Design Notes

February 28, 2020

March Calendar of Events

Good, Evil... and Holiday events!

Get your gear on! Log in all month long for Evil gear, great rewards, and a double holiday event; we're celebrating Dage the Evil's birthday, Friday the 13th, plus the return of the UNLucky Day Fair!

March 1: March seasonal set returns: Legion Warseeker

March 2:  Dage's Dark Birthday: seasonal maps, monsters, and gear return

March 6: Dage's Dark Birthday 2020!
New challenge boss
Birthday Gear and Collection Chest
New Undead Legion farming gear
New upgrade bonus set

March 13: Friday the 13th: Dage's Undead Legion vs Shrade's Horror Horde

March 20: The Unlucky Dark Carnival returns!

March 27: Shadow War: Malgor's Descent into the Underworld

February 28, 2020

Last Chance for Obsidian Samurai this Year

Available every year from February 1st - 28th

March is almost here, and that means it's just about time to say goodbye to our February Seasonal Set for the year. Unlock all of the Obsidian Samurai items gear, plus an exclusive character page badge, when you buy the full pack, or get individual items from Garek's shop in Battleon. The set will be available until 11:59 PM EST on February 29th, 2019.

February Set: Obsidian Samurai

Unlock the Obsidian Samurai armor and all its accessories until Thursday, February 29th at 11:59 PM EST (that's server time), 

There are two ways to get the gear:

1) Total package: Buy the entire set directly through the website for $9.99 USD 

2) Individually: Buy each of the individual pieces from Garek the Traveling Gear Merchant in Battleon.

The total cost to buy all of the gear individually is 5,400 ACs, so getting all the gear from the Northern Wanderers pack is a pretty sweet deal (you save 3,400 ACs).

The set includes:

• Obsidian Samurai armor
• Samurai's Shadow Cape (glow is color-customizable)
• Obsidian Samurai Banners cape
• Obsidian Samurai's Helm and Masked Helm
• 4 Obsidian Samurai hair helms
• 5 weapons (including dual-wield katanas, nodachi, and naginata)
• an exclusive character page badge

Seasonal Set Details

Each month, we'll feature a new set, available only during that month every year. 

Seasonal Sets
January: ArchFiend OverLord
February: Obsidian Samurai
March: Legion Warseeker
April: Bio-War Cultist
May: Lord of the J-Sixth + Lightning Lich Lord
June: ShadowZard Mount + Rider
July: Flameborn + Underworld Summoner
August: Urban Assassins
September: Celestial Naval Commander
October: ChronoStriker
November: Harvest Hunters
December: Northern Wanderer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the same as the monthly upgrade bonus? 

Upgrade bonus gear is an extra reward for buying AdventureCoin or Membership packages; new bonus gear comes out roughly every month. Seasonal set packs are bought separately. Just like the Flame Dragon Warrior pack, you can buy the entire set directly, for one price, on our site. You can ALSO buy the individual pieces in-game.

This set will return EVERY February, so if you can't get it now, you'll have another chance in 2020, or 2021, or 2022, etc.

If this isn't the monthly upgrade bonus, what IS the bonus?

You can see all the available upgrade bonuses on our upgrade site. The next bonus set will be available soon, so keep an eye on the Design Notes! 

What if I just want ONE of the items?

You're in luck! Talk to Garek in Battleon. He'll be selling the individual pieces of the set through January 31st.

Where do I get my gear if I buy the full set through the website?

You'll find it in your Book of Lore.

February 28, 2020

Hero's Heart Day Gear is Here

New for Hero's Heart Day: The Sweetest Gear

Getting the sweet new Valentine’s Day gear will be as easy as falling in love! Find all-new and returning Valentine's themed gear (including the color-custom Elegant Enchanted Suit and the NeveRomancer) in the Featured Gear Shop in your game menu. 

Plus, talk to Glisel in this week's story zone to find her shop full of even MORE holiday gear, including the color customizable Phantom Elegance set!

