on many aspects of an MMO, but it is not one.
Fans want more: Thus, the biggest criticism was that fans wanted more content. For a few months, the craving for Monster Hunter World was great among fans. About 6 months after the release, the hype had noticeably faded and only a core group remained.
There was a general sentiment among fans that they wanted more monsters, more story, more maps – the players loved the monster hunting so much.
If this is the biggest criticism, then Monster Hunter World must have done a lot right.
Monster Hunter World as One of the Big Winners
The surprise: Monster Hunter World came out of nowhere for many in the West. The rise of the franchise has primarily been experienced by the Japanese. The concept of monster hunting and the associated steep learning curve was something new for players here.
Capcom adapted Monster Hunter World by introducing more comfort features and removing much clumsiness. However, Monster Hunter World did not lose the core of the franchise. The MMORPG boss-like battles with monsters, the grind for new equipment, and the enhancement of one’s skills constitute the appeal.
What was already well-known in Asia was perceived as something fresh here in the West. This, along with the impressive realization of the game world, made Monster Hunter World one of the biggest winners of 2018.
In Fortnite there is now the secret banner from week 4 of season 7. The loading screen gives the hint and shows that it is not a secret star.
What is it about? The new tasks of week 4 in Fortnite: Battle Royale also include another secret banner. It is initially hidden and is only suggested by a loading screen. We show you here the loading screen with the hint and then also the location of the secret banner.
This is the requirement: To find the secret banner, you must first complete all tasks from week 4 and the previous weeks. Otherwise, you can walk to the location but won’t see the banner.
Where is the banner from week 4 in season 7? This time no star
After completing all tasks from week 4 in season 7, you unlock a new loading screen. Pay close attention, as there is a hidden clue.
What do you see in the picture? The graphic shows the character Powder performing a cool trick. But the hint for the banner is hidden in the background. Look in the lower right corner of the facade of a house.
This house gives the hint: The house on the right side of the image shows the icon of the banner. On the left half of the second floor, you will find the hint.
Here you should search: You need to go to the village Happy Hamlet, which can be found in the south of Fortnite in the ice biome. This is located at grid box D9. Travel to this location and find the house that is near a clock tower. Build a staircase to the house. The banner is waiting at the indicated place outside the house.
Video description: So you can definitely find the location you are looking for, we embed a YouTube video here that shows the location.
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In Fortnite: Battle Royale, you can now find the Quad Crasher as a new vehicle. We have discovered all the “Quad Locations” for you and are showing a map with the locations.
Update 28.12.: We have added a new map for Season 7 to the article for Christmas. It shows the locations of the Quads.
What is a Quad Crasher? The Quad Crasher is a new vehicle in Fortnite. Together with the Shopping Carts and Golf Carts, there are now three vehicles in the game.
The Quad Crasher is a mini bulldozer with a jet engine. In addition to the driver, a passenger can also hop on the back – ideal for solo and duo matches. The Crasher is quite fast and has a special feature.
The terror of all buildings: When you activate the booster, you ignite an afterburner. This accelerates the Crasher significantly and turns you into a rampaging bulldozer.
Whenever you encounter a destructible obstacle, you simply break through and smash everything into small wood chips (stone, metal). This is ideal for tearing down enemy strongholds or ruining the day of opponents hiding in buildings.
On the embedded map here, you can see all known spawn points of the Quad Crasher so far.
But there’s no Crasher! Unfortunately, the spawn points of the Quad Crashers on the map are just possibilities, not guarantees. As with all other items in the game, it is not guaranteed that you will actually find a Quad Crasher at the respective location.
So it’s better to try another location if you don’t find the desired vehicle right away.
Do you know any other spawn points of Quad Crashers on the map?
If you prefer to travel with four people, the Golf Cart might be the better choice:
This is the new weekly task: “Eliminate opponents at three Expedition Outposts” is one of the tasks for week 4 of Season 7. Once you find these locations, the task is easily doable. But where are all the Outposts?
Map shows all Expedition Outposts in Fortnite
What are Expedition Outposts? These bases are spread across the entire map of Season 7. They are red container structures that you can find a total of seven times on the map. They also bear the symbol of the battle robot A.I.M.
This is what the Outposts look like.
Here you can find the Expedition Outposts: The following map shows all the locations where such a structure stands. Stick to it, and you will find the Outposts without any trouble.
How do I complete the task? You need to go to three of the Outposts and eliminate at least one opponent per Outpost. It’s enough to be nearby; you do not have to stand right next to it.
