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Steam News27 March 20263mo ago

Combat and Progression Progress Update – Warrior Class Overview

Hi everyone, As part of the Combat and Progression Update, we are updating each of our adventuring classes.

In this update12

Full notes

Full Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen update

Read the full published notes in a cleaner layout. The original post stays linked below.

What changed

0 fixes1 addition25 changes0 removals
  • Balance
  • Maps
  • UI and audio
addedAs part of the Combat and Progression Update, we are updating each of our adventuring classes. This isn’t just adding Mastery for each class, but it also includes looking at the skills they use, their base ability kit, and even their special class mechanics as well. Not everything is going to change, and many aspects of the classes will feel familiar, but our goal is to get all of our classes to a point where they are functionally complete with their full intended kits from level 1 to level 50. We’re also using this opportunity to address some long-standing challenges that have made it difficult to balance our content and to produce coherent itemization for the game.
changedThe WarriorPrimary Role: Tank (Bastion) Secondary Role: Physical DPS (Warlord) Available Races: Human, Dwarf, Elf, Halfling, Ogre, Dark Myr, Skar, and Archai Weapons: All Simple and Martial Weapons. Some Exotic Weapons unlocked at high skill levels. Armor: Up to Light Plate. Can unlock Heavy Plate via Bastion Mastery. Shields: All
changedWeapon SkillsWeapon skills represent proficiency with different types of weapons. They control which weapons can be wielded, the chance to successfully hit an opponent, and contribute to the damage dealt when using that weapon type. The more skilled you become with a specific weapon type, the more weapon techniques you will be able to learn with that weapon. At the highest skill levels, a weapon skill may grant access to an exotic version of that weapon type or unlock additional benefits.
changedWeapon SkillsDagger
changedWeapon SkillsGreat Sword
changedWeapon SkillsSword

Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen changes

addedAs part of the Combat and Progression Update, we are updating each of our adventuring classes. This isn’t just adding Mastery for each class, but it also includes looking at the skills they use, their base ability kit, and even their special class mechanics as well. Not everything is going to change, and many aspects of the classes will feel familiar, but our goal is to get all of our classes to a point where they are functionally complete with their full intended kits from level 1 to level 50. We’re also using this opportunity to address some long-standing challenges that have made it difficult to balance our content and to produce coherent itemization for the game.
changedPrimary Role: Tank (Bastion) Secondary Role: Physical DPS (Warlord) Available Races: Human, Dwarf, Elf, Halfling, Ogre, Dark Myr, Skar, and Archai Weapons: All Simple and Martial Weapons. Some Exotic Weapons unlocked at high skill levels. Armor: Up to Light Plate. Can unlock Heavy Plate via Bastion Mastery. Shields: All
changedWeapon skills represent proficiency with different types of weapons. They control which weapons can be wielded, the chance to successfully hit an opponent, and contribute to the damage dealt when using that weapon type. The more skilled you become with a specific weapon type, the more weapon techniques you will be able to learn with that weapon. At the highest skill levels, a weapon skill may grant access to an exotic version of that weapon type or unlock additional benefits.
changedDagger
changedGreat Sword

Hi everyone,

As part of the Combat and Progression Update, we are updating each of our adventuring classes. This isn’t just adding Mastery for each class, but it also includes looking at the skills they use, their base ability kit, and even their special class mechanics as well. Not everything is going to change, and many aspects of the classes will feel familiar, but our goal is to get all of our classes to a point where they are functionally complete with their full intended kits from level 1 to level 50. We’re also using this opportunity to address some long-standing challenges that have made it difficult to balance our content and to produce coherent itemization for the game.

We are starting this process with our three Tank classes (Warrior, Paladin, and Dire Lord). We will go over the Warrior today, and the Paladin and Dire Lord next week.

A very important disclaimer here: what you see reflected below is meant to be a high-level conceptual overview of where we are taking the class. Many details, like the level or skill requirements and effects for the different class and mastery abilities, are expected to change and fluctuate as we go through testing before the update releases. We are looking forward to everyone’s feedback once our public test realm is available, to help us with dialing all those details in so that each class feels fully realized, distinctive, and fun to play.

The Warrior

Much more than a soldier or mercenary, the Warrior seems to defy limits of physical strength, ability and resilience. However, she is not content with fortitude alone, but refines her mind as well, becoming a master strategist amidst the mayhem of battle.

Primary Role

Tank (Bastion)

Secondary Role

Physical DPS (Warlord)

Available Races

Human, Dwarf, Elf, Halfling, Ogre, Dark Myr, Skar, and Archai Weapons: All Simple and Martial Weapons. Some Exotic Weapons unlocked at high skill levels.

Armor

Up to Light Plate. Can unlock Heavy Plate via Bastion Mastery.

