Major Enhancements to Endgame Activities in The First Descendant Update

Nexon has rolled out a new hotfix for The First Descendant that brings some much-needed improvements to the Void Erosion Purge endgame mode. By enhancing the rewards players receive at various stages, progressing through the game just got a bit easier. Besides enhancing the rewards, the latest update also spruces up the Sigma Sector, makes various balance adjustments, and resolves a slew of pesky bugs.

After its launch, Nexon’s free-to-play third-person looter shooter, The First Descendant, enjoyed a promising start, drawing in 10 million players within the first week. However, as time went on, its player base dwindled due to mixed reviews, particularly criticism of its free-to-play model and grind-centric gameplay. Despite these challenges, Nexon hasn’t thrown in the towel. It recently pushed out the Season 2, Episode 2 update titled "Beyond The Void," which brings a fresh main storyline, a new Descendant, and more. With the latest tweaks, Nexon aims to enhance the overall player experience.

Patch 1.2.11 has brought some vital adjustments with it. The changes in the Void Erosion Purge endgame mode include a significant increase in Core Amplifiers awarded to players, which are now more plentiful in Stages 21-30, particularly with Stage 30 now offering 70, up from the previous 40. These adjustments aim to streamline the enhancement of the Ultimate Weapon. Additional tweaks include extending the time limit for Stages 1-30 from 10 to 12 minutes, reducing the Death Penalty to 20 seconds, and slightly nerfing the HP of monsters between Stages 25-29.

A new character, Serena, has joined the lineup of The First Descendant. As a gun-based DPS, Serena brings fire-element skills to the battlefield with a flair for aerial combat. The hotfix has also toned down the visual impact of her Module "Divine Surge" effect, ensuring players don’t find it overwhelming. Additionally, some weapon visuals have been adjusted to protect players from visual strain.

On the technical side, Nexon has addressed several UI/UX hurdles to make menu navigation smoother and introduced a bunch of handy features like new in-game shopping notifications. To simplify progress tracking, sub-quests have been added to the "View Quest Again" feature in the Descendant Instructor menu.

This update also squashes several bugs plaguing Descendants, weapons, and UI. An issue that halted the main invasion quest progress for some players has also been resolved. The patch is now available across various platforms, including PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, and PS5, allowing players to dive in and explore all the new enhancements.

The First Descendant Update 1.2.11 Patch Notes

Content Improvements

1. Sigma Sector

   • In the Broken Boundary High-risk area of Landing Zone Cassian, the Vulgus Storm Breaker height has been lowered.
   • The allowed attempts for the Sigma Sector Mission Challenge have increased from five to eight.
   • Teleportation effects for monsters like "Karel’s First Descendant Dia" and "Obliviant Commander, Pattern Elias" have been adjusted to reduce visual strain.

2. Void Erosion Purge

   • The number of Core Amplifiers received for Stages 21-30 has been boosted, with Stage 21 moving from 31 to 34, Stage 30 from 40 to 70, and so on.
   • Core Particle Disruptors can now drop from monsters in stages 21-30, with a rising chance correlating to the stage.
   • Time limits for stages 1-30 have been extended to 12 minutes.
   • Death Penalty duration reduced from 24 seconds to 20.
   • Monsters in stages 25-29 now have lowered HP.

3. Descendants

   • The Purifying Blaze effect with Serena’s Module "Divine Surge" was adjusted to minimize eye strain.

4. Weapons & Modules

   • Visual effects for "Restored Relic" have been tweaked to reduce visual fatigue.
   • In the Sigma Sector, using "Ground Sweeper" with another of the same weapon will now refill its magazine.
5. UI & UX
   • Shop page navigation improved for continuous inputs.
   • "Deselect All" button in the Descendant selection window changed to "Select All."
   • Only items accessible in Customize will now appear in the “Related Items” list.
   • Various interface tweaks and added notifications for user convenience.

Bug Fixes

1. Content

   • Fixed issues affecting the accuracy of attack range and direction for certain Commanders.
   • Resolved progression blockage in invasion quests upon game reconnection.

2. Descendants

   • Fixed visual glitches in Valby’s animations.

3. Weapons & Modules

   • Resolved stat display errors and tooltip discrepancies.

4. UI & UX

   • Addressed real-time filter issues, added key guides, and improved notification systems for better user interface.
5. Miscellaneous
   • Corrected several issues related to item acquisition displays and scrolling functionalities.

The update packs numerous enhancements across multiple areas, ensuring players enjoy a more refined gaming experience.