Festival of Victors... and DOOM

ShadowScythe Victory in the Celestial Dungeon?!

As the legends of Temple of the Solstice Moon and the Shrine of the Midnight Sun continue to spread across Lore, an increasing number of challengers arrive to test their skills against their gods. The once-seasonal Festival has become a permanent addition to the realm, celebrating both visitors and Victors.

But the latest challenger to achieve the Eclipse Ascent is well-known among the common folk of the Yokai Isles... as both a member of the Yokai Isles royal family and the ShadowScythe, his victory isn't raising /cheers, but rumors of cheating and fear of invasion.

This weekend, face down the DoomKnight Prince in /VictorMatsuri and remind him that the Yokai Isles are not easy fodder for any royal bent on conquering Empress Miko's land and people.

Release Details

Read on for news about this weekend's new updates.

• Festival of Victors... and DOOM: Battle a new boss in /VictorMatsuri
• Eclipse War Update: the final war cutscene is now availlable in /CarcossaCourt
• Flame of the Beyond Boss Rewards: 4 new items in the /FlameUsurper merge shop
• Wedding Rares! New Eternal Flame cape in the Featured Gear Shop + Tyronius' wedding quest rewards in /yulgar
• Summer Events: Head to the /eventhub to find all our summer maps
• June Seasonal Sets: ShadowZard Rider + Chronomancer of Light 

Weekend Daily Gifts & Boosts

In addition to the current Spirit Orb Boost, we're doubling the Celestial Dungeon drop rewards!

• Server Boost: Double Gold 
• Resource Boost: double Essences & Totems... PLUS double Celestial Dungeon drops
• Saturday: seasonal Fireworks cape from the Zard in Battleontown
• Sunday: rare Sun & Moon spears from the DoomKnight Prince in /VictorMatsuri

Conquer the Celestial Dungeons

Are you a Victor? Or have you yet to challenge the Celestial Dungeons? Head to /TempleShrine and form a party to conquer the Shrine of the Midnight Sun, Temple of the Solstice Moon, and the Eclipse Ascent. You won't be able to do it alone...unless you want to make a name for yourself.

Anyone can enter /MidnightSun or /SolsticeMoon, but you'll need the Rite of Ascension to access /EclipseAscent.

This item requires completing:

• the Festival of Victors event in /VictorMatsuri, in addition to both 
• the Midnight Sun dungeon
• the Solstice Moon dungeon

Completing the Festival involves defeating the Victors who successfully conquered the Eclipse Ascent Dungeon solo.* By having you face (and defeat) this difficult boss, proper expectations for the difficulty of the Eclipse Ascent Dungeon will be set.

If you already have the Rite of Ascension item, then this will not affect you. Keeping it still allows access the Eclipse Ascent dungeon.

* This year's new boss not required.

Festival of Victors Rewards

The Festival of Victor's vendors have designed a variety of yukata, accessories, and weapons to cater to their guests. Trade silks won from the Challengers and Victors from /VictorMatsuri for a host of brilliant gear.

Merge Shop Items

Collect silk resources to create items in the merge shop.

• Elvish Yukata
• Elvish Matsuri Hair and Locks
• Elvish Higasa
• Vampiric Crimson Yukata
• Vampiric Midnight Yukata
• Vampiric Matsuri Hair and Locks
• Vampiric Matsuri Accessories
• Crimson SunScythe Cygni polearm
• Crimson SolAxe Cygni polearm
• Crimson SunAxe Antares axe*
• Crimson SunCleaver Antares axe*
• Spectral StarBlade Naos sword*
• Spectral NovaScythe Omicron polearm
• Spectral NovaAxe Omicron polearm
• Spectral StarAxe Alnilam axe*
• Spectral StarCleaver Alnilam axe*

* single & dual-wield variants

Monster Drops

Battle the Challengers and Victors from /VictorMasturi to collect gear!

• White Matsuri Lantern
• Red Matsuri Lantern
• Lament of Zhurong polearm
• Doom Sei-i Taishogun Helm
• Doom Taishogun Helm
• Doom Sei-i Taishogun Mask

Note: the Blood of Zhurong Blade/s released early. They have been removed from the DoomKnight Prince and will be available as rare daily gift drops next weekend as planned.

