Bow and Blade Update

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April brings another update to Vindictus, and this time it's Kai and Vella's turn to learn some new tricks. This update will also bring a new and improved User Interface, a massive slate of balance changes, bug fixes, other game improvements and more! Read on for all the upcoming changes in the Bow and Blade Update!

The Master Archer Improved

Kai is Vindictus' only purely ranged character, pelting enemies with arrows, bolts and explosives without getting into the messy business of a melee. But just because he's already a lethal warrior doesn't mean he can't learn a few more tricks...

Bow Skills

Kai's original weapon may be his most fearsome. The classic bow and arrow, fired with expert precision by a master marksman, has pinned countless Fomors to the wall before now. That said, there were a few gaps in Kai's abilities, so two new skills have been added to give the marksman a boost to his legendary evasiveness and a new massive attack...

But new skills aren't the only things Kai's learned. There's been a massive number of additional changes made to push Kai's abilities up to their peak.

• Fixed abnormal damage application of Shortbow attacks and Rapid Fire
• Gale Kick:
  • SP Cost removed
  • Max Rank increased to Rank 5
• Longbow:
  • Can now shoot 2 Penetrating shots and 1 Normal shot when charging
  • Movement speed with Strafe Shot has been increased
  • Time between shots has been reduced
  • While dodging with Strafe Shot, shot Charging will continue
  • Fixed Shot has been renamed to Charging Shot
• Magnum:
  • SP Cost reduced to 100 (down from 250)
  • Magnum no longer drains Stamina when holding a max-charge attack
  • Max Rank increased to Rank 3
• Hunter's Eye:
  • Name changed to Sudden Critical
  • Will now reveal at least 3 critical targets
• Active: Dodge Grapple: Can now use Twister Kick with a [Smash] attack after a Dodge Grapple
• Headshot: Max Rank increased to Rank 5
• Twister Kick:
  • Can now be used while Dodging in Longbow Mode by using a [Smash] during the early part of the dodge
  • Max Rank increased to Rank 5
• Ricochet Shot:
  • Can now be used in Longbow mode
  • When in Longbow mode, Ricochet Shot will strike the same enemy up to 4 times
  • Can be chained with a Level 3 Magnum attack by using a [Normal] attack
• Arrow Storm:
  • Now requires Ricochet Shot to be learned before training
  • Can now use in Longbow mode, dealing more damage but with a smaller area of effect
  • SP Cost increased to 500
  • 50 SP is refunded for each enemy damaged by Arrow Storm
  • Cooldown increased to 40 seconds
  • Can now activate Arrow Storm after dodging by using the [Grab] command
• PvP:
  • Additional arrows are now fired with many attacks in PvP mode

Cross Gun Skills

Even the greatest archers can find something of use out of improved technology, and Kai's embraced the unique potential of the Cross Gun like no others. Mixing powerful bolts with potent explosives, he feels no shame in using the right weapon for the right job... and as he's grown more familiar with the tools of his trade, he's found a few new techniques to get the most out of the unusual weapon.

That's not all, though. Kai's other Cross Gun abilities have also gotten a looking after, with numerous changes to make Kai's attacks even more explosive!

• The following actions now benefit from the Attack Speed statistic:
• Normal attacks
• Reloading
• Charging Bolt Revolver
• Armed & Dangerous:
  • Max Rank increased to Rank 6
  • Can now cause Headshots
  • Now activates when less than 15% bolts remain in the chamber (up from 10%)
• Active: Hunting Party:
  • Now activated in Bolt Revolver at Tier 1, Slot 3
  • Also grants Kai a 40% movement speed increase for 25 seconds
• Insight: Can now cause Headshots
• Active: Perforate:
  • Can now cause Headshots
  • SP Cost reduced to 250
  • Delay on the attack decreased
  • Cooldown has been set to 10 seconds
  • Will be refunded 30 SP for each Perforate arrow that strikes the target, 55 SP when under the effect of Enhanced Bolt.
• Active: Massive Impact: SP Cost reduced to 750
• Active: Bolt Storm:
  • SP Cost reduced to 750
  • Cooldown has been set to 50 seconds
  • Damage has been slightly decreased
  • Can now cause Headshots
• Active: Hollow Shot:
  • Damage has been slightly decreased
• Active: Hand Bomb:
  • Can be activated by using [Grab] during a Dodge, dropping a bomb behind you
  • Doing so will spend SP and activate the cooldown as normal
  • Will not trigger if Hand Bomb is still on cooldown, or if Kai does not have enough SP

Two Blades, Even Less Waiting

It's also Vella's turn for a new array of abilities! This lightning-fast warrior has never been lacking in technique, but that's not stopping her from filling in the few holes she has with new abilities in addition to a host of other improvements.

