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Diablo 4 Season 11 is all about your fight against the Lesser Evils, and you can get yourself some extra help in the form of the Divine Gifts. The Divine Gifts mechanic is tied to the core offering of the new season. These heavenly boons offer you extra benefits to fight the evil that plagues Season 11. Some of these boons are special attacks, while the rest are excellent passives that allow you to enhance your builds. While the Divine Gifts are pretty strong in their base form, you can upgrade them even further. The upgrade process is easy to understand, but extremely grindy in my experience so far. Here's how it works. Table of contentsHow to upgrade Divine Gifts in Diablo 4 Season 11All Divine Gifts upgrades in Diablo 4 Season 11How to upgrade Divine Gifts in Diablo 4 Season 11 There are four Lesser Evils in Season 11. Andariel (The Undercity)Azmodan (Hawezar)Belial (The Pit)Duriel (Helltides) Each Lesser Evil drops two Divine Gifts. To level a Divine Gift up, you'll have to grind the particular boss activity until you gain enough points to rank up. When you defeat a boss, you'll gain an item that raises your rank by one point. You'll want to grind the Lesser Evil based on which Divine Gift you want to upgrade. Image via Blizzard For example, if you defeat Belial, you'll get an item that only ranks up the Divine Gifts that you get from him. To rank up the other Divine Gifts, you'll have to take on other types of Lesser Evils. All Divine Gifts upgrades in Diablo 4 Season 11 There are eight Divine Gifts to obtain in Season 11. The function of every Divine Gift is different, and so are their upgrades. EssenceUpgradesEssence of AnguishRank upgrades: Increases the amount of Obols you get from Undercity runs. Essence of HellfireRank upgrades: Better quality Lair Boss key drops. Rank 2: A Huge amount of Lair Boss keys drop from the Weekly Cache. Rank 5: More Lair Boss keys in Sanctuary. Essence of PainRank upgrades: Better quality Gems and Runes from Pangs of Duriel. Essence of LiesRank upgrades: More Paragon Glyph upgrade chances. Essence of ScreamsRank upgrades: Better quality Salvage materials from Undercity runs. Essence of SinRank upgrades: Better quality Dungeon key drops. Rank 2: A Huge number of Activity keys from the Weekly Cache. Rank 5: More Tributes and Compasses in Sanctuary. Essence of ShadowsRank upgrades: Increases the amount of received Gold. Essence of SqualorRank upgrades: Get more XP from Exp Globes. The post How to upgrade Divine Gifts in Diablo 4 Season 11 and how they work appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