New Flame Usurper Challenge Boss Rewards

Four new cosmetic rewards have been added to the /flameusurper Merge Shop!

Flame Usurper Manifestations
Click to transform between the Flame of Maleno/Albedo/Citrinitas/Rubedo armors

Requires:

• Flame of Maleno/Albedo/Citrinitas/Rubedo Armor x1
• Cinders of a Champion x7

Flame Usurper Blades
Click to transform between the Blade of Maleno/Albedo/Citrinitas/Rubedo weapons

Requires:

• Blade of Rubedo x1 
• Cinders of a Champion x5

Flame Usurper Companion Blades
Click to transform between the Blade of Maleno/Albedo/Citrinitas/Rubedo weapons

Requires:

• Blade of Rubedo x1
• Cinders of a Champion x5

Flame of Maleno House Intro

Requires: Cinders of a Champion x5

Now Available: Eternal Eclipse War Cutscene

The final cutscene of the Shadows Rising Saga war is now complete and viewable! Watch it now in /CarcossaCourt. This is the finale of the Doom Triad storyline, but never fear... the Darkness isn't finished with you just yet. This will lead into the final arc of the Age of Ruin: The Last Sunset!

This weekend, you're not battling Doom. You're fighting FOR it: thousands of Doom Spirits sleep in the depths of the Starship Carcossa. They're an army ready to rise... if you reach them before the SunSetter and Titan of Light.

Seasonal holiday events return + new upgrade bonus

You'll be seeing stars all weekend long! This weekend, head to Yokai Isle as we celebrate the legendary Star Festival (known in our world as Tanabata). Complete all of the Emissary's quests to make a wish of your own and change the night sky in /yokairiver! Along with our returning seasonal Star Festival events, the Frostval in July holiday is also back! If you're just joining us, you're in for a frosty treat in the middle of our summer heat!

Celebrate the Star Festival

Find the Celestial Emissary in Akiba, a living Daruma that traveled around our world to help the gods of Yokai Isle grant wishes. Help it and you'll be able to make a wish of your very own... that will change the shape of the very stars themselves!

Visit the Star Festival to:

• Decorate Akiba for the Star Festival
• Battle across Lore as you hunt for her wishes
• Unlock the Moon Bow Ninja reward armor set after completing the story
• Get the exclusive level 80 boss drop armor set
• Return to the event at any time with the hanging Star Festival Decoration house item

Stellar Rewards 

We've got a host of new 0 AC reward items for you this weekend to help you look like star while you battle to save the world... and beyond!

Shorinzan Merge Shop

Complete the Celestial Emissary's quests in /starfest to gather the merge shop resources for the Starry Samurai set + a selection of celestial weapons from AQW community artist, Mihuri!

• Starry Samurai armor
• Starry Samurai helm, capes, weapons
• Aurelian Sword, Dagger, Staff

Reward Drops

Battle Ultra Uji No Hashihime in the Yokairiver map for a chance to get 4 new 0 AC house items.

• Wish for Love Constellation Wall item
• Wish for Peace Constellation Wall item
• Wish for Gold Constellation Wall item
• Wish for Happiness Constellation Wall item

Star Festival Gift quest. Bring Empress Miko Fallen Stars and there's a chance she'll give you one of the following:

• a piece of the Moon Bow Ninja armor set
• Tanabata Polearm
• Paper Crane mace
• Soben Bowl + Sticks daggers (member-only)
• Storm Kimono (member-only)

Star Festival Character Page Background

If you are a member in AQWorlds, we've got some exclusive holiday event bonuses for you! 

• Star Festival Character page background: Unlock the holiday character page background in the first room in /Yokai River.
• Tanabata Fest Decoration Shortcut: Buy the house item from the Akiba House shop for 7,777 gold. When you click on this item, you'll be taken straight to a permanent version of Akiba, where you can continue to farm for the 0 AC Moon Bow Ninja armor set!

Stay up to date with new release plans and boosts on the Artix Calendar and see what the latest Bug Fixes and Balance Changes are in their patch notes.