Hello, Adventurers.

This is The MMORPG, Black Desert.

We’d like to announce the updates made to the Black Desert as of 2019, July 10th.

(Patch volume approx. 700.71 MB)

※ For the details, please refer to the contents below. 

Major Updates - Altar of Blood

As announced at the Heidel Ball, Altar of Blood is a 3 player party defense mode. After its introduction at the Global Lab, many adventurers gave various feedback on the Altar of Blood. Many found the use of their own characters and skills to be positive, which allowed for a variety of coop strategies. There were also feedback on the difficulty of the mode, questions on what will happen to the Altar of Training, and many others. We will continue to better the mode based on the precious feedback you send our way. We plan to add a more variety of PVE content, like the Altar of Blood. Currently, one of the only places where you can make use of a fully geared character is out in the field fighting monsters. We aim to add more places for you to feel the satisfaction of making use of your hard earned gear.  

•  According to records, the Altar of Blood is where Kzarka performed sacrificial rituals, but was never seen again after it being sealed with the Gem of Balance. However, Yaz and Orwen of the Secret Guards discovered the last traces of Caphras, the immortal alchemist, in the rubble of a house in Star's End, which in turn led to the uncovering of the secret altar that was hidden within the ash fog of the Blackstar.
•  
• ● You can enter the Altar of Blood after completing the "[Lv. 56] The Altar of Blood at Star's End" quest line from the Black Spirit with a character at or above level 56.
• ※ The quest line "[Lv. 56] The Altar of Blood at Star's End" starts from "Yaz and the Mountain of Sanctity".
• (You can find the quest in the suggested quests from the Black Spirit after activating the Combat quest filter)

• ● The Altar of Blood is a 3 player party mode where you need to coordinate with each other to defend the relic from monsters charging in from all directions.
• ● You can also enter the Altar of Blood through matchmaking, which will match you with other random players on the same server.

Altar of Blood Rules

● The party leader can press the Enter button in the ESC menu to enter the Altar of Blood.

• ● Party leader may be changed depending on the order of entrance (you can appoint party leader to anyone after entering the altar).
• ● After entry, the party level can choose which stage to start with.
• ● You cannot exit the party in the Altar of Blood.
• ● When the party leader chooses the stage, 100 Energy is consumed and an NPC will appear.
• ● Talk to the NPC to activate the altar, which will consume 20 additional Energy.
• ● Upon activation, monsters will appear and attack the altar and your party must defend it.
• ● Note that you will take massive damage when you venture too close to the Black Portals.
• ● You can resurrect only via the resurrection skill of Witch/Wizard or the Medical Kit if you die in the Altar of Blood.
• ● All character HP will recover and all dead characters will be resurrected when the boss is defeated.
• ● Once the boss appears, the altar can no longer be damaged.
• ● Defeating a boss will grant you the knowledge of the cleared illusion, which you need to progress to the next one.
• ● When all three players die, the stage is considered a failure and reset with all monsters gone and players are resurrected with full HP. Here, the party leader will see the menu to choose the stage.
• ● You cannot use Campsite, Maid/Butler, World Map, Quest UI, nor Minimap UI in the Altar of Blood.
• ● You cannot gain any Combat EXP nor Skill EXP by defeating monsters in the Altar of Blood.
• ● Item Drop Amount/Rate Increase effects are not applied in the Altar of Blood.
• ● With this week's release, you can progress up to the 10th illusion. Once you clear the 10th illusion, you will automatically exit the Altar of Blood. More stages will be added with future updates.

Altar of Blood Rewards

• ● You can acquire the corresponding Heritage of the Forgotten by defeating the bosses of each of the illusions.
• ● You have a very low chance to acquire the following defense gear boxes by using the Heritage of the Forgotten.

• ● The type of item you receive depends on the grade of the defense gear box.

•  
• ● You can obtain better the items the higher the stage you clear.
• ● New Altar of Blood exclusive items were added.