Discovering that there's life on the Moon comes with serious consequences, for getting trapped in its deadly ROUTINE will mark the end of your humanity. ROUTINE essentially follows two crucial events of the Lunar Expedition. Slowly unravel the past to try and make sense of the present, embark on a terrifying journey and learn what happened to the disappearing crew. Here is our interpretation of ROUTINE. Warning for spoilers throughout. Table of contentsROUTINE plot, summarizedTimeline summaryROUTINE story, explainedWhen curiosity kills: What happened on the PRISM Lunar Expedition?Infected from the startROUTINE monster, exploredROUTINE ending, explainedROUTINE plot, summarized Screenshot by Destructoid Set on the Moon, we play as an unnamed software engineer who enters the Ward to fix the A.S.N. (Automated Security Network) systems. Our journey starts in Isolation Room 03, where we wake from a strange dream, as if something has tapped into our consciousness and is communicating with us—using our voice. The Union Plaza, home to the crew overseeing the Lunar Expedition, has mysteriously vanished. Your job is to figure out how to debug A.S.N. while navigating around a station that's trying to kill you. Timeline summaryDecember 12, 1977 - The day Edith Stone disappeared on the PRISM Canal Expedition.August 29, 1978 - Mathieu Giraud was found in critical condition following his visit to the Canal.September 12, 1978 - Entity A is discovered inside the Arbor.March 19, 1979 - Entity B is found dead inside the Arbor. This marks the end of the original PRISM Canal Expedition.Unspecified, 1999 - Union Plaza employee, John Cooper finds Edith Stone's body inside the Canal. He re-enters the Ward sick and infects the others. The software engineer (you) is tasked to fix A.S.N. after it activated the Containment and Resource Conservation Protocol.August 3, 2025 - An LCRP team enters the Ward to recover data associated with PRISM Canal Expedition. They find a pollen-like fungi inside, having escalated beyond the Canal, courtesy of the software engineer's interference. The Moon is no longer habitable.ROUTINE story, explained Screenshot by Destructoid Following a routine Lunar quake, John Cooper conducted a perimeter check to note any damage to the Moon's surface and its fissures. Cooper investigated the Canal and discovered a body within its center, spouting vegetation, much like a blossoming flower. Even though he was wearing a space suit, Cooper was infected by the Canal. Strangest of all was how easily the infection spread across the crew. A.S.N. initiated the Containment and Resource Conservation Protocol after receiving Cooper's perimeter check footage, causing a site-wide lockdown. Here's where we come in. The engineer enters the Ward, starting at the end of a seven-day isolation *******, taking a tram to the Union Plaza. The crew has vanished, leaving only Type 05 units and the adorable iC robot. The protocol turned the androids into hyper-aggressive soldiers, following its new command to contain the infection. It's heavily implied that the trash bags scattered around the Ward are the bodies of the crew, killed and stuffed inside to contain whatever latched onto Cooper. Screenshot by Destructoid Unsurprisingly, mechanical life was unaffected by the Canal. This immediately sets the classic sci-fi plotline that the leading threat of ROUTINE—and the only thing to worry about—is the rogue androids. We would soon learn that Union Plaza was doomed from the start because of what PRISM found years prior to ROUTINE's events, and it is probably the reason why A.S.N. sent androids to space. When curiosity kills: What happened on the PRISM Lunar Expedition? Screenshot by Destructoid Edith Stone, Lead Geologist on the Lunar Expedition conducted a Canal Survey to collect samples and document her findings in 1977. The Canal Exploration Mission went wrong as Stone wandered into the heart of the Canal, where she never returned. The crew remained on the Lunar Expedition, studying the Canal's effects. Though they didn't find Stone that year, the team sampled a new specimen in 1978—a substance that resembled mucus. This was proof of life on the Moon. By bringing the sample into the Arbor for testing, it latched onto the crew like a parasite. Those who came into contact with the Canal (e.g., Mathieu, Ken, and John) exhibited these symptoms: Day one - Headaches and eye strain.Day five - Insomnia.Day seven - Cognitive decline.Day 30 - Breathing difficulties.Day 45 - Dehydration.Day 60 - Death.Death 61 - Fungal growth on the body. Screenshot by Destructoid It is theorized that the Canal lures people into it to breed and feast, later birthing from the body like a plant sprouting from soil. The chapters in ROUTINE act as the Canal's process of rebirth, combining humans with fungi. There's also a connection with the apple tree inside the Arbor inside the original PRISM station, which displayed symptoms similar to those who entered the Canal. The crew created a re-entry process for any personnel returning from the Canal to preserve the brain's integrity and minimize the fungi's psychological effects. This, however, seemed to suit the Canal's needs more so than those infected by its mysterious properties. While fixing A.S.N. is the whole reason we were sent out here, our goal slowly shifts to aid whatever has killed all who came into contact with the Canal. Infected from the start Screenshot by Destructoid Since the moment we started playing, we've been under the influence of the Canal. It's clear that we were infected from the start because of our abstract visions. "Chapter 01 - Birth" may have started around the 50-day mark, as our protagonist suffered from memory loss. This would explain why Security sent only one engineer to fix A.S.N. I theorize we were a crewmember when Cooper discovered Stone's body, as the date of ROUTINE's events is never confirmed. The protagonist suffered from blackouts, evident by the dreams he's been having, and how he wandered into the Arbor without realizing it (second half of ROUTINE), which he accessed by shutting down A.S.N. (the one thing trying to preserve humanity by sacrificing the infected). We—like everyone who came before us—were controlled by the Canal. Our C.A.T. objectives weren't orders from HQ Security, but rather created through our own delusions. As we were initially hired to debug and observe any anomalies within the A.S.N. system, turning it off only helped the ******* grow. This tells us that all biological life inside the Ward (since Cooper got infected) would become a host for the Canal, even if they never set foot inside it. ROUTINE monster, explored Screenshot by Destructoid ROUTINE's monster, "Entity A," can manipulate its form to be invisible to the naked eye. It appears to be the result of Canal's 60-day process. With large footprints and hair found glued to the ceiling, its size is considerably larger than an adult man. Another entity was discovered in 1979, inside the Arbor. Labelled "Entity B," it resembled a large mammal with unnatural characteristics of ten limbs and a 120cm neck. Study suggests this entity is female and that a male mate exists, presumably Entity A. William became obsessed with Entity B, exhibiting signs of infection. His body seemingly morphed with Entity B, showing vegetation like Edith Stone's corpse, the same fate as other PRISM crewmembers. The ******* takes the voice of its host and uses it to communicate in their dreams, where the host loses chunks of time, finding themselves moving towards a goal they're being tricked into completing. The theme of ROUTINE is rebirth; the chapter names describe the process an infected goes through to become a part of the Canal. The title even points to this process being the Canal's "routine" in how it manifests, grows, and survives. It cannot thrive unless there's biological life for it to latch onto. Screenshot by Destructoid The Canal takes hold of its host and kills them on the 60th day, where it is then born anew. While it isn't explicitly said, the entities don't simply come to be. Rather, they must be reborn as one, to endure together. Therefore, Entity B is likely Edith Stone. If correct, how did Cooper find her human body 22 years later? An explanation could be that her body acted as a vessel from which Entity B emerged. This would explain why the creature returned to Arbor, hoping to satiate its newfound hunger. Though Entity B came before Entity A, the male was the Canal's first successful attempt at creating a hybrid species. There's also the interesting reference to Adam and Eve, where Entity B died by choking on an apple, and (though swapped) Entity B (female) may have birthed Entity A (male). The entities act as the first man and woman of their kind, demonstrating the Canal's ability to create biological life through a human host. What's difficult is figuring out who exactly Entity A is. I doubt it's something simple like Stone was pregnant at the time, so who is the baby we saw in a vision? There's no documentation or record of a baby in the PRISM's research. Either Entity A and the baby are one and the same, or they're separate. This would either mean there were three entities inside the Ward in 1979, or more likely, that the baby came into existence in 1999. Entity A was fully grown in 1978, the same year Entity B died, yet the female was alive in the engineer's vision. ROUTINE ending, explained Screenshot by Destructoid After bringing down A.S.N., making it easier for the Canal's embrace to spread, the engineer enters the fissure to become one with it. The process is complete, where we will be reborn like Edith Stone, evident by the final chapter title: "Re-Birth." The engineer's final dream is yet another reference to Adam and Eve—The Creation of Adam. The biblical reference paints the Canal as a cosmic being, who is creating its first man, perhaps viewing Entity A as a failure, where it hopes it'll have better luck with the engineer. Based on the engineer's vision of Entity B and how ROUTINE ends, I believe (perhaps in my own delirium) that we were the baby. The ******* grew inside of us, assimilating with our biology until it was ready to be born anew. It had learnt a lot through Entity A and B, but the Canal wanted to evolve beyond its current primitive state. The infection behaves similarly to the zombie-ant *******, which uses its host's body to find a suitable climate for the spore to release, killing its host once it sprouts from its head. We can only assume that the Arbor has been off-limits from the Union Plaza, seeing as there are still human corpses, Entity B's body, and Entity A roaming around. We gained access to Arbor by shutting down A.S.N., yet we've been in the Re-Entry Chamber before. We learn about this three-step process inside Arbor, created by Dr. Weber on February 19, 1979. Yet, our protagonist has seen the video of a Hollyhock in bloom before (the second part of Weber's process called "Anchor.") Either this imagery demonstrates the Canal as a hivemind, or it's further proof that the protagonist is one of the entities, for the Anchor only temporarily delays the inevitable. Screenshot by Destructoid Because we're playing as an unreliable narrator, there's little information we can truly trust in ROUTINE. Perhaps none of our actions truly happened. There's abstract imagery of the engineer reverting to gestation, curling into a fetal position, and emerging from the Ward's core, its shape symbolic of an egg. The flicker of the engineer's new appearance also resembles Entity A. Could this represent the Canal's willingness to try again, until it's happy with its creation? The opening depicts the Hollyhock abruptly blooming, then the ending, its petals slowly closing, symbolizing our rebirth. The post ROUTINE story and ending, explained appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

