Elden Ring Fans Beware: Spoilers Are Out There

Elden Ring spoilers are leaking ahead of the game’s release, as some fans have gotten hands on their copies early.

While Elden Ring has a planned launch of February 25, some players have managed to get their copies just over a week early, and are streaming the game on Twitch (thanks, VGC). Not only that, but the game’s intro cinematic has been released early, alongside some screengrabs and gameplay features.

Publisher Bandai Namco is doing what it can to take down the leaks, but do be careful when looking things up about Elden Ring online. If you want to go in as spoiler-free as possible, now might be the time to avoid social media.

On the other hand, if you’re looking to learn more about the game, GameSpot recently had some hands-on time with the game, where we covered 13 things we think you should know about Elden Ring.

And you’re also wondering what time specifically the game is going to be available and how much space you’ll need, we’ve got you covered there too.

Elden Ring is launching on February 25 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

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Sea Of Thieves Adds First Limited-Time Adventure, Shrouded Islands

It’s a big day for Rare’s swashbuckling adventure game Sea of Thieves, which welcomes its first new Adventure expansion, “Shrouded Islands.” The so-called Adventures are limited-time, story-focused events that are separate from the game’s ongoing seasonal updates.

The first Adventure, Shrouded Islands, has players venturing into the “ethereal mist” to uncover secrets, take part in battles, and earn new rewards. A new Adventure will come to Sea of Thieves about once every month, and these will run for about two weeks. Shrouded Islands is available until March 3.

“As Shrouded Islands opens, a new threat encroaching upon Golden Sands Outpost, the sudden disappearance of Captain Flameheart from the skies and reported sightings of the mysterious Belle have caused a hubbub on the Sea of Thieves–with Larinna, leader of the Bilge Rats, keeping a watchful eye on these strange events,” reads a line from its description. “Whenever you’re looking to venture forth on an Adventure, Larinna should have a lead to help you get started and will even beckon you over if you approach the tavern.”

The update that adds Shrouded Island is free and available to all Sea of Thieves players, whether they own the game outright or have it through Game Pass on console and PC. The patch notes and file sizes by platform can be seen below.

Years after launch, Sea of Thieves is still doing big numbers for Microsoft. By the company’s latest count, it has 25 million players. Sea of Thieves is one of GameSpot’s best Xbox One games of all time, and you can see the rest in our roundup of the Xbox One’s 25 best games.

Sea Of Thieves Shrouded Island File Size

Xbox Series X: 9.2 GBXbox Series S: 6.36 GBXbox One X: 9.2 GBXbox One: 6.36 GBMicrosoft Store: 8.95 GBSteam: 8.22 GB

Sea Of Thieves Shrouded Island Patch Notes

Gameplay Improvements

Improved Shanty Selection

When equipping an instrument, holding the secondary interact button will now open the Shanty Radial directly, allowing players to easily switch between shanties.

Shop Filters

New filters are now provided when browsing shop stock, allowing players to cycle through all items, owned items and unowned items for easier access.

Storm Effects

When sailing the open sea in a storm, the strong current requires players to fight the wheel to maintain a course. However, when approaching an island or shipwreck, crews will now find that the current is less forceful and no longer causes the wheel to spin erratically.

Emote Radial Improvements

Within a Vanity Chest, players now have access to 10 pages where emotes can be equipped.Bringing up the Emote Radial and cycling through the pages will also now only display pages which have emotes equipped.

Sunken Kingdom Treasury Balancing

When raiding the vault of a Siren Treasury, crews will now find two gold piles with consistent gold rewards.

Outpost Cosmetics

Stygian Admiral Set

The Outpost clothing shops now stock the Stygian Admiral clothing set, available to purchase for gold.

Accessibility

Ship’s Wheel Audio Support

Players can now access additional audio support when using the ship’s wheel. Within the Game Audio Settings, use ‘Enable Additional Wheel Turning Sounds’ to play a distinctive sound every quarter-turn of the wheel. The volume of this effect can be tweaked by using the accompanying volume slider.

