[Patch] 90 cap preview

DNOrigins Staff -

New Content

Level cap has been raised to 90 and with it a new world zone is available: Merca's Heart. Access it via the Gate of Boundary in Saint Haven. Various new dungeons are available.

Garden of Time (Lv.90) is now also available.

2 new beginner nests (Returned Archbishop & Counterattacking Manticore) have been added to the Deranged Spiral Ruins portal.

NOTE: they provide the new lv90 epic gear, that has much higher base stats compared to their enhancement stats, and only 1 jade slot. These new lv90 jades combine multiple stats into 1 to make the most out of it, and both combined serve as the new starter/beginner gear, that is just slightly worse than RDN Uniques in comparison (when enhanced!).

This however doesn't mean that the elite dragon jades have been replaced, on the contrary, they stay best in slot when enhanced. Enhancing the elite dragon jades is also going to be much easier and accessible this cap.

A new intermediate nest has been added: Daidalos Nest. To attempt this nest you need a good party and decent to good equipment level. Rewards are the new lv90 jades, equipment, jewels and a decent chance at obtaining the new lv90 epic plates.

Lv80 Stronghold, Typhoon Kim & Professor K Hardcore now have their account limits lifted, and their weekly limits are like every other nest's.

As a side note, special effort was made to remove the majority of T5 damage indicators. We believe many of these attacks should require players to learn their actual ranges, timings, and patterns rather than relying on explicit visual warnings.

[Dev Note]:

We originally planned to include a bit more content and overall changes in this update, including Granom Nest. However, during final testing and deployment we identified some issues and edge cases that we felt needed to be addressed before release.
Rather than delaying the entire update further, we decided to move some planned content to a follow-up update. This second update will include Granom Nest, additional improvements and fixes, further balance adjustments, and a Cash Shop update. We expect this follow-up update to arrive within the next few weeks.

General & QoL

  • You can now use a search bar in DNO Custom settings.
  • You can now search items in your storage (all types) the same way you can in the inventory.
  • The input system has been fully reworked with a more modern backend, allowing you to rebind more controls, including mouse side buttons.
  • Increased Game Server tick rate from 20 to 30 ticks per second. The server now processes game logic more often and faster, resulting in more responsive gameplay.
  • You can now job change from Dark Avenger to other warriors and viceversa.
  • You can now view all party member's ping.
  • You can now choose to also display the player with aggro on the party list UI.
  • Fixed Force Mirror EX removing all MATK% debuffs from the enemy.
  • Improved multiple common UIs.
  • Various server-side improvements, including multi-region connectivity.
  • Costume rendering quality has been improved to match character selection's during DX11.
  • Some new DX11-only graphics settings have been added, including SMAA as our anti-aliasing option, that smooths jagged edges on all geometry.

Multi-Accounting

A detailed announcement regarding our upcoming multi-accounting policy will be posted later this upcoming week, including what is and isn't allowed, enforcement details, and the options available to help players transition to the new system.

Machina & Main Quest

All Machinas now start at level 1 like every other character and their creation limit has been removed. (Note: while they currently can level up and do their story quests just fine, lower level equipment is still unavailable for the time being, and this will be addressed soon).

All quest & NPC dialogs have been updated to support Machina's storyline and the new 80 -> 90 main quest. If you run into any issue throughout your character's story quests, please make sure to report it in our bug reports channel.

DX11 Renderer

One of the biggest changes in this update is the introduction of a completely new DirectX 11 renderer.

Bringing support for a modern graphics API required extensive work all around the engine, including a very large scale refactoring, backend-agnostic rendering, shader rewrites, and hundreds of file modifications to support multiple rendering backends in a clean and proper way.

The result is a new renderer that achieves pretty much full feature parity with the original (DX9) while also providing significantly improved performance (especially on modern hardware) also thanks to many other optimizations applied to it. Depending on your system and the content being played, performance gains can range from noticeable improvements to nearly double the FPS in some scenarios.