The Corrupted Tongues of Azmodan is a special item you get in Diablo 4 Season 11, and it has plenty of value when used correctly. Unlike other commonly available items in Season 11, the Corrupted Tongue of Azmodan can only be obtained by killing this specific Lesser Evil. However, you'll have to use the item elsewhere, where you'll be able to find the hordes of Azmodan. This guide will provide you with all the essential information surrounding this item so that you can obtain and use it efficiently in Diablo 4 Season 11. Table of contentsHow to get the Corrupted Tongues of Azmodan in Diablo 4 Season 11How to summon Azmodan in Diablo 4 Season 11How to use the Corrupted Tongues of Azmodan in Diablo 4 Season 11How to get the Corrupted Tongues of Azmodan in Diablo 4 Season 11 You can obtain the Corrupted Tongue of Azmodan by defeating the summoned version of this Lesser Evil. You can summon Azmodan by completing certain conditions (more on that below) or by waiting for a World Boss Rotation. Azmodan can spawn as a World Boss, and you can keep track of it using [Hidden Content]. When you defeat an Azmodan that has spawned as a World Boss, you'll get the chance to use the Corrupted Tongues for more rewards. Image via Blizzard Sadly, the community and I appear to be quite puzzled about how to summon Azmodan, which is pretty tricky. How to summon Azmodan in Diablo 4 Season 11 The summoned version of Azmodan is different from the one that spawns as part of the World Boss Rotation. To summon Azmodan, head to Zarbinzet and then to Hawezar. You'll find an area marked with Azmodan and three altars. The three altars belong to Andariel, Duriel, and Belial, who are the three other Lesser Evils in Season 11. When you defeat these Lesser Evils, they will drop random items, including materials required for unlocking Divine Gifts. Image via Blizzard Some of these random items can be Corrupted in nature. For example, it can be the Corrupted ***** of Duriel, which will activate his Altar. Similarly, you can activate Andariel's Altar with the Corrupted Claw of Andariel. You'll need the specific Corrupted items to engage with the correct altars. To spawn Azmodan, you'll need to have the Corrupted material for any of the other Lesser Evils. However, a bug appears to prevent the correct mechanism occasionally. During the process, Azmodan will be invoked with the powers of the other Lesser Evil, whose Altar will be used for the summon. Image via Blizzard You'll get the Corrupted parts at random, and you'll need to farm Andariel, Duriel, and Belial multiple times (unless you turn out to be super lucky). How to use the Corrupted Tongues of Azmodan in Diablo 4 Season 11 Once you find at least five Corrupted Tongues of Azmodan, you will have to wait for the Lesser Evil to appear as a World Boss on rotation. Only defeating this version apparently allows you to use the Corrupted Tongues. Image via Blizzard After defeating them (either solo or in a group), you'll get the chance to encounter Azmodan's Hoard. You can use Azmodan's Hoard to open and get valuable rewards. The post How to summon Azmodan and get Corrupted Tongues in Diablo 4 Season 11 appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

We've rounded up the best deals for Sunday, December 14, below, so don't miss out on these limited-time offers. Save $20 Off Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake One of the most anticipated RPGs of 2025, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, is down to $39.99 this weekend. This remake transforms the original two Dragon Quest games into gorgeous experiences with numerous updates and tweaks to modernize the experience. The Nintendo Switch physical copy contains the game on the cartridge, so Switch 2 owners can rest assured about any Key-Card concerns. PS5 Pro for $648.99 PS5 Pro is on ***** this weekend for $648.99, saving you just over $100 off Sony's most powerful console. Even if you already own a PS5, the PS5 Pro can still be a solid upgrade, providing enhanced performance and frame rates for numerous games. Newcomers to the PlayStation ecosystem can expect the best PS5 has to offer with this one. Call of Duty: ****** Ops 7 for $35 ****** Ops 7 is the latest Call of Duty, with the game releasing just a few weeks ago. Despite this, it's already on ***** at Amazon for half-off, which may be a record for the fastest CoD to hit this price point. If you skipped out on the game at launch, this is a great deal for $35. ****** Ops 7 contains a large amount of content, including a new Zombies mode. ASUS ROG Xbox Ally for $489.99 Amazon has the Asus ROG Xbox Ally on ***** for $489.99, which is even lower than ****** Friday! You can save $110 on this portable PC equipped with everything you need to play or stream your Xbox games. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds for $37.99 The fan-favorite Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is on ***** for $37.99 right now following its nomination at The Game Awards. CrossWorlds pits together many iconic characters in the Sonic franchise, in addition to characters outside of it like Hatsune Miku, SpongeBob, and even Joker from Persona 5. If you're in the mood for a new racing game, look no further than CrossWorlds this weekend. Star Wars Outlaws for $29.99 The Nintendo Switch 2 version of Star Wars Outlaws is on ***** this weekend for $29.99, which is a steal for one of the hybrid system's best third-party games. This version of Star Wars Outlaws is the Gold Edition, packing in all the DLC and updates that released. Cronos: The New Dawn for $39.99 2025 had numerous horror games released, and if you missed out on Cronos: The New Dawn, now is the time to buy, as Amazon has the game discounted $20. Cronos puts you in the shoes of The Traveler, who is sent back in time in areas where a virus has ravaged humanity. Ghost of Yotei Limited Edition DualSense for $64.99 Target has the exclusive Ghost of Yotei Limited Edition DualSense on ***** for $64.99 this weekend. Normally $84.99, this controller sports a unique design, featuring a gold brushed design all over the front. In my opinion, this is one of the best limited edition DualSense controllers PlayStation has released, only behind the 30th Anniversary and Astro Bot models. Astro Bot for $39.99 Astro Bot is a must-own game for any PlayStation 5 owner for many reasons. The fun platforming adventure is a trip across PlayStation's iconic history of games, with cameos from many of the beloved characters that shaped each console generation. Today, you can score Astro Bot for $39.99 at Amazon, which is the lowest we've seen it so far. Super Mario Odyssey for $39.99 Super Mario Odyssey is one of the best Nintendo Switch games, and if you missed out on Nintendo's ****** Friday *****, you can still score a discounted copy of Odyssey this weekend. Join Mario and his new friend Cappy on an adventure across Kingdoms to stop Bowser's plans to marry Princess Peach. View the full article

