With growing anticipation, players of Lost Ark can now see the final leg of the 2023 roadmap. The roadmap offers a glimpse into the major content additions coming to Arkesia in the coming months. In our inaugural video update, Franchise Lead Soomin Park, Product Manager Andy Lin, Head of Editorial Henry Stelter, and Community Manager Roxanne Sabo share insights on what to expect. Note that this roadmap highlights the most awaited features but is not exhaustive. It serves as a teaser with room for change. As each month approaches, more detailed release notes will arrive, promising a dynamic experience for players. Beyond headline content, expect quality-of-life improvements, balance adjustments, support for new and returning players, and unique events. For the full details—including cosmetics, balance tweaks, events, and bug fixes—watch our website and social channels for monthly release notes. August: Early Enhancements Before covering September through December, here are the additional changes planned for August. Full release notes will be published next week, just ahead of the update. Chaos Dungeon Upgrades Improving Chaos Dungeons is a top priority to reduce player fatigue and increase engagement. The first phase of the overhaul focuses on better rewards—more cards, higher-tier gems, and increased silver—and includes enemy AI adjustments designed to reduce the time to clear a dungeon by approximately 25%. This work, in collaboration with Smilegate RPG, will be refined further based on player feedback and in-game data. Guardian Raid Changes Guardian Raids will be adjusted to occur once per day and will grant more substantial rewards to make participation more rewarding. Improved Access to Cards To help new players and reduce content fatigue, the base supply of cards will be increased across Chaos Dungeons and Guardian Raids. Wandering Vendor sources will also be tweaked to bolster overall card availability. September: Jump-Start Servers September introduces Jump-Start servers to provide a fresh experience for new and returning players. Analysis and player feedback identified gatekeeping, bots, and grind as major barriers; Jump-Start servers are designed to address these issues and revitalize early- and mid-game activity. Dedicated servers in each region will grant a South Vern pass for instant elevation to Item Level 1415. These servers will be isolated from existing worlds, with separate matchmaking, party finding, market, and auction environments. Players will receive materials to speed progression and benefit from the Super Mokoko Express event up to Item Level 1540. A special event shop will offer ample honing materials to accelerate progression to Item Level 1580. Detailed information will be shared closer to the September update launch. Yoz’s Jar: Cosmetic Recycling and Customization Yoz’s Jar is a new consumable that unlocks Epic and Legendary skins. Unwanted or unused skins can be deconstructed into Cloth, which, when used with a Jar (Season 1 or 2), yields a new skin from a curated list. Yoz’s Jar and Cloth will be available in the store, and Epic skins obtained from the Jar can be disassembled into Cloth. Monthly discounted packs of Cloth and Jars will be offered. Untradeable skins can be converted into Cloth, except for Royal Crystal-purchased skins which are not eligible. Legendary skins can be overlaid with preferred skins to preserve both aesthetics and effects. An update to Yoz’s Jar will add 1,000 Amethyst Shards with Epic skin results and expand the Amethyst Shop with Silver, Dawn skins, and skin-customization reagents. Dawn Skins will extend to Slayer, Artist, and Aeromancer classes. The Amethyst Shop will receive yearly updates to reflect player preferences. These changes, refined with player feedback and Smilegate RPG collaboration, aim to make pulls more rewarding even without Legendary results. Affection Rapport Ranks New Affection content deepens the stories of Thirain and Nineveh. Thirain prepares for a royal ball that marks his rise to the throne while confiding his silent struggles to the player. Nineveh, usually buoyant, faces a chaotic force that reveals painful secrets she is now ready to share. These narrative moments strengthen character bonds and enrich Arkesia’s lore. Primal Island Battle Royale Primal Island offers a battle royale-style event where players fight against each other and dinosaurs. Success depends on survival, combat skill, scavenging gear during matches, and strategically upgrading that gear in real time. October: Pleccia Arrives Pleccia is a new continent for players at Item Level 1475 or higher. Explore Pleccia Port and Prehilia Prairie and meet unique NPCs like Vediches and Yoz illusionists. Pleccia’s story, tied to Luterra, involves mysterious events and the Vediche family, the priests of Sacria, and a close friend. Completing the Pleccia narrative unlocks rewards and hidden achievements and is required to access the Voldis storyline. Caliligos Trial Guardian Raid Caliligos, master of lightning, will challenge players in a new Trial Guardian Raid. Players can compete for first and fastest clears and earn new titles to commemorate their success. November: Souleater Advanced Class The Souleater, an Assassin subclass wielding a massive scythe, debuts in November. Players can choose between three attack modes: direct scythe strikes, summoning the dead, and transformation into a reaper. Reaper Mode becomes available when the Soul Stones identity gauge is filled, and an additional Possession Meter enhances depth during Reaper Mode. The class introduces layered identity meters and evolving skills for tactical play. Progression events will accompany the Souleater’s release, including an Express event that awards a free Powerpass to accelerate character growth. December: Voldis and Ivory Tower Voldis is a new continent for adventurers at Item Level 1520 and above. Kalinar, a city of wisdom and alchemical knowledge, anchors the region. Players will explore the Great Rainforest, meet the Raiyas guardians, and climb the Sage’s Tower to uncover Voldis’ stories. Ivory Tower Abyssal Dungeon The Ivory Tower Abyssal Dungeon opens with four gates. Entry requirements are Item Level 1600 for Normal mode and 1620 for Hard mode. The dungeon offers Honing Materials, Gold, and introduces a new Elixir system. Elixirs: Alchemical Gear Enhancements Elixirs boost combat effectiveness via gear effects. Epic Elixirs drop in Normal mode; Legendary Elixirs drop in Hard mode. Elixirs can be refined with Ductility Catalysts—obtainable through Gold and Chaos Stones—and require limited attempts guided by the Sages. Imbue gear with Elixirs for offensive, defensive, and utility bonuses. Set bonuses trigger under specific conditions, rewarding careful refinement and strategy. New Ark Pass Season A new Ark Pass season launches with free tiers for all players and premium tracks offering additional rewards and cosmetics. Looking Ahead As we move closer to these updates, anticipate unique events, new territories in Arkesia, PvP contests, and additional dungeons and raids. Keep up with our website, social channels, and release notes for full details on new content, store updates, events, and bug fixes.

