Latest Deadlock overhaul turns Valve’s not-so-mysterious game into one of the most stylish titles of all time

Deadlock continues its development cycle behind closed doors (if you’ve got no friends to open them for you, that is), with every few months bringing major changes to its core gameplay and art style. The latest overhaul was truly one for the history books, as it singlehandedly propelled the game almost to the very top of what I consider the most “stylish” games ever made.

Deadlock‘s new Old Gods, New Blood update brought along a total visual (and story) overhaul of the game’s map, including both of the Patrons, the creeps, and everything in between. It is a complete stylistic shift, following previous updates that were increasingly stylized, embracing a genre blend that sits somewhere between late-19th-century New Orleans and early-20th-century New York (and all the cultural implications that might entail).

Six new heroes are also coming into the fold, each a work of art, though players will have to wait a while before all of them are playable, since Valve is doing another voting thing as they did for the previous batch.

The patrons’ overhaul is what makes this update stand out. They are, genuinely, now as stylish and artistically refined as the rest of the game, drawing significant inspiration from period-appropriate literature and fiction to further advance Deadlock‘s worldbuilding as a fundamentally American pastiche and genre crossroads.

And what better place to look at than Robert W. Chambers, the mind behind The King in Yellow, a late-19th-century anthology of stories loosely connected by an ominous and eponymous play (and character), which Valve turned into the Hidden King patron?

The rustic, infernal nature of the King and his deer antlers are very much in line with depictions of the King in Yellow, even those you might have seen in shows like True Detective. Just look at it: it screams style, substance, and artistry, with each bit of the map carefully redesigned to reflect his character, unlike the generic floating head that was roaming about before.

On the other side is the Arch Mother, a pale and ethereal queen of her own realm, with a frozen monarch situated at her core (oddly reminiscent of the Hidden King himself). There is dialogue here, and though the voice lines of the announcers on both sides did suggest a shared lore, Deadlock now genuinely has an active conversation going on in the background of its MOBA gameplay, which isn’t something we’ve ever seen in the genre before.

As for the characters, the rest of the map, and the myriad of different artistic touchups to the UI, HUD, and every facet of the game: all of them reflect a wide range of genres and movements, from comics to movies to Valve’s own imagination. The coolest part is that it all blends together so well, forming a cohesive amalgamation of art that I am genuinely stricken by.

I cannot express how much I appreciate that a game is putting art and style front and center, and though gameplay is as important as those two, we had too many well-playing games that just don’t look that good.

And the best thing is that Deadlock is still a long way from launch, meaning more of the same is yet to come, which, as you could tell, I’m more than excited for.

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Blight is an annoying obstacle you’ll encounter throughout your exploration in Arknights Endfield. Although it can be destroyed, you won’t be able to do so unless you’re aware of these methods.

How to clear Blight in Arknights: Endfield

If a Blight formation has a visible Blight Core, you can destroy it directly by attacking the core. Visible Blight Cores appear as bright red lights located somewhere within the Blight itself. Just be careful not to touch it directly, as it will kill with extended exposure.

In a lot of cases, the Blight Core will be within reach for you to attack with one of your characters, but many others won’t be. Many Blight formations you come across will have Blight Cores you can’t get to or won’t be able to see at all. Fortunately, there is a solution for both issues.

How to destroy out-of-reach Blight Cores

For Blight Cores you can actively see but can’t reach directly, you can use Industrial Explosives to destroy them instead.

Industrial Explosives are special consumables crafted at your base that can be thrown at the cores once you’ve made them.

How to destroy invisible Blight Cores

If you encounter a Blight formation with an invisible Blight Core, you won’t be able to do a thing to them initially. Blight formations with no visible Blight Core cannot be destroyed until you’ve progressed the Main Story far enough to obtain the Blight Decryption Device, which will allow you to use the Scanner to expose undetected Blight Cores.

When you have the Blight Decryption Device unlocked, all you need to do is go near a Blight formation and use the Scan function to reveal its hidden core. Then, simply use the above-mentioned methods to destroy it and clear the Blight out of your way.

How to Craft Industrial Explosives in Arknights: Endfield

To even begin to craft Industrial Explosives at your base, you’ll need to have progressed far enough to have unlocked the Basic AIC Plan mechanic, which allows you to research improvements for your overall base. Specifically, you need to unlock the Packaging Tech node under Basic AIC II to gain access to the Industrial Explosives blueprints.

Industrial Explosives are produced via a Packaging Unit structure. The reagents you need to funnel into the craft are listed below:

• 5 x Amethyst Part – Process Amethyst Fibers at a Fitting Unit to produce these materials. Amethyst Fibers are made from refining Amethyst Ore at a Refining Unit.
• 1 x Aketine Powder – Process Aketine plants at a Shredding Unit to produce this material. You can find Aketine plants in the Valley Pass region, around the Abandoned Trail. They can also be grown using a Planting Unit or grown as crops directly via the Eco-Farm.

I highly recommend you automate the entire processing chain for producing the above materials, as you will need to use a lot of Industrial Explosives throughout your time in Arknights Endfield, so having them mass-produced without your input is nothing but a benefit for you.

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