In Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – From the Ashes, the Kinglor Forest has been ravaged by the RDA, who have allied with the Ash clan – an aggressive Na’vi warband that go against Eywa and spread destruction. Our team’s work on the world of the upcoming expansion is reflected in every step of your journey – with the lush Kinglor Forest having been scorched and twisted by the presence of these new enemies. As fire overtakes sections of the forest, your surroundings become more dangerous.
In the Kinglor Forest, new landmarks cover the landscape, as evidence of the invasion. While fighting against devastation, you will also discover an entirely new sub-region, The Ravines.
A Ravaged Forest
As you begin So’lek’s journey in From the Ashes, you’ll be greeted by familiar, lush vistas. To celebrate the expansion, we have also updated the biomes, weather and lighting to make the Western Frontier even more beautiful – and to reflect the time of peace & calm that So’lek and the Sarentu enjoyed after the events of Secrets of the Spires.
That time of peace comes to an end with From the Ashes. The presence of the Ash clan and the reinforced RDA bring destruction. As you progress through the story and side missions, the world will progressively change, responding to your actions. Certain areas will be covered in embers and ash, losing their innate colors and bioluminescent glow, affecting both the flora, fauna and the environment itself.
Familiar locations will be changed by the RDA and the Ash clan. Key landmarks (such as the Aranahe Hometree) will be taken over and covered in Ash clan markings, paint and specific, gruesome decorative elements that reflect their brutal nature. So’lek will revisit several important places on his mission to protect those he cares about and will lay witness to the transformation the new threat has brought.
Exploring the Ravines
Over the course of the story, you will discover an all-new subregion – The Ravines. This hand-crafted area is built with movement and traversal in mind. Either on foot or on the back of a direhorse, you can explore several paths throughout the region. With added verticality and diverse terrain, the region consists of twisted basalt formations, unique sights and, of course, dangers to face.
There are many things to discover within the deep canyons of the Ravines - and it's up to you to uncover everything.
Resisting the Renewed RDA Occupation
The RDA remain heavily focused on large-scale military operations to occupy Na’vi territory and exploit Pandora’s resources. However, empowered by the Ash clan and pushed by Colonel Quaritch, their top priority in From the Ashes is to secure the Kinglor Forest and put an end to the Resistance’s efforts in the area.
To accomplish their mission, they’ve created a complex military network, allowing them to remain armed & well-supplied while they deploy new tools and weaponry against the Na’vi.
This supply network is a great strength for the RDA but can also become a weakness. As you play, you will discover new military hubs and forts that have specific themes. For example, certain camps gather and distribute fuel. Destroying a fuel depot might lead to a higher concentration of explosives in another location, giving you more means of defeating the RDA. The more locations you take on, the better your odds are when taking on the forts. These are strongholds that are heavily defended, but your actions can weaken them significantly.
That is all for this week - the Kinglor Forest is under threat, and everything we mentioned today represents an additional reason for So’lek to take up the fight against the Ash clan & RDA alliance. Looking ahead, preorders for this new expansion are available now, should you want to get into the action as soon as we launch. Otherwise, From the Ashes is out December 19th!