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News Guide

Get Ready For WOW Season Of Discovery Phase 3 With These Key Strategies

Here are some invaluable tips for players to adequately prepare for the forthcoming Phase 3 in WoW Season of Discovery. Adhering to these essential guidelines will undoubtedly facilitate a smoother gameplay in the upcoming phase.

Get Ready For WOW Season Of Discovery Phase 3 With These Key Strategies

Dungeons & Exploration

Dungeon grinding has gained popularity, particularly with Scarlet Monastery, offering efficient leveling opportunities. Dungeons such as Zul’Farrak, Maraudon, Sunken Temple are all viable options. While the potential for Maraudon or Sunken Temple to become level-up raids exists, it remains unconfirmed. Questing also plays a significant role, with locations like Booty Bay in Stranglethorn Vale offering suitable quests.

For both Horde and Alliance, Blasted Lands and Swamp of Sorrows provide additional questing opportunities. The Hinterlands stand out as a substantial questing area, with Kalimdor offering zones like Tanaris, Feralas, and Un'Goro Crater, ideal for leveling up towards Level 50. Familiarizing yourself with quests in these core zones is crucial for effective Phase 3 progression.

PvP Reputations

Another important tip to consider is focusing on PvP reputations. It's essential to grind your PvP gear and strive for an exalted reputation with Warsong Gulch and Arathi Basin factions. Achieving exalted status will unlock Level 50 bracers, which are superior to their Level 40 counterparts.

You'll have access to epic bracers and other valuable items from the Arathi Basin reputation vendors, although some items may require revered status. Notably, revered gear includes boots that increase movement speed and grant attack power, as well as a girdle suitable for Level 48 characters. While attaining exalted status may take time, many players are currently farming the STV event for logs and grinding the Arathi Basin reputation to expedite the process.

Consumables & World Buffs

The next essential tip is to ensure you have an ample supply of consumables and world buffs. While Spark of Inspiration is significant, don't overlook the benefits of Darkmoon Faire, which provides a substantial 10% damage buff. Although there's a risk of losing these buffs if you die, they can significantly enhance your gameplay experience.

Notably, the Darkmoon Faire buff remains active even at Level 39, offering a slight advantage in movement speed. Therefore, strategically planning to acquire these buffs before reaching Level 40 can provide a small yet beneficial edge.

WoW Classic SOD Darkmoon Faire

Consider maximizing the efficiency of your consumables to save time and increase damage output. For instance, Firepower and Lesser Arcane can provide a notable boost without costing much of your SOD Gold. This strategy is particularly valuable for players aiming for world-first racing.

Flight Paths

Next, let's discuss the importance of obtaining essential flight paths. For Horde players, securing Stonard for Swamp of Sorrows is crucial, while Alliance players should aim for Nethergarde Keep in Blasted Lands. You may already have flight paths for Stranglethorn Vale and Booty Bay, but if not, it's advisable to acquire them. Prioritize obtaining flight paths for key locations like the Hinterlands.

Alliance players can access Aerie Peak, while Horde players can reach Revantusk Village. An efficient way for Horde players to reach Revantusk Village is by flying to Arathi Highlands, taking a boat to the coast, and swimming to Hinterlands. This method can be faster than the conventional route through Aerie Peak, especially considering the high-level mobs in the area.

Don't forget to obtain the flight path for Gadgetzan in Tanaris if you haven't already, as it can be highly beneficial. Similarly, ensure you acquire flight paths for Un'Goro Crater and Silithus while you're in the vicinity. Although Silithus is an endgame zone, acquiring the flight path early on will be advantageous for future use. Consider visiting Felwood, another endgame zone, if you're heading towards Winterspring. Whether you are Horde or Alliance, Felwood's flight path is located in the northernmost part of the zone.

Profession Planning

Another crucial tip is to have a clear profession plan for the upcoming Phase 3. With professions reaching a maximum level of 300, there will be an abundance of SOD content available. While it's uncertain if unique recipes aimed at Level 50 will be introduced, it's a possibility worth considering. It's essential to familiarize yourself with these specializations and develop a plan accordingly.

WoW Classic SOD Mooncloth

Blacksmithing and Engineering stand out as particularly significant professions, while tailoring lacks specialization. I recommend prioritize obtaining the Mooncloth recipe and the Runecloth Bag recipe from Everlook in Winterspring. These recipes were disabled in Phase 1, and their availability in Phase 2 is uncertain.

Crafting Mooncloth will be crucial due to its 4-day cooldown, requiring 250 Tailoring skill. While obtaining Felcloth may be challenging before reaching Level 50, it will become a valuable resource for crafting in Phase 3, particularly in Felwood.

Class Quests

Finally, upon reaching Level 50, players can embark on class quests, which provide unique and potent items for most classes. These quests are predominantly located in Sunken Temple, although their exact format may vary if Sunken Temple becomes the designated level-up raid.

Players unfamiliar with these class quests are encouraged to research them, as they offer powerful rewards. All class quests typically involve completing tasks across the world before culminating in Sunken Temple. Therefore, it's crucial to understand and prepare for these quests to maximize their benefits.

What Is The New Mechanic Of Scorching Ray Skill In POE 3.24 Necropolis League?

In the upcoming Path of Exile 3.24 Necropolis League, Scorching Ray stands out with its unique mechanic that enables multiple entities to inflict debuff together. So, today we will delve into the significance of this for the altered Scorching Ray.

About Scorching Ray

Scorching Ray is a channeled ability that deals fire damage over time, and it does this by applying stages of a debuff to enemies caught in the beam. Debuff stages are gained based on the cast interval, each debuff deals with its own damage and has its own duration.

What Is The New Mechanic Of Scorching Ray Skill In POE 3.24 Necropolis League?

But the duration only starts to expire when the enemy leaves the beam, with each debuff stage increasing the base damage by 60%, and if the enemy remains in the beam long enough to reach 8 debuff stages. Fire exposure is inflicted at a magnitude of minus 25% to fire resistance.

Ascendancy Choice

In terms of ascendancy choice, Hierophant will overcome this problem by reaching 6 maximum totems: one from Ancestral Bond, one from the ascendancy, one from a Shaper Shield, and 2 from Multiple Totem Support. This way, you’d have 3 cycles of totems, providing a larger window for each set of totems to apply their debuff. However, one of the biggest problems with Scorching Ray totems is map clear, as the totems’ AI often locks onto targets and there are some straggling mobs that are left unchecked.

The Chieftain’s Hinekora, Death's Fury notable may provide a much better map clear with his explosions, and Chieftain also has the upside of Ramako, Sun's Light, which makes the use of Temporal Chains easier as you don’t need to worry about flammability. Of course, having some POE Currency in hand can make your game smoother.

Scorching Ray Totems

Now Scorching Ray has another rather unique mechanic attached to it which allows beams from distinct entities to deal damage simultaneously, which is why Scorching Ray totems have been a thing in the past and this is an intended mechanic.

Path of Exile 3.24 Scorching Ray

In fact, since the Scorching Ray appeared in patch 2.4.2, fire resistance of the Scorching Ray is specified to be no more than minus 24%. Each Scorching Ray debuff on an enemy can have 8 stages. An entity can be affected by multiple Scorching Ray debuffs at a time from different beams. They’ll all apply their damage over time based on their individual stages, but the total fire resistance penalty from all the debuffs on a particular enemy cannot exceed minus 24%.

In the past, this mechanic has only really been relevant for the case of using Scorching Ray totems in a standard totem build setup, where you try to max out as many totems as possible. This makes sense because Scorching Ray deals the most damage when it gains all of its stages. If the totem has been long enough to gain 8 stages, it will deal the maximum damage that it’s capable of, which is a lot more than just the base one stage because it gains so much damage from extra stages.

Transfigured Version Of Scorching Ray

However, we now have a transfigured version of Scorching Ray in POE 3.24, that’s Scorching Ray of Immolation. This gem is significantly different in terms of the numbers from its original counterpart, but it shares the same mechanics Scorching Ray of Immolation has far more front-loaded damage relying a lot less on gaining stages to deal decent damage.

It also has double the base duration and doesn’t have the fire exposure at maximum stages by using this version of Scorching Ray you can scale the damage in a way that wasn’t possible with the original gem and this is by having totems inflict their beam debuff right before re-summoning them again to inflict new debuffs and so on.

Path of Exile 3.24 Scorching Ray of Immolation

So forth this way you can scale the duration of the debuff that lasts when an enemy leaves the beam and scale your totem placement speed to achieve a ramping damage over time, which is somewhat similar to poison in fact you even make use of Temporal Chains since Scorching Ray damage component is considered being a debuff which persists on the enemy and it is affected by Temporal Chains slower expiry mechanic.

Theory & Technology

So, let’s have some theoretical and technical discussion. I think to make use of this tech, you’re going to want to invest into duration because it’s increasing your maximum potential damage output. You’ll need a good balance between scaling damage normally through increases, more multipliers, and DoT multipliers, and scaling skill effect duration.

