We Did It, You Maniacs. Stella Montis Is Unlocked. Here's 'Staking Our Claim'.
All that junk we donated actually worked. The tunnel is open, the new map is live, and Phase II has begun.
Well, we did it. We actually, finally, did it. The "Breaking New Ground" community event is over. Our massive, collective donation of plastic, rubber, and scrap metal paid off. The tunnels are open, and the new map, Stella Montis, is officially live. I've already dropped in, and it's a very different, close-quarters vibe from the usual Rust Belt mud.
But Embark isn't letting us rest. Now that the map is unlocked, "Phase II" has begun. It's a new 23-day Live Event called "Staking Our Claim". This one isn't about donations; it's about XP.
How 'Staking Our Claim' Works
This new event is simple. You just... play the game. The main task is to "Use the tunnel network to deploy to any map, and earn XP".
All that XP you earn is converted into a new currency: Merits. The conversion rate is right on the event screen: 100 XP = 1 Merit.
These Merits automatically unlock a 24-tier reward track. This is the "new progression track" that Embark promised in the roadmap, and it's how we're going to get our hands on the new toys.
The New Map: Stella Montis
The new map is the real prize. It's an abandoned mountain facility, and it feels much more claustrophobic than the other maps.
I'm looking at the map now, and the POIs are all industrial and high-tech: Lobby Metro, Loading Bay, Sandbox, and a Seed Vault. This is where we're supposed to hunt for that new Shredder ARC, and I'm guessing these tight corridors are where it's going to shine.
The Rewards: New Grenades and More
The 24-tier reward track is... good. It's loaded with new character skins, emotes, and a decent chunk of Raider Tokens.
But the real prizes are the new gameplay items. Here are the highlights you'll be grinding for:
Seeker Grenade (Uncommon Tactical): Unlocks at 1,050 Merits.
Extended Barrel (Epic Modification): Unlocks at 2,250 Merits.
...and a ton of cosmetics, including Raider Tokens at 2,550 and 3,150 Merits.
This is a solid event loop. Play the game, earn XP, get Merits, unlock gear. It's a hell of a lot better than farming plastic. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go see what a Seeker Grenade does.
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