This task is particularly easy in modes that offer respawns. Then you can play more aggressively and potentially rack up multiple Outpost kills.
Prepare for a fight: Not only do you have to complete this task. Many other opponents will be waiting for you there and are eager to attack. After all, they also need to eliminate opponents.
What else awaits you in week 4 of Season 7?
Like every week, you can expect numerous tasks in week 4 of Season 7. If you complete them all, you can secure a secret star or a secret banner. This week, for example, you need to attack an opponent with a pickaxe or play with the airplane in different rounds.
We have also provided you with an overview this week that will help you with completing the tasks. In addition, individual guides for the tasks are available:
With Planetside Arena, a new online shooter awaits us, which offers many different game modes. Here, classes are also used that you play tactically.
You can play three classes with different skills in Planetside Arena, all of which are important in battles. Even in the Battle Royale mode.
Three Classes in the Shooter
These three classes are: In the online shooter, it is important that every player plays their role, as this gives you the best chance of winning. You choose from these classes:
Assault: The fighters can quickly dive into the fray with a jetpack and equally quickly flee. Additionally, they attach a “Defensive Spike” to the ground, which heals them and allies and inflicts damage on enemies. The Assault runs about 10 to 20 percent faster than the other classes.
Medic: Medics heal allies, for example with an area-of-effect skill. They can deploy a “Shield Regeneration Totem” that replenishes their shield. Furthermore, they revive allies faster and can open boxes more quickly.
Engineer: The Engineer can use a “Spitfire Turret” that attacks enemies in the vicinity. In addition, he creates a wall for protection.
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When does it start?Steam lists January 29, 2019, as the release date for Planetside Arena.
Can you play earlier? If you purchase the Sanctuary Assault Edition for currently around 17 Euros, you get access to the beta, as well as the season pass and a special armor for the Assault.
However, you can also get the Legendary Arena Edition for currently about 33 Euros. This offers you, in addition to the previously mentioned content, additional armors and items, as well as a founder title.
When does the beta start? A date for the test phase has not yet been announced. However, it should start in the upcoming weeks, early in 2019.
In Destiny 2, you can now obtain the third of four keys for the exotic quest from the Forge. In addition, the third secret Forge emblem has been discovered. We explain how to obtain both.
At the start of the first Forge (Volundr) of the Black Armory, Guardians discovered a mysterious chest. This is a quest item that rewards Guardians with the first exotic quest of the Black Armory. Now, the third key needed to open the chest is available.
How to Get the 3rd Key for the Exotic Quest of the Mysterious Chest
To open the butterfly lock on the chest, Destiny 2 now sends you to the Izanami Forge. First, you must unlock this third Forge – just like the two before it. Once you’ve done that, you can grab the 3rd key.
Here’s how to get the third key:
Start the Izanami Forge on Nessus.
You must successfully survive the first round.
Within the first 10 seconds of the second round, 2 drones will appear, surrounded by a blue shield. They are hard to miss if you look in the right places.
Turn towards the large wall behind the Forge. On the left side, the drone will appear by the column with a bluish light.
On the right side, you need to look at the pillar with a reddish light.
You must now take out these two drones. If you get both, a message “Maximum Hardness” will appear on the left screen.
Now you need to survive the second round of the Forge activity without dying.
Now you just have to finish the Forge. You don’t need to take out the boss for this.
At the end of the third round, a chest from the Black Armory spawns, from which you will receive the butterfly key.
Activate it in your inventory and the third lock will be opened. Only one lock remains to be opened.
How to Get the Third Secret Forge Emblem
In addition to the third key for the mysterious chest, unlocking the Izanami Forge has revealed more Forge secrets. It is now known how to obtain the third secret emblem of the Forge families – Meyrin’s Vision.
To obtain this emblem, you need the new legendary Forge bow “The Malicious Ripper.” You can get it through a weapon shape in the Izanami Forge. Then you go back to the Volundr Forge on Earth.
To unlock the third emblem, you must do the following:
First, kill all enemies to have some peace.
Now you must position yourself on certain symbols and then activate specific symbols with the bow by shooting at them.
First, stand on the butterfly symbol at the entrance of the Volundr Forge.
Shoot at the symbol with the three trees on the chest directly in front of you.
Now turn 180 degrees and shoot a piece of paper on a stalagmite protruding from the ground.