A single duration wheel on the passive tree combined with the more skill effect Duration Mastery will be good, along with Efficacy and Malevolence. This will bring the 3-second base duration up to around 6.2 seconds, and Temporal Chains then essentially act as a multiplier on top of that duration, which will bring the actual debuff duration to just over 8.2 seconds.

Re-summoning totems will despawn the oldest totems first, so having access to additional maximum totems is potentially a great thing to have in this build. Where you get the opportunity to spam your totems for maximum damage ramp in a boss fight, if you have a low maximum totem limit, depending on your totem placement speed, you may despawn the totem before they’ve applied their debuff.

What Is The Process For Making A Healing Hands Paladin Build In Last Epoch?

The Sentinel’s holy guardian Mastery class in Last Epoch, the Paladin, places a strong emphasis on magic and defense. By use of its Mastery Skill, Holy Aura, the Paladin protects and amplifies personal and allied qualities, such as protection and damage.

Without the right build, leveling up as a Paladin can be difficult because of the build’s concentration on defensive, which makes switching to offensive strategies more difficult, especially when playing alone. However, there are a few strong builds that provide workarounds, like the one below that focuses on Healing Hands. Please bring enough Last Epoch Gold to find out with us!

What Is The Process For Making A Healing Hands Paladin Build In Last Epoch?

An Overview Of Healing Hands Paladin Build

This Paladin build revolves around the Healing Hands skill, which at its core provides healing to nearby allies along with a heal-over-time effect. However, by specializing in Healing Hands, you can enhance it with the Searing Light node, introducing a damaging aspect to the skill.

Following this, there are two paths to take with Healing Hands - melee or ranged. In this particular build, we’ll focus on the melee version, although the ranged option is equally viable, albeit with a distinct skill setup.

The pivotal nodes essential for making Healing Hands your primary damage-dealing skill are Cleric’s Hammer and Seraph Blade. At four points, Cleric’s Hammer grants a 100 percent chance for Healing Hands to activate upon using a melee attack, while Seraph Blade transforms Healing Hands into a melee attack, allowing it to scale based on melee damage rather than spell damage.

Considering this, the general gameplay of this build leans towards tankiness and melee combat, utilizing Void Cleave to maneuver between enemy groups and dispatch them with Rive and Healing Hands. Overall, this build offers straightforward gameplay, requiring only one button for attacking and another for traversal.

Skills

As previously mentioned, the central skill of this build is Healing Hands.

Last Epoch Healing Hands

When enhancing this skill, prioritize maxing out Cleric’s Hammer initially to ensure Healing Hands triggers with a 100% chance upon executing a melee attack. Subsequently, progress towards the Seraph Blade node. Following this, acquire Divine Barrier, Synthesis of Light, and Guardian’s Heart to generate Ward on the left side of the skill tree.

Next in focus is Rive, which serves the purpose of activating Healing Hands while inflicting damage. Within this skill tree, promptly unlock the Foe Cleaver node, then shift attention to the right side to obtain Challenge, subsequently progressing towards the Double Slash node.

For mobility, Void Cleave is employed. While Lunge is an alternative, Void Cleave enables movement without requiring a target and serves to trigger Abyssal Echoes for supplementary damage.

Within Void Cleave’s skill node, prioritize unlocking Gravity’s Edge promptly to enable Void Cleave to operate as a proper traversal skill, followed by acquiring the Hellish Chasm node to convert it into fire damage. Subsequently, focus on unlocking Resonating Cleave to ensure Void Cleave triggers Abyssal Echoes efficiently.

Abyssal Echoes serves solely for additional damage when utilizing Void Cleave and is not cast independently. Start by using the Void Purifier node to transform Abyssal Echoes into fire damage. Then, use the Embrace the Darkness and Vorpal Reverberation nodes on the left side of the talent tree to increase the damage.

Lastly, Holy Aura is addressed. Progressively enhance the Shelter from the Storm node for substantial Elemental Resistance, then bolster the skill’s damage buffs by investing in the Flame Burst, Fanaticism, and True Strike nodes.

While our primary focus in this build is on Rive, it’s worth noting that Vengeance offers alternative effects. Rive boasts higher attack speed, allowing more frequent triggering of Healing Hands, whereas Vengeance becomes preferable when seeking additional defense.

Last Epoch Rive

Passives

In this build, we’ll allocate passive points across the Sentinel, Void Knight, and Paladin skill trees.

Before unlocking your Mastery, prioritize investing points into nodes such as Juggernaut, Armour Clad, Valiant Charge, and Time and Faith in the Sentinel tree. Additionally, allocating points into Blademaster proves beneficial.

Within the Paladin tree, initial emphasis should be on upgrading Defiance, Valor, Conviction, and Holy Icon, offering a balance of defensive and offensive stats. Subsequently, prioritize enhancing nodes like Blinding Light, Divine Essence, Reverence of Duality, and Light of Rahyeh for increased damage output.

Lastly, in the Void Knight tree, consider acquiring the Abyssal Endurance node for supplementary Void Resistance, World Eater for lifesteal, and Void Corruption for a notable boost to critical damage.

Crucial Attributes

The paramount statistic for the Healing Hands Paladin build is Healing Effectiveness. Through the Bane of Evil node within the Healing Hands skill tree, this skill scales its damage in proportion to Healing Effectiveness, doubling its original healing augmentation function. Consequently, every percentage point of Healing Effectiveness significantly bolsters both survivability and damage output.

Considering this, here are the primary statistics to prioritize when upgrading your gear as you progress:

  1. Healing Effectiveness
  2. Levels of Healing Hands
  3. Fire Damage
  4. Attunement
  5. Elemental Resistances of any kind

It's advisable to leverage crafting opportunities as you advance and acquire new gear. Utilizing shards imbued with any of these statistics, alongside more general defensive or utility attributes like health, mana, and armor, can enhance your gear for added potency.

Noteworthy Unique Items

Fortunately, this build doesn't heavily rely on specific Unique items, making gearing relatively straightforward.

Last Epoch Advent of the Erased

Nonetheless, several Unique items offer notable power increases and should be integrated if you chance upon them while leveling:

  • Volcanus: With a ton of extra Fire Damage, this two-handed sword is the greatest weapon in its slot for this build.
  • Valeroot: This Chest Armor offers good defensive stats and the crucial Healing Effectiveness stat, even though Spriggan Form isn't applicable in this situation.
  • Calamity: By adding additional fire damage, this helmet amplifies the healing power of Healing Hands.
  • Advent of the Erased: Serving as a generally beneficial pair of boots, these boots expedite leveling through increased Movement Speed and Haste upon enemy demise.

This Formidable Torment Warlock In Last Epoch 1.0 Deserves You Attention!

Check out this new build guide for Warlock in Last Epoch 1.0, which is called the Torment Warlock. The Torment is an exceptional ailment that delivers a tremendous amount of damage with a single application. This build doesn't rely on special skill combos. If you’re new to the Warlock, this build is perfect for you.

Pros & Cons

The main reason to pick this build is the traditional gameplay of damage over time build that doesn’t require constant reapplying. You can achieve very high amounts of ward with a method to quickly recover it in case of danger, paired with access to a strong crowd control effect.

On top of that, your boss fights are very safe because of the high uptime of Profane Veil, which makes you almost immortal while your Torment continues to deal damage. You will have excellent damage with low gear requirements to start, and you will breeze through the campaign as soon as you unlock the Warlock Mastery.

This Formidable Torment Warlock In Last Epoch 1.0 Deserves You Attention!

Of course, this gameplay has some drawbacks that you should know of. The Chthonic Fissure skill has high mana consumption and requires proper skill usage management, which is especially noticeable during Echo. The single target damage is limited by the single stack of Torment, which can make boss fights a bit longer at higher corruption levels.

Gear Setup

Most of your ward comes from specific modifiers that are generated based on your missing health, available on specific unique and experimental items. But you don’t need it to farm low corruption levels. The more health you have, the more ward it will generate. The other items are very synergistic with the modifiers they provide, but are not required for functionality. You can decide which Uniques you need based on your amount of Last Epoch Gold.

The Marina's Lost Soul is a simple wand, but it grants you exactly what you need. It offers a lot of flat Necrotic damage for your spells and decently increases your spell and curse damage.However, it also lowers your maximum health a bit.

The Exsanguinous is one of the core items for your ward generation. It drains your health but restores a portion of your missing health as a ward, which you can then boost via ward retention or ward decay threshold. You will also gain a decent boost to your movement speed when you use a potion.

This pair of Last Steps of the Living boots offers the same modifier as the previous armor, further improving your ward generation. It also offers a decent amount of movement speed, but it is mostly negated because of the chill applied to you every 3 seconds. Your skills will cleanse negative effects on you, but not as often as those boots apply it.

Last Epoch 1.0 Last Steps of the Living

This Boneclamor Barbute helmet offers plenty of intelligence and Necrotic Resistance and greatly increases your ward generation thanks to the resistance modifier you stack. It is fairly common, so getting one with good Legendary Potential shouldn’t be too daunting to acquire.

