Dev Blog | Beast Riding, Gardener Combat, and Ranching Updates

Dear Metas,

In the September 16(PT) version update, we will roll out a major overhaul to the Class system: the Beastmaster class will be fully revamped with the new Beast Riding ability, and the animal ranching system will also see synchronized improvements to rules and info display. Additionally, we will make balance adjustments to the Gardeners' combat capabilities.

Here are the details of this update.

I. Beastmaster Comprehensive Revamp

1. New Core Ability: Beast Riding

After this update, Beastmasters will gain a new core ability: Beast Riding.

Beastmasters can directly summon animals and mount eligible ones. Centered around summoning, riding, commanding, evolving, and trading, this update will systematically expand the Beastmaster's abilities.

2. Changes to the Animal Summoning Rules

In this update, we will simplify the animal summoning rules: Metas can use animal items directly from their backpack or hotbar to summon the corresponding animal; using the animal item again will recall the animal (summoning animals has a 10-second shared cooldown).

Due to the overall revamp of Beastmaster abilities, each Beastmaster can now only have 1 animal summoned at one time after the update.

Note:

Only adult animals with sufficient Energy (>20%) can be summoned.

Summoned animals will default to an idle state, and Beastmasters can issue commands to them via Beast Whistle.

Each time an animal dies, it will lose a certain amount of Energy.

Non-Beastmaster classes can also summon animals with saddles equipped in the wild for riding, but cannot summon them inside dungeons or during combat.

3. Riding Rules

Bareback Riding

When encountering unoccupied wild animals in the wild, or summoning animals without saddles, Beastmasters can mount them directly through interactions.

Each bareback riding consumes a certain amount of character Stamina; Bareback riding is not possible when stamina is insufficient. Animals without saddles will resist the Beastmaster: while mounted, the animal's special abilities cannot be used, and the animal will attempt to break free.

Saddle Riding

After equipping an animal with a saddle, the beastmaster can ride it stably. Beastmasters can use saddle items from their backpack, drag the saddle onto the animal, modify the gear in the animal's details, or directly equip the saddle while the animal is anesthetized.

While riding, Metas can fire using weapons, perform melee attacks, and engage in gathering, interactions, using consumables, and using Deviation ability without special animations. Performing actions with special animations (such as opening weapon crates, teleporting, or switching worlds) will immediately dismount you.

4. Animal Mount Ability

For Beastmasters, the animal's special ability can be used while mounted with a saddle.

(Triggered with Ctrl key on PC; the dedicated button on mobile, and the R1+X/RB+A button combination on console)

Non-Beastmaster classes cannot use animal special abilities or benefit from their effects.

Table 1 Animal Special Abilities

Animal

Active Skill

Passive Skill

Deer

Enter a galloping state, greatly increasing Movement Speed

Based on current movement speed, proportionally increases the rider's Weapon DMG and Status DMG

Boar

Continuously consumes Stamina to charge forward, stacking DMG Reduction for yourself with each enemy hit

The animal has a certain degree of DMG Reduction and takes a portion of the rider's damage

Bear

Swing to release a shockwave at a certain distance and deal damage; each objective hit increases the rider's Weapon DMG and Status DMG

The animal has a certain degree of DMG Reduction and increases the rider's Weapon DMG and Status DMG

Wild Buffalo

Automatically search for edible crops within a nearby range, go to and consume them to directly recover Energy

When devouring crops, there is a probability of directly obtaining Milk

Animals currently supported for mounting in this version are Deer, Boar, Bear, and Wild Buffalo. We will continue to expand the variety of ridable animals in the future.

Wild animals do not possess active/passive abilities by default; only Beastmasters can utilize the above abilities when mounted with a saddle.

5. Class Trait Adjustments

Beast Partner

When a Beastmaster approaches an animal, the animal will not flee or attack, and the Beastmaster can directly listen to the animal's thoughts and check its Stats and Traits. The Beastmaster can also use the Beast Whistle to issue commands to summoned beast partners, directing them to perform specific actions such as combat and gathering.

A Beastmaster cannot issue commands to animals that are more than 10 levels above their own level. Animals summoned using animal items default to a waiting-to-mount state and will only enter an assisting state after the Beastmaster issues a command via the Beast Whistle. Non-Beastmaster classes can also summon combat animals, but the summoned animals do not possess combat abilities.

