PATCH 6.0: SPELLS & RELICS

HIGHLIGHTS
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» 5 new spells
» 5 new artifacts
» 3 new crafting elements
» 1 new unit
» 1 new building
» Spell effects always hit
» Research tree improvements
» Various tweaks, fixes & rebalancing

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SPELLS
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5 NEW SPELLS
» Desert Sands (40 mana) Turns the landscape of the target hex to desert. Works on contaminated lands. {replaces 'Make Barren Lands' in the research tree}
» Far Sight (100 mana) Reveals an area of the map surrounding the target hex. {replaces 'True Sight' in the research tree}
» Alchemical Reversal (0 mana) Increases mana production by 100 and decreases gold production by 50% for the next turn. {replaces 'Mana Leech' in the research tree}
» Spell Disruption (130 mana) Dispels one random blessing from an enemy Great Mage. {replaces 'Counterspell' in the research tree}
» Heart of the Dragon (passive perk) Applies faction bonuses: +1 XP per turn to all units & +3 regeneration to 'Dragon' units {replaces 'Doom' in the research tree}


SPELL EFFECTS ALWAYS HIT
» Lesser Weakness has a 100% chance to weaken any target by 25% for 3 turns
» Weakness has a 100% chance to weaken any target by 50% for 4 turns
» Magic Web has a 100% chance to stun a target for 1 turn & ground the unit if it flies; casting time increased to 1 turn
» Ice Trap has a 100% chance to stun a target for 1 turn & deal 17 elemental damage; cost increased to 70 mana, up from 45
» Sun Blindness (Helia) has a 100% to stun & blind target unit for 3 turns
» Veil of Darkness (Lunord) has a 100% to stun & blind target unit for 3 turns
» Chaos Mind (Fervus) has a 100% to stun affected units & weaken them by 50% for 2 turns


SPELL & RESEARCH UPDATES
» Shocking Staff duration increased to 5 turns, up from 3
» Contaminate Land may now target lands with resources
» Raise the Land restored to original cost of 20 mana
» Windwalking mana upkeep decreased to 1 mana, down from 2
» Inevitibility DoT effect increased to -8 damage, up from -4; lasts 3 turns, down from 4; research time & casting time increased slightly
» Prosperity population increase lowered to 60, down from 65 {still 10 more than in core game}
» Meta-Teleportation cost increased to 100 mana, up from 80; casting time increased to 2 turns, up from 1.5
» Spit of Fire glyph slots increased to 2; research time increased
» Holy Ring damage restored to original value of 30, down from 35; glyph slots increased to 2
» Falling Sky damage type changed to spirit; research time reduced slightly
» Volcano cost reduced to 250 mana, down from 300
» Incinerate also causes the target to 'Burn' reducing its elemental & death resists
» Make Barren Land renamed 'Make Land Barren'; no longer researchable; available via starting perk & random loot drop; cost reduced to 20 mana, down from 40
» True Sight no longer researchable; available via random loot drop; cost reduced to 55 mana, down from 75 & mana upkeep decreased to 1 mana, down from 3 {tip: Fey Serpents also provide detection}
» Mana Leech no longer researchable; available via random loot drop {the similar 'Mana Vampirism' (Krypta) is still available via research}
» Doom no longer researchable; available via random loot drop
» Counterspell has been replaced by 'Spell Disruption' {the identical 'Hatred of Magic' (Krolm) is still available via research}
» Civic Dispel renamed 'Disenchant City' {makes its effect more obvious}
» Global Dispel renamed 'Disenchant Great Mage' {makes its effect more obvious}
» Armageddon now also scorches the landscape {as it should... just look at the icon!}
» Care of the Ancients (loot) heal type changed to spirit {makes it useful to all races}

Additional changes were made to existing spells, particularly spell stages (levels), to balance loot distribution.