This week's new and returning items include:

• NeveRomancer armor set
• color-custom Hearththrob Miasma cape
• Warlock of Love minion cape and pet
• color-custom Elegant Enchanted Suit (member-only)
• color-custom Swanky Enchanted Suit (AdventureCoins)
• the Brasilian Carnaval items

February 28, 2020

This Weekend: Hero's Heart Day + Carnaval

Battle through the Carnaval of LOVE!

The kingdom of Fezzini is having its annual Carnival of Love parade, but something has gone horribly wrong, and now the streets are full of zombies. Log in this weekend for love, jealousy, and (nec)romance as we battle to save Hero's Heart Day! 

Then get ready to celebrate Carnaval in Terra da Festa!

Carnaval is one of my most favorite events of the year -- I love the colors and how the story releases center around wicked celebrations. To help you /party, we're bring back all your favorite Carnaval story maps and farming items in /terradafesta

Battle the Boitata, a mystical, fiery snake that brings light to the entire land, to rekindle its fire, return the light to the land, and then get your PARTY ON! Plus, replay our previous Carnaval events starting tonight, too, plus get the returning seasonal rare gear from Frevo's shop in /terradefesta. 

Don't Forget Your New Party Clothes!

Can't go to Carnaval without a Samba costume! 

February 21, 2020

New Doom Set: Snuggle Zerker

Available in the Wheel of Doom merge shop!

The Wheel of Doom spins round and round... and this week, as we continue to celebrate Hero's Heart Day, it only seemed fitting to add the snuggliest, deadliest, and love-liest set the Wheel of Doom Merge Shop has ever held. For all you fans of the Aggretsuko anime - or for those of you who just like looking wicked-cool - the Snuggle Berserker set is now available in  the Wheel of Doom merge shop!

Find all of the set gear in the Wheel of Doom merge shop:

• Snuggle Berserker armor
• 14 helms
• Snuggle Berserker Hearts cape
• 2 Snuggle Berserker weapons
• 2 Snuggle Berserker pets

Get your Free Spins

Everyone loves to get prizes... and that's why we brought back back free spins for the Wheel of Doom!

• Members get one free spin a day while their upgrade is active
• All players get one free spin a week. 

See the Free Spins Design Notes for more details.

Spin the Wheel, Collect your Treasures, and Choose Your Prize 

The Wicked Item of Donated Awesomeness is here! Each time you spin the Wheel of Doom, you'll get a Treasure Potion to spend in the Doom Merge Shop. Save up 1,000 and you'll be able to buy a Wicked Item of Donated Awesomeness. Each WIoDA will let you choose a rare or valuable item, and a member of the Support Team will add it to your account.

Wicked Item of Donated Awesomeness Details

• The WIoDA will be a Wheel of Doom merge shop exclusive. 
• Cost: 1,000 Treasure Potions. 
• The WIoDA token will no longer be left in your inventory.  
• With each prize awarded, it will be removed so you can obtain a new one.  And another new one. And another new one.
• The stack limit shows as x1.  
• At this time, the same rules as PIoDA will remain in place for what types of prizes you can ask for.  

While we do have even more plans for the Wheel of Doom and the IoDA tokens, those are a subject for another day.  (hint*hint*teaser)

* But since they are removed now with the placements of your prizes, you can get as many of them as you have Treasure Potions for.  You just have to redeem them one by one.