Now take a few steps towards the entrance of the Volundr Forge. There you will find a kind of sun or ray symbol on the ground. Stand on it.
Shoot at the heart symbol at the edge before you – twice.
Turn back around and shoot again at the three trees.
There is a symbol with two wings on the ceiling above you. Shoot at that now.
After that, you will receive the third secret emblem.
What can I do with the emblems? With the three emblems of the Forge, you can now activate three signals in the Volundr Forge. These are technical devices that you cannot interact with without the corresponding emblems.
Once all three signals are activated, a monitor with Nordic runes will activate in the Volundr Forge. This appears to be another step in solving the massive puzzle scattered throughout the Forge.
How exactly it continues is still unknown. However, the text roughly states, “Eyes trained beyond the end of dawn, a fourth flame will rise. Bring the acquired knowledge to the Raiders of Knowledge. Prepare yourselves.” Fans suspect this refers to the fourth Forge.
Video guide for the 3rd key and the 3rd emblem: You can watch how to obtain the butterfly key step by step, unlock the third emblem, and activate all three signals in this video by Venero TV:
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The entry into Dead by Daylight is currently particularly worthwhile on PC for several reasons.
Anyone looking to start Dead by Daylight and begin their career as a ruthless killer or a clever survivor should take note of the coming days. Because during the rest of 2018, there might not be a cheaper entry opportunity than now. The reason for this is a combination of several factors:
Double Bloodpoints:The entry into Dead by Daylight is tough. This is not only due to the learning curve but also because killers and survivors initially possess very few perks and those at a low level. Unlocking new perks costs bloodpoints, which must be earned in matches. From the evening of December 27 (around 8 PM) until January 3, there are double bloodpoints, which especially helps beginners to quickly obtain good perks. But of course, all other players benefit from it as well.
The game costs only €10: Dead by Daylight is currently drastically reduced in price, like many other games in the Steam Winter Sale. The base game is only €10 in the Steam store and many bundles and DLCs are also significantly reduced in price. However, the DLCs do not have to be purchased necessarily; rather, various survivors and killers can also be unlocked gradually – with the exception of a few licensed characters (Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, Leatherface, etc.).
Many newcomers are around: The fact that Dead by Daylight is also reduced in price at Christmas and part of the Steam Sale results in many new players. Since “good killers” can easily roll over fresh survivors, just as “good survivors” can drive a newbie killer to despair, many fresh players are a good thing. This is because it increases the chance that new killers face new survivors, creating a fair basic situation.
So if you want to take a look into Dead by Daylight (preferably with a few friends, as that makes it even more fun), you should tackle it now.
If you need more tips and tricks, our top lists of various perks provide good pointers:
In week 4 of Season 7 in Fortnite, you should search for the letters O, S, M, N, and the NOMS sign in Retail Row. We will show you the locations on this map. The task is: Find the letter O in the west of Pleasant Park.
What is it about? One of the new challenges from the Battle Pass in Fortnite: Battle Royale requires you to search for letters. In this article, we will show you where these letters are hidden on the Fortnite map. This way, you can easily complete the task and move on to the next challenges.
Finding NOMS letters in Fortnite – Week 4
The letter task in week 4 of Season 7 is divided into various sections. First, you should find four letters and then take a look at a sign.
Where should you search? In the Fortnite challenge, it says:
Phase 1: Find the letter “O” west of Pleasant Park
Phase 2: Find the letter “S” in Wailing Woods
Phase 3: Find the letter “M” in Dusty Divot
Phase 4: Find the letter “N” under a frozen lake
Final Phase: Find the NOMS sign in Retail Row
These descriptions are only rough. We have marked the locations on the map for you and will discuss them in detail below.
Phase 1: West of Pleasant Park, in grid square B4, you will find a single building south of the mountain. There is a pile of trash in front of it and behind it, under a covering, a green container. Next to the container, you will find the letter O.
Source: YouTube Hicko
Phase 2: In Wailing Woods, you will find a house directly underneath the lettering of the place on the map, which is surrounded by hedges in a square formation. Enter the garage and drop down. Now go under the gate and turn left. Go through a door and keep left. You will find an office with a green chair and computer. Open the door and look around the corner to the left. The S is lying on the ground.
Source: YouTube Hicko
Phase 3: The M is located in the southeast of the research base at Dusty Divot. One of the buildings on the ground, which is near the G5/G6 border, houses the letter. Enter the building and go right inside.