DIVINE SPELL UPDATES
» Many divine spells have had their research times adjusted to be more equivalent among all 8 gods
» A few divine spells were rearranged in the research tree, with less powerful spells appearing first -- the most noteworthy changes are detailed below
» Spectral Healing (Krypta) now appears first in the research tree, matching the 'Favour of Krypta' starting perk
» Greater Spectral Healing (Krypta) heals for 40, up from 38, may be researched sooner; requires only 25 Krypta rep
» Summon Ghosts (Krypta) renamed 'Summon Vengeful Ghosts' and summons Vengeful Ghosts instead of Ghosts; cost increased to 150 mana; cast time increased to 1.5 turns; requires 75 Krypta rep
» Greater Dispel (Dauros) cost reduced to 60 mana, down from 90
» Mass Dispel (Dauros) cost reduced to 160 mana, down from 270
» Krolm's Nullify (Krolm) cast time reduced to .5 turns, down from .6
» Blessing of Life (Agrela) reworked -- population growth raised to 90, up from 60; cost raised to 75, up from 40; cast time halved to 1 turn; now lasts 10 turns {a temporary, but more powerful buff}
» Agrela's Greater Healing (Agrela) heals for 50, down from 60 {was overpowered, especially with the blessing it provides}
» Call of Life (Agrela) cast time increased to 1.5 turns, up from 1
» Shield of Chaos (Fervus) grants +50 elemental resist, down from 60 {was overpowered}
» Protection of Night (Lunord) grants +50 missile resist, down from 60 {was overpowered}
» Spear of Chaos (Fervus) deals 35 spirit damage, up from 30 & applies debuff reducing effectiveness of unit's healing actions (if any); cast time increased
» Tail Wind (Lunord) now grants permanent +1 movement to all faction units; upkeep = 8 mana
» Locust Swarm (Grum-Gog) reduces food production by 60%, down from 75% {was overpowered}
» Corruption Punishment (Grum-Gog) has a 100% to apply a DoT debuff in addition to its base damage
» Shield of Dauros (Dauros) adds +25 spirit resist to its effect
» Tornado (Lunord) spirit damage decreased to 27, down from 28
» Time Stop (Lunord) casting time increased to 4 turns, up from 2.5 turns {to prevent chaining}

In addition, research times of many lower level divine spells were reduced to allow them to be learned more quickly.


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RELICS
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5 NEW ARTIFACTS (+1 Replacement)
» Ring of Regeneration (stage 1 item) +3 regeneration
» Orb of Rage (stage 2 item) +15% elemental dmg; does not lose movement points after attacks that finish a unit
» Hunter's Longbow (stage 3 bow) hates: Beast; +15% missile damage; adds action: Far Shot; applies curse: lesser physical vulnerability
» Xenophobe's Talisman (stage 3 item) hates: Beast; hates: Dremer; hates: Dragon; +40 death resist
» Orb of Life (stage 4 item) adds action: Will of Agrela; +50 life resist; +15% life damage; +10 regeneration
» Phantom Blade (epic sword) 25% spirit dmg; +10% melee dmg; 20% vampirism; never retreats {replaces Sword of the Black Swan}


NEW CRAFTING ELEMENTS
» Beastslayer (melee weapon, range weapon) hates: Beast
» Dremer Slayer (melee weapon, range weapon) hates: Dremer
» Blood Frenzy (melee weapon, armor, item) does not lose movement points after attacks that finish a unit


UPDATED ARTIFACTS & ELEMENTS
» Baton of Marshal Frost grants +15% elemental dmg & made tier 2, up from tier 1
» Ring of Omens adds +1 sight
» Sword of the Black Swan reworked -- renamed 'Phantom Blade'; given new artwork & additional stats to make it a powerful stage 4 weapon
» Truesight (crafting element) now requires 'Magic Eye' having been researched rather than 'True Sight'
» Melee Protection (crafting element) now requires 'Melee Resistance' having been researched rather than 'True Sight'

Additional changes were made to existing artifacts to better balance their stats and improve loot distribution, with the following final totals:

» 24 magic items – 6 common, 7 uncommon, 7 rare, 4 epic
» 12 pieces of armor – 3 common, 4 uncommon, 3 rare, 2 epic
» 12 melee weapons – 3 common, 4 uncommon, 3 rare, 2 epic
» 9 magic weapons – 2 common, 3 uncommon, 2 rare, 2 epic
» 9 bows – 2 common, 3 uncommon, 2 rare, 2 epic


CONTINUED in Notes for Patch 6.0 -- Part 2