Design Notes

December 04, 2023

Chilly's 2023 Frostval Gifting Event

The Event begins December 8th. Signup Quest Now Available.

Chilly wants to help you and ALL the heroes of Lore have the merriest Frostval EVER, and he's back in Battleon NOW! Complete his Gifting Participation quest so your character can give or receive AdventureCoins from other heroes once our Holiday AdventureCoin Gifting event begins this Friday. The seasonal Generosity Coin merge shop is ALSO back, for anyone looking to spend last year's coins now. Read on for more news about what the event is, how it works, and what to expect.

One of the best parts of our videogame community is seeing heroes helping each other. Some help new players in-game, and many others will host activities, scavenger hunts, or do Artix Point giveaways on social media. We want to help bring that spirit of giving in-game.

How to Participate

1. Complete Chilly's quest to participate in the event

Choose which of your accounts can receive donations by having them complete Chilly's Quest (or not).

Quest Requirements:

Account is level 30+
Confirm your email address

Need help confirming your email address? Check out the Support Page for more exact steps.

2. Log in and talk to Chilly

Once the event begins on December 8th, your character will be ready to give or receive AdventureCoins!

Frostval Gifting FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

What are the requirements to donate a gift?

Complete opt-in quest

What are the requirements to receive a gift?

Account at least 2 weeks old OR donate ACs
Online in last 24 hours
Verified email
Complete opt-in quest

How much can I donate per day?
There is no limit to how many times you can donate each day. (There is a limit on how many upgrade packs an account can buy each day.)

How much can I win each day?
There is no limit to how many times in a day you can receive a random AC gift.

Can I choose who gets my donation?

Nope! In the spirit of the season, your gift will go to a random eligible hero. Make someone's day bright... even if you don't know who they are!

Can staff accounts get on the leaderboard or give to players?
Nope! Team members' staff accounts can only give to other staff accounts. They will not appear on the public leaderboard. Team members' normal (regular player) accounts can give to other players and may appear on the leaderboard.

How will I be notified if I get a gift?
You'll see a message when you login if you've received a gift since your last login note

What are the reward tiers? Will they go rare?
Find more details on the reward tiers this Friday! Tier rewards will go rare, while the generosity shop gear is seasonal. New gear will be added this year.

Notes about this year's rewards and tiers:

- The top four tiers will be unique armor sets

- Only one tier with a "Frostval zone" house

- Each tier has a unique badge. Character pages will display all the badges you've unlocked.

- Tiers 2 - 7 automatically unlock all the 2023 Generosity Shop gear.

- This year's new Generosity Coin Shop items will be in a new shop to help you easily find the gear.

How long will this be available?
Through January 2nd, prizes to be awarded on Jan 3rd.

Does the amount of AC donated affect your merge coins received per donation?
You can get a max of 1 Generosity Coin per day, awarded the first time you donate for the day. Every donation you make will contribute to your reward milestones total.

So, is this REALLY totally random?
It really is! The game will look for any eligible account on any server and will randomly choose who to give your prize to. You cannot specify which character will get your ACs.

What if I'm offline?
The game will look for any account that was logged in within the last 24 hours. If you aren't online when you get a gift, it will still be added to your account the next time you log in.

When do I get notified?
There are currently a few ways of being notified you received a gift: when doing battles or switching maps in-game, or when you log in.

What if I make a mistake and donate the wrong amount?
The game will ask you each time if you’re sure you want to donate that amount. We cannot give refunds for incorrect donations, so please check and double-check before you hit the donate button and before you confirm the donation amount.

What if I pick the wrong item in the Generosity Shop? Can I get my Generosity Coin back?
We cannot give refunds for Generosity Coin shop purchases, so please check and double-check before you spend a GC on an item in the merge shop.

Can I see how much I've donated, or how much I've received?
Yes! Log in to your account manager to see your gifts and what you've given.

Tags: Alina,

December 04, 2023

Glacial Warlord Class Skills Return

This month: rebalanced, updated Glacial Warlord Class

Embrace the power of the glaciers once again when the newly reimagined Glacial Warlord class returns with all-new art this month as part of our Frostval Gifting celebration!

How to Unlock the Class

There are three ways to unlock the new variant of Glacial Warlord class skills:

Generosity Coin Merge:
Get a version of the class skills with new art for x10 Generosity Coins
(2023 exclusive, rare set)

Gifting Event Tier Rewards: Tiers 2 - 7 of our Frostval Gifting Event will automatically unlock all of the Generosity Coin merge shop rewards (including the class) once the event ends.

February Seasonal Shop:
The updated class skills return in February 2024 with a new art for 2,500 ACs
(Seasonal, returns each year)

Glacial Warlord Details

Embrace the power of the glacier… and CRUSH YOUR ENEMIES! They will soon know the cold grasp of the grave thanks to the power you wield!