Fixed Issues

Gameplay

While aiming down sights with a ranged weapon, being hit with a sword attack from another player or lightning attack from an Eel-ectric should no longer cancel the player’s aim.Resetting the input settings to default will now also reset the input for Swim Up.The Full Billow achievement can now be unlocked when completing the required criteria.Defeating skeletons or Phantoms while under the effects of a Cursed Cannonball will now progress the Master of Cursed Iron Commendation.Skeleton Ships and skeletons using island cannons should now fire at targets more consistently without long pauses between shots.When sitting in a Rowboat, interaction prompts for nearby seats and objects are no longer shown as they cannot be interacted with until the player stands.Mouse users on PC can now enable the ‘Recentre Mouse in Menus’ setting to ensure the mouse cursor returns to the centre of the screen when opening full-screen menus.

Pirate Emporium

Performing the Stargazing Emote while wearing the Lodestar Costume now ensures the emote camera zooms into the correct location on the pirate.

Environment

Players should no longer find areas within the Pirate Legend Hideout where they can trigger a safe teleport.

Visual and Audio

An audible wood splintering sound can once again be heard when ships take damage from a range of external sources.Players should no longer encounter a multicoloured chequerboard effect on ship materials when loading into a session.Shooting while moving forwards, then sprinting and abruptly stopping, should no longer cause the weapon reload animation to skip.The Dark Adventurers Beard no longer clips into the player’s mouth when using a range of emotes.During an Ashen Lord encounter, when an Ashen Lord lunges at a player, they will now animate correctly during the leap.During an Ashen Lord encounter, the geysers resulting from a World’s End attack will now fade back into the sand.The visual effects when firing cannons are now triggered immediately, removing a perceived delay in launching cannonballs.Loading screens on PC will now display correctly sized images when using a 4K screen resolution.Capuchin and Barbary monkeys wearing the Cronch Outfits now fit correctly into cannon barrels when loaded.Players standing on the Sloop bed will no longer generate muffled sounds for others in proximity.Standing behind the Ferryman on the Ferry of the Damned should no longer cause their head to snap to the player.When wearing the Bell Brigade Gloves, the player’s hands should no longer clip into held items.‘Dark Brethren’ – The water effects in the flume section now flow smoothly through the tunnel.When playing in windowed mode and resizing the screen during gameplay, using an Eye of Reach or spyglass zoom will no longer cause the screen to be off-centre.

Text and Localisation

Steam players using Turkish language settings within Steam game properties will now find Sea of Thieves launches in Turkish.The Night-Time Spectacular achievement now correctly states the unlocking requirement of a display of five or more fireworks at night.

Accessibility

When ‘Let Games Read to Me’ is enabled, the narration now clearly informs players when the game is loading.Enabling ‘Circular Navigation’ now allows players to equip emotes from Vanity Chests when using a controller.

Performance and Stability

Enhanced reporting has been added, helping identify scenarios where server performance can result in a reduction in hit detection accuracy.After being disconnected during a failed server migration, players should now be able to rejoin their session when prompted and return to their ship.Players on PC are now able to set the resolution scaling below 75% and have that setting persist across sessions.Server migration success rate has been improved, reducing the frequency of experiencing Hazelnutbeard while migrating between servers.Server stability has been improved, reducing scenarios where crews are removed from a game session.

Known Issues

Incorrectly Positioned Levers, Pulleys and Traps

When progressing through Tall Tales or Siren Shrines, players approaching mechanisms previously used by other players may initially perceive them in the incorrect location or position until they are used. For example, a moveable walkway controlled by a lever may be shown in an upright position despite actually being lowered, causing players to fall through unexpectedly.

Ranged and Melee Weapon Hit Detection

In areas of intense action, players may find themselves firing shots or landing strikes that do not cause damage to their targets. While small improvements continue to be delivered during our regular updates, we are continuing to investigate and identify further improvements to the player combat experience.Read MoreGameSpot – Game News

Platinum Games: NFTs Could Become Important, But First Examples Are Not Great

Platinum Games bosses Atsushi Inaba and Hideki Kamiya have commented on one of the most buzzed-about topics in games lately, that being blockchain and NFT technologies. Speaking to VGC, Inaba–who is president and CEO of the Bayonetta studio–said the studio hasn’t given much thought to the blockchain/NFT space, but said the early examples have been less than idea. Vice president Kamiya reacted as well and said he wasn’t surprised to see Konami get involved in the space.