While the renderer is still considered Beta, it has already undergone extensive testing and is stable enough to be used daily. We encourage everyone to try it and help us identify any remaining issues. You can enable it through the launcher or DNO Custom settings.

Steam GameNetworkingSockets

This update replaces Dragon Nest's original networking implementation with Steam's GNS, based on the NetworkV2 work developed by Vahr for PDN (special thanks to him for the brilliant idea and for sharing it!).

This is a major infrastructure upgrade that affects pretty much every interaction in the game and providers a much stronger foundation for future networking improvements. For those interested in learning more about the technical details, you can read Vahr's original write-up here.

New Launcher

We're finally replacing the old modified original DN launcher with our own custom made one. The new launcher is faster, more reliable, and built with many improvements in mind. In the future, there will be more features added such as client repair.

Please make sure to use DNOLauncher.exe from now on!

Final Damage

The maximum Final Damage bonus has been reduced from 100% to 30%.

Final Damage has historically been one of the most impactful stats in the game, creating a very large gap between players with high FD and those without it. While FD will remain a valuable stat and still requires the same amount of investment to reach its cap, its overall impact on character power has been significantly reduced.

The goal of this change is to close the performance gap between players and create a healthier progression environment for the long term. It's known that obtaining FD requires more than just dedication, and how frustrating it can be when it's such a scarce resource that only a few end up obtaining.

We understand that this change may not be popular with everyone, but we believe the start of a new level cap is the right time to make this adjustment and that it will ultimately benefit the game and most players moving forward.

Class Balancing

All classes have received some balance adjustments in this update. The largest changes focus on party utility and support skills, addressing situations where certain buffs were considered mandatory while others offered little reason to be brought to a party.

Our goal is not to completely reinvent how classes play, but to improve class feel, bring DPS classes closer together, ensure every support has a meaningful place in party content, and provide better solo play sustainability for some support classes that lacked damage.

Perfect balance is neither realistic nor our objective. Our priority is ensuring that every class can effectively fulfill its intended role while preserving its unique identity and classic gameplay.

These changes are only the beginning. We plan to continue evaluating class performance throughout the cap and welcome constructive feedback from the community. If you have suggestions for future improvements, reworks, or even skill ideas that fit a class's design, feel free to share them in the suggestions channel and discuss them with others (respectfully!).

Warrior

Circle Break

  • Damage increased by 100%

Impact Wave

  • Damage increased by 120%

Swordsman

Triple Slash

  • Damage increased by 20%

Deep Straight

  • Damage increased by 20%

Moonlight Splitter

  • Damage increased by 75%

Cyclone Slash

  • Damage increased by 100%

Brave

  • Increases self's critical chance by 5%

Great Wave

  • Damage increased by 50%

Gladiator

Evasion Slash

  • Now resets the CD of Triple Slash & Deep Straight when hitting an enemy

CM2

  • Increases PATK by 10%
  • Using Dash Slash/Combo/Kick -> Instant Line Drive EX

Moonlord

Flash Stance

  • Damage increased by 60%

Moon Blade Dance

  • Damage increased by 15%

Moon Blader

  • New skill: enhances your normal attacks to create sword energy

Cyclone Slash EX

  • Skill cast is now faster

CM1

  • Magic Attack per INT 1.6 -> 1.4

CM2

  • Increases MATK by 15%
  • Moon Blader hits reduce the CD of Great Wave by 1s each

Mercenary

Stomp

  • Damage increased by 100%

Demolition Fist

  • Damage increased by 100%

Whirlwind

  • Damage increased by 30%

Flying Swing

  • Damage increased by 100%

Punishing Swing

  • Damage increased by 100%

Circle Bomb

  • Damage increased by 40%

Rolling Attack

  • Damage increased by 60%

Devastating Howl

  • DMG reduction debuff decreased from 80% -> 40%

Typhoon

  • Damage increased by 100%

Gigantic Bomb

  • Damage increased by 40%

Barbarian

Bone Crash

  • Damage increased by 30%
  • Broken Bones debuff effect changed from flat +5200 per hit, to 3% of each hit's damage