Recommended enhancements: Fighter, Lucky

Stat Model: Tank Melee

Mana Regen: Glacial Warlords gains mana when they...

Strike an enemy in combat (more effective on crits)
Are struck by an enemy in combat

Skill Breakdown

Rank 1 Passive: Skull Crusher
Starting at rank 1, all skills can't crit unless Frozen Heart is active.

Powerful Blow
Rank needed: 1 / Auto Attack
Target: Enemy
Max Targets: 1
Type: 175% Physical
Range: Melee
Cooldown: 2.75 seconds

An attack that strikes with full force, but takes longer to build up power.

If Frozen Heart isn't active, applies Cryopathy to your target, reducing their Damage Resistance by 5% for 15 seconds, stacks to 10.

A slower, but stronger auto attack than most. When Frozen Heart isn't active, this skill stacks a sizable defense debuff on your target. What is Frozen Heart? Well, read just a bit further!

Frozen Heart
Rank needed: 1
Target: Enemy
Max Targets: 1
Type: 150% Physical
Range: Melee
Mana Cost: 10
Cooldown: 2.5 seconds

Toggles Frozen Heart. While active, Frozen Heart reduces your Damage Resistance by 50%, causes all skills to crit, and changes the properties of your other skills. Use again to remove Frozen Heart. Can't miss.

When Glacial Warlord first released in December 2013, it used a mechanic called Frozen Heart, which changed the properties of its skills while it was active. While this was an interesting mechanic, it never felt like it was being utilized to its fullest extent, but that changes today. With this rework, Frozen Heart has become a toggleable skill, meaning that every time it is used, the class switches between one of two states; in this case, a defensive state that aims to keep you alive longer, and an offensive state that aims to increase your damage output!

Bitter Cold
Rank needed: 2
Target: Enemy
Max Target: 1
Type: 200% Physical
Range: Melee
Mana Cost: 15
Cooldown: 7 seconds

A chilling attack that freezes your target to the core, stunning them for 1 second. If Frozen Heart isn't active, applies Frigid to your target, reducing their Crit Chance by 20% for 10 seconds.

If Frozen Heart is active, applies Cold Wave to your target, reducing their Dodge by 20%.

A debuffing skill that also stuns no matter what mode you're in. In your defensive state, you apply a Crit Chance debuff to keep you alive longer, and in offensive state, you apply a Dodge debuff that'll help you land attacks more often.

Glacier Crush
Rank needed: 3
Target: Enemy
Max Targets: 1
Type: 275% Physical
Range: Long
Mana Cost: 25
Cooldown: 12 seconds

Attack with the might of a glacier. If Frozen Heart isn't active, applies Bone Chill to your target, reducing their Haste and outgoing damage by 30% for 15 seconds.

If Frozen Heart is active, applies Frozen Ferocity, increasing your Hit Chance and Haste by 20% for 15 seconds.

Your most expensive skill, but also your most powerful. While in defensive state, you apply a hefty debuff to your target that increases you and your allies survivability. In offensive state, you get a small Hit Chance and Haste buff that when combined with the Dodge buff from the previous skill, helps you output damage at an even more frequent pace!

Warcry
Rank needed: 5
Target: Friendly
Max Targets: 7
Type: -800% Static Physical
Range: Infinite
Mana Cost: 10
Cooldown: 14 seconds

An invigorating shout. If Frozen Heart isn't active, heals you and up to 6 allies while applying Warlord's Rally, increasing Crit Chance and Damage Resistance by 25% and reducing mana costs by 50% for 20 seconds.

If Frozen Heart is active, heals you and applies Warcry, healing you over time and increasing your Crit Damage by 75% for 20 seconds.

A healing and buffing skill that drastically changes depending on whether Frozen Heart is active or not. In your defensive state, this becomes a support focused skill that heals everyone, reduces their damage taken, and reduces the mana cost of their skills. In your offensive state however, this skill only heals you, and provides you with a HoT and an increase to your Crit Damage.

Rank 4 Passive: Heavy Armor Master
Rank needed: 4
Type: Passive

Damage Resistance increased by 50% and Physical Resistance increased by 20%.

Rank 4 Passive: Strong Arm
Rank needed: 4
Type: Passive

Strength increased by 50%.

Rank 1 Passive: Skull Crusher
Rank needed: 1/10
Type: Passive

Starting at rank 1, all skills can't crit unless Frozen Heart is active. At rank 10, if Frozen Heart is active, Powerful Blow applies Skull Crusher, increasing your outgoing damage by 5% for 15 seconds, stacks to 10.

Conclusion

Glacial Warlord's Frozen Heart ability allows it to switch between two states, an offensive state that causes your skills to always crit but makes you more vulnerable to incoming damage, and a defensive state that absorbs incoming damage and can support its party members, but reduces your damage output.

