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Darkness at the Highest Level: The Abyssal Tier

Abyssal Tier Wave 1 Announce

What awaits us in the Abyss?

 

Three nefarious Dragons arrive this week to herald the all-new Abyssal Tier, following next in the line of Lineage Tiers. Untold powers compliment their corruption, and these Dragons are ready to take flight on many unsuspecting mortals that tremble in fear as havoc wreaks from the skies above them.

This week, Crisis will fly the latest Legendary Abyssal Dragons on stream! Catch the show on Twitch this Wednesday, August 21st at 3pm PT to see these new Dragons in action.

Please Note: While these 3 Legendary Abyssal Dragons will be releasing today, you can breed them for points in the Breeding event that begins tomorrow, August 21st.

 

Abyssal Tier Logo


Abyssal Tier Updates

 

Coming alongside the Abyssal Tier will be some planned changes to the Tier’s waves of releases and an update to the Breeding requirements.

 

Release Plan

The Abyssal Tier will consist of 9 Dragons in total - 6 Legendaries and 3 Mythics. The Tier is planned to release in 3 waves of 3 Dragons each, beginning with the first wave of 3 Legendary Dragons releasing this week. This means that the next time Abyssal Dragons are released will be the second wave of 3 Legendary Dragons, and the final wave of 3 Mythic Dragons will follow afterwards.


Abyssal Tier Release Plan
 

Incubator Requirements

The Incubator and Breeding Castle must reach level 15 in order to begin breeding Abyssal Tier Dragons. Level 15 becomes unlockable for both of these buildings at player level 435.

In order to build the Incubator and Castle to level 15, the Storage Hut must be at level 98 or above, which can be unlocked at player level 426.

 

Breeding Update

As we’ve introduced new Tiers over the last couple years, the amount of Egg Fragments required to breed lineage Dragons has been relatively fixed. During the same time period, there has been a significant increase in the average ability to earn Breeding Tokens amongst end-game players.

Many end-game players currently have little to no content to spend these Tokens on, inclusive of new lineage Dragons or Research. We want to make sure that high level players have content to spend their Tokens on and earn points for their team and for themselves in Breeding events.

With Tier-Based Discounting fully established and new Research tasks planned to rollout alongside Abyssal’s introduction in-game, it’s important to bring new Tier breeding costs closer in line with the growth of Breeding Token income and bring value back to Tokens for elder players.

 

For this reason, the Abyssal Tier Dragons will require the following Egg Fragments to breed:

  • Legendary Abyssal Dragons = 1,400 Egg Fragments

  • Mythic Abyssal Dragons = 2,600 Egg Fragments

 

These requirements may not necessarily continue forward to future lineage Tiers after Abyssal. Out intention is to review game data to determine the appropriate Token costs for new content as it releases such that the challenge and prestige of end-game content is maintained while Tier-Based Discounting values continue to improve accessibility for existing Tiers.

 

For more information, please see the latest post on the Dragons Forums.

 

Tier-Based Discounting

 

Releasing simultaneously with the first Abyssal Dragons, Tier-Based Discounting will continue as it is applied to the Vanguard Tier!  Just like in previous Tier-Based Discounting rollouts, the amount of food and experience needed to level up Dragons and the time needed for incubation will be reduced along with the Token requirement discounts. However, the eggs and time required for research will not be reduced in this iteration of Tier-Based Discounting.

 

The following discounts will go into effect:

 
Tier Current DIscount (% of Tokens Required) New Discount (% of Tokens Required)
Vanguard 0 15
Harbinger 10 25
Obsidian 20 35
Emerald 30 45
Garnet 40 55
Sapphire 50 65
Platinum 50 65

 

Gold Tier Dragons will also be discounted by 65%, but will be discounted in a different way than the other Tiers. The number of Egg Fragments required for Gold Tier Dragons will decrease instead of the number of Tokens per breed. For players that have more Egg Fragments than the new discounted price, the additional Fragments will be consumed.

 

Tower Levels Current Discount (% of Resources and Time) New Discount (% of Resouces and Time)
66 - 75 0 10
56 - 65 10 20
51 - 55 20 30
46 - 50 30 40

 


New Research Tasks

 

Additionally, there will also be a new series of Base-related Research tasks that will become available in the Research Hall at the same time that Abyssal Dragons are available in-game. Here’s a look at what you can expect for new tasks:

 

Research Additions:

Title Description
Flame-Treated Barrel +10% Fire Flak Tower Damage
Snap-Freezing Shells +10% Ice Flak Tower Damage
Energized Coils +10% Electro Flak Tower Damage
Dark Matter Rounds +5% Dark Flak Tower Damage
Voidstone Plating +5% Dark Flak Tower HP
Heat-Resistant Frame +10% Fire Flak Tower HP
Permafrost Plating +10% Ice Flak Tower HP
Electrostatic Shielding +10% Electro Flak Tower HP
 
All additional Research Tasks will require 12-25 Garnet Eggs to begin researching.
 