The most important modifiers to scale your damage are flat damage for spells, Necrotic Resistance, critical strike multiplier, and intelligence. You will also need some mana regeneration to comfortably spam your Chthonic Fissure during Echo, although it is not that important against bosses. The Necrotic Resistance and intelligence are also the major methods of improving your ward.

You will need an experimental mod on your gloves that grant you a ward based on the missing health, which is why you should improve your maximum health too. By increasing the health of your minions, you will improve the Vampiric Pool interaction. Capping your critical strike avoidance at 100% is mandatory for your survival.

Active Skills

Chthonic Fissure: This skill creates a rift in the ground that deals with a bit of damage and releases spirits upon contact. The spirits apply the curse of Torment, which is the major source of damage in this build. Most of your damage scaling comes from the Twisted Waves and Grim Tide, which grant you more damage per point of Necrotic Resistance or critical strike multiplier. You will also deal more damage against bleeding or poisoned enemies. The Stygian Coal, paired with the Gloom and Flames, increases the frequency of your spirits, making it easier to apply your Torment.

Last Epoch 1.0 Chthonic Fissure

Spirit Plague: Inflicts your target with a curse of Spirit Plague, which deals with a small amount of Necrotic damage. In this build, it is used to buff your Torment damage even more. The Pestilence grants you global increased damage as you continue to cast the skill. The Enfeeblement weakens the enemies you hit, and the Anguish causes them to run in Fear.

Transplant: This is your movement skill. You should cast this as soon as it goes off cooldown as it also restores your mana and grants you the Bone Armor buff. The Acolyte’s Fervor also grants you Haste and Frenzy buffs for 3 seconds. The Azure Veins and Pale Blood restore your mana, but only if you hit at least one enemy. The Bone Armor and its upgrades grant you the Bone Armor buff, which reduces the damage you take.

Profane Veil: It is a very powerful defensive skill that makes you dodge any incoming hit when you keep channeling it. In this setup, it is also used to generate a lot of ward with the Vampiric Pool. You will consume your minions to get the ward based on their maximum health. You will also deal more damage to your Torment applied during channeling the Profane Veil. Thanks to the stream of profanity, you will lower the cooldown of the veil by spamming any curse skill.

Last Epoch 1.0 Profane Veil

Bone Curse: With this skill, you can weaken enemies and create a Bone Prison, providing a substantial ward increase when consumed. The Sigil of Mortality applies a Mark for Death on enemies, resulting in increased damage taken by them. With the Marrow Thief, you will occasionally gain Bone Armor when you kill enemies affected by the curse.

Passive Trees

Acolyte: Your basic Acolyte tree is focused mostly on defense. It will boost your ward resistance and intelligence. During leveling, you can pick Blood or a Blood Pact and Eye of Damnation to boost your damage, but it isn’t very effective in the endgame. The Stolen Vitality enhances the health of your minions, resulting in a greater amount of ward gained when you consume them.

Lich: The Survival of the Cruel is extremely useful during the campaign as it offers health leech. You may also opt for Dance with Dead and Grasp of Fate to augment your Necrotic damage. However, given your endgame setup, these passives are redundant and should be refunded. The Apocrypha is universally useful as it grants mana regeneration and intelligence.

Warlock: The Unholy Torment and Duskbringer are very valuable as they add flat spell damage to your Torment. The Doom Herald grants more damage when you channel the Profane Veil. You will take slightly less damage if you invest 5 points into Harrowing Armor, Dark Protections and Wither. With the Fleeting Crone, you will constantly have the Haste buff with an increased effect. Lastly, the Wreak Havoc grants you crit multiplier, which is converted into more damage.

Last Epoch 1.0 Warlock Passive Tree

Idols & Blessings

Then let's talk about idols in this build. You can use them to get more health, ward retention, stack more resistances, or improve your spell damage a bit. If you find yourself channeling to Profane Veil very often, you can try to get a modifier that generates ward for each second spent in the Veil.

For blessings, in the Black Sun timeline, you're faced with a choice between critical strike multiplier and void resistance. Opting for the resistance bonus is advisable, as it allows you to allocate more resources towards Necrotic Resistance elsewhere. In the Age of Winter timeline, you'll encounter a straightforward decision: cold or physical resistance, depending on your current needs.

Moving on to the Spirits of Fire timeline, you'll have the option to either reduce your enemies' Necrotic Resistance, particularly beneficial against bosses, or enhance your damage output by stacking more Necrotic Resistance instead. In the Reign of Dragons timeline, you can select one of the resistance bonuses or prioritize critical strike avoidance for improved survivability.

As you approach the end of the Storm timeline, choosing the Lightning Resistance blessing is a viable option, although ward-related bonuses should also be considered, especially if you lack the necessary Uniques combination.

How Is The Ward Decay Rate Calculated In Last Epoch 1.0? - Ward Retention Explained

I believe many players have noticed that there is a stat called Ward Retention in Last Epoch 1.0, which you sometimes see on gear and passive skills. Most notably, for every 1 point of intelligence you gain, you gain 4% Ward Retention, which I think is where most people’s Ward Retention comes from.

In fact, Ward Retention affects how quickly your ward decays over time. If you have a basic understanding of how Ward works, it’s not hard to see why a stat like this might be useful. In this guide, we’ll provide a brief overview of how Ward Retention works and explore how it affects Ward Decay rate.

How Is The Ward Decay Rate Calculated In Last Epoch 1.0? - Ward Retention Explained

Ward Decay Rate Formula

However, it is unclear how to judge the opportunity cost of Ward Retention modifiers. Fortunately, we have an equation:

Ward Decay Rate=0.4* (Current Ward - Ward Decay Threshold)/1+ (0.5*Ward Retention)

This means that Ward Decay rate depends on Current Ward, Ward Decay Threshold and Ward Retention. If you can invest some Last Epoch Gold to improve these stats, extending the duration of the ward will no longer be an issue.

For those not interested in math, here’s a summary: Just think of 2% Ward Retention as an increase of 1% Ward.

We will assume that Ward Decay Threshold is zero and ignore it. Because I want to focus the discussion on Ward Retention.

When you gain Ward, you gain some extra shield on your health bar, which decays exponentially over time.

With zero modifiers to ward, your Ward Decay rate is 40% of the current ward per second. This means that in order to maintain a certain number of wards, you need to generate 40% of the current ward value every second to offset the decay.

Last Epoch: Ward Retention Explained

The Impact Of Ward Retention On Ward Decay Rate

Ward Retention reduces Ward Decay rate, but its implementation is a little unintuitive.

When you have Ward Retention, your Ward Decay rate is divided by 1 plus half of your Ward Retention stat. Because of this strange factor of 0.5, you actually need 200% Ward Retention to halve Ward Decay rate, which is 20% of the current ward per second.

In other words, 200% Ward Retention will extend the duration of your Ward by 100%. A Ward Retention of 400% extends the duration of Ward by 200%, and so on.

I’m not sure why the developers decided to put 0.5 into the formula here instead of simply dividing all Ward Retention values in the game by 2. This changes nothing except making Ward Retention value more intuitive and easier to understand.

For example, 100% Ward Retention means the ward lasts 100% longer. This seems more logical, but maybe we’re missing something.

Last Epoch: The impact of Ward Retention on Ward Decay rate

The 2% Ward Retention Is Approximately Equal To 1% Ward

Even though you now understand how Ward Retention affects Ward Decay rate, there’s still a degree of separation between it and what we’re ultimately interested in, which is how does Ward Retention affect the total number of Wards you can maintain?

If you can generate 100 wards per second, you will reach a steady state of about 250 wards without any ward retention. Your Decay rate at that point is 100 wards per second, and since you can only get 100 wards per second, that’s the amount you can sustain.

On the contrary, if you have 200% Ward Retention, your ward will even reach 500. That’s because you now lose 20% of your ward per second instead of 40%. So you need to reach 500 wards first, and then your Ward Decay rate is equal to 100 ward gain rate per second.

Following the same pattern, 400% Ward Retention will triple Ward retention, and 600% Ward Retention will quadruple Ward retention. In other words, you can think of every 2% of Ward Retention as “a 1% increase in Ward.”

Anyway, this concludes this guide to Ward Retention mechanism. As always, if you have a different opinion, don’t forget to share it!

How To Build The Spell Power Hunter In WoW Season Of Discovery Phase 2?

The notion that every item is suitable for Hunters has persisted as a joke throughout World of Warcraft's history. While often exaggerated, you may have experienced losing valuable items like Ashkandi to a Hunter in the past.

However, in the Season of Discovery, this joke holds more truth than ever before. The emergence of Melee Hunters has shifted the perception, as nearly every weapon and strength item is now coveted by Hunters. Additionally, a new build, currently demonstrating the highest simulated PPS among all ranged specializations, is the Spell Power Hunter.

In this guide, we'll delve into why this build is effective, which talents and gear to prioritize, how to optimize your spellcasting, and when it's appropriate to consider adopting this approach. To pursue this build, ensuring a substantial reserve of SoD Gold is essential for your investment.

How To Build The Spell Power Hunter In WoW Season Of Discovery Phase 2?

Why It Works?