Source: YouTube Hicko
Phase 4: The frozen lake can be found at the snow biome. On the map, you will see a dark spot there. Break the ground to fall one level lower. The N is leaning against a corner of the room.
Source: YouTube Hicko
The NOMS Sign in Retail Row
Final Phase: You will find the sign at Retail Row. Head north to the buildings with black roofs. Enter the large building. On the front side, you will find the lettering that is hung on the wall. There is also lettering outside the building. You probably don’t have to go inside.
Source: YouTube Hicko
Video Guide: The screenshots of the individual letters come from the video by YouTuber Hicko, who shows every location of the challenge here.
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With these tips, you should be able to quickly complete the letter task. Perhaps you will also find some of the new gifts in Fortnite along the way. Now get to the other tasks of this week.
At the beginning of 2018, we introduced the major hopefuls in MMOs and MMORPGs for the coming year on MeinMMO. Now, at the end of 2018, we look back and ask: What has become of these games?
What are the “most promising new MMOs?” Every year at MeinMMO, we present the most promising hopefuls of a year. The MMOs and MMORPGs we expect the most from this year: Usually, this means that a beta or an alpha is supposed to start and that a new online game will become playable in some form.
The article will then be updated throughout the year and will be widely read.
Today, we ask ourselves: What did people think about the games back then, and what really became of them?
Bless – Things did not go so well
This is what people thought at the beginning of 2018: We thought the fantasy MMORPG Bless could, at best, become solid genre fare that finds a niche and entertains the hungry MMORPG fans with something new.
In the worst case, Bless would not find enough fans and quickly fade away.
This is how it really went: Bless launched in early access on May 30. However, it was early overshadowed by serious technical problems.
The MMORPG generated a lot of attention and MMORPG fans flocked to Bless. However, many were disappointed.
A shitstorm raged against Bless for weeks: Developers were accused of doing too little for the Western release. Some even spoke of a sham, a last attempt to make money with a game that had failed everywhere else.
Although Bless had been around for a long time on other markets, the game felt unfinished and could not meet the high expectations of many curious MMORPG players.
The developers later said that they had miscommunicated. Bless was an early access title, but players had expected a finished MMORPG.
From a peak in June 2018 with 27,613 active players simultaneously, only 2046 remained at the peak in recent days. And that for a Free2Play title.
While Bless has loyal fans who have found a new home here, praising, for example, the taming system and the general MMORPG features, many are not around anymore by the end of 2018.
Conclusion: Bless had a huge opportunity to shine in a dried-up MMORPG market in the West. Unfortunately, Bless could not capitalize on this opportunity.
The question arises whether the MMORPG has a future in this form. A team from Bandai Maco is working in the background on an Xbox One version “Bless Unleashed.”
Bless is the big loser among our most promising MMORPGs of 2018.
In Fortnite: Battle Royale, you can now complete the tasks and challenges from Week 4 in Season 7. The challenges are listed here with further guides.
Week 7 offers a lot of variety: After many generic tasks in Season 6, Season 7 brings back more variety. Week 4 of Season 7 is a good example, as most of the challenges are more than just “Go to X and eliminate Y”.
Free and Paid: As usual, you need the Battle Pass of Season 7 for all 7 challenges. It still costs 950 V-Bucks (9.50 Euros). Without the pass, you can only complete the three free tasks.
All Challenges from Week 4 in Season 7
Oops, unfortunately this table is no longer available.
Oops, unfortunately this table is no longer available.
Challenge 1 – Navigate using the X-4 Stormwing in different matches
Here’s how to complete the task: This task is easy to complete if you know where the planes are located. Luckily, you can find the locations in our guide to the planes here.
So make sure to land there quickly and grab a plane before others do. In the fight for the plane, you can also eliminate opponents with pickaxes.
Challenge 2 – Launch a Firework (hard, Battle Pass only)
Here’s how to complete the task: This task is not too difficult if you know where the sought objects are located. We will possibly link a further guide to the locations of chairs, wooden pallets, and wooden masts here.
Challenge 5 – Deal damage to enemies with the Pickaxe (Battle Pass only)
Here’s how to complete the task: This task is easy to complete if you start hacking right at the beginning of the game. Or you play a mode with respawn and happily hack through. It is also possible to complete the task by attacking a downed enemy with the pickaxe.
Challenge 6 – Eliminate opponents in Happy Hamlet or Pleasant Park (hard, Battle Pass only)
Here’s how to complete the task: This task is basically the only “normal” challenge this week. You should go to Happy Hamlet or Pleasant Park and eliminate opponents there. There’s not much more to say about it.