“I understand it’s a hot topic right now and it’s really starting to gain momentum, but the way that it’s gained momentum has been focused on profitability for the company, but with no positive impact on the creators or the users in any sense. So that’s frustrating to see happening,” Inaba said.

Inaba said he’s observed a trend that those wanting to get involved with NFTs are looking to make a quick buck. “The people who are trying to promote NFTs and partner with gaming companies, their conversations seem extremely one-sided. ‘Hey, you’re going to make money!’ But how does it benefit the user or the creator? If I want to spend my time on something, I want it to benefit making good games,” Inaba said.

The executive acknowledged that NFTs will likely have some place in the video game business going forward, but the early examples have left much to be desired in his eyes.

“As content gets more and more digital, I do think that NFT as a concept will gain more importance, but I think that the early adopters are just seeing it as a way to profit as much as possible. That’s not something I’m interested in being part of, to be honest,” Inaba said.

Also in the interview, Kamiya said he was not surprised to see another prominent Japanese game company, Konami, get involved with NFTs so quickly. “Not really. If it smells like money, Konami’s going to be there in a heartbeat!” he said.

“Honestly, I have zero interest in this subject. I think what Inaba-san just said really resonated with me because I consider myself a user at heart, more than a businessman. It doesn’t have any benefit for users at the moment. In the future, if it’s expanded in a way that has a positive side for users, then maybe I’ll start to be interested in what they do with it. But I’m not seeing that at the moment.”

The full VGC interview is stacked with interesting insight into the company and its future–go read it here.

NFTs, in particular, have been one of the most-discussed elements of games and the wider technology space for the past year or so. Recently, the indie games platform Itch.io slammed NFTs and the companies that support them. Check out GameSpot’s roundup to find out more on where video game companies like Ubisoft, EA, Nintendo, EA, and Xbox stand on them.

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Dying Light 2 Update Fixes The Game’s Annoying Death-Loop Bug

A new patch for Dying Light 2 has gone live on PC, and between a few tweaks to the zombie apocalypse sandbox, one of the game’s more annoying bugs has been fixed. As PC players discovered, loading a fresh save of Dying Light 2 occasionally locked them into a death-loop–not that one–where they’d constantly die like an ill-prepared Tom Cruise sci-fi movie character.

Dying during a quest within a restricted area would result in them being respawned in a different area, and facing a time limit that would not allow them to get back to the previous mission area on time. That issue has been fixed, alongside a few others.

Dying Light 2 Update 1.0.7 Patch Notes

Survivors!
The newest patch for PC is live. See the changes below: pic.twitter.com/e6YWTcSAtm

— Dying Light (@DyingLightGame) February 16, 2022

Fix for the Death Loop Bug — It prevents players from new cases and fixes the existing ones.Added Backup Save System — Allows players to rollback the game’s progress and their inventory to the last game’s secure storyline save point.Added support for the block, active landing, and jump attack rebindings on keyboard.

A PlayStation and Xbox version of this patch will also be going live soon, according to Techland.

In other Dying Light 2 news, the game’s first free DLC is now available. If you’ve sided with the game’s militaristic Peacekeepers, you can grab the “Authority Pack” that includes some neat clothing and armor. On February 18, the two-handed Authority hammer will be made available.

For more on Dying Light 2, you can check out our guides on the best Infected farming strategy, where to find the Pan of Destiny, and where to find Dwight’s Note.

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How Long To Beat Horizon Forbidden West: Mission List And Open-World Activities Explained

Horizon Forbidden West has arrived, and even more than in the first game, there is a ton to unpack. Naturally, you may be wondering how long the game is, and after many hours and several weeks with the game, we can break it all down for you. Whether you’re playing just the main story, exploring side quests, or checking off every map icon in Guerrilla’s gorgeous sandbox, here’s everything you need to know about how long it takes to see Forbidden West’s credits.

How long is Horizon Forbidden West?