Twin Sword Skills

Vella has some new abilities for her traditional two-sword style of combat. Her balanced attacks have always been a massive advantage for the warrior, but that doesn't mean she can't find a few new strategies to round out her techniques.

Twin Chainblades Skills

Chainblades haven't been ignored either. Vella's an expert at using these wild, deadly weapons to disrupt and pummel her enemies into submission, and she's learned some new tricks to keep her foes off their toes.

Vella has more than some new moves to cut the Fomors down to size. Her other Twin Sword and Chainblade abilities have also been given a once over, a nice layer of polish on her full range of skills.

• Hailstorm:
  • Max Rank increased to Rank 6
  • Damage has been increased
  • While in Heart of Ice, additional [Smash] attacks can be repeated chained together
  • Can activate Heart of Ice during the [Smash] attacks by pressing [Normal]
• Slipaway:
  • Can now only be trained to Rank F
  • AP spent on Slipaway training has been refunded
• Double Cross:
  • Can now only be trained to Rank F
  • AP spent on Double Cross training has been refunded
• Cross Stance:
  • No longer have to hold [Dodge], will automatically last as long as specified by the skill rank
  • Can exit Cross Stance by pressing [Grab]
• Cross Cut:
  • If facing an attacking enemy, can activate a Perfect Cross Cut
  • Perfect Cross Cut can combo into Gale Cutter by pressing [Normal] - [Smash]
• Razor Whirlwind:
  • Generates 10 SP per hit (up from 8)
• Spin Rush:
  • Slightly reduced delay between 2nd and 3rd attacks
• Active: Cyclone:
  • Now renews Blade Heart after the attack ends
• Blade Heart:
  • Level 2 Blade Heart now restores 1 STA per hit
  • Level 3-4 Blade Heart now restores 2 STA per hit
  • Now grants a fixed ATT Speed bonus per level:
    • Level 1: +7 ATT Speed
    • Level 2: +10 ATT Speed
    • Level 3: +14 ATT Speed
  • Duration can be maintained with Slipaway, Backlash and Tempest
  • No longer decreases in level with Cross Cut and Double Cross

New and Improved User Interface

There's more here than a few new tricks for Vella and Kai, however. The Bow and Blade Update brings a new User Interface to Vindictus with a new key feature: Movable windows. Most menus, windows and HUD elements can be moved around simply by clicking and dragging, giving nearly total freedom in customizing the interface layout to your liking.

You can also alter the display of the menu buttons in the bottom-left corner of the screen, either through dragging the icons around with your mouse, or outright removing some by right-clicking. You can also find additional UI settings to customize to your heart's content in the Options menu.

More changes have been made to the chat menu as well. With an option for a darker chat background, easier customization of the channel menus and more, we've taken the improvements to the Chat window a step further to make chatting with your friends even easier.

Garter Plate Outfit and More

The Bow and Blade Update has brought a wealth of changes to Vindictus, but it's not just balance changes ahead. We've got new  packages, new inner armor, new hairstyles and new deals! Most importantly, we're introducing the most intimidating Outfitters Vindictus has ever seen – the Garter Plate Sets!

Check it all out at the Garter Plate Outfit and More post.

Bow and Blade Update Events

Vella, Kai, UI Updates and new items aren't the only things the Bow and Blade Update has brought us. We've got brand new events, be they big and bold,  simple and strong or completely insane, but they're all worth enjoying.

Check all the events out in the Bow and Blade Update Events post.

Balance Changes and Bug Fixes

The Bow and Blade Update is so big, we need to split it into four parts! This update has brought forth a wealth of changes to Vindictus, including balance changes to every character and fixes to dozens of issues.

Check it all out in the Balance and Bug Fixes post!