However, while there are two states, Frozen Heart has a short cooldown so you can essentially switch between the two states whenever you want, meaning that the auras you apply in one state can benefit the other. For example, while in defensive state, Powerful Blow applies a defense debuff to your target, but if you switch to offensive state, you can make use of that debuff to deal even more damage!

How you choose to play Glacial Warlord is up to you, but regardless, it should be a formidable force on the frozen battlefield!

Tags: Alina,

December 04, 2023

HeroMart Poster Winners Announced! 🎉 🎨

The HeroMart Poster Contest was a HUGE success!

The time has finally come to unveil the extraordinary talent within our amazing community. Drumroll, please...

We are thrilled to announce the incredible winners of the HeroMart Poster Design Contest! The level of talent displayed in all the entries was truly outstanding, making the judging process challenging yet awe-inspiring. We are blown away by the incredible talent that poured into each submission, and we cannot believe how exceptionally gifted you all are 🤩

Without further ado, let's celebrate our amazingly talented artists!

🥇 1st Place Winner: Rod_X

!!! This is absolutely incredible, Rod_X! Your art brought back so many nostalgic memories of playing AQWorlds for the first time. Seeing those classic Class trainers illustrated so beautifully on a big poster like that landed you the coveted 1st Place prize! Congratulations, Rod_X! Not only will you receive 10,000 Artix Points and the “Contest Winner” character badge in AQW, but your art will also be made into a glorious 24” x 36” Poster for everyone to enjoy at HeroMart.com. Oh, and of course we’ll be mailing you a stack of your posters since you’re going to be famous someday soon!! Amaaaaaaaazing work, Rod_X!

Head on over to Artix.com to see all our other amazing winners (and a super slow page load speed because we have like 25 winners)!

Battle on,
Beleen and the entire Artix Entertainment team who are still reeling over how incredible our community is <3

Tags: Beleen, HeroMart, contest, Winners,

December 01, 2023

Holiday AdventureCoin Bonus

Get 50% more ACs with any Membership or AC Pack

The holidays are here! Get 50% more FREE bonus AdventureCoins with any Adventure or Membership package for a limited time! So if you want to get a gift for that special someone (or yourself) this is a great time to do it!

Keep an eye on the Design Notes, because we've got a bounty of rare items heading your way this Holiday Season!

This week + next Friday: Black Friday collection rares
Monday, November 27: new Cyber Monday rares
Frostval + New Years gear

Get 60,000 ACs while our Summer Bonus is on!

During our Summer AC bonus, get 60,000 ACs for $99.95 (that's 20,000 ACs more than normal!) and unlock your choice of upgrade bonus pack, 15x Rep, Gold, Class Points, and XP server boosts, and the Mythic Item of Digital Awesomeness (IoDA).

Wait...AdventureCoin Bonus?!

That's right! Several times each year, we have bonus AdventureCoin offers (example: Summer, Back to School, and during the holidays). Bonus amounts and dates may change from year to year, so keep an eye on the Design Notes and social media for more news of future bonuses.

Mythic Item of Digital Awesomeness?!

The Mythic Item of Digital Awesomeness (or MIoDA for short) is a miscellaneous item you will get by purchasing the 40k AdventureCoin pakage. Like the other IoDA items, it allows you to choose any item in the game when you redeem it through your Account Manager.

How to Claim your MIoDA Prize

Make sure you have a confirmed email address attached to your game account, and then follow these steps:

Decide on the item you want
Log into your Account Manager
Click on the "Awesome Prizes" link on the sidebar
You'll see a list of the IoDA tokens you have available
Choose from a list of ALL the eligible item rewards
You'll be taken to a verification page to confirm your choice

Tags: Alina,

December 01, 2023

Frostval Returns this Weekend

Winter Wolf Boss Battle, Achievement Tracker Rewards and more

Frostval is a time of joy, hope and defending Lore from the cold-hearted monsters wrecking Frostvale's halls. Log in this weekend to bring the Season's Beatings as you battle through all our winter holiday events, unlock new rewards in /eventhub and more!

New game release

Wolf of the North Winds Boss Battle in /wolflake
Seasonal Frostval events return
December holiday hub town in /eventhub
Cryo Chronomancer Upgrade Bonus set
Ice + Dessert Elemental Chronomancer sets in the Featured Gear Shop
Class Balance Patch Notes

Events + Gear Leaving

December 8: Harvest Fest 2023 + Black Friday 2023 rares

Weekend Daily Gifts & Boosts

Server Boost: double EXP
Resource Boost: Celestial Dungeon items
Saturday: Festive Badger pet from Amarok in /wolflake
Sunday: Winter Woodlands bow from Amarok in /wolflake

Winter Wolf Boss Battle

In the cold unforgiving Northlands wastes, a legendary wolf preys upon those foolish enough to hunt alone. Now Amarok, the North Wind, is stalking Valencia. She needs your help to fight it off atop a frozen lake of souls. Begin the battle now in /wolflake!