Many bosses in Baldur's Gate 3 have unique traits and skills that make them distinct from one another, challenging your party's synergy and strategy in fresh ways. However, the best designed bosses will punish you for falling into old habits, forcing you to think outside the bos to beat them. One such boss in Act 3 is perhaps the epitome of this idea, and even foreshadows their punishing nature. View the full article

Разработчики John Carpenter's Toxic Commando выпустили свежий трейлер, раскрыв дату релиза. Кооперативный зомби-шутер от создателей World War Z и Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 выходит 12 марта 2026 года на консолях и ПК. View the full article

Разработчики «Киберслава: Затмение» посетили Comic **** Игромир 2025, где провели презентацию грядущей игры. В рамках показа была представлена альфа-версия приключенческой RPG и опубликован в соцсетях расширенный тизер-трейлер. View the full article

The upcoming Marvel Superheroes MTG set will introduce a brand new enchantment subtype. Even if you were paying close attention to the Marvel cards that have been revealed so far, you'd be forgiven for failing to notice it, though. Doom Reigns Supreme is the first plan card in Magic: the Gathering, but is it just me, or does it seem that we've seen similar cards before? Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: Forgotten Elf typal MTG card jumps more than 4000% in value thanks to newly revealed commander Wizards confirms the weird 'mistake' in the MTG Ninja Turtles set is actually deliberate MTG Marvel's first infinite combo forces The Hulk to step on legos, and I can't stop laughing View the full article

Total War: Warhammer 40,000 is real and not merely a figment of my imagination anymore. Though we don't know exactly when it'll come out, it's safe to say it'll be here soon, hopefully by the end of next year. With that in mind, a question arises: which factions should be in there? Thus far, Creative Assembly has confirmed four main factions at launch: Space Marines, Aeldari, Astra Militarum, and Orks. Quite rudimentary, but also expected of any 40K game. It's safe to assume that each of these umbrella factions will have at least two or more subfactions, with the likes of Ultramarines and Imperial Fists, for example, representing the Space Marine faction, and so on. But what I would like you to tell me, in this bountiful time of zero information, is which factions you would love to see in the game? After all, TW: Warhammer 40K seems to be aiming to represent the tabletop experience as best as it can, and if we've learned anything from Total War: Warhammer thus far, it's that CA loves its infinite DLC potential, and will stop at nothing to include every single faction it can so it could sell it to you at a premium. It's just how the cookie crumbles. No matter who we get, I cannot wait to see these battles play out. Image via Creative Assembly I, for one, would be ecstatic to see the Death Korps of Krieg in there. We saw one of them in some promotional art, likely as a subfaction within the Astra Militarum or Imperial Guard, so it's safe to assume they will be in there, though the capacity of their appearance is still unknown. Krieg, for me, would be the best way to experience that canned Total War: World War 1 game that was rumored over the past couple of years. It's a pastiche of all the major World War 1 factions of our time, with many elements of their uniform and armament being a combination of English, French, and ******* militaries. They have Howitzer artillery, semi-functional tanks, engage in trench warfare, and, primarily, follow the age-old Russian military tactic of throwing themselves at the enemy until they win. They're gruesome, hard-fought, and battle-hardened people, who are so numerous that even the rest of the Imperium cannot explain how they keep coming for more, considering their whole world was nuked into oblivion and is now little more than an irradiated wasteland. Conspiracy theories of Krieg-printing machines aside, this faction is truly one of the most amazing groups in all of 40K, who live, breathe, and die for the Emperor and his name (and out of shame for its ancestors' misdeeds). Having them fleshed out and usable to the fullest would be a dream, but I will settle for a minor appearance, given that Krieg hasn't appeared in a single 40K game ever. So, what would you love to see? The Tau and their mystical long-ranged weaponry? Chaos? The Sisters of Battle and their unwavering faith in Big E? Do let me know, perhaps CA will take heed. The post Which factions would you love to see in Total War: Warhammer 40K? appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