• ● Flare of the Ancients, Dim Origin of Clear Water, Dim Origin of the Crimson Flame, and Dim Origin of Earth.

• ● Flare of the Ancients is effective only in the Altar of Blood.
• ● All monsters within range will be stunned when the Flare of the Ancients is used.
• ● Certain monsters or boss monsters of each stage are immune to Stun effect.

•  
• ● Added the Altar of Blood rankings page.
• ● Added the Altar of Blood rankings menu.

- Old Menu: Bottom of the ESC menu

- New Menu: Community tab of the ESC Menu

• ● 10 new Altar of Blood challenges were added.
• ● Altar of Blood challenges can be completed once per family.
• ● Following rewards will be available from Challenge menu when you reconnect after you defeat boss monsters and obtain knowledge in Altar of Blood.  

•  
• ● If you failed an illusion at the Altar of Blood, you can retry. 
• ● A window will pop up with the option to retry the illusion.
• ● The retry window cannot be opened once you cancel the retry option. 
• ● You need a "Nightmare Fragment" to retry.
• ● Retry can only be done by the party leader.
• ● Added "Nightmare Fragment", which you can use to retry a failed illusion.

- If you fail to clear an illusion of the Altar of Blood while holding "Nightmare Fragments", you can consume them to restart at the illusion stage you were on.

• [Kunoichi]
• ● Added monster pull to Chain Crash: Sah Chakram on good hit.
• ● Added DP reduction to Halo on good hit.
• ● Added LMB hold attack to Lethal Spin Spree where you spin twice (4 hits per spin).

- 12 hits >> Max 20 hits

• ● Increased the damage of Sah Spree of Sonan during PVE when not in cooldown.

•  
• ●  Added the following controls to Flow: Wrath.

- LMB after Flow: Indignation

- LMB after Danse Macabre

• ● Added the following controls to Flow: Indignation.

- RMB after Flow: Wrath

- RMB after Danse Macabre

• ● Changed the skill chain to be more fluid when using Flow: Chakram Rise and then Wheel of Wrath.
• ● Changed Lunar of Delighted Blast to have 100% critical hit on hit during PVE.
• ● Changed the third attack of Lunatic Discus to be wider and to attack forward for a more concentrated effect.
• ● Changed pressing RMB+LMB to activate the LMB skill first.
• ● Changed Wheel of Wrath to instantly activate up to its second attack.
• ● Fixed the first air attack and second down attack of Wheel of Wrath to work as intended.
• ● Fixed the issue where the horizontal slash of Sah Chakram Training did not hit as many times as intended.
• ● Fixed the issue where Lethal Spin Spree hit less depending on the direction used.

[Shai]

• ● Added animations for when NPCs and other adventurers bump into you while you stand still.
• ● Directional changes when sprinting, by pressing Shift or RMB, during auto move is now more fluid.
• ● Now you can get right on your mount while moving forward (W) in combat mode.
• ● Changed the graphic effect of when Shai has all Florin leaf energy available for use.

※ Following Cron Meals would have the same effect as above. 

- [Battlefield] Exquisite Cron Meal

- [Event] Exquisite Cron Meal

- [Event] Simple Cron Meal

- [Event] Energizing Cron Meal

• 
  ● Health EXP from all Cron Meals was increased. (Exquisite, Simple, Energizing, Seafood Cron Meal)

•  

  
  

  Major Updates - Buff UI Revamp

• • So far, the buff list was just divided into buffs and debuffs, which was difficult to read when there were too many. Many of you requested this improved and we promised we would do so at the Heidel Ball. Now the buff list is divided into three parts; buffs given by items, buffs cast by characters, and debuffs. Also, buffs that can be combined into a group, such as Cron Meals, will be displayed as a single icon. For instance, Warrior's Executioner previously created 7 icons, but will now be displayed as a single Executioner icon. We'll continue to make improvements on your convenience.
• ● The following buffs are now combined into one icon.

