Following the October 21 update, players hunting on Sky Island have begun searching for new hunting spots. With the increased monster stats, reviews surfaced stating that characters who previously hunted in Zone 6 were now struggling to even land attacks in Zone 1. On the other hand, EXP rewards have increased significantly, leading to feedback that relocating to different spots yields far more EXP than before.
Inter-World matching for Sky Island has also begun. As players from different worlds gather in the same region, competition over new bosses and hunting grounds has emerged as a key focal point. With the addition of the Halloween event dungeon and new equipment crafting, players have begun adjusting to the modified hunting environment and working to secure new rewards. Here is a look at player reactions to the changes in Sky Island's hunting difficulty, inter-world competition, and the newly added event and growth content.
From Rooms to the Field? Sky Island Hunting Difficulty Rises
The most distinct change following the update occurred on Sky Island. Monster levels, stats, and EXP rewards were increased, leading to reactions that existing hunting spots have become difficult to use.
The actual change felt by players is substantial. Reviews reported that characters who used to hunt in Zone 6 room areas now miss their attacks even in Zone 1 room areas, making hunting difficult. Entering room areas with ordinary stats has become so tough that hunting in the open field of Sky Island is now recommended. The room areas in each zone of Sky Island have now positioned themselves as top-tier hunting grounds, surpassing even Floor 3 of the Tower of God.
On the bright side, Nine and EXP granted by each monster have been buffed, allowing players to earn solid rewards even through field hunting rather than in room areas. Since these adjustments have brought significant changes to Sky Island, it has become important to choose spots where your character can hunt stably rather than sticking to previous zones.
Sky Island's First Inter-World Matchmaking Sparks Full-Fledged Competition
Along with the adjustments to Sky Island hunting grounds, Inter-World matching was implemented. Shifting away from the previous system where servers within the same world competed against one another, servers from different worlds now share the same Sky Island. In this event matching, players from distinct worlds such as Caltheon and Lindel gathered in one place, and with the addition of the new boss Celestial Harpy Queen, competition around bosses expanded further.
From the very first day of matchmaking, faction battles broke out across several servers. Community members shared various battle reports, ranging from one faction completely dominating to back-and-forth trades of victories and defeats. In particular, some players noted that the intense, back-and-forth clashes were entertaining.
Random teleportation to Sky Island's secluded areas was also improved. Its cooldown was reduced from 60 seconds to 3 seconds, and the cost was decreased from 50,000 Nine to 20,000 Nine. Given that players previously voiced difficulty entering secluded areas last week, it has now become much easier to attempt multiple teleports.
However, with higher monster stats and hunting grounds shared across different worlds, both general hunting and boss competition are taking on a whole new dynamic. This event matching period runs until October 28, after which the regular season is scheduled to begin.
Halloween Event Dungeon Forest of Wraiths, Pumpkin Buckets, and Crafting Materials
The Halloween event dungeon 'Forest of Wraiths' opened its doors on October 21. Characters level 45 and above can enter for a default of 5 minutes per day, and the Halloween Candies obtained inside can be used to craft the new Rare Spiritual Body 'Pumpkin Bucket' as well as various material chests.
Crafting a Pumpkin Bucket Selection Ticket requires 50 Halloween Candies. Material drop rates are relatively generous, with reports of players completing the craft in a single day by utilizing two Squad characters. Any remaining candies can be spent crafting High-Grade and Medium-Grade Material Chests.
However, some players expressed disappointment regarding the event reward line-up. Unlike previous events, highly consumed items such as Enhancement Scrolls were omitted from the rewards, leading to feedback that there is little worth grinding for once the Pumpkin Bucket is crafted.
Reviews also noted that monsters in the event dungeon are stronger than anticipated. With instances of a Level 50 Ranger dying after entering, players should double-check their potion settings and inventory stock. During the event period, the Pumpkin Bucket grants a +15% EXP Gain effect, which will adjust to 7% after the event ends. The event runs until maintenance on November 4.
Divine Accessories Added: Enhancement Burden vs. Practical Utility?
The Divine grade for Sovereign God accessories has been newly introduced. Crafting requires two existing Sovereign God accessories of the same type and enhancement level, and certain stats for existing Sovereign God accessories enhanced to +6 or higher have also been buffed. Since crafting high-enhancement Divine accessories requires securing and upgrading additional base accessories, material preparation has emerged as a crucial factor.
Opinions regarding the practical utility of Divine accessories have also emerged across the community. The +5 Bracelets in particular caught the attention of players seeking PvP stats, while those focused primarily on PvE hunting are weighing whether to craft them based on their personal playstyle.
Meanwhile, on some servers, listings for Sovereign God Bracelets enhanced to +5 or higher rapidly disappeared following the update. The introduction of new accessories appears to have driven up interest in existing Sovereign God accessories as well.
Research Stone and Trait Stone Passes Released, High Interest in Research Stones
With the October 21 update, new passes granting Research Stones and Trait Stones were added. While both passes offer essential progression resources, community feedback generally rates the utility of the Research Stone Pass higher.
Research Stones are crucial for players who still have many research projects left to complete. On the other hand, Trait Stones vary in utility as some players have already finished their main traits. Consequently, many advise prioritizing the Research Stone Pass over the Trait Stone Pass when considering a purchase.
The Trait Stone Pass remains a viable option for players who still need to develop traits or reconfigure existing ones. While the value of both passes depends on individual character progression, player interest is currently centered on the Research Stone Pass.
Episode 2 New Region Hellond Teased as Top-Tier Hunting Ground
In the developer notes released on October 21, details regarding November's major update, 'Episode 2', were partially unveiled. Hellond was introduced as a new top-tier region, with the development team showcasing previews of the area. Interest has gathered around whether Undead Damage Boost, one of the game's monster-specific bonus damage stats, will be effective in Hellond. However, specific details such as whether Undead monsters will actually spawn, entry requirements, and obtainable rewards have not yet been disclosed.
A new class, the Lancer, will also make its debut. Following the introduction of the Healer class in August, the Lancer features the ability to utilize both melee and ranged attacks. While attention is focused on how it will bridge both combat styles and what role it will play in PvE and PvP, detailed skills and playstyle mechanics have yet to be revealed.
Restoration Tickets and Re-synthesis Tickets are also scheduled to arrive in Episode 2. The developers noted that the Re-synthesis Ticket in particular is being prepared in a novel format, though specific usage requirements and distribution methods remain undisclosed.
Speculation has stirred within the community over whether players need to attempt Legendary synthesis to qualify for the Re-synthesis Ticket or if prior failed synthesis records will count. As the target items for Restoration Tickets also remain unknown, curiosity surrounds the actual scope of both items. Further details are expected to be shared in future announcements.