Challenge 7 – Search for Letters (hard, Battle Pass only)
Here’s how to complete the task: You need to find the four letters from the word “NOMS” at different locations and then visit the NOMS building in Retail Row at the end. Where to find the letters, you can find here in another guide.
Bonus Challenge – Find Holiday Trees and Dance in Front of Them
Although Hearthstone is an online game, only the solo mode appeals to me now. At least that’s the case for Cortyn.
Hearthstone is one of Blizzard’s games that is regularly supplied with a large amount of new content. After all, new expansions with 135 fresh cards are released roughly every 4 months. So, there’s always something new just a few weeks away. And yet, it hasn’t been the new cards that have made me log into Hearthstone regularly for a long time – it’s the solo modes like the Troll Arena or Monster Hunt.
I still remember well when Blizzard said that there would no longer be purely adventure-based content in Hearthstone. Instead, they would release several thematic expansions with many cards each year and also offer a free solo mode to support them.
The concerns within the community were significant back then. People assumed that the missions in Hearthstone would only be a small addition and would be “cheap” or “uninteresting.”
But the exact opposite has happened. The solo missions have become the best part of Hearthstone for me in the last expansions. I can play five or ten matches in a row and constantly try out a new deck, new tactics, or a new shrine.
On one hand, it’s great that the solo mode in Hearthstone gives me so much. On the other hand, it makes me sad that the rest of the game simply “doesn’t appeal to me anymore” and not even duels with friends really excite me.
“In the past,” I used to start farming quests weeks in advance, so that I would have 4000-5000 gold by the launch of an expansion to spend many hours in the arena and earn new decks. The appeal has completely disappeared now. More than 2-3 hours of arena playtime since the launch of Rastakhans Rumble, I’ve probably spent several times that in the solo mode.
If I’m not busy exploring the Troll Arena, then I play in standard mode with a random deck, where I just put Wurbelfitz the Wonderful into my deck. Because then I get one of several random decks that even correspond to current deck formulas and include cards from Rastakhans Rumble. Why spend money or arcane dust when I can play current decks with just one card from the last expansion?
I can’t even pinpoint exactly what bothers me so much. Maybe it’s the “same old” new appearance of cards, which now resembles an item spiral in MMORPGs. But just like in an MMO, the item spiral loses its appeal after a while, and you crave something fresh to shake up the whole game. Hearthstone could really use something like that right now.
I hope that eventually, a tournament mode or a “2vs2” mode that was considered years ago will be implemented. That would bring fresh air into the game, which the current expansions simply cannot deliver.
What are you currently playing in Hearthstone? Are you still climbing the ladder to become a “legendary” player? Or has your interest in the game also waned somewhat?
In Elite Dangerous, a lot has happened in 2018. Although not much concrete information about the plans for 2019 is known yet, many fans are already looking forward to the upcoming year, including our author Sven.
In addition to the Destiny series, there’s only one other big love in gaming for me – Elite Dangerous. I am particularly looking forward to the upcoming year. But what does 2019 hold?
This is why I love Elite Dangerous
Gameplay from Frontier: Elite II
This is how I got into Elite Dangerous: As a child and teenager, I spent countless hours in Frontier: Elite II and Frontier: First Encounters, exploring space. Today, there’s still hardly anything cooler for me than getting lost in the infinite expanses of the virtual universe.
Since 2014, there has been no path but the fourth installment of the Elite series for me, where I was a proud early backer. No other game allows me to unwind from daily life so effortlessly while having so much fun as Elite Dangerous.
This is what I enjoy the most in Elite Dangerous
This is how I earn my credits in Elite: I love exploring undiscovered spots in the galaxy that contain nearly 400 billion star systems.
The Beluga – one of many spaceships in Elite Dangerous
Additionally, I chauffeur wealthy VIPs from various mega-corporations on my over 200-meter-long space cruise ship, the Beluga Liner, from one interstellar sight to the next – for millions of credits.
By now, the recently revised mining has also become one of my favorite and most lucrative activities.
Overall, I love and appreciate the freedom that the game offers. You can choose to survive as a bounty hunter, trader, smuggler, merchant, or resource gatherer – Elite is what you make of it.