 

Abyssal Tier - Wave 1 Spotlight Video

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9s-iLNPV-rI" width="560"></iframe>

 

War Dragons - Cordys

Fungal Horror

War Dragons - Cordys

The embodiment of entropy and rot.

 

The last time Cordys was sighted was so long ago that they have passed into fable and faded into legend. Some parents in the Wailing Marshes will shake a finger at giggling children and tell them, “Clean off that mold or the Mushroom Dragon will come for you!” Even this faint memory falls more out of favor as each year passes. Unbeknownst to those who merely believe the dragon legend, Cordys indeed walks (or trudges) across the world again, and they have grown strong from centuries of rotting sleep.

 

Legendary Dark Warrior

 

Breeding Pair: Archon and Methalex

 

Spells

  • Contagion - Active | White | 0 Rage

    <ul>
    	<li>
    	<p>Activate to cycle between Delirium and Defile. Spell has a 4 second cooldown between cycles.</p>
    
    	<ul>
    		<li>
    		<p>Delirium - Active | White | 1 Rage</p>
    		Dragons gains 80% increased breath damage and Rage regeneration is increased by 25% for 5 seconds.</li>
    		<li>
    		<p>Defile - Active | White | 0 Rage</p>
    		Damages all nearby towers for 3% of the Dragon&#39;s Modified HP. Defile permanently reduces damage from affected towers by 20%.</li>
    	</ul>
    	</li>
    </ul>
    </li>
    <li>
    <p>Absorb Magic - Active | White | 2 Rage</p>
    
    <ul>
    	<li>
    	<p>For 6 seconds, Absorb Magic activates a shield that decreases all damage taken by 75% and absorbs Mage Towers&rsquo; supershots to gain 2 Rage. Shield cannot be broken by Cannon Tower supershots.</p>
    	</li>
    </ul>
    </li>
    <li>
    <p>Regenerate - Active | Blue | 0 Rage</p>
    
    <ul>
    	<li>
    	<p>Heals 31% of the Dragon&rsquo;s Modified HP over 2 seconds. Spell has a 4 second cooldown.</p>
    	</li>
    </ul>
    </li>
    <li>
    <p>Fire Flak Resist - Passive | Yellow</p>
    
    <ul>
    	<li>
    	<p>Reduces damage from Fire Flak towers by 70%.</p>
    	</li>
    </ul>
    </li>
    

 

Design Intent:

Cordys is a particularly durable Warrior who focuses on debuffing towers and handling tons of damage. Cordys’ main offensive spell is Contagion, which splits into Delirium and Defile once in battle. When the battle begins, Cordys has access to Delirium, a powerful combat buff that increases breath damage and Rage generation. After using Delirium, the spell slot will switch to Defile. When cast, Defile damages all nearby towers and permanently reduces their damage output. After casting Defile, the spell slot reverts back to Delirium and the cycle can begin again.

Cordys’ other spells support Contagion’s loop by protecting the Dragon’s Rage resources and restoring its health. Absorb Magic can be timed carefully to block incoming Mage Tower supershots and burst damage from towers. Regenerate should be cast whenever its off cooldown, provided there are no nearby Blue Mage towers to cancel the heal.

 

 

War Dragons - Oculex

Cyclopean Drake

War Dragons Aybssal Tier - Oculex

This dragon's foul temperament gives it extreme tunnel vision

 

Each year in the rollicking playhouses of Suddene, tradition compels artists to put on a play attempting to explain the origin of Oculex’s single eye through comedy and tragedy. After all performances have concluded, they mark the end of their festivities by burning the scripts atop the playhouse in hopes that the billowing smoke will reach Oculex, high above the clouds. If even one of the year’s performances displeases the fearsome drake, they will promptly swoop down and destroy the offending theatre. Over the last century, this has only happened thrice, and each time has proved to be devastating to Suddene’s grand architectural history.

 

Legendary Earth Hunter

 

Breeding Pair: Lusian + Capulos

 

Spells

  • Lightning Surge - Active | Red | 2 Rage

    <ul>
    	<li>
    	<p>Deals 66% of Dragon&rsquo;s Modified HP as damage to a target tower, which then chains to up to 1 additional tower nearby.</p>
    	</li>
    </ul>
    </li>
    <li>
    <p>Bloodfury - Active | Blue | 1 Rage</p>
    
    <ul>
    	<li>
    	<p>Dragon&#39;s Rage generation is slowed by 90% for the spell&rsquo;s 4 second duration. Using this spell grants 3 Rage immediately (net +2) and destroying a tower heals the Dragon for damage done to towers by 20%. Spell has a 4 second cooldown.</p>
    	</li>
    </ul>
    </li>
    <li>
    <p>Entrap - Active | White | 1 Rage</p>
    
    <ul>
    	<li>
    	<p>Stuns buildings in target area for 12 seconds, or until the towers are damaged.</p>
    	</li>
    </ul>
    </li>
    <li>
    <p>Vanish - Active | Blue | 0 Rage</p>
    