Shields

All

Class Mechanics

Battle Points: Battle Points are the primary resource Warriors use in combat, fueling both offensive and defensive abilities. Warriors can generate Battle Points through various attacks, combat abilities and certain passive effects that can be unlocked through Mastery.

Weapon Skills

Weapon skills represent proficiency with different types of weapons. They control which weapons can be wielded, the chance to successfully hit an opponent, and contribute to the damage dealt when using that weapon type. The more skilled you become with a specific weapon type, the more weapon techniques you will be able to learn with that weapon. At the highest skill levels, a weapon skill may grant access to an exotic version of that weapon type or unlock additional benefits.

  • Dagger

  • Great Sword

  • Sword

  • Great Axe

  • Short Spear

  • Great Hammer

  • Axe

  • Long Spear

  • Hammer

  • Martial Staff

  • Hand to Hand

  • Shortbow

  • Whip*

  • Crossbow*

  • Flail*

  • Throwing Weapons*

  • Weapon types that will be implemented in future updates.

Combat Skills

Combat skills control the effectiveness of various aspects of combat, as well as the effectiveness of class abilities. High skill levels in these combat skills may unlock additional abilities or mastery selections for the Warrior to choose.

  • Shield

  • Tactics

  • Dodge

  • Warfare

  • Parry

Base Class Abilities

Warrior Abilities focus on mitigating physical damage, weapon prowess, and coordinating the actions of their groups in combat.

Note: This is not a full list of warrior abilities available within the game and is intended only to provide an overview of the class. Many of these abilities have upgrades and variations that become available as the character levels up.

AbilityDescription
AssaultA powerful strike that deals Physical Damage. Generates 1 Battle Point.
Strike of BreakingA tactical strike that increases incoming damage on the target while increasing your Armor Class. Stacks up to 3 times.
StormCharge at the target with furious speed, stunning them briefly. Generates 1 Battle Point.
RuptureA strike that deals Physical Damage and causes the target to bleed over time. Costs 1 Battle Point.
Shield BlockRaise your shield, reducing a major amount of incoming Physical damage and a minor amount of incoming Spell damage. This is a channeled ability that cannot be interrupted by damage. Costs 1 Battle Point for each second while channeling. Requires a Shield.
QuellFollow up a successful shield block with a powerful shield strike, generating increased threat and a Battle Point.
Mighty BlowA charged attack that consumes 1 Battle Point per second while charging. When released, Mighty Blow will deal bonus damage based on how many Battle Points were consumed.
Taunt / Angering ShoutTaunt an enemy in melee range, forcing its attention on you for 3 seconds. Release an angry shout, taunting an enemy up to 25 meters away.
Challenger’s BannerPlace a Banner of War near you that lasts for a short time. Remaining near the banner will increase the threat that your actions generate in combat.
BashSlam the target, dealing minor Physical damage with a chance to interrupt the target’s spell casting.
Formation: ConquestCommand your group into an offensive formation, increasing their attack and spellcasting speed, but limiting their mobility for a short time.
Banner of ArmsPlace a Banner of War near you that lasts for a short time. Group members near the banner will have an increased chance to hit their foes, while enemies near the banner will suffer a penalty to their avoidance.
CleaveSwing your weapon in a mighty arc, dealing damage to multiple foes in front of you.
JavelinHurl a javelin into an enemy at distance, dealing Physical damage and generating a small amount of threat.
CounterplayBrace your weapon, retaliating with Physical damage to attackers whenever you successfully block or parry an attack.
Rallying BannerPlant a Banner of War near you that lasts for a short time. Group members who remain near the banner will be less vulnerable to control effects, while enemies near the banner will become more vulnerable to these effects.
Formation: UnyieldingCommand your group into a tactical formation, giving them immunity to control effects for a short time, but also making them more vulnerable to direct attacks for the same period.
Breaker’s RoarShake off the effects of a root or snare that has afflicted you.
Close the GapLeap to an enemy’s location and strike them with your weapon, temporarily stopping their movement. Generates 1 Battle Point.
Last StandStand your ground, increasing your chance to block and parry attacks, and increasing healing you receive for several seconds. Only usable at low health.
War HornSound your war horn to taunt all nearby enemies.
DevastateUnleash a massive attack in an attempt to finish off your opponent. Only usable on targets with low health.

Warrior Mastery

Warriors have two primary mastery branches that they can specialize into: Bastion and Warlord.

Note that the Mastery abilities described below are only a few examples intended as highlights. They do not represent the full list of Mastery options that will be available for each specialization.

Bastion Mastery Examples

The Bastion Warrior is a heavily armored defender who holds the line through grit, steel and command of the battlefield.