Exploring the universe offers unforgettable panoramas and moments
This is what makes Elite Dangerous special for me
Elite Dangerous has given me some of the most beautiful and memorable moments of my gaming life. I will never forget the feeling when the first system bears my name as the discoverer for everyone to see, my first visit to an asteroid space station, my first landing and drive on a planet, or the rescue operation by the Fuel Rats.
An encounter with the Thargoids
This is how the encounter with the Fuel Rats went: This rescue operation left a lasting impression: The Fuel Rats, a network of numerous selfless players, have made it their mission to help pilots who run out of fuel in the most remote parts of the galaxy and to rescue them from their misery – anytime and anywhere.
Some time ago, during my first steps as a discoverer in an uninhabited part of space, I ran out of fuel. There were no players around, no stations – just the infinite black void.
In panic, I searched Google for a solution and stumbled upon the aforementioned Fuel Rats. I contacted them through their website, and like an intergalactic emergency hotline, a friendly moderator accompanied me until my rescue.
The beginnings of the Fuel Rats nearly 3 years ago (Source: reddit user DerryBear)
I followed the instructions to shut down all systems, keeping only life support and my signal active. Soon after, my cockpit window froze, and the life support timer ticked down relentlessly. I had never felt such a suffocating and threatening feeling in a game before, as I did in that situation.
I truly felt alone and lost in the vastness of space. Only the moderator in the chat virtually held my sweaty hand. Just two minutes before certain death and the loss of my recently hard-earned ship, the long-awaited rescue finally arrived. A commander of the Fuel Rats had found me.
He greeted me warmly, refueled me, and guided me to the nearest space station, where he explained the basics of space exploration to me for over an hour. That night, thanks to him, I learned more about the explorer career and the game than during all my previous playtime.
This ship and I were saved by the Fuel Rats
This is why it’s worth taking a look through the VR headset: Another unforgettable moment for me was my first experience with a virtual reality headset in Elite Dangerous. It added the final touch to my great passion.
In my eyes, there’s currently nothing else on the gaming market that brings you closer to the stars than this experience. The Elite universe looks simply stunning in VR and elevates the gaming experience to a whole new level. Those who have the chance to try it in VR should definitely take advantage of it.
This experience is also the reason why a new computer with a VR headset and joystick setup is coming to my house at the beginning of 2019.
My commander at the start of his career
How Elite Dangerous changed in 2018
Here’s what has happened since the launch: Since the release in 2014, Elite Dangerous has been continuously improved and expanded over the years with numerous features such as planetary landings, passenger transport, multi-crew options, character creation, and the mysterious Thargoid aliens.
So also in the ongoing year 2018, where the now third season “Beyond” has continuously supplied the game with updates. Particularly with the last major update of the year in December, Elite Dangerous gained even more attractiveness for me and even Destiny 2 has been dethroned from my favorite games.
Multi-crew: Multiple players in one spaceship
Here are some highlights from the December update:
The game has received an overhauled lighting system. With the new light effects, the galaxy with its various planets and spaceships looks significantly better and more realistic.
Life as an explorer has become much more varied and complex thanks to new scanning and analysis modes. It now requires more than just a quick keystroke to perform a system scan and then move on.
The previously rudimentarily implemented mining, that is, resource extraction, has been significantly enhanced and has become one of my new favorite activities. There are now three new methods. For example, you can now hunt for explosives in asteroids with new tools, crack them open, and then collect the most valuable resources.
Additionally, the long-anticipated Squadron feature has come, allowing space pilots to form and organize in a sort of clan – with their own communication channels, leaderboards, and hierarchy structures.
Mining in Elite Dangerous
What can fans expect in 2019 in Elite Dangerous?
What we know about the coming year: Very little is currently known about Frontiers plans for 2019, i.e. Season 4.
However, David Braben, the head of Frontier Developments, recently stated that after the Beyond season, that is, in 2019, a lot of exciting things would be announced for Elite Dangerous. Some will be free, while others will be paid.
Frontier will transition from the current expansion model to large premium DLCs in 2019. For players, this means that instead of buying an expansion with multiple updates, they will be able to purchase individual large update packages separately.
What fans are waiting for: Planets with atmospheres and inhabited cities
Moreover, there are still some features that have already been announced or planned but have not yet made it into the game. Many fans hope that some of these will be coming in 2019.
Fans are expecting the following content for 2019:
Squadrons were supposed to receive their own large carrier ships this year, which they can use as mobile bases for their operations. However, this feature has been postponed and is expected as DLC in 2019.
