The newest Dauntless update introduces a new beast for players to track, hunt, and kill. This big boy is called the Urska, and he heralds in a bunch of new content for hunters to explore in this free-to-play action RPG.
The main feature of update 1.5.3 is Frost Escalation. With permafrost melting, new areas in the world are opening up, and the beasts slumbering beneath the surface are stirring. Players will have to travel though Skaldeskar, a frosty location where they’ll ally with the warrior queen Linnea Silver. Skaldeskar may be melting, but it’s still cold enough to cause a disabling conditioned called frostbite. In a game where players rely on mobility and dodging, frostbite can be especially deadly as it is capable of freezing a hunter in place.
If you’re familiar with monster hunting games, then you’re probably already aware that the Urska is loaded with valuable parts that can be crafted into legendary weapons and armor. The patch also brings new cosmetics through the Frost Escalation talent tree, and the Realm of Ice Hunt Pass. Players who purchase the Elite Ice Hunt Pass get two cosmetic sets of armor, the Frost Shaper set and the Paladin of Vylmark gear. These items are inspired by the polar aurora, so they’re pretty nice for collectors.
Finally, Frost Escalation has two new Rumours, which are side quests that unlock cosmetics. Honest Ozz offers A Vision of Fire (and a dawn-themed helmet,) while a Shadow Boxing quest offers Thorns of Dusk strikers.
Dauntless is currently available as a free-to-play title on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC via the Epic Games Store, and Xbox One. At the end of 2020, Phoenix Labs released a large update called Reforged, which overhauled many of the game’s core systems and added hang gliders.