The concept of Spell Power Hunter is not a recent development and was not exclusive to the Season of Discovery. During the Classic era, it was a tactic employed by Hunters when they perceived their guild mates and Warlocks to be enjoying too much success.

In the toolkit of Hunters, there are 3 abilities that benefit from spell power scaling:

Firstly, Arcane Shot possesses a base spell power scaling of 43.5%, meaning each point of spell power contributes 0.435 damage. Moreover, Arcane Shot boasts a crit scaling of 200%, resulting in significantly amplified damage with a critical hit, especially when augmented by the Immortal Shots talent.

The second ability influenced by spell power is Serpent Sting. Its 1:1 spell power coefficient means that each increment of spell power contributes directly to the spell's damage output. It's essential to note that this scaling applies to the entire duration of the damage over time effect, rather than individual ticks. While Serpent Sting's damage can be enhanced beyond the standard spell power scaling, we'll delve into those strategies later.

Lastly, Volley, despite its limited utility, features a spell power scaling of 33%. Although considered suboptimal in most situations, in scenarios with a high volume of enemies, such as the packs before Crowd Pummeler, Volley may prove to be a viable option, particularly with significant spell power investment.

WoW Season of Discovery Chimaera Shot

However, with the Season of Discovery, a fourth spell has emerged that benefits from spell power: Chimaera Shot. While the ability itself does not directly scale with spell power, its secondary effect, which adds damage based on Serpent Sting, does. Following recent buffs, Chimaera Shot now instantly deals 120% weapon damage and 48% of your Serpent Sting damage while also resetting the duration of Serpent Sting.

This particular detail holds more significance than one might realize. Not only does it spare you from using a global cooldown to reapply Serpent Sting constantly, but it also enables you to maintain the damage boost from your initial Serpent Sting throughout the entire encounter. This allows you to coordinate with your guild's Priest to receive Power Infusion for a 20% damage increase at the start of the fight, then equip Void-Touched Leather Gauntlets from Phase 1 for an additional 10% damage boost before applying Serpent Sting. Subsequently, you can preserve the augmented damage from this initial Serpent Sting for the duration of the battle.

In isolation, spell power still falls short of agility in terms of overall value. However, several factors contribute to its exceptional performance. With the majority of bosses in Gnomeregan possessing increased armor values, all the aforementioned abilities excel at piercing through armor.

Additionally, the accessibility of a 20% increase in nature damage through Balance Druids and Enhanced Shamans, along with the benefits derived from the Epic Fist Weapon, greatly enhance the effectiveness of Spell Power Hunters.

Build Guide

Regarding the build guide, we'll adopt a setup closely resembling the prevalent Marksmanship build with a few minor adjustments.

It's advisable to select Lone Wolf for the chest, Chimera Shot for gloves, Expose Weakness for the belt, Sniper Training for the legs, and Trap Launcher for the feet.

The efficacy of this build heavily relies on your ability to utilize Lone Wolf. While it remains feasible if you're the designated provider of Aspect of the Lion, you'll fare better with a full attack power build. Hence, ensure to arrange any necessary bribes to guarantee another party member brings that buff.

In terms of our talent selection, we opt for a specific setup. We prioritize five out of five Efficiency and five out of five Lethal Shots. Aimed Shot is also essential in our build, as even utilizing one pre-cast before the pull provides superior value compared to other options. Additionally, we allocate four out of five points to Improved Arcane Shot, five out of five to Mortal Shots, two out of five to Improved Serpent Sting, three out of three to Barrage, and five out of five to Ranged Weapon Specialization, along with Trueshot Aura.

You might question why we only invest two out of five points into Improved Serpent Sting, considering its significant role in our scaling. It's not due to the talent's inferiority, but rather because the remaining talents in the tree offer substantial benefits.

Gear Guide

In terms of gearing, here's a comprehensive overview of our recommended choices and enchantments worth considering.

Upon initial observation, you'll notice that we still incorporate several non-spell power items into our setup. For most items, the spell power alternatives offer comparable performance, with the exception of the helmet and shoulders. Therefore, if you're inclined to irk your guild's casters without compromising too much DPS, feel free to proceed.

We prioritize obtaining the 3 sets, consisting of the Irradiated Robe, Irradiated Boots, and Irradiated Trousers. Despite some pieces actively reducing our agility, this set proves superior to other options.

WoW Season of Discovery Miniaturized Combustion Chamber

Our trinket selections include the Miniaturized Combustion Chamber and Invoker's Void Pearl. If you possess the attack power version, be prepared to invest in switching to the spell power version.

Additionally, we incorporate a few Phase 1 items such as the Dagger of Willing Sacrifice and the Void-Touched Leather Gauntlets obtained through leatherworking, leveraging their initial snapshot capability. Once these gloves are on cooldown, we transition to Machinist's Gloves for encounters involving mechanical bosses.

It's imperative to secure the Glimmering Gizmoblade, which remains best in slot regardless of the specialization you're playing.

As for our off-pieces, we prioritize options that enhance spell power (such as the Volatile Concoction Belt) and improve hit chance (like the Ornate Dark Iron Bangles).

Rotation

In terms of our rotation, we initiate by activating our leatherworking gloves followed by pre-casting Aimed Shot, while ensuring we receive Power Infusion from the Priest.

Subsequently, we activate Serpent Sting, Chimaera Shot, Multi-Shot, and Immolation Trap (if not deployed before the encounter), followed by Arcane Shot.

From this point forward, our focus lies in prioritizing Chimaera Shot over Multi-Shot and Arcane Shot, while maintaining Immolation Trap continuously. Emphasizing the importance of consistently utilizing Chimaera Shot cannot be overstated, and it should never be allowed to remain off cooldown.

Additionally, strategic positioning planning is essential to maximize our uptime on Sniper Training.

When To Use it?

When should you utilize this build?

Primarily, this build proves effective whenever another party member provides Aspect of the Lion. However, if you intend to acquire spell power gear, it's crucial to communicate this beforehand, as not all participants may possess the same level of game knowledge.

Currently, spell power significantly outperforms attack power for Hunters, making it the preferred choice whenever Lone Wolf is in play.

Consumables

As for consumables, we adhere to our standard selection, including Lesser Wizard Oil on both weapons, Lesser Arcane Elixir, Elixir of Agility, and Sagefish Delight for our food buff.

WoW Season of Discovery Lesser Arcane Elixir

For those seeking additional optimization, consider abandoning any non-leatherworking professions in favor of enchanting to acquire the sigil buff. This enhancement greatly enhances Hunter performance, resulting in a notable 21 DPS increase.

In conclusion, Spell Power Hunter transcends mere meme status, and unless there are alterations to Chimaera Shot, its prominence in the game appears to be enduring.

5 Formations You Can’t Miss For The EA FC 24 Weekend League

Hi, players! Welcome to this new guide for EA FC 24. The Weekend League is right around the corner and being prepared is key. Your preparation should begin with selecting a solid formation. So in this guide, I will share the top 5 formations that you should consider using in the game.

5 Formations You Can’t Miss For The EA FC 24 Weekend League

5-2-1-2

The first formation to consider is the 5-2-1-2, which stands out as the only 5-back formation among the options. When it comes to instructions, specifics aren't crucial. However, it's advisable to set it to balanced and Direct Passing. One crucial instruction is to assign your CAM to Stay Forward. Then, you can opt for Stay Back and Cover Center for the Midfielders.

The Stay Forward instruction is very important for initiating quick counter-attacks, as it capitalizes on one of this formation's strengths. The 5-2-1-2 is also well-suited for executing Tiki Taka, seamlessly connecting passes and creating easy scoring opportunities.

In terms of attacking dynamics, it boasts a strong central presence with the CAM, 2 Center Midfielder, and a Striker, facilitating fluid combination play among these 5 players. The overlapping Fullbacks add an extra dimension to the attack, making the formation particularly dangerous in offensive transitions.

Despite its offensive prowess, the 5-2-1-2 remains solid defensively because of its 5-back structure. Building up through the Fullbacks is essential in both offensive and defensive phases of play, ensuring a balanced approach to the game.

4-1-2-1-2(2)

Let’s talk about the next formation, the 4-1-2-1-2 narrow. One notable advantage of the 4-1-2-1-2 formation is its effectiveness in building up play through the middle. Instructions for this formation are relatively straightforward. It's recommended to assign one Fullback to Stay Back while the other remains on balanced. The choice of which Fullback to designate as balanced is a matter of personal preference.

EA FC 24 4-1-2-1-2(2)

It's crucial to instruct all CMs and CDMs to cover the center, ensuring defensive solidity in the middle of the pitch. Defensively, the wings may be slightly exposed, necessitating a cautious approach without pressing excessively. The formation's strength lies in its ability to build up through the middle and execute effective counter-attacks.

In terms of offensive tactics, the 4-1-2-1-2 narrow excels in implementing Tiki Taka playstyle. The addition of a CDM enhances the build-up phase, facilitating quick passing sequences. Emphasizing precise passes, particularly with the X button, can overwhelm opponents and create scoring opportunities.