※ Although the above buffs are displayed as one icon, each effect will be applied separately. If you receive a buff that is equal to or better than the above buffs, a new icon will be displayed with the awakening buff icon.

※ Apart from awakening buffs, if a higher rank buff is applied over an existing buff, the higher rank buff's icon is displayed and its effect will replace the former buff.

• ● Campsite buffs purchasable from campsite shops are now combined into one.

● Face the Ultimate Trial in the Altar of Blood!

1. 1. Event: Face the Ultimate Trial in the Altar of Blood!
2. 2. Event: Check Out the Stages in the Altar of Blood!
3. 3. Event: Spill Blood in the Altar of Blood!

- Event Period: July 10, 2019 after maintenance - July 24, 2019 before maintenance 

[Click here for more details]

• ● Shai Update Event! Hot TIme & 50% Off Book of Training
  1. Event: Become an Expert Life Skiller! Alchemy/Processing EXP +30%!

- Event Period: July 10, 2019 after maintenance - July 17, 2019 before maintenance

2. 2. Event: 50% Off Book of Training! Level up even faster!
   - Event Period: July 10, 2019 after maintenance - July 24, 2019 before maintenance
   [Click here for more details]
   
   

• ● The monsters from the regions below will now appear twice as fast after they die.

- Event Period: July 10 (after maintenance) - July 24 (before maintenance)

→ Mediah: Shultz Guard Post, Hasrah Ancient Ruins, Manes Hideout, Wandering Rogue Den

→  Kamasylvia: Forest Ronaros, Polly’s Forest, Navarn Steppe 

→  Valencia: Bashim Base, Basilisk Den, Roud Sulfur Mine, Titium Valley, Cadry Ruins, Waragon Nest, Centaurus Herd, Pila Ku Jail

→  Drieghan: Tshira Ruins, Blood Wolf Settlement, Sherekhan Necropolis (Day)

→  Other: Protty Cave, Sycraia Underwater Ruins (Upper zone)

|  RANGER 

• ● [Ranger] Evasive Shot I has been changed as it can no longer be locked. 

|  ITEM  

• ● Description for some costume boxes were changed to the below.

- RMB to obtain items suitable for your class → RMB to obtain a skin suitable for your class. 

• ● Shai's costumes were added to some of the costume boxes.

- Costume boxes with Shai costumes can be checked with the box class descriptions.

• ● Crafting Notes for the following Altar of Blood items have been added. 

- Flare of the Ancients 

- Dim Origin of Clear Water 

- Dim Origin of Crimson Flame 

- Dim Origin of Earth

- Nightmare Fragment 

• ● Following items can now by dyed. 

 - [Shai] Splat Fisher's Hat (7 Days)

 - [Shai] Splat Fisher's Clothes (7 Days)

• ● The effect of all versions of Extra Life EXP Scroll was changed from +10% to +50%.
• ● Fixed the issue where the character's hair was abnormal in certain situations when equipped with items that change in different conditions.

|  MONSTER 

• ● The Ghost of Ash Forest sensed something more powerful coming to Ash Forest and moved to a nearby location.

- The quest area of the "Breath of the Ashen Dead" quest was changed to reflect the above.

• ● Optimized the game to lessen lag when a World Boss appears.

|  MOUNT 

• ● Fixed the issue where you could not get off your mount and instead interact with the nearby NPC by pressing R while on a mount.

- Wild horses can only use this function after it is registered at a stable.

• ● Fixed the issue where the item description of Trainer's Flute which appears when you first attempt to use it mentioned Horse Flute. 
• ● Fixed the issue where you could no longer call your wagon once you activate a Trainer’s Flute. 

|  NPC, BACKGROUND, SOUND 

• ● Boltz of Calpheon was fixed to act more naturally to fit his environment.
• ● Added knowledge of Herbin, who exchanges Dew of Tranquil Forest for Asula's Weakened Magic accessories.
• ● Exchange information of Dew of Tranquil has been added to Herbin.
• ● Changed the condition to talk to Vitheons Belucci at the Calpheon College to first meet with Siena Volaire.

|  QUEST & KNOWLEDGE 

• ● Changed the Mad Wolf summoned during the "Do or Die" quest to not summon baby wolves.
• ● Changed the text displayed when you try to interact at the top of Cron Castle without the quest item during the "Memorial Service for the Fallen People" quest.

