04/24 Update Preview
04 April 2025
Hello, Adventurers. This is the Elsword director, Lee Dong-shin.
In the second half of 2024, we wrapped up ElStar 2, Hyper Punch Master Event, new Mod skills, new raids, new weapon and balance patches.
After the new content was added, we carefully examined your feedback as you played.
We tried to quickly apply improvements where needed, but there are still parts that are lacking and unsatisfactory.
In the future, we will strive to improve based on your feedback, aiming to deliver more satisfying updates.
While preparing this update, we strongly felt a need to change the gameplay flow of Elsword.
The game has been centered around party-based instances. We’ve worked hard to deliver the fun of various party experiences and implemented systems to alleviate the difficulties of forming parties.
However, certain aspects of party play have caused more stress than enjoyment.
Outside of party content, the overly repetitive quests felt like a chore rather than fun. Because of this, we've been occasionally receiving suggestions regarding solo content.
While we fundamentally agreed with the feedback, we were worried about changing Elsword at its core once again.
Nevertheless, we've recognized the need for a change and added solo Secret Dungeons, and we also changed how the new raid's main rewards are obtained to reduce repetitiveness.
However, as more and more endgame content was being added, the existing gameplay flow has increasingly become stressful, especially in the character progression department.
Therefore, we are preparing a rework that will help newer players grow during the early to midgame phase.
Here's what we're going to do:
Party play will remain the default gameplay flow for endgame content.
Older dungeons will be nerfed and adjusted so that they can be enjoyed through solo play.
Raid Solo Mode
Solo Mode will be added to Varnimyr, Berthe and Abyss raids.
These modes will have adjusted difficulty when clearing as one person, and they will provide the same rewards as when played with a party.
Additionally, the existing Abyss Raid will be changed to allow entry with a 4-member party rather than a striker party.
Heroes Assemble Buff Revamp
After the update, even if you use "Start with the current members" while entering dungeons up to Tirnog, a separate buff will be provided to smooth out the play experience.
In addition, early to midgame dungeons that force at least 3 party members on entry will be changed to at least 1 member.
We also plan to improve repetitive dungeons and some stressful patterns.
Prof. Pho's Growth Guide Changes
The fifth Prof. Pho's Growth Guide will be added. Existing lessons will also be reworked to provide key items needed to progress.
The new guide will include items aiming to significantly improve growth:
Vestige of Soul - Weapon of Requiem
Tenebrous Exclusive Enhancement Amulet Lv.10
Tenebrous Shadow Effect Selector
Reforge Cost Reduction & Circuit Dismantle Improvement
The ED fee required to reforge Amethystine Prophecy and Tenebrous will be reduced.
Amethystine Prophecy, Tenebrous and Exascale "Specific Skill Damage Increase", which we deemed inconvenient, will be changed to "All Skill Damage Increase". Its values will be adjusted accordingly.
Additionally, due to the increasing amount of Circuit drops, a dedicated dismantle system will be added to streamline their management.
Title Requirement Reduction
To help players acquire essential titles during endgame gameplay, count requirements for unlocking and obtaining certain titles will be significantly reduced. This applies to titles from regular dungeons, raids and giant bosses.
These changes are scheduled to be released on Thursday, April 24.
We’ll continue to listen to your feedback during and after the rework process to make Elsword more enjoyable.
We are also preparing a new event this year, so stay tuned!
Until now, Epic Quests have focused mostly on adventure and combat, leaving little room to showcase different sides of the characters.
We aim to highlight their everyday lives outside of battle through a new format called Story Events.
The first Story Event will be released on Thursday, April 10, so please look forward to it.
19 Comments
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I'm glad they're finally doing something about reforging costs. Still leaves enchanting and imprinting, but it's a start (and honestly, I'm thinking they probably should just get rid of Refined Imprint Stones at this point since they tend to be worthless on the market as of late).
And as someone who runs solo most of the time, I'm glad they're trying to be more accomodating. Now maybe I can actually grind places like Titan's Grotto or Capital-Bound Train on the regular instead of looking for a party or praying to get lucky in queue. I just hope the EXP is still comparable.
the kr page said "all skill damage OPTIONS" not ASD as the stat. so you will pick a skill tier to stack.
But then why did they say "All" Skill Damage? I figured they would've specified "Skill Tier Damage" or something like that if that's what they meant.
Because they didn't mean that and the OP trusts Google Translate more than the actual translation. Taking it word for word is just pointless, it lacks context.
It doesn't mean that. Option means socket option (effect in a slot). There is no mention of skill tiers in the notice.
I thought I remembered them using "option" for non-customizable effects in the past, but I didn't bring it up 'cause I was worried I might've been misremembering. Looks like I was right, though.
Very good set of coming changes. Lookin' forward to them ngl
Isn't that specific skill damage increase adjustment kinda bad for certain classes that rely on one skill to kill boss?
I mean, sure, it will increase the other skills as well, but I hope they don't cut the numbers too much.
I guess its just "Skill +5%" to "All Skill +5%"
They said the value will be adjusted, which means either less or more but not the same. Logically, it should be less than 5% now.
Most likely somewhere from 0.5% to 2.5%. Hopefully the latter, if not more than that.
the only balance these devs know is making things worse for everyone every time they have to get too close to admitting to and patching their screw ups.
These ideas and improvements sound good, but we'll have to see how they execute them.
Thank god finally after YEARS they finally started to realize one of the many main problems of this game. Maybe MAYBE after more than a decade we will return to a playable game for us low and middle players. Now let's see how many decades they will need to make combos relevant again in dungeons, rework properly characters PvP wise and make PvP actually decent (aka ban any non-PvP equipment)
Oh hey, finally, a solo mode. Certainly helps for any mid DPS main players that can't get in to raid party. Still, this doesn't help with the problem of reaching certain CP threshold. Mainly that archaic af enhancement system.
certain aspects of party play have caused more stress than enjoyment
i'm... glad that's recognized. there's a problem when waiting for a "good" party in party list becomes most of one's time spent online as "gameplay". and that's before dealing with the... regulars.
though overall this sounds alright, but i'll see how it's handled and comment and whine more later.
I dont wanna be that guy, but they keep repeating this over and over whenever has been passed a certain time for each new raid release. Im sure after all those years they are absolutely aware that farming new raid titles its stressful with the amount of time needed and yet they keep putting ridiculous requirements for obtain it.
For me is just another way of say "enough time has passed and raid getting older and whales got their titles, now lets nerf."
Finally...
heey I might come back for this and play for 2 weeks before I go away again. lmao.