MMOexp New World: Understanding Enchanted Ward, Refreshing Stifle, and the Problem of Build Diversity

In New World, gearing for PvP is one of the most complex and New World coins rewarding parts of the endgame. Players spend countless hours perfecting perk setups, mixing defensive and offensive options, and chasing best-in-slot rolls. Yet, as the meta has evolved, a troubling trend has emerged: defensive perks such as Enchanted Ward, Refreshing Stifle, Elemental Aversion, and Conditioning dominate gear choices to the point where they feel almost mandatory.

While perks like Shirking Heals add creativity and fun playstyle expression, the majority of "good" PvP builds end up looking the same. This guide will explore why perk stacking has become such a problem, how it affects both PvP and PvE, and what strategies players can use while we wait to see if Amazon Games Studios (AGS) takes a bolder approach to balance.

1. The Core Issue: Overpowered Flat Defensives

The strength of perks like Enchanted Ward (which reduces incoming critical hit damage) or Refreshing Stifle (which provides cooldown reduction against crowd control) comes from their flat, general defensive nature. They protect against a wide range of damage types or situations without requiring the player to anticipate or commit to a specific playstyle.

Enchanted Ward: Powerful against nearly every crit-focused weapon, from bows to greatswords.

Refreshing Stifle: Gives reliable cooldown reduction in the most dangerous situations, making it universally valuable.

Elemental Aversion & Conditioning: Cover magic and elemental burst damage, which are common threats in wars and arenas.

The result? Players feel pressured to run the same handful of defensive perks across almost every piece of gear, leaving little room for experimentation.

2. Impact on Build Creativity

When nearly everyone in PvP is running four or five of the same defensive perks, the build landscape narrows dramatically. This has several knock-on effects:

Homogenized Builds: Instead of varied counters and creative perk combinations, most players gravitate toward the “safe” option.

Reduced Risk-Reward: Normally, choosing perks should involve trade-offs—do you want higher sustain, more mobility, or better burst? Flat defensives reduce that decision space by simply being better than the alternatives.

Stagnant Meta: Even new weapon updates or balance tweaks can feel underwhelming if players know defensive perk stacking will still dictate gear loadouts.

By comparison, perks like Shirking Heals stand out because they are situational, interesting, and allow a player’s mechanical skill to influence their value. That’s the kind of creativity the system should encourage.

3. Why PvE Suffers Too

Although this problem is most visible in PvP, PvE is not immune. Defensive perk stacking also impacts endgame PvE content such as Mutations:

Tanks and DPS alike often prefer the same handful of survivability perks, reducing the pool of “good” items that drop.

Many offensive or utility perks feel irrelevant, as they don’t compete with the raw power of warding or aversion setups.

Diversity in PvE groups shrinks, making experimentation with hybrid or off-meta builds less rewarding.

4. Player Strategies in the Current Meta

Until AGS reworks perk balance, players looking to stay competitive in PvP need to understand how to optimize within the current system.

a. Prioritize the “Big Four” Defensives

Enchanted Ward, Refreshing Stifle, Elemental Aversion, Conditioning should anchor your gear.

Focus on stacking them consistently across armor pieces for maximum mitigation.

b. Pair with One “Expression” Perk

Slot one perk that reflects your weapon choice or playstyle, such as Shirking Heals, Freedom, or weapon-specific offensive perks.

This gives you at least some room for individuality while retaining core survivability.

c. Don’t Neglect Jewelry

Rings, amulets, and earrings can be excellent places to add diversity. For example, Refreshing Toast or Stamina Recovery can offset the lack of creativity in armor perks.

d. Adapt to Weapon Matchups

If you know your opponents lean heavily on elemental damage, skew your defensive setup toward Elemental Aversion. Against crit-reliant melee builds, stack Enchanted Ward instead.

5. Suggested Solutions for AGS

For New World to reach its full PvP potential, perk diversity needs a redesign. Some ideas include:

Remove or Limit Stacking: Capping certain perks at one or two instances would force players to choose instead of mindlessly stacking.

Make Perks More Specific: Narrow the scope of strong general perks. For example, instead of “reduces all crit damage,” a reworked perk might “reduce bow and musket crit damage,” creating counter-play opportunities.

Introduce More Skill-Expression Perks: Expand on mechanics like Shirking Heals that reward timing, positioning, or aggression.

Enhance Offensive Alternatives: Buff underused offensive perks so players feel more rewarded for trading defense for burst or sustain.

These changes would open the door for dozens of creative gear combinations and help ensure that PvP is defined more by player skill than by who stacked the same set of perks more efficiently.

6. Conclusion

Right now, the dominance of Enchanted Ward, Refreshing Stifle, Elemental Aversion, and Conditioning makes New World’s PvP gear system feel restrictive. Players gravitate toward the same defensive setups, stifling creativity and reducing build diversity across both PvP and PvE.

While smart players can still find ways to express themselves—through perk choice on jewelry, situational swaps, or niche mechanics—the system overall rewards defensive stacking above all else.

The hope is that AGS will eventually move toward a perk system that emphasizes trade-offs, specificity, and buy New World coins​ creativity, making gear choice as engaging as the combat itself. Until then, knowing how to stack defensives effectively remains the surest path to success in New World’s PvP scene.

Rsgoldfast RuneScape’s Final MTX Experiment: How to Get the 84 Cosmetics in September

RuneScape’s ongoing monetization experiments have entered their final phase, and RuneScape gold this one is by far the most expansive. From September 1st through September 30th, players will be able to purchase 84 different cosmetics directly from the marketplace using Runecoins. This includes a whopping 66 combat ability overrides and 18 full cosmetic outfits—a scale much larger than RuneScape’s usual trickle of one or two items at a time.