With growing anticipation, players of Lost Ark are in for a treat as we pull back the curtain on the final leg of the 2023 roadmap. The roadmap gives a tantalizing glimpse into the monumental content additions set to grace the virtual shores of Arkesia in the upcoming months. Join us as we embark on this exciting adventure with insights from Franchise Lead Soomin Park, Product Manager Andy Lin, Head of Editorial Henry Stelter, and Community Manager Roxanne Sabo in our inaugural video update.

While this roadmap outlines the most awaited highlights, it’s important to note that it’s not an exhaustive list. Rather, it serves as a teaser of what lies ahead, with room for potential changes and surprises. As we edge closer to each month, more intricate details will be revealed, promising a dynamic and exciting experience for players. Beyond the major content pieces, players can look forward to quality-of-life improvements, balance adjustments, support for new and returning players, and unique events that promise to enrich the world of Arkesia. For a comprehensive view of what’s to come, keep an eye on our website and social channels for the full release notes, including new content, cosmetics, balance tweaks, events, bug fixes, and more in our extensive monthly updates. Let’s embark on this journey together and dive into what the future holds.

Unfolding the Plans for August: A Glimpse of Enhancement

Before we delve into the exciting developments planned from September to December, let’s first explore the additional changes brewing for August. Stay tuned for the complete release notes, which will be unveiled next week, just ahead of the update’s release.

Refining Daily Activities: Chaos Dungeon Upgrades

Our utmost priority for Chaos Dungeons is enhancing the overall playability of these dungeons. We understand that the weariness players feel from Chaos Dungeons cannot be resolved merely by decreasing encounter frequencies. Our strategy revolves around elevating Chaos Dungeons to offer a more engaging and rewarding experience, thereby mitigating player fatigue. The initial phase of our Chaos Dungeon overhaul encompasses boosted rewards such as cards, higher-tier gems, increased silver, and adjustments to enemy AI, which will reduce the time required to complete a single dungeon by approximately 25%. This collaborative effort with Smilegate RPG will pave the way for further improvements based on player feedback and in-game data.

