November 25, 2020

Tomorrow: StarCaptain Class Updates

Verification Class Updates

Our verification classes -- Guardian, DragonLord, Star Captain, and Defender -- are unlocked by AQWorlds heroes who have also upgraded in one of our 2D, single-player games. They've been asking for years for their exclusive classes to get updates... and now the time has come!

• Guardian Class: available to verified AdventureQuest Guardians
• DragonLord Class: available to verified DragonFable DragonLords
• Star Captain Class: available to verified MechQuest Star Captains
• Defender Class: available to all of the above

Each week in November, we'll release another verification class update. Earlier this month, we updated the AdventureQuest Guardian and DragonFable DragonLord Classes! Get all the details on those class updates here and here. THIS week, we've got... the Star Captain Class update! Read on for update details: what is changing, how to get your own, and the new balance details.

Star Captain Class Overview

Welcome to the Starlord rework! Renamed to Star Captain, the class now aims to honor the tradition of choosing a GEARS University House while excelling at what Mecha Pilots are best at, one on one combat. The first three skills behave similarly, but change the focus of the class depending on which you used first, and the final skill is an all out attack that can only be activated once you’ve used the first three skills enough times.

How to Unlock the Class

If you are a Star Captain in MechQuest:

1. Log into the Account Manager site at account.mechquest.com
2. Access the 'Unlock Verify Shops' menu in the Account Manager
3. Verify your MechQuest account
4. Log back into AQWorlds and /join tower
5. All verified StarCaptains can purchase the original StarCaptain Class. If you are level 40, you can purchase the updated class from Korin for 0 ACs.

If you are NOT a StarCaptain in MechQuest:

1. Create an account at www.MechQuest.com (if you don't have one yet) 
2. Upgrade it to become a MechQuest StarCaptain on this page
3. Follow steps 1-4 above

Before there was AQWorlds, there was... MechQuest

GEARS University, the most acclaimed Mecha Pilot institution in the Solaris System. Here you will learn a wide variety of skills required to become a fully licensed Mecha Pilot, including but not limited to, Energy Blade Training, Mecha Combat, Home Economics, and Insect Extermination. And let’s not forget about our annual GEARS Games, where you face off against other Pilots to earn points for a House of your choosing. We welcome all aspiring Mecha Pilots to GEARS University and we look forward to seeing you soon, but only if you survive the entrance exam that is, enroll at mechquest.com!

Star Captain Class Update Details

Recommended enhancements: Lucky, Fighter. Star Captains are masters of ground, space, and Mecha combat that are trained to handle any threat they encounter. 

Mana Regen: Star Captains gain mana when they:

• Strike an enemy in combat (more effective on crits and auto attacks)
• Are struck by an enemy in combat

Skill Breakdown

Energy Blade

Rank needed: 1 / Auto Attack
Target: Enemy
Max Targets: 1
Type: Physical
Range: Melee
Cooldown: 2.5 seconds

Strike your target with your Energy Blade. Deals damage and applies Lacerated, reducing your target’s Dodge by 20% for 2 seconds while restoring extra mana to yourself. Also applies additional effects based on your active Alignment.

The Energy Blade, a Mecha Pilot’s weapon of choice. A fairly standard auto attack with the added bonus of reducing your opponent’s dodge chance, making them easier to hit, but there’s more to it than that...

Wolfblade Alignment

Rank needed: 1
Target: Enemy
Max Targets: 1
Type: Physical
Range: Infinite
Mana Cost: 0
Cooldown: 3 seconds

Align with House Wolfblade to gain 20% Haste and go Berserk, increasing your Outgoing Damage by 1% for 8 seconds, stacks to 25. While active Energy Blade applies Thick Skin, an HoT for 2 seconds. If in another house, applies a different effect:

Runehawk: Shield Pulse Generator, reduces incoming damage by 10% for 5 seconds, stacks to 3. 

Mystraven: Targeting Systems Damaged, reduces target’s Hit Chance by 10% for 4 seconds. Also applies Razor Striker, a DoT over 5 seconds.