The formation's counter-attack potential is a significant asset. By instructing the CAM to Stay Forward, along with maintaining 3 players upfront, the formation sets the stage for swift and decisive counter-attacks. To make better use of this formation, you can invest some EA FC 24 Coins to improve the abilities of your players.

4-4-2

Now, let's delve into the more balanced formations. Formation number 5 on this list is the 4-4-2. It's a popular choice among many players. In terms of specific tactics, I prefer a defensive Width of 40 and a Depth of 62. Maintain balanced with Direct Passing, a Width of 55, and 5 Player in the Box. The 4-4-2 doesn't require extensive adjustments because of its natural balance.

EA FC 24 4-4-2

When it comes to instructions, I recommend setting all outfield players to come back on defense. Set your Center Midfielders and Fullbacks to Stay Back while Attacking. This setup ensures defensive solidity while maintaining attacking options.

While building up play in this formation may require patience, once you establish your position, you have the luxury of 2 Strikers to choose from. You can create one-on-one situations with the opponent's Center Backs using my Strikers.

This formation poses dilemmas for your opponent, forcing them to choose between defending against both Strikers or committing to one and leaving the other free. By keeping your opponent guessing, you gain a psychological advantage, making the 4-4-2 an ideal choice for those adept at tactical mind games.

4-2-3-1

Moving on, let's discuss the 4-2-3-1 formation. It's the best defensive setup among the formations mentioned. It offers even better defensive solidity than a 5-back formation. This makes it particularly suitable for players who prefer a slower, possession-based style of play and enjoy pressing their opponents.

When it comes to instructions and tactics, they largely mirror those of the 4-4-2. The formation itself is well-balanced and doesn't require significant alterations. It operates effectively with standard tactics, with no extreme depth or width adjustments.

EA FC 24 4-2-3-1

Then, let's delve into why the 4-2-3-1 is so effective. The defensive structure of this formation is exceptional, making it difficult for opponents to create one-on-one situations. When they do manage to penetrate the defense, they often find themselves in challenging positions. This allows you to confidently switch to your Center Back and make a tackle, knowing that the CDM provides support.

The structured nature of the 4-2-3-1 gives you control over defensive situations, allowing you to anticipate and react effectively. This makes it the standout choice in terms of defensive organization and overall structure, making it a perennial favorite in the Weekend League.

4-3-2-1

Now, let's talk about the last formation. The 4-3-2-1 stands out as the best formation in EA FC 24, by a considerable margin. In terms of tactics, there is nothing special. Just choose balanced and Direct Passing. However, the instructions play a crucial role in this formation compared to others.

I always recommend putting one Fullback on balance. I recommend Right Back for this role. It's essential to assign one Center Midfielder to cover the wing. For instance, let the Left Center Midfielder covers the wing, while Right Winger adopts a defensive role. This ensures balance on both sides of the pitch.

This setup effectively transforms the 4-3-2-1 into a 4-4-2 defensively. While attacking, the formation becomes incredibly potent. Defending against a 4-3-2-1 can be challenging, but by configuring it to mimic a 4-4-2 defensively, you create a solid defensive structure. This versatility in both attacking and defensive phases is what makes the 4-3-2-1 preferred formation in EA FC 24.

Ways To Speed ​​Up Ships Leveling In Skull And Bones - Take Rammer As An Example

If you're seeking to quickly level up in Skull and Bones, look no further than this guide. This guide provides an in-depth look at your ships and provides a detailed step by step guide on how to increase your ship ranks. Hopefully these ship rank Skull and Bones tips help you out with understanding how to increase the power of your ship.

Ways To Speed ​​Up Ships Leveling In Skull And Bones - Take Rammer As An Example

Skull and Bones ship rank is important because it's a sign of the strength of your ship and it will determine which enemies and settlements you can take on. Skull and Bones ship level is made up from a few different things, not just the base ship level Skull and Bones but almost everything you can customise on your ship.

Base Rank Of Ships

The first thing is the base rank of the ship that you are sailing in Skull and Bones. For example, the Bombardier and the Pyromanic are going to be rank 1 base. The Sentinel is rank 2. Then when you make it far enough and you start getting the medium ships - the Rammer starts at rank 5.

When you are at an outpost, if you hold down B on a Xbox controller, it basically brings up your management so you can set sail, you can fast travel, you can manage your ship and your cargo, and things like that. If you go into the Manage Ship menu, you are going to see different categories. The furniture, the armor and the weapons are all going to increase your ship rank.

Rammer Ship Leveling

If you have a Rammer with Badar class, the rank will start at rank 1. If you have enough weapons and furniture on it to bring it up to rank 4, then just by unlocking and using the Bombardier, that's automatically a higher rank because it starts at rank 5.

Skull and Bones Rammer Ship

To maximize your ship's level, prioritize crafting a vessel with the highest rank achievable. Then concentrate on enhancing your weapons. So finding the blueprints and getting the resources or the materials, then using the Blacksmiths to craft the weapons and equipping them to your ship.

Next, direct your attention to enhance the armor of your ship. Opt for higher rarity armor, as it offers greater strength and significantly boosts your ship's rank. Consider upgrading your furniture. Larger ships provide more slots for both weapons and furniture, allowing for greater customization and enhancement of your vessel's capabilities.

For instance, on the Rammer Bedar, your ship allows for 1 armor slot, 3 weapon slots and 2 furniture slots. However, larger ships may offer 4 weapon slots and 4 to 5 furniture slots. In addition, higher rarity Skull and Bones Items significantly elevate your ship's level in the gameplay.

Conclusion

When you are in the Manage Ship menu, say you click on your weapons and you click on the slot at the very front. If you look at the bottom right of the screen as you are flicking through the different weapons available, you're going to see the benefit to your rank. So it will have like a little bit of red on the bar if you're going to lose a bit of your rank, and then if you're going to increase your rank a little bit, there will be a tiny bit of green on that white bar.

In essence, your ship's level is primarily determined by its base rank, as well as the quality of your weapons, armor, and furniture in Skull and Bones. Therefore, the quickest method to elevate your ship's rank in Skull and Bones is by obtaining blueprints and gathering materials to craft superior weapons and gear.

List Of The Greatest Rebuilds In MLB The Show 24 Franchise Mode - Pure & Outside The Box Rebuilds

Here is my compilation of teams that offer engaging rebuilding experiences for MLB The Show 24 Franchise Mode this year. I will present 5 pure rebuild teams and another 5 outside the box ones for MLB The Show 24. If you have a preference for any of these teams, ensure you have an ample supply of MLB The Show 24 Stubs. You'll encounter a lengthy journey to progress and enhance your chosen team.

List Of The Greatest Rebuilds In MLB The Show 24 Franchise Mode - Pure & Outside The Box Rebuilds

Pure Rebuilds

Let's commence with the discussion on teams engaged in pure rebuilding efforts.

5. Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies stand at the fifth position in this regard.

MLB The Show 24 Colorado Rockies

My experience with the Rockies in MLB The Show 22 was quite enjoyable. However, presently, I believe they might be one of the weakest teams in baseball. While they possess promising talents like Nolan Jones, who boasted a .297 batting average with 20 home runs, indicating potential stardom, there are signs of decline among former key players such as Ryan McMahon, German Marquez, and Charlie Blackmon. 

Notably, Kris Bryant's contract is proving to be less favorable over time, akin to spoiled milk. The prospects like Chase Dollander, Adael Amador, and Yanquiel Fernandez are now looked upon with hope, whereas Zach Vennaro, Benny Montgomery, and Joe Rock, who once held promise, seem to be fading into obscurity. 

With no World Series victories to their name, the Rockies might find themselves on a prolonged quest for championship glory.

4. Kansas City Royals

In fourth place, we have the Kansas City Royals.

MLB The Show 24 Kansas City Royals

The Royals primarily rely on Bobby Witt Jr. as their standout player, which is reassuring given their long-term contract with him. However, aside from Witt, individuals like Brady Singer and Vinnie Pasquantino seem to be stagnating in their development, while Maikel Garcia struggles to make significant progress on his own. Formerly highly touted prospects such as Kyle Isbel, Chris Bubic, Asa Lacy, M.J. Melendez, and Nick Pratto are now showing signs that they may not reach star status. 

The initial challenge lies in having Witt Jr. as a cornerstone superstar to build around. However, achieving success with a midmarket budget poses its own difficulties. Reviving the fortunes of this 2015 World Series-winning team presents an intriguing challenge.

3. Oakland Athletics

In third place, we find the Oakland Athletics.

MLB The Show 24 Oakland Athletics

Firstly, one strategy could involve relocating them to Las Vegas and providing them with a new stadium, as I simulated in MLB The Show 23.

Secondly, their performance has been lackluster. However, due to their struggles last season, they had the opportunity to test numerous young players and unearth talents like Zack Gelof, who could serve as building blocks for the future. Esteury Ruiz and Shea Langeliers are other potential candidates for this role, alongside Tyler Soderstrom, who shows immense promise. Beyond these individuals, the rebuilding process will heavily rely on adept drafting, especially given the scarcity of standout prospects beyond Jacob Wilson. 

