Throne and Liberty from NCSoft is launching its latest major patch, Update 2.16.0 tomorrow on June 26. The update introduces the game’s first 12-player raid, new Heroic-grade gear, and upgraded versions of key world bosses. These changes mark a significant step forward for the game, which has been aiming to attract both hardcore raiders and more casual players since its release.
The centerpiece of the update is the Altar of Calanthia raid, pitting 12 players against challenging bosses and culminating in a showdown with the Command Marshal General of the Arkeum Legion. Alongside the raid, the patch adds new progression systems, expanded customization options, and a host of quality-of-life improvements. Here’s a breakdown of the major features and changes:
- Altar of Calanthia 12-Player Raid:
- Players must complete prerequisites in the Sylvaeth Codex to access the raid, with entry points and crafting NPCs located in Herba Village.
- Raid matchmaking supports two parties with typical MMO role composition, though pre-formed groups have no such restrictions.
- Normal mode requires 5,000 Combat Power, while Difficult mode ups the requirement to 6,000 with tougher bosses and mechanics.
- Checkpoints let groups resume progress within the week, and players can join different groups without being locked to one’s progress.
- A stacking buff system helps groups overcome difficulty after wipes in Normal mode.
- Weekly rewards include guaranteed Heroic-grade gear, with higher drop chances for selection chests in Difficult mode.
- New crafting materials, Entropy Shards and Chaos Prisms, are introduced for Heroic item enhancement.
- Solisium Style Pack:
- Available June 26, adds new hairstyles, hats, helmets, dye, and sewing thread for character customization.
- Includes Polished and Free Spirit hairstyles, Leather Bush Hat, Admiral’s Bicorne, Crested Centurion, and Basic Bruiser helmets.
- Heroic Gear:
- Heroic is a new, higher tier than Epic, with unique traits and enhancement systems.
- Only one Heroic weapon and armor can be equipped per character.
- Heroic weapons require extracting passive skills from lower-tier weapons and use new materials for upgrades.
- Ascended Arch Bosses:
- Upgraded versions of Queen Bellandir and Tevent now spawn on a weekly schedule, offering materials for Tier 2 boss weapons.
- Tier 2 weapons require sacrificing their Tier 1 versions and reset any traits, but gain enhanced weapon skills.
- Arena and PvP Updates:
- Arena Season 2 concludes with maintenance, replaced by a month-long 6v6 event season.
- Siege event scheduling changes: Tax Delivery and Castle Siege now occur back-to-back, alternating biweekly with Interserver Sieges.
- General and UI Changes:
- Ground markers can now be placed for tactical coordination, managed by the party leader.
- Observer Mode now includes PvE content like raids and guild raids.
- Item quickslots expanded from 4 to 8.
- Weapon Mastery tooltips improved for clarity on progression benefits.
- Numerous fixes and tweaks to chat, matchmaking, dungeons, and crafting systems.
- Combat and Weapon Balancing:
- Longbow, Spear, and Dagger skills adjusted for damage, cooldowns, and specializations.
- Staff, Greatsword, and other weapons receive bug fixes and usability improvements.
- Map and Content Adjustments:
- Nebula Island boss portals and mob density tweaked for smoother gameplay.
- Certain debuffs and contract mechanics fixed to reduce player frustration.
- Console-specific visual improvements for PlayStation 5.
Further reading: Official blog post / full list of changes