House Wolfblade, the Proud Warriors. If you choose this House you’ll be well equipped for high HP boss fights as your damage increases the longer you’re engaged in combat. Your Energy Blade also grants you a small heal while you’re a member of the Wolfblade House, but it won’t be enough to sustain you in every fight.

Runehawk Alignment

Rank needed: 2
Target: Enemy
Max Targets: 1
Type: Physical
Range: Infinite
Mana Cost: 0
Cooldown: 3 seconds

Align with House Runehawk to gain 30% Haste and apply Safeguard, reducing a portion of the damage you take based on your Attack Power for 8 seconds. While active Energy Blade applies Rift Heal, an HoT for 2 seconds. If in another house, applies a different effect:

Wolfblade: Rage, increases your Phys Damage by 1% for 8 seconds, stacks to 25.

Mystraven: Smokescreen, increases your Dodge by 15% for 4 seconds. Also applies Gushing Oil, a DoT for 5 seconds.

House Runehawk, Masters of Technology. If you choose this House you’ll gain high amounts of defense that your opponent’s will have a hard time getting through. This comes at the cost of damage, but sometimes defense is the best offense.

Mystraven Alignment

Rank needed: 3
Target: Enemy
Max Targets: 1
Type: Physical
Range: Infinite
Mana Cost: 0
Cooldown: 3 seconds

Align with House Mystraven to gain 40% Haste and load Critical Slug rounds, increasing Crit Chance and Crit Damage by 150% for 5 seconds. While active, Energy Blade applies Shredder, increasing your DoT damage by 100% for 5 seconds. If in another house, applies a different effect.

Wolfblade: Energy Blade pierces your target, increasing Phys Damage taken by 2% for 5 seconds, stacks to 50. 

Runehawk: Energy Shield, reduces incoming Phys and Mag Damage by 10% for 5 seconds, stacks to 3.

House Mystraven, The Tricksters. If you choose this House you’ll be able to end fights rather quickly with your insane critical damage, however Mystraven provides little sustain, so if you don’t finish your opponent off fast enough, you’ll be the one in trouble.

World Ender

Rank needed: 5
Target: Enemy
Max Targets: 1
Type: Physical
Range: Infinite
Mana Cost: 1000 
Cooldown: 30 seconds

Requires Imminent End stacks to use. Your Mech fires its railgun from Lore’s atmosphere. Deals unavoidable critical damage and applies Pulse Compression, reducing your target’s Haste by 15% while causing them to take damage from your Alignment skills for 6 seconds. Also applies an additional effect based on your active Alignment to your target while releasing you from that Alignment:

Wolfblade: 4 second stun.
Runehawk: -50% damage for 5 seconds.
Mystraven: Massive damage after 1 second.

Yes you read that right, 1000 mana, Mechs do require a lot of energy after all. In order to use this skill, you must first use your three Alignment skills enough times (18 times to be exact), though once this skill is ready to be used, your opponent’s time on this world will come to an end. Not only does the skill itself deal massive damage, it also causes your Alignment skills to start doing damage, adding even more injury to injury! Tired of your current House Alignment? This skill allows you to choose a different (or the same) one after using it, so you don’t have to be stuck in a single House for all of eternity.

Passives:

Star Captain Bonus: Railgun 
Rank needed: 1
Type: Passive

Starting at rank 1, using an Alignment skill applies Imminent End, lowering the cost of your Mech’s World Ender by 5%, up to 90%.

This is fancy wording for mana cost reduction, don’t get any ideas with Frostval Barbarian or StoneCrusher though, as World Ender is balanced around its cooldown. 

Laser Sight 
Rank needed: 4
Type: Passive

Hit Chance increased by 30%.

Dragonoid’s Pursuit 
Rank needed: 10
Type: Passive

Your World Ender now applies Hyper Ladder, increasing your Haste by 50% for 6 seconds.

So that you have max Haste when your Alignment skills are doing damage, no matter what House you’re in. 

Conclusion

Although GEARS University may no longer exist, the spirits of the Wolfblade, Runehawk, and Mystraven Houses live on. Use each House to your advantage and rain destruction upon your foes with the awesome power of your Mech!