There are 17 main story missions in Horizon Forbidden West, and if you were to only play through those, the campaign would take you roughly 20-25 hours to finish. Because this is an open-world action-adventure game with lots of RPG elements, however, a more realistic playthrough will take considerably longer. There are settlements all over the game’s world, and each settlement has several side quests to initiate as well as activities to take part in such as hunting challenges, fighting arenas, and environmental puzzles to explore.

A player doing a typical portion of these, but not wiping the map of all of them would probably finish the game after around 40-50 hours played. For completionists, doing absolutely everything in Forbidden West, (including all Cauldrons, Tallnecks, side missions, Vista Points, and upgrading all of their equipment) would comfortably take 80-100+ hours.

The open-world setting of Forbidden West doesn’t just look lovely, it’s also very full. Next we’ll break down all story missions as well as preview all types of other activities you can do.

Horizon Forbidden West story mission list

Below is the critical path in Horizon Forbidden West, free of spoilers other than mission titles. However, do be mindful of those if you consider yourself a Horizon lore hound and think these names may tip off what’s to come in the story. We’ve also listed the suggested skill level for each mission, so you’ll know what kind of pace you need to be on in order to make it through each mission alive.

Reach For The Stars – Level 3The Point Of The Lance – Level 4To The Brink – Level 5The Embassy – Level 7Death’s Door – Level 10The Dying Lands – Level 15The Broken Sky – Level 17The Eye Of The Earth – Level 17The Kulrut – Level 18Cradle Of Echoes – Level 20The Sea Of Sands – Level 22Seeds Of The Past – Level 24Faro’s Tomb – Level 26Gemini – Level 30All That Remains – Level 31The Wings Of The Ten – Level 32Singularity – Level 35Aloy’s journey to the west will be perilous to say the least.

There are more than enough side missions and other activities to ensure you’re always at least a few levels ahead of where you should be, which will help keep Aloy fierce in the midst of battle. Next, we’ll briefly explain what all of the map markers mean and what kind of activities you can expect to find in the west.

Side quests and errands – Indicated by green exclamation points on the map and compass; errands are often shorter variations of side questsSalvage contractors – Side missions requiring players to find crafting items for merchantsHunting grounds and melee pits – Challenge modes (featuring leaderboards) found in settlementsCauldrons – Large interiors full of puzzles and combat; necessary for mounting some advanced machinesTallnecks – Non-hostile machines that act as map-revealing towers to climbRebel camps and outposts – Hostile gathering spaces for Regalla’s rebelsMachine Strike – Tabletop gameGauntlet Runs – Races performed on machine mountsVista Points – Puzzles that give Aloy glimpses of the past via hologramRelic Ruins – Old-world environmental puzzles that reward Ornaments and XP

Despite having come upon a few dozen already, there are many more side quests than we’ve found so far–simply put, there are a lot–but other activities are much lower in number. For example, there are only five Tallnecks, seven Relic Ruins, and 18 Cauldrons. These are some of the more rewarding side activities if you want to do more than quests, but other places of interest and settlements will routinely reveal their own secrets as well, such as underwater caverns.

Players are also invited to routinely upgrade their equipment by hunting animals both mechanical and organic. Sentient animals reward crafting ingredients for pouches, such as Aloy’s quiver, while machines can be torn apart for ingredients that improve Aloy’s weapons and armor.

In total, Horizon Forbidden West is in no uncertain terms the next major timesink game. It’s arguably the biggest PS5 game to date according to fan excitement, and it’s likely to finish the year as one of the best-selling games on PS5 and PS4. For more on the game, check our tips for beginners, learn about Valor Surges, the best early skills, and where to find the game’s legendary weapons.

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You Can Now Receive Saucy Photos As Part Of Cyberpunk 2077’s Romances

Cyberpunk 2077 has just gotten a huge update, adding more content, improving performance on next-gen consoles, and of course, fixing bugs. You can check out everything that the new update added here, but one of the more exciting additions is an expanded romance for Panam that sees her sending the player nude photos as part of her text chain. Warning for NSFW content and mild spoilers.

With all the new content added in Cyberpunk 2077’s patch 1.5, it’s likely players will be uncovering new interactions and hidden secrets for a while yet. One new addition that’s been discovered by a player on the Cyberpunk 2077 subreddit is an addition to Panam’s romance, which sees her sending a sultry nude photo to the player.