If you’re wondering how this experiment works, how to make the most of it, and which cosmetics you might want to prioritize, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

What Is the MTX Experiment?

Jagex has been running a series of microtransaction (MTX) experiments in RuneScape. These aren’t permanent changes yet but tests to see how players react to different monetization models. Earlier experiments included smaller cosmetic bundles, Yak Packs, Treasure Hunter exclusives, and Hero Pass rewards being made available in new ways.

This September marks the final MTX experiment, where Jagex is throwing open the vault and making a wide selection of past cosmetics available for direct purchase. Their goal is to measure:

Player preferences for bulk cosmetic releases versus smaller, staggered drops.

Pricing feedback to see if players feel certain designs are worth their cost.

Purchase behavior—do players buy more when they see everything at once, or when cosmetics are rare and time-limited?

The Cosmetics Available

A total of 84 items are up for grabs this month, including:

66 Combat Ability Overrides – These let you reskin your combat abilities with new visual effects, often flashy particle animations or recolors.

18 Cosmetic Outfits – Full sets of themed armor-like attire that don’t affect stats but change your character’s appearance.

The cosmetics come from previous sources such as:

Treasure Hunter – RuneScape’s long-running lootbox system.

Yak Packs – Seasonal cosmetics bundled with Yak Track progression.

Hero Pass – More recent event-based cosmetics.

For long-time players, this experiment represents a rare second chance at grabbing cosmetics that may have been locked behind limited-time events or RNG-heavy systems.

How to Buy the Cosmetics

Purchasing cosmetics in this experiment is straightforward:

Head to the Marketplace – The items will be listed under a special category from September 1st to September 30th.

Pay with Runecoins – All items are priced in RuneScape’s premium currency, Runecoins.

Permanent Unlock – Once purchased, you keep the cosmetic forever, regardless of future experiments or changes.

Pricing Structure

Members vs. Free Players – Members often get discounts compared to free players.

Complexity of Design – A simple recolor override may cost fewer Runecoins, while flashy, effect-heavy ability overrides will be priced higher.

Not Future-Indicative – Jagex has emphasized that these prices are for the experiment only and may not represent future plans.

Strategies for Players

With 84 items dropping at once, it can feel overwhelming. Here’s how to approach the experiment smartly:

1. Budget Your Runecoins

Since Runecoins are a premium currency, it’s easy to overspend. Check how many you currently own and decide whether you want to:

Stock up on ability overrides for combat flair.

Focus on outfits to expand your cosmetic wardrobe.

Save Runecoins for future content in case the experiment leads to more permanent systems.

2. Prioritize Rarer or More Desired Cosmetics

If you missed certain Treasure Hunter exclusives in the past, now is your chance. Some cosmetics may never return again outside this experiment.

3. Compare Simplicity vs. Flash

Ask yourself: do you want flashy particle effects for abilities, or is a simple recolor enough? This will help you stretch your Runecoins further.

4. Use Membership Discounts

If you’re on the fence about membership, remember that members often enjoy discounted Runecoin costs. If you plan on buying multiple cosmetics, a membership could save you more overall.

Why This Matters

This final MTX experiment isn’t just about cosmetics—it’s about shaping RuneScape’s future monetization model. By participating (either through purchases or feedback), you’re directly influencing how Jagex decides to offer cosmetics going forward.

If bulk releases prove popular, we might see larger monthly rotations.

If players prefer rarity and exclusivity, Jagex may stick to smaller, timed offerings.

Pricing feedback will determine whether cosmetics remain premium luxury items or become more accessible.

Giving Feedback

Jagex has specifically asked for player feedback on three points:

Quantity – Do you like having 84 items available at once, or is it overwhelming?

Pricing – Are the Runecoin costs fair compared to design complexity?

Interest Level – Does this kind of release make you more excited to buy, less interested, or neutral?

You can give feedback through:

The official RuneScape forums

Reddit (r/runescape)

Discord servers and community spaces

In-game polls and surveys when prompted

Final Thoughts

RuneScape’s September MTX experiment is the biggest test yet of how cosmetics fit into the game’s economy. For players, it’s a golden opportunity to grab ability overrides and outfits that may have felt out of reach in the past, without relying on Treasure Hunter luck or time-limited events.

The experiment only runs from September 1st through September 30th, so plan your Runecoin spending wisely. Whether you’re chasing flashy combat animations or sleek cosmetic outfits, this is a rare chance to bulk up your collection.

And don’t forget—your feedback matters. How you respond to this experiment will buy RS gold help shape the future of RuneScape’s monetization system.

Path of Exile 2: Best Ways to Farm the Shadowbrand Dagger

In Path of Exile 2, few weapons capture the imagination of rogue and shadow players like the Shadowbrand Dagger. Sleek, fast, and POE2 Currency deadly, this unique dagger is prized for its synergy with critical strike builds, poison stacking, and shadow-themed archetypes. Because it’s a chase weapon, the process of farming it can be daunting if you don’t know where to look. This guide breaks down the best methods to acquire the Shadowbrand Dagger, strategies to maximize your farming efficiency, and ways to make the most of it once you’ve secured one.

1. Why the Shadowbrand Dagger Is Worth Farming

Before discussing farming routes, let’s highlight why Shadowbrand is so powerful:

Critical Strike Chance Boost: Greatly increases base crit chance, making it ideal for assassins and poison builds.

Shadowbrand Skill Empowerment: Grants extra effectiveness to Shadowbrand-related skills (exclusive dagger skill line).

High Attack Speed: Allows for rapid poison stacking or swift strike builds.

Scaling Potential: Works incredibly well with support gems and ascendancy nodes that boost poison duration, shadow clones, or dagger crit multipliers.