Journey to Frostvale

Once again the Frost Moglins of Frostvale are opening the snow-covered gates of their town to all of Lore to help you celebrate. If this is your first year with AQW then you get to play through all of the previous adventures. If you've battled alongside us for a while, then return to the Northlands and relive those super-cool memories.

Battle through fifteen years of holiday adventures in:

Frostvale Adventures: /frostvale, /icecave, /snowpath, /factory, /frost, /snowglobe
Into the Northlands: /northlands, /mountfrost, /kingcoal, /northlandlight
Garaja's Ice Palace: /goldenruins
Frozen Heart: /icevolcano, /icecavern
The WorldEnder: /icerise, /battlefield, /frostdeep, /snowyvale, /icewindpass,
Frostval the Evil: /darkwinter, /ultrafrostfang
The Cryomancer: /frozenruins, /icerisepast, /northstar, /wintersheart, /frozentower
Cryostorm: /frostspectre, /cryostorm, /cryowar
Coldwind Valley: /coldwindvalley
Frozen in Time: /frostvalpast, /frostvalpresent, /frostvalfuture, /frostvalnext, /frostvalperil
Conflagration: /icedungeon, /howardshill, /winterhorror
Frostval Treasures: /mountotzi, /otziwar

Holiday Reward Boss: Kitty Yu Yule

If you played the Throne of Darkness Saga, you may recognize Ziri's pet, Kitty Boo Boo! She's been possessed by the Yu Yule Cat, a spirit of Frostval that steals children who didn't receive any presents or treats. Now YULE need to stop this holiday horror before she decides to make YOU a Frostval snack!

Battle Kitty Yu Yule in the /yulecat map to collect reward drops:

Northlands BeastHunter armor
2 Northlands Hunter helms
Furred Hunter's Cape
Northlands Hunter Blade (single and dual-wield)
Kitty's Last Lunch polearm
Festive Wand mace
Kitty Yu Yule + Ziri's Holiday Horror house guards
Festive Flying Piggy + Holiday Party Piggy house guards

Defeat Helsdottir the Ancient

Head to /helsgrove to take on Helsdottir the Ancient, a holiday boss monster designed by Despera, one of the winners of our 2021 Frostval Boss Monster Design contest. His boss art and rewards were so popular, we began working with Despera regularly, and he's created some of the most well-loved armor sets of 2022.

Defeat Helsdottir in /helsgrove for a chance to get the following items:

Helsgrove Guardian Armor
Chibi Krampus Queen hairs
Antler and Scarf helms
Guardian Baton weapons
and more!

Gear up for GIANT Gift Grab

Test your mettle (and metal!) against the biggest gifts of them all: Giefury* and his darker, deadlier self, GieFURIOUS!

Both Giefury and GIE-FURIOUS have seasonal gifts for you:

Frostval Nutcracker armor (red variant)**
Giefurious armor set + pet
Giefurious House Guard
Festive Frostval Elf + Merry Frostvale Outfit armor set
Festive Battle Elf armor (member-only)
Blue Frosty-val Doge helm

FrostScythe also drops an version of his armor set, crafted by the incomparable Aranx just to help you celebrate Frostval!

Let the SLAY bells ring! Head to the /Gifthulu map to battle a boss monster stocked with gifts galore.

Tinsel Arrives Next Week in Battleon!

A snowstorm is hurling rapidly towards Battleon and Battleontown! I expect snow to blanket all of Battleon tomorrow. Until then, Major Moglin's quests in Frostvale will not be available.

After everything else we've added this week, we need a little more time to finish the winter version of town. You should see wintery battleon -- and Tinsel's Seasonal Frostval Gift Shop -- early next week. My apologies for the delay!

Tags: Alina,

December 01, 2023

Become a Cryo Chronomancer

Upgrade to unlock all the exclusive armor sets

Cold-hearted Cryo Chronomancers freeze time, and their enemies, to absolute zero. They cross the galaxies conquering worlds, claiming desirable time and space for their Empire. Get all 22 pieces of the color-customizable Cryo Chronomancer set and a character page badge when you buy any AdventureCoin or Membership pack of $10 USD or more!

After you purchase an account upgrade, select a bonus set of your choice from a list of options in your Account Manager.

Pack Details

Choose the new upgrade bonus set to unlock all the gear from the set's badge shop in your Book of Lore. The set includes:

2 color-customizable armors
5 helms
4 capes
Cryostasis Cube pet
Cryo Chronomancer's Dome ground rune
9 weapons
and a character page badge

Once you've chosen the new pack on the Account Manager page, log in and open your Book of Lore. You'll find the badge shop in the Other Achievements tab.