Moreover, the constrained budget of just $89 million adds another layer of challenge. This scenario presents an ideal opportunity for a Moneyball approach to rebuilding the team.

2. Chicago White Sox

In second place, we have the Chicago White Sox.

MLB The Show 24 Chicago White Sox

While I previously mentioned the Colorado Rockies as a contender for the title of the worst team in baseball, at present, my inclination would be to wager on the White Sox to have the fewest wins this year, if I were a betting individual. Luis Robert Jr. presents an excellent foundation to build upon, boasting formidable power at 26 years old, right in his prime. 

However, his contract spans only four years, potentially posing a challenge as the team might require more time to develop fully by the time his contract nears expiration. Players like Eloy Jimenez, Garrett Crochet, Michael Kopech, Yoan Moncada, Andrew Vaughn, and Gavin Sheets, among others, were once anticipated to blossom into stars for the White Sox but have instead settled into inconsistent starting roles. Despite acquiring Drew Thorpe, Jairo Iriarte, and Samuel Zavala as B-level prospects in the Cease Trade, doubts linger regarding the team's ability to nurture them adequately, given the departure of talent over the years. 

Personally, I lack confidence in their developmental capabilities. Nonetheless, can they ultimately achieve success? That remains to be seen.

1. Los Angeles Angels

My top choice for the most effective pure rebuild in MLB The Show 24 is the Los Angeles Angels.

MLB The Show 24 Los Angeles Angels

This selection stems from what I consider the most compelling narrative in the game this year. In my MLB The Show 21 Marlins Franchise, there was significant backlash when I traded Mike Trout later on. Critics deemed it unrealistic. Interestingly, now there’s a growing chorus urging the Angels to part ways with Trout. However, Trout remains a quietly exceptional superstar who hasn’t expressed any desire for a trade.

You’re confronted with two options: either build the team around Trout, albeit with limited assets, particularly with Anthony Rendon consuming $30 million as a declining player with subpar potential, or trade Trout and kickstart the rebuilding process, considering he’s now 32 years old.

I believe the Angels possess the most compelling storyline among these five teams because they haven’t won a World Series since 2002, and their last playoff victory dates back to the ALCS in 2009, shortly after Trout began his career in 2011. Despite having either Trout or Anthony Rendon, widely considered among the top players in baseball for the past 13 seasons, the franchise has failed to capitalize on their talent. 

What they truly need is a capable executive who can navigate the complexities of rebuilding the franchise. Could you be that person?

Outside The Box 

Now that we’ve addressed the pure rebuilding strategies, let’s explore some Outside The Box thinking rebuilds.

5. New York Yankees

In fifth place, we have the New York Yankees. 

MLB The Show 24 New York Yankees

Before you dismiss this choice, hear me out. While Gerrit Cole undoubtedly brings value, his contract stretches until he’s 38 years old, which poses concerns for the long-term vision. Similarly, Nestor Cortes Jr., at 29, will soon seek lucrative free-agent deals. The signing of Carlos Rodon appears questionable, considering his contract extends until he’s 36.

The Yankees lack promising pitching prospects, both in the rotation and the bullpen. While Clay Holmes excels as a closer, his impending free agency at 32 raises uncertainties. The absence of a future catcher is notable, and Anthony Rizzo’s contract may not align with the team’s timeline. Gleyber Torres, set to become a free agent at 28, may not warrant a lengthy contract extension. DJ LeMahieu’s contract, a previous misstep, concludes in three years.

Looking ahead, Anthony Volpe emerges as a cornerstone player, with Alex Verdugo providing stability for the interim. Aaron Judge, the veteran presence, will retire as a Yankee at the conclusion of this rebuilding phase, leaving prospects like Dominguez and Jones to inherit the mantle. Juan Soto’s impending free agency presents an opportunity, although caution is advised to regard lengthy contracts.

The contract of designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton, ranging from $18 to $31 million annually until he’s 39, raises eyebrows. However, it indicates the potential to shed cumbersome contracts within five years. At that point, Judge would be 36, Volpe 27, and with diligent prospect accumulation, the Yankees, who haven’t claimed a championship since 2009, could resemble the storied teams of Joe Torre’s era. 

The objective isn’t merely to secure one championship, but to establish a dynasty reminiscent of past glories.

4. San Francisco Giants

In fourth place, we find the San Francisco Giants.

MLB The Show 24 San Francisco Giants

The Giants have been striving to maintain competitiveness, often resorting to frequent free-agent acquisitions. However, this approach lacks sustainability and has resulted in a cycle of mediocrity, trapping them in MLB’s purgatory. Apart from Kyle Harrison and Marco Luciano, the Giants lack promising prospects in their pipeline. 

It’s a team that requires clear direction, although they consistently provide ample budgetary resources to facilitate strategic maneuvers. While they do invest financially, their spending decisions often fail to yield optimal results.

3. Minnesota Twins

In third place, we have the Minnesota Twins.

MLB The Show 24 Minnesota Twins

Minnesota Twins present an intriguing case. They consistently perform well enough to contend within the Central division, yet they often fall short of World Series aspirations. 

Interestingly, it seems that MLB The Show might have a supporter within their ranks, as the game tends to simulate their performance quite favorably, despite historical struggles in postseason success. Their roster boasts several commendable players, yet none that I would categorize as long-term solutions or superstars of the league. With the exception of potentially Royce Lewis and Edouard Julien, the Twins possess only a handful of standout prospects in Brooks Lee, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Walker Jenkins. 

However, I believe this team will require a considerable infusion of talent to vie with formidable competitors such as the Astros, Rangers, Rays, or even the Orioles within the American League.

2. Milwaukee Brewers

In my rankings, the Milwaukee Brewers hold the second position.

MLB The Show 24 Milwaukee Brewers

This presents an opportunity for excitement. Firstly, funding has been allocated for the renovation of American Family Field, offering potential enjoyment for those interested in Stadium Creator. However, regarding the team itself, there appears to be a lack of clear direction for the Brewers. Many of their key players are either at an average level or slightly above average, or are on the decline as they exit their prime years. Jackson Chourio, a standout prospect in baseball, offers promise as a cornerstone for the franchise. Beyond him, there's a need to identify and develop additional talent.

Fortunately, apart from the Christian Yelich contract, there are few constraints hindering the ability to make strategic moves and shape the team according to one's vision.

1. New York Mets

My top unconventional rebuild choice in MLB The Show 24 is the New York Mets.

MLB The Show 24 New York Mets

Despite their substantial budget, which is actually lower than that of the Yankees in the video game, there are several factors to consider. Let's delve into them. 

  • The starting pitching roster skews toward the older side, with Senga being the sole long-term signing at four years, and a lack of promising prospects. While their relief pitching is decent, there's a scarcity of prospects in that department as well. It's challenging to find quality prospects in the game. 
  • Edwin Diaz, while a talented closer, missed the entirety of last season and is earning $20 million until he reaches 35, which isn't particularly promising. 
  • Francisco Alvarez's power at catcher is a highlight, offering excitement for New York. 
  • Alonzo, undoubtedly one of the premier power hitters in the game, has no contract after this season. Whether to trade him, let him walk, or sign him presents intriguing possibilities. 
  • Jeff McNeil's extended and relatively high-paying contract, coupled with mediocre prospects behind him, poses a dilemma. 
  • Brett Baty may have been promoted prematurely, and despite his lackluster performance, the Mets have limited options now. 
  • Lindor, while once a beloved player, has a hefty $34 million contract until he turns 38, which might not be justifiable. 
  • Having Acuna and Williams in the wings exacerbates the situation. 
  • Nimmo, although a fan favorite, has a staggering $20 million commitment for the next seven years, raising eyebrows. 
  • The search for a center fielder has been ongoing, with Drew Gilbert potentially filling the void now that Starling Marte's tenure is ending. 

Fortunately, Marte's contract only has two seasons remaining. The Mets' tendency to overspend on less stellar players or offer lengthy deals to good players could impede prospect development. In essence, the Mets are in disarray with a dearth of prospects.

How About This Insane Detonating Arrow Explosive Trap Marksman In Last Epoch 1.0?

Today comes a new Last Epoch 1.0 guide that dives deep into the art of crafting an incredibly formidable Detonating Arrow Explosive Trap Marksman. I will provide you with all the essential information necessary to master this highly potent build.

How About This Insane Detonating Arrow Explosive Trap Marksman In Last Epoch 1.0?

Pros & Cons

Pros: It offers an outrageous amount of damage with easy access to scaling it further. You will have very fast movement speed thanks to an almost permanent haste buff with high effectiveness. You can easily reach high amounts of health paired with excellent health recovery and solid damage mitigation. A pair of commonly found unique daggers is the only requirement to start, and you can easily level up with bows.

Cons: There are also some disadvantages. The damage is inherently delayed by throwing the trap and waiting for the arrow detonation. The sources of health are fairly limited, and playing without gear and idols can be annoying.

Gear Setup

The only requirement is a pair of unique daggers, which are necessary to eliminate the Mana cost of your Detonating Arrow. Without them, you can use a traditional bow setup to level up, but it won’t be as powerful. The unique amulets offer useful defensive bonuses but are not required. This build is suitable for players who don't possess a substantial amount of Last Epoch Gold.