Empowering Guardian Raids

Prepare for an exciting transformation in Guardian Raids, as we adjust the frequency to once a day, accompanied by more substantial rewards.

Enhanced Accessibility to Cards

Acknowledging the concerns around content fatigue, especially among new players, we are committed to enhancing card accessibility. Our approach commences with increasing the base card supply. This enhancement extends to both Chaos Dungeons and Guardian Raids, accompanied by adjustments to Wandering Vendors to bolster other sources of card supply.

September: Introducing Jump-Start Servers

Get ready for the introduction of Jump-Start servers—an initiative designed to provide a fresh perspective for both new and returning players who seek to rediscover the allure of Lost Ark. Drawing insights from comprehensive analysis and player feedback, we’ve identified common obstacles such as gatekeeping, bots, and the grind, which have hindered players from fully immersing themselves in the world of Lost Ark.

A central aspect of Lost Ark revolves around collaborative gameplay, and Jump-Start servers are set to infuse new life into early and mid-game experiences. By synchronizing the arrival of Jump Starters, we anticipate a more vibrant early and mid-game environment, while also reducing gatekeeping tendencies in raid lobbies. Our diligent efforts to address initial challenges, including steep progression curves, bots, and stability issues, position the Western service for a reinvigorated experience that beckons players to return.

Dedicated servers will be available in each region, granting players a South Vern pass for instant elevation to Item Level 1415. These servers will remain isolated from existing servers, offering independent matchmaking, party finding, marketplace interactions, and auction environments. Players on Jump-Start servers will receive materials to expedite progression, alongside benefits from the ongoing Super Mokoko Express event, which extends up to Item Level 1540. An abundance of honing materials awaits in a special event shop, promising swift progression to Item Level 1580.

Detailed information will be shared closer to the launch of the September Update.

Yoz’s Jar: A Canvas for Cosmetics

Introducing Yoz’s Jar—an innovative consumable that unlocks a world of Epic and Legendary skins. Unwanted or unused skins can be deconstructed into Cloth, which can be employed with a Jar (Season 1 or 2) to obtain a new skin from a curated list. Available in the store, Yoz’s Jar and Cloth open avenues for exploration. Moreover, Epic skins obtained from Yoz’s Jar can be disassembled to create Cloth. Anticipate discounted packs of Cloth and Jars on a monthly basis. Players can even convert untradeable skins into Cloth, with only Royal Crystal-purchased skins being ineligible for deconstruction. The brilliance of this system lies in its flexibility—Legendary skins, with their superior benefits, can be Overlayed with preferred skins, balancing aesthetics and potency.

An update to Yoz’s Jar introduces 1,000 Amethyst Shards with Epic skin results. This update also enriches the Amethyst Shop’s offerings, including Silver, Dawn skins, and reagents for skin customization. Dawn Skins extend to Slayer, Artist, and Aeromancer classes, allowing customization beyond expectations. The Amethyst Shop will undergo a yearly refresh, responding to evolving player preferences.

The refinement of Yoz’s Jar, meticulously aligned with player feedback and Smilegate RPG collaboration, emphasizes rewarding pulls and a smoother experience, even without the Legendary skins.

Strengthening Bonds: Affection Rapport Ranks

Dive deeper into the stories of Thirain and Nineveh, characters who have become familiar companions during your journey through Arkesia. Thirain, busy with his responsibilities, is preparing for a royal ball that marks his ascent to the throne. However, beneath the excitement lies Thirain’s silent struggles, confided only to you. On the other hand, Nineveh, a symbol of positivity in Arkesia, faces a chaotic force that reveals hidden depths beneath her cheerful exterior. This force uncovers tales of pain and secrets she is now ready to share with you.

