您好, 巨龍!
Salutations, Dragons!
The road to Qingdao is open! And whether you’re here just to window shop and sightsee, or to take back the streets from the Black Dragon clan, we’ve got a fantastic collection of events and sale to celebrate the opening of the city gates.
The spirit of the City of Sapphires has spread all throughout the Land, so see what we’ve got in store, even if Qingdao isn’t part of your travel plans.
Qingdao Opens!
This news page will describe the temporary launch events and new sale items included with the launch of Qingdao. For a more detailed explanation on what you can expect to find in the City of Sapphires, see our Qingdao launch page.
This update also introduces the new Companion system, which you can learn more about in our official Companion guide.
Welcome to Qingdao
The City of Sapphires has need of heroes, and so a call has been issued across the Land to all the clans and their members.
That includes you, no matter where you are or what your level is. During this event, any account can log in and claim the Sapphire Spirit epithet, which you can keep permanently. From now on, you can show that you were there when Qingdao opened!
Spirit, some people hear it, some people fear it
Spirit, some people just won't go near it
Qingdao’s streets might not be paved with sapphires, but every account is receiving a full set of three temporary Royal Sapphire Pendants. You’ll fit right in with those snooty urban elites while you’re saving their city.
If you’d rather these lovely pendants also be permanent, see the Black and Blue event below.
City of Sapphires
Naturally , Qingdao is the inspiration our latest event buff. The Black Dragon curse has cast a dismal pall over what was a centre of wealth and culture, but this buff will help push the odds back into your favour.
Black and Blue
They’re impressive gemstones in their own right, but black sapphires aren’t as valued as the blue ones. Perhaps that’s why you’ll find Black Sapphire Shards strewn about during this event, dropping off all Deviant creatures of level 150 or higher (and twice as frequently from Deviants of level 210 and up), both inside and outside of dungeons.
Black Sapphire Shards can be exchanged for full-sized Black Sapphires from Seo Hwarang in Hefei. The Black Sapphires can be exchanged for a selection of useful items, but you can also trade them for Black Sapphire Dragons, which are key to the big prizes from this event.
The Qingdao Hunting Package holds a random Qingdao food item, all of which give temporary buffs when eaten.
Seowang's Level 3 Trinket Set is exactly what it sounds like – a box containing both Seowang's Robe of Feathers (Level 3) and Seowang's Precious Trinket (Level 3), just like the ones Doncheon Seowang in Kulun gives.
The Imitation Sapphire Pendant set is a weaker, but permanent, version of the temporary relic set all players receive from the Qingdao launch event. If you’re diligent in collecting those Black Sapphire Shards, you’ll be able to upgrade those knock-offs into a permanent Royal Sapphire Pendant set, exactly the same as the event items, but with no time limit.
Complement of Companions
Almost as big an update as Qingdao is the Companion system that we’re introducing this week. Full details on Companions can be found in our official guide, and there are plenty of Companion-themed items available in our Marketplace.
"I ripped another t-shirt, boss."
Players who are determined to make friends with as many Companions as possible should look into this event. If you recruit any two Companions on a single character before December 22nd, you’ll receive a coupon, exchangeable for a box of gifts for your Companion of choice. It’s the same Companion Gift Box that’s available in the Marketplace, free of charge.
Recruiting any four Companions on one character during this event will award you with two more Gift Box coupons, along with a Companion’s Pack. The pack contains some Ten Flower Wine, for a bit of a Focus boost for your Companion, as well as some pills to provide bonus Chi.
If you go the distance and recruit all six Companions on a single character before the event ends, you’ll receive an additional three Gift Box coupons. You’ll also receive the Premium Companion’s Pack, with all the first pack's items, plus a big Focus boost in the form of Hundred Flower Wine and a Flower of Regret to reset one Companion’s Chi. With six Companions, you probably mis-clicked somewhere!
Sapphire Supremacy
Perhaps the biggest draw for our Qingdao update is the introduction of the new Sapphire weapons. These weapons come in two tiers (for now) – the Dark Shadow Sapphire weapons are upgraded from Blood Sorcerer (Repel), and the Cold Ice Sapphire weapons are upgraded Seastorm White Dragon.
We expect that it will be a while before we see any Cold Ice Sapphire weapons. The Dark Shadow Sapphire weapons will be much easier to obtain, and we’re adding an incentive for bold players who take the risk of upgrading them beyond +15.
For this event, the first ten characters to successfully refine any Dark Shadow Sapphire OR Cold Ice Sapphire weapon to +18 (Extreme Enhancement does not count) will receive the exclusive Sapphire Soul epithet. The stat bonus it provides are beyond belief, but really, it’s about the bragging rights. (Non-transferrable. Only the character who did the actual refinement will receive the epithet.)
This event will last as long as it has to, until ten characters reach the +18 mark with any Dark Shadow Sapphire weapon.
Fabulous Secret Powers were revealed to me, the day I held aloft my magic sword, and sang...
Papaya Marketplace
With the introduction of Companions comes a whole new selection of items to boost and customize your new ally’s performance. Read more about how each of them functions in our Companion guide.
Each Companion has their own unique Small, Medium, and Large Gifts, purchased separately. Make sure you’re purchasing the correct Gifts for your Companion, because they don’t come with gift receipts.
Each Companion has their own Gift Box, too. Each box contains a selection of Gifts, just for that Companion, as well as a bottle of Ten Flower Wine to toast your friendship (and refill some of your Companion’s Focus).
If you’re still not getting into the spirit of this update, then one of the items found inside the Qingdao Spirit Box may just bring you around. Most are Qingdao-themed, but they’re all universally useful.
Sapphires and Small Sapphires are required for crafting the new Sapphire weapons and Black Dragon/Violet Phoenix clothing, and the Qingdao Supporting Potion Box includes 1 each of the eight food buffs which are looted from Qingdao Deviants.
The Blood Sorcerer Crimson (Repel) Weapon Coupon can be exchanged with Bag Hwar in Hefei for your choice of weapon, but the weapon you find inside the Blood Sorcerer’s Weapon Box (Wave) +15 is randomly chosen.
Clear Spirit Essence is necessary for recruiting Liu Shi Ling as a Companion, and can’t currently be obtained anywhere else. It can also be exchanged with Oh MinYoung, along with some other rare items, for one of two powerful new Guardian Seal Stones – the Swarthy Phoenix and Annihilation Kylin. (Despite the name mismatch, the Annihilation Kylin provides the Iron Demon buff.)
We're talking rare breeds, here. Remember that high-strung little dog your aunt had, that you weren't allowed to play with? The one she had to take to the vet, instead of getting you that Playstation? I hate you, Aunt Karen!
Lastly, if you’re aiming for the top rewards from the Black & Blue event, but not in the mood to grind, you can purchase the Pouch of Black Sapphires and randomly acquire two to five Black Sapphires, or if you’re really lucky, a Black Sapphire Dragon.
Bug Fixes & Notes
The Rankings page should now display all roles properly, and no longer displays GM characters.
After Unsealing or Changing an accessory’s Sealed Option, the Sealed Combination window will now remain open.
There is now a penalty applied to the success rate of Create attempts made to upgrade weapons when the weapon being upgraded is already refined. Higher refinement levels will result in an increased penalty.
There is currently an error with some Companion items, indicated they can be Traded but not Stored. This is a tooltip error and will be corrected in an upcoming patch. Any Companion items which indicated they can be traded can also be stored, regardless of the tooltip.
有空再會!
Thanks, and see you in the Land!
Team Papaya
