Design Notes

April 12, 2024

Arcana Invoker Class Preview

The 22 Arcana Will Be Yours to Wield!

This is not a joke (despite what you may have seen during April Fools). We are making a Darkon Class, and it arrives on April 26th!

Since it began, the Elegy of Madness Saga has been a fan-favorite, one of the most popular stories in the entire game. It took almost two years to tell due to the complex story, macabre graphics, and intense cutscenes, but it was absolutely worth the effort (and the wait). Since the ended, we've gotten a steady flood of suggestions, requests, and pleas for a unique Darkon-theme class.

For the last several years, the class team's focus has been on improving existing classes rather than releasing new ones.* That benefits everyone playing the game - new heroes and experienced ones. But to do a Darkon class justice, we were going to need to go all-out and fully embrace insanity.

We wanted to make this class a reality as much as you all did... but be warned. The line between reality and the realm of madness is a thin one. Tread carefully.

How to Obtain the Class

If you are at least level 80, Arcana Invoker can be unlocked by obtaining 22 different Arcana related items and turning in their respective quests. There are two ways to obtain these items:

1. Create each one in a merge shop using new and existing items.
2. Merge Darkon and/or King Drago Insignias for Arcana's Debris, which can then be used to create the Arcana items. 

Each Arcana's Debris will cost either 1 Darkon or King Drago Insignia, and if you are only using Arcana's Debris to obtain the class, you will need a total of 80.

Note: The farming methods aren't mutually exclusive. If you want to get some of the Arcana items through merge shop farming but others with Arcana's Debris, go right ahead!

Arcana Invoker Details

Arcana Invoker is an endgame two target farming and solo DPS class that revolves around summoning all 22 aspects of the Arcana, starting with The Fool, then ending with The World.

Arcana Invoker will be acquired at rank 1, like other classes. Previously, we thought it could be acquired at rank 5, but an issue is currently preventing this. The class will not have a rank 4 passive in the traditional sense, but its rank 10 passive provides more effects than the average one to make up for it.

Recommended enhancement: Wizard

Stat Model: Offensive Caster

Mana Regen: The Arcana Invoker regains 15 mana when they strike a target with Arcana Invocation (affected by Mana Consumption).

 Active Skill Breakdown

Anagenesis

 Rank needed: 1 / Auto Attack
Target: Enemy
Max Targets: 2
Type: 60% Physical
Range: Infinite
Cooldown: 2.2 seconds

Deliver a strike with your blade of flesh. Deals physical damage based on your Spell Power.
A fairly standard Auto Attack, but this one hits two targets.

The Beginning and the End

 Rank needed: 1
Target: Enemy
Max Targets: 1
Type: 222% Magical
Range: Infinite
Mana Cost: 0
Cooldown: 5 seconds

Begin the cycle anew by summoning The Fool, increasing your Damage Resistance by 80% for 45 seconds. 

If Judgement is active, instead summon The World for 22 seconds, changing the effects of your other skills. 

If The World is active, instead deals damage based on your stacks of End of the World. 

Using this skill while Judgement isn't active will reset the cycle. Can't miss.

The start and end of your journey. The first skill you use on this class should always be this one, as summoning The Fool enables the rest of the class skills to function, while also granting you a massive defense buff. Once Judgement is summoned, use this skill again to summon The World, unleashing the full power of Arcana Invoker!

Arcana Invocation

Rank needed: 2
Target: Enemy
Max Targets: 1
Type: 100% Hybrid
Range: Infinite
Mana Cost: -15
Cooldown: 3 seconds

If The Fool is present, summon an Arcana. Arcana are summoned in a set order, with each one granting you a new effect and the effects of all previously summoned Arcana. Each time an Arcana is summoned, your Damage Resistance is reduced by 4%. 

If The World is active, instead deals increased damage and applies two stacks of End of the World, stacks to 22. Recovers 15 mana on hit. Can't miss.

Once The Fool is summoned, you can start summoning the other Arcana. Simply put, each time you use this skill, you gain a stat buff (see passives below), but you lose some of the defense granted to you by The Fool.

Arcana Revocation

Rank needed: 3
Target: Enemy
Max Targets: 2
Type: 80% Magical
Range: Infinite
Mana Cost: 40
Cooldown: 3 seconds

Channel a magical attack through your Arcana, applying a Reversed effect to your target based on your currently summoned Arcana. All effects last 15 seconds unless otherwise specified.

If The World is active, applies The World (Reversed) for 5 seconds, applying all Reversed stat debuffs at half potency.

This skill applies a debuff to your target based on the current Arcana you have active (see passives below). While this is the only skill on the class that costs mana, it costs a lot, so you may want to conserve your mana to ensure that you can apply a specific debuff at the right time.