Conspiracy Honed brings a sharp god roll to the arsenal in Destiny 2's Equilibrium dungeon. This 140rpm heat-based sniper rifle can double up on damage perks, which is always a welcome addition to any weapon in the game. That firepower comes with quite a price, however: Conspiracy Honed heats up quite quickly, and you'll rarely get more than three or four shots in without needing to vent this weapon. And that's where the fun comes in. Here are our PvE god rolls for Conspiracy Honed in Destiny 2. We don't fully know the parts yet, but we based our information on the weapon's perk pool on an Aztecross video showcasing the weapons ahead of time. Conspiracy Honed PvE god rolls in Destiny 2 As good for the Venusian wilderness as it is anywhere else. Screenshot by Destructoid First perk: Vorpal Weapon (Honorable mention: Cooling Baubles)Second perk: Bait and Switch (Honorable mention: Firing Line)Recommended mod: Enhanced Heat Generation (makes this weapon generate less heat) The thought of double damage perks is alluring enough on any weapon, but putting some of the best damage perks together on the same gun and in different columns is almost a dream come true for anyone hunting god rolls in Destiny 2. And Conspiracy Honed does deliver. For the quick and overly simple version, this is our pairing for this weapon. Conspiracy Honed will overheat quickly. Our copy takes three shots before having to vent, but that's the key. After your first vent, your goal is to tap your reload button as close to the marking on your reticle as possible. The reticle is the biggest giveaway, but it'll feel like second nature to you once you're used to it. Screenshot by Destructoid This gives you five seconds of reduced heat generation, which is enough to let you get off far more shots without overheating. Once your meter goes in the red again, prepare to hit another perfect reload and keep the bullets flowing. This is essential for figuring out how to operate this sniper, and that's why it determines the choices you make. Our copy of it has the Enhanced Heat Generated mod glued to it. In the first column, Vorpal Weapon provides the biggest amount of direct damage. It's a 15-percent bonus for special-ammo weapons in the current sandbox, and that's on top of other buffs. Because of the cooling mechanic, however, Cooling Baubles can work well if you have enough orbs of power on hand—say, anything from two to five other guardians throwing Supers back to back. This also synergizes with the weapon's origin trait, Imperial Allegiance, which increases cooling rate when near allies. Enlightened Action didn't seem to have any effect for us, which is likely due to a bug. For the second column, Bait and Switch deals more damage than Firing Line and works solo. This is our indisputed choice, and Firing Line is more of a consolation prize. The rest of the perk pool is either not as good as this duo or it's focused on PvP, so this is the roll we're keeping at hand. All Conspiracy Honed perks in Destiny 2 The clean scope helps. Screenshot by Destructoid Conspiracy Honed boasts a suite of good perks for different activity types. PvP players can opt for Lone Wolf or Snapshot Sights paired with Opening Shot or Moving Target, for instance, while those looking for something with a slightly ******* focus on add clear can go for Headstone and/or Firefly. Here is the full list: First perkSecond perkHeadstoneFireflySnapshot SightsBait and SwitchDelicate TuningFiring LineCooling BaublesBoxed BreathingLone WolfThermal AtomizerVorpal WeaponOpening ShotEnlightened ActionMoving TargetHow to get Conspiracy Honed in Destiny 2 It's worth the run. Screenshot by Destructoid Conspiracy Honed has a chance of dropping from the Equilibrium dungeon. We've gotten it consistently as a reward for the second encounter, though it also drops at the final boss. To improve your chances of grabbing this gun, complete The Way Between, the dungeon's quest, which unlocks attunement for Equilibrium's weapons and armor. The post Conspiracy Honed god rolls and how to get them in Destiny 2 appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

Zealous Ideal might be one of the most recognizable weapons in Destiny 2's Renegades expansion, licensed with Star Wars. With a proper god roll, this reliable auto rifle can make your aim even deadlier than any Stormtrooper's—which, we realize, may not always be a high bar. This Solar 450rpm auto uses the expansion's signature heat system, using a buildup instead of magazine size. You can vent it for a quick recovery, even letting you reload it partially. If you're looking for a trusty weapon to pair with your Praxic Blade, this auto rifle may not let you down. And if it does, well, there's always Uncivil Discourse. Here are our god rolls for Zealous Ideal in Destiny 2. Zealous Ideal PvE god roll in Destiny 2 Now that's a classic, alright. Screenshot by Destructoid Since we don't have the full parts for Zealous Ideal yet, we'll list the perks (with full information) and analyze how the parts we got on our rolls complement this weapon. The traits we listed are based on data from content creator Aztecross, though the verdict is ours. Barrel: Polygonal RiflingMagazine: Ionized Heatsink or Light HeatsinkFirst perk: Heal Clip or Attrition OrbsSecond perk: Incandescent, Burning Ambition, or One For All There are quite a few basic yet effective options for Zealous Ideal. There's nothing overly alarming for the auto rifle, though it does have access to bread-and-butter picks for both activity types. For the first trait column, we recommend Heal Clip or Attrition Orbs. Primaries aren't in the best state in the Renegades sandbox, but these perks grant you a little fuel for your builds. There's nothing ultra-necessary here either, so it's not like you're foregoing double damage perks for PvE. Attrition Orbs works as an engine for your mods and stats, printing enough orbs of power to gain a constant influx of ability energy, armor charge, subclass verbs, and even damage reduction, depending on your gear. Heal Clip adds a little sustain and can trigger keywords in some cases (like with Ember of Benevolence). When the weapon's display glows white, it's time for a perfect vent. Screenshot by Destructoid Likewise, the fourth column offers two main options for subclass verbs: Incandescent and Burning Ambition, both of which can apply Scorch to enemies. This kickstarts a series of synergies, particularly on the flame-based subclass. If you're looking for raw damage, One For All brings a large damage boost with an easy trigger. Zealous Ideal doesn't heat up all that much, but if you can keep its needle in the red, Thermal Atomization also boosts your damage, though far less than One For All. Onslaught hasn't gotten the Rampage treatment as of writing, so its stacks decay all at once. It falls off a bit in higher-end content, but it does let you deal more damage while it's active. As for your parts, Polygonal Rifling helps maintain steady aim and performs even better than the Arrowhead Brake based on our testing. Ionized and Light Heatsink both work well, since this weapon is quite generous with its heat buildup. All Zealous Ideal perks in Destiny 2 An essential tool in the Barant Imperium's kit. Screenshot by Destructoid The Stormtroopers' signature weapon doesn't have a perk pool as spicy as other dungeon weapons, but it does bring consistent successes. It's probably not that flashy, but it seems reliable enough to bring it into engagements. First perkSecond perkHeal ClipOnslaughtZen MomentAdagioGutshot StraightOne For AllDelicate TuningTap The TriggerCooling BaublesThermal AtomizationAttrition OrbsBurning AmbitionDynamic Sway ReductionIncandescentHow to get Zealous Ideal in Destiny 2 Don't forget to attune to it for better results. Screenshot by Destructoid Zealous Ideal can drop from the Equilibrium dungeon. You can complete the dungeon's associated quest, The Way Between, to unlock attunement and improve your chances of getting this weapon. Unlike the Portal, however, dungeon weapons usually need more feats to unlock higher-tier gear, so don't be surprised if your rolls are around tier three. The post Zealous Ideal god rolls and how to get them in Destiny 2 appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