Enhanced Circle Swing

  • Damage decreased by 20%

CM2

  • Increases PATK by 10%

Destroyer

Maelstrom Howl

  • Damage increased by 30%

CM2

  • Increases PATK by 15%
  • Devastating Howl is enhanced and applies 60% DMG reduction (40% -> 60%)

Dark Avenger

Graves

  • Damage increased by 20%

Shadow Stinger

  • Damage increased by 20%

Piercing Crescent

  • Damage increased by 10%

Doom Blade

  • Damage decreased by 20%

Death Knell

  • Damage increased by 30%

Dark Crash

  • Damage increased by 10%

CM2

  • Increases PATK by 10%

Archer

Multi Shot

  • Damage increased by 100%

Magic Arrow

  • Damage increased by 100%

Willow Kick

  • Damage increased by 120%

Sharpshooter

Scope Arrow

  • Damage increased by 50%

Swift Shot

  • Damage increased by 40%

Rapid Shot

  • Damage increased by 40%

Tracking Arrows

  • Damage increased by 30%

Revolution Ballista

  • Damage increased by 30%

Sniper

CM2

  • Increases PATK by 15%
  • Fake Shot -> Arrow Shower EX Instant

Sentinel

Detonating Arrow

  • Damage increased by 60%

CM2

  • Increases MATK by 15%
  • Using Magic Arrow adds 10 Fatal Tracking bubbles

Acrobat

Kick Shot

  • Damage increased by 20%

Binding Shot

  • Damage increased by 20%

Spiral Vortex

  • Damage increased by 15%
  • Cooldown decreased from 20s → 16s

Blooming Kick

  • Damage increased by 20%

Cyclone Kick

  • Damage increased by 15%
  • Cooldown decreased from 20s → 16s

Astral Illusion

  • Damage increased by 20%
  • Damage when playing the full version increased

Tempest

Hurricane Dance

  • Cooldown decreased from 33s → 26s

CM2

  • Increases PATK by 15%

Wind Walker

Rising Storm

  • Cooldown decreased from 40s → 32s

CM2

  • Increases PATK by 10%
  • Using Top Spinning now turns Cyclone Kick EX into the instant version

Cleric

Charged Bolt

  • Damage increased by 100%

Paladin

Holy Relic

  • Damage increased by 20%

Lightning Zap

  • Damage increased by 30%

Smite

  • Damage increased by 20%

Divine Ascensioon

  • Damage increased by 50%

Shield Charge

  • Now travels further and faster

Stance of Faith

  • Cooldown reduced from 60s -> 45s

Guardian

Guardian Force

  • Shield effect changed from flat 300k to 20% of the skill caster's (guardian's) HP

Justice Crash

  • Cooldown reduced from 29s -> 20s

Divine Punishment EX

  • Continuous damage increased from 84% to 150%

CM2

  • Increases HP by 10%
  • Increases PATK by 10%

Crusader

Judgement Hammer

  • Damage increased by 35%

CM2

  • Increases PATK by 20%
  • Increases MATK by 20%

Priest

Lightning Bolt

  • Damage increased by 50%

Chain lightning

  • Damage increased by 10%

Grand Cross

  • Damage increased by 30%

Holy Burst

  • Damage increased by 60%

Heaven's Judgement

  • Damage increased by 40%

Saint

Holy Shield

  • Now additionally instantly heals 20% HP

Binding Relic

  • Enemy DMG taken debuff decreased from 30% to 20%
  • Now also reduces all element resistances by 15%

CM2

  • Increases MATK by 10%
  • When summoning a relic, the caster receives a 15% action speed buff with a duration of 5 seconds