** Exceptions include staff personal items, custom weapon contest prizes, HeroMart items, etc

February 17, 2020

Breaking Benjamin Battle Concert Happening Now

Breaking Benjamin plays concerts in AdventureQuest 3D & AQWorlds video games

Experience Breaking Benjamin in an otherworldly video game event when you join us for an in-game concert on monster-infested floating islands. Battle as the band plays, team up with friends and other players to defeat  horrifying creatures in the Void, and take down the PlaneShifter boss to unlock the concert backstage area and the exclusive Far Away character page badge.* 

Ticket price? Free. Travel time? None. Log in at www.AQ.com

WHO: You, your friends, and Breaking Benjamin
WHAT: Free virtual concert in both AdventureQuest Worlds & AdventureQuest 3D
WHEN: Right now!
WHERE: AdventureQuest 3D & AdventureQuest Worlds

About Breaking Benjamin

Multi-platinum rock band Breaking Benjamin has amassed a sizable and diehard fan base over the years both through their chart-topping music and electrifying live performances. The band’s latest release, AURORA adds to a healthy 7MM+ total album units sold worldwide, following 2018’s EMBER, which charted #3 on Billboard’s Top 200 and spun off the band’s 8th and 9th #1 singles to date. Showcasing nine re-imagined hits from across their catalog and one new single, “Far Away”, AURORA features fan favorites such as RIAA Certified Gold singles, “Failure” and “Dear Agony”, along with #1 songs like “Angels Fall” and “Red Cold River” and more. Stream or purchase AURORA here, and check out the band’s site here. Watch the official music video for “Far Away” here.

New Album and Tour

Breaking Benjamin just released the album Aurora! It is an acoustic collection of their biggest and most popular songs... and one new song called, "Far Away"

You can download/stream Aurora here

They are also on Tour... check out the tour locations and dates

Battle Concert Rares Shop

The event is free for everyone to play but if you want to get your gauntlets on the HOTTEST gear in the stadium, talk to Johnny Track for the Battle Concert Rares Shop. 

Battle to Unlock New Concert Reward Gear

Fight through space and time to defend Breaking Benjamin's band members, then take on the PlaneShifter. Complete the story event to unlock the Backstage area, where you can battle to earn new armors, helms, attack guitars, and house items!

Return Friday for even more Rewards

To help you rock out as you battle, we're adding even MORE all-new concert-themed armor sets and accessories this Friday. Battle the Concert Treasure Chest for a chance to collect all the drops, and save up the new tokens and badges it drops to create the event exclusive versions of the Battle Concert Class: Shadow Rocker (level 20) and Shadow Ripper (level 60)

February 17, 2020

February Event Schedule Update

Battle Concert, Hero's Heart Day, and Carnival Events Coming Soon

We've got SO MUCH planned for this month (the shortest month of the year), that in order to fit everything in, we've adjusted our release schedule.* 

• Tomorrow: the Breaking Benjamin battle concert + rare gear shop arrive!
• This Friday: the Concert Treasure Chest reward boss arrives with even MORE concert-themed gear. 
• Next Friday: our all-new Hero's Heart Day event releases + the seasonal Carnival event returns

February 1 Obsidian Samurai seasonal set

February 2 Superbowl Sunday: Punt map and team sets

February 7 Into the Deep Challenge Boss + Duality Battlemage Upgrade Bonus

February 14 Seasonal Hero's Heart Day events return

February 18 Breaking Benjamin Battle Concert + rares shop

February 21 Battle Concert Treasure Chest boss + Wheel of Doom merge shop update

February 28 Hero's Heart Day / Carnival Double Event

* That is the good news. The less good news: the team has been battling to overcome a significant list of real-life, non-work related challenges which have stacked, causing delays in the development schedule. But we never admit defeat in the face of challenges. We will... BATTLE ON!

February 14, 2020

Hero's Heart Day is BACK

Log in to love, honor, and to SLAY!

Hero's Heart Day is a holiday full of emotion -- most heroes either LOVE the hearts, the pink decorations, and the cheerful cheesy romance... or they love to DESTROY them!  This weekend, log in and battle through all of our returning Hero's Heart Day events, then return next Friday for an all-new adventure.

