Black Desert has received a new update. There are now PVP battles in the MMORPG that are truly impressive, allowing 600 players to fight against each other simultaneously.
What kind of update is this? In Black Desert, one of the best MMORPGs currently, the “War of the Roses” has begun. It is a conflict consisting of massive PVP battles. The numbers are impressive: In these battles, 300 players fight against 300 enemies. In total, 600 players from Black Desert gather on the battlefield.
At its core, it is about the conquest of a castle. The attacking team must storm the opponents’ castle and defeat their commander – only then is victory assured. As a reward, there is the Crown of Roses. It serves as a symbol of victory and will soon be highly sought after.
How do the battles play out? When 600 players launch an attack against each other, there is a lot going on in the battlefield. The tactics are entirely up to the two parties. The attackers, who must storm the castle, can do so on foot and then challenge the enemies in close combat.
However, there are also new siege ships, as well as chariots, trolls, and elephants, which must first be unlocked at altars.
The update and these fights are clearly aimed at experienced players of Black Desert and not at newcomers. The AP (Attack Points) and DP (Defense Points) of the players must combine to at least 700. Only then will one qualify for the epic battle.
How do you participate? For the War of the Roses, interested players must apply. Either alone or in a guild. A lottery will follow; if you are unlucky, you will initially not gain access, but in the meantime, you will be placed on a waiting list.
Even if a team does not win, all players still receive monetary rewards. This way, a defeat doesn’t feel quite so bad.
The update was released on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. The first global competition is planned for Sunday, July 14, 2024. Are you experienced players who will participate? What do you think of the update? Feel free to let us know in the comments. Black Desert is celebrating 10 years with the community – we from MeinMMO spoke with the head about it.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Tutorials are supposed to teach new players something. In The First Descendant, a robot takes on this role, but it’s not very good at it.
What kind of robot is it? In The First Descendant, there is a robot in the tutorial named Descendant Instructor, who is supposed to introduce you to the basic mechanics of the game and a bit of the story.
However, the robot is not very good at dealing with new players. Instead of patiently explaining to the players what to do, it immediately presents them with their first task.
Here you can see the trailer for The First Descendant:
Start video
Looter-Shooter The First Descendant announces its release date in the trailer
Get ready to read
Why does the robot make it difficult for the players? The robot doesn’t really speak. It makes some noises, but players can interpret the content from the displayed text at the bottom of the screen.
The problem is not the text itself. It is correct and gives players an idea of what to do next. The issue is the speed at which the text appears and disappears.
Most players find it too fast, and anyone who takes even a second too long to read misses what has been said. Players can only help themselves by taking pictures of the text or recording it on video.
Someone on Reddit also complained about it and shared what the robot is actually trying to say:
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How do the players react to the speedrun robot? On Reddit, users are also complaining about the tin can. Renpsy writes there: “Yes…. it has some of the key information about the game mechanics, but it feels like it doesn’t want anyone to learn anything about it…”
NewFaded on Reddit agrees: “The most useful character that you should actually listen to is the only one that isn’t spoken by a voice.”
Vanrax writes on Reddit: “This dude is really testing my reading speed…” On Reddit, the user Easy-Stranger-12345 even refers to the robot as the: “Eminem of Ingris.”
Is this something new? The robot and its text displays have apparently been a problem in The First Descendant for some time. If you search for the Instructor in the game’s community support forum on Discord, you will find many entries. The earliest one is from September 21, 2023.
At the Pokémon GO Fest 2024, you can encounter all sorts of Shinys again. We have summarized which ones they are and where to find them.
During the GO Fest 2024, you can encounter some Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon GO. We have listed which ones they are and where you can find them.
Is the Shiny chance increased? If you have purchased a ticket for the GO Fest 2024, you will benefit from a generally increased chance of encountering Shiny Pokémon during the event.
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Start video
Heavenly teamwork in Pokémon GO – a new season begins
New Shiny Pokémon
Which new Shinys are there? With the global GO Fest 2024, a total of 4 Pokémon can appear in their Shiny forms for the first time. These include 3 Ultra Beasts and one legendary Pokémon.
Masskito
Schabelle
Voltriant
Necrozma
Additionally, further Shinys will be available at the global GO Fest 2024, which, while not entirely new, were only introduced with the local GO Fests 2024.
Emolga
Krabbox
Krawell
Piccolente
Swaroness
Shiny Pokémon in Raids
In the raids, you can find the following Shiny Pokémon at GO Fest 2024:
Level 1 Raids:
Pikachu with Moon Crown
Pikachu with Sun Crown
Miniras
Level 5 Raids:
Anego
Masskito
Schabelle
Voltriant
Kaguron
Katagami
Schlingking
Necrozma (on day 2 in the evening mane and morning wings form)
Shiny Pokémon in Habitats
On Saturday, you can encounter all sorts of Shiny Pokémon in the habitats. These Pokémon will also appear in the wild on Sunday, so you can meet them again here.
Habitat
Pokémon
Dusk Meadow
Taubsi Pikachu with Sun Crown Hoothoot Hoppspross Girafarig Wingull Serpifeu Waumboll Piccolente Kastadur Milza Galar-Flunschlik Furnifraß Iscalar
In addition to a generally increased Shiny chance, ticket holders can also encounter additional Pokémon during GO Fest 2024 that can appear as Shiny.
You can encounter these if you activate the item incense. They include the following:
Icognito A
Icognito D
Icognito G
Icognito H
Icognito I
Icognito N
Icognito T
Icognito Y
Corasonn
Wuffels
Skallyk
Are there any shiny specimens at GO Fest 2024 that you are particularly looking forward to? If so, which ones are they and which do you like the most? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments and interact here with other trainers. All information about the GO Fest 2024 can be found here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Twitch streamer Maximilian “HandOfBlood” Knabe is a passionate fan of the card game Magic: The Gathering. At MagicCon 2024, he treated himself to a very special souvenir: the legendary Black Lotus.
Which card is it about? The Twitch streamer Maximilian “HandOfBlood” Knabe secured one of the most famous collectible cards from Magic: The Gathering at MagicCon 2024 in Amsterdam: the legendary Black Lotus.