Inquisitor

Consecration

  • Cooldown reduced from 30s -> 24s

CM2

  • Increases MATK by 15%
  • Using Mind Breaker EX increases light attack by 10%

Sorceress

Mana Flow

  • Now provides 10% Action & Movement Speed to all party members

Elementalist

Phoenix Storm

  • Fire resistance debuff removed

Fiery Vortex

  • Damage increased by 100%

Seleana

CM2

  • Increases MATK by 10%
  • When phoenix storm successfully hits an enemy, fire defense is reduced by 24% for 21s
  • Whenever Flame Spark is used, Fire Ball EX instant can be used

Glaciana

Ice Barrier

  • Cooldown reduced to 40 seconds
  • Ice Attack buff is now a party buff

CM2

  • Increases MATK by 30%
  • Increases ICE ATK by 10%

Arcanist

Linear Ray

  • Damage increased by 30%

Nine Tail Laser

  • Damage increased by 30%

Spectrum Shower

  • Damage increased by 30%

Gravity Ball

  • Damage increased by 20%

Triple Orbs

  • Damage increased by 20%

Comet

  • Damage increased by 30%

Meteor Storm

  • Damage increased by 30%

Eraser

  • Damage increased by 50%

llumia

Linear Ray EX

  • Now decreases enemy's light resistance by 10% for 15 seconds

CM2

  • Increases light attack by 15%

Obscuria

CM2

  • Increases dark attack by 10%

Engineer

Quackling Tower

  • Now snapshots the summoner’s stats (including buffs) and blocks incoming buffs once summoned
  • Cooldown has been reduced from 16s → 10s

Frosty Tower

  • Now snapshots the summoner’s stats (including buffs) and blocks incoming buffs once summoned
  • Cooldown has been reduced from 28s → 16s

Cannon Tower

  • Now snapshots the summoner’s stats (including buffs) and blocks incoming buffs once summoned
  • Cooldown has been reduced from 20s → 12s

Gear Master

Chain Saw Tower

  • Now snapshots the summoner’s stats (including buffs) and blocks incoming buffs once summoned
  • Cooldown has been reduced from 17s → 11s

Big Mecha Bomber

  • Damage increased by 20%
  • Cooldown reduced from 26s -> 20s

Second Gear

  • 20% critical rate self buff swapped for a 15% Movement Speed increase

CM2

  • Increases PATK by 10%
  • Gravity Grenades -> Big Mecha Bomb EX Instant

Shooting Star

Splash

  • Damage increased by 15%

Chemical Missile EX

  • Now instead of increading the damage taken of the enemy, it reduces their defense by 15%
  • Required bubbles to use 2 -> 1

Splash EX

  • Holding the S key while casting now concentrates all bullets forward, improving long range accuracy at the cost of slightly reduced damage

CM2

  • Increase PATK by 15%

Alchemist

Sacrifice

  • Heal reduced from 8.4% -> 5.4%

Cocktail

  • STR AGI INT buff decreased from 33% -> 28%
  • Cooldown reduction buff decreased from 22% -> 18%

Epidemic Bubble

  • Cooldown decreased from 25s -> 18s
  • Damage increased by 40%

Poison Outbreak

  • The poison explosion effect no longer removes debuffs
  • Damage increased by 10%

Poison Purge

  • Damage increased by 40%

Frostbite

  • Damage increased by 10%

Adept

C2H5OH

  • All attribute resistance debuff reduced from 34% -> 24%

New Skill: Magma Jump

  • Launch yourself with explosive magma force, gaining invincibility while jumping and burning enemies on impact

CM2

  • Increases MATK by 15%

Physician

Injector EX

  • Final Damage buff decreased to 20%

CM2

  • Increases MATK by 20%

Screamer

Spirit Paper

  • Damage increased by 30%

Beast Spirit

  • Damage increased by 30%

Revenge Hand

  • Damage increased by 30%

Rampage Claw

  • Damage increased by 20%

Dark Summoner

Sadism Pleasure

  • Heal cap reduced from 200k -> 100k
  • Final Damage buff reduced from 10.5% -> 5%