Though it mostly escaped notice among the huge page of patch notes for patch 1.5, one item notes that the Cyberpunk devs have added “extended romances with Panam, Kerry, River, and Judy by adding new messages and interactions.” The nude photo, which we’ve embedded below, seems to just be the tip of the iceberg in terms of new romance content to be discovered in the updated Cyberpunk 2077.

In a livestream discussing the next gen update, CDPR devs expanded on the extended romances a little bit. While no major content has been added, CDPR has added little details that will make the game’s romances feel more real and intimate. As well as the extended text conversations, this includes moments like having certain love interests wake up beside the player character when you go to sleep in their apartment.

Another new conversation from the updated game has the player chatting with Judy’s grandma about your relationship, and it looks like there’s still plenty more to be discovered in the updated Cyberpunk 2077. One of Judy’s existing text conversations implies she’s taken her own lewd pictures for the player, so its possible that this conversation has been updated to actually include a photo or two.

If you’re more interested in the combat than the romance when it comes to Cyberpunk 2077, check out our guide to respeccing your perks with the game’s newly reworked talent trees.

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News

You Can Now Receive Saucy Photos As Part Of Cyberpunk 2077’s Romances

Cyberpunk 2077 has just gotten a huge update, adding more content, improving performance on next-gen consoles, and of course, fixing bugs. You can check out everything that the new update added here, but one of the more exciting additions is an expanded romance for Panam that sees her sending the player nude photos as part of her text chain. Warning for NSFW content and mild spoilers.

With all the new content added in Cyberpunk 2077’s patch 1.5, it’s likely players will be uncovering new interactions and hidden secrets for a while yet. One new addition that’s been discovered by a player on the Cyberpunk 2077 subreddit is an addition to Panam’s romance, which sees her sending a sultry nude photo to the player.

Though it mostly escaped notice among the huge page of patch notes for patch 1.5, one item notes that the Cyberpunk devs have added “extended romances with Panam, Kerry, River, and Judy by adding new messages and interactions.” The nude photo, which we’ve embedded below, seems to just be the tip of the iceberg in terms of new romance content to be discovered in the updated Cyberpunk 2077.

In a livestream discussing the next gen update, CDPR devs expanded on the extended romances a little bit. While no major content has been added, CDPR has added little details that will make the game’s romances feel more real and intimate. As well as the extended text conversations, this includes moments like having certain love interests wake up beside the player character when you go to sleep in their apartment.

Another new conversation from the updated game has the player chatting with Judy’s grandma about your relationship, and it looks like there’s still plenty more to be discovered in the updated Cyberpunk 2077. One of Judy’s existing text conversations implies she’s taken her own lewd pictures for the player, so its possible that this conversation has been updated to actually include a photo or two.

If you’re more interested in the combat than the romance when it comes to Cyberpunk 2077, check out our guide to respeccing your perks with the game’s newly reworked talent trees.

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News

Elden Ring: Release Times, Preload, And File Size Explained

Elden Ring, the highly anticipated collaboration between Dark Souls developer FromSoftware and Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin, is almost here. With just over a week left until the game releases, here’s everything you need to know about Elden Ring’s release timing, file size, and preload details.

Elden Ring Release Date And Time

Elden Ring is due to finally release for PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PS4 on February 25. The console release timing is set for midnight, 00:00 AM in all timezones. Due to the game releasing at the same time in every timezone, it means some players will get their hands on Elden Ring up to 24 hours earlier than others, so be careful of spoilers once that release window hits. It still hasn’t been confirmed whether the PC version of the game will follow the same midnight release timing.

Elden Ring Preload

Preloading for Elden Ring is possible fo all players who pre-order the game ahead of its release, so they can have it downloaded and ready to go as soon as the game is released.

Preloading is currently live for Xbox players. Anyone with an Elden Ring pre-order on Xbox can now start the download through the Xbox storefront on either the Xbox X, S or Xbox One. Players who are buying a physical copy of the game can also pre-load the game by going through the Xbox App on mobile. It’s unclear whether this preload file currently includes a day one patch.