One With the Cycle

Rank needed: 5
Target: Enemy
Max Targets: 2
Type: 100% Magical
Range: Infinite
Mana Cost: 0 
Cooldown: 9 seconds

The Fool's power surges from within you. Deals more damage the longer The Fool has been summoned.

If The World is active, instead applies Erasure, a massive DoT for 5 seconds.

This skill starts off weak, but gets noticeably stronger the longer The Fool persists. 

Passive Skill Breakdown

The Arcana

Rank needed: 4
Type: Passive

Applies the following effects when using Arcana Invocation:

• Magician: 22% INT
• High Priestess: 22% WIS
• Empress: HoT
• Emperor: 22% outgoing damage
• Hierophant: 22% Heal Power
• Lovers: 22% END
• Chariot: 22% Haste
• Justice: 22% Phys and Mag damage
• Hermit: 22% Dodge
• Wheel of Fortune: 22% LUCK
• Strength: 22% STR
• Hanged Man: 22% DEX
• Death: 22% Crit Damage
• Temperance: Enhanced HoT
• Devil: 22% Crit Chance
• Tower: 22% Phys and Mag Resist
• Star: MoT 
• Moon: -22% Mana Costs
• Sun: 22% Hit Chance
• Judgement: Awakens The World

The Arcana (Reversed)

Rank needed: 4
Type: Passive

Applies the following effects when using Arcana Revocation:

• Magician: -22% damage
• High Priestess: -22% Dodge
• Empress: DoT
• Emperor: -22% Damage Resist
• Hierophant: -22% DoT Resist
• Lovers: Decay
• Chariot: -22% Haste
• Justice: -22% Phys and Mag damage
• Hermit: -22% Dodge
• Wheel of Fortune: -22% Hit Chance
• Strength: -22% damage
• Hanged Man: 4s stun (50%)
• Death: 5s delayed DoT 
• Temperance: Ramping DoT
• Devil: -22% Crit Chance
• Tower: -22% Phys and Mag Resist
• Star: -22% DoT Resist
• Moon: -22% Haste 
• Sun: -22% Hit Chance
• Judgement: Massive damage

Arcana's Blessing

Rank needed: 10
Type: Passive

Haste, Hit Chance, and Crit Chance increased by 22%.

Conclusion

Much like Darkon, your goal as an Arcana Invoker is to complete the cycle by summoning The World. To assist you in this are the other 20 Arcana, starting with The Fool which grants you a massive defense buff, then the next 19 Arcana, which grant you a new buff when summoned, but weaken the power of the Fool's defense buff.

The core gameplay of the class revolves around using Arcana Invocation as frequently as possible, while also using Arcana Revocation to apply specific debuffs, and One With the Cycle to deal damage to your opponents. Once you have reached Judgement, you can summon The World, greatly enhancing the power of your skills for a short time.

Well that's enough explanation, you've got a Primordial to serve. Now go forth, though try not to sacrifice anyone or end the world.

* Plus, when AQW Infinity releases, every class will need to be reworked. That's a hefty project. O_O With that said... *hint hint* I'm not saying Infinity won't get brand new classes in between the re-release of existing ones... OR AM I?!?! 

March 18, 2016

Arcane Dark Caster Class

Dage's 2016 Rare Birthday Class Skills Breakdown

Dage the Evil’s month of amazing birthday gear continues!* The Arcane Dark Caster class was designed by the powers of Arklen, Pisces, and Boxer502 combined, but the entire class team contributed to bring you what looks like a pretty dark and deadly new class! Read on to get a look at what you can get!

How to Get the Arcane Dark Caster Class

Unlock the Arcane Dark Caster Class for 2000 AdventureCoins in the Class shop and find it in the March Rares Shop! If you get the Class or already have the armor, GOOD NEWS! 

That means you can get the class when you:

• Buy the Arcane Dark Caster armor for 2000 ACs to get the Class for free
• Buy the Shadowed Dark Gunner armor for 2000 ACs to get the Mystical Dark Caster Class for free
• Buy the Arcane Dark Caster Class for 2000 ACs to get the Arcane Dark Caster armor for free***

That's GREAT news for those of you who bought the Arcane Dark Caster or Shadowed Gunner armors for 2000 AdventureCoins: YOU unlock the Class for FREE! 

If you created the Shadowcraft Dark Gunner armor by purchasing the Arcane Dark Caster armor for 2000 ACs, you can unlock the Arcane Dark Caster Class for free, TOO!

Talk to Dage's little arcane minion in Battleon to quest for Arcane Tokens to unlock the Arcane Dark Caster Class or Armor from the merge shop!

Note 1: You'll need to have either the 2k AC version of the Arcane Dark Caster or Shadowed Gunner armors to unlock the class for free.****

Note 2: Each of the above armors and the Class will be unsellable until April 6th. 