- It now says you can get the quest item again from the same NPC.

• ● Way of playing the quests including [New/Returning] Stop Awakened Red Nose, [New/Returning] Stop Awakened Giath and [New/Returning] Stop Awakened Bheg where you can obtain Cliff Weapon has changed.  

- Previously you could obtain the Awakened Boss Scroll by completing separate quests but now you can obtain the scroll from NPC Cliff. 

The quests were designed with our intention to help new/returning Adventurers to play with existing Adventurers. However, we realized it was difficult to get the awakened boss scroll, and therefore Adventurers could not have much chance to meet and play together. After today's maintenance, the boss summon scroll will be given when you receive the quests.

● With the revamp of Mediah quests, the following knowledges are now obtainable.

 - You can receive knowledges from the below NPCs by talking to them even if you’ve already completed the quests.

< Knowledge/Quest/NPC >

- Skeleton Golem's Sorcery / The Restless Dead / Sracy
- Tracking Illezra / [Boss] Illezra's Servant / Sracy
- Mediah Royal Family Seal / The Regent / Bareeds III
- Remains of the Bautt Slate / Bautt's Enchantment or Reproducing the Bautt Slate / Bareeds III
- Giant's Lightstone / Bautt's Enchantment or Reproducing the Bautt Slate / Bareeds III

* All adventurers who have not completed the above quests will receive the knowledges as rewards when you complete them.

* The knowledge "Imagery of the Black Spirit" can be acquired from Ahon Kirus of Tarif at 10 energy.

• ● Fixed the issue where a player who chose the option B during the crossroads quest had to talk to Geoffrey Erne after completing "The Gift of Calpheon" quest instead of being able to accept the "Encarotia's Signal" quest right away.

 - Players who chose option B can accept the next quest just like those who chose options A and C.
● Arenda of Shakatu will now remember all the amity you've accumulated through her quest line even when she becomes younger.

 - A new quest "Arenda's Gratitude" was added with amity points as reward.

|  UI
● Fixed the issue where the changed hotkey for SPACE did not change during fishing.

• ● You will now be directed to the Pearl Box tab if you do not have enough Pearls during purchase.
• ● You will now be directed to Acoin purchase if you do not have enough Acoin during purchase.
• ● A warning message will now be displayed when you receive a mail with an item that has a limited time for use.
• ● Changed the Central Market's main category to display items registered by most number of items when you open the menu.
• ● Added sort function to the Web Central Market's item list.
• ● Fixed the Alchemy Stone to be greyed out during equipment repair with NPCs.
• ● Fixed the warning message "HP is lower than 20%." to not be repeatedly displayed.

• ● Fixed changing server as a party to maintain the party leader on the same player.
• ● Chat of the player who is blocked will now be displayed as "*" if their previous chat remains in the chat window.
• ● The minimum rank for Guild Storage withdrawal was changed to Quartermaster or up. (Storing items in the Guild Storage does not depend on rank) 

 - Fixed the description of all guild items to display that guild storage withdrawal requires a rank of Quartermaster or higher.

• ● A newly created family can only register Pearl items to the Central Market 3 days after creating their account.