It’s essentially a best-in-slot weapon for dagger-based rogue characters through mid-to-late game, and one of the most profitable uniques to flip on the trade market.

2. Where the Shadowbrand Dagger Drops

Like most high-value uniques in Path of Exile 2, Shadowbrand isn’t just a random world drop—it has targeted sources that increase your chances.

Primary Drop Source: The Shade Reaver, an endgame boss tied to the Shadowspire region.

Map Influence: Shadowbrand can drop from Shadow-corrupted maps, which are influenced by the Shade Reaver’s presence.

League Mechanics: Certain seasonal mechanics (like Delirium-style shadow echoes or unique challenge encounters) may offer additional chances.

Because it’s tied to specific content, casual farming won’t cut it. You’ll need to prioritize Shadowspire progression.

3. Best Farming Methods

Method 1: Target Farming Shade Reaver Boss

The Shade Reaver is your number one priority. Here’s the most efficient approach:

Unlock Shadowspire Maps: Progress your atlas or region until you gain access.

Apply Shadow Influence: Whenever given the choice between different influences, pick the Shade Reaver/Shadow one.

Stack Invitations: Shadow Invitations drop from influenced map bosses. Collect them to open portals to Shade Reaver’s arena.

Farm Reaver Encounters: Each encounter has a chance to drop Shadowbrand.

To boost efficiency, take Atlas passive skills that increase invitation drop rates, boss loot quantity, and influenced monster density.

Method 2: Corrupted Shadow Maps

Shadowbrand also has a chance to drop in corrupted shadow-themed maps. To maximize this:

Use Vaal Orbs on Shadowspire maps to corrupt them.

Look for modifiers that increase boss drops or unique item chances.

Run maps with Scarabs of Shadows (league item that boosts shadow monster spawns).

This method is slower than boss farming but can be combined with currency farming.

Method 3: Trade Farming and Flipping

If you’d rather not grind Shade Reaver directly, a profitable strategy is to farm currency and then purchase Shadowbrand from trade.

Best currency farms include:

Expeditions: Shadow fragments from Shadowspire expeditions sell well.

Legion: Shadow-themed generals sometimes drop splinters and rare currency.

Essence Farming: High demand, especially for essences that boost dagger mods.

Build your wealth, then snipe a well-rolled Shadowbrand early in the league before prices spike.

Method 4: Crafting and Divination Cards

In Path of Exile 2, some uniques are tied to divination card sets. Shadowbrand is linked to a card set called “Blade in the Dark.”

Blade in the Dark Cards: Drop in Shadowspire and related maps. Collecting a full set guarantees a Shadowbrand Dagger.

Strategy: Combine card farming with other methods. While grinding Shadowspire maps, cards will naturally drop.

This method guarantees progress, unlike relying purely on RNG boss drops.

4. Maximizing Farming Efficiency

To make the grind worthwhile, here are some tips:

Use Atlas Passives Wisely: Focus on shadow influence, boss drops, and invitation farming.

Invest in Map Juice: Roll maps with higher pack size, quantity, and quality. This improves overall loot and card drops.

Run Efficient Builds: Choose a mapping build with high clear speed to rush influenced maps. A poison DoT assassin or trapper excels here.

Don’t Neglect Side Profits: Even if Shadowbrand doesn’t drop, you’ll accumulate Shadow ichors, embers, fragments, and rare currency that sell well.

5. What to Do Once You Get Shadowbrand

Congratulations—you’ve secured one! Now comes the optimization stage.

Check the Roll: Shadowbrand has variable rolls (crit chance %, attack speed %, poison duration). A high roll can double its value.

Corruption Options: Corrupting can add +1 to gem levels or critical strike multipliers, skyrocketing its price.

Build Optimization:

Poison Assassin: Stack poison chance, duration, and damage.

Crit Rogue: Pair with gems like Multistrike and support passives for insane DPS.

Hybrid Shadow Build: Combine Shadowbrand’s bonuses with clones or traps for versatility.

Sell or Flip: If your drop is low-rolled, consider selling early in the league. High-rolled versions often appreciate in value later as players chase perfect gear.

6. Conclusion

The Shadowbrand Dagger is a true chase item in Path of Exile 2, blending style, speed, and devastating critical scaling for rogue builds. Farming it efficiently requires a clear plan: target the Shade Reaver, grind Shadowspire maps, collect Blade in the Dark cards, and use Atlas passives to maximize your chances. For those who prefer a trade-based route, focusing on profitable side farms can make buying one straightforward.

Whether you wield it yourself or sell it for a fortune, Shadowbrand is more than just a weapon—it’s a cornerstone of late-game rogue power. Mastering the farming routes and buy POE2 Currency​ market timing around it ensures you’ll always come out ahead.

MMOexp Lineage 2M: How to Learn and Maximize Meteor Storm Skill for PvE and PvP

In Lineage 2M, few skills embody sheer destructive power quite like Meteor Storm. This high-level AoE (Area of Effect) spell is a staple in the arsenal of advanced spellcasters, capable of raining fiery meteors down upon enemies to deal devastating magic damage. Whether you’re clearing mobs in PvE or dominating opponents in PvP, mastering Meteor Storm can drastically enhance your effectiveness on the battlefield. This guide will break down everything you need to know about learning, upgrading, and Lineage 2M Diamonds maximizing Meteor Storm for both PvE farming and PvP combat.

1. Understanding Meteor Storm

Meteor Storm is a top-tier AoE damage spell that calls down multiple meteors to inflict massive fire damage over a wide area. It excels at punishing clustered enemies, making it equally dangerous in dungeons, field farming, and large-scale PvP encounters like sieges or open-world wars.