A preload date hasn’t been announced yet for PlayStation consoles or PC.

Elden Ring File Size

With Elden Ring reportedly taking around 30 hours to finish, its file size is surprisingly compact compared to other AAA games. With the Xbox preloading now live, we know the file size for Xbox consoles is 49.04 GB, though this may increase if a seperate day one patch is required.

The file size on PS4 is reported to be 44.929 GB on PlayStation, according to Twitter account PlayStation Game Size, though this likely doesn’t include a day one patch.

There’s no confirmed file size for the PC version of the game yet, though the recently released PC requirements for Elden Ring requires players to have at least 60GB of free space for the game.

While we wait for the game’s release at the end of February, PC gamers can download game-ready drivers for the game. You can also check out 13 things you need to know about Elden Ring ahead of its release.

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New Anno: Mutationem Trailer Reveals March 17 Release Date

Developer ThinkingStars and publisher Lightning Games have released a new trailer for Anno: Mutationem, an upcoming action-adventure RPG with an incredible-looking pixelated graphic style that mixes together 2D and 3D visuals. The trailer reveals that the game is launching for PS5, PS4, and PC on March 17.

In Anno, you play as Ann Flores, a badass mercenary type who teams with her hacker buddy Ayane in search of her brother in a corporate-run, cyberpunk-inspired city. The game’s biggest draw is its pixelated aesthetic, though its stylish combo-driven combat system also looks pretty cool. When you’re not fighting, you can tackle side quests and chat with other characters via a dialogue tree.

In a press release, Lightning Games writes that Anno will feature English, Japanese, and Chinese voice over. The publisher estimates that the game will take about 12 hours to beat.

If you’re looking for more indie games to play this year, check out GameSpot’s list of 27 games you shouldn’t overlook in 2022. The year seems to be a big one for cyberpunk-inspired and futuristic dystopian settings–alongside Anno, we’re also scheduled to get games like Citizen Sleeper and Replaced in 2022.

Gallery

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Genshin Impact: Yae Miko’s Ascension Materials Farming Guide

Yae Miko, Grand Narukami Shrine’s high priestess who moonlights as a light novel editor, was made available to pull in Genshin Impact’s 2.5 update. If you’ve obtained her, then you’re ready to embark on the long arduous journey of building Yae Miko ready for combat. Below are all the resources and their respective locations for Yae Miko’s ascension and talent upgrade materials.

An electro catalyst character, Yae Miko can be made your main DPS–in that case, get her to level 90–or a sub-DPS. If she’ll be support on your team, then level 80 is good enough, especially if you’re F2P and are low on resources. If you’re a newer player, you’ll need to wait until you’ve unlocked the Inazuma area to level Yae Miko up.

Ascension Materials

Ascension MaterialsAscensionVajrada AmethystsSea GanodermaHandguardsDragonheir’s False FinMora11 Vajrada Amethyst Sliver33 Old Handguard020,00022 Vajrada Amethyst Fragment1015 Old Handguard240,00036 Vajrada Amethyst Fragment2012 Kageuchi Handguard460,00043 Vajrada Amethyst Chunk3018 Kageuchi Handguard880,00056 Vajrada Amethyst Chunk4512 Famed Handguard12100,00066 Vajrada Amethyst Gemstone6024 Famed Handguard20120,000TOTAL (level 80)1 Vajrada Amethyst Sliver9 Vajrada Amethyst Fragment9 Vajrada Amethyst Chunk10818 Old Handguard30 Kageuchi Handguard12 Famed Handguard26300,000TOTAL (level 90)1 Vajrada Amethyst Sliver9 Vajrada Amethyst Fragment9 Vajrada Amethyst Chunk6 Vajrada Amethyst Gemstone16818 Old Handguard30 Kageuchi Handguard36 Famed Handguard46420,000

Vajrada Amethyst

If you haven’t emptied out the Souvenir shops yet, you can purchase a limited amount of Vajrada Amethysts from those locations. To farm for Vajrada Amethysts, you’ll need to pick a fight with one of the following normal bosses: the Electro Hypostasis, the Thunder Manifestation (Electro Oceanid), the Bathysmal Vishap Herd, and Primo Geovishap (if infused with electro).