• ● Fixed the issue where the sound effect for stopping near water was played too loud.
• ● Reduced the amount of splashing when stopping near water.
• ● Fixed the abnormal camera zoom when sometimes selecting the face in customization of the Beauty (F4) menu.
• ● Fixed the portrait to be displayed correctly when you delete the portrait file and reconnect to the game.
• ● [Sorceress] Fixed the graphical issue of Tyrie Armor where you could see the underwear.
• ● [Sorceress] Fixed the issue where you went into main weapon mode instead of awakening weapon mode by clicking LMB while moving either left/right or back during non-combat awakening weapon mode.
• ● [Ranger] Fixed the graphical issue of Spring Blossom Clothes where you could see the underwear when you equip the Priyah Bikini afterwards.
• ● [Maehwa] Changed the action of switching to main weapon mode when you press TAB while stopping from a run in non-combat mode.
• ● [Ninja] Fixed the issue where stamina did not recover after initial stamina drain for using Boss Slaughter.
• ● [Ninja] Fixed the issue where you would shift to awakening weapon mode on the spot even when pressing directional keys + C during Ninjutsu: Oni Shadow.
• ● [Kunoichi] Fixed the issue where you would shift to awakening weapon mode on the spot even when pressing directional keys + C during Ninjutsu: Oni Shadow and Ninjutsu: Sinew Cut.
• ● [Kunoichi] Fixed pressing C after Ninjutsu: Heart Snatch to shift to awakening weapon while moving backwards.
• ● [Kunoichi] Fixed the abnormal camera zoom when sometimes selecting the face in customization of the Beauty (F4) menu.
• ● [Striker] Fixed the descriptions of Rage Hammer III, IV, and V where the hits of the skills were all x3.
• ● [Lahn] Fixed the issue where the Stamina of Sprint was drained even when the buff of Stately Dignity is in effect when jumping after using Stately Dignity, then Sprint.
• ● [Archer] Fixed the issue where Exhale's effect sometimes did not work during awakening mode.
• ● [Archer] Fixed the issue where Winged Strike, Tactical Strike, and Ra'ghon's Spirit were not triggered during both awakening and non-awakening mode when using Exhale while moving left or right and then chaining with Glissade or Ravenous Talon.
• ● [Shai] Fixed the issue where the effects of Cheer Up! and Get Well were not applied to party or platoon members during fights against world bosses.
• ● Fixed the issue where some parts of the Great Desert of Valencia were displayed as Peyon Sea.
• ● Fixed the issue where the Black Spirit was automatically summoned after completing the "Human Calculator" quest.
  ● Fixed the issue where the information of character's AP and DP on My Information (P) and Inventory (I) were not displayed properly when the [Combat] Trina Demolition Axe is used.
  ● Fixed the issue where the Wooden Fence was displayed as unknown on the list of installed items of Node/Conquest War forts on the World Map (M).
• ● Fixed the issue where you sometimes could not move on a mount after disabling underwear view mode.
• ● Fixed the garden information text on the World Map (M) to not overlap.
• ● Fixed the issue where the movable UI got stuck during UI edit when they overlap with an unmovable UI.
• ● Description of Black Spirit's Adventure has been changed as shown below. 

 - Reward item will be sent via the Black Spirit's Safe. 

• ● Fixed the issue where amity was displayed abnormally when checking quest rewards.
• ● Fixed the crystal information during crystal extraction to be displayed within the UI.
• ● Fixed chat history to not show whispers received from other players.
• ● Fixed the graphical issue of the bushes near the Loopy Tree Forest.
  ● Fixed the issue where the Pearl Shop (F3) was opened during the tutorial cut scene.
  ● Fixed the issue where pet actions were not saved.
  ● [Shai] Fixed the issue where Come Out, Come Out sometimes could not find concealed enemy adventurers.
• ● [Shai] Fixed the Fighting Spirit social action's smile to be more natural.
• ● Fixed the issue where using Armstrong's or Cliff's guide for skill add-on sometimes erased the effects of some set items.
• ● Fixed the issue where some items that cost less than 50,000,000 silvers to register on the Marketplace could not be used for NPC gifting.
• ● [Shai] Fixed the issue so that the customized hairstyle will no longer be applied when wearing Whimsical Alchemist Hat. 
• ● [Shai] Fixed the issue where the first dye slot was not properly applied when equipped with the Whimsical Alchemist apparel.

We hope you enjoy your time in Black Desert,

Thank you.