Key attributes:

Type: Magic AoE skill

Element: Fire

Damage: Very high burst, multiple hits

Cooldown: Moderate, but requires careful timing

Utility: Area denial, crowd control pressure, and mass farming efficiency

Meteor Storm is mana-intensive, so you must balance raw damage output with MP management, especially during prolonged PvP battles or extended farming sessions.

2. How to Learn Meteor Storm

Acquiring Meteor Storm requires dedication, as it is not available to beginners. Here are the main steps:

Step 1: Character Progression

Meteor Storm is typically available to advanced spellcasting classes (Wizards, Archmages, or their equivalents).

You’ll need to reach a certain level threshold (usually level 50+ depending on server progression).

Step 2: Skill Book or Scroll

To unlock Meteor Storm, you must obtain its Skill Book/Scroll.

These can drop from:

High-level dungeon bosses

World raid bosses

Certain elite mobs in endgame hunting zones

Purchased in the Adena Shop or Auction House (if available)

Step 3: Upgrade and Rank Up

Once unlocked, Meteor Storm can be upgraded through skill points or enhancement stones.

Higher ranks increase:

Damage per meteor

Number of meteors summoned

Radius of effect

Fully maxing the skill requires farming rare upgrade materials, so patience is key.

3. Maximizing Meteor Storm in PvE

Meteor Storm shines in PvE due to its raw clearing power. To farm efficiently, you’ll need to optimize its usage:

Positioning and Pulling

Gather mobs into tight clusters before casting Meteor Storm to ensure maximum hits.

Use crowd-control spells (like Frost Bolt or Root) to keep enemies in place while meteors rain down.

Rotation Synergy

Open with weaker AoEs to group mobs, then finish with Meteor Storm for a clean wipe.

Pair it with DoT (damage-over-time) skills like Fireball Burn to maximize DPS.

Farming Hotspots

Meteor Storm is best used in high-density mob areas where respawn timers are short.

Target spots with weaker mobs—overkilling tougher mobs wastes MP efficiency.

MP and Cooldown Management

Invest in mana regeneration gear or consumables, since Meteor Storm consumes a large chunk of MP.

Don’t spam the skill every cooldown—alternate with cheaper spells to sustain long grinding sessions.

4. Maximizing Meteor Storm in PvP

In PvP, Meteor Storm is more than just damage—it’s a psychological weapon that forces enemies to scatter and respect your zone control.

Small-Scale PvP (1v1, Duels)

Meteor Storm is less effective in pure duels due to its cast time and telegraphing.

Use it when:

Your opponent is crowd-controlled (stunned, rooted, or slowed).

You need burst damage to break through defensive buffs.

Large-Scale PvP (Mass Battles, Sieges)

Meteor Storm becomes game-changing in clan wars and castle sieges.

Drop it on:

Choke points like gates or narrow passages.

Enemy backlines, forcing healers and ranged DPS to scatter.

Boss objectives, to both damage enemies and pressure the raid boss simultaneously.

Combos and Team Play

Coordinate with tanks to pull enemies into tight clusters.

Pair with other AoE classes (like Archers’ Volley of Arrows) for devastating synergy.

Combine Meteor Storm with debuffs (e.g., lowering enemy fire resistance) for amplified damage.

Counterplay Awareness

Enemies will often dodge the meteors, so predict movement patterns rather than dropping it randomly.

Use feints—cast Meteor Storm slightly behind enemy lines, forcing them into your team’s frontline traps.

5. Best Gear, Buffs, and Stats for Meteor Storm

To maximize Meteor Storm, you’ll want to stack gear and stats that boost magic performance:

Core Stats

INT (Intelligence): Increases base magic damage.

WIS (Wisdom): Improves mana pool and regeneration.

MP Recovery: Sustain skill spamming.

Recommended Gear

Magic Amplification Weapons: Staves or wands that increase magic AoE damage.

Robes with MP Regen: Sustains casting over long fights.

Fire Damage Accessories: Rings, amulets, or talismans that boost elemental fire damage.

Buffs

Party buffs like Magic Amplification or Cooldown Reduction greatly increase Meteor Storm’s uptime and power.

Consumables: MP potions, fire-damage-boosting scrolls.

6. Tips for Mastery

Timing is everything: Drop Meteor Storm when enemies commit to a fight, not when they can easily disengage.

Know your limits: Overusing Meteor Storm can leave you MP-drained and vulnerable.

Stay mobile: While channeling, position yourself safely—enemy assassins will target you.

Upgrade wisely: Prioritize Meteor Storm upgrades over lesser AoEs once you unlock it.

Conclusion

Meteor Storm is one of the most iconic and destructive skills in Lineage 2M, offering unrivaled AoE potential for both PvE farming and PvP domination. By understanding how to unlock it, investing in proper gear and stats, and mastering timing and positioning, you can turn this fiery rain of destruction into a game-winning asset. Whether you’re clearing mobs for loot or unleashing devastation in castle sieges, Meteor Storm ensures that your presence is always felt on the battlefield.

Master it well, and buy Lineage 2M Diamonds you’ll become the fiery centerpiece of your clan’s offense in Lineage 2M.

Old School RuneScape: How to Unlock and Use Avernic Hilt

The Avernic Hilt is one of the most coveted melee upgrades in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), offering players the chance to transform the already powerful Dragon Defender into the legendary Avernic Defender. This upgrade boosts both offense and defense, making it a staple for high-level PvM and PvP encounters. However, acquiring and using the Avernic Hilt requires a blend of skill, preparation, and OSRS gold resources. This guide breaks down how to unlock the hilt, its uses, and how to get the most out of it once you’ve obtained it.

1. What is the Avernic Hilt?

The Avernic Hilt is an upgrade component obtained from the Theatre of Blood (ToB), one of OSRS’s most challenging raids. When combined with the Dragon Defender, it creates the Avernic Defender, which is considered the best-in-slot defender for melee combat. It provides massive offensive stats along with solid defensive bonuses, making it an essential item for endgame players.