ARC Raiders is a gift that keeps on giving. With each new update and map comes a host of new items and goodies that can be found scattered throughout the topside world. One such item is the Geiger Counter, a valuable epic-rarity item that is exclusive to a new kind of loot zone in the game. Here's where you can find it. Where to find the Geiger Counter in ARC Raiders Stella Montis' lower level can spawn Exodus items, including the Geiger Counter. Screenshot and remix by Destructoid Geiger Counters are a loot-only item, meaning they can neither be crafted nor purchased from vendors like Celeste. This leaves only one option: Exodus loot zones, found on Stella Montis and Spaceport. Exodus items were introduced with the Stella Montis map in a major patch, and are currently available on that level and Spaceport until developers branch them out into other maps. Geiger Counters can drop in the Rocket Assembly zone on Spaceport, or the Assembly on Stella Montis' lower level. Keep in mind these are not guaranteed drops, as you also have a good chance of discovering Exodus Modules, a more valuable item that can also be obtained by recycling Geiger Counters. These are then used for crafting weapons, most notably the powerful Hullcracker at the Gunsmith workstation, making them extraordinarily useful. The post How to find the Geiger Counter in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

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If you've bested Dredgen Sere in the Equilibrium dungeon, your journey is just starting. The Way Between quest leads the Guardian to their own Praxic Trial, complete with guidance from Aunor Mahal, and completing it gets you some extremely handy rewards. The Way Between follows a similar structure if you're familiar with dungeon quests. You need multiple clears to get to the end of it, and you must solve a few puzzles along each step. Thankfully for guardians, Equilibrium is on the shorter side of dungeons if you're familiar with the mechanics, and the bosses don't have absurdly high health pools (looking at you, Ghosts of the Deep). Here's a breakdown of how to complete The Way Between in Destiny 2's Equilibrium dungeon—and what you get for your troubles. Table of contentsDestiny 2 The Way Between quest guideRecover a Praxic Relic (step four)Master the Darkness to find another stolen Praxic Relic (step five)Traverse the Imperium's shadows (step six)Open the Taken portal in the inner temple (step seven)The Way Between quest rewardsDestiny 2 The Way Between quest guide Nothing quite like a renovation. Screenshot by Destructoid This quest truly starts after beating Equilibrium for the first time. Taking down Dredgen Sere drops an Integrated Relic at the end of the run. Take it to the Praxic Temple at the beginning of the dungeon, allowing you to open the door that was closed and leading you further into the structure. Head inside and look for an area where you can place the artifact you got from Dredgen Sere. This will spawn a Taken Blight in the mission, just like the ones required to get the Praxic Blade catalysts in Fire and Ice. The quest follows a pattern: destroy the Taken Blights, find a relic scattered around the mission, kill the final boss, then redo the dungeon and place the artifact inside the temple. We'll break the detailed locations below, but some quick hits to keep in mind are: After the first encounter, just outside the Praxic Temple, before going into the ship (step four).After the first encounter, before jumping across space to reach the other side of the ship (step five).After the second encounter, in the jumping puzzle (step six).Recover a Praxic Relic (step four) This is where it begins. Screenshot by Destructoid For the first Taken Blight, finish the first encounter and don't head inside the ship. Instead, backtrack to the Praxic Temple and take the path on the right (facing the door). Destroy the Taken Blight and stand on the pool of Taken energy on the floor to grab the Shadow Novice and In Shadow buffs. Your goal is to clear the enemies in the area before the timer for In Shadow ends, and destroying each Acolyte's Eye gets you 15 extra seconds. The first wave of foes spawns near the Blight, but once that's over, continue around the race course, shooting the Acolyte's Eyes in the way, until you end up on the other side of the door. With the shadow mechanic, use your alternate grenade to turn on terminals when necessary as well. If you've destroyed all enemies within the allotted time, a door will open and reveal the first hidden relic you must find. Finish the dungeon, then deposit this artifact in the Praxic Temple to advance. Master the Darkness to find another stolen Praxic Relic (step five) Don't jump across the ship before doing this. Screenshot by Destructoid Just like in the last run, your goal is to find another Taken Blight and break it with your Praxic Blade, kicking off a timed sequence. This time, look for it before you shoot a glowing fuse and jump to the other side of the ship. The Blight is behind the gap, leading you into a cramped hallway. Once you've cleared all enemies on that part, then you jump into the other side of the spaceship and continue mowing down Taken as they appear. Follow the intended path for the dungeon, leading down into the shaft before fighting Harrow, Dredgen Apprentice (and don't forget the vents leading there explode and will kill you if you're too close). Destroy Harrow and Dredgen Sere, then deposit another relic inside the inner Praxic Temple to advance this mission. Traverse the Imperium's shadows (step six) If you see this, start the timer here. Screenshot by Destructoid It takes some juggling to get here. Screenshot by Destructoid This is the trickiest of the relics to find. After taking down Harrow, you'll come upon a platforming puzzle inside the ship, which hinges on the Shadow mechanics to lead you up a pipe and further up the spaceship. In this step, you'll find the Taken Blight just before that platforming section. This is easier as a team, but can be done solo if you're quick enough. Destroy the Blight and pick up the remains of Taken energy on the floor. Clear the enemies in the first room, then head into the open area with the jumping puzzle. Use your alternate grenade on the shielded enemy to push it off the ledge, revealing a litany of Taken Blights. Break these Blights with the Praxic Blade to spawn floating platforms, which lead you to different buttons all over the room. Once you've cleared the area, head up the pipe and race against the clock. If you've done everything right, another door will unlock, leading you to the final relic... and to something sinister inside the Praxic Temple. Open the Taken portal in the inner temple (step seven) Two runs for a damage phase, then two phases to clear this one for good. Screenshot by Destructoid Take the final relic into the temple and deposit it to unlock the quest's final challenge. Doing so opens a portal leading to a shade of Dredgen Sere, which serves as an extra boss. The mechanics mostly stick to what you've done in the quest so far. The portal drops you inside the Ascendant Realm, in a square room with sections walled off by Taken energy. As usual, stack the Shadow buffs as much as you can, taking down adds and Acolyte's Eyes to keep the timer running. When you can, use the buff to strip the shields of the immune enemies that show up, since killing them breaks down the barriers in the area. After taking down the shielded enemies, multiple Taken Blights will spawn. You know the drill: use the Praxic Blade to break them and create platforms that lead you to the shade of Dredgen Sere, way up high in the arena. If there are no shielded enemies, use the alternate grenade with the Shadow buff to deplete the boss' shields. Do it twice to open up a damage phase, which gets you to half its health. Repeat the entire sequence, take down the Shade of Sere, and collect your goodies to wrap up this quest. The Way Between quest rewards Attunement isn't a guaranteed drop, but it helps skew RNG a bit. Screenshot by Destructoid You'll get some upgrades for the Praxic Blade as you advance the quest, but completing The Way Between got us two sets of randomly rolled tier five gear (at 550 Power) and unlocked Attunement for the dungeon's weapons and armor. If you have the Heirloom Exotic, you can also obtain its catalyst from this quest by attuning to it. In our experience, this dropped for us after clearing the first encounter. The post How to complete The Way Between quest in Destiny 2’s Equilibrium dungeon appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