Arcane Dark Caster Skills Breakdown

Dage has come around to gifting you with his set of shadow skills in the Arcane Dark Arts and you have become one of his legion's elite casters... an Arcane Dark Caster.  

Stats: Arcane Dark Casters favor Intellect and Wisdom.
ManaRegen: Arcane Dark Casters gain mana from all hits landed in combat, and especially on crits.  The amount depends on damage relative to *their own* HP total.

Auto Attack

Type: Physical
Mana Cost: 0
Cooldown: 2 seconds
Damage: 100%       

Envelop in Darkness

You gather the darkness within and unleash it in a quick flurry of black arcane energy. Applies Consumed by Shadows which deals damage over time, stacking up to 100 times and lasting 10 seconds. The duration is refreshed when restacked.

Type: Magical       
Mana Cost: 18       
Cooldown: 2 seconds       
AoE: 1
Damage: 50% 

Yes, this DoT can stack to 100 and yes, with enough foresight and preparation, it’s possible. How high can you go?

Dark Leech

You leach at the darkness within your foe, absorbing a steady amount of health over the course of 15 seconds. The darkness blinds them as well, reducing chance to hit by 15%. Can't miss.

Type: Magical       
Mana Cost: 30       
Cooldown: 30 seconds       
AoE: 1
Damage: 80% DoT and HoT life drain.

This is your main defensive tool. Use it right before casting Arcane Overwhelming and watch both your mana and health quickly replenish. Both the HoT and the DoT get buffed by Shadow Pact from your Arcane Shadow Minion.

Summon Arcane Shadow Minion

Concentrate your shadow magic and summon an Arcane Shadow Minion to buff your dark magic and defend you. Increases all magic damage and magic healing and reduces all damage taken. The pacts last for 10 seconds and can be stacked up to 5 times. Your minion is only visible if summoned out of combat and when you don't already have a pet. Otherwise, they're still there, just not visible!

Type: Magical       
Mana Cost: 20       
Cooldown: 8 seconds       
AoE: 1
Damage: 0%  

A stackable buff that increases damage and defenses. It lasts only a few seconds longer than Arcane Overwhelming’s stun. Unless you’re really careful, you have to chose between keeping these stacks high or keeping Consumed by Shadows stack’s high. For a more defensive approach, the pacts will keep you alive at the cost of damage. 

Arcane Overwhelming

You focus intently, completely enveloping yourself in arcane energy and rapidly regenerating mana for 6 seconds. You are stunned for the duration. You also gain Arcane Unleashed, reducing all mana costs by 50% and increasing DoT damage and haste by 30% for 20 seconds.

Type: Magical        
Mana Cost: 10        
Cooldown: 50 seconds        
AoE: 1
Damage: 0% 

You’re stunned, for 6 seconds! Why would we do that? Well first off, you’re a DoT class so most of your damage will be ticking away while you’re stunned and we wanted a way to give you a mega buff. With proper practice, you should be able to keep both your pacts and Consumed by Shadows up after the stun duration.

Passive Skills

Shadow Skin: Increases Dodge chance by 20%

Arcane Focus: Increases Magic damage by 20% 

Shadow Focus: Increase hit rate by 20%

* And don’t miss the rest of Dage’s dark birthday gear from his shop in Battleon!
** Arklen is our monster animator and one of our regular map coders. He's now branching out into class design as he continues his quest to do ALL THE THINGS! Pisces is one of our intrepid class designers, and played a big role in the technical and balance arenas. Tophats off to Boxer, who had a big hand in the flavor of the design. Mystical Dark Caster Class is IDENTICAL to Arcane Dark Caster, just has a different name.
 *** Just like we have been adding in armor versions of other, older classes, buying the Arcane Dark Caster Class will unlock its armor version!
**** If you're a fan of the Full Metal Alchemist, this is what we call equivalent exchange.

November 01, 2015

Evolved Pumpkin Lord Class Skills

Squash your opponents as an Evolved Pumpkin Lord!

Last Friday, the Evolved Pumpkin Lord Class went live! For years, heroes have been asking us to release an evolved version of the Pumpkinlord Class, and THIS is the year! If you haven't had a chance to pick it up and squashed your enemies yet, check out the skills breakdown below!

How to Get the Class?

The Class, Armor, and Helm will be available in three ways:

• To all players for 2000 AdventureCoins (if you do not want to farm) 
• As a member-only drop Great Pumpkin King
• For members in the Mogloween Merge Shop for Glowing Pumpkinseeds

To get the Legion version of the armor, helms, and capes (no separate class), you'll need your Legion Tokens handy! You'll be able to turn them at the Mogloween Merge Shop.

This gear will ONLY be available during Mogloween each year, so don't miss out! And now... on to Zereldo's skill breakdown!

Get more details on the skills breakdown here!