Key Benefits of the Avernic Defender (after using the hilt):

Attack Bonuses: +30 stab, +29 slash, +28 crush

Strength Bonus: +8

Defensive Bonuses: +26 to stab, slash, and crush; +7 magic; +22 ranged

Prayer Bonus: +1

Compared to the Dragon Defender, the Avernic offers more strength and defensive boosts, turning it into a luxury yet highly practical upgrade.

2. How to Unlock the Avernic Hilt

The only source of the Avernic Hilt is the Theatre of Blood raid in Ver Sinhaza. Unlike some drops, this hilt can’t be acquired from regular bosses or shops. Here’s the process to unlock it:

Step 1: Meet the Requirements

To have a realistic chance at completing ToB, you’ll need strong stats and equipment:

Combat Level: 115+ is highly recommended.

Key Stats: 90+ Attack, Strength, and Defence; 94+ Magic for utility spells; 77+ Prayer for Augury and Rigour if available.

Gear: High-tier weapons (Scythe of Vitur, Ghrazi Rapier, or Abyssal Tentacle), strong defensive armor (Bandos, Justiciar, or Torva), and endgame utilities like Saradomin Godsword or Zamorakian Hasta.

Step 2: Learn the Theatre of Blood Mechanics

The Theatre of Blood consists of several bosses, each with unique mechanics:

The Maiden of Sugadinti – blood spawns and DPS checks.

Pestilent Bloat – timing and positioning challenge.

Nylocas Vasilias – prayer switching and wave management.

Sotetseg – maze mechanics and coordination.

Xarpus – avoiding poison and reflecting mechanics.

Verzik Vitur – a multi-phase final boss that tests teamwork, DPS, and survival.

Completing all rooms successfully with your party earns you a chance at the Avernic Hilt.

Step 3: Roll for the Drop

At the end of a Theatre of Blood run:

The Avernic Hilt is one of the “non-unique” raid rewards, meaning it is more common than ultra-rares like the Scythe of Vitur.

It is tradeable, so you can also buy it on the Grand Exchange if you don’t want to rely on drops. Its price fluctuates, typically sitting in the tens of millions of GP.

3. How to Use the Avernic Hilt

Once you have the hilt, it must be attached to a Dragon Defender to create the Avernic Defender.

Combining the Hilt

Bring the Avernic Hilt and a Dragon Defender to an anvil.

It requires no additional materials but will consume the Dragon Defender permanently.

The process is irreversible: you cannot get the Dragon Defender back.

Combat Use

The Avernic Defender is universally useful across combat scenarios:

PvM (Bossing & Raids): Best-in-slot for melee DPS while offering enough defense to handle high-level bosses like Nex, Nightmare, or God Wars Dungeon generals.

PvP (Wilderness & Duels): Its balanced stats make it versatile for both aggressive and defensive builds, though it is considered risky since dying with it may result in losing millions of GP.

4. Strategies to Maximize the Avernic Defender

While the Avernic is a straight upgrade from the Dragon Defender, using it effectively requires smart combat strategies.

Bossing

God Wars Dungeon: The added defensive stats help sustain longer trips, especially against bosses like Commander Zilyana or K’ril Tsutsaroth.

Nightmare/Phosani’s Nightmare: Boosted strength bonus increases DPS during long, high-HP encounters.

Nex: Essential for tanking and DPS roles.

PvP

Main Setups: Use with high-strength gear like Bandos, Torva, or Inquisitor’s armor.

Hybrid Builds: Works well with switches to Armadyl or Ancestral for tribrid fighting.

Risking: Due to its high cost, many players avoid taking it to deep Wilderness fights unless confident.

Training & Slayer

While technically overkill for AFK training, the Avernic Defender shines on high-level Slayer tasks (Abyssal Demons, Gargoyles, Smoke Devils, etc.) where DPS speed matters.

5. Alternatives Before Avernic

If you can’t afford or unlock the Avernic Hilt yet, these defenders work as stepping stones:

Dragon Defender: Best pre-Avernic option, obtained from Warriors’ Guild.

Rune Defender: Decent until you farm Dragon Defenders.

Crystal Shield / Dragonfire Shield: More defensive but lack the offensive bonuses of defenders.

6. Is the Avernic Worth It?

The Avernic Hilt is a luxury upgrade, but for serious players it’s worth every coin. While it doesn’t provide the massive leap in power like a Scythe of Vitur, it is:

Consistently useful in nearly all melee scenarios.

Best-in-slot with no real competition.

A one-time upgrade — once you make it, you never need another.

For PvMers, the Avernic Defender saves time through higher DPS and survivability. For PvPers, it provides an edge in duels and risk fights. Its only drawback is cost, but since it’s tradeable, you can always liquidate it later.

Final Thoughts

Unlocking and using the Avernic Hilt in RuneScape is a milestone for any melee-focused adventurer. While the path through Theatre of Blood is grueling, the reward is an unrivaled defender that bolsters both offense and defense. By mastering ToB, understanding the value of the item, and strategically using it in combat, you’ll turn your melee setup into one of the most formidable in the game.

Whether you earn it through a raid drop or buy  cheap OSRS gold outright, once you wield the Avernic Defender, you’ll know why it’s considered an essential piece of endgame gear in Old School RuneScape.

Path of Exile: How to Get and Use The Squire Shield

Path of Exile thrives on powerful items that shape builds, and POE orbs one of the most coveted endgame uniques is The Squire, Sovereign Round Shield. This shield is a true game-changer for certain melee builds, thanks to its ability to triple socketed support gems. If you’ve ever wondered how to acquire it and what builds can unleash its full potential, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

1. What Is The Squire Shield?

The Squire is a unique Sovereign Round Shield that redefines how support gems interact with socketed active skills.