The following weekly bosses also drop Vajrada: Dvalin, Childe, Azhada (if infused with electro), and the newest Raiden weekly boss.

For farming Yae Miko ascension materials, I’d suggest going for the Bathysmal Vishap Herd boss fight. You will need to fight the vishaps anyways for another ascension material drop–Dragonheir’s False Fin–so you might as well kill two birds with one stone.

Sea Ganoderma

Plants that grow near the ocean, Sea Ganodermas are plentiful across Inazuma. My own personal farming recommendation–if you’re pressed on time and just want to efficiently farm one location–is to go to the Nazuchi Beach Overlook waypoint and head north to the beach area. There are around 17 Sea Ganodermas in that single location. You can also use the Teyvat Interactive Map to plan your farming routes.

Sea Ganoderma recommended farming location–near Nazuchi Beach. Photo credit: Teyvat Interactive Map

Handguards

Handguards are dropped by Nobushi and Kairagi enemies in the open world. Old Handguards by any level, Kageuchi by 40+ level enemies, and Famed by 60+ level enemies. You can find Nobushi enemies scattered all across Inazuma, but the most efficient single location is Jinren Island–nearest waypoint shares the same name. There you can find 17 Nobushi enemies to farm Handguards from.

In general, if you are interested in raising popular Inazuma 5-star characters, it’s a good idea to regularly farm Handguards since they have a low drop rate. In addition to Yae Miko, Ayaka and Raiden both use Handguards as ascension materials.

Handguards recommended farming location–Jinren Island. Photo credit: Teyvat Interactive Map

Dragonheir’s False Fin

Dragonheir’s False Fins are dropped by normal boss Bathysmal Vishap Herd. This boss fight is located in new area Enkanomiya and is unlocked by completing The Subterranean Trials of Drake and Serpent.

Normal Bathysmal Vishap Herd Boss Fight location is under the Dainichi Mikoshi.

Talent Ascension Materials

Talent LevelHandguardTalent BooksBoss DropsOtherMora1 -> 26 Old Handguard3 Teachings of Light 12,5002 -> 33 Kageuchi Handguard3 Guides to Light 17,5003 -> 44 Kageuchi Handguard4 Guides to Light 25,0004 -> 56 Kageuchi Handguard6 Guides to Light 30,0005 -> 69 Kageuchi Handguard9 Guides to Light 37,5006 -> 74 Famed Handguard4 Philosophies of Light1 The Meaning of Aeons 120,0007 -> 86 Famed Handguard6 Philosophies of Light1 The Meaning of Aeons 260,0008 -> 99 Famed Handguard12 Philosophies of Light2 The Meaning of Aeons 450,0009 -> 1012 Famed Handguard16 Philosophies of Light2 The Meaning of Aeons1 Crown of Insight700,000TOTAL (8 -> 9)6 Old Handguard22 Kageuchi Handguard19 Famed Handguard3 Teachings of Light21 Guides to Light22 Philsophies of Light4 The Meaning of Aeons 952,500TOTAL (9 -> 10)6 Old Handguard22 Kageuchi Handguard38 Famed Handguard3 Teachings of Light21 Guides to Light38 Philsophies of Light”6 The Meaning of Aeons1 Crown of Insight1,652,500

Talent Books

Teachings of Light, Guide to Light, and Philosophies of Light all drop from the Violet Court domain on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The Meaning of Aeons

Get this from the new weekly boss, End of the Oneiric Euthymia–the Raiden fight. To unlock this fight, you’ll need to have completed Raiden’s Act II story quest.

Crown of Insight

Crowns are rare and a coveted commodity in Genshin, so make sure you really, really want to use it on Yae Miko. The general rule of thumb is to crown your main DPS units, so if you’re not sure about where Yae fits on your team yet, I would suggest holding off.

But if you’re committed to Yae, Crown of Insights can be obtained by leveling up the Frostbearing Tree and Sacred Sakura’s Favor. Otherwise, you’ll need to participate in limited-time events to get Crowns. The upcoming one, Three Realms Gateway Offering (02/17) will offer one Crown in the event shop.

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