• /join love to battle through all our returning seasonal holiday events
• Talk to Beleen to begin her quests for priceless gemstone cape and pet gifts
• Find Kotaro in /Akiba to check out his Crystallis merge shop
• Hunt through /love, /chateau, and /wubblevania to see the winners of our Valentine's NPC contest

New + Returning Holiday Event Gear

Getting the sweet new Valentine’s Day gear will be as easy as falling in love! Find all-new and returning Valentine's themed gear (including the color-custom Enchanted Roses & Thorns and the Lover's Rogue) in the Featured Gear Shop in your game menu. 

Return over the next two weeks for even more holiday gear as we release parts 1 and 2 of our Hero's Heart Day 2020 holiday event: the Carnival of Love!

Hero's Heart Day 2020 Carnival of Love, Pt 1 Update

The release date for our all-new Hero's Heart Day 2020 event has been moved to next Friday at http://AQ.com to allow the team more time to complete the Breaking Benjamin battle concert event (launching this Tuesday, February 18th).

February 14, 2020

Valetine's Day Contest Winners

"Hero’s Heart Day NPC" contest winners are HERE!

Last week, we announced that we were freshening up some of the existing event areas and stories with new characters* and wanted to include members of our player community as new cast members. We had so many AMAZING entries that we expanded the list of winners... and now they are all in-game! Head to /love, /chateau, and /wubblevania to see the winning heroes.

Grand Prize Winners: added as NPC characters

In /wubblevania: Kleio

In /love: Necrolyn, Nue, and Yumiko

In /chateau: Fogo, Rruurruu77, Reiner, Azurih, and Purenix

Winners Circle: 500 AdventureCoins

Co Neil
Lucifer
Nym
GalaxySouls
Johny Tharley
Cryshie
Singhawat
Taiga Yume
oohalibeloo
Aria
Sunkeiss
yeollie
Girl_Cutez
Firefox67
Ego
DanielStosve
789jay
Eurus
Zeno
wizarddjogja
Sir Syndicate
Hexobin
Junde
Hexer
Babylonia
Malakaiser
Kikolok626
akizukimeiko
Stars
Furi
Bezy
Iza
Effie
Dhidan
Tacoclawz
Crewcyl
Rizki911
The god queen
VPN
gilium
kraizen
ultra t4
jijin
miko toreno
h a v e n
hezeo
petals
okami izanagi
lady raylaiNulgath 049

Let us know if you are a fan of this kind of contest/update, and we may update additional holiday events with player NPCs!

February 07, 2020

Want to be an NPC in our Valentines release?

Enter our “Hero’s Heart Day NPC” contest for a chance to appear in the AQWorlds Valentines release

Our seasonal Hero’s Heart Day event is coming up, and we are freshening up some of the existing event areas and stories with new characters* Thought you would like the chance to be one of the NPCs (non-player characters) that join the cast! 

All you need to do for a chance to win is: 

• Equip your best Hero’s Heart Day gear
• Take a screenshot of your character page
• Send your entry to @Alina_ae on Twitter by Monday, February 10th at 12 PM EST

Include a link to your character page and the hashtag#AQWNPC2020

Suggested armor set themes:

• Best pink/hero’s heart day set (3x winner)
• Best pink or red “warrior of love” set (1-2x winners)
• Best pink / red / healer set (1-2x winners)

Winners will be chosen on Monday, February 10th and announced next Friday, February 14th (on Hero’s Heart Day). 

Let us know if you are a fan of this kind of contest/update, and we may update additional holiday events with player NPCs!

February 07, 2020

Will you choose the Light... or Darkness?

Our newest upgrade bonus set is now available!

Light and Darkness are eternally linked, and your choice reflects the hero you are inside. Which will YOU ally with? Unlock all 34 Light and Dark items in the Duality BattleMage upgrade bonus set when you buy any AdventureCoin or Membership package of $10 USD or more.