Key Modifiers:

Modifiers to number of socketed support gems are tripled.

+30% to block chance.

Strong base armour and energy shield stats.

This essentially means that one active skill placed in The Squire receives the benefits of three times as many supports. For example, if you socket a skill with six supports, it’s as if you’ve linked it to 18 support gems. This makes it one of the most powerful scaling items in Path of Exile.

2. How to Get The Squire Shield

Acquiring The Squire is no small feat—it’s one of the rarest and most expensive items in the game.

2.1. Drop Sources

The Squire is a Tier 3 drop from The Tower divination card set.

The Tower Divination Card: Grants one random unique item. The Squire is on the possible drop table but at very low odds.

The Tower card drops in The Tower Map (Tier 13+) and occasionally in maps with divination card nodes from the Atlas passive tree.

2.2. Direct Drop

The Squire itself can drop from league-specific bosses and high-tier content, but the chances are astronomically low. It’s not tied to a specific boss like Shaper or Sirus—it’s in the general Uber-tier rarity pool.

2.3. Trade

The most realistic way for most players to obtain The Squire is via trade.

Prices can range from 50–150 Divine Orbs depending on the league economy. In hardcore or solo-self-found, it’s nearly impossible to guarantee.

2.4. Crafting/Upgrading Chance

Because The Squire is a unique item, there’s no reliable crafting method to target it. However, Ancient Orbs can sometimes reroll a unique shield into The Squire, though this is incredibly RNG-heavy.

3. Best Builds for The Squire Shield

The Squire’s triple support effect is so strong that it essentially creates its own build archetypes. Here are the top strategies:

3.1. Shield Crush Builds

Shield Crush is the poster child for The Squire.

By socketing Shield Crush into The Squire, you can stack supports like Brutality, Multistrike, Pulverise, Melee Physical Damage, Ruthless, and Fortify. With triple scaling, the damage skyrockets, making Shield Crush one of the best mapping and bossing skills in the game.

3.2. Smite / Static Strike Builds

Melee lightning skills can also abuse The Squire. Combining Smite with triple supports like Elemental Damage with Attacks, Multistrike, Lightning Penetration, and Added Lightning Damage creates insane scaling potential.

3.3. Spectral Shield Throw

Spectral Shield Throw gains damage based on shield armour and evasion, making The Squire not only a triple support tool but also an offensive stat stick.

Works well with physical-to-elemental conversion and projectile scaling.

3.4. Minion Builds (Niche)

Some summoners experiment with socketing Raise Zombie or Summon Skeletons into The Squire. With the right supports, minions get tripled buffs, though the cost and practicality limit its use.

4. How to Use The Squire Effectively

4.1. Socket Layout

The Squire only has three sockets, which is the catch.

Typically, you’ll socket one active skill + two supports in the shield. The shield then applies all support gems in your main weapon or other gear to that skill as well.

Example setup for Shield Crush in The Squire:

[Shield Crush] + [Brutality] + [Multistrike].

Meanwhile, your weapon or chest contains other supports like Melee Physical Damage, Ruthless, Pulverise, etc. The Squire triples these supports, making it as if Shield Crush is linked to all of them multiple times.

4.2. Pairing with Other Gear

Chest Armor: A 6-link chest becomes mandatory, as The Squire scales its socketed supports.

Weapon: High physical DPS one-handers (axes or swords) work best for melee builds.

Jewels: Watcher’s Eye with Determination or Pride mods, plus rare jewels with melee multi.

Flasks: Granite and Basalt flasks boost survivability, allowing you to stand close for maximum shield attacks.

4.3. Passive Tree Considerations

Prioritize block chance, melee physical damage, and armour scaling nodes.

The Squire builds benefit heavily from Fortify nodes and impale scaling for melee.

5. Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths:

Insane DPS scaling (effectively infinite gem links).

Works perfectly with shield-based skills.

Excellent survivability due to block chance.

Extremely versatile across melee archetypes.

Weaknesses:

Extremely rare and expensive.

Only 3 sockets in the shield itself—requires specific setup to function.

High dependency on other gear to maximize value.

Not beginner-friendly.

6. Is The Squire Worth It?

For most players, The Squire is a luxury item. If you’re playing trade league and can farm the currency, it opens the door to some of the strongest melee builds in Path of Exile’s history. However, in Solo Self-Found, it’s a near-impossible grind unless you get incredibly lucky with divination cards or Ancient Orbs.

If your goal is to push endgame bosses like Uber Maven, Sirus, or The Feared invitations, then The Squire gives you the raw damage to melt them. For casual mapping, though, it’s overkill and not worth the investment.

Conclusion

The Squire Shield is one of the rarest, most powerful uniques in Path of Exile. Unlocking it requires extreme luck or significant currency investment, but its payoff is massive—allowing melee and shield-based skills to achieve damage scaling that no other item can match.

If you’re chasing ultimate power and want to turn a skill like Shield Crush or Spectral Shield Throw into a boss-killing machine, The Squire is the crown jewel. But be prepared: the road to getting it is long, and cheap POE orbs only the most dedicated exiles will wield its full might.

Lineage 2M: How to unlock Dragon Slayer

The Dragon Slayer is one of the most coveted weapons in Lineage 2M. Known for its sheer power, rare design, and devastating utility against both bosses and rival players, this weapon stands as a symbol of prestige and strength. However, unlocking and Lineage 2M Diamonds wielding it isn’t as simple as looting a chest. It requires persistence, strategy, and knowledge of the game’s systems. This guide will walk you through, step by step, how to acquire the Dragon Slayer and how to maximize its potential once you have it.