The Jelkhor’s Blast Knife is a unique dagger that converts the Detonating Arrow into a melee skill, offering an insane amount of damage for this skill and lowering its Mana cost. When you use 2 of them, you will gain tons of damage and eliminate the Mana cost completely, which is very important with such a high trigger rate. It is very easy to reach absurd amounts of damage, so you should focus mostly on your defense.

Last Epoch 1.0 Jelkhor’s Blast Knife

At first, the Bleeding Heart is a great amulet option to use. It enhances your throwing speed and provides you with a vital leech for sustenance. It is a common unique, so it is easy to get one with good legendary potential.

Omnis is a very convenient amulet that can grant you over 300% total resistances and boost the level of all your skills. It makes stacking health much easier as you don’t need to include that much resistance on your remaining gear.

To improve your damage, you should seek critical strikes, flat damage for melee attacks, and throwing speed. Do not get confused by throwing damage. It’s specific to Explosive Traps, not your Detonating Arrow. On your rings, it is essential to lower the throwing Mana costs. Ideally, you should source your health leech from the Stolen Tithe relic, but it might be hard to find one with good modifiers at first.

At later stages of the game, improving your survivability is much more important. Focus on increasing health, capping critical strike avoidance, improving dodge, armor, resistance, and endurance. It is possible to opt for the Ward version for better protection against single hits, but it has worse sustain and requires more unique items with good Legendary Potential bonuses to work.

Skills & Specializations

Detonating Arrow: The Detonating Arrow is your major source of damage in this build. We convert it into a melee attack, but since it is triggered by traps, you can essentially use it from a long distance. The Arcing Blast is a very important notable for your clear speed. It adds the Lightning Tendrils to the explosion.

Last Epoch 1.0 Detonating Arrow

The Weak Spot applies the Critical Vulnerability, making it much easier to cap your critical strike chance. The remaining notables are very straightforward. They just boost your damage, which is why additional levels of your daggers are very useful.

Explosive Trap: Upon detonation, this trap will activate adjacent traps, subsequently initiating the Detonating Arrow. Notably, the initial trap does not initiate the arrow's activation, necessitating the simultaneous deployment of multiple traps. The Explosive Trap notable is pivotal, facilitating the activation of Detonating Arrow.

You will also need the Traps corresponding conversion nodes and Clustered Explosives for 5 traps thrown at once. The Subtle Sabotage and Jelkhor's Blueprint are very helpful in reducing the Mana costs. The Trap Sprinkler and its upgrades grant a high chance to create a new trap upon detonation.

Shift: The Shift serves as an invaluable skill, swiftly propelling you toward a designated area while providing beneficial bonuses along the way. Shadowslip renders you impervious to harm during the shift. Through Swift Recovery, Shadow Recuperation, and Breathing Technique, you'll recover health and Mana.

The Molting effect will purify any adverse ailments affecting you. Following the use of the shift ability, you will experience a surge in speed, courtesy of the Arcane Momentum notable. Lasting Presence generates a shadow clone, providing supplementary damage.

Net: The Net stands as a powerful skill. When hurled, it enhances your DPS for a brief duration while slowing and enfeebling your adversaries. It can serve as a means to evade incoming attacks if preferred. The primary allure of this skill lies in the Leading the Hunt and Rapid Throws nodes.

Last Epoch 1.0 Net

Upon activation of this skill, your damage output increases by 10%, and your throwing speed receives a 20% boost for a duration of 6 seconds. Entangled adversaries will suffer reduced physical damage and acquire 3 stacks of Frailty, diminishing their damage output even more. The Bold Throw allows you to eliminate the backflip or modify jump behavior using alternative notables.

Smoke Bomb: The Smoke Bomb exhibits considerable potency as a defensive maneuver. It generates a veil of smoke that grants both offensive and defensive advantages, while also spawning Shadow Clones at regular intervals to emulate your actions. Enhanced melee damage is conferred by the Smoke Blades as you remain ensconced within the smokescreen.

The Umbral Assault generates shadow clones to further amplify your damage output. The Moonlight Bomb bestows upon you a stack of Silver Shroud, ensuring evasion of incoming attacks, even in the absence of natural dodge abilities.

Passive Skills

You’ll be using up most of your points in the initial Rogue skill tree. The Twin Blade holds the utmost significance in this build. It allows you to use 2 melee weapons at the same time at the cost of taking slightly increased damage when dual-wielding. You will gain all bonuses from each weapon.

  • The Evasion provides a significant damage reduction, but only when you are moving. By wielding 2 daggers, Critical Precision provides a substantial increase in critical strike chance.
  • The Sapping Strikes are very important early on, as you can use your Detonating Arrow manually to refill your mana to throw more traps.
  • The Agility grants you haste on hit, which you will have almost permanently. The remaining passives will boost your glancing blow chance, dodge, health, or dexterity.

In the Bladedancer passive tree, you will get even more chance to receive a glancing blow and a bit of movement speed. With the Cloak of Shadows, your Glancing Blow chance is significantly boosted. You can convert your dodge chance of an even more Glancing Blow chance for a more reliable defense via Apostasy. The Shroud of Dusk grants you Dusk Shrouds when you’re hit. If you find yourself manually using the Detonating Arrow often in the beginning, the Veil of Night is a good option for you.

Last Epoch 1.0 Bladedancer

In the Falconer skill tree, you will gain minor bonuses to your attack speed, dodge, mana regeneration, and damage. The Raptor’s Wings grant you a chance to gain haste and improve your damage if you have that buff active. We didn’t spend a single point on the Marksman Mastery, as most passives there do not work with daggers. But you still need that Mastery to unlock the Detonating Arrow active skills tree.

Idols & Blessings

You can obtain a significant amount of health with your Stout Lagonian Idols, which can also grant resistance or armor. If you prefer to get more damage, look for critical strike chance or multiplier while dual-wielding, armor shred chance, throwing speed for explosive traps, or some increases to your damage.

The Health Leech blessings from the Black Sun are somewhat underwhelming, yet still preferable to having none at all. Alternatively, you can prioritize enhancing your leech rate or getting enough critical strike chance or multiplier.

While the blessing from the Age of Winter might serve as the sole means of boosting armor in this setup, you also have the option to select physical or cold resistance if those are more pressing needs. In the Spirits of Fire Timeline, you have the choice between fire resistance, armor, dodge, or endurance, depending on your current priorities.

The Reign of Dragons offers you the melee Health Leech, which you need for your sustenance if you don’t have it elsewhere. All options in the Ending the Storm Timeline are related to lightning, but you should aim for the Lightning Resistance Shred to significantly improve your damage against enemies.

How Pay To Win Is Now In Throne And Liberty & How Will It Affect Worldwide Release?

The concept of Pay to Win, prevalent in the MMORPG genre for decades, has caused the downfall of numerous beloved MMORPGs. It stems from the greed of developers and publishers, who incorporate these systems solely to generate short-term profits, often at the expense of their community and player base.

While Pay to Win may be embraced and even encouraged in certain regions, the majority of players vehemently oppose it. Although there has been a gradual acceptance of minor Pay to Win elements in recent years, players remain cautious and skeptical until assurances of a completely fair playing field are met.

In light of this, I aim to discuss the impact of Pay to Win in Throne and Liberty. I will explore its detrimental effects on gameplay and its potential ramifications for the game’s global release and monetization strategies.

How Pay To Win Is Now In Throne And Liberty & How Will It Affect Worldwide Release?

Expectations Regarding “Pay To Win”

There are several expectations regarding Pay to Win that should be noted.

Throne and Liberty adopts a free-to-play model. It’s unrealistic to expect that a completely free-to-play game would offer no advantages to paying players. Even established titles like World of Warcraft, which require subscription fees and expansion purchases, feature Pay to Win elements such as WoW Token. However, the primary concern with Pay to Win should revolve around whether free-to-play players can progress meaningfully without paying and if any content is unfairly gated from them.

In the case of Throne and Liberty, free-to-play players can indeed access and complete all content within the game. The game ensures a path of meaningful progression with Pay to Win elements that are barely noticeable. Below is a breakdown of everything related to Pay to Win in Throne and Liberty:

Currency Systems: Lucent & Sollant Explained

In Throne and Liberty, Lucent and Sollant serve as the primary currencies.

Throne and Liberty Lucent functions as the main currency for trading, akin to gold in WoW or silver in BDO. It can also be acquired through real-money purchases. On the other hand, Sollant, similar to silver in Lost Ark, is predominantly obtained through in-game activities. It may also be found in small quantities from packages and battle passes, mirroring the system in Lost Ark.

For those familiar with Lost Ark, the limited benefits and availability of Sollant in the in-game store may not justify spending real money. The store will feature packages and battle passes, offering cosmetics and consumables that can be purchased using real money.

Throne and Liberty Lucent

Marketplace Dynamics

In the marketplace of Throne and Liberty, Lucent serves as the primary currency. Here, you can purchase various base gear pieces, recipes, and materials essential for crafting.

