Lost Ark Reveals Patch Notes for Darkness Unleashed Update

Ricky Frech

04/16/2024 04:02 pm EDT

Smilegate's Lost Ark became a smash hit when it launched in the West in 2022, but the game has had some difficulties keeping players engaged. On top of that, new players can sometimes feel like the climb to new content is too much to ask given some of the aspects that are seen as pay to win. That said, the team continues to update Lost Ark, and today, Smilegate revealed the patch notes for Darkness Unleashed, a new update that includes the new Thaemine Legion Raid. The update doesn't officially launch until April 17th, but fans will want to take a look through the notes, especially if they're planning to join the race to clear Thaemine first.

In addition to the new raid, players will get to check out the new Gear Transcendence system, which lets players "reinforce and improve their gear's basic effects by using ancient power sealed within ruins." There's also a second raid called the Vescal Guardian Raide. It's a new 1630 raid, meaning players need to come in ready for a challenge. Players will also find several new cosmetics and the usual spattering of bug fixes and balance updates.

Below, you'll find the full patch notes for Darkness Unleashed. Lost Ark is available now on PC.

Lost Ark Darkness Unleashed Update Patch Notes

Thaemine Legion Raid

Despite the efforts of adventurers to fend off demons in Luterra, the allied forces failed to stop Thaemine from summoning his fortress, the Dark Baratron. Thaemine created this area under red moon, and disappeared into the Dark Baratron. Seated on the Throne of Despair, he is observing and preparing as the Dark Baratron begins to impact Arkesia. Under the influence of the Dark Baratron that unravels order and disperses darkness, Luterra is being reshaped, beginning to resemble the chaos of Petrania. Track Thaemine to Dark Baratron and face him as the war between Light and Darkness wages in an 8-player Legion Raid. In the Legion Commander Raid 'Darkness Legion Commander Thaemine,' players will be able to experience new cinematic scenes and epic music as battles against the Darkness Legion unfold. Adventurers who wish to appreciate the scenes are advised to disable 'Skip Dungeon Cutscenes' in Settings – Gameplay 'Control Settings' before entering. Additionally, in the Settings – Audio category, players can adjust the various in-game sound volumes.

ENTRY

RELATED UPDATES

THAEMINE THE FIRST

Thaemine The First is a special race to clear the original— and hardest— difficulty of the Thaemine Legion Raid. Clearing will be a challenge, even for the most experienced adventurers. But with extreme challenge comes prestige, and we have a variety of prestigious rewards planned for those who can vanquish Thaemine in his most powerful form. The race for Thaemine The First will begin on April 20 at 10AM PT (5PM UTC) for parties who have cleared Hard Mode. Learn about the rewards, details regarding the competition, and the conditions needed to enter in the Thaemine The First Details Article.

For players who have followed Thaemine's release in the other regions of Lost Ark, Thaemine Normal and Hard difficulties will release with new balance changes that reduce the HP and Damage of enemies within the raid, and ease several patterns. Thaemine The First difficulty will not have balance changes implemented, retaining its difficult status.

Transcendence 

This will manifest through increased damage and defense, with some special abilities for both DPS and Support playstyles. The crafting materials for 'Dark Fire' and 'Ancient Soundstone' used in Transcendence can be acquired from Legion Raid 'Darkness Legion Commander Thaemine'. 4 new achievements related to Gear Transcendence have been added.

BEGINNING TRANSCENDENCE

The basic effects and extra effects of Gear Transcendence can be checked through 'Transcendence Info' in the Transcendence UI.

Transcendence can be started under the following conditions:

RELEASE RUINS

Players must release ruins appropriate for each gear in order to proceed onto transcendence. Players can enter the ruins with ancient magick circles lying within for each gear part by clicking on the [Liberate] button. Players cannot transcend gears without releasing the ruins first. Ruins must be released for every transcendence level. Players can release next transcendence level and progress transcendence regardless of the transcendence levels of their other gear pieces.

GEAR TRANSCENDENCE

Players can enter ruins with ancient magick circles sealed within by clicking on the Released gear in Transcendence UI. Ancient magick will be enchanted in the gear once all basic steles are destroyed by the power of the elementals. Ancient magick circles are sealed by steles, which must be destroyed in order to proceed with the gear transcendence. By destroying all steles using the power of the Elementals below except the distorted ones, players can release the seal. Gold is used every time a player uses an Elemental's power. Each piece of gear can be transcended up to level 7.

Steles can be destroyed (by a set chance) using the summoned Elemental. Players can choose one of two Elemental powers below when destroying a stele.