Customizing the Praxic Blade is the true endgame of Destiny 2's Renegades expansion, and the Taken Dark Matter Crystal is arguably the biggest hot-ticket item since the Red Crystal. This coveted cosmetic is located inside the Equilibrium dungeon, so prepare to face Dredgen Bael's acolytes to get it. Destiny 2's Praxic Blade boasts a handful of Dark Matter Crystals up for grabs. Most of them rely on RNG, and the Taken Crystal is no different. In some cases, you can skew that RNG a bit—for instance, by rerolling Exotic orders until you get the Praxic Professional requirement—but there's no workaround if you'd like to echo the Darksaber as seen in The Mandalorian. Here's how you can add this cosmetic to your collection. How to get the Taken Dark Matter Crystal for your lightsaber in Destiny 2 Congrats. Happy for you. Nice. Screenshot by Destructoid The Taken Dark Matter Crystal has a chance of dropping whenever you complete all encounters in the Equilibrium dungeon, Bungie confirmed in a blog post. The encounters are tracked individually, so there's no need to do it all in a single run. Based on the developer's wording, clearing all the dungeon's three encounters in any order works, so they're not part of the loot pool for any of the Equilibrium encounters. The Crystal drops on any difficulty, and feats don't seem to factor into it. Is the Taken Dark Matter Crystal farmable in Destiny 2? Shame you can't attune to it. Screenshot by Destructoid In addition to outlining its drop source, Bungie confirmed the Dark Crystal is farmable. "Players are not limited to one chance per class per week and instead will be able to clear Equilibrium repeatedly in their search for the crystal drop," it wrote. Progress for that calculation goes away on the weekly reset, so get all your encounters done before then, or you'll have to start over so they count. This lines up with our experience: one of our teammates got it as a random drop after already clearing the dungeon on their Titan. The Heirloom Exotic, however, doesn't seem farmable. The post How to get the ****** Crystal (Darksaber) for your Praxic Blade in Destiny 2’s Equilibrium dungeon appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