Flight and landings on planets with an atmosphere have long been discussed and are eagerly requested by fans. Fans can hardly wait to land on Earth-like planets with flora and fauna and inhabited cities to explore.
The “Space Legs” are also among the most desired features and are expected by many fans in 2019. This refers to the ability to walk around your spaceship and space stations, as well as to leave your ship or exploration vehicle and move freely in space or on planet surfaces.
Concept art for Space Legs
However, please note: All these features are speculations and hopes of the fans. They have either been announced or taken up by Frontier, but there is no concrete date or further official information about them yet.
Numerous other features are planned as part of a “10-year plan” for Elite Dangerous. However, fans will likely have to wait longer than 2019 for features such as boarding other ships, first-person shooter-style combat, or procedurally generated cities on planets.
Should also come eventually: Combat in zero gravity
This is why I am looking forward to Elite Dangerous in 2019
Even if there is still little concrete information about 2019, I am very much looking forward to the upcoming year in Elite Dangerous and can hardly wait for the first official announcements.
In the past years, especially in 2018, Frontier has convinced me that they are working hard on the game and trying to implement all announced features as well as the wishes and criticisms of the fans.
If the features speculated by fans actually make it into the game, it could be a big year for Elite. With these mechanics, which all contribute to immersion, the game would take the next great step in its development and elevate the gaming experience to the next level.
Will we see scenes like this in-game in 2019?
In my opinion, Frontier has continuously managed to improve the game step by step. After numerous important milestones are in place, they still have great plans for the title, and I am very curious to see how Elite Dangerous will continue to evolve in 2019. Details shouldn’t take too long to arrive.
A passionate player created a graphic for the Blackout mode of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 to help you find the right assault rifle more easily.
In Blackout, the in-house battle royale mode of Black Ops 4, there are numerous weapons to take down enemies. Assault rifles are one of the most important and common weapon types. But how do the individual assault rifles perform? A new graphic illustrates the performance differences.
Performance of All Assault Rifles in Blackout – Graphical Overview
What does the graphic show? At what distances are assault rifles effective in Blackout? What damage do the individual weapons cause? And when does damage fall off? All of these are important questions that can be decisive for the individual weapon choice.
These questions have been answered by the Black Ops 4 fan and Redditor SonnyBeVapin in a custom graphic he presented on Reddit. A high-resolution version of a complete overview can be found here: Black Ops 4 Blackout Assault Rifle Graphic
The graphic utilizes a section from the Blackout world and illustrates how the individual assault rifles perform as distance increases through numerous reference points.
ICR-7
Maddox RFB
VAPR-XKG
SWAT RFT
KN-57
Rampart 17
Only the performance of the bare weapon is measured – without attachments and against targets without armor.
Specifically, it shows how much damage each weapon deals (red = maximum damage), when exactly the damage drop-off begins, and how the damage effectively reduces (the following values and colors).
What makes this graphic so special? The special thing is that players do not just see numbers that many cannot assign, but also helpful visual cues. This makes it much easier to understand a weapon’s performance and choose the best fitting one for their playstyle.
How to use the graphic properly: Keep in mind that the graphic is only meant as a guide for individual weapon choice. Do you prefer to fight at long or close range? Is the weapon you are using not designed for the distance?
The graphic shows the effective combat distances and when the weapon starts to do less damage. It does not take into account the fire rate, accuracy, or time to kill of the respective weapons.
For instance, the Rampart has a slightly higher distance at which it deals maximum damage than the Maddox. However, there are other factors to consider beyond just this distance. The Maddox has a much higher fire rate, almost equal to that of an SMG. On the other hand, the Rampart has one of the lowest fire rates of all assault rifles but deals significantly more damage at the same distance than the Maddox.
The graphic thus helps you weigh how the weapon functions and whether it suits your playstyle. Because fighting at long range with the Maddox is not particularly sensible, while the Rampart still deals more damage at the longest range despite damage drop-off than many of the assault rifles at optimal combat range.
Will there be more such graphics? As SonnyBeVapin explained on Reddit, more factors are to be considered in future versions – including damage with various attachments (suppressors, long barrels), damage against body armor, or the time to kill.
Such graphics for the other weapon types are also planned.
Is Cristiano Ronaldo the best player in FIFA 19? Not only the base values of the CR7 card say yes: No other player hits the net as consistently as Ronaldo.