Pack Details

Choose the color-customizable Light & Dark Battlemage pack to unlock all 34 pieces of the set, including: 

• 2 Brightscythe Battlemage armors
• 2 Shadowscythe Battlemage armors
• 8 helms
• 2 Summoner capes
• 16 weapons
• 2 floating sword pets
• 2 floating sword battle pets (member-only)
• Rep/XP/Gold/Class Points boosts added straight to your inventory
• and a character page badge

12000 AC or 12 month membership package rewards:

• ALL the Light & Dark Battlemage gear
• 7 Rep/XP/Gold/Class Points boosts 
• 10 Wheel of Doom Tickets (worth 2,000 ACs!)
• and a character page badge

Boosts and Doom Tickets will be added directly to your inventory.

2k and 5k AC or 1, 3, or 6 month membership package rewards:

• ALL the Light & Dark Battlemage gear
• 5 Rep/XP/Gold/Class Points boosts 
• and a character page badge

How to unlock your set

1. Head to your account manager
2. Click on the Bonus Packages tab
3. Chose the Light & Dark Battlemage bonus set  
4. Log in to your game account 
5. Open your Book of Lore and head to the Other Achievements tab
6. Scroll until you find your new badge, open the shop, and grab your gear!

Upgrade to unlock your choice of exclusive bonuses

When you buy any AC or membership pack worth $10 USD or more, you'll be able to choose from any of our permanent upgrade bonus sets. 

If you're a fan of our other Shadowscythe or golden-themed upgrade bonus sets, don't miss the DoomDragon's Master and Infinity Titan sets.

Check out the full list of available upgrade bonus sets below, or log into your account manager for more details and images.

• BattleMages of Light and Darkness
• BloodVoid Knight of Nulgath sets
• GlacialFrost Royalty
• Apocalyptic Werepyre armor sets
• ShadowFlame DragonMage and Enchanged DragonMage
• Galactic and Solar Pirate Commanders
• Yami no Akuma / Hikari no Akuma and floating Guardians
• Infernal Invoker / Enchanted Invoker / Legion Pyromancer
• DoomDragon's Master mount/rider armors
• Infinity Titan Class / Throne / House
• Galactic Captain / Galactic Battle Pilot
• Paragon Fiend / Legion Paragon Fiend Rider
• Akiban Defender
• Copper Void ChronoKnight
• Golden Northlands Royalty

February 07, 2020

Slay Before you PARTAY

Help Beleen Clean up before the Hero's Heart Day / Carnivale Combo Event

It’s not often that Hero’s Heart Day and Carnivale line up like this. This town, Fezzini, is known for their wild maquerade parties (and their canals, so romatic!) and this should be one of the BEST! But there seems to be a monster problem. We should take care of this before more people arrive; they could get hurt... I hope you don’t mind getting your feet wet.

This weekend, /join canalshore and help Beleen drive out the sea monsters before the Hero's Heart Day / Carnival Combo event begins later this month!

• Battle water monsters and The Astice
• Unlock the pieces of the Leviathan Warrior armor set

Plus, battle the Aciel Birthday Drop Frozen Pyromancer in the Underworld for a chance to get AQW guest artist Aciel's Hollowborn Calamity Staff! (A birthday gift made especially for you!)

February 03, 2020

AQWorlds Patch Notes

Check the list of bug fixes to see what the team has addressed

Reens, Cemaros and the AQW Bug Hunter team are busy squashing the bugs you submit each week to the Bug Tracker at www.Artix.com/bugs.

Please do not send non-release bugs on Twitter.  They will get lost.  Make sure you send bug report forms!

Check back weekly to see if the bug you reported has been addressed.  Please remember that not all bugs are "easy fixes" so some reported and confirmed bugs from each week may not be on the fixed list as they will require more time or a different person to fix them.

If you would like to know how the reports go from you to fixed, check this page:
http://www.aq.com/lore/guides/BugReportFAQ

Bug Fixes:

• Paladin's Castle (house) has had the trapdoor removed to prevent a disconnection issue.
• The Seekers of Chaos (AC) requires the The Seekers of Chaos (Legend) to be turned in, so both items have been made matching rarity of Awesome.

Art Fixes:

• Coin Collector female arm reattached to body.