Chaos Formation

  • Cooldown decreased from 30s to 24s

CM2

  • Increases MATK by 15%

Soul Eater

Soul Scream

  • Enhanced Dragon Soul's debuff (fire damage bomb) can no longer be wiped

CM2

  • Increases fire attack by 10%
  • Increases MATK by 15%

Dancer

Graze Dance

  • Damage increased by 90%

Sweet Circle

  • Damage increased by 80%

Twinkle Spin

  • Damage increased by 60%

Deadly Drill

  • Damage increased by 30%

Elegant Storm

  • Damage increased by 20%

Stalker

  • Damage increased by 100%

Dusk Hunter

  • Damage increased by 60%

Abolisher

  • Damage increased by 60%

Sufi Dancer

  • Damage increased by 30%

General Dawnblade

  • Damage increased by 20%

Blade Dancer

CM2

  • Increases PATK by 10%

Spirit Dancer

Praetor

  • Cooldown decreased from 30s -> 24s

CM2

  • Increased PATK by 15%

Assassin

Edged Fan

  • Damage increased by 80%

Bringer

Outbreak

  • Damage increased by 100%

Pact of Ajna

  • No longer requires learning Line of Darkness

Summon Shadow

  • Duration increased by 5 seconds

Chakra Energy

  • HP recovered 21.6% -> 24.8%

Ring Strike

  • Damage increased by 60%
  • Cooldown reduced from 25s -> 20s

Illusion Strike

  • Damage increased by 20%

Night Explosion

  • Damage increased by 20%

Plasma Burst

  • Damage increased by 20%

Line of Darkness

  • Damage increased by 10%

Light Fury

Chakra Miracle

  • Cooldown reduced from 60s -> 45s
  • Now also increases Final Damage by 10%

Sunshine Spark

  • Damage increased by 60%
  • Now also reduces enemy's light resistance by 10%

CM2

  • Increases PATK by 10%

Abyss Walker

CM2

  • Increases PATK by 20%

Chaser

Applause

  • Damage increased by 20%

Rake

  • Damage increased by 15%

Rain Drop

  • Cooldown decreased from 15s -> 12s
  • Damage increased by 15%

Punishment

  • Damage increased by 15%

Mortal Blow

  • Cooldown decreased from 15s -> 12s

The End

  • Damage increased by 30%

Raven

CM2

  • Increases PATK by 20%

Ripper

CM2

  • Increases PATK by 15%

Lancea

Harmonize

We wanted to keep this unique buff in the game instead of removing and replacing it like the official servers did in the past. However, this required some adjustments to how the effect works:

  • The equalization effect now calculates from base STR/AGI/INT instead of temporary buffed stats
  • The skill user (Lancea) now receives 100% of the stat equalization effect
  • Other party members now receive 50% of the stat equalization effect

Dragoon

Shutter Bounce

  • Damage increased by 40%

Hovering Blade

  • Damage increased by 40%

Spear Hand

  • Damage increased by 50%

Spinning Cut

  • Damage increased by 30%

Dent Blow

  • Damage increased by 15%

Scar Maker

  • PATK & MATK buff decreased from 50% -> 25%

Will Maker

  • Received damage decrease buff reduced from -32% -> -16%

Fling Sky

  • Damage increased by 30%

Champagne

  • Damage increased by 60%

Flurry

Unguarded Point

  • Chance increased from 5% -> 10%

CM2

  • Increases PATK by 20%

Valkyrie

Poking Beehive

  • Damage increased by 30%

CM2

  • Increases MATK by 20%

Patrona

Overboost (Defence & Attack)

  • Final Damage buff halved

Man to Man

  • Final damage effect removed
  • Damage taken reduction buff increased from 40% -> 50%

Ruina

Overcharge

  • Additional ATK decreased from 1500% → 1200%

CM2

  • Increases PATK by 10%

Defensio

CM2

  • Increases HP & PATK by 10%