Last Epoch 1.0 has finally got a release date after being on Steam’s Early Access for the past 4 years. The game, initially released in 2019 for early access, frequently received updates based on community reviews, but we’ll finally get to see the culmination of all that hard work on February 21st. Today’s objective is to get you up to speed with everything that has changed in Last Epoch 1.0.
Update System Changed in Last Epoch 1.0
The first thing we have to talk about is that the release of Last Epoch 1.0 does not signify an end to updates in the game. Last Epoch will now be receiving updates every few months in the form of ‘Cycles’. We don’t have a definitive time span between each Cycle, but anything that is to be changed (New content, quality-of-life changes, balance changes) will be included in the next Cycle.
Cycles won’t just be for new updates, though. They will essentially act as different seasons you’ll have seen in other video games like Diablo 4 and Path of Exile. A new Cycle will indicate the end of a season and reset any multiplayer leaderboards to allow players to grind again fresh in the next Cycle.
Lastly, Cycles will help mitigate monotony in the game. By adding fresh quantity and constantly balancing the game, Eleventh Hour Games hopes to keep the game fun and fair for everyone playing. This is something that has been significantly changed in Last Epoch 1.0, with Early Access not having fixed update times and a lot of new content waiting to be released.
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Mastery Classes Revealed
Two significant changes have been made to the class system in Last Epoch 1.0. The first change is visual updates to the class borders for both primary and mastery classes. Last Epoch has 20 classes in total, 5 base classes, and 15 masteries. With the launch of the full game, we’ll now see updated visual borders for classes like Necromancer, Warlock, and Runemaster. Others had some minor tweaks, like the Lich’s image, and a few will remain the same as before.
The second part is worth noting as this was a big change in Last Epoch 1.0. Falconer and Warlock, which were previously unplayable in Early Access, will finally be unlocked in the game’s full version. Both classes had their reveal dates mentioned in the roadmap uploaded on the game’s website and will definitely be some of the most played masteries owing to their recent release.
With all 20 classes finally unlocked, players can work towards customising their skill set however they want based on their play style.
Faction Changes in Last Epoch 1.0
Factions have been the talk of the town for Last Epoch 1.0. First announced last year, we finally have confirmation on the two factions that will be available for players to choose from. Circle of Fortune and Merchant Guild are the two available factions, and players can opt for either of them based on their play style. Both cater to totally different player bases and will reward you based on the rank you reach within the faction.
Merchant Guild is heavily based on trading and exchanging items within the Bazaar. Players who join this faction will receive benefits while trading items they found as loot drops, as well as the ability to sell higher-tier items. At max level, members of the Merchant Guild can trade any Legendary Item with other players without any hassle.
Circle of Fortune is the complete opposite of this and offers benefits for loot drops. You can get better drops in terms of quality and quantity as you progress up the ranks. At rank 1, you’ll have a 35% better chance to receive double drops from enemies, while at rank 9 (Max rank), all items you get from Prophecies are duplicated. This changed in Last Epoch 1.0, and it was a favourable one, as the option to join a faction is totally up to you. And with both factions granting different perks, you can choose the one that suits you best.
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End Game Content Update
There will also be a lot of new end-game content added in Last Epoch 1.0. While we don’t have many specifications on this, we do know that this has been in development for some time now, and the developers have heavily emphasised this. Players who get through the basics and are now looking for some exciting new content should be prepared for when the game drops in February.
Lighting and Environmental Changes
A game can feel really dull and monotonous if it fails to set a proper scene during plot progression. That is also something that will be changing in Last Epoch 1.0 with Eleventh Hour Games, making sure there is appropriate lighting in each scene. Places where there is ample light, like beneath the open sky, will definitely shine brighter than the dangerous dungeons where darkness takes over.
Shadow outlines and silhouettes have also been a point of focus for them, so it makes the game seem more realistic and enjoyable while playing. All of these will be changed in Last Epoch 1.0, which is sure to garner more popularity and support than Early Access.
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The Takeaway
There are some big changes coming to Last Epoch 1.0, and the community is all geared up for it. From new masteries to tri-monthly Cycles, it’s going to be an exciting new chapter in Last Epoch’s history. We’re all hoping for a smooth release and streamlined gameplay in the future.