Ascension Update

Patch Number: 1.3.4
Alpha Date: September 14, 2023
Beta Date: TBD
Release Date or Window: TBD
We're excited to announce the Ascension update featuring an epic new encounter of Sae Jiko, a revamped introductory experience, and various godstone fixes.
New Content
- Added the new Ascended Sae Jiko Raid Boss:
Barely escaping death, Sae Jiko, leader of the Skyland Exiled forces, mounts her final defense against the Zenithean Agents inside the Essotech Citadel. The hopes and dreams of The Exiled rest on her shoulders, but the ambition of The Last City knows no bounds. Rise to the occasion, defeat the Ascended Sae Jiko!

- Accept the new "True Citadel" quest from the "Ascended" NPC in the Skyland Citadel Courtyard area to unlock the "Essotech Citadel" Raid!
- Note: The quest progression and iLvl requirements to unlock the raid will be lowered during Alpha/Beta for testing purposes only. Attunement and iLvl requirements will be adjusted to intended values at launch

- Added new Essotech armor sets for all classes that accompany the weapons introduced in 1.3.3
- Note: Current infusion costs (including costs for the existing Essotech Weapons) are in flux, and are planned to change after the Alpha/Beta period
Feature/System Updates
- Added a revamped introductory experience that's much shorter and highlights important basics like gliding, grappling hook and basic combat. Note: At launch only a portion of users will get the revamped introductory experience. During Alpha/Beta the new experience will be enabled for everyone
- Rearranged points of interest in the Skyland base camp and added late game crafting stations
- Invulnerability/unstaggerability is readable on enemy nameplates now
- Damage numbers on invulnerable enemies show 0 now
In preparation of the godstone revamp, the team made various fixes to existing godstones to better match their descriptions and intended effects.
- Fixed Ghost Step status effect so it matches its description
- Fixed Rip and Tear upgrade on Sunder godstone never giving a multistrike
- Fixed Protectors Vow giving incorrect amount of shield
- Fixed Pillar Of Earth godstone not knocking back enemies
- Fixed Foe Seeker threat effect to apply 40% as described
- Wither and Rot - Changed description from "drain" to "slow"
- Divine Favors - Changed the description of the modifier on Divine Blade to accurately reflect what is going on
- Aether Spark - Removed overtime effect from charge 2 effects and removed self modifier from charge 3 heal
- Amara's Radiance - Changed description to say 16m radius instead of 6m
- Cleave - Changed description from deal 100% to 130%
- Siphonic Arrows - Changed normal arrow effect from armor debuff to 2% heal
- Armbreaker - Attack speed was reduced by 0%, changed to 30%
- Divine Shift - Changed description from 5% to 15%
- Glacial Orb - Changed description from 150% to 180%
- Inevitable Demise - Changed stagger amount from 90% to 100%
- Massive Icicle - Changed lower attack effect from 10% to 25%
- Changed modifier max updates to be calculated more accurately
Resolved Issues
- Performance, memory and networking improvements
- Fixed food tooltip calculations to more accurately reflect the actual behavior of eating the food.
- Fixed Sae Jiko music persisting outside the arena
- Fixed blown out lighting on training dummies and cooking stations
Known Issues
- Ascended Sae Jiko's final model (pictured above) has not been implemented in this early Alpha build, but will be coming soon!
- Instance lives counter not properly displaying (and no "X" marks when out of lives)
- Ascended Sae Jiko has large visual jitters when first starting and finishes her new Pillar grapple ability
- Players spawn facing the wrong direction in the "Essotech Citadel" entrance tunnel