What makes the card so special? The Black Lotus is one of the oldest Magic cards and comes from a time when “balancing” was still a foreign concept. The card’s ability allows players to perform powerful moves much earlier than usual. Therefore, the card is banned in all competitive formats except for “Vintage.”
However, the Black Lotus is not only overpowered but also incredibly rare: it was printed only in the first 3 sets of Magic: The Gathering and is on the so-called “Reserved List”: With these cards, WotC commits to never printing them again in their original form to preserve their collectible value.
This combination makes the Black Lotus an extremely valuable rarity, for which collectors might pay half a million. The emphasis here is on “collectors”: actually, one proudly displays the card and does not play with it – unless you are HandOfBlood.
Start video
HandOfBlood: The most important thing about the YouTuber and Twitch streamer in under a minute
HandOfBlood did not take the decision lightly
How did Hänno get to the expensive card? As HandOfBlood reported in his stream after MagicCon, the Black Lotus was sold on site by several dealers. A card from the Beta set of 1993 with the artist’s signature was offered for about 49,000 dollars.
However, the Twitch streamer did not want to spend that much: HandOfBlood explains that he has never spent much money on the hobby, even though he has been a Magic fan for 25 years. In the past, he lacked pocket money, and as an adult, he intentionally buys used cards.
He says he was even really ashamed to consider buying such an expensive card.
In the end, however, the idea of using the Black Lotus in a game and seeing the shocked faces of his opponents prevailed. The streamer explains why one usually does not do that: Every time you touch it, it loses value.
The big moment
How much did he end up spending? In the end, HandOfBlood paid 2,500 euros for an “International Collector’s Edition” version of the Black Lotus. This is a version of the card not allowed in official games, which is less interesting for “true” collectors.
HandOfBlood tells the whole story here:
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And did he really play it? Yes, as HandOfBlood reports, he secretly put the Black Lotus into his Commander deck for a round against his friends to not spoil the big moment.
When the streamer actually had his treasure in his starting hand and could play it in his first round, the moment was perfect. HandOfBlood says his friends’ reactions were exactly as he had imagined: everyone was shocked for 20 seconds, including himself, nobody said anything – then everyone laughed.
For this memory alone, the purchase seems to have been worth it. Additionally, HandOfBlood now has a very special memento from MagicCon 2024 – and the card is also a good investment.
In The First Descendant, a “rare” weapon is currently considered a damage monster and a favorite among many players.
What kind of weapon is this? One of the currently best weapons in the game is the submachine gun “Tamer” (English: Tamer). It is celebrated by players for its extremely high base damage values and is a community favorite.
The special thing about the submachine gun is the rarity level, as it is only “rare”. As a rare rifle, the Tamer appears rather inconspicuous compared to the Ultimate weapons, as it can be found relatively frequently in the world of The First Descendant.
One would actually assume that the significantly more elaborate Ultimate weapons would be at the top of the DPS kings since they are comparable to the Exotics from Destiny and have special perks. Nevertheless, the Tamer is currently the first choice in boss fights.
Start video
Looter-Shooter The First Descendant announces its release date in the trailer
What makes the weapon so strong? The submachine gun is so strong due to a few extremely simple facts:
the Tamer is only rare and therefore quickly farmable and upgradable
it really causes an exceptionally high damage per second
since it is a submachine gun, you have plenty of ammo available before you need to reload
The Tamer uses regular ammunition that you frequently pick up while playing. This means you rarely run out of ammunition
So you can whip out the Tamer in a boss fight, empty the entire magazine into a boss – this can take several seconds – and watch the boss’s health bar melt away.
Does the weapon have any disadvantages? Yes, as a submachine gun, the Tamer is very heavy and significantly limits your mobility. You will particularly feel this when you aim at an enemy – fast movement becomes a thing of the past.
This is even true if you play a nimble descendant like Bunny. You stand nearly still in one spot and fire at the boss like a stationary turret. This can quickly backfire with descendants who have low health points or low defense if you do not keep an eye on your own health bar.
Which descendants is the weapon particularly suitable for? The Tamer is particularly well-suited for Ajax based on the limited mobility, as he can protect himself with a shield while shooting as a tank. Alternatively, it is also helpful to simply have an Ajax in the team.
Additionally, descendants like Freyna or Gley are suitable. Freyna can fire her DoT poison attacks and then focus on shooting the enemy. Gley, on the other hand, has abilities that further boost her weapon damage and allow her to regenerate health points by dealing damage.
Which modules are worth it? You want to further improve damage per second. Since the rate of fire of the Tamer is not the highest, an appropriate module is advisable. Additionally, you want to enhance the firearm attack. You could use, for example, these two modules:
Enhanced Spin – increases firearm ATT
Increase Rate of Fire – increases rate of fire
Since submachine guns generally have a low chance of critical hits, it really isn’t worth using modules that affect critical damage. Even if you increase the rate, it is still very low.
What do players say about the weapon? The Reddit user “Thor_Thanos333” asked on the social network whether a Tamer with a good roll can outperform an ultimate submachine gun in damage per second. He posted a picture of a Tamer that deals over 167,000 damage per second.
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In the comments of the post, players clearly express how strong they think the submachine gun is:
Gluten-free Vape: “Tamer goes crazy, that’s all I use.”
Teyo13: “It’s too good not to use.”
The Tamer submachine gun is also recommended in posts on Reddit, where players discuss the best weapons. For instance, SherpaGoolsbee writes: “Tamer is currently an outlier and is OP.”
In Zenless Zone Zero, the new action game from the makers of Genshin Impact, there are many characters that you can obtain through the gacha system. Some can be earned more easily at the start. We at MeinMMO will show you which S-rank agents are the best in the standard banner.
The agents in Zenless Zone Zero are divided into ranks, which give you an indication of their strength. An S-rank character in this game is essentially equivalent to a 5-star character from Honkai: Star Rail or Genshin Impact. You mainly obtain agents through the gacha system, where you can pull for one of your favorites.
At the start of your journey, Zenless Zone Zero gives you the opportunity to more easily and quickly receive your first S-rank characters from the standard banner.