For the first time in over a year and a half, I decided to go back to defending Super Earth from the various aliens threatening its way of life. Having quit the game a long time ago on the basis of “no content,” I felt like it was stuck in stasis. But, as I would come to find out, I couldn't have been more wrong. Back when Helldivers 2 first launched, a friend of mine and I immediately hopped in. We were enthralled by the intoxicating epic-scale battles that unfolded in every match on maps big and small. Whether it was mowing down legions of tyrannical bugs or blowing ********** automata to Kingdom Come, every moment of the game felt awesome, amazing, and fun. However, after a month or so of doing every bit of content the game had to offer, participating in planetary sieges and pitching in for the ultimate effort of liberating the galaxy from anti-democratic forces, we came to feel that there isn't much else to do anymore on account of the game's live-service model progressing very slowly. So we quit, came back again around May 2024, and never touched the thing again. I forgot how fun shooting bugs can be. Screenshot by Destructoid And we held the belief, myself especially, that Helldivers 2 spent too much time “fixing” various issues with the game, from bugs (the software kind) to performance, adding only incremental updates to expand the breadth of the core experience. I would wager that was true for a while, but it seems to have changed at some point in time, as Helldivers 2 is almost unrecognizable now compared to when I last picked it up. A few nights ago, I decided to venture out again, inspired by the experimental (and impressive) update that reduced the game's size by over 100GB, from 130 to 22. I tried battling against each of the current enemy factions, the Terminids, Automatons, and Illuminates, and was surprised at how different gameplay felt even against those factions that I had already played against way back when. There are numerous new enemy types and units for each faction, with new bugs, Half-Life-like tentacle monsters, exploding suicide bomber insects, flamethrower-wielding robots, massive shield-bearing walking tanks, and deadly aerial vehicles. So much was added in, and the behavior of existing enemies changed, that it felt fresh, even if I had poured in 100 hours fighting against these same groups of enemies last year. And the Illuminate especially impressed me, more so because of the maps they fought on than the enemies themselves. The faction appeared as a middle ground between Automatons and Terminids, soft enough and fleshy to be rent asunder by small arms but powerful enough to pose a serious threat, what with their alien aircraft that lasers you out of existence or spear-wielders that slice even the most formidable Helldiver into bits and pieces. Excuse the darkness, but the game just looks so good in HDR, especially at night. Screenshot by Destructoid The maps, as mentioned, are vastly different compared to those on Automaton- and Terminid-controlled planets. They're cities, big settlements, urban environments that inspire awe at how much Super Earth has managed to develop its colonies. The other two usually take place in deserts, vast open environments, semi-settled locales that are more industrial than residential. But it seems the Illuminates do not care about such things, but would rather command and conquer populous worlds, where humanity tried to start anew. Of course, there are more progression systems, gun customization, countless rewards given out to all players for past achievements, even if they didn't participate in these events, an active, healthy community, players dedicated to the glory of Super Earth, even so much time later. Not a single thing that made Helldivers 2 great had changed, and those flaws that it did have generally have evaporated by now. It's an amazing game, an experience I wish I had not slept on for over a year and a half, and one that I will now certainly keep coming back to, if for no other reason than to gawk at the bravery of Helldivers who give their lives for Managed Democracy and value freedom above all else. The post I came back to Helldivers 2 for the first time since launch—and yeah, I’ve been missing out appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

MMO title Pioner is coming soon to Steam in the middle of December, and it could be an exciting title to try out for players. Set in an alternate timeline where humanity has been doomed, Pioner will drop players in a grim world filled with various horrors. If you have played the open beta in the past, you'll precisely know what to expect. This guide will help you stay on top of the upcoming launch and allow you to jump in as soon as the game goes live. Table of contentsPioner release countdownWhat to expect from PionerPioner release countdown Pioner will be going live on Dec. 16, and the date was originally announced after the conclusion of the previous beta test. The following countdown will expire once the launch goes live. [hurrytimer id="1155021"][hurrytimer id="1155021"] The countdown is based on the following timings. 6am PT8am CT9am ET2pm UTC3pm CET The timings are based on the information available on SteamDB. As of writing, little over two days are left for launch. If there's any last-minute change to the launch schedule, we will make the changes to our guide. Unless there is a change, it's safe to expect the developers to stick to the times mentioned above. What to expect from Pioner Pioner is a hybrid between an MMO and an FPS, where you'll be playing in a vast world with other players. There's a strong essence of both PvP and PvE as you'll have to survive the difficulties of a post-apocalyptic Soviet world. To survive, you'll have to scavenge, craft, and use items from your inventory. To survive and thrive, you'll also have to complete different story missions to earn various rewards. Completing the missions will allow you to progress on the main campaign and improve your standing with various factions. Expect to find plenty of different modes, including a particular extraction-style one that will allow you to vie for the biggest rewards. It will be interesting to find out whether Pioner could compete with the likes of ARC Raiders, which is getting the Cold Snap update on the same day. The post Pioner release countdown: Exact date and time appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

The Keep Good Kompany Evolution is now live in FC 26 Ultimate Team, allowing you to evolve a card of your choice. For a free evolution, Keep Good Kompany offers some incredible boosts. Your chosen card will receive overall upgrades, stat improvements, new roles, and fresh playstyle+. Let's look at the best possible candidates for the improvements based on the requirements and the upgrades. Table of contentsFC 26 Keep Good Kompany Evolution requirementsFC 26 Keep Good Kompany Evolution upgradesBest players to use in Keep Good Kompany EvolutionFC 26 Keep Good Kompany Evolution requirements Here are the requirements of Keep Good Kompany Evolution in FC 26. Overall: Max 84Pace: Max 87PlayStyle: Max 10PlayStyle+: Max 1Not Rarity: World Tour Silver StarsPosition: CBFC 26 Keep Good Kompany Evolution upgrades The evolution has five levels of upgrades, each with certain conditions to fulfill. Level 1 upgrades Overall: +10|86Slide Tackle: +15|86Stand Tackle: +15|88Composure: +15|86PlayStyles: Bruiser|6 Level 2 upgrades Pace: +15|82Short Passing: +15|83Strength: +15|86PlayStyles: Anticipate|6Roles: Ball-Playing Defender+ Level 3 upgrades Aggression: +15|86Long Passing: +15|82Reactions: +15|89Stamina: +10|84Roles: Defender++ Level 4 upgrades Ball control: +15|82Heading Acc.: +15|87Long Shots: +30|80Shot Power: +30|82PlayStyles: Power Shot|6 Level 5 upgrades Interceptions: +20|86Def. Aware: +20|88PlayStyles+: Block|1PlayStyles: Slide Tackle|6Roles: Stopper+ Level 1 upgrade requirements Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player in game. Level 2 upgrade requirements Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game. Level 3 upgrade requirements Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game. Level 4 upgrade requirements Play 1 match in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game. Level 5 upgrade requirements Play 2 matches in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game.Best players to use in Keep Good Kompany Evolution Here are some of my best recommendations for inclusion in the evolution. Mario ***** TOTWDanny da Costa Ultimate ScreamDoue Ultimate ScreamAurelien TchouameniTorunarighaIlya ZabarnyiJorel HatoAnton Stach TOTWDan Scarr Ultimate Scream While the upgrades are significant, you will be able to include these cards in future evolutions to create a chain and evolve their stats further. The post Best players for FC 26 Keep Good Kompany Evolution appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

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