1. What is the Dragon Slayer?

Before embarking on the grind, you need to understand why this weapon is worth pursuing.

Weapon Type: A two-handed sword built for massive burst damage.

Strengths: Exceptional attack power, bonus critical chance, and unique effects against dragons.

Usage: Ideal for PvE boss hunts (especially dragon raids) and PvP encounters where burst damage decides fights.

Owning a Dragon Slayer not only enhances your combat capability but also signals to other players that you’ve mastered high-level content.

2. Preparation Before the Hunt

The Dragon Slayer is locked behind high-level challenges. Going in unprepared is a recipe for frustration.

Level & Gear Requirements

Character Level: At least level 70+ recommended. You need both survivability and damage output.

Gear Setup: Epic-grade or higher armor, plus accessories that boost survivability and crit damage.

Consumables: Carry healing potions, resurrection scrolls, and buffs. You’ll be fighting bosses with massive AoE damage.

Clan Support

While some parts of the acquisition process can be tackled solo, much of the farming and boss-killing requires clan coordination. Make sure you’re part of an active clan that runs dragon raid content regularly.

3. Step 1 – Collect Dragon Slayer Materials

The Dragon Slayer cannot be dropped whole—it must be crafted using rare materials. Here are the main components you’ll need:

Dragon Bones: Dropped from raid bosses like Antharas’ underlings. Expect low drop rates, so prepare for repeated farming.

Forged Steel Ingots: Crafted from high-tier ores (Mithril and Oriharukon) using a Blacksmith NPC.

Ancient Relic Fragments: Rare drops from dungeon bosses or clan-based raid events.

Blueprint of the Dragon Slayer: Acquired either through world boss loot boxes or purchased at a premium from the player market.

Farming these materials can take weeks. Optimize your grind by running dungeons daily, joining every world boss encounter, and coordinating with your clan to share loot.

4. Step 2 – Crafting the Dragon Slayer

Once you’ve secured the materials, it’s time to craft.

Head to a Master Blacksmith NPC in a major city.

Verify that you have the blueprint and required materials.

Pay the Solari-equivalent crafting fee (the in-game currency cost is steep, so stockpile early).

Success isn’t guaranteed—crafting high-tier weapons in Lineage 2M sometimes involves RNG. Use crafting boosters or clan buffs to increase your chances.

If you fail, some materials may be lost. This is why many players choose to purchase the Dragon Slayer directly from the player market if available, though prices are astronomical.

5. Step 3 – Enhancing the Dragon Slayer

Unlocking the weapon is only half the journey. To make it battle-ready, you’ll need to enhance it.

Weapon Enchant Scrolls: These can increase attack power significantly. Enchanting past +7 gets risky, with chances of failure destroying the weapon, so proceed cautiously.

Soul Crystals: Socketing crystals boosts stats such as crit rate, PvE damage, or resistance. For Dragon Slayer, focus on crit damage and boss damage bonuses.

Augmentations: Some versions of the Dragon Slayer allow random stat augmentations. Reroll until you secure offensive bonuses.

Investing in enhancements transforms the Dragon Slayer from a strong weapon into a game-breaking one.

6. Step 4 – Learning How to Use It in Combat

Even the best weapon won’t carry you if you misuse it. The Dragon Slayer’s strength lies in burst DPS and boss-slaying power.

PvE (Boss Hunts & Raids)

Position behind the dragon or boss to maximize critical strikes.

Time your skill rotations to unleash your strongest abilities during vulnerability phases.

Stay mobile—most bosses in Lineage 2M use wide AoEs that can easily wipe melee fighters.

PvP (Clan Wars & Open-World Battles)

Use Dragon Slayer as your engage weapon: jump into fights, unleash devastating crit chains, then retreat.

Coordinate with crowd-control allies (mages, archers) to lock down enemies while you burst them.

Be mindful of your defense—Dragon Slayer users hit hard but can also be focused down quickly.

7. Alternative Paths – Market & Events

If farming and crafting feel overwhelming, there are alternative routes:

Player Market: Wealthy players can buy a Dragon Slayer directly. Expect it to cost more than most high-tier gear combined.

Special Events: Oionally, NCSoft introduces limited-time events with boosted drop rates or token exchanges for rare weapon blueprints. Keep an eye out—these events can save weeks of grinding.

8. Pro Tips for Faster Progress

Farm in off-peak hours: Fewer competitors mean higher chances at rare drops.

Join raid rotations: Coordinate with your clan so everyone shares boss loot fairly.

Stack buffs before fights: Clan buffs, consumables, and temporary scrolls can boost your DPS by 20% or more.

Don’t rush enhancements: Losing a Dragon Slayer to enchant failure is devastating. Wait until you can afford protection scrolls.

Conclusion

Unlocking the Dragon Slayer in Lineage 2M is a marathon, not a sprint. From gathering rare materials to crafting, enhancing, and finally mastering its usage in both PvE and PvP, this journey tests your patience and skill. But once wielded, the Dragon Slayer isn’t just a weapon—it’s a statement. With it in hand, you’ll carve your path across Arrakis—no, across Aden—as one of the most feared and respected warriors in the game.

Master the grind, respect the RNG, and cheap Lineage 2M Diamonds swing true—your Dragon Slayer awaits.

Diablo 4: Guide to Clearing the Nightmare Depths Dungeon for Fast XP

 Diablo 4 Season 9 has introduced new dungeon modifiers and Diablo IV gold updated monster scaling, making Nightmare Depths one of the best XP farms in the game. Whether you’re pushing for max level quickly or grinding Paragon points efficiently, mastering this dungeon is key to staying ahead of the curve. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about Nightmare Depths: location, setup, best builds, and strategies to clear it fast.

