Neverwinter is getting a substantial new release next week, and it looks like Hell. No, really, the latest update to the Dungeons and Dragons online game is sending players to the Nine Hells in Infernal Descent. In one of the most substantial updates to the game since Uprising which released in the summer of 2019.
Before the official release, we wanted to put together a comprehensive list of what players can expect when it launches. Infernal Descent will introduce new areas, weapons, companions, mounts, and more to the game, and it all can be a bit overwhelming at first.
Neverwinter can be daunting to understand at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s a blast to play. It’s a great way to play Dungeons and Dragons after playing Dungeons and Dragons at the table.
New Area
The newest area is called Vallenhas. It’s a stronghold owned by the Vallenhas family. A few years ago, Lord Baldric Vallenas made a deal with the most heinous of all devils, the fallen angel Zariel. After his passing, she transported the village and the estate to Avernus in the Nine Hells and has been attacking it ever since.
The goal for this zone was to give players a large space to explore using a familiar location. To support the story of Infernal Descent, a large chunk of landmass was absorbed into Avernus, carrying Vallenhas and players into the heat of the underworld.”
As the newest adventure zone, Vallenhas is suspended far above the surface of Avernus. It’s constantly under threat by demons and devils as they hash out their differences in the Blood Wars.
The area will play out similarly to that of the Ravenloft campaign in Barovia. Level 80 players will need to collect enough resources each week to unlock new quest paths. There are also four boons to open during the campaign.
Mounts and Companions
Getting around the world of Neverwinter can be an arduous task; it’s a big world with several instances, dungeons, and locations to explore. One of the fastest ways to travel is by getting a mount, and Infernal Descent will introduce a brand new one.
The Barlgura isn’t necessarily a demon you would want carrying you around, but in this case, it works. The creature is similar to a giant ape but calls the Abyss its home. The Barlgura is a legendary mount with an ability to summon it during a fight if you are in need.
Having been tricked by a Devil, this Barlgura is now contractually obligated to serve, and will carry whoever owns their contract. They will also gladly leap into battle to wreak havoc when called upon.”
The newest companion to Neverwinter will be a Succubus/Incubus. The fiends will help by increasing a character’s power and the companion’s critical avoidance. They also can potentially charm an enemy by dazing them for one second.
Dungeon
Infernal Descent will introduce a new dungeon call the Infernal Citadel. Floating upon one of the many landmasses above Avernus, the dungeon is home to new enemies to face. Players will have to fight past hordes of devils to enter the Infernal Citadel. They can even ally themselves with demons to fight as well, though when has making a deal with a demon ever gone well?
As for new enemies in Neverwinter, the developers are introducing a bone devil, pit fiend, and a Hellfire engine (which was previously featured as a mount).
Items
If players successfully make it through the Infernal Citadel and defeat the Hellfire engine, they will have the chance to get new artifact armor and weapon sets.
Inside the Infernal Citadel are the rarest materials, claimed from the devil commanders presiding from within. Trade these materials in the Campaign Store to acquire the most powerful armor available, the Lion Guard Armor. This armor once marked the elite guard of Vallenhas, befitting of adventurers who fight against a hellish invasion to protect the people within the village.”
One such artifact is the Book of Vile Darkness, which in the lore of Dungeons and Dragons is one of the most potent magical books to exist. It was created by Vecna, otherwise known as the Undying King or the Whispered One, who ascended to godhood. The book either corrupts anyone who reads it or grants them great power.
As for the new artifact armor set, Infernal Descent will feature the Infernal Forged Armor; however, there appears to be a catch.
To better face these challenges, new gear can be acquired from rare fiends ravaging the once peaceful Vallenhas. Seek out and destroy these named enemies to claim their treasures. But beware! Devils are mischievous creatures; rarely do they bestow trinkets with such power without an equally detrimental price.”
The gear may come with a negative factor like other magical items in the game that reduce movement speed or siphon gold from you.
Those are just a few details the developers at Cryptic Studios, and Perfect World talked about. Wizards of the Coast’s Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus, the book the new module is based on, is full of even more details about the Hells, so there is plenty of content to pull from.
Neverwinter’s Infernal Descent update releases for PC January 21, 2020.