Across all our tests, the top critique and proposal has been the need to learn and progress without constant PvP pressure. We started working on a solution several months ago, and it’s now ready. You’ll now be able to switch difficulty any time before jumping on a mission, choosing between:
Adventure [PvE - Co-op]: a great way to get used to the world of Vaultreakers before jumping to Core.
Core [PvE - Co-op]: More challenging than Adventure, but you’ll be able to get rarer loot, more experience, and complete Core Challenges.
Breaker [PvPvE - Co-op]: Face real opponents, progress faster, and get more loot of greater rarity!
Adventure and Core modes offer a safer path to growth, while Breaker mode raises the stakes, adding other players to the equation and dramatically increasing rewards and experience.
Our next Playtest (which will start on July 22nd - originally planned for June 29th) will be slightly different from the others. It will be a PvE-only test, focusing on the Core & Adventure modes.
For those of you who are PvP enthusiasts, fear not, the Playtest that follows after the PvE test will include all modes.
These modes will only dilute your existing community!
The main friction points measured in previous feedback forms were regarding forced PvP and brutal onboarding. This new feature will allow different kinds of players to experience the game to their liking and learn the game before they deal with other experienced players. We think this feature will have a greater positive effect in the long term, allowing players to get comfortable with the game first before seeking more challenges and rewards in harder modes.
Can I play “Adventure” mode in Co-op with my friend playing “Core”?
Yes, you can. However, everyone in the party will need to play at Core difficulty to be able to loot Supreme and Legendary gear.
Will I be able to use my gear obtained in “Adventure” mode in “Breaker” mode?
Yes, you will, it’s lower risk and lower reward. You can e.g. play some less tense core mode and prepare to play with your friends in the evening on Breaker. You can also play exclusively on Breaker and earn recognition from climbing high in the exclusive Breaker Challenges.
Breaker difficulty does not mention what will happen to my gear and items/materials when I die. Will I get any of it, or will everything be lost on death?
You lose everything you have, with the exception of some bonuses (like the 50% materials one, and also two new ones).
If there is only PvE, won’t I progress quicker than in PvPvE since other players are not stopping me?
We have increased XP requirements so that playing on Breaker with 200% XP will result in the speed we had in previous tests. Playing on the PvE difficulties will then be significantly slower. Breaker is higher risk, higher reward. Progress can be faster, but it’s less predictable. Other players aren’t always a threat; they can open paths or even help, making each run more dynamic.
Can I change the difficulty anytime?
You can change difficulty freely before starting a mission, but not during a run.
Why is the next Playtest PvE only?
We’re running a longer PvE-focused playtest to better improve onboarding, progression, and PvE balance. That’s much easier to manage without PvP, which can be really hard in a longer test. This sets the stage for a larger PvP test afterwards, giving players time to learn and prepare.