Primal Island Battle Royale: A Savage Challenge

Venture to Primal Island and brace yourself for a thrilling challenge—a battle royale-style event demanding survival, combat skill, and strategic resourcefulness. Engage in combat against both players and ferocious dinosaurs in an electrifying arena showdown. However, raw statistics alone won’t secure victory here. Instead, success hinges on scavenging gear during the match and strategically upgrading it in real time.

October: Embrace Pleccia’s Artistic Splendor

Prepare to be enchanted by the artistic allure of Pleccia, a new continent welcoming players with Item Level 1475 or higher. Embark on a journey through Pleccia Port and Prehilia Prairie, where you’ll encounter unique NPCs like Vediches and Yoz illusionists. The story of Pleccia unfurls in Luterra, as whispers of mysterious occurrences weave their way through the city. By solving the enigmas surrounding the Vediche family, the priests of Sacria, and a dear friend, players unlock a tapestry of rewards and hidden achievements unique to Pleccia. Completing the Pleccia narrative is a prerequisite for the looming Voldis adventure.

Caliligos Trial Guardian Raid: A Lightning Challenge

Caliligos, the master of lightning, takes center stage in a new Trial Guardian Raid. Challenge his might and aim for victory, etching your name in the annals of the first and fastest clears. Triumph grants new titles, emblematic of your achievement.

November: Unleash the Souleater Advanced Class

November heralds the arrival of the Souleater, an Assassin subclass wielding a massive scythe to reap the souls of enemies. Choose from three distinct attack modes—direct scythe strikes, summoning the dead, and transformation into a reaper. Core to Souleater’s identity is the Reaper Mode, accessible once the Soul Stones identity gauge is filled. An additional Possession Meter, exclusive to Reaper Mode, introduces an extra layer of depth to gameplay. As the identity meters and skills evolve, the stage is set for tactical mastery.

Progression Events: Nurturing Souleater’s Evolution

The Souleater’s introduction is accompanied by dedicated progression events aimed at facilitating character growth. Engage in the Express event and unlock a free Powerpass, propelling your Souleater’s journey.

December: Voldis Beckons

Voldis emerges as a new continent, welcoming adventurers with Item Level 1520 and above. Kalinar, a city brimming with wisdom and alchemical mastery, stands as Voldis’ heart. Seek guidance from the Sages and unravel the mysteries that shroud the Great Rainforest, home to potent and mysterious creatures. Journey alongside the Raiyas, the forest’s guardians, and ascend the Sage’s Tower to unveil Voldis’ hidden tales.

Ivory Tower Abyssal Dungeon: Unveiling Secrets

Step into the Ivory Tower Abyssal Dungeon, a new challenge within Voldis’ realm. Featuring four gates and Item Level entry requirements of 1600 for Normal mode and 1620 for Hard mode, this dungeon promises abundant rewards. Honing Materials, Gold, and a new Elixir system beckon daring adventurers.

Elixirs: Empowerment through Alchemy

Introducing Elixirs, a revolutionary system amplifying combat prowess through potent gear effects. Acquire Epic Elixirs via Normal mode and Legendary Elixirs through Hard mode in the Ivory Tower Abyssal Dungeon. Refine Elixirs with Ductility Catalysts, acquired through Gold and Chaos Stones. Guided by the Sages, refine Elixirs through a limited number of attempts, blending strategy and luck. Imbue gear with Elixirs to unlock diverse bonuses—offensive, defensive, and utility. Seek Set bonuses, triggered by specific conditions, and master the art of refining for optimal results.

New Ark Pass Season: A Tapestry of Rewards

Prepare for an all-new Ark Pass season, boasting free tiers accessible to all players and premium tracks laden with rewards and cosmetics.

A Glimpse into Tomorrow

Anticipation swells as we approach the horizon of unique events, uncharted territories in Arkesia, electrifying PvP contests, and the enigma of new dungeons and raids. Stay engaged with our website, social channels, and release notes for the complete roster of new content, store updates, events, bug fixes, and more.