I'm working on a big update that will have a beta running for soon! The game is also 20% off so if these plans sound good, then now is the perfect time to pick up a copy and start unlocking upgrades to get a head start for the new update.
This is a bit of a longer post so you might want some music. Go put on the album Galerie by Anomalie!
Dash Ability
Actively evade enemies, quickly travel to gather dropped EXP, and enable new synergies!
The Phase Dash skill will be available initially, and later updates will add a method of accessing a variety of new Dash Skills. For example, you will unlock a damaging charged rush similar to the shield in Hades, and a dash that sacrifices HP to infuse you with a powerful buff called Fury!
Corrupted Shrines
These shrines will attack you in various ways, such as firing various patterns of projectiles. Cleanse the shrine by killing demons or breaking its projectiles with dodging / tanking in order to claim Arcane Auras & Upgrades!
Arcane Auras & Upgrades
Certain stats that some builds rely on to function properly (like Chain) have been separated out into a new upgrade pool, and increased in power. A variety of new Auras and other unique upgrades are also available in this pool.
These upgrades are a noticeable power spike, and they allow you to get the stats you need to cover your build's current weakness without being diluted by standard level up rewards. If you are lacking single target damage, you can take boosts like +50% Elite Damage Multiplier. If you are lacking pack clear you can take effects like +1 Projectile Chain or +20% Chance for demons to Explode on death, dealing 13% of their Max HP as damage.
This prevents you from being forced into aggressively rerolling early in the run just to get the basic stats & damage to make your build work. It also helps signal the power level of certain effects more effectively, and gives you more distinct decision points each run that you can point to as something that you would like to change on future runs in order to try and get a better outcome.
It also reduces the size of the regular level up pool, making it easier to reroll.
Full Game Rebalance
The entire game is being rebalanced with these new features being taken into consideration. The goal of this is to allow as many builds as possible to be viable at all levels of Malice, and to use the Arcane Aura system to make sure you have access to the stats their build needs to properly get rolling.
Part of this rebalance will also include a noticeable decrease in the amount of Shrines active at once on most builds: Instead of relying so heavily on temporary power you will gain more permanent power through Arcane Auras. You are still able to stack huge amounts of buffs by intentionally trying to do so, but builds that aren't specifically focusing on shrines will no longer stop functioning if their buffs expire.
This change causes pretty huge - but warranted - implicit nerf to Shrine Maiden during the endgame. This aura was mandatory for surviving in long runs, which worsened the problem of builds not working if buffs started running out or you missed a few Shrines.
Lethality's evolution is also going to be replaced. The new evolution will still be turned towards S-Tier power, but this method of accessing and scaling Execution chance is unhealthy for build variety, and Execution is more appropriate as an Arcane Upgrade that all types of builds can access.
Smuggler Shop Refresh
All of the worst and most boring smuggler upgrades are being reworked and replaced with a larger number of unique effects and special synergy options.
A lot of Quality of Life improvements, bugfixes, buffs, and other things will also be in the patch. If there are any QoL improvements you'd like to see or weak spells you think need to be buffed, make sure to post them here!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2007530/Spellbook_Demonslayers/