What support is available at the start? After guaranteeing 50 signal searches (instead of 90) in the standard banner, you will receive a random S-rank character. If you pull 300 times in the standard banner, you will get another S-rank character, this time not random, but you can choose your favorite.
Start video
Zenless Zone Zero: New game from the creators of ‘Genshin Impact’ focuses on Cyberpunk instead of Fantasy – Trailer
How does pulling from the standard banner work?To pull from the standard banner in Zenless Zone Zero, you need the in-game currency Master Cassette.
Here is an overview of how the system works and how you can make the most of it:
1 Master Cassette = 1 pull
At the start, you receive a 20% discount for ten-pulls, and this lasts for a total of five times. This means that for five ten-pulls, you only need 40 Master Cassette instead of the usual 50.
Due to the discount, you should currently focus on ten-pulls rather than single pulls. This way, you save Master Cassette.
We will show you the 4 best S-rank agents from the standard banner, with whom you really can’t go wrong. We based this on our own tier list and on lists from GameSpot, GameRant, and TheGamer.
Rank 4 – Nekomata – S-Tier
Specialty: Attack
Attribute: Physical
Faction: Cunning Hares
What makes Nekomata so good? Nekomata is a physical damage agent with a high crit rate. Her kit aims to eliminate enemies with fast, strong hits and high crit damage.
She does not provide buffs for the team, but instead provides a lot for herself. She can buff herself by increasing her own damage, for example, through successful dodge counters. Nekomata is perfect for those who love a fast playstyle and high damage numbers.
Rank 3 – Grace – S-Tier
Specialty: Anomaly
Attribute: Electro
Faction: Belobog
What makes Grace so good? Grace’s abilities are overall very strong. She throws grenades that deal area damage (AoE) to the enemies. Furthermore, she is extremely mobile and agile. Her attack animations range from jumps to flips.
Grace can quickly put her opponents into a state of shock, gather her own attribute anomalies, and enhance the performance of other electro agents. Together with Rina, she forms an ideal electro duo. Her talents like Recharge Chamber and Lightning Pierce strengthen the team and reduce the enemies’ resistance to electro damage.
Rank 2 – Rina – S-Tier
Specialty: Support
Attribute: Electro
Faction: Victoria Housekeeping Co.
What makes Rina so good? With Rina, you have a true supporter on your team who also has a high range with her abilities. She is very mobile and buffs her teammates – among other things, she increases the damage dealt. With her additional ability, she enhances the electro damage of her allies. When she calls her two companions Drusilla and Anastella, and they attack, she increases the group’s penetration (up to 30%). The buff ends when the two companions return to Rina.
The penetration buff is beneficial for all characters, making her one of the best supporters in the game. With her ultimate ability, she can also push enemies away if they get too close to her.
Rank 1- Lycaon – S-Tier
Specialty: Stun
Attribute: Ice
Faction: Victoria Housekeeping Co.
What makes Lycaon so good? Lycaon is considered one of the best characters in ZZZ. With his fast attacks, he can stun opponents one after another, allowing your team to deal significant damage in the meantime. The hits can also be charged up.
Overall, he is an all-round talent who serves well as a second DPS agent, brings good support skills, and can take a hit. Ideally, he is played alongside other ice agents to fully unleash his potential – for instance, with Ellen.
That was our list of the 4 best S-rank characters that you can pull from the standard banner. Overall, it is difficult to say which agent is the best choice for you, as it also depends on your preferences and your other team members. Which character is your favorite? Feel free to let us know in the comments. In our tier list, you can see how the other characters rank.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The First Descendant has successfully launched on Steam and consoles, but can the different platforms play together?
Does The First Descendant have crossplay? Yes, The First Descendant has crossplay, which is enabled by default. This means you can play with players on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, or PC regardless of your platform.
However, there is no way to turn off crossplay in The First Descendant. If you don’t want to utilize the feature and play with players from other platforms, unfortunately, you’re out of luck here.
However, you can set your session to “private” before joining an area, thus excluding all other players you do not invite yourself – even from the same platform.
Start video
Looter-Shooter The First Descendant announces its release date in the trailer
Does The First Descendant have cross-progression? Yes, in addition to crossplay, this loot shooter also features cross-platform progression.
This means you can start a save on PS5 and continue your progress on PC at any time if you own both platforms. You do not have to start over on the other platform.
Since The First Descendant is free-to-play, there is nothing stopping you from playing on different platforms.
The First Descendant: Inviting Friends
How can you play with your friends? If you want to play with friends who may also be on different platforms and cannot be invited via Steam, you need a Nexon account.
Once you’ve created this, you can send a friend request or a group invitation to players in the social tab of the menu. You can find the social tab in the menu right next to the tab for the map and the quest overview.
In the social tab, you can either select players who are locally near you – for example, also in Albion – or search for friends by their player ID. The player ID consists of the in-game name and a four-digit number.
One of the most requested games on Steam has been released. Once Human was regarded as a hope in the survival genre. The initial reviews are mixed and not free from criticism. However, the developers have already resolved one problem shortly after release.
How did Once Human start? The survival game launched on July 9, 2024, on Steam. It is free and was considered a beacon of hope, especially among disappointed fans of The Day Before. Recently, it was among the most wish-listed games on Steam. The demo during the Steam Next Fest 2024 was a complete success.
Current user reviews, however, are far from enthusiastic. On Steam, the game currently holds a “mixed” rating, with around 5400 people voting.
Players have several points of criticism. Besides server issues, lags, waiting times, and shop prices, another important aspect was at the center of the criticism.
Start video
Im Survival-Spiel Once Human müsst ihr zusammenarbeiten
The developers have listened to the feedback
What did the players criticize? Many were bothered by the fact that Once Human restricts players to one character. Those who enjoy starting multiple save files were disappointed. Additionally, it was not possible to switch servers.
The developers heard this criticism and quickly addressed it. Just one hour after the release of Once Human, the feature to create multiple characters was added to the game.
According to Starry Studio, the developer, the creation of multiple characters was originally planned for August 1, 2024, as part of an update.
