The First Descendant Season 4 will bring 11 Transcendent Weapons and roguelike Trials

The First Descendant will add 11 Transcendent Weapons and a new activity called Trials when Season 4 arrives. The team outlined the upcoming content in its Steam Dev Note vol. 28, while warning that some details may change before release.

Season 4 does not have a release date yet. More information will be shared during a Dev Live presentation on Tuesday, August 18. The preview also puts firmer detail behind the broader Season 4 plans, particularly the new weapon system and repeatable Trials content.

The team also shared a video overview of the update:

Four Ultimate Weapons will receive Transcendent upgrades

Four of the 11 weapons are upgraded versions of existing Ultimate Weapons. Each one keeps a connection to its original firearm while adding new effects that reward specific attack patterns.

• Malicious Dominator — Hand Cannon: This upgraded version of Malevolent creates a Blade of Malice when a firearm hit lands, sending the blade bouncing between enemies. Weak Point hits apply Encroachment of Evil, which deals damage over time. Defeating an enemy can also trigger Malicious Explosion, damaging nearby targets and poisoning them.

• Storm Cage — Submachine Gun: Thunder Cage’s upgraded form can produce an Electric Shockwave after firearm hits. Critical hits trigger Lightning Burst, while defeated enemies have a chance to create a powerful Lightning Storm.
• Raging Light — Sniper Rifle: This version of Piercing Light places a Brand of Light on targets when fired while aiming. Hitting the brand causes Scattering, damaging enemies in a circular area. A Multi-Hit against a branded target while aiming can also bounce damage to nearby enemies.
• Emperor’s Guard Lance — Beam Rifle: King’s Guard Lance becomes a deployed lance when fired while aiming. Repeatedly striking enemies within its range activates Emperor’s Majesty, which damages everything inside the area. Multi-Hits in that range call down Emperor’s Judgment.

Seven new weapons will support firearm and skill Descendants

The other seven weapons are new additions, split between firearms that favor gun-focused Descendants and weapons designed around elemental or Non-Attribute skills.

Weapons for firearm-focused Descendants

• Armis — Assault Rifle: Hits with Armis fire Interceptor Missiles. Rocket Count Down can add Small Warhead Rockets, while Missile Fragment marks enemies damaged by the missiles or rockets and causes ricochet damage to nearby targets when struck.

• Unleashed Instinct — Shotgun: A higher Reload Time Modifier increases this shotgun’s fire rate. Pellets apply Excessive Bleeding, and killing an affected enemy causes a nearby explosion. Applying the bleeding effect grants Hunting Instinct; approaching an enemy with that effect increases Movement Speed and adds damage to shotgun attacks.

Weapons for skill-focused Descendants

• Sparky — Handgun: Holding Sparky raises the Electric Skill Amplification Modifier. Electric skills apply Tingle, allowing firearm hits against affected enemies to deal extra damage. Defeating enemies with an Electric skill or firearm can also damage nearby targets.
• Frost Flower — Machine Gun: This weapon increases the Chill Skill Amplification Modifier and applies Frost Seed when Chill skills hit. Firearm attacks against Frost Seed targets deal bonus damage, and kills made with Chill skills or firearms can damage nearby enemies.
• Volcanic Heart — Scout Rifle: Volcanic Heart raises the Fire Skill Amplification Modifier and places Pulsating Ember on enemies hit by Fire skills. Firearm attacks against marked targets deal extra damage, while kills with Fire skills or firearms can grant Magma to the user and damage nearby enemies.
• Nightmare Launcher — Launcher: The weapon increases the Toxic Skill Amplification Modifier and applies Purple Nightmare when Toxic skills connect. Firearm hits against affected targets deal additional damage, and kills made with Toxic skills or firearms can damage enemies nearby.
• ATR-0 Prototype — Tactical Rifle: Holding the rifle increases Non-Attribute skill attack. Using a Non-Attribute skill builds Arche Energy Bullet, which adds damage when it hits an enemy. Defeating an enemy with Arche Energy Bullet can also damage nearby targets.

Trials will change from run to run

Trials is built around roguelike elements. Repeating the activity raises its difficulty, while random teleports send players along different routes during each run.

The Variable Code system lets players choose buffs and develop a deck around the synergies between those effects. A Cracked Fissure can also appear during a run as an optional combat challenge, with various items available through the event.

Two Commanders will lead the new encounters

• Antithese: This tracker-type Commander closes the gap with leaps and binding attacks, forcing close-range fights. Destroying nearby Security Codes quickly gives players a chance to counterattack.
• Vorax: Vorax moves slowly but can become more dangerous over time. Attacks that players fail to dodge leave an Identification Code mark, which becomes additional damage in later attack patterns.

More Commanders are also in development, although the team did not name them. With the weapon previews and Trials still subject to change, the August 18 Dev Live should provide a clearer look at how Season 4 will come together.

Which Transcendent Weapon are you most interested in, and how do you feel about Trials? Share your thoughts in the comments, then follow along on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.

The First Descendant

Developed by Nexon Games

Launched in July 2024, The First Descendant is a next-generation third-person co-op action RPG looter shooter featuring high-quality graphics developed using Unreal Engine 5. In the game, players become a Descendant whose mission is to combat against alien invaders – The Vulgus who crossed dimensions over 100 years ago and brought with them the devastating Colossi and destruction– for the survival of humanity and to protect Albion and the continent of Ingris. Players will encounter spectacular stories as they grow stronger through various missions and raids to finally discover the Descendants' secret. Cooperation is crucial as players team up with one another in strategic multiplayer boss fights where teamwork and tactics are key. New equipment, materials, and items obtained through a myriad of missions and boss fights will contribute to players’ character development.

• Genre Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
• Platforms Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One
• Perspective Third person
• Modes Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
• Release July 2, 2024
• Publisher Nexon Korea
• Age Rating

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