AFK Journey – Talk with Designers: New Season Preview

Greetings, Magisters!

The Echoes of Dissent season is coming to a close. As always, we’ve been listening closely and truly appreciate all your feedback and suggestions.

With the new season on the horizon, we’re excited to give you a sneak peek at the upcoming content, and we look forward to seeing your thoughts and discussions about it.

Let’s get started!

I. Seasonal Progression System

Introducing Soul Pact, a game-changing feature for your faction strategies.

In Version 1.5.1, we’re introducing Soul Pact, a new seasonal progression system that replaces the current Faction Talent feature. This feature is designed to provide a fresh gameplay experience and greater flexibility in shaping your battle strategies. Like the Season Faction Talents, Soul Pact is a seasonal feature with free access, and all progression resets at the end of each season.

In the new Soul Pact feature, 5 Phantimals will be introduced, one for each major faction: Lightbearer, Wilder, Mauler, Graveborn, and Celestials & Hypogeans. Deploy 3 heroes from the same faction, and that faction’s Phantimal will become available during battle preparation, allowing you to deploy it in battle. Each Phantimal also comes with unique skills and passive effects, adding new tactical depth and dynamic interactions to every battle.

Additionally, each Phantimal can also apply a Spirit Mark to a deployed ally, granting them a powerful, unique buff. A carefully placed Spirit Mark could be the key to turning the tide and claiming victory.

As a special touch, every Phantimal is inspired by familiar characters and bosses you have encountered before. Soon you’ll be able to fight alongside them and take your battle strategies to new heights.

II. Core Seasonal Mode Changes

Season AFK Stage Updates: Less Grind, More Flexibility

During the Echoes of Dissent season, it was brought to our attention that progressing AFK Stages felt too grindy, repetitive, and not very engaging after clearing the main stages. To address this, we’re refining the system while keeping the current three-phase season structure. The goal is to make it more engaging, less grinding, and add fresh elements along the way.

Here’s what’s changing:

1. Stage Rewards Moved to the Season Handbook: The one-time season rewards for clearing an AFK Stage, such as Manuals, Essence, and Starlight, will be tied to the Season Handbook and unlock over time. This should make stage progression less grinding.
2. From Faction Talents to Soul Pact: The upgrade materials you used to earn for Faction Talents will be replaced with resources for the new Soul Pact feature. Most of these resources will be earned early in each phase, so you won’t need to farm Infinite Stages late in the phase for upgrades.
3. Equipment Rewards Replaced with Select Chests: Instead of random Equipment drops, rewards for clearing AFK Stages will grant Select Equipment Chests. These let you choose the piece that best fits your needs and avoid the frustration of missing out because of bad luck with drops.
4. Infinite Stage Adjustments: Infinite Stages are being reworked with changes to Infinite Stage Buffs and the Buffs’ unlock timing. These updates aim to create a smoother difficulty curve and progression flow. You’ll also be able to fully clear the Infinite Stage challenge, with Season Phase Rankings adjusted accordingly.
5. Formation Records Updates: Based on your feedback about “too many manual battles appearing in Records” and cases where “your heroes are stronger than the suggested formation but still can’t beat the stage using the same setup,” we plan to reduce the appearance of formations that offer little reference value. Additionally, we will introduce dedicated records to help you quickly identify formations that best match your current season progress, making it easier to plan your battles effectively.

Dura’s Trials Rework: Rule Changes, Class-Focused Challenges

We’ve also taken a close look at Dura’s Trials. Over time, additions like Nightmare Trials and Blessed Heroes made this mode increasingly complex and time-consuming. On top of that, the random Magic Charm drops often left players unable to get the Charms they needed early in the season.

To simplify the gameplay and put more focus on hero classes, we plan to make the following changes in Version 1.5.1:

1. Treasure Trial Change: Nightmare Trials and the Wish List will be removed in the new season. In their place, there will be 6 new Treasure Trials, each tied to a specific hero class. One trial will be available each day in a fixed rotation. Clearing a stage will reward Class Charm Essences for that class, plus some Charm Essence for another class. Complete Magic Charms will no longer drop directly in the new season.
2. Blessed Heroes Removed: In the new season, each Treasure Trial will only allow heroes from its featured class to be deployed in battle. These trials will have victory conditions that reflect the unique traits of that class. For example, in an Ironwall Treasure Trial for Tanks, your task may be to protect an assisting Marksman hero at the center of the battlefield. The Marksman deals heavy damage over time, and if you hold the line, they’ll carry you to victory.
3. New Class Charm Essence: Crafting Magic Charms will require Class Charm Essences first, with Universal Charm Essence as a fallback if you’re short.
4. Milestone Rewards: Progress across all Treasure Trials will unlock milestone rewards, granting Universal Charm Essences as you advance.