The original three types of Beast Whistles will be merged into one. The whistle is no longer bound to a specific animal and only serves to command animals. Beastmasters will learn its crafting formula by default. The original red beast whistle will be directly renamed to "Beast Whistle" and retained; the other two types of whistles will not be uniformly recalled, and Beastmasters can actively use them to transform them into the new "Beast Whistle". This update will not uniformly recall old whistles, nor will it uniformly distribute new whistles.

Breeding Expert

Beastmasters can craft gene items to perform targeted modifications on animal genes, granting animals unique traits; they can also gradually improve the level of animal trait attributes through breeding and exploration.

This update will also adjust animal trait attributes, adding 7 new attribute groups and adjusting 2 existing attribute groups.

Table 2: Animal Attribute Additions and Adjustments

Attribute

Animal

Category

Effect

Nimble

Deer

New

While mounted, jump height increases by 10% / 20% / 30%.

Swift

Deer

New

While mounted, Movement Speed increases by 3% / 6% / 10%.

Thick Fur

Original animal types + Boar

Effect Adjustments

When attacked, gain DMG Reduction +3% / +4% / +5% for 10 seconds. Up to 4 stacks.

Healing Pelt

Boar

New

After leaving combat, HP recovery speed increases by 80% / 100% / 120%.

Aftermath

Bear

New

While mounted, the shockwave's attack range increases by 10% / 20% / 30%.

Adaptive Fur

Wild Buffalo

New

While mounted, gain an additional 10 / 20 / 30 Cold and Heat Resist.

Fertile Constitution

Wild Buffalo

New

While mounted, Wild Buffalo milk production probability increases to 5% / 7% (without Level III attribute).

Stamina

Deer, Boar, Bear, Wild Buffalo

New

While mounted, Max Stamina +15% / 25% / 40%.

Attack Boost

General

Effect Adjustments

Attack Boost 15% / 30% / 50%.

The movement speed bonus for animals while mounted is a separate stat from the movement speed bonus for animals in normal state. The default animal movement speed bonus does not apply to animals while mounted, but it still applies to animals summoned to assist in combat and exploration.

Wilderness Master

Beastmasters can craft and replace gear and saddles for animals, providing ability bonuses for animals in normal and mounted states respectively; they can also sell saddled animals to other Metas, allowing other classes to ride animals as well. When Beastmasters carry animals, they can also significantly reduce the animals' weight.

Table 3 Saddle Types and Effects

Saddle Name

Effect Description

Basic Saddle

No special effects. Once equipped, the animal can be mounted without restrictions.

Recovering Saddle

Supports mounting, and the animal continuously recovers Max HP after leaving combat.

Reinforced Saddle

Supports mounting, and increases the animal's Attack while mounted.

Stamina Saddle

Supports mounting, and increases the animal's Max Stamina while mounted.

Only Beastmasters can craft or replace animal gear and saddles.

Metas of non-Beastmaster classes can only view the gear and saddles currently worn by animals. They cannot replace or change them, but they can still enjoy the effects of existing saddles.

After a Beastmaster trades an animal with a saddle equipped to another Meta, the owner permissions for the animal and saddle will be synchronized accordingly.

6. Class Starting Items and Default Formula Adjustments

Beastmasters start with the following items:

Starting Partner: Choose one animal from Deer, Boar, or Bear.

Beast Whistle: Issue commands to summoned Beast Partners.

Basic Saddle: Equip it on an animal to unlock mounting ability.

Beastmasters start with mastery of saddle, animal husbandry, animal breeding, and tranquilizer throwing needle-related tech formulas without needing to unlock them separately. They also master the crafting formulas for tranquilizer throwing needles, animal troughs, and youngling huts .

7. Beastmaster Usability Optimization

Manual Feeding

To make it easier for Metas to ride animals in the wild, this update adds a manual feeding feature. After summoning an animal, Metas can interact with it to feed it manually. The feedable content matches the animal's preferred food.

Animals with insufficient Energy cannot be summoned. If a Meta attempts to summon such an animal through the backpack interface, the system will automatically open the feeding interface.