After destroying the Stele with the summoned Elemental power, players can use the next 'Elemental power' in order. Players can change the Elemental by clicking on the 'Change Elemental' button.

There are three kinds of Steles.

Players can click the 'Exit' button while transcending to leave the ruins and move to transcendence gear selection screen.

Players can reset transcendence progress by clicking on 'Stop Transcendence'.

TRANSCENDENCE LEVEL

Transcendence can be completed by destroying all Steles except the Distorted ones. Once transcendence is complete, the gear will be enhanced according to the transcendence level. Once transcendence is complete, transcendence grade will be bestowed according to the number of Elementals summoned during the process.

Each gear can receive additional effects once the sum of transcendence grades per transcendence level reaches a certain count.

Players can check the transcendence grade and basic/additional effects for each level through the Transcendence UI's 'Transcendence Info' section.

STOP TRANSCENDENCE

Gear in the Transcendence process can be stopped via 'Stop Transcendence'. All progress will be reset. Players can retry transcendence on gears that stopped transcending, or on gears that have already completed transcendence through Ruins Restoration. Ancient Soundstones and Gold are used for Ruins Restoration. If the highest grade is not achieved, players can select a transcendence level to retry transcending.

Soundstone Fragments can be acquired after retrying transcendence by restoring ruins and finishing/stopping the given gear's transcendence.

Related:

Soundstone fragments can be used to create 'Ancient Soundstones' by visiting 'Craft Gear Transcendence Materials' NPC. Magick Spring Water' can be used to craft 'Ancient Soundstone' Players must reach item level 1610 and achievement 'Doom-Chanter' level 1 in order to create Ancient Soundstones with 'Magick Spring Water'.

Ancient Soundstones' can be created with 'Soundstone Fragments'. Players must reach item level 1610 and achievement 'Doom-Chanter' level 1 in order to create Ancient Soundstones with 'Soundstone Fragments'.

Ancient Soundstones' can also be crafted with 'Dark Fire'.

Veskal Guardian Raid

Vescal is a new 1630 Guardian Raid that will release alongside Thaemine.

Veskal is a new 1630 Guardian Raid that will release alongside Thaemine. Long ago, Veskal chose to be consumed by chaos, following the footsteps of Varkan. Veskal is a Chaos Guardian who hunts enemies by using sound waves. After returning to Arkesia by crossing over from another dimension, he is ready to find and hunt his prey, mercilessly. He needs to be stopped before his angry screech overwhelms Arkesia. Like other Guardians, you will be able to clear once a day for increased rewards, a chance to receive higher level Fate Embers, and a chance to earn the Purification Level 1 Legendary Galewind Rune.

New Cosmetic Collections

LUNAR ECLIPSE COLLECTION

Pick up the cutting-edge of Arkesian fashion with the new Lunar Eclipse collection.

PROMISE AND BLESSING COLLECTION

Dress your best for formal Arkesian occasions in the Promise and Blessing Collection, which will be available through the in-game store on an ongoing basis.

General

NEW 1630 ACTIVITIES

EVENT UPDATES

CURRENCY EXCHANGE UPDATE

We know many players who purchase Royal Crystals want to have faster access to Gold when exchanging Royal Crystals for Gold in the Currency Exchange. While the 3-day Withheld Gold has helped combat fraud and RMT, our teams have been working to evolve the system to improve the player experience.

Please note that this feature is new and subject to change. Players may notice changes to their score when using the currency exchange that seem unexpected as the system is updated and iterated upon.

KAKUL-SAYDON REWARDS

The Gold earned from the Kakul-Saydon Legion Raid has been reduced, along with the prices to receive Extra Rewards.

PAID POWER PASS SELECTION FLOW

We've also updated the Power Pass usage flow for additional convenience. Previously when players pressed the ESC key in the Power Pass Selection Screen, they'd move to the Server Selection Screen. Now they'll go directly to the Character Selection Screen.

Balance Updates

DEFENSE & HEALTH UPDATES

Changed the basic Health and Defense coefficients for the following classes:

BERSERKER

Engravings

Changed the effect of 'Mayhem':

DESTROYER

Stats

Increased the Gravity Release skill's damage amplification factor per Gravity Core by the Specialization stat:

Increased the Hypergravity's damage amplification factor by the Specialization stat:

Specialty

GLAIVIER

Skills

ARTILLERIST

Changed the Barrage skill's damage amplification factor by the Specialization stat:

ARCANIST

Awakening Skills

SUMMONER

SORCERESS

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