The feature had not yet been perfected, and they thought they needed more time. The plan backfired because many players were frustrated with the restriction.
What are the reactions of the players? On Reddit, the developers’ update was shared and received immediate comments from players. Most are pleased with the change.
The change is well-received, but some questions remain. The user rektw asks whether it is now possible to delete characters. The community’s response is: still not possible. The same applies to the servers: Only one character per server is allowed.
Some players criticize the communication from the developers and their spontaneous decisions. The user Rothguard writes: “With almost every turn in this game development, there has been suboptimal communication, and absolutely terrible decisions have been made and then reversed.”
The coming days and weeks will show how Once Human fares against the competition. And whether the developers will quickly resolve other technical issues. The players’ feedback has already made a significant impact in this case. If you don’t like Once Human, you might find enjoyment in one of the 25 best survival games for Steam, PS5, and Xbox.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Star Wars is one of the greatest franchises in film history. Many characters and moments have burned themselves into the memory of the fans. Most of this is probably due to Darth Vader, but George Lucas describes him as a tragic figure.
What did Lucas say about Darth Vader? In an interview with the Rolling Stone magazine, Lucas spoke in 2005, nearly 30 years after the release of Episode 4, about Darth Vader. This was during the context of Episode 3, marking the end of the trilogy that showed us how Darth Vader came to be.
First, he describes the difficulty of making Darth Vader scary without showing his face. Despite his appearance, Lucas states that what makes him frightening is not just the exterior, but the horrific deeds he commits.
The first time Darth Vader could be seen was in 1977:
Start video
Star Wars Episode IV – Trailer for the download version
“Vader had a really sad life”
Lucas ironically describes Vader as a pathetic guy who had a really sad life. Vader is, in essence, like all of us, a person who just has some complexes.
The special thing about Vader back then was that in the first film, no one knew what his backstory was. He appeared like an emotionless robot, especially with his slow movements and iconic breathing. Only with the subsequent films was his character developed.
In the first film, people didn’t even know if there was actually a person. […] They thought he was a monster or some kind of robot. In the second film, it’s revealed that he is a human, and in the third film, we learn that he is actually a father.
In the interview, Lucas talks about how despite Vader’s presence, he is not the great ruler of the universe; he is under the Emperor. Interestingly, he also mentions that Darth Vader would have had a chance in the fight if Obi-Wan hadn’t cut off his limbs.
George Lucas also explained in the interview why so many people like villains. He says that people like them because they are powerful and do not care about rules. A film aimed at young people should show what happens when one behaves this way. Therefore, compassion should be shown. George Lucas invented Star Wars, but he does not think much of the expanded universe: George Lucas never brought one of the best characters from Star Wars to the cinema
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A new star on the smartphone horizon fights its way through the giants: Get the alternative to Xiaomi and Samsung at a top price on Amazon now.
It is repeatedly shown that strong quality cannot be measured by an extremely high price. The Realme GT6 smartphone is extraordinarily powerful and does not have to hide behind high-end phones costing over €1000. It not only has a monstrous battery but also surpasses in many ways the price-performance ratio compared to other phones on the market.
Finally, the GT 6 from Realme is on the market and stands out as a new leader in the smartphone sector. Equipped with a powerful Snapdragon chip, an impressive camera, an ultra-bright display, and a battery that outshines most other phones, it sets new technology standards.
Smartphone competition with phenomenal components
The Realme GT 6 is powered by the powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, which ranks among the top chips on the market and effortlessly handles any game or app. With an impressive Antutu score of over 1,650,000 points, the GT 6 sets new standards in its class.
Thanks to the impressive specifications of up to 16GB RAM and 512GB storage with the Realme GT 6, you are not just well equipped but outstandingly equipped. This makes the phone particularly future-proof and ready for all demands.
Remarkable features – 120Hz AMOLED and 512GB storage
With the Sony LYT-808 OIS camera and a large 1/1.4” sensor, outstanding snapshots are possible, even in low light conditions.
Take dream holiday photos and never forget the wonderful memories you capture with your friends, partner, or family. The quality is so unbelievably good that this smartphone truly stands out among the high-end giants.
Mid-range competes steadfastly against high-end
A monstrous battery
The battery of the Realme GT 6 with 5500mAh is significantly larger than that of the competition. With the 120W SUPERVOOC charging function, the phone can be charged to 50% in just 10 minutes. This legendary charging speed is achieved by using gallium nitride technology, providing efficient heat dissipation and excellent charging performance.
The highlight is the display
An ultra-brightness of up to 6000 Nits speaks for itself and makes this the world’s brightest display phone. Moreover, the grand performance is further enhanced by a refresh rate of 120Hz and a size of 6.78 inches. A 10-bit color depth additionally ensures immense quality. Recognize crystal clear the most beautiful video recordings of your holiday or follow your favorite content creators like never before.
Are you always on the hunt for fantastic offers? Then take a look at our Deals page. You will not only find strong components like SSDs with a lot of storage and graphics cards. Occasionally, there are also huge TVs with great technologies or merchandise from various games, series, or movies.
Links marked with a shopping cart are so-called affiliate links. When purchasing through these links, we receive a small commission depending on the provider – without affecting the price.More info.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, you can still overlook quite a bit even after the 10th playthrough. The community reveals what they found only late.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a pretty big game, where you can spend well over 100 hours before finishing the first playthrough. However, how much time you actually need also depends on how thoroughly you explore the world, how many side quests you undertake, or what decisions you make.
However, some content is really well hidden and escapes players even during repeated forays through the game world. The community reveals which content they found only after many hundreds of hours.
Start video
Baldur’s Gate 3 is coming to PS5 – Trailer prepares for console release
What was said? In the post “Things You Missed That Make You Facepalm Yourself” in the Baldur’s Gate 3 subreddit, LateManager4706 reports that he only found the hidden stash of the Zhentarim in Act 1 after 7 complete playthroughs. Previously, he had always just walked past the barn that conceals the entrance.
This revelation led many other players to share and – sometimes a bit embarrassed – confess which content they missed every time and in some cases only found by reading guides.