    <ul>
    	<li>
    	<p>Immediately conceals the Dragon and makes it untargetable for the spell&rsquo;s 8 second duration. Vanish&rsquo;s 6 second cooldown will only take effect when the spell is disturbed by player input (using a breath attack, casting a spell, etc.). There is no cooldown if Vanish is canceled by a Blue Mage Tower or the duration expires.</p>
    	</li>
    </ul>
    </li>
    
 
Design Intent:

Oculex is a self-sufficient Hunter who brings its own disabling, healing, and destructive power. Oculex relies on careful use of Entrap to enable its two other spells. The Dragon can open an attack with Entrap, aiming to disable the Red Mage Tower and another threat. Oculex can then follow up by casting Lightning Surge on the Red Mage Tower. This will destroy the tower and several others, while also allowing more casts of Lightning Surge. Hopefully, the bouncing lightning bolt will take down any Blue Mage Towers as well, as Oculex relies on Bloodfury and Vanish to fuel its spell casting and preserve its health pool.

Certain battles with Oculex will certainly go better than others, as Oculex’s Lightning Surge won’t consistently hit the same targets beyond the first. Sometimes, the lightning will bounce perfectly. Other times, it may not hit where you want. Fortunately, the Dragon can generate plenty of Rage for multiple spell casts, and Entrap can always be used to precisely disable what you want, when you want.

 

War Dragons - Orthoptar

Famine Wyrm

War Dragons  - Orthoptar

These ravenous beasts arrive in swarms, devouring everything in their path.

 

Decades ago, the druids of the Twilight Woodlands welcomed Orthoptars into their mysterious, endless forests. ‘Another dragon to fit into the beautiful cycle of nature’, they thought. Unfortunately, the woodlands were lush and bountiful, so the Orthoptars fed and fed as more and more arrived. In recent years, their swarms have diminished to the point where they are now a rare sight. Travelers whisper that the Twilight Woodlands’ ancient powers altered the landscape to fit these ravenous dragons back into the natural order.

 

Legendary Wind Sorcerer

 

Breeding Pair: Seraph + Tuktu

 

Spells

  • Swarm Strike - Active | Red | 1 Rage

    <ul>
    	<li>
    	<p>Shoots 10 shots at up to 5 towers in the target area. Each projectile chooses one of the available towers randomly and deals 10% of the Dragon&rsquo;s Modified HP as damage.</p>
    	</li>
    </ul>
    </li>
    <li>
    <p>Summon Swarm - Active | White | 1 Rage</p>
    
    <ul>
    	<li>
    	<p>Summons an insectile familiar in front of the Dragon that absorbs incoming damage and supershots. The familiar&rsquo;s HP will equal 60% of the Dragon&rsquo;s Modified HP, and its attack power will equal 4% of the Dragon&rsquo;s modified HP.</p>
    	</li>
    </ul>
    </li>
    <li>
    <p>Locust Cloud - Active | Blue | 0 Rage</p>
    
    <ul>
    	<li>
    	<p>Dragon dodges all incoming projectile attacks and supershots and deals 3.5% of its Modified HP as damage to all nearby towers per second for the spell&rsquo;s 4 second duration. Dragon flies at 25% of its original speed while the spell is active. Spell has an 8 second cooldown.</p>
    	</li>
    </ul>
    </li>
    <li>
    <p>Acid Spit - Active | White | 1 Rage</p>
    
    <ul>
    	<li>
    	<p>Deals 2,000% of the Dragon&#39;s modified Attack Power as damage to a target tower. Spell has a 4 second cooldown.</p>
    	</li>
    </ul>
    </li>
    

 

Design Intent:

Orthoptar is a well-rounded Sorcerer whose spells provide tankiness, surgical destruction, and area-of-effect damage. Orthoptar’s main offensive and defensive tool is Summon Swarm. When activated, Orthoptar will summon a swarm of familiars to both absorb incoming fire and attack nearby towers. Othoptar always wants a swarm on the battlefield, and the Dragon’s other spells are best used to protect the summon and support its attack. 

Acid Spit can be used to destroy any particularly threatening towers, with Mage Towers being the highest priority. In addition to robbing a Sorcerer of its precious Rage resources, Mage Tower supershots will automatically destroy Othoptar’s swarm. Locust Cloud can be used to counteract this, as the spell will block any incoming damage and supershots for a short duration. Keep in mind that Locust Swarm can be cancelled by Blue Mage Tower auras, so be sure to keep enough Rage around to cast Acid Spit on those towers first. Finally, Swarm Strike can be used to clean up any remaining towers, once any Red Mage Towers have been dealt with.

 


Tap into the destructive power of the corrupted Abyssal Dragons! Will the fungal, furious, or infested Dragon join your roster next? Head over to the official War Dragons Forums to discuss with the War Dragons community!

 
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