1. Why Nightmare Depths Is the Best XP Farm in Season 9

While many dungeons offer XP, Nightmare Depths stands out for several reasons:

Monster Density: Packed with elites and clustered trash mobs, allowing AoE skills to shred everything.

Efficient Layout: A mostly linear design with very few dead ends. No wasted time wandering.

Elite Packs: Each run guarantees multiple elites, which not only drop loot but provide the bulk of XP.

Seasonal Buffs: Season 9 affixes increase elite modifiers, which means more XP multipliers from farming them.

Nightmare Sigils: You can easily craft Nightmare Depths Sigils, so it’s always accessible in endgame.

In short, it’s fast, reliable, and scales perfectly with higher world tiers.

2. How to Unlock and Access Nightmare Depths

Campaign Requirement: Complete the main story campaign to unlock Nightmare Dungeons.

Sigil Crafting: Visit the Occultist to craft Nightmare Sigils once you’ve unlocked them through the Tree of Whispers.

Finding Nightmare Depths: This dungeon’s base version is located in Scosglen. Use its base dungeon as a sigil target or roll Nightmare Depths directly when crafting.

Pro Tip: If you can’t craft the sigil right away, run Whispers in Scosglen until one drops naturally.

3. Best Builds for Nightmare Depths Farming

Clearing efficiently depends on having the right build. Nightmare Depths rewards AoE-heavy, fast-moving setups. Here are top options in Season 9:

Sorcerer – Chain Lightning / Ball Lightning Hybrid

Excels at bouncing through tightly packed mobs.

Synergizes perfectly with dense hallways.

High mobility with Teleport keeps you zooming.

Rogue – Twisting Blades or Penetrating Shot

Twisting Blades ricochets through groups in tight corridors.

Penetrating Shot pierces and clears entire lanes at once.

Shadow Step makes repositioning easy in elite fights.

Barbarian – Whirlwind / Dust Devils

Still one of the fastest trash-clear builds.

Generates Fury endlessly in dense mob packs.

Pairs well with high item drop rates to sustain gear upgrades.

Necromancer – Minionless Bone Spear

Bone Spear pierces entire hallways, perfect for linear dungeon design.

Corpse generation from density means consistent damage scaling.

Druid – Pulverize with Ursine Strength

Pulverize slams entire groups in a single hit.

Natural tankiness helps in higher sigil tiers.

4. Prepping Your Runs

Before diving in, maximize efficiency with these steps:

Sigil Level – Aim for a Nightmare Depths Sigil that’s just challenging enough for your gear. If it’s too high, deaths will slow you down.

Affix Rerolling – Reroll bad affixes at the Occultist. Avoid ones that punish your build (e.g., Resistant to Physical if you’re a Barbarian).

Elixir Buffs – Always drink an XP-boosting Elixir before the run. The extra 5–8% adds up fast.

Party Play – XP scales with party size. If you can, run with a group where each player clears sections of the dungeon simultaneously.

5. Dungeon Layout and Strategy

The Nightmare Depths dungeon is fairly straightforward, but knowing its patterns helps maximize XP per minute.

A. First Section – Trash Clearing

Upon entering, focus on big pulls.

Gather mobs by kiting them into groups before unloading AoE.

Use movement skills to skip stragglers—don’t waste time on single enemies.

B. Elite Packs

Expect 2–3 elites per major hallway.

Burst them down quickly for XP spikes.

Use cooldowns aggressively—by the time you reach the next pack, they’ll be back up.

C. Key Objectives

Some sigil modifiers add objectives like killing specific elites or destroying obelisks.

Complete them while maintaining momentum—avoid doubling back if possible.

D. Boss Room

The final boss isn’t a huge XP source, but you need to kill it to finish the run.

Enter with full cooldowns and resources.

Boss fights can be skipped if you chain Nightmare Depths runs in groups, with one player resetting while others finish.

6. Efficient XP Farming Tactics

To maximize XP per hour, adopt these habits:

Chain Pulling: Always move forward while grouping enemies behind you, then nuke them together.

Skip Chests: Loot slows you down. Only stop for legendary or ancestral drops.

Group Coordination: In a party, assign directions. Don’t overlap clears.

Reset Quickly: After finishing, teleport out, salvage, restock, and re-enter within a minute.

With clean execution, Nightmare Depths can grant multiple levels per hour in World Tier 4.

7. Scaling Into Endgame

At higher Paragon levels, XP gains slow down, but Nightmare Depths remains efficient because:

Monster Level Scaling keeps enemies just ahead of you, boosting XP.

Glyph Levelling: Nightmare Depths is perfect for farming Glyph XP, since density means faster progression.

Loot Density: Even when XP slows, loot rolls stay high, feeding your build upgrades.

This makes it not just an XP farm, but also a gearing route into high-tier content.

8. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Over-Juicing Sigils: If you spend more time dying than killing, your XP/hour plummets.

Ignoring Elixirs: That extra 5–8% XP adds up massively over dozens of runs.

Stopping for Every Drop: Don’t clog your inventory—salvage in bulk between runs.

Playing Solo Only: Group XP scaling is too strong to ignore if you want the fastest grind.

Conclusion

Nightmare Depths in Diablo 4 Season 9 is hands-down the best dungeon for fast XP farming thanks to its monster density, linear layout, and elite-heavy design. By crafting the right sigils, running optimized builds, and clearing with speed in mind, you can hit max level in record time. Pair it with a party and smart reset cycles, and you’ll be farming not only XP but also high-value loot and Paragon Glyph experience.

If you’re looking to stay ahead in Season 9, mastering Nightmare Depths should be your top priority—no other dungeon delivers speed, XP, and buy Diablo IV gold​ loot as efficiently.