This is what the goal statistics say: On the FIFA site futbin you can access the “Players Game Performance”. This statistic collects all kinds of data. For example, the total number of matches in which the football stars have been used by FIFA players, along with cards, assists, and of course goals.
The best striker in the game: Patrick Hoban?!
This player has the best goal ratio: Looking at the goal ratios, which is the average number of goals per game, a rather unknown name stands at the top: Patrick Hoban from Dundalk FC. The striker rated 76 in the first Irish league scores an average of 2.6 times per game – so is he the best attacker in the game?
This is why Hoban is not the most successful striker in FIFA 19: No, Patrick Hoban is not the best striker in the game. Because Hoban has only been used 1,467 times – this number is statistically negligible. Regularly used players tend to have several million uses. Most strikers who score more than one goal have not even been used 1000 times – only two strikers fall out of this statistic.
Ronaldo, the goal machine
This is the most successful striker in FIFA 19: The first of the two top strikers in FIFA 19 is the 94-rated Icon version of Ronaldo – the Brazilian Ronaldo. However, the striker has only been used 118,276 times in total. A number that is also small compared to the millions of uses of other players.
Often seen: Ronaldo celebrating a goal
Cristiano Ronaldo, in his base form, was used 2,696,025 times – scoring an average of 1.019 goals per game. No wonder that one starts to tremble immediately when the opponent has CR7 on their team: The Juventus Turin forward is hard to defend.
These are Ronaldo’s values
Ronaldo, the top player: This card should now be well-known to every FIFA player: The base card of Ronaldo excels in all areas (except perhaps in defense). It is no coincidence that Ronaldo was early on the number one in the Top 100 FIFA players.
The striker is dangerous in every situation: With Ronaldo, you can counter quickly, he wins most aerial duels, has perfect long shots in his repertoire, and is also a good choice for free kicks.
The fact that this Ronaldo card has the highest rating to date may be due to the fact that the Inform versions are significantly more expensive and thus less common. The base form is currently around 2,430,000 coins, while the Champions League card costs around 3 million. Such cards require an extremely high number of coins – with league SBCs you can at least save part of it.
How the other players perform
Who could pose a threat to Ronaldo? Are there any players currently who could match Ronaldo’s goal ratio? It doesn’t look like it at the moment. Gabriel Jesus, with currently just under 12,000,000 uses, is the attacker with the most matches, but has only a goal ratio of 0.56. The same applies to Kylian Mbappé, the fastest player in the game: 11.3 million uses, 0.55 goals per game.
This is Messi’s score: The eternal rival of Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, currently stands at about 3.6 million uses – so a good million more than Ronaldo, which may also be due to the price: Messi currently costs only one million. On average, Messi scores 0.74 goals. It is unlikely that this will suddenly increase. However, it is quite possible that Ronaldo’s score will worsen with more games.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
This amount of stardust in Pokémon GO is unbelievable! Brandon Tan, the player with the most XP, has now also collected an enormous amount of stardust.
What happened? The Pokémon GO player Brandon Tan from Singapore has finally reached his stardust goal after months of catching Pokémon. He has now cracked the unbelievable amount of 100 million stardust.
No player has possessed this much stardust at once before. At least not with photographic evidence. We will show you his journey to this point and reveal what he can now do with all that stardust.
100 million stardust after 2 years
Who is Brandon Tan? Brandon Tan is the player who has the most experience points in Pokémon GO. He has already earned over 700 million XP, which is by far the most. Some time ago, he made headlines after being banned for a month:
How long did he save up for the stardust? On Twitter, Brandon Tan mentioned that he has saved for over two years to finally possess this enormous amount of stardust.
For each Pokémon caught, you get 100 stardust without any bonuses. Based on this, Tan must have caught 1 million Pokémon.
How did Brandon Tan achieve this? Tan continuously walks around with a stardust bonus. This multiplies the stardust by 1.5. He also takes advantage of stardust events and plays there all day.
What can you do with the stardust now? On Twitter, Brandon Tan announced that he wants to invest his stardust now. Nevertheless, he wants to remain frugal and only level up Pokémon that are truly worth it.
If we assume that he levels up Pokémon that are at level 20, then he will need about 250,000 stardust. If he wants to use up all of his stardust, he could max out 400 Pokémon.
Whatever he wants to do with his stardust, he certainly won’t get bored with it.
Note: Before Brandon Tan reached this stardust milestone, the player “yama1989DD” had collected 100 million stardust. He was actually a few days faster than Brandon Tan.