Similar to the mechanics in BDO, these gear pieces are initially in their basic form and require enhancement later on. However, unlike BDO, each gear piece in Throne and Liberty comes with randomized traits. This means that acquiring or crafting multiple pieces of the same gear can prove advantageous but comes with significant costs.

To illustrate, players have the option to transfer traits from a base gear piece to an upgraded version of the same gear using Sollant. This system is designed to be an endgame gearing mechanism. At present, drawing comparisons between this system and others, like the one in Metin 2, seems inaccurate.

Metin 2 features a rollable bonus system that significantly impacts various aspects of the game and offers a wider range of bonuses to reroll. Importantly, the gameplay in Throne and Liberty has not been restricted based on these stats. While having fully maxed out traits can provide substantial benefits, particularly in PvP scenarios, the impact is somewhat mitigated by the predominant zerg fest nature of main PvP content. In essence, fully maxed out gear has minimal effect in these situations.

Thus far, this system has not significantly altered the player base’s experience, and it is not anticipated to do so until the late game, where min-maxing becomes more prevalent with the availability of legendary gear and traits.

Throne and Liberty Marketplace Dynamics

Bottlenecks

In any MMORPG featuring a marketplace, bottlenecks are strategically implemented to hinder users with excessive currency from advancing without engaging in gameplay.

Currently, in Korea, Sollant poses a significant bottleneck, hindering players from smoothly transitioning to cash-off. While numerous methods exist for acquiring large sums of Sollant, many of them do not involve active gameplay but instead rely on utilizing the marketplace, which demands premium currency.

This situation swiftly escalates into a problem as players realize that although Lucent can be earned through regular gameplay, the alternative of spending countless hours grinding for gear or delving into open-world dungeons hardly appeals to the average casual player seeking enjoyment.

Growth Stones operate similarly, contributing to the bottlenecking of progression. Although they can be obtained through in-game activities, the quantities available are often meager. Consequently, players may opt to bypass the grinding process by purchasing select materials for crafting Growth Stones using Lucent in the marketplace.

This reliance on premium currency for virtually all gear upgrades underscores a significant issue within the game.

Death Mechanism

In Throne and Liberty, each death incurred in PvP or PvE results in a 5% loss of experience points (XP) and triggers a debuff stack. Accumulating 20 deaths increases this debuff stack, decreasing both damage output and movement speed by 10%.

Throne and Liberty Death Mechanism

For instance, if a player dies 40 times, the debuff escalates to 20%. However, XP loss due to death can be recovered within 10 days by visiting a restoration NPC. This can be achieved either through utilizing the three daily free restorations or exchanging XP for Sollant. Notably, the cost of restoration in Sollant rises in tandem with the amount of XP to be recovered, particularly at higher levels.

Moreover, the restoration mechanic doubles as a means to remove the debuff. For instance, to reduce two stacks to one, players must ensure their pending restorations are under 40. While restoration coins offer an alternative, it is crucial for players to exercise caution with Sollant spending, as it can lead to bottlenecks and exacerbate Pay to Win dynamics within the game.

F2P (Free To Play)

With all considerations accounted for, it's important to highlight that everything in Throne and Liberty can be obtained through gameplay alone. Additionally, concerning the previously mentioned traits, Throne and Liberty implements a Blessing or Pity system. Accumulating 500 Blessings ensures a 100% success chance when leveling up traits. This endgame system has not had a significant impact on gameplay or acted as a barrier to entry for players.

While the concept of a shared market currency may raise concerns for some, it's worth noting that purely Free-to-Play players have access to all Lucent items in the cash shop without spending any money. This ensures that cosmetics are not exclusive to paying players.

Moreover, the current state of large-scale PvP illustrates how minimal the impact of gear advantage truly is. Despite the potential for imbalance, particularly in matches involving 200 versus 200 players, gear advantage remains relatively insignificant. However, it's essential to monitor this aspect for future developments, as seen with PvP Guild Islands in Lost Ark, where gear significance shifted over time.

Conclusion

From an objective standpoint, Pay to Win elements exist in Throne and Liberty. While investing real money does confer strength, it does not disrupt gameplay entirely.

Nevertheless, Free-to-Play players may feel disheartened by the presence of "whales" who can bypass the grind and access top-tier gear. This dynamic becomes more pronounced if Throne and Liberty adopts a system akin to Lost Ark, which continually introduces new gear and upgrades, potentially widening the gap over time.

Alternatively, a shift towards endgame optimizations providing marginal power differences could foster a healthier gaming environment, where Pay to Win elements serve as a flex or endgame objective rather than a necessity.

The westernization of Throne and Liberty offers promise, as seen with improvements made in Lost Ark's transition. If Pay to Win elements become even less conspicuous, there is reason to be optimistic about the game's reception in the West.

These Essential Details You Need To Know About Skull And Bones Season 1- Raging Tides

Step into the world of Skull and Bones Season 1, which is known as Raging Tides with this complete guide! Join in as we will delve into everything you need to know to conquer Season 1 activities and gain an edge over others.

I’ll guide you through the crucial gameplay updates, such as the introduction of William Blackwood and the Smuggler Pass. Discover how to obtain and effectively utilize the new rewards - Barque ship, Carronade cannons, La Potence Schematics, and the Wailing Ward armor to enhance your quest.

These Essential Details You Need To Know About Skull And Bones Season 1 - Raging Tides

Philippe La Peste

This season starts with the infamous pirate Philippe La Peste arriving in the Indian Ocean from the Caribbean, along with his Fleet of Pestilence ships. He’s on a quest for a cure to a Curse afflicting him and aims to seize control over the helm known as a 'Plague King' for his plague and poison bombs.

La Peste is a formidable threat, casting a shadow over the Indian Ocean. Our objective is to confront him and his fleet, to liberate the Indian Ocean from his dangerous to confront La Peste and his fleet.

William Blackwood

Of course, we won’t be acting alone. We get support from a new ally - William Blackwood, who comes to the Indian Ocean, setting up in our 2 hubs, ready to challenge La Peste. Driven by his sponsorship aggravation with La Peste, Williams is to assist us in our mission to eliminate this menacing threat. William comes with a unique set of equipment specifically designed to target La Peste.

These items cannot be simply purchased. They must be earned through the Smuggler Pass activity. Featuring rewards across 3 categories: ShipmasterQuartermaster, and Gunner Master, each category requires progression to unlock new items, including the new Barque ship that can heal itself and nearby allies.

Smuggler Pass

The Smuggler Pass is introduced as a new Skull and Bones tab where you’ll find all the necessary information to progress. In the Smuggler Pass and earn Smuggler Marks, you’ll need to gain infamy ranks and complete special weekly and monthly challenges presented by William.

Skull And Bones Season 1 Smuggler Pass

These Smuggler Marks can be then used to redeem rewards and obtain the new equipment we just mentioned. To unlock all 4 seasonal items, you need at least 70 Smuggler Marks out of the total 90 available. This means you have to plan which category to unlock first. Here is the recommended part:

Carronade Cannons

Start by focusing on the Gunner Master category to gain access to the Carronade cannons. These are Level 120 cannons, and you receive 2 guns unlocking this path. This is the quickest way to upgrade your ship to Level 12 if you haven’t reached this level yet. However, it requires 30 Smuggler Marks to unlock it.

La Potence Schematics I

For the second item to unlock, I recommend the Quartermaster category, focusing on the La Potence Schematics, which require only 20 Smuggler Marks. This schematic reveals the weak points of La Peste shapes and additionally grants 10% of critical damage for all other ships.

Without it, neither La Peste himself nor any plaguebringer will have vulnerable sports for critical damage. Keep in mind that this schematic is a minor furniture piece. Consider whether you want to trade in your existing furniture for the new one or not.

Wailing Ward Armor

The last category to focus on is the Shipmaster, featuring the Wailing Ward, which offers protection for plague damage. However, this should be your lowest priority unless you lack other Level 400 health.

Skull And Bones Season 1 Wailing Ward

The reason being aside from combat against La Peste, there are limited scenarios where this armor proves advantages. You’ll find more benefits with the armor like Ouroboros or Black Prince. But if you’re in need of the Level 400 armor, this might be your quickest option.

New Barque Ship

As for the Barque ship, it’s available for 45 Smuggler Marks independent of category. This ship is impressive. It stands out featuring the ability to heal itself and nearby allies, plus it boards a huge cargo capacity. I'm sure you will enjoy using the ship.

Battle Pass Tips

For optimal progress this season and to accelerate getting Smuggler Marks, make sure to prioritize the weekly and monthly challenges. For instance, William Blackwood contract involves defeating plaguebringer ships and bringing him special drops from them. This means you need to around hunting for the small ships marked with the plague skull symbol, sink them, and collect their loot.

You also have to tackle the new elite warship events where you’re tasked with sinking a group of ships within a specified time. This can be quite challenging to do solo since they’re pretty tanky and demand a coordinated effort for a successful takedown.

Don’t miss out on the monthly events that pop out at the specified time. Completing these events will earn you a hefty amount of infamy points, thereby speeding up your journey to earn more Smuggler Marks.

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