Throne and Liberty is preparing balance changes for its recently added Orb weapon after developers found some combinations are trivializing PvE encounters. The move matters because those combinations have been crowding out other class choices in group content.
The Orb arrived with the Solisium’s Awakening update and has encouraged creative pairings, but the developer says some weapon mixes, most notably Orb with crossbows, are performing too well. “We continue to see that Orb remains really engaging in many different situations,” globalization design manager Tico says. However, he adds it is “clear that several weapon combinations paired with Orb and crossbows are still overperforming, specifically in PvE situations.”
According to the developer, the strength of those setups is “trivializing some of the challenging content in the game that should feel rewarding to overcome.” Expect the team to roll out adjustments this month that it says will “bring these combinations more in line with our performance expectations and restore healthy class diversity in group content.” Changes aimed at PvP are likely as well, but Tico says the team wants to give metas and counters a little more time to develop before making major moves there.
The studio also gave an update on Battlegrounds. Tico says the new PvP mode is “even exceeding our own expectations,” and the team is working to reduce spawn camping by making it harder to sit outside enemy bases. Ranked will arrive in an “introductory” form in early November with limited queue times, while casual play will remain available around the clock.
Throne and Liberty players should also note a delay to the promised artifact overhaul. The team has decided to postpone the revamp while it transforms the system to a higher standard. “We want to get it right,” Tico says, and no new date was provided.
The developer is looking at several other adjustments to help build variety. A two-week heroic pass launching on Thursday, October 16, will give “a significant boost to both heroic progression and weapon mastery,” which is intended to help new and returning players. Long-term, the team plans to allow transfers between heroic armor and accessory pieces and to offer more flexible swapping of heroic skill perks for weapons. It is also assessing ways to lower progression costs for heroic gear, which Tico admits “is now acting more as a barrier to the build diversity we want to encourage.”
Tico said the two newest dungeons, Colossal Coliseum and Fate’s Abyss, will join the Dimensional Trial rotation in late October, and that the team is pleased with the mode’s overhaul and rising participation. He also teased that more details about player housing will arrive in the next Eye on Solisium video.
Are you holding onto your Orbs or ready to try a different setup? Please share your thoughts on X, Bluesky, or our YouTube channel.