Get Ready for the new tower challenge event that brings an enhanced social experience!

Coming in Version 1.5.2, we plan to introduce a limited-time challenge event designed to bring a richer team and social experience.

1. During the event, a new challenge will be available each week, featuring a fixed enemy formation with multiple difficulty levels.
2. You can tackle each difficulty either Solo or as a Team. Clearing a difficulty for the first time will earn you 1st Clear Rewards.
3. Previously cleared difficulties remain accessible, letting you experiment with different formations or help other players complete them.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this event. If it’s well-received, we may introduce more similar content in future updates, so share your feedback!

Giving Heroes More Opportunities to Shine and Late-Season Experience Optimizations

Based on frequent feedback that some heroes had limited opportunities to shine and that content in the later stages of the season could feel less engaging, we’re introducing a new team battle event built on the Titan Reaver mode in Version 1.5.2.

1. The event is scheduled for late Phase 2 of the new season and will run for 13 days, featuring 3 rounds of challenges.
2. In each round, you’ll face 2 bosses back-to-back and earn one-time rewards based on your total damage dealt to both bosses.
3. Rankings will track both single-round damage and total damage. At the end of the event, rewards will be distributed according to your total damage ranking.

Considering the above updates will inevitably increase your hero development cost, we’ll increase the drop rate of hero upgrade materials in the new season. On top of that, past Rate Up heroes will return, giving you another chance to recruit heroes you may have missed and complete your dream formation.

1. Each week, 1 past Rate Up Hero will return. The returning Rate Up Recruitment event follows the same rules as for a regular Rate Up Recruitment event.
2. From Monday to Thursday, we’ll announce the returning hero of the week. Recruitment will then be open from Friday to Sunday of the same week.

The first returning hero will be revealed on the Monday following the release of Version 1.5.1. Stay tuned!

III. Future Plans for the Homestead Feature

We’re committed to refining the Homestead feature with a focus on fun and social engagement!

First, we want to thank everyone for the valuable feedback shared since the feature’s launch. As mentioned in the previous Talk with Designers episode, creating an enjoyable and socially interactive experience is at the heart of our design philosophy. This vision took shape in Version 1.4.4 with the Homestead Channel and Home Cairn Posting, letting you see online visitors and chat with them in real time. The visitor log also lets you read visitor messages and see which buildings they interacted with.

In Version 1.5.1, the Homestead feature will receive several exciting updates:

1. The maximum level of Divine Shard will be raised to 20. Along with new crops, materials, and products, a variety of free decorations will be available to claim. As you develop your Homestead, you’ll also have the chance to earn Diamonds, Invite Letters, Stellar Crystals, Rosy Jewels, and other amazing rewards.
2. New Feature – Homestead Memory: Capture beautiful moments in your Homestead using this new photo mode. You’ll be able to adjust the camera’s position and angle to frame each shot perfectly.
3. New Event – Moonlit Avalon: In this event, you’ll prepare treats for Lunabelle, a mysterious visitor to your Homestead, and earn exclusive decorations as rewards!

Additionally, we’re planning a feature that will allow you to save and share your Homestead layout, along with various quality-of-life improvements and optimizations.

IV. Crossover Event

A new crossover event is coming soon, featuring free Mythic+ Heroes!

Last but not least, we’re excited to announce our upcoming crossover event, set to kick off toward the end of Version 1.5.2! Two new crossover heroes will arrive in Esperia, and you’ll be able to recruit them in a similar manner to the previous Fairy Tail crossover event.

By simply taking part in the event, you’ll be able to recruit both heroes and ascend one of them to Mythic+ for free!Thank you for your continued support and love for the game.

Stay tuned for more details, and we can’t wait to hear your feedback and suggestions!