MasteryDescription
Ability Unlock: Hammering BlowHammer the edge of your shield into the enemy, dealing Physical damage and increasing your Physical damage mitigation for a short time.
Ability Unlock: Shield BashSlam the target with your shield, dealing minor Physical damage, interrupting spell casting, and silencing the target for a short time.
Ability Unlock: Shield ThrowHurl your shield at the target, dealing Physical damage and knocking the target down for 3 sec. While your shield is traveling, you will be shieldless and unable to use shield-based abilities.
Heavy Platemail ProficiencyUnlocks the ability to wear Heavy Platemail Armor.
Shield ProwessYour prowess with the shield grants you the chance to gain a Battle Point on successful blocks.
Anchored StanceWhile channeling Shield Block, you are immune to forced movement, including knockback and pull effects.
Hold the LineFor each Battle Point Shield Block consumes, you receive a 5% bonus to incoming healing for a short time.
Iron MandateIf the target is immune to Taunt, using Taunt will instead grant increased Threat generation on that target for a short time.
TacticianUsing Assault on a target under the effect of your Taunt will generate an extra Battle Point.
Anchoring ArrivalThe root effect from your Close the Gap ability lasts longer, and the target’s movement speed is reduced for a short time after the root ends.
Rallying BrassIf War Horn successfully lands on 2 or more enemies, refund 1 Battle Point.
Critical RecoveryWhen you activate Last Stand, immediately restore 5% of your maximum Health, then gain another 5% over 5 seconds.
Reinforced Shield BlockIncrease the amount of Physical damage your Shield Block is able to mitigate.
Intercepting SpearIf the target struck by Javelin is more than 15 meters away, gain a short burst of movement speed and your next Storm within 3 sec generates an extra Battle Point.

Warlord Mastery Examples

The Warlord Warrior is a brutal front-line combatant who turns skill at arms and battle experience into relentless offense.

MasteryDescription
Ability Unlock: War LariatUnleash a whirlwind of steel, attacking all targets in a 360 degree radius around you. Must have a primary and offhand weapon equipped.
Ability Unlock: PunishGrants the Punish ability. Punish has a chance to become usable every time Rupture’s bleed ticks.
Ability Unlock: Furious HowlRelease a furious howl, generating 1 Battle Point and increasing your melee attack speed.
Brutal TrajectoryJavelin deals increased damage and gains increasing chance to critically hit based on the distance traveled.
Double TapYour Assault ability has a chance to strike a second time with your primary weapon.
Break the LineStorm deals additional damage to targets above a certain Health threshold. If the target is below a certain Health threshold when Storm is used, Storm’s cooldown will be shortened.
SkullringerYour Bash ability deals increased damage and is guaranteed to interrupt spell casting.
Deepening WoundsIncrease the bleed damage caused by Rupture.
No QuarterIf a target dies while bleeding from your Rupture ability, gain a short movement speed bonus and restore some Health.
Dual-Wield SpecializationImprove your overall effectiveness and damage output while dual-wielding.
Two-Hand SpecializationImprove your overall effectiveness and damage output with two-handed weapons.
WarbringerYour critical hits now have a chance to generate a Battle Point.
Kill EngineGain the ability to move while charging your Mighty Blow.
Precision of BattleYour AoE attacks, such as Cleave and War Lariat, will no longer break Root or Mesmerize effects on opponents, although they will deal reduced damage against targets under these effects.

Key Changes for Warriors

With the Combat and Progression Update, the Warrior class is evolving in the following ways:

  • Additional weapon skills and combat skills with more meaningful impact

  • More complete and robust base ability kit, with abilities up to level 50

  • Mastery selections focused on leaning into and empowering defensive abilities or offensive abilities

  • Unique abilities and powerups unlocked through mastery selections

Around the Team – What we’ve been working on this week

Design and Narrative

  • Continuing population of Kosa Ull in Badia de Cara

  • First pass of NPC tuning for Unified NPC templates

  • First pass on itemization updates for Combat and Progression

  • Finalizing Mastery for Warrior, Paladin, Dire Lord

  • Beginning work on Mastery for Cleric, Druid, Shaman

  • Continued work on NPCs and Dialogue for the Port of Rulun

Worldbuilding and Environment Art

  • Set dressing for Mawnok villages

  • Finalizing layout for port of Rulun

  • Beginning work on Rulun building interiors

  • Continued set dressing for undersea biomes

  • Continuing asset definition for Faerthale City to inform detailed concepts

Character Art and Animation

  • Finalized modeling/texturing for Qha-Ladahn

  • Finalized modeling/texturing for Aridola and Detidola clothing

  • Finishing remaining spellcasting animations for Mawnoks

  • Beginning modeling work for minor Badia de Cara creatures

  • Initial modeling work on Hydryn

Programming

  • Continued implementation of combat formula changes for Combat and Progression Update

  • Continued work on persistence layer and Mastery UI

  • Finalizing Mail system UI, database hookup, and initial testing.

Source

Steam News / 27 March 2026

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