Not Fxed & Why:

• Boreal Cavalier Deer Rider armor lower body movement is not a bug. It was intended by the artist to indicate a living animal doing what they do - breathing and being not-stationary.
• Nulgath’s Shielded Paladin of Souls - see also Non-Standard Items

Leaving Soon:
These items are being removed on Feb 7, 2020

Drop Items

• Dark Disco
• Dark Rocker

Quest Items

• Mr. Smoochy
• Red Trobbolier Morph
• Green Trobbolier Morph
• Purple Trobbolier Morph

February 01, 2020

This Sunday: Lorebowl 2020

Half-time is /Punt time!

When the Dwarvish Miners* face-off against the Bloodtusk Chieftains**, all of Lore goes CRAZY! So, football fans, kick your puntin' foot into high gear, because the half-time show begins this Sunday, February 2nd. Score a field goal AND a rockin' character page badge by punting Twilly across the field and into the end zone!

Miners vs Chieftains!

The half-time shop sports a stock full of fantastic fan favorites! So grab your pompoms and /cheer for your favorite team! 

*  Congratulations on returning to the Lorebowl, Miners! It's been a long road to victory since 2013, so we're glad to see you back. 
** Congratulations on making the big game, Chieftains! We're excited to a see a new team in the roster.

February 01, 2020

Unlock the Obsidian Samurai Set

Available every year from February 1st - 28th

February is a month of celebration... from ringing in the Yokai New Year to the SuperBowl /party all the way to Hero's Heart Day! To help ALL our heroes get in the spirit, this month's seasonal set features a new set straight out of Empress Miko's royal Yokai Court: the Obsidian Samurai.

February Set: Obsidian Samurai

Starting Saturday, February 1st at 12:01 AM EST (that's server time), unlock the Obsidian Samurai armor and all its accessories!

There are two ways to get the gear:

1) Total package: Buy the entire set directly through the website for $9.99 USD 

2) Individually: Buy each of the individual pieces from Garek the Traveling Gear Merchant in Battleon.

The total cost to buy all of the gear individually is 5,400 ACs, so getting all the gear from the Obsidian Samurai pack is a pretty sweet deal (you save 3,400 ACs).

The set includes:

• Obsidian Samurai armor
• Samurai's Shadow Cape (glow is color-customizable)
• Obsidian Samurai Banners cape
• Obsidian Samurai's Helm and Masked Helm
• 4 Obsidian Samurai hair helms
• 5 weapons (including dual-wield katanas, nodachi, and naginata)
• an exclusive character page badge

Seasonal Set Details

Each month, we'll feature a new set, available only during that month every year. 

Seasonal Sets
January: ArchFiend OverLord
February: Obsidian Samurai
March: Legion Warseeker
April: Bio-War Cultist
May: Lord of the J-Sixth + Lightning Lich Lord
June: ShadowZard Mount + Rider
July: Flameborn + Underworld Summoner
August: Urban Assassins
September: Celestial Naval Commander
October: ChronoStriker
November: Harvest Hunters
December: Northern Wanderer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the same as the monthly upgrade bonus? 

Upgrade bonus gear is an extra reward for buying AdventureCoin or Membership packages; new bonus gear comes out roughly every month. Seasonal set packs are bought separately. Just like the Flame Dragon Warrior pack, you can buy the entire set directly, for one price, on our site. You can ALSO buy the individual pieces in-game.

This set will return EVERY February, so if you can't get it now, you'll have another chance in 2020, or 2021, or 2022, etc.

If this isn't the monthly upgrade bonus, what IS the bonus?

You can see all the available upgrade bonuses on our upgrade site. The next bonus set will be available soon, so keep an eye on the Design Notes! 

What if I just want ONE of the items?

You're in luck! Talk to Garek in Battleon. He'll be selling the individual pieces of the set through February 29th.

Where do I get my gear if I buy the full set through the website?

You'll find it in your Book of Lore.