What have other players revealed? Some of the most interesting revelations are:
“Three playthroughs and I have never found the spell to summon a shovel.” – TroppyPop
The shovel is a quasit that you can get as a permanent companion in the game. For that, you need to go under the alchemy hut in the destroyed village in Act 1 and loot the scroll from one of the coffins. However, you should not just use the scroll, but instead have Gale “learn” it permanently – then you get the quasit Shovel, who likes to chatter a bit.
“My friend somehow missed Lae’zel in the first playthrough. He even went out of his way to look for her. I am still completely shocked how that can happen.” – SeamusMcCullagh
Almost all companions can be found relatively easily in Act 1 if you uncover the whole map. But especially Lae’zel and Astarion can be completely overlooked if you skip small areas. This means that you’ll never meet these companions – and thus miss out on a lot of content.
“I missed the entire mountain pass in my first playthrough. I went through the Underdark first and then entered Act 2. Then I found the mountain pass entrance, but since the game warns you that going back could have consequences, I decided to finish “most” of Act 2 first. I didn’t know there was a point of no return in Act 2.” – TheTimorie
The mountain pass and the monastery are an entire area. The game presents this as an “either/or” option – but you can go both paths at the same time. In the mountain pass, there isn’t just the strong weapon “Blood of Lathander”, but also a lot of story regarding Lae’zel and maybe even a chance to remove the larva from your head…
“You can free the fairy in the moon lantern and get a buff for it…” -LadyDulcinea
You need the moon lantern to navigate through the areas of the Shadow Curse in Act 2. The problem: The lamp constantly complains because the trapped fairy inside is not happy with her captivity. However, you can free the fairy. Then she keeps quiet and gives the whole group a buff, allowing them to walk around without the lantern – which is much more pleasant since you can have both hands free again.
Are there any contents that you only found on subsequent playthroughs and that you always overlooked? Is there perhaps something from the article that you didn’t know? Or were you so meticulous in your search that you found everything in the first playthrough? The makers of Baldur’s Gate 3 are already working on a new game, by the way.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Many players can only laugh wearily about the once worst enemy in Diablo 4. But in Season 5, the Butcher will surprise you in the new endgame activity – and he looks even more terrifying.
Which enemy are we talking about? The Butcher is a boss who can surprise you randomly in any dungeon. You will notice this at the latest by the pounding footsteps and the exclamation “Ah, Fresh Meat!” when he comes running at you.
Especially new players feared the Butcher, who makes life difficult for them in the dungeons of Sanctuary. However, others could only laugh wearily about the once so deadly enemy and called for a buff. However, one should be cautious with such wishes, as is well known.
However, a new version of the 28-year-old boss has appeared on the PTR (public test server) for Season 5: the “Burning Butcher” – a “burning” variant of the Butcher. The Diablo expert wudijo encountered him in a new endgame activity. Spoiler: It did not end well.
Start video
Diablo 4 Season 4 “Loot Reborn” in the gameplay trailer
The “Burning” Butcher Means Business
From June 25 to July 2, the PTR for Season 5 in Diablo 4 ran. During this time, numerous players tested the new content. The Diablo expert wudijo ventured into the “Infernal Hordes” – the new endgame activity, where players fight against hordes of monsters.
His huntress was surprised at level 100 by the “Burning Butcher” and was dead within seconds. The frustrating thing is: wudijo plays Hardcore, so the death of his huntress is permanent.
He transferred his character from Season 4 to the PTR, as it had been well-equipped. With that build, he wanted to test the new endgame content. However, an attack that cost his huntress her life had not been displayed. He lost his character to the Butcher.
What kind of rework does the Butcher get? After a few seconds, you can hear in wudijo’s YouTube video the Butcher’s “Fresh Meat!” cry. However, the “Burning Butcher” appears on the scene here. He looks even more terrifying because: He has more horns on his head and cracks on his back that resemble glowing lava.
At second 11, you can see the Butcher briefly on screen:
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How dangerous is the “new” Butcher? In the video, wudijo fights opponents at level 200, including the “Burning Butcher”. One of his attacks one-shots the Diablo expert’s huntress, and since she was apparently “invisible”, he could not dodge. How dangerous the Butcher’s variant that surprises you in the Infernal Hordes really is, will be revealed starting August 6 in Season 5.
The Diablo content creator “Rizarjay” also encountered the burning Butcher. However, it was the other way around here: The player killed the Butcher within seconds. He argued in the comments of the YouTube video that the Butcher, like his Barbarian, was level 100 and that his character was well-equipped.
Some laugh at the Butcher, while others fear the overpowering enemy. In Season 4, he was only laughed off wearily by many players, but one of them had to experience firsthand that one should not underestimate the Butcher. The toughest enemy in Diablo 4 became a laughingstock – now he is taking bitter revenge. And this is particularly frustrating when you realize this at level 99.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On Steam, a new game has been announced that is inspired by a popular toy from the 90s. This concept is already quite well received on Kickstarter.
What game are we talking about? Tiny Garden is a game from the Spanish indie developer studio Ao Norte. The concept of the game is inspired by a popular children’s toy that could especially excite children of the 90s.
The developers are currently raising funds through Kickstarter to secure future financing for the project.
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Tiny Garden convinces with a simple concept
The concept of Tiny Garden seems to be simple. Within a small plastic toy, which is clearly inspired by Polly Pocket from the 90s, you take care of your own little garden, plant various things, and then sell your harvest.
The “plastic look” fits the nostalgic concept
With the proceeds, you can buy new furniture with which you can then decorate the rooms in the upper part of the toy according to your ideas. Everything is graphically designed in a colorful and cute style, which somehow fits the whole concept. Above all, everything has that “plastic look”, which gives you the feeling that you are actually playing with an old toy from your childhood.
The game is supposed to be released on Steam and the Nintendo Switch. However, there is not yet a specific release date.
How is it being received? Currently, the project is still raising funds on Kickstarter for further financing. And on Kickstarter, the cute farming game seems to be quite well received.
The developers have set an initial goal of €5,000. Thanks to now 1,081 supporters, they have already raised over €22,000 (as of July 10, 2024, 2:00 PM). Thus, the indie studio has already achieved 400% of its goal.
The final boss of Elden Ring is a tough guy. His attacks are unfair, and with standard builds, the fight is very difficult. A player has now introduced a build that makes the fight so easy that you can even humiliate the boss.
What kind of build is this? A player on Reddit sat down and assembled a powerful build that is supposed to help you in the fight against the final boss of the “Elden Ring” DLC. The build relies on the weapon “Great Stars” and the Ash of War: Wild Strikes. Combined with heavy armor and many consumables, you will become a tank that cannot die.
Radahn is a nimble guy in the DLC, and many players try to dodge his attacks, but sometimes the best defense is a good offense. With this build, you don’t even have to dodge. You can take every hit without being knocked down and even regenerate your HP while doing so. If you’re interested in this build, we will now show you all the details and what you need for it.
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Elden Ring: All weapons and spells from the echoes of the DLC bosses
Swing your way to victory – Here’s what you need
What do you need for the build? To build the build, you will need the following weapons, armor, and items:
Armor:
Greenbriar Set
Weapons:
Great Stars +25 with the Ash of War: Wild Strikes
A dagger with the Ash of War: Persistence
A shield with the Ash of War: Sacred Ground
Talisman 1: Dragon Greatshield Talisman
Talisman 2: Pearl Dragon Talisman +3
Talisman 3: Cloth of the God-Slayer
Talisman 4: Decaying Winged Sword Insignia
Consumables:
Rune Arc to activate Malenia’s Rune
Starry Splitter to regenerate FP
Flask of Wondrous Physick with Opalescent Hardened Tear and Cracked Crimson Tear
Iron Vessel Aromatic
Buffs:
Golden Oath
Bestial Vitality
How to level up (Vagabond at level 150)
Strength: 45
Mind: 20
Endurance: 30
Power: 80
Dexterity: 13
Wisdom: 9
Faith: 25
Arcane Power: 7
With a strong Blood Build, Radahn can also be easily defeated:
How does the build work? Once you have entered the fight, use the following rotation:
Buff yourself with Golden Oath and Bestial Vitality
Activate your Ash of War on your shield
Activate your Ash of War on your dagger
Consume the Starry Splitter, your Iron Vessel Aromatic, and the Physick
Now stand on the Sacred Ground and use the Ash of War of your Great Hammer to pound on Radahn. With the hammer’s bleeding effect, Radahn should quickly transition into the second phase. Now use your shield and dagger again and refresh your Iron Vessel Aromatic if necessary.
Now repeat the process and keep using the Ash of War: Wild Strikes on Radahn. If the strikes don’t kill him, the bleeding will do the job. How did you find the build? Have you been able to defeat Radahn yet? Let us know in the comments! Elden Ring: How to easily defeat Messmer and get his rewards
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Last Epoch has lost almost all of its players since its launch at the end of February. However, with a new update, the game is making a comeback.
What is the status of Last Epoch? The Diablo 4 competitor has lost almost all of its players since its release. Only about 4,000 players remained loyal to the game recently. However, the ARPG managed to achieve a surprising success overnight.
Here you can watch the trailer for the new update:
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With patch 1.1, Last Epoch brings new bosses, factions, and more
New Update Creates Hype
Why are players returning? On July 9, Update 1.1 was released for Last Epoch. The update includes a lot of new content and a new season that allows for a fresh start in the game. 70,000 players experienced the start of the new season on Steam.
The update “Harbingers of Ruin” introduces a dodge ability for all classes, aimed at increasing mobility. In addition to the new ability, the update also includes many balance changes to classes as well as to enemies in the game.
A new system called Nemesis is also now in the game. You will encounter random encounters in the campaign, in the Monolith, and in dungeons.
Nemesis can also drop weapons that target the characters that killed them. The defenses of the bosses have also been revised to make it clearer how much damage a boss takes.
How are players finding the new update? Players are finding the new update to be good. The content brought by the new update comes from player feedback and seems to resonate for that reason (via PCGamesN).
On Reddit, Greaterdivinity writes: “I played a bit this morning and at noon, and it was nice and smooth. No queues, no DCs, no lag or jank. Admittedly, there isn’t a massive influx of players this time, but great job to EHG for the big improvements between 1.0 and 1.1 launch!”
Toadsted still criticizes on Reddit: “The game still doesn’t emit a sound or flash the chat window when receiving a private message. It’s really tiring when messages from friends get lost in global chat or during gameplay.”
LightDarkCloud shares on Reddit why he likes the game: “It’s really a great game, not as dumb as D4 and not as PHD-level complex as POE. The combat could be a bit smoother and the endgame could use more content, but people seem to forget that we’re at 1.1, and considering how early it is in the game’s lifespan, this is a great piece of software.”
In order to make the most of the Pokémon GO Fest 2024, you should prepare accordingly. We have summarized how you can do this best.
What kind of event is this? The GO Fest 2024 is the biggest event of the year in Pokémon GO and brings you all kinds of content that you can enjoy with or without a ticket. To make the most of the event, you should prepare accordingly. We will show you how to do this at MeinMMO.
When does the GO Fest 2024 take place? It takes place from Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 10:00 AM to Sunday, July 14, 2024, at 6:00 PM.
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Heavenly teamwork in Pokémon GO – a new season begins
1. Prepare items
Why is this important? During the GO Fest, there are many Pokémon to catch. To concentrate on this, you should ideally fill your item bag before the event.
While there are items that you can easily discard when your inventory is full, there are other items that you should collect sufficiently.
Poké Balls: The most important item for catching Pokémon are the balls. Collect enough of these so that you don’t have to let any Pokémon escape. Prioritize collecting Hyper and Ultra Balls, as these are more effective than regular Poké Balls. This is how you get balls in Pokémon GO.
Poké, Super, and Hyper Balls
Lures and Incense: Lures and incense ensure that you encounter more Pokémon. If you have purchased the ticket for the GO Fest 2024, there are even Pokémon that you can only attract with incense.
Additionally, the duration of lures during the event is one hour instead of the regular 30 minutes. This bonus applies to you regardless of whether you purchased the ticket or not.
Berries: By using berries, you can increase the candies you get while catching or increase the chance of catching a Pokémon. Therefore, you should collect enough berries in your item bag.
The most important berries are the Raspberry, Golden Razz Berry, and Silver Razz Berry.
Raid Passes: At the GO Fest 2024, various Pokémon are available in raids that you can defeat and catch. This includes, for example, the Ultra Beasts. To participate in the raids, you need raid passes.
Therefore, you should also have these in your inventory to make the most of the event. Ticket holders can receive up to 9 additional raid passes daily.
2. Clean up Pokémon Box
Why is this relevant? If you want to continuously catch Pokémon during the event, you also need to have enough free space in your Pokémon Box. So take the opportunity to sort it and create some capacity.
During the event, you can quickly sort Pokémon with the right filters if your box approaches its maximum. This way, you won’t lose much time sorting and can quickly get back to the hunt.
3. Plan routes
What is this good for? There are places where there are more activities in Pokémon GO than in others. A route with many PokéStops and gyms can be good for wild Pokémon, as well as for item replenishment and raid bosses.
Therefore, plan your route or the area where you want to be during the event. Planning in advance can save you time at the event and thus increase your yield.
Our most important articles about the GO Fest 2024:
Why is this relevant? Spending events like GO Fest together offers 2 essential advantages. On the one hand, you can relatively independently complete raids with other trainers. On the other hand, many trainers simply enjoy playing in a group more.
Why is this important? If you’re out for a long time at the GO Fest 2024, your smartphone’s battery will correspondingly be in use. To prevent it from eventually dying and ruining the rest of the event for you, you should be technically prepared.
Even more important than technical preparation is your health. Make sure to use sun protection and have enough drinks and snacks with you.
A power bank is a good tool to recharge the battery during the event and enable you to continue catching Pokémon. You can find the best models for your phone directly on MeinMMO:
Why is this important? If you plan to participate in raids at the GO Fest 2024, you should have good Pokémon ready to effectively counter the Ultra Beasts and other raids. Take a look at our corresponding counter guides and the list of the best attackers in Pokémon GO.
What about you? Do you have any further tips for perfect preparation for the GO Fest 2024? Do you perhaps even have rituals that you follow for such events? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments and exchange ideas with other trainers here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
World of Warcraft is changing – stronger than ever before. Only in this way could the developers save the game. They finally had to listen to the fans.
The fact that World of Warcraft is dying is an old story by now, one that fans can only yawn at – because this has been said since The Burning Crusade. When Paladins and Shamans became playable on both factions, it was said back then: “This is the downfall of the game.” Almost two decades later, WoW is still doing remarkably well.
But once, WoW was truly doomed. The era of Shadowlands is generally regarded as the worst in the game’s history. It was so unpopular that Blizzard had to drastically rethink things, as confirmed by Game Director Ion Hazzikostas.
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WoW: Trailer for the release date of The War Within
Where does the information come from? The magazine PC Gamer spoke with Ion Hazzikostas, the long-time Game Director of World of Warcraft. In an interview, they discussed how WoW essentially had to reinvent itself and how many things that had been in place for years had to be completely re-evaluated.
What was said? The interview talked a lot about how WoW has changed and also how the developers needed to change their perspective on the game.
The last few years have really been a time of re-evaluating all of these components, the design DNA of World of Warcraft. We have turned over every stone, held it up to the light, and then asked ourselves: “This has served us well for many years, but is it still the right thing for our players in 2024?”
In many cases, the answer was “Yes,” we put the stone back and moved on. In other cases, it was time to rebuild parts of the foundation.
An example here is how World of Warcraft deals with the “Mythic+” system in The War Within. The system itself is in any case a popular, important endgame feature, but it has had some shortcomings that have persisted over the years.
Many of the weekly rotating affixes were so unpopular with the community that there were “Push Weeks” where everyone enjoyed playing – and then there were “dead weeks” where players preferred not to enter any dungeon because the affixes simply stifled all fun at the root.
In the next expansion The War Within, there are fewer affixes, and especially at higher levels (i.e., M+10 and above), the difficulty is virtually identical across the different weeks. There are only small differences, leading to a better gaming experience and continuous progress. Mythic+ is finally becoming really good.
This is also due to the fact that the player base of World of Warcraft has changed over the years. What used to be primarily students and schoolchildren with virtually unlimited time are now often middle-aged people with social, professional, and family responsibilities who simply cannot play eight hours every day anymore. It took time for Blizzard to notice this.
I believe it was at the beginning, but definitely accelerated during Shadowlands where we, from a design perspective, received something like our reckoning. We had built systems and relied on things that had long been cherished WoW principles, like deep investment in a character or meaningful decisions with differences.
Especially the feature of covenants at the beginning of Shadowlands was something like this. Here you chose a faction and spurned the other three. If you wanted all the rewards, you were out of luck – or had to put in a lot of effort. This was only changed late in Shadowlands.
We heard from the players: We don’t want this anymore. I did this once, why do I have to do it again? I don’t want this power to be tied to a cosmetic choice; I want it to be separate. […]
[We had to] face the reality that our players have changed, the way people play WoW has changed, and it is our duty as keepers of this world to not just stick to the original vision, but to develop it further and [bring the players] where they are to ensure that Azeroth continues to be a place where they want to be.
How has WoW improved? Especially with Dragonflight, many changes have been noticed that WoW has implemented. This starts with the return to a classic talent system with a wide selection, continues with numerous “catch-up” mechanisms, and will be further continued in The War Within.
There, with the warbands, a system is finally coming that makes virtually every progress account-wide. Gone are the days when you had to repeat every quest and grind again for a second character. Reputation counts for the whole account, and you can even find equipment that you can directly pass on to second characters.
World of Warcraft has heard the – at times desperate – calls of the fans and has turned the tide. Many meaningful innovations and the return of old favorites mean that Blizzard’s MMORPG will receive at least three more expansions. And it’s not over even after that.
What do you think of the direction that World of Warcraft has taken with Dragonflight and is continuing with The War Within? Is Blizzard’s MMORPG on a good path? Or do you think they have “strayed further off course” than they already were?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
There is an anime that stands out significantly from the production costs of its competitors. The series is called Afro Samurai and consists of only five episodes. Nevertheless, it is one of the most expensive productions in the anime sector.
How expensive was Afro Samurai? The boss of Funimation, Gen Fukunaga, reveals that the anime cost about 1 million US dollars per episode (via Newspapers.com). Each of the episodes is only 30 minutes long but costs more than ten times that of other animes (via ScreenRant):
Demon Slayer cost around 80,000 US dollars per episode.
One Piece was somewhat more expensive. An episode here costs an average of about 90,000 US dollars.
Naruto Shippuden can top that. Here, the costs amount to 100,000 US dollars per episode.
One of the most expensive animes is Dragon Ball Super. It costs around 170,000 euros per episode.
But none of the animes reach the budget of Afro Samurai. Since the anime is only five episodes long, it “only” cost 5 million US dollars, placing it in the middle of the long-running series mentioned above.
You can watch the trailer for Samurai on the YouTube channel of illmatic00:
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Why was the anime so expensive? According to The Japan Times, there is a significant factor contributing to the high budget of the anime. High-profile actors were hired to participate in the anime. These include:
Samuel L Jackson (known as Nick Fury from the Marvel films), who voices the protagonist in English
Yuri Lowenthal, who voices Son-Goku, Sasuke Uchiha, and several characters from Bleach in English
Kelly Hu, who will appear as Lady Deathstrike in the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine
The voice actors are said to have consumed a large portion of the budget. This made Afro Samurai incredibly expensive in terms of costs per episode.
Deadpool & Wolverine is coming to theaters in a few weeks:
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Wolverine is back: Official Trailer of Deadpool & Wolverine
What is Afro Samurai about? The young Afro Samurai witnessed his father’s murder by a man named Justice, who aimed for his father’s headband, which grants god-like powers to its wearer.
Thus, Afro embarks on a journey to challenge Justice and avenge his father. To do this, he must obtain another headband, which allows him to confront Justice.
What makes this anime so special? The anime is especially celebrated for its detailed fight scenes. The breathtaking animations and accompanying sound make the series a well-rounded package.
Where can I watch Afro Samurai? You can currently watch Afro Samurai on Crunchyroll. However, the anime is rated for 18 and older, so children and teenagers should probably avoid it due to the violence. Additionally, the anime is only available in English with French subtitles.
People are having intimate relationships with AI. A man explained why he engages in a digital relationship despite being married with children. A sociologist warns against taking such relationships with chatbots too seriously, as AI cannot provide genuine empathy.
Sherry Turkle, a sociologist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, examines the artificial intimacy that AI chatbots enable for people. She particularly spoke with individuals who are married in real life. This is reported by the English magazine Futurism.com.
One of the individuals Turkle spoke to explained why he has an intimate relationship with an AI girlfriend despite being married with children. He feels that the AI provides him with things that his wife does not give him or no longer wants to give.
Husband feels validated by his AI girlfriend
What is the problem? The man, whose name is not mentioned, explained that his marriage has changed significantly over the years:
His wife has shifted her focus to raising the children.
However, due to parenting, their relationship has suffered.
Romantic or sexual attraction in their marriage has become almost nonexistent and does not really occur anymore.
The husband stated that he has had long conversations with his AI girlfriend about his thoughts and fears and felt validated by her. He hasn’t felt that way towards his wife for a long time.
Specifically, the way the AI seemed to show sexual interest in him made him feel attracted to her. He felt validated through his exchange with the chatbot and not judged, which he did not feel with his wife.
It is unclear whether and how much the man’s wife or children know about his AI “girlfriend.” But from what he shared, it appears he expressed a certain level of vulnerability towards the chatbot. And the sociologist explained that this empathy does not actually exist.
The scientist explained that many people feel this way when they talk with AI. Because people seek conversations where they are not hurt. The problem, however, is that we imagine the empathy of AI, Turkle warned explicitly:
The problem is that when we seek relationships where we are not vulnerable, we forget that vulnerability is the true source of empathy. I call this feigned empathy because the machine does not feel for you. It does not care about you.
She added that people should remember that chatbots are not human. While they may cause less stress than human relationships, they also cannot truly fulfill the role that humans play in our lives.
The First Descendant as a loot shooter naturally has many opportunities for content creators. Be it builds, tips or simply guides to specific aspects. In a reddit thread, a user wanted to criticize the current content creators, but a YouTuber seems to be the community’s favorite.
What was originally criticized? In a reddit thread, the user OkConfection9060 wanted to warn the community about a certain content creator who was allegedly toxic. This led to criticism also directed at the streamers and YouTubers of the game in general.
The videos are said to be similar, tips for farming are said to date back to the beta, and the tier lists are allegedly trash. Build videos are said to have been created by people who haven’t even reached hard mode yet. But despite all the criticism, one content creator has emerged as the community’s favorite.
Looter-Shooter The First Descendant announces its release date in the trailer
A YouTuber is loved
Who is Moxsy? Under the thread, a content creator is also praised: the YouTuber and streamer Moxsy. Moxsy has already made many guides for various games. His probably most well-known content came from Borderlands 3 and Diablo 4.
He also offers plenty of content for The First Descendant in the form of builds and guides. But unlike the criticized YouTubers and streamers, the opinion here seems to be significantly more positive.
FourFront: Moxsy is my first point of contact for any game. If he plays a game that I’m playing, I watch his content.
Oodlydoodley: Moxsy is one of the only streamers I watch. […] I’ve learned a lot that I couldn’t figure out on my own, as it would have taken way too much time and material.
Igtfun: He also plays an insane amount and is therefore great because he has tested more things in 4 days than most do in 4 months.
His approach is also praised. Instead of always talking about the best build of all time, he always structures his builds based on his own experience and what has worked for him.
As the game has not been out for long, there will surely be more reliable streamers and YouTubers accepted by the community over time. Do you have any that you watch, or are you trying to learn everything yourself? Let us know in the comments. If you’re looking for a good build for Bunny, we have something for you: The First Descendant Bunny